Dungeon Refrigerator 240

Test

Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Incident

If monsters were to attack from underground, what kind of creatures would they be...?

If they were animals, maybe moles? If insects, perhaps crickets or ants. But if crickets or ants were the size of humans, they'd be as terrifying as aliens. Their sharp jaws would tear through flesh, and their strong acid would melt skin.

As I run towards where people are anxiously looking, I glance at the schoolyard filled with cars.

(No abnormalities on the ground...)

Yeah, the last thing I want is for the ground to suddenly split open and for a monster like a giant movie monster to appear. If something like that showed up, we'd have no way to deal with it. At that point, we'd have no choice but to call the Special Science Task Force.

As I think about this while running, I meet up with Serai-san in front of the annex.

"Egetsu-san, I heard a monster appeared here!"

"What!? I knew it!"

It seems the problem is in the annex.

If so, then it's not an attack from underground but rather an invasion through the drainage system!? If that's the case, it’s likely a slime or worm-like monster.

"Alright, let's proceed with caution."

We silently enter the annex.

The main building and the annex are connected on the second floor and above, but the first floor is just a simple corridor. As a result, you can enter directly through the open door. In the annex hallway, several female students were crouched down, unable to move.

"(Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?)"

Noticing them, Serai-san immediately approaches to check on them. Meanwhile, I use aura detection to locate the monster.

(Hmm... No suspicious signs? What’s going on...)

But we can't let our guard down. In past battles, there were cases like the evil apple monster and the giant black spider, which were so huge yet gave off no presence when still. We must remain vigilant.

"(Did you see the monster?)"

[ (Shakes head...)]

The female student shakes her head in response to Serai-san's question.

She seems too frightened to speak. But if she hasn’t seen the monster, why is she so scared... Could it be that she panicked from the screams of the other students? Well, that's understandable; the school is surrounded by monsters. They must have been constantly anxious about when they might invade the school.

However, with our arrival, the female students who had been keeping their distance now gather around, relieved. Some of them begin to approach Serai-san timidly, trying to ask what’s going on.

But Serai-san turns around and stops them with a hand gesture.

She then draws her mithril baton from her waist, imbuing it with magic to make it glow.

"(It's dangerous, so stay back...)"

[ Ubon...! ]

Seeing Serai-san's cool, knight-like stance, the female students gasp, covering their mouths and exclaiming, "Wow, she's so cool!" Even though it’s just a baton, it looks really impressive when it’s glowing.

Yeah, well, that’s just how it is...

Serai-san always wanted to dive into dungeons, so she’s got that side to her. It seems something in her has blossomed in this environment where she’s adored by the female students.

(Mmm...)

I wanted to do something cool to compete, but no matter what I did, I felt like I’d just lose to Serai-san. So, I decided to let her have the spotlight and created a large rock salt shield, taking on the role of the shield-bearer.

"(Let's go...)"

[ (Swoosh!) ]

Without using her hands, Serai-san manipulates her mask with magic, turning it into a full-face mask. Wow, that’s pretty impressive too. Serai-san seems really motivated, so I’ll leave this to her.

Quietly moving along the wall, we identified the room where the problem seemed to have started.

(Hmm... This place?)

But it turned out to be the home economics room we visited this morning.

Peeking through the small window in the closed door, I couldn’t make out much. Deciding we had no choice but to go in, we nodded at each other, timed our move, and burst into the home economics room.

[ Clatter...! Dash!! ]

We charged in with a column formation. I took the lead, using my shield to block or push back the enemy, allowing Serai-san to finish them off.

"What the...!?"

"Huh!?"

However, there was no trace of a monster in the home economics room. Instead, on the floor, there was a long, milky-white, squishy object lying there.

"Wait, could this be...?"

"Is this...? Ah, I see what's going on."

"Egetsu-san, do you know what this is?"

Yes, I understand now... Who the culprit of this incident is!