The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 140

Episode 140 Corporal Jeon Gwang-il

“You beat up a real senior like a dog even though you said you meant it. Uweek.”

“….”

Damn it.

It really hurts so bad.

To be honest, before entering the battle, I was a little confident.

As a chef, I have almost no combat skills.

The effect of [Absolute Taste] and the vampire attack against Ariella.

Because his gang stat alone was incredible.

He himself disappeared.

About 5 seconds after sparring started.

What can I say…

it was a one-sided beating.

“Sergeant Shin Youngjun.”

“Ugh. I’m dying from pain. “What the heck.”

“Please be sincere.”

Either I get sick or die.

Gwangil looked down at me with cold eyes.

“What bullshit. “I was completely sincere.”

“…Do you think I don’t know how strong Sergeant Shin is? “Doing something like this is just insulting to me.”

“Hehehe. Then you too, unleash [madness] to the fullest.”

Does it still sound like that?

I said while lying on the floor, unable to hold back my laughter.

“Gwangil.”

“yes.”

“Shall I show you something fun?”

After barely getting up and sitting on the floor.

I took out the combat rations I had in my arms.

‘Always pretending to be strong. ‘I’m just getting sick of it.’

If this guy.

It’s okay to show a little weakness.

Different types of combat rations.

I chose four of them and took them in one bite.

“What are you doing?”

General case.

Only one cooking effect is applied at a time.

Even if you eat multiple dishes at once, there is no significant additional buff.

Common sense known to soldiers.

but.

Due to the effect of [Absolute Taste (Enhanced)].

For me, the cooking buff stacks.

[Cooking effect being applied – (4)]

“…!”

Once the cooking effect took effect.

I feel the power filling my whole body.

Strength Dexterity Magic Power.

Abilities, of course.

As a chef, I can’t have it.

Even powerful characteristics.

“Finally, seriously…!”

Did I mistakenly think that the real fight was about to begin when my momentum changed?

He was a guy who seemed to feel joy.

“Keueook.”

“?”

Of course it wasn’t like that.

The pain was incomparable to when I got hit by that guy.

It invaded my entire body.

“Sergeant Shin? “What on earth!”

“Kukkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk… I told you I would show you something fun. look.”

Let’s extend our arms to the guy who is embarrassed.

When he saw my arm, his eyes widened and he was surprised.

“This.”

A hand clenched into a fist.

Even when I look at it, I feel an indescribable power.

But at the same time.

It’s going to fall out….

“Are your muscles twisted…?”

“It’s fun, right? “The person involved is going to die.”

The healthy muscles were twisting around and screaming.

‘The price of putting too many buffs into your body.’

Due to [Absolute Taste], the effect of cooking is already amplified.

However, I ended up cramming in not just one but several dishes with amplified effects.

Is there any way that the body can withstand the effects of cooking?

This is how you end up screaming.

“What you say is not entirely wrong. To be exact. “That’s half correct.”

“What on earth is that?”

“I can become stronger than you if I want to. But you know that too. “I’m not in a combat position.”

It is true that the profession of a chef is at least worthy of belonging to the rare class.

But that’s it.

The fact that he was a supporter, not a combat worker, did not change.

Whether it is a rare supporter or a regular supporter.

A supporter is a supporter.

“This is the price paid for non-combat positions to become stronger.”

“….”

The guy is looking at my arm, sweating coldly.

“Actually, it wouldn’t be surprising if my body exploded and I died after eating this much food in one go.”

“yes!? My body explodes and I die. “What do you mean by that?”

“no. That’s the case in ordinary cases. I have a way to survive somehow. Otherwise, my body would have burst and died long ago.”

Excessive buffing puts a huge strain on the body.

No matter how high my stats were, I shouldn’t have been able to endure it.

Nevertheless, there is one reason why I am still alive.

‘Ariella’s blood.’

In the past, in the process of sucking Ariella’s blood to the limit.

Unintentionally, my body became closer to that of a vampire.

‘The resilience gained as a result.’

That resilience.

This side effect was offset to some extent.

Excessive buff that destroys the body.

The blood of a noble that restores the destroyed body at the same time as it is destroyed.

“Why don’t we fight often? It’s a bit weird to fight like this every time. “Because I was a supporter to begin with.”

No matter how much that resilience allows you to endure to some extent.

The basis of this resilience comes from monsters.

It was too much of a burden just to believe this.

If you rely solely on this regenerative power, you might cross the line at some point.

Because you could end up becoming a vampire.

“Ha, but. Sergeant Shin handled most crises, right? Not only through combat, but also through cooking…”

“Well… Is that right? Even though I’m not good at fighting, I’m pretty good at cooking. Kahaha.”

“….”

