My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon

Chapter 458

Skill Tournament／Ejection 3

We were stopped by those two who were acting a bit theatrical, costing us some time, but we finally made it to the car.

As we got in, warmed up the engine, and fastened our seatbelts, I suddenly realized I hadn't checked my post-battle status. I always check in dungeons, but lately, things have been peaceful.

(Well, it's not like I defeated an opponent in that fight, so I doubt there's any change...)

Still, just to be sure, I checked my status.

Level 19

Race: Half-Yokai Human

Occupation: Teacher

Ability Values:

Strength: 740Stamina: 753

Intelligence: 671

Spirit: 702

Agility: 638

Luck: 712

Melancholy: 234

Blessing:

[Salt Spirit] Strange Guardian Spirit, [Pixie Queen] Blessed Guardian Spirit, [Red Slime] Quasi-Strange Guardian Spirit, [Space Monkey] Familia, [Brawler Frog] Familia, [Giant Slug] Familia

Skills:

[Strong Acid 2], [Agility 2], [Disease Resistance 7], [Usurp], [Slime 7], [Space 6], [Strong Luck 1.4], [Footwork], [Meditation], [Salt 7], [Arts & Crafts], [Maggot 2], [Woman], [Combat 6], [Paralysis 4], [Jump 9], [Sturdiness 8], [Charm]

Titles:

[Bug King], [Salt Mate], [Insect Queen], [Woman Slayer], [Bug Friends], [Dungeon Clear Man]

[Salty Guy]: Has an information concealment effect. However, he is greatly underestimated by those who hold hostile intent.

(Hmm, just as I thought, no change... Whoa! M-my Salt skill level went up!?)

To my surprise, the skill [Salt] had increased from 5 to 7.

(Th-this is... because I fought in the skill tournament with the [Salt] restriction? No, that can't be the only reason... Could it be because my race became Half-Demon Human?)

Well, I became a Half-Demon Human because I died after being kicked by a horse.

I think the main factor was being resurrected from that, not just the death itself. But after that, I lived peacefully without any particular battles. So maybe that's why I didn't notice the skill restrictions had been lifted until now...

"Hey, what's wrong, Jung? Everyone's ready to go, you know?"

Shark called out from behind, probably because I seemed to be spacing out.

"Huh? Oh, right. Well then, let's head to Ruu's place."

"What's up? You didn't take any damage during the match, right?"

"Yeah, it's nothing. Just thinking about something."

"Hmm, well, let's hurry up and go."

"Alright, let's step on it. Though I'll still drive safely."

"Okay~! Thank you~!"

Hmm, the skill tournament was quite a disaster.

But I got to know my spirit comrade, that old man Mukele, and my [Salt] skill level went up without me even noticing. This was quite an unexpected gain.

...

"Ah~, I wish I had participated in the tournament too~"

In the car heading to Ruu's place, Serai-san muttered that.

"With my Acid Slime, I could have won those matches easily."

No, no, that would definitely be against the rules.

However, given this tournament's regulations, that line is extremely blurry.

Because attacks that deal continuous damage are NG, but fire skill attacks are OK? Isn't that weird? If it spreads flames, that's also continuous damage, right?

"Right. [Acid] probably can't be used because of the continuous damage issue, but with [Slime], it would undoubtedly be an easy win."

"Right~!"

Yeah, the compatibility between this tournament's regulations and the [Salt] skill was terrible. But if it were the [Slime] skill, the story would be completely different.

With the [Slime] skill, you can choose not to kill or to kill as you wish. So if you tie up your opponent with slime and knock them out of the ring, that alone secures your win.

Why? Because there aren't many people who can stay calm and act when they can't breathe.

Losing most of your five senses—eyes, ears, mouth, nose—to slime, it's stranger if you can stay sane. Especially if it's an eerie slime covering your face. So if someone can stay calm, focus their energy, and release enough magic power to resist in that state, they're quite the formidable opponent.

So, in most cases, while the opponent is confused and doesn't understand what's happening, the 10-count will probably pass.

And a Dungeon Ability user won't die from being unable to breathe for two or three minutes. So the slime user can freely splash slime around without any hesitation.

After all, if it just exists as slime, it has no offensive power.

Yeah, with this, there's no need to worry about continuous damage or hesitate to attack because it's too powerful.

But people can easily die from choking on mochi.

Yes, so the fear of [Slime], which is dozens of times more freely moving and sticky than mochi, is extremely subtle but never to be underestimated.

"Oh, speaking of which, Serai-san. Did you watch those two's match earlier?"

Then I suddenly remembered the Fire Knight and Water Priestess. That rather pointed and hot pair, I wondered what kind of match they showed. Curious, I asked Serai-san.

"I watched it, but hmm, it was so-so."

"So-so...?"

"Yeah, they happened to face each other in the second round. They splashed water and fire at each other spectacularly, but then they both ran out of spiritual energy and ended up drawing."

"Hmm..."

"The audience enjoyed it because it looked flashy, but I watched thinking, 'I wonder what Master would say about this.'"

"Oh..."

But the two I met earlier didn't show any signs of exhaustion. So maybe they also participated in the tournament while hiding their true strength.

(Hmm... If so, they managed things much better than I did...)

I got scolded plenty by both the referee and the organizers. They were really furious. But if those two managed to entertain the audience while also concealing their true strength, they're quite the strategists.

"Fire Knight and Water Priestess, huh. Right, I'll remember that..."

Well, I can remember them as the Pointed and Hot pair, so it's easy to remember.

...

"Machi-chan! Long time no see!"

"Yeah, long time no see~ But we've been in touch almost every day, haven't we?"

"Um! But seeing your face is a treat!"

"Oh my, we have so many cute young ladies today. Welcome. Come on in, please."

"Thank you for having us!"

When the door of the Kashina household opened, Ruu and Ruu's mom greeted us cheerfully.

But at times like this, I'm always at the very back. If I, being big and carrying luggage, were at the front, I'd block everyone's view. Still, I'm healed by Ruu's smile as she glances my way and smiles at me.

"Everyone, thanks for coming. Oh, Nakihito-kun, long time no see. Woah~ Hahaha, that's quite a load again, isn't it?"

As we headed to the living room, Ruu's father called out to me.

"It's been a while. Serai-san's grandfather gave us a lot of fresh vegetables as a souvenir. So today, we're going to use these to prepare plenty of delicious shabu-shabu."

"Hahaha, that's wonderful. Isn't it, dear?"

"Yes, I'm really looking forward to it."

"Coach's cooking is always delicious!"

I lightly held up the cardboard box containing the ingredients, and they happily appreciated it. Hmm, I must live up to their expectations.

...Fufufufu! Well then, this is where the wandering chef makes his entrance!