Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 66

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 066

 

Supervisor Park, a civilian office worker at BOND, was heading toward the 1st Floor Cafeteria today as well, dragging his tired and worn-out body.

 

‘This harsh life.’

 

Every day it was overtime, overtime, overtime.

 

This damn company seemed to have given work-life balance to the dogs—there were no days off. Everything involved all-night overtime and emergency assemblies as part of daily routine.

 

Yet to explain the sky-high competition rate for employment and the rock-bottom resignation rate…

 

‘It must be because of the generous salary and amazing benefits.’

 

While there might be people singing songs about quitting, there were few who actually went through with resignation.

 

Supervisor Park was also one of them.

 

But still, getting tired was unavoidable, wasn’t it?

 

“Sigh…”

 

Supervisor Park unconsciously let out a sigh. Assistant Manager Kang, who was beside him, heard that sigh and asked.

 

“Supervisor Park, are you feeling sick somewhere?”

 

“…Oh, no. It’s just…”

 

He was a bit tired, perhaps. Ever since CEO Baek Cheonhyeong took office, there were talks that the system was gradually being organized and breathing room was opening up, but as a low-level employee, he hadn’t felt it yet.

 

He couldn’t exactly say this directly to his superior.

 

“…Well, I guess I just don’t have any joy in life? Assistant Manager, do you have any hobbies or enjoyable activities?”

 

Assistant Manager Kang, who had been walking while fiddling with his mobile phone, chuckled at those words. Then he shook his head.

 

“I don’t have time to enjoy hobbies…”

 

“…Haha. That’s true.”

 

“Instead.”

 

Instead? Assistant Manager Kang held out his mobile phone screen as he spoke.

 

The company intranet bulletin board?

 

“Lately, looking at the company intranet has been pretty fun.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Originally, only complaints about work used to be posted on this bleak company’s board… But at some point, a few hot topic figures started appearing as subjects, and the atmosphere strangely began to change.

 

Supervisor Park could recall several posts that had occupied the line for the past few days.

 

-Who was that person who just ran through the lobby carrying two kids?

 

-Who’s the man who walked out of the underground dungeon alone and perfectly fine? Could he be a high-grade rookie hunter?

 

-I heard the person who came out of the EX-grade dungeon with that crazy Field Team leader is our company employee.

 

-Looks like there’s some event at the kindergarten today. The teachers are wearing sunglasses and excited. (Photo attached)

 

-Right now in the center of the lobby, it looks like the Field Team and CEO are bullying someone. If anyone’s planning to quit, let’s boldly report this workplace harassment.

 

Supervisor Park actively agreed with Assistant Manager Kang’s words.

 

‘It is fun.’

 

Whether field workers or general office workers, everyone was swamped with work at this company, so dopamine-inducing rumors were welcome anywhere.

 

‘It’s good for clearing your head, and there’s no pressure since it’s not about work.’

 

Supervisor Park himself had been soaked in dopamine for a while, constantly checking the company intranet.

 

However, at some point, he could no longer enjoy it just for fun and stopped.

 

“By the way, Supervisor Park, do you know who the person in these posts is? I can tell some are about the male teacher at Ocean Kindergarten… but I have no idea who the others are. But the people in these posts are all different people, right? Since they said there are three male teachers at Ocean Kindergarten.”

 

“…Well.”

 

Supervisor Park answered while looking into the distance with distant eyes.

 

Right, that was the reason I suddenly cut off the dopamine that employees had been enjoying together at some point.

 

Supervisor Park, who had joined BOND as a civilian, was working in the PR Team.

 

The PR Team not only promoted the company and self-produced potions and items, but also sometimes had duties to prevent internal confidential information from leaking outside.

 

Thus, he often encountered unwanted truths by chance.

 

Supervisor Park recalled the secret assignment that had come down to only a few people in the PR Team, including himself, just a few days ago.

 

Prevent the spread of information about the identity of the BOND-affiliated male who survived the Neverland EX-Grade Dungeon incident with Field Team’s Moon Chae-yeong.

 

And naturally, to prevent the spread of identity information, he had no choice but to know the person’s identity.

 

‘Since I personally made all the phone calls to block the articles, there’s no way I wouldn’t know who it is…’

 

Moreover, Supervisor Park, who had to get coffee transfusions at least three times a day due to frequent overtime, encountered him every time he went to the cafe in the lobby.

 

‘The person who carried two kids across the lobby! The person who walked out of the underground dungeon alone and unharmed! One of the kindergarten teachers with sunglasses! The popular guy who held a regular meeting in the center of the lobby! All…! All of them are the same person!’

 

The male teacher at Ocean Kindergarten, Na Hwi-yeon!!

 

At first, it was just amusing to know the truth alone. But once became twice, and twice became three times.

 

Finally, when all the pieces fit together like a puzzle.

 

All that remained was shock and… pity.

 

‘What kind of hardships is that teacher enduring all alone?’

 

Supervisor Park opened the door to the cafeteria and silently offered his condolences to that kindergarten teacher.

 

Every time he saw that teacher, he looked terrible. Either disheveled or soaked like seaweed in water.

 

‘He’s in worse shape than me.’

 

Supervisor Park let out a sigh mixed with camaraderie and a spoonful of sympathy as he entered the cafeteria.

