My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon
Chapter 364

Activation

Just to be safe, I retreat near the staircase and set up a defensive position with mucus. That’s right—in a dungeon, even the slightest lapse in focus can be fatal.

"Whew, that’s hot~. Might as well swap out the lubricant while we’ve got the chance."

"Yeah, movin’ around got me feelin’ all sweaty and stuff."

Serai-san and Nina-san take a break, removing their masks to let their faces breathe, then expel the overheated lubricating mucus from the ports at their feet. It’s more mana-efficient to produce fresh, cool mucus than to adjust the temperature of the existing magic-generated mucus.

"Hey now, no slacking. Just ‘cause we’ve got a mucus barrier up doesn’t mean you can let your guard down. Take cover behind the shield wall if you’re resting."

""Roger that!""

<figcaptionattachment__caption"">Since we’d been moving nonstop, the two of them had built up some heat inside their suits.

The monster-material suits boast high defense and acid resistance, but their airtight design also traps heat—a definite downside. That’s why they’re cycling the lubricating mucus to vent the heat.

And now, the defensive positions I’ve made a habit of setting up ever since I started dungeon diving.

These have saved my hide more times than I can count. What used to be makeshift barriers of bird nets and clotheslines have since evolved into skills—mucus membranes sealing off passages and shield walls forged from rock salt and red scorpion carapaces.

Kinda feels like a Warring States-era encampment, honestly.

"Alright then, Masaru. Now that we’re secure, how ‘bout we try usin’ that [Lightning] skill orb?"

I peel off the rock-salt belly wrap stuck to his abdomen with mucus and hand him the orb. Gotta be careful—newbies tend to get it all soggy.

"Here, hold it tight. Yeah, like that. Now, focus on releasin’ its power."

Snrk-hmph…

"No, not like—hey, where ya goin’?"

Just as I hand him the orb, Masaru chucks it aside and hops over to where Nina-san and Serai-san are resting.

"Huh? What’s up, Masaru? Thirsty? Ugh, fine…"

As I pick up the discarded orb, Nina-san glances my way and gives me a wry smile.

"Heh, guess he was parched, huh?"

"Seems so. Weird, though—he’s from an arid region, so he should handle dryness just fine."

Masaru pays us no mind, chugging water from a bowl Serai-san poured from a plastic bottle.

"There there, had enough? Huh? Now you’re hungry?? Sigh… I prepped rations, but I didn’t account for you taggin’ along. All I’ve got is cabbage or lettuce, ‘kay?"

Snort-hmph!

He yanks a whole head of cabbage from my spatial storage and starts chomping down, leaves flying everywhere.

"Whoa, someone’s enthusiastic!"

"Hrm. That’s commercial-worthy gluttony, but you’re makin’ a mess. That’s a farmer’s hard work—eat it properly."

After devouring an entire cabbage in one go, I hand Masaru the [Lightning] skill orb again.

"C’mon, take two. Hold it tight. Try channelin’ your energy—like, ‘Hyah!’ or somethin’."

"……"

"…The hell’s with the dead-fish eyes?"

Just as he’s about to toss it aside again, I clamp his paw around the orb.

(Just use it already. I held onto this thing instead of givin’ it to Serai or Nina, y’know.)

‘Cause, y’see, takin’ advantage just ‘cause someone doesn’t fully get it? That ain’t right.

It’s like when adults would say, "Let me hold onto your New Year’s money so you don’t lose it," only for it to vanish into thin air. Poof. Gone.

Maybe he sensed my thoughts. Masaru sniffs the orb, twitching his nose, before suddenly—gulp—swallowing it whole.

"He ate it?!"

As Serai-san’s voice rings out, the orb glows inside Masaru’s stomach, traveling down his throat.

[(Fwoosh~, sparkle~!)]

Backlit from below, the gluttonous kangaroo looks almost divine. If he were human, this’d be one of those "Wh-what is this power…?!" moments.

Huh. Didn’t see that comin’. So that’s how animals unlock skill orbs? Wild.