Dungeon Refrigerator 252

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Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Promise

After parting ways with Unkai, the two continue walking along the embankment. Well, it's just me and Serai-san.

The weather is good, and if it weren't for the current situation, it would be a perfect day for a walk. In peaceful times, joggers and dog walkers would have crowded this area.

Right after the Dungeon Stampede broke out, the monsters were frenzied and showed extreme aggression.

However, as time passes, they start to calm down, showing behaviors that seem more natural to them. This was the case during the previous stampede, and now it feels like we're entering that same phase.

And there, we spot new figures along the riverbank.

"They're up to something again, aren't they..."

"Yeah, seems that way."

What we saw were three young men armed and carrying camera equipment, seemingly filming something.

A pile of dead monsters, which they likely defeated, was stacked nearby, and one of them was posing with his foot on the corpses.

Noticing us, the three started approaching.

Serai-san and I exchanged glances quickly. She switched to her business smile, the one she often uses at the store, while I readjusted my helmet and readied myself for any trouble.

Because, in times like these, anyone wandering outside is either a good person, a bad person, or just plain strange.

So, we have to be prepared in case they're the bad type. Me? I know I'm the strange type. Don't make me say it.

"Yo, wassup~!"

"Hello."

The lighthearted young man at the front greeted us, and Serai-san returned it with a smile. In situations like these, we have a silent agreement that the social butterfly, Serai-san, takes the lead.

"So, like, you two seem like the type who dive into dungeons too, right? Haha... Actually, we do that too, and we, uh, also stream videos... So, like, would it be cool if we asked you for a quick interview or something??"

The guy spoke with a long, drawn-out tone. Hearing this, Serai-san glanced at me, asking what we should do. This time, I stepped forward, switching places with her.

"Sorry, we're in a bit of a hurry."

"Oh, okay... Maybe some other time, then. Later!"

The group of young men, after being turned down, chatted among themselves, saying things like, "That girl was super cute," as they descended the embankment. We watched them go back to the pile of monster corpses, then resumed our walk.

"Egetsu-san, were you a little irritated with those guys?"

"Hmm, yeah, I suppose."

"Huh, they seemed like pretty normal kids though."

"True. It’s just... standing on a corpse, even if it's a monster, rubs me the wrong way."

"Oh, right. You take care of Pixies, and your left leg is a slime too."

Exactly.

I also believe there's a certain 'respect among those who fight for their lives,' even when it comes to monsters. This is just my personal view, though, and I can't force it on others.

Still, it’s not like I can’t understand their actions at all.

I mean, when I had to finish off that giant red scorpion and its mob of monsters that chased me relentlessly, I kicked them a few times too, thinking, "Take that, you!"

But making a spectacle of death feels wrong.

Posing on top of a pile of monster corpses might make for a cool shot, and viewers might love it, but I can't help but wonder how they would feel if someone did that to the bodies of monsters who had become their allies.

I watch a lot of survival videos too, and I love those kinds of streams.

But in those, when they kill something, they make sure to properly prepare and eat it, showing gratitude for its life. That's a far cry from just standing on it to show how tough you are.

"Do you think those kids would change if they knew monsters could become allies?"

"Yeah, I hope so..."

That said, I have no intention of spreading the idea that monsters can become allies.

Humans are selfish and absurd creatures. Even now, workplaces rife with power harassment are all too common, and history is full of atrocities like slavery and human trafficking.

If humans treat each other like this, what would happen if monsters were added to the mix? It’s impossible to know for sure, but I fear it won't end well.

(...Ssn)

(I know, Queen. I'll protect the Pixies we have now, and as soon as I'm ready, I'll save the Pixies still bound by the dungeon too.)

The promise I made with the Pixie Queen.

It’s to save the Pixies still trapped under the dungeon’s control. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely keep that promise.