My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon

Chapter 418

Kindness

Masaru showed himself. However, showing no intention whatsoever of coming over to us, he was instead loafing around with the deer on the opposite shore.

"Huh? The kangaroo isn't coming over at all, is he? Heeey, Masaru~!"

Even when Shark called out like that while soaking in the hot water, Masaru played dumb and kept looking in a different direction.

"Well, he was always a guy whose thoughts were hard to figure out. And besides, in front of those deer, he probably can't be seen getting friendly with humans, right?"

"That's true. While he's probably wary of the unfamiliar humans, I'd guess he also thinks that just showing his face here is enough to fulfill his obligation."

Yeah, that sounds right. It's unclear if Masaru can actually converse with the deer, but if he can, it wouldn't be strange for him to understand humans as creatures that attack deer.

"Tch, I wanted to ride the kangaroo too~."

"It doesn't feel much different from riding Egetsu-san, you know. Plus, he's hard and his mouth smells."

"Eh~, really? Never mind then."Whoa, isn't that a bit harsh?!

"So, Machi-san, have you ever ridden on Egetsu-san before?"

Hey! Yuzuki-chan, you don't need to dig into those weird details!

"Huh? Ah, yeah! D-during mobility arts, during mobility arts training!"

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yeah. That feels great, doesn't it? Hey Jung, I'm counting on you for the ride back too~!"

Saying that, Shark, who had been soaking in the water, climbed onto my back, lying prone.

Hey, hey. I know you have a lot of brothers so you're used to guys, but a high school girl in a swimsuit shouldn't do things like that.

"Um, Egetsu-san. By the way, could we call the Pixies now?"

"Hm, sure thing. Well then, let's call those girls out to play too."

The Pixies, who I'd let roam free but had return to their cards when Masa-kun and Yuki-kun arrived. First, I get out of the water and head over to the King Worm suit. Then, I take a silver plate from the storage compartment fitted into a gap in its armor, pour magic power into it, and toss it into the air.

"Pipii~~!"

"Wahh~~!"

Fuhaha, take this! Secret technique, Steam Cloud Pixie Paradise Dance! Make this the summer memory you'll enjoy to your heart's content!

…….

"Haaah~~…"

Stretching my arms out wide, floating lazily in the hot water, I look up at the clear blue sky. Ahh, what an utterly luxurious feeling.

At the edge of my vision, I can see Yuzuki-chan surrounded by the Pixies, utterly enchanted, having completely entered a wonderland of dreams. On the opposite shore, the deer Masaru brought are playing, going in and out of the hot spring.

Serai-san and Shark are also soaking in the hot spring, looking like they're having fun.

My, my, this hot spring that welled up after the dungeon disappeared is truly paradise. Oh, now a wild boar, a mother with her young, has arrived. Hmm, this is good. Boar, deer, and Pixies... that's a full set.

As I'm thinking such things, Shark, who had swum over quietly, spoke to me in a low voice.

"(Hey Jung, prey. Let's catch that thing…)"

She directs her gaze towards the boar that just arrived at the hot spring. But before I could even open my mouth here, Serai-san, having overheard the voice, approaches and pokes Shark's head with her fingertip.

"Ouch."

"Behave, Shark. These here are creatures who managed to survive, you know… This mountain has been terribly wounded because of the dungeon that appeared."

Ohh, as expected of the granddaughter of Seibei Serai, the farm warrior who cherishes crops and loves living things. Serai-san on the mountain seems completely different from the usual Serai-san.

But I agree with that opinion.

"She's right. Look closely. Even among the deer soaking in the spring, you can see several that seem to be injured, right? And also… Masaru is watching. Masaru was with us for a while, but that was because he had his own goal. Something about protecting those deer."

"That's right. So just try killing that boar in front of that Masaru. Just imagine what Masaru would think of us then?"

"Ugh, that's…"

Yes, Masaru was with us for a little while.

Or rather, he was the one who stubbornly tagged along. But that was probably because he, in his own way, thought that humans—meaning us—could defeat those incomprehensible monsters. And, well, the result turned out just like that.

But he's an animal, and we're human. Well, humans are animals too, but there's definitely a huge gap in our values.

I don't know if Masaru the kangaroo can actually communicate with the deer, but if he can, then he must also know that humans attack deer. That's probably why he didn't leave the deer herd and didn't come over to us.

And then someday, when the mountain's wounds have healed and the deer population has increased, damage to crops might become a problem again.

But that is not now.

So, wouldn't it be fine for Masaru and the deer to have a moment of peace? They were probably chased around relentlessly by mountain goblins and the super giant boar, living days where they didn't feel truly alive.

"Tch… fine, I get it."

After that explanation, Shark seemed convinced, though a little reluctant.

"Mm, well done, Shark. Those who are strong know both when to strike and when to pull back. You've taken another step closer to Sandora."

"Fufu, that's right."

Then Yuzuki-chan, who had been quiet until now, suddenly stood up with a splash from the water and spoke in a loud voice.

"Thash right, Ruri-chan! Thish place is heaven, sho you can't do shuch terrible things! Ufufufufufu…"

Ah… yeah, right. Is that it? Has Yuzuki-chan gotten a little... loopy??