Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 69

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

Episode 069

 

“This feels so refreshing~”

 

Yu Jin-chae gave a thumbs up with a lively expression on her face. I took the laptop from her hands and replied.

 

“You acted quite well.”

 

“Acting? I was being completely sincere~”

 

Oh my.

 

Where did that teary-eyed look from just moments ago disappear to?

 

Even while walking quickly down the hallway, Yu Jin-chae’s mouth didn’t rest.

 

“I really thought I was going to die preparing all this in just one day, but I hope it was worth it~ Well, judging by the chaotic atmosphere, it seems like we’re halfway to success?”

 

Paper bundles and laptops filling both our hands.

 

And neat attire suited for a formal meeting venue.

 

We had hastily prepared all of this until this morning.

 

‘That was close.’

 

So, how did things turn out like this…

 

While pondering Baek Cheonhyeong’s proposal, I had definitely planned to carry out the task ‘calmly’ and ‘by myself.’

 

But… the moment I saw the text he sent.

 

-Baek Cheonhyeong: If you can’t do it, just tell me. I should know too. ^^

 

I must have lost my mind.

 

‘If that’s not provocation, then what is?’

 

How is that different from saying ‘Want to try? Go ahead if you can.’

 

But the funny thing is that I fell for such a shallow provocation.

 

When I came to my senses, I had already boasted to Baek Cheonhyeong that I would do it, and that night I had sent a group message to the teachers.

 

‘What a nuisance…’

 

“Honestly, I wondered who would come to the kindergarten at that dawn hour after receiving such a text, but surprisingly everyone was there. As for me, I came to watch, thinking you might set the kindergarten on fire this time.”

 

Excuse me?

 

“Anyway, the teamwork of Ocean Kindergarten teachers is amazing, right? I really like it, yes indeed.”

 

…Yeah, honestly I was surprised by that too.

 

I didn’t know everyone would come after receiving such a text.

 

-I’m going to expose everything the Principal has done so far at tomorrow’s company formal meeting. The representative said he would arrange a place. Still, I thought I should tell the teachers in advance. Sorry for contacting you late at night, and thank you for everything so far.

 

“Why did you add ‘thank you for everything so far’ at the end?”

 

I don’t know. At that time, it felt natural that I would get fired.

 

“Anyone would think you were someone settling your affairs~”

 

I hadn’t imagined it would go that far.

 

“Of course… we won’t let it come to that, right?”

 

“That’s why I waited obediently at the kindergarten after getting bombarded with phone calls.”

 

Yu Jin-chae should have heard Kang Sa-gwa saying ‘Please stay put. Please.’ in a voice groggy from being woken up.

 

“Yes~ I know, I know. You turned the safe we couldn’t even touch into a rag, thoroughly ransacked the Principal’s computer, and sat there very obediently.”

 

“…”

 

Anyway, the conclusion was… the teachers who rushed over despite the midnight crisis talked me out of it and reached the conclusion that we should prepare together instead.

 

Thus, with the help of collective intelligence, I was able to regain somewhat better judgment and prepare step by step.

 

‘We supplemented the evidence I had prepared and made visual materials together.’

 

Besides that, we put some effort into the clothes we’re wearing now and disguising the Principal’s Office break-in as a water leak to prevent him from noticing beforehand.

 

It was so helpful that I wondered what would have happened if I had done it alone.

 

Of course, there was a slight… difference of opinion in the final decision.

 

The person who would enter the conference room with me.

 

Thankfully, everyone volunteered to go with me…

 

The reason I specifically chose to go with Yu Jin-chae was… well, I judged that Kang Sa-gwa and Kwon Hae-seong weren’t suitable for presentations.

 

And Park I-deun… somehow I couldn’t trust her.

 

And most importantly, Yu Jin-chae was the most suitable.

 

She could shamelessly handle presentations or acting without difficulty, had no hesitation… and was the person who held the most grudge against the Principal.

 

‘The fact that he had a history of drunkenly slapping the Principal in a fit of rage gave me confidence in him.’

 

Just one thing bothered me – Yu Jin-chae was a former BOND Field Team leader…

 

 

The moment I heard these words, I was convinced that Yu Jin-chae would probably never become unemployed.

 

“I wanted to enjoy watching that mess more leisurely! While we’re at it, it would be nice if they all got strung together like dried fish and disappeared before our eyes~”

 

That’s something Baek Cheonhyeong would probably do without being told.

 

This was arguably the best condition I’d seen Yu Jin-chae in recently.

 

I nodded in agreement and pressed the elevator button.

 

Then Yu Jin-chae, who had just entered the elevator that arrived, looked back at me with a small exclamation and a troubled expression.

 

“Oh, right… What do we do about finding a replacement for the Principal now? I don’t know any decent candidates among the people I know.”

 

Ah… that?

 

Baek Cheonhyeong did tell us to find a suitable replacement too.

 

So we all racked our brains trying to find someone last night, but ultimately failed spectacularly.

 

Where could we possibly bring a new principal from overnight?

 

But.

 

I recalled a face I had seen in the conference room earlier and subtly raised the corners of my mouth.

 

“I think we might be able to find a principal.”

 

***

 

The very next day after taking a half-day off and dropping a bomb at the regular meeting.

 

A new principal was delivered to the front of the kindergarten.

 

Instead of the business suit I had seen before, a middle-aged man dressed like a friendly neighborhood uncle stood in front of the kindergarten door.

