Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 7

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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 007

 

 

“How do you cause an accident on your very first day at work?”

 

“…I’m sorry.”

 

“I’ve seen people run away on their first day, but I’ve never seen someone cause such a major accident?”

 

“You burned down the entire classroom, broke the windows, and why is all the furniture in such a state??”

 

“…”

 

The Principal couldn’t contain his anger and even muttered curses.

 

“Say something. Say something!! This… damn it.”

 

What’s the point of telling me to keep talking when you don’t even give me time to speak?

 

If I actually tried to explain here, I’d only get cursed at even more.

 

And based on my big data, in cases like this, whether you speak or stay silent, you just end up in a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t situation.

 

And I wasn’t the one who caused the accident. I was actually cleaning up the mess.

 

…Of course, that’s probably not important to you.

 

“What kind of chaos is this when even the Headquarters staff can see it!! How many times is this now…”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

For the record, this is my first time.

 

“…Teacher Hwiyeon is on her first day at work.”

 

Park I-deun barely stopped Kwon Hae-seong from tactlessly trying to chime in by elbowing him in the ribs.

 

…I made eye contact with Park I-deun.

 

Well done. You need to be cautious at times like this.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

The four teachers kept bowing their heads repeatedly. What an ironic reality.

 

The teachers who busted their asses to clean up the mess are getting cursed at, while the Principal who leisurely showed up is the one scolding everyone.

 

Whether it’s part-time work or a regular job, the shitty treatment of employees is exactly the same.

 

“I hired someone from the Early Childhood Education Department, but what’s different about you from other teachers? So annoying, really…”

 

Hey, mister.

 

I was briefly impressed by the Principal’s skill at double-dissing, but then his face turned red again as something else set him off.

 

“And how could the other teachers do that? Evacuating without me!! What if I had died not knowing what was happening!”

 

So that was the problem.

 

With all that chaos going on, it’s strange that he didn’t come up even once and didn’t even try to escape.

 

“…I forgot…”

 

“There are things you can forget and things you can’t! I’m so hurt. I really cherished our teachers like my own daughters and sons, but you abandon me like this?”

 

Even I thought Kwon Hae-seong’s carefully chosen words weren’t a good judgment call.

 

Right now, in this situation, could there be a worse excuse than ‘I forgot’?

 

Sure enough, Park I-deun had clouded eyes and was staring into space.

 

She couldn’t stop him this time.

 

“You said you didn’t forget anything.”

 

Kang Sa-gwa, standing next to me, spoke in a voice small enough that only the Principal couldn’t hear.

 

“…There wasn’t. I didn’t need to take care of the Principal…”

 

Is that so. That figures.

 

Kwon Hae-seong protested timidly as if he felt wronged.

 

“That’s right. He should crawl out on his own.”

 

“Wow, I didn’t think about the Principal at all either.”

 

Yu Jin-chae and Park I-deun also chimed in as if agreeing with Kwon Hae-seong’s words.

 

“He probably fell asleep somewhere again and came running out after hearing the alarm~”

 

“…Haha, um, Teacher Na Hwi-yeon is here too.”

 

Park I-deun belatedly gave a warning while being mindful of me.

 

Even if you try to hide it now, I already heard everything.

 

On the other hand, Yu Jin-chae approached me as if she had no intention of hiding anything.

 

“You should know what you need to know too. As you can see, our Principal is kind of funny.”

 

“…Is that so.”

 

Well. Honestly, when they spouted that nonsense about us being like sons and daughters, it did seem a little funny.

 

…Probably irony.

 

“Yes~ That’s what I’m saying. Just try going for about one more week. You’ll find yourself grinning just from seeing the Principal’s face, you know?”

 

I deeply suspected that laughter would be a bitter smile from going insane, but I didn’t ask.

 

Instead, with the mindset of just getting through work life, I earnestly nodded my head.

 

Oh, by the way, the Principal couldn’t hear our conversation among the four of us. He was too busy raging and fuming by himself, pacing back and forth in the courtyard.