 

But then…

 

“What’s this? Why is it so noisy?”

 

The murmuring voices of the employees.

 

He could see people avoiding one distant table as if it were some kind of danger zone. However, the chatter about that table didn’t diminish.

 

Supervisor Park also looked at that table intently. And he was shocked.

 

‘Hey! Why are you mixed up in there again?!’

 

That person was there again among Field Team Na, rumored to be the most problematic among the field teams.

 

That, that! The male teacher from Ocean Kindergarten!

 

Supervisor Park looked around with a bewildered expression. He could see people quickly turning on their mobile phones.

 

His pretending not to know was spitefully adding fuel to the rumors.

 

***

 

I had no choice but to eat at the cafeteria and then leave the company.

 

Looking back at the Team Na members who came out to see me off on my way to the field site, I voiced the curiosity I had been holding back.

 

“Do you not come down to the cafeteria often?”

 

“…How did you know?”

 

How did I know?

 

You acted similarly to me, who was visiting the cafeteria for the first time. Besides, how could I not notice when people around us were watching our table like they were observing monkeys.

 

Kang Ho-won stopped checking his watch and said nonchalantly.

 

“We usually order food to the office. When we come back from field sites, we’re in a dusty mess, not to mention the sweat smell. And we’d rather starve than eat while facing those unwelcome people.”

 

He must be talking about the people from the Assignment Department.

 

“But why did you go to the cafeteria today?”

 

At that question, everyone looked at Moon Chae-yeong. Moon Chae-yeong rolled her eyes lightly and said as if making an excuse.

 

“I heard rumors that the cafeteria food was delicious…”

 

It was really a simple reason.

 

“It was delicious.”

 

“The taste was good.”

 

“Yes~ Yes~ The taste was good. Except for almost getting indigestion from all that passionate staring.”

 

“Senior, wasn’t it almost indigestion from overeating, not from the attention?”

 

It seemed like the small talk would go on longer, so I quickly bowed my head.

 

“Well then, I’ll be going now.”

 

I exchanged polite pleasantries about having dinner together next time when we had time, then hurried my steps.

 

When Lee Seo-hyeok showed signs of trying to make dinner plans right there, I eventually moved away almost at a run.

 

I was heading toward my house when I suddenly changed direction and circled around the main building once.

 

Then I retraced my steps and finally reached my destination.

 

My workplace that had become familiar by now.

 

Ocean Kindergarten.

 

‘Even after thinking about it all night, this is the only way.’

 

I lightly turned my head and scanned the surroundings.

 

Just in case, I had brought a hat and mask, and wore dark-colored clothes.

 

It was the time when dinner was over and darkness was just beginning to fall.

 

I pulled up the mask hanging on my chin and climbed over the kindergarten fence.

 

***

 

‘I almost would have been even later.’

 

As soon as I entered the courtyard, I found a window on the outer wall directly across from the end of the 1st floor hallway.

 

And I pushed it.

 

‘Good thing I unlocked it beforehand yesterday before leaving.’

 

I was the one who did the final window check when leaving work.

 

It would be easier to get in by disabling the keypad lock at the main gate, but….

 

‘That would leave a record, they said.’

 

I took off my shoes, held them in both hands, and hopped over the open window.

 

The hallway with all the lights off was dark and quiet.

 

‘Good…. Now-‘

 

[ Who are you? ]

 

“…!”

 

At that moment, hearing Nabi’s voice asking from behind me, I reflexively pulled back and turned my head.

 

A large man’s palm was… stopped right in front of my nose.

 

“Quick reflexes, aren’t you?”

 

I frowned. I couldn’t properly see the form of the figure that had approached in the darkness.

 

However, I identified who it was from the voice that followed.

 

“I don’t suppose you came to work overtime on a weekend night.”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong.

 

“Don’t tell me there’s something worth stealing at the kindergarten?”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong withdrew the hand he had extended threateningly and used his long legs to stride over the window.

 

Watching him quietly, I secretly swallowed.

 

‘Could my luck be any worse than this.’

 

Of all things, getting caught by the homeowner while breaking into a house.

 

Baek Cheonhyeong, faintly visible in the moonlight, appeared to be in shirt sleeves, having come out for some air while working overtime.

 

He lightly tapped his chin and said.

 

“The mask is useless.”

 

I know.

 

Already that question “I don’t suppose you came to work overtime on a weekend night” was said while identifying that I was a teacher.

 

‘I guess there’s no helping it after all.’

 

I let out a light sigh and pulled my mask down below my chin. Then I casually replied to my opponent who stood there with an expressionless face.

 

“Yes, you caught me completely.”

 

“…Teacher Na Hwi-yeon, what brings you to the kindergarten at this hour? Is there something here worth stealing?”

 

“Yes, I came to steal something.”

 

“…!”

 

Well, isn’t this the kind of answer you wanted.

 

Why are you surprised when you asked the question yourself.

 

I held up my black backpack that I had brought instead of the conspicuous kindergarten bag and said to Baek Cheonhyeong.

 

“I was going to stuff this full and take it, but I got completely caught.”

 

“What exactly? There shouldn’t be anything valuable at the kindergarten.”

 

“There is though.”

 

“There is?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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