 

I opened the door for him with a good-natured expression.

 

“Hello. I didn’t expect to meet you like this, but I’m Na Hwi-yeon in charge of the 7-Year-Old Dolphin Class. Please take care of me.”

 

That’s a lie. I actually knew.

 

“Oh my… We met before, right? Ah, we saw each other yesterday too. Yesterday I was too excited and showed an unseemly side, sorry about that.”

 

Do you remember?

 

The person who roared like a lion at the Principal in the conference room.

 

 

And he was also the person who hosted the food challenge at the kindergarten’s outdoor playground with the person who had now become the ‘former principal.’

 

That director who donated the large sum of 5 million won.

 

“I’m getting old and was about to retire from the company… Suddenly being told to become a kindergarten principal, hehe.”

 

Yes, I’m the one who recommended you for that position.

 

I’m the one who grabbed a person trying to retire and made him sit here again.

 

‘Sorry, but you’ll have to work with us.’

 

Realistically, finding a principal with kindergarten management experience right away was impossible.

 

Then, shouldn’t we at least pick someone whose character has been verified?

 

Even if he can’t do the job well, we can just make him a figurehead principal.

 

‘Anyway, the teachers were already dividing and handling the work the previous principal was doing, so it doesn’t matter.’

 

“I don’t know if I’ll do well. But I’ll do my best! Oh right, I’m Kang Beom-seok. Please take care of me.”

 

I smiled contentedly watching this situation where the principal had been replaced overnight.

 

‘I only heard rumors that you were retiring soon, so I thought maybe.’

 

I made the suggestion half-doubtfully, but I was so relieved when Baek Cheonhyeong readily gave a definite answer.

 

 

‘It feels like ten years of frustration just melted away.’

 

Just the fact that the previous principal disappeared is more than satisfying.

 

Look, they’re happy behind us too.

 

“…This actually worked.”

 

“Wow~ We got another comrade.”

 

“Let’s treat him well. It’ll be big trouble if he runs away.”

 

“This is really great… Sa-gwa, let’s definitely treat him well.”

 

After that, I left explaining the operational duties to the new Principal to Yu Jin-chae, and the other teachers left to do their own work.

 

I also immediately climbed the stairs heading to the Dolphin Class.

 

‘The former Principal was immediately fired and even got sued.’

 

Additionally, several directors and working staff who were involved in the bribery matter are being investigated as a group.

 

Probably, they won’t be able to avoid criminal punishment and fines.

 

‘It couldn’t be more perfect than this, could it?’

 

Seeing how Baek Cheonhyeong handled the cleanup, even the names of Yu Jin-chae and me as whistleblowers weren’t mentioned at all.

 

‘Looking at how things are going, it seems I won’t get fired.’

 

I opened the door to the Dolphin Class in a very refreshing mood.

 

Today, the children looked even more lovable.

 

***

 

Kang Beom-seok, BOND’s operating director, or rather, now former operating director, was simply bewildered by his workplace that had changed overnight.

 

‘I was planning to retire next month…’

 

The day after grabbing the Ocean Kindergarten Principal’s hair at the regular meeting, being called to the Representative’s Office was nothing short of ridiculous.

 

During 17 years of service, he had never caused a single incident.

 

‘To cause an incident just one month before retirement.’

 

However, aside from the serious situation, his heart felt light and relieved.

 

It was truly the first time he had grabbed someone’s hair so satisfyingly.

 

‘Besides, that bastard was absolutely rotten!’

 

Even now, thinking that the young teacher and children who had played in the sand with him had to live hearing such profanity made his blood boil.

 

But… he never expected to hear such a story when called to the Representative’s Office.

 

 

You could do it. You could, but.

 

 

It was the first time he’d seen the representative push so hard.

 

He said he’d think about it later, but somehow when he came to work today, his position had already disappeared and he received orders to report to the kindergarten.

 

‘I had no attachment to a company I was leaving anyway, but this isn’t right.’

 

Throughout the journey to the kindergarten, his head was complicated.

 

It was true that he liked children.

 

If only his wife hadn’t passed away from illness 20 years ago…

 

‘Maybe by now I would have had grown children and grandchildren old enough to attend kindergarten.’

 

Not remarrying until now because he couldn’t forget his departed wife was his choice, so he had no regrets.

 

‘But… that’s why I have no childcare experience.’

 

Apart from liking children, he didn’t really know how to deal with ‘children’ as beings.

 

Kang Beom-seok sighed in front of the kindergarten he had arrived at.

 

‘Should I say I can’t do it even now and go back?’

 

Just as he was wondering whether he should go back and grab the representative’s pants leg saying he couldn’t do it.

 

The door opened, and a young man with a white, youthful face appeared.

 

‘Isn’t that the teacher I saw in the conference room yesterday?’

 

“Hello. I didn’t expect to meet you like this, but I’m Na Hwi-yeon in charge of the 7-Year-Old Dolphin Class. Please take care of me.”

 

Behind him, more young and energetic people could be seen.

 

Their voices were too quiet to hear, but they were all looking at him and smiling welcomingly.

 

Seeing their appearance, which looked even younger up close, a surge of emotion welled up from deep in his chest.

 

‘That rotten bastard!! To such young and innocent-looking people!’

 

Kang Beom-seok, filled with anger mixed with pity, ended up declaring in his heart.

 

‘At least I have to protect these people and the children!’

 

Not knowing what those young people’s smiles and welcome truly meant.

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