Dungeon Refrigerator 273

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Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Request

The grotesque "face-boil man" was taken away, tightly sealed and bound by the soldiers.

Specifically, his body was wrapped in a straw mat like a magician attempting an escape trick, and then further secured with thick chains. His head, covered with boils shaped like human faces, was hidden beneath multiple layers of sandbags. And, of course, those boils had screw-like bolts jammed into their mouths once again.

Still, some questions remain. Yes—what exactly is a "fused entity"...???

Is it even possible for a human to completely transform into a monster in such a short time? …Upon reflection, the first thing that comes to mind is the idea of soul synchronization. When I accepted the Pixie Queen’s offer, my soul immediately merged with hers, becoming a trinity—or rather, a "three-hearted unity."

So, did Tsunami-san’s junior somehow also make a pact with that face-boil creature?

But we’ll never know now… The person in question had already gone mad. While he was still speaking when he attacked us, after being subdued by the soldiers, he could only growl, behaving almost like a wild beast.

What a mess. I thought everything had been neatly resolved...

Though the crisis was over, Tsunami-san was visibly shaken by what had happened to her junior at work. A female colleague was comforting her, but the situation made it difficult for me to leave.

(Poor Tsunami-san… None of this is her fault…)

But when someone screams at you in front of others, saying, "It’s all your fault I turned into this!"—it’s bound to leave a scar.

(Hmm... What should I do...? Oh?)

As I wandered through the building, arms crossed in thought, I suddenly spotted a familiar face.

(Huh? Wait, isn’t that Jerome? So he made it out safely too, huh!)

Seeing Jerome’s face gave me a small sense of relief.

This reminded me of the time I was consumed by darkness and fought madly through the dungeon, only to undergo a strange transformation and turn into a woman, leaving me utterly confused and lost.

Jerome had been a suspicious figure back then, almost stalker-like. But later, he turned out to be quite a gentleman, even treating me to a meal at a home improvement store’s food court. Talking to him that day was the first human interaction I’d had in a long while, which helped lift my spirits considerably.

Not only that—he seems even more confident than before. Maybe he took my advice and ventured into the dungeon.

(Alright, Jerome— Wait, hold on! I’m not Sandra anymore, so if I call out to him, he won’t recognize me, will he?)

I stopped myself, chuckling at my own internal joke. Then, I began to think about the best way to approach him.

(Hmm, how should I handle this? For now, let’s just get closer and see what’s going on.)

When I quietly approached him, I noticed Jerome was sitting cross-legged with two other companions, who looked to be foreigners of Arab descent.

"ш￡И☆... Jerome."

Ah, perfect timing! One of his companions just called Jerome’s name. I’ll use the "big brother" approach here.

"Hey there. Are you Jerome, by any chance?"

"Huh? Who are you…?"

Jerome glanced up at me with a suspicious look, obviously wary of this shiny stranger suddenly talking to him.

"No need to be so cautious. I could be wrong, but… does the name Sandra ring a bell?"

"!? Ohhh—Miss Sandra! Such a beautiful woman!"

"Haha, so you do know her. My little sister mentioned you before."

"Wow! You’re Miss Sandra’s brother?"

"That’s right. Just call me Jung."

"Nice to meet you, Jung-san! I’m Jerome."

The "big brother" plan worked like a charm.

…

"These two are my friends. Please, allow me to introduce them."

"Abdul Gyuhe."

"I am Miguelta Tanujin."

"What now? ‘A fox in frenzy and a raccoon gone astray’? What interesting names!"

They both looked like bearded plumbers, though I doubted they were actual brothers.

As I chatted with Jerome and his companions, a good idea struck me. Apparently, just like Sandra advised, Jerome had entered the dungeon and successfully defeated slimes using soft-touch attacks.

His friends Abdul and Miguelta had also acquired stats from their dungeon adventures. Excellent!

"By the way, are Abdul and Miguelta injured?"

I noticed them frequently touching certain areas of their bodies as if nursing wounds.

"Yes, we were hurt by monsters…"

"That sounds tough. Let me see—I’ll apply some ointment for you."

Medical supplies were running low, and I’d heard that even minor injuries weren’t being treated. But with their acquired stats, some dokudami tincture should do the trick.

I applied the tincture to their wounds.

"Thank you very much, Jung-san."

"Don’t mention it. My sister told me you treated her to a meal, so think of this as a token of thanks. I do have a small favor to ask, though—would you be willing to listen?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"There’s a woman I know in this building, but I have to leave soon. Could I ask you and your friends to keep an eye on her?"

"Hmm… A bodyguard job?"

"Something like that. Of course, I won’t ask you to do it for free. How about this? [Agility]... It’s a speed-enhancing skill orb."

"Wow! A skill orb? Are you sure!?"

"Absolutely. I can only give you one for now, but if you do a good job, I’ll have more rewards ready for you."

After hearing my offer, the three of them huddled together and discussed it in rapid-fire conversation in their native tongue.

They left me with a good impression, so I’m hopeful they’ll accept the task.

The skill orb might seem like a steep price, but I found it, so it’s not a big loss. Besides, I can’t use skill orbs anymore. What’s more important is ensuring Tsunami-san’s safety—that matters a hundred times more.