This is the situation on the battle side, but whatever.

To be honest, I have a bit of pride in cooking.

Let’s talk with a light smile.

This guy looks at me like he’s not in the mood to joke.

“what. “What I just said was just something I tried.”

I also spoke a little seriously.

“The important thing is that I can’t do anything alone.”

“….”

“It’s possible to fight for a while. As you said, if I just endure those side effects, I can become much stronger than you. But that’s only for a moment. The side effects are also clear.”

The moment the buff from cooking disappears.

My fighting ability is far from stellar.

It will be similar to or worse than the middle to upper level of the warrior group.

“If it weren’t for the soldiers fighting with me, I would have become a corpse a long time ago.”

“I see.”

“Don’t say that even if you were there, it wouldn’t help. “Because you’re so helpful.”

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il nods with a heavy face.

There was still something unclear about his face.

“understand.”

“For all that, you still look dissatisfied.”

“ah. that.”

The guy who hesitated to answer for a moment sighed.

“just. “It seems like the constant thing is that I’m not strong enough.”

“No, even if you say that, I understand-”

“Why is Sergeant Shin, the supporter, being so unreasonable? “Isn’t that because there are many situations where the strength of other soldiers alone is not enough?”

“…hmm.”

What is that?

That’s right.

If other unit members were strong enough.

I wouldn’t have had to worry about making a fuss while cooking.

Just giving it a buff would have been enough.

But…

“It’s not easy to become that strong. “You alone are enough and strong enough to overflow.”

“It’s nothing compared to what Sergeant Shin has achieved.”

“….”

What is it?

A sense of defeat and impatience embedded in this guy’s heart.

It feels like it’s stuck too deeply to be pulled out lightly.

‘no. ‘Why should a guy this strong be impatient?’

This is a guy who has grown enough and overflowing.

I have no idea how to solve this problem.

It seems like it has been conveyed that I need this guy.

That and the fact that this guy is not satisfied with himself are two different things.

‘Of course I have something to compare with.’

Aren’t I a little too proud?

If you feel inadequate compared to yourself, it becomes a particularly difficult problem.

actually.

There is a way.

It’s simple and can be solved in one go.

Write it.

‘Should I write about cooking?’

By feeding him too much [Courage] food, this timid guy became a ‘berserker’.

Even now, I just feel ashamed of my own shortcomings.

No matter what strong enemy he encounters, he still attacks without fear.

If you serve a dish that you put your best effort into with [special sauce] that you put your best effort into.

I might be able to push that feeling of defeat away without a trace.

but.

‘also. ‘I don’t want to do that.’

This guy became a berserker.

To some extent… no.

It would be 100% my fault.

That gentle guy turned into a crazy berserker.

Even though it was unavoidable at the time, it transformed a person’s personality.

It wasn’t even the guy who committed any crime, but the good-natured successor.

To be honest, I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

The target is a criminal.

Unless it is absolutely necessary.

I have no intention of using a [special sauce] so powerful that it will have a lifelong impact.

“You don’t have to worry too much.”

Fortunately, it doesn’t seem like my persuasion was completely ineffective.

“I am being helpful to Sergeant Shin. I see.”

“What about that? “I’m glad you figured it out.”

“yes. “I’m sorry for causing you unnecessary worry.”

“Well, there’s no need to apologize for that. If you really want to apologize, you should apologize for being a fan as if you were beating up a senior…”

First of all, I think I’ve conveyed the point that it’s helping me enough.

It didn’t seem like it would be a big problem right away.

Now he knows that if he dies, it will be a burden to me.

I won’t say nonsense like ‘Why didn’t you just let me die?’

“Sergeant Shin.”

“uh.”

“I. “I want to become stronger.”

“…I see.”

The problem is that this guy is not satisfied with himself.

It’s not something I can solve.

“To the point where Sergeant Shin thought there was no need to fight directly. “I will become stronger… unconditionally.”

There is no solution other than becoming stronger yourself.

then.

“Try hard. “If you need anything along the way, let me know.”

“haha. yes!”

All I have to do is trust and wait.

Until this guy becomes strong enough to satisfy himself.

* * *

Afterwards, interviews were conducted with several soldiers.

After the interview is over.

Where did we go next?

[Hospital Lv.2]

It was a hospital.

“Ah, soldier…!”

“ah. “You can lie down.”

As I moved inside, the people lying down saw me and stood up.

He was not a soldier in our unit.

Not even an awakened person who cooperated with the city’s defense.

“You’re lying down. “How could that be?”

“When I think of how you saved me from those monsters… even bowing down to me is not enough.”

The humans who stood on the monster’s side in this battle.

They were slave soldiers who operated the chariots they brought.