 

…Since we were whispering with our heads down, he probably couldn’t hear us well anyway.

 

“What a waste. It would have been nice if he had just kept sleeping peacefully like that.”

 

So Kang Sa-gwa’s cold words like this didn’t reach the Principal’s ears either.

 

“Haha! Our Sa-gwa teacher must also find the Principal funny… haha.”

 

“Really…. Is that so?”

 

Behind Park I-deun’s desperate defense, Kwon Hae-seong’s lukewarm question was the finishing touch.

 

“Do you want to know?”

 

“…No, I’d rather not know.”

 

I also shook my head following Kwon Hae-seong.

 

I think I know, but I want to remain ignorant until the end.

 

“Teacher Na Hwi-yeon.”

 

While listening to the Principal’s sermon that wouldn’t end, someone lightly tapped my shoulder.

 

When I glanced to the side, an unexpected person was looking at me.

 

Teacher Kang Sa-gwa?

 

“Yes.”

 

“Go see the medical team quickly. From what I can see, it looks like you’re hurt around your side.”

 

She said this while glancing toward my side.

 

‘Oh, right.’

 

I thought I was standing well without it showing, but my posture must have been leaning to one side because of the pain.

 

“Is it okay for me to go now?”

 

“Don’t worry. There are two people here who are exceptional at drawing attention.”

 

Before I could even answer, Kwon Hae-seong blocked in front of me with his large frame.

 

Kang Sa-gwa waved her hands quickly, gesturing for me to hurry and go.

 

While puzzled by their strangely changed attitudes, I nimbly stepped back, afraid of being caught by the Principal again.

 

‘Whatever the case, I’m grateful.’

 

I took a backstep and then quickly turned around, walking as if on alert. I headed straight toward the medical team’s vehicle parked at the kindergarten’s main gate.

 

It was then that the phone in my apron rang.

 

-Ding.

 

I stopped walking and took out my work phone to check it.

 

 

Baek Cheonhyeong (Baek Cheonji’s Guardian): I heard there was a fire at the kindergarten building, is everything okay? I received word that you resolved the situation.

 

The work phone that had pre-registered parents and other emergency contacts stored in it.

 

…Baek Cheonhyeong would be the current representative of BOND and the guardian of Baek Cheonji from Dolphin Class.

 

Cheonji didn’t come to kindergarten today due to a family trip. So this text seems to be a contact as an employer rather than as a guardian.

 

I thought for a moment and then typed out my organized thoughts in a text message.

 

Me: The recovery team and medical team are currently here. All the children and teachers are fine. Thank you for your concern.

 

Regardless of how the situation turned out, since this side suffered property damage, I’m quite conscious of it.

 

Baek Cheonhyeong (Baek Cheonji’s Guardian): How did you resolve it? I’d like to come check it out myself, but I’m busy with work.

 

…I thought the situation investigation was supposed to be done by the Security Team or something.

 

‘Is he asking because he wants to know in advance?’

 

But, the thing is.

 

‘How should I explain this?’

 

So many things happened that it seems like it wouldn’t be enough to explain it in a condensed version.

 

Honestly, I was also worried they might think I’m crazy.

 

In the end, I conveyed it using a combination of ambiguous word choices.

 

Me: The other teachers helped too, and most importantly, I contacted someone I know and they quickly helped me. I think it’s fortunate that it was resolved well.^^

 

-Ding.

 

Baek Cheonhyeong: Is the person you know perhaps someone from our side? I’m curious ^^

 

Hmm… It’s difficult to say more than this.

 

Me: No. They’re outsiders. Despite their nickname Dongaksan Fighter, they’re kind people. ^^

 

Our Dongaksan Fighters left coolly as if they had done their job once the fire was extinguished.

 

They occasionally looked my way, seeming to try to give me something resembling a smile, but I’m not sure.

 

Their bouncing figures as they left were comparable to any movie hero.

 

If Baek Cheonhyeong had seen them, he would have created a bonus that didn’t exist before with tears in his eyes.

