Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 79

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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 079

 

The situation regarding the treatment of the injured came to a close.

 

Lee Gyeon, Tae-jae’s supervisor and Field Team Ga’s team leader, spoke to everyone with a complexion that seemed to have aged ten years in just a short while.

 

“…It seems we’ll have to escape on our own.”

 

Not surprising at all.

 

It’s already been well over an hour since we got trapped in the mine.

 

There’s been no news of rescue, let alone any sounds from outside, so I had suspected something had gone wrong…

 

‘I guess others didn’t think the same.’

 

I’m surprised that I’m naturally having such thoughts. Maybe it’s because I’ve experienced too many life-threatening situations.

 

However, fortunately, despite Lee Gyeon’s shocking news, there’s no particular backlash or complaints from the people.

 

Everyone seemed to choose to keep their mouths shut out of consideration for young Tae-jae.

 

‘Yeah, let’s handle this well.’

 

Lee Gyeon, who had expected complaints to fly his way, hesitated for a moment, but soon began explaining the current situation in detail as if nothing had happened.

 

“About 1 hour and 40 minutes have passed since we requested rescue, but there’s still no news. Normally, when a disaster occurs inside a dungeon, the safest principle is to not leave your position and wait for the field teams to rescue you, but…”

 

However, in the current situation, taking that ‘proper stance’ would be quite inefficient.

 

“So I think escaping on our own would be a better option.”

 

Now it’s uncertain when rescue will come.

 

It could be tomorrow, next week, or even next month.

 

After a brief silence and discussion.

 

Everyone looked at each other and nodded in unison.

 

The result was… unanimous agreement.

 

Lee Gyeon looked at Lee Ju-shin and asked.

 

“Who knows the geography of this dungeon best?”

 

“…That researcher over there.”

 

At Lee Ju-shin’s call, the shaggy-haired researcher straightened his work clothes and walked out from the corner.

 

“Is there a way to get outside from here?”

 

“What we can hope for in this situation is probably the Section C Mine Entrance? If that’s blocked too… we’re screwed.”

 

“…Please explain the Section C Mine Entrance in detail.”

 

The shaggy-haired researcher adjusted his horn-rimmed glasses slightly and continued speaking.

 

“The A, B, and C section mines are all connected at the center. If you keep going inside like this, you’ll come to a crossroads leading to the Section C mine. Then you just go there… Simple, right?”

 

…And so, following the shaggy-haired researcher’s words, we’re walking deeper into the mine.

 

And our Tae-jae with his short legs…

 

“Tae-jae, I can carry you.”

 

“I like this Gudal. You shouldn’t get tired. Come here comfortably.”

 

‘So does that mean it’s okay for Lee Ju-shin to get tired?’

 

For some reason, he declared he would be carried by Lee Ju-shin.

 

Lee Ju-shin, who ended up carrying the child, was walking awkwardly like a broken robot.

 

 

The mine was quite deep.

 

Here and there, angular milky ore was embedded in the walls and ceiling.

 

The shaggy-haired researcher walking beside me saw me looking around with curiosity and said.

 

“Interesting, right? This milky ore only comes from the F-rank Ellumis’ Sanctuary here. It’s mainly used as material for weapons used by C-rank and above hunters, or in potions.”

 

The researcher, who had been looking at the ore like his own child, finally muttered quietly. ‘Of course, it’s a wonderful ore that still has new uses discovered from time to time, so there’s plenty to research.’

 

…Ah, yes. I see.

 

Somehow he has a similar vibe to my hyung, so I want to avoid him.

 

After exchanging information about the ore with the researcher a few more times out of courtesy, we soon entered the crossroads leading to Section C.

 

After walking for quite a while from there, as we gradually approached the Section C mine entrance.

 

——!!!

 

Noisy sounds could be heard.

 

From that point on, everyone’s walking pace quickened. Bright light began to faintly appear from the far end…

 

“I can see outside!!”

 

That was right.

 

The entrance to Section C mine wasn’t blocked!

 

Joyful cheers and shouts erupted from here and there.

 

‘It was a short time, but I went through all kinds of physical and mental suffering.’

 

I too felt the stuffiness in my chest suddenly clear up. However, behind the feeling of relief came a subtle uneasiness.

 

‘But… why?’

 

As the wide-open entrance became visible to the naked eye, one question arose simultaneously.

 

What could be the reason why swift rescue wasn’t carried out even though not all three entrances were blocked?

 

‘Don’t tell me the rescue request itself never went out?’

 

“Hurry up and get out! Get out!”

 

I tried to shake off the uneasiness and came outside along with people’s urgings.

 

***

 

The F-rank ‘Elumis’ Sanctuary’ is a fairly peaceful dungeon made up of endless blue skies and dense trees.

 

At least, until two hours ago.

 

Having come out of the mine, I was left speechless by the scene immediately visible.

 

At a relatively close distance, I could see what appeared to be over 30 field team members and… fairies holding sharpened stones in their hands.

 

More precisely, a group of pissed-off Ellumis.

