My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon

Chapter 228:

Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Love

Oh, come to think of it, I've leveled up.

Continuing from yesterday, I fought by swinging around a giant rock salt warhammer, so my power has increased significantly. I also tried precise attacks with a thrusting sword, but my ‘dexterity' remains elusive.

Current Previous

Level 17 16

Race: Human?

Occupation: Teacher

Stats

Strength: 537 479

Intelligence: 543 513

Spirit: 563 521

Agility: 512 455

Luck: 586 555

Melancholy: 282 282

Blessings:

[Salt Spirit] Kiyomikami, [Fairy Queen] Sachimitama, [Red Slime] Junkimitama, [Spatial Monkey] Minion, [Fighting Frog] Minion, [Great Slug] Minion

Skills:

[Strong Acid 2], [Agility 2], [Disease Resistance 7], [Usurpation], [Mucus 7], [Space 6], [Good Luck 1.4], [Footwork], [Meditation], [Salt 5], [Art], [Maggot 2], [Woman], [Martial Arts 6], [Paralysis 4], [Leap 9], [Sturdy 8], [Charm]

Titles:

[Bug King], [Salt Mate], [Salty Guy], [Bug Queen], [Woman Killer], [Bug Friends]

This results in a flat attribute distribution with a balance over 500. The race being ‘Human?' has completely removed the 500 cap. Due to the transfer of life energy, my level has fluctuated, resulting in incredible attribute changes.

(Hmm, at the beginning, leveling up only changed my attributes by about 3, but now it fluctuates by 50 or so. That's an absurd volatility…)

But in percentage terms, it means the base value has increased. Normally, leveling down doesn't happen so easily, so this must be a special case…

"Uh, please be gentler there…"

"Oh, did it hurt? Sorry, sorry. How about this?"

"Yeah, that's good… Ah, feels nice!"

(Phew, glad it worked…)

Practice makes perfect. I can't make women happy with witty talk, but I've learned some healing techniques by studying hard at school.

Well, I also have the dungeon-obtained skill [Charm]. But controlling someone's feelings with that seems wrong, right?

Love should be about mutual connection. Though I'm a complete beginner in love, I have this idealistic view.

The [Charm] skill…

I've only used it to calm Pixies and to help Nina-san, who was on the verge of a mental breakdown. It's so effective that it must never be misused.

If I relied on it, it would make everyone, including myself, unhappy. It's dangerous. Even the Pixies, who were hostile, can be tamed easily.

So the skills [Woman] and [Charm] are permanently sealed. It's a waste, but it can't be helped.

Speaking of love, I'm currently healing my monkey familiars with lots of loving magic. They don't naturally recover even after being turned into cards. Regular magic infusion is necessary.

Carding seems to stop their state.

Even when carded, they remain conscious and will complain like the Pixies if left too long. So, careful attention is needed.

The difference between youkai and dungeon monsters is still unclear.

However, the old hag girl in my dream mentioned her awareness has become clearer lately. This suggests native youkai might also be affected by dungeon occurrences.

(The mossy stone fragments they're said to inhabit are like monster cards. Probably the same mechanism with different standards. Oh, I should have infused magic into those stones too! I only offered water.)

But there was too much chaos to think of that. Besides, I thought they'd prefer dungeon carrots.

"Mmm… snooze, snooze…"

Looks like Serai-san has fallen asleep. My massage, full of love, worked. Today, I am indeed filled with love.

—-

"Huff… huff…! Whoa!?"

"Ah! Are you okay?"

While transporting supplies, Katehina Shozo made a mistake and spilled the contents of a cardboard box. A young volunteer quickly came to his aid. This was near the courthouse, at a community center where he relocated to help the severely injured.

"Oh, I came to help… I'm terribly sorry."

"You still have injuries. Please don't overexert yourself and rest."

Though he had a slight head injury, it wasn't as bad as it looked. His daughter's secret medicine had helped him recover.

With free time during the long evacuation, he decided to volunteer. But within an hour, he was exhausted.

(Another failure…)

Yesterday, he tried to stop a pointless argument among evacuees but was pushed away and told, ‘Who do you think you are?' A passing self-defense officer settled it, but Shozo felt his powerlessness deeply.

(Being a judge without the courthouse is utterly powerless…)

Gathering the scattered cans from the asphalt, he felt lonely. He thanked the young volunteer and returned to the shelter.

"Ah, Katehina-san. How was the volunteer work?"

"Oh, well, I got tired quickly and ended up being a burden, so I left early."

A colleague, also evacuated, greeted him.

"Ah, I see… But that's understandable. We're getting old."

"Yes, you're right. Age is unbeatable."

"But it's nice, isn't it? You have such a kind and beautiful daughter. It's rare for someone to come looking for their father in such dangerous times."

"Oh, well… yes, indeed…"

Shozo, recently feeling down, felt a bit better hearing compliments about his daughter.

Ruu, his beloved only daughter. She was often ill as a child, causing many worries. Despite the danger, she had braved a city filled with monsters to find him.

While it seemed reckless, he felt immense joy.

Just then, the long-unused communication devices in the shelter began to ring. One was Shozo's.

"Go ahead. It must be your family."

"Ah, excuse me…"

He picked up the device. The number displayed was his home.

"Hello?"

[Oh, hello, dear! Are you okay? I heard you were injured.]

It was his wife's voice. He could hear her again.

"Yeah… I'm okay. I'm glad to hear your voice. Are you safe?"

[Yes, Ruu brought a friend and came back. We're fine!]

"Really… Ruu came to me too. Even though it's so dangerous…"

[I know, I know. I'll talk to her. I'm glad you're okay. Hearing your voice…!]

Though he wanted to talk more and hear his wife's voice, tears welled up, and he couldn't speak further. His colleague watched him kindly.

The shelter was filled with the voices of people reconnecting with their families.