 

-Ding.

 

Baek Cheonhyeong: Dongaksan Fighter, huh. They seem like interesting people. I’d really like to greet them too. ^^

 

 

When did you say they were insignificant?

 

I unconsciously discovered some resentment I had stored away and decided to include a bit of it.

 

I’m not usually such a petty person.

 

 

…On my first day of work, I showed the spirit of talking back to my employer after going crazy from exhaustion.

 

***

 

After both the medical team and recovery team left, the Kindergarten regained its peace.

 

I received treatment with a D-Grade Recovery Potion and a large bandage wrapped around my side.

 

They said D-Grade could cover minor bruises or burns, and it was true.

 

I couldn’t say it healed completely like new, but it was already healing to a degree that was noticeable to the naked eye.

 

Thinking about the market price of D-Grade Recovery Potions sold commercially, I could recall a spine-chilling price.

 

It’s definitely worth the money.

 

Thanks to that, I was able to continue my afternoon work.

 

“Oh, I got a call. I’ll go pick up the kids for a moment.”

 

Since Dolphin Class was a complete mess, the recovery team had taken it over. Following the news that it would take at least two days to restore it to its original state, we moved to Seal Class next door.

 

“Yes… Take care.”

 

Leaving behind Kwon Hae-seong, who was lying on the floor being used as playthings by the children, I hurriedly went outside.

 

In the distance, I could see two short children and one adult.

 

The two children scheduled to arrive in the afternoon.

 

Kim Noah, Nam Tae-jae.

 

“Hello, ma’am.”

 

I slightly bowed my waist and put on a friendly face.

 

“Oh my, teacher! Hello!”

 

Then, a woman with long straight hair smiled and greeted me back.

 

“I’m Na Hwi-yeon, and I’ll be taking over Dolphin Class starting today. Please take care of me.”

 

Whose mother is she? I definitely heard that the only siblings in Dolphin Class were twins.

 

As the distance gradually closed, one mischievous-looking boy was particularly identical to the woman.

 

‘They’re practically from the same mold.’

 

While exchanging simple greetings, I carefully observed the other friend too. This one had a rather calm impression.

 

“I should be the one asking you to take care of us. Our Noah is a troublemaker, so you might… have a hard time.”

 

“All kids are like that. It’s good when they play energetically.”

 

“Ah, haha, that’s right. That’s right…! This child is Tae-jae. Nam Tae-jae. We live in the same apartment, same building section, and he comes to school in my car. But today Noah overslept…”

 

“Auntie, I’m fine. I was able to sleep well thanks to this.”

 

…Hm?

 

My eyes naturally widened at his speaking skills that were hard to believe for a 7-year-old.

 

The calm-looking boy approached without hesitation and naturally joined the conversation.

 

“Noah’s bed is warm and nice.”

 

The child wearing a mask was quite dignified.

 

“Hey Nam Tae-jae! Let’s play with our Bomb Potion today! I made an E-grade Potion yesterday!”

 

“Good heavens, Kim Noah! You actually managed to make that? Mom said to only play with Wind Potions! I’m seriously going crazy because of you. Crazy.”

 

“Why? Wind Potions are boring!”

 

“Because they’re dangerous, that’s why!”

 

I focused on managing my expression. Even Wind Potions weren’t exactly suitable for kids to play with…

 

During the brief argument between the mother and son, Tae-jae slowly approached me.

 

Then he bent his waist in a full 90-degree bow. His yellow bag suddenly slid down his bent waist, almost touching the floor.

 

However, paying no mind to it, he maintained the angle as if his head would touch the floor. Then he greeted me in a calm tone.

 

“Hello, teacher. My name is Nam Tae-jae.”

 

“…Hello, Tae-jae.”

 

“Please take good care of me.”

 

I accepted Tae-jae’s greeting while organizing information about the two children.

 

Noah requires attention.

 

Tae-jae is a little gentleman from Cheonghak-dong.

 

Following the twins, I felt these were also quite formidable children.

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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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