 

“Didn’t Ellumis originally only carry tree leaves around?”

 

A miner’s bewildered voice could be heard.

 

However, I felt like letting out an absurd laugh that went beyond bewilderment.

 

 

A sensation similar to when I used Taming Ability on animals.

 

Slowly but accurately, what the Ellumis were saying was translated into human language and reached my ears.

 

…I was shocked alone upon hearing those sounds.

 

Could ‘benevolent’ and ‘thug’ actually be words that go together? No, that’s not the problem…

 

‘So… the reason they’re angry is because we took too much of their poop?’

 

What kind of talk is this?

 

***

 

Ellumis holding sharpened stone fragments and fuming angrily.

 

I observed these small, tiny fairies in a dazed state.

 

These fairies with transparent bodies resembling deep-sea creatures seemed to move with fluttering wings attached to their backs.

 

And their angry voices still reached my ears.

 

‘No matter how many times I hear it, it’s dizzying.’

 

When the thin fairy voices, almost like high-frequency noise, were translated into human language…

 

-What’s the reason you keep taking our excrement?

 

-At first we allowed it because we couldn’t handle it ourselves, but this is going too far.

 

-Shouldn’t you leave enough for us to tend to the forest?

 

…That could be said to be the main content of their complaints.

 

I didn’t even have the presence of mind to be confused by the suddenly activated Lower Open Source, as the content was more shocking.

 

Wait a minute…

 

But am I the only one who can hear this?

 

Looking around, I could see people who looked like they were dying of frustration and groups of Ellumis.

 

After gesturing at each other in the air, they would let out deep sighs, or a fairy trying to pick one person to strike with a stone axe would be restrained by a neighboring fairy.

 

‘…Is this why they had no time to rescue us?’

 

Just then, I saw Lee Gyeon approaching the people who were wrestling with the Ellumis.

 

‘Well, well. I guess they finally noticed us.’

 

As I felt the outside situation was quite different from what I expected, the people who had survived with difficulty also became eager to assess the situation.

 

“What’s going on?”

 

“It looks like the Ellumis are currently blocking the gate.”

 

“It’s not just the gate. From what I can see, they seem to be acting with the intention of tying up those people over there completely.”

 

“Doesn’t anyone have a guess about the reason? Ah, this is really… I was just thinking about going outside for a bit.”

 

As someone unfamiliar with this ecosystem, I couldn’t understand why those people over there were struggling so much against the fairies.

 

‘Against those tiny fairies?’

 

They were only about the size of a child’s fist at most.

 

Unable to contain my curiosity, I asked the shaggy-haired researcher.

 

The researcher then pointed at Ellumis with his finger and said.

 

“Ellumis are incredibly docile for dungeon monsters. They’re friendly toward humans too. And… they’re pretty, aren’t they?”

 

Pretty?

 

I’m not so sure about that… The researchers all seem to have broken aesthetic functions.

 

“Because of their appearance, everyone hesitates to harm them. Plus, we haven’t figured out the causal relationship yet, but it seems like the ore in the mine continues to generate only when Ellumis are present.”

 

…I think I know what that causal relationship is.

 

The situation where Ellumis are angry about why humans keep taking away their ‘excrement,’ but the only thing humans mine from this dungeon is ‘milky ore.’

 

Which means…

 

‘That’s poop. Ellumis poop.’

 

Though I reached this clean conclusion, I quietly swallowed that thought. For now, let me just pretend to agree with what the researcher said.

 

So, to summarize… The relationship used to be good, so they’re reluctant to kill them, and they can’t have conflicts if they want to keep extracting resources?

 

…From Ellumis’ perspective, that would be infuriating, wouldn’t it?

 

In a way, they generously allowed humans to take their excrement(?), but despite taking it all without a word, the humans are looking down on them.

 

‘This is a one-sided good relationship.’

 

Just then, I asked Lee Gyeon, who was returning toward us with an unpleasant expression.

 

“Can’t we at least get outside the gate?”

 

“No, Ellumis will block us from reaching the exit leading to the gate… Currently, they’re looking for an awakener who can communicate with monsters.”

 

“I guess there isn’t one.”

 

“For now, it seems the field team is planning to proceed with the remaining rescue operations while avoiding Ellumis’ attention. Going home… doesn’t seem possible right now.”

 

I pondered for a moment.

 

‘Thinking of Tae-jae, I want to go back right away.’

 

I had already cried once and exhausted a lot of energy healing people.

 

It would be strange if I wasn’t tired and worn out.

 

When I remained silent, Lee Gyeon hurriedly left, saying he would look for other ways to contact the outside.

 

In the meantime, I finished my deliberation.

 

Looking at the conclusion.

 

If I want to go home right away… those two species need to reach an amicable agreement, right?

 

Then, there’s a way.

 

It’s a bit troublesome and complicated, but.

 

I turned my head and spoke to the shaggy-haired researcher.

 

“What if I told you I know the secret of the ore here? Would you believe me?”

 

I threw out an opening line that would drive any researcher crazy.

—————
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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