Dungeon Refigerator 239

Test

Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Overwork

A few days after the Self-Defense Forces arrived.

Before Tonami could even take a breather, she and the others were once again caught up in a whirlwind of busy days. The reason being, there was no other facility in the area that was both intact and capable of accommodating a large number of people, besides the super sento where Tonami worked.

So, the super sento had quickly been turned into a shelter for the disaster victims.

Tonami didn’t know what kind of discussions were held at the top. But before long, a massive amount of medical supplies was hauled into the healing spot, Leaf, where Tonami worked. Along with them came doctors and nurses who immediately began treating the injured right there.

However, no matter how limited the number of beds was, it was intolerable for them to do as they pleased at her workplace. Though Tonami and the others kept a close watch to prevent this, they soon found themselves roped into helping.

"Ugh...!"

"Hmm, there's nothing more we can do. Hey, do you want to live or die?"

The elderly doctor with bulging eyes and gray hair brusquely asked the young man who had been brought in with a severe injury.

"Uh...huh?"

"I'm saying it's impossible to treat this arm. Well, if you value your life, I'll cut it off. If the arm matters more, go elsewhere."

"What...what do you mean...?"

"Answer quickly, fool! There are others waiting!"

With that, the elderly doctor used a metal spatula to press down on the man's right arm, swollen and purple. But wasn't that tool supposed to be for examining the tongue...?

"Gyaaaahhh!!"

"Hmph! What kind of monster's poison is this? I have no idea what to do with it."

Despite the man's bloodcurdling scream, the doctor grumbled without concern.

But even he had been grumbling about being 'dragged out of retirement against his will.' Tonami had never found the absence of a license renewal system for doctors so terrifying.

But there was nothing she could do.

As the doctor had said, Tonami couldn't begin to imagine what kind of monster had attacked the man to make his arm swell like that.

"M-my arm..."

"Cut it off? Keep it?"

"C-cut it off, please!"

"Made up your mind, huh? Good, good for you! Then let's get it done!"

Once the treatment was decided, things moved quickly. A towel was shoved into the man's mouth, and his arm was tied off at the base. A strong Self-Defense Forces member swung down a machete with full force.

[Thud!]

"Guh...uuuuuurrrgh!!!"

The man arched his back in agony as his arm was severed.

"Don't cry just yet! One more step to go!"

[Fwoooosh!]

"Guuh...uuuuuurgh!!!"

A gas burner flame was applied to the severed arm to cauterize and disinfect the wound, causing the man to pass out from the unbearable pain.

This had been the scene unfolding in front of Tonami's eyes for the past few days.

At first, the doctors and nurses had managed to treat patients adequately, but they were soon overwhelmed by the endless stream of severely injured people. On top of that, the medical supplies quickly ran out, and now they were using super sento towels as makeshift bandages.

The situation was dire enough to make one wonder, 'Is it better to receive treatment or not?'

"Whew...alright, next one. Sorry, but can you handle the disposal of those parts over there?"

"Oh... yes, I understand!"

Tonami, double-gloved in an apron and vinyl gloves, was asked by the elderly doctor to dispose of the severed parts. She carried them out in a linen cart, covered.

...

"Damn it, it's you again! This isn't an incinerator! Keep doing this, and you'll ruin the furnace!"

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry. They said they’d bill the Self-Defense Forces later, so please include the repair costs for the furnace too."

"Tch...! Just leave it there. I'll handle it later."

"Thank you, I'm sorry."

Tonami, who had headed to the boiler room, bowed repeatedly to the grumpy boiler man, begging him to incinerate the remains. 'Why am I doing this?' she thought, but she knew someone had to do it. If they didn't burn them, secondary infections could occur, making things even worse.

(Sigh... I’m so tired...)

Leaning against the wall, Tonami let out a mental sigh in the deserted hallway of the back area. But before she could catch her breath, someone rudely called out from behind her.

"Toga-senpai, got a moment?"

"......"

Too tired to respond, she turned around silently. Standing there was a younger male colleague, dressed in the facility's uniform with his left arm in a sling.

"Senpai, I really like you! So, please go out with me!"

"...What are you saying at a time like this?"

"Precisely because it's a time like this! Senpai, I'm really in love with you!"

How many times had he said this already...? Tonami felt her patience wearing thin with his persistence.

A junior colleague, who had recklessly ignored everyone's warnings and rushed outside, bringing back a monster and endangering everyone in the facility.

Normally, he should have been scolded harshly by everyone. But since he was gravely injured and had hovered between life and death, he had escaped all blame.

However, after waking up and recovering, he had persistently asked Tonami to go out with him, claiming she saved his life. While she might have seemed like a goddess of salvation to him, to Tonami and the others, he was nothing but a jinx.

"I called the Self-Defense Forces and saved this place, didn't I? I think I'm pretty brave and quite the catch, if I say so myself. Just now, a cute girl even hit on me. So, Senpai, this is definitely your chance too!"

What on earth did he mean by 'chance'...?

Before he met the Self-Defense Forces, he had encountered a monster and come running back in tears. Thankfully, the forces had arrived just in time, but at that moment, Tonami had genuinely feared for her life.

(Self-centered...is this what they call a psychopath or someone living in a fantasy world...?)

Her strong-willed, tomboyish niece had once been furious, ranting about something like this.

Someone who could only see things from their own perspective, only thinking about their own interests and convenience. Recently, he had even been telling others that 'Tonami's in love with me but is playing hard to get.'

Honestly, it was enough to give her a headache.

"Toga-san! Hurry back, we're short on hands!"

"Oh, okay! I'm coming!"

As soon as her coworker’s voice echoed through the busy back area, Tonami averted her gaze from the annoying junior and started running, though unsteady.

Overwork upon overwork. Exhaustion upon exhaustion.

It felt as if her heart was creaking under the strain. Yet, as a working adult, determined to fulfill her responsibilities, Tonami responded to the call and ran as hard as she could.