My Refrigerator Turned Into A Dungeon
Chapter 287

Hacha-Mecha The World

After finally returning home after a long while, I was able to fully relax.

Yeah, Kateshina Mama is kind and a truly good person. But trying not to leave a bad impression on her mother can be exhausting. So, taking a breather is necessary.

However, just because I came back doesn't mean I was idly fooling around.

I thoroughly checked the Refrigerator Dungeon to ensure there were no abnormalities.

I also held a honey party to reward the Pixies who worked hard.

Well, since nothing happened, all I could prepare was honey and some faux lemon tea.

Yet, surrounded by so many Pixies, Ruu’s gentle, cheerful smile was utterly adorable.

I made sure to etch that moment into my memory as part of my heart's highlight reel.

Oh, and I’ve also been channeling magic daily to help heal injured monkeys' cards and

pouring magic into the fragments of stones inhabited by yokai girls to aid their revival.

So, while we managed to take a breather, it seemed the world wasn’t as fortunate.

First, there’s Country A, boasting the world’s strongest military.

This country often has gun-related social issues, but after the Dungeon Stampede incident,

they changed their laws to allow even children to carry guns.

Wait, seriously? Yeah, it’s true.

Faced with an imminent crisis, they must have thought such extreme policies were unavoidable.

It’s like, "Let’s try it first, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll rethink it."

Anyway, they’re churning out guns and ammunition at full speed.

At the same time, Country A’s fleet, deployed to the Asian archipelago, quietly retreated amidst the chaos of the Stampede.

They probably prioritized their own country’s safety over others.

Meanwhile, Country C, which was in a confrontational stance against Country A, faced something terrifying.

[Please look at this. This footage, circulating online, shows what appears to be a nuclear power plant, with its structure cracked and blue light visible from within.]

"What?! That’s the Cherenkov glow…!!"

"Huh? Coach, what does that mean?"

Seeing the footage on TV, I was startled, and Ruu asked, puzzled by my reaction.

"Well, Ruu, that phenomenon should only occur in a completely sealed reactor. The fact that it’s happening in the open air means an extraordinary amount of radiation is being scattered around."

"No way!?"

Finally understanding the gravity of the situation, Ruu’s face also turned pale, and she froze.

Yeah, there was a near-miss accident in Japan not long ago that remains fresh in memory.

And now, something similar seemed to have happened in Country C, across the sea.

[Reporter Toyama is on the scene. Let’s hear from him. Toyama-san?]

[Hello. I’m currently in the mountains, about 60 kilometers from the site of the nuclear accident. As you can see, I’m wearing a white protective suit against radiation, with holes cut into a lead sheet worn poncho-style over it. Just standing here is extremely hot and heavy.]

[Thank you for your efforts. What’s the situation like on-site?]

[While I haven’t been able to directly confirm it, the entire filming crew, including myself, saw blue flashes coming from the building earlier. Even with sunlight, the intense light was visible 60 kilometers away in these mountains, suggesting it was incredibly strong.]

[Understood. Have you noticed anything else?]

[Though difficult to see through the trees, I can observe the power plant. Looking down the road leading to the plant… Yes, there are barricades and military vehicles blocking access, with soldiers in protective suits guarding the area.]

[Have efforts been made to extinguish the fire or restore the power plant?]

[When we pointed the camera from the soldiers at the blockade to the plant, we saw vehicles stopped on the road, presumably a firefighting team. But none of them could reach the plant and seemed stuck midway.]

The camera panned from the blockade site to the road leading to the power plant.

[Ah, yes… I see the vehicles. Why did they stop at an empty spot?]

[Likely due to radiation exposure, which may have caused malfunctions preventing further progress. Our sources say the vehicles had lead coatings for radiation protection, but only on their fronts, as covering the entire vehicle made it too heavy to drive.]

[What about the passengers? What happened to them?]

[Using binoculars, I’ve checked several times, but there’s no sign of movement. Their status—alive or dead—is unclear. Ah! Look! A massive blue glow just came from the plant! It’s larger than anything we’ve seen so far—]

The screen flashed violently and then cut to black.

[Apologies. It seems the signal was disrupted. We regret the interruption—]

The anchor spoke as the studio feed was abruptly replaced by outdoor weather reporting.

[Next is the weather! Over to Kamiza-san and Sorasaburo!]