My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon

Nina's Landmine"Eh!? Grandpa, you haven't evacuated yet!?"While helping Serai-san with the room rearrangement alongside Nina-san, Serai-san let out a frantic cry upon r

Nina's Landmine"Eh!? Grandpa, you haven't evacuated yet!?"While helping Serai-san with the room rearrangement alongside Nina-san, Serai-san let out a frantic cry upon r

Nina's Landmine

"Eh!? Grandpa, you haven't evacuated yet!?"

While helping Serai-san with the room rearrangement alongside Nina-san, Serai-san let out a frantic cry upon receiving a phone call.

Yeah, you might think, "If you're out of money, stop helping with this and go find a job already," but due to the Stampede, the world is caught in a whirlwind of economic downturn.

So, there aren't any decent jobs.

Well, if things really get dire, I plan to rely on connections and ask Muto-san's chiropractic clinic or the old guys at the heavy machinery fighters' place for part-time work. But if I play that connection card, I'll owe them, and I won't be able to hold my head up high around them.

So, if possible, I want to try to make money using my own abilities.

More than anything, now that I've become an over-spec existence surpassing ordinary people, I honestly can't stand the idea of being bossed around by people less capable than me. Not that Muto-san or the heavy machinery guys are like that, though.

This is my own mental issue. So, if you say I'm being conceited, you're right.

"Yeah... Uh-huh, uh-huh... Yeah. I'll go check on him, so don't worry too much. Bye."

After hanging up, Serai-san let out a deep sigh. I pretty much overheard the conversation, but I asked about the situation out of courtesy.

"Serai-san, I couldn't help but overhear. What's up with your grandpa?"

"Yeah, well... Grandpa stayed behind alone at home, and he hasn't evacuated anywhere. But since yesterday, we haven't been able to reach him..."

"No way..."

Upon hearing the details, it seems Serai-san's parents also took over her grandfather's farm in Kusatsu. But after the second wave of the Dungeon Stampede, they decided to prioritize safety and evacuated to Niigata, where the Self-Defense Forces are stationed, taking Serai-san's younger sister with them.

Because of the Sado Island issue, there are a lot of Self-Defense Forces in the Niigata area.

Now, they're staying with relatives on her mother's side who also run a farm. But Serai-san's grandpa was worried about the fields and livestock, so he stayed behind alone. They had been in regular contact, but since yesterday, his phone has been unreachable.

"Hmm... If it's just a phone issue, that's fine, but if we can't reach him, it's worrying."

"Yeah, exactly. I tried calling his neighbors, but it seems everyone's evacuated, so no one's picking up... Hey, Egetsu-san, I know it's a lot to ask, but could you come with me to check on Grandpa?"

Serai-san, unusually meek, pleaded with me, clearly worried about her grandpa living alone.

"Of course! Let's go together and make sure he's safe!"

When she asks so earnestly, as a man, I can't just stay silent. I readily agreed to her request, determined to ease her worries.

"That's all well and good, but what about transportation? Even if the four of us go, if we rent a car again, we don't know when we'll return it, and the cost will add up."

But then, the ever-practical Nina-san pointed out the issue.

"Hmm, that's a problem... If we consider using trains or buses instead of a car, the cost might be lower, but we'd lose a lot of time..."

"If we want to get there as quickly as possible, that's not the best plan."

"Right, so let's just buy a car!"

"Eh, seriously!? A luxury car!?"

When I suggested buying a car, Serai-san's eyes lit up.

"Are you stupid, Machi!? You don't know that luxury car companies make nearly half the selling price as profit, do you!? Only show-offs who want to flaunt their wealth buy those things! Only idiots spend money on that!!"

But the moment the word "luxury car" came up, Nina-san, usually calm and composed, exploded.

"Eh... That's harsh, Shizu! Don't call me an idiot like that~!"

"Listen, Machi. Real rich people don't waste money on luxuries; they invest wisely. That's the true way to use money. Remember that, Machi..."

Hmm, I've heard bits and pieces from Serai-san, but Nina-san herself is an extreme penny-pincher for her family's sake, yet she's apparently dating several rich kids.

I guess there must have been some unbearable moments in those relationships.

There must be quite a few college students flaunting luxury cars they didn't earn themselves, right? Otherwise, this reaction doesn't make much sense.

"So, what kind of car are you planning to buy...?"

Then, her narrowed eyes turned toward me.

The pressure from Nina-san's unsmiling eyes was intense. What is this...? I'm more nervous now than during the special dungeon entry permit interview.

"Eh...? Ah, well! First, a used kei car! I've always thought having a car would be more convenient for all of us to get around, but considering the possibility of future Stampedes, buying a new car isn't the best idea, right? So, as a trial, I think a cheap kei car would be enough to experience car life...??"

"Yeah~, I think that's the best idea too~"

Then, upon hearing my response, Nina-san smiled softly like a goddess.

Oh... Looks like I made the right choice. Well, given our current financial situation, a used kei car is all we can afford anyway.

At any rate, I'm relieved I didn't step on Nina-san's landmine. Seriously, that was chilling...