My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon

Chapter 238:

Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Intense Struggles

The heavy machinery fighters were out picking Dokudami for making tinctures.

Experience counts, but among the baby boomers, some were simply lucky to ride the wave of rapid economic growth, mistaking it for their own prowess, and ended up as nothing but boastful, incompetent middle-aged men.

However, the heavy machinery fighters were a cut above the rest and showed it brilliantly.

[Heeyo! Heeyo! Chichichichi…!]

Under the clear, sunny sky, I joined them for a tea break.

The spot was outdoors, right behind the janitor's room. It was a little open space with a small garden and an incinerator, a hidden relaxation spot within the school, invisible from the playground.

The group included the heavy machinery fighters, some old ladies, and high school girls who were helping out.

These old ladies, it turns out, were once notorious for eating plants around the school grounds. They devoured everything from edible clovers and mugwort to lilies blooming on campus.

But feeling guilty, they volunteered to help pick Dokudami when the heavy machinery fighters started gathering it for medicinal purposes.

Well, if they helped the people protecting the school, they could justify picking some clover and mugwort along the way.

“Mmm, this is delicious!”

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“Absolutely! It tastes just like sea urchin!”

Right now, the giant dried clam strips I offered as snacks were getting rave reviews from the old ladies.

I made them thin, like dried squid, thinking that the texture might make even monster meat more palatable.

But somehow, when the bitter Dokudami tea meets the umami of the giant clam strips in the mouth, it turns into a rich sea urchin flavor.

Yes, supplies are running low, so we’re drinking homemade Dokudami tea since we’re out of regular tea.

Of course, the tea is intensely bitter, so everyone is drinking it diluted. But strangely enough, this diluted Dokudami tea pairs perfectly with the giant dried clam strips.

“Tasty, right?”

“Yeah, really tasty!”

Even the high school girls loved it. Could we sell this in Shibuya? Or are they just really hungry?

The high school girls here include some who are just following their mothers, the notorious plant-eating ladies, and a few who genuinely enjoy gardening.

“Alright, if anyone wants seconds, just raise your plate over here!”

So, I sliced more giant clam strips with a sharp rock salt knife for the hungry girls. Yeah, this is like slicing noodles.

[Shush, shush, shush, shush, shush…!]

“You’re pretty handy with that knife, kid.”

“Thanks. I guess I owe it to the dungeon. But haven’t you guys grown stronger, too, thanks to gaining status?”

“Yeah, but we can’t just sit in heavy machinery all the time. The high school girls fighting on foot are growing faster than we are.”

“Hmm… True, getting out of the machinery every time to fight monsters would be a hassle.”

To gain life energy, you have to be near the monster you defeated. It’s like being close enough to feel its breath.

If you’re too far away, you won’t be able to absorb the life energy even if you defeat the monster.

“Still, we’ve gotten a lot stronger than before! Thanks, kid!”

“Haha, and I’m grateful that you’re protecting the school my friend attends!”

With that, we shared a firm handshake.

But even as we shook hands, the heavy machinery fighters, especially the leader, were looking a bit antsy. They probably wanted to kick back with some drinks and the giant clam strips.

“(Leader, don’t worry, the snacks aren’t going anywhere.)”

“(Oh? I know that. But that delicious-looking crab… I want to eat it already!)”

Well, I just showed it to you earlier. I haven’t handed it over yet because it’d be a hassle if someone found it and caused trouble. Teasing you with it doesn’t really benefit anyone, does it?

“(Aaaahh!!)”

Just then, we heard a distant scream.

“(Aaaahh!!)”

““(Aaaahh!!)””

“““Aaaahh!!”””

When one high school girl screams, it seems to resonate with the others, and soon, a huge wave of screams rippled through the area.

“Hm, could it be…!?”

“Hey! Could it be… an underground attack!?”

The heavy machinery leader quickly picked up on my concern, sparked by the screams within the school.

“Yeah, I can’t imagine any monster making it past the Pixies’ alert system on the surface. But if there’s screaming on campus, it might mean an attack from underground!”

“Hey, that’s bad news, kid!”

“Leader, get your machinery ready! I’m going to check out the scene!”

“Got it! Everyone, run to the excavator now!”

““Got it!””

Everyone sprang to their feet and started running like arrows.

Damn… This is a classic defensive scenario. I was on guard, but there’s no way to fully prepare for an underground attack. If it is an underground attack, this school is completely defenseless…

(Please, let it be something else…!)

Avoiding the panicked students and tracing the source of the screams, I couldn’t help but pray.