Is it because they continued to pursue them as they retreated and inflicted damage on them?

It seems that there was no time to take care of those who were being treated as slaves.

They were rescued by our unit.

“I’m really sorry. “I was threatened to eat them if I didn’t obey them.”

“What are you just listening to? Actually, some of them…”

After hearing what they said, I became a little puzzled and asked back.

“What a threat. “They also speak Korean?”

“iced coffee. Of course, not all of them are like that. There are monsters who call themselves witch doctors. “Unlike other monsters, they are disgustingly skinny.”

ah.

There were definitely monsters that used magic or something.

I was quite embarrassed because they had created a road between the rivers.

“It seemed like some of them were trained to enslave people.”

“It was a bit inarticulate, but…”

I already knew that monsters could learn language.

I never thought there would be a monster that uses humans as slaves.

“if you do not mind. “I would like to hear about the situation where you are.”

“Oh yeah. “Of course I have to tell you.”

The situation in the west they heard about was roughly like this.

About half of the cities in western Gangwon-do have already been taken over by them.

Meanwhile, the humans hiding in the city were also killed or captured by the monsters.

“Did you kill those who resisted and make others slaves?”

“no. It is true that they killed all those who resisted. “Surrendering doesn’t mean you’re saved.”

“?”

“Only people like us who felt useful survived as slaves. “Besides that, all the people I think are useless…”

The man couldn’t continue speaking.

I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

‘The number of people still alive is small. Should we view the west as virtually annihilated?’

If everyone had become slaves, it would have been better to have rescued them someday.

If you listen to the story, isn’t it true that only a small number of people survived even as slaves?

No matter how much power we have to deal with monsters, it’s not enough.

It was bad news.

“Then what about the treatment of enslaved people?”

“Ah… if you don’t listen, sometimes you get beaten up severely, and in even worse cases, you get eaten right away.”

“Still, I won’t kill you unless you seriously disobey me. “If they think it’s worth using, they seem to be trying to save it and use it somehow.”

Should I call it a blessing among misfortunes?

At least the enslaved people did not seem to be in immediate danger of death.

But we don’t know how long that situation will last.

At some point, we will have to retake the territory they occupy.

* * *

“What about after that?”

“As Taejun said, there are no signs of a large-scale offensive. but.”

Minjae checked several places on the map.

“There was a fight with dozens of green manes here. “There were mercenary soldiers, so we were able to defeat them somehow.”

“…as expected, it comes out like this.”

Just like Taejun said.

They seem to have decided that it would be difficult to breach our fortress.

More defense facilities will be installed around this fortress, and there will even be mercenary soldiers.

Our unit was already specialized in defensive warfare.

I had no intention of taking it easy unless I gathered up a lot of my strength.

That’s why they chose

‘guerrilla warfare.’

This is a possible choice because they are abundant in numbers.

Guerrilla warfare does not require any special commander.

Just spread out and attack people around here.

“Thanks to the mercenaries, we were able to increase the number of patrols. “There is no immediate damage.”

“Even if the damage is small, if it accumulates little by little, it will only be a matter of time before it becomes bigger.”

That guerrilla war will continue.

Until we subdue their base.

‘It’s subjugation.’

Since there is a fortress, I am confident in its defense.

The problem is attack.

In general, the Siege side needs three times the power of the Mercury side.

“…is that possible?”

At this point, it was a distant dream.

‘In the first place, the number of surviving humans is limited.’

No matter how many people they gather.

There is bound to be a limit to that number.

“In order to overcome the limit of numbers, each and every soldier must become extremely strong.”

“No matter how much I level up and get good equipment… can I become strong to that level?”

Even now, compared to other awakened units, our unit is full of strong people.

If I had to become strong enough to catch up with the power difference with that ‘green mane’.

In fact, it feels too far away.

At least it wouldn’t be possible with our troops alone.

When you’re thinking like that.

“Sergeant Shin? “I’m sorry you’re in a meeting.”

“what’s the matter?”

“A man called a merchant came to visit and had something to talk about…”

A merchant came to our unit.

It wasn’t the first time I saw this person.

“Why are you there? Sergeant Shin gave me the information he was looking for last time.”

“Ah, that person. “I said my occupation was a merchant.”

“yes. “Lieutenant Kim has greeted us and we are having a chat, but I think it would be good for Sergeant Shin to listen as well.”

“hmm.”

Surely his name was Sanghyeop?

He was the person who reported information on the location of the person with an abnormal appetite.

‘He is also the person who helped me.’

I followed the soldier’s instructions and moved with the intention of seeing his face at least once.

“My name is Lee Sang-hyeop.”

“My name is Lieutenant Kim Hyun-seok. “Please feel free to call me Lieutenant Kim.”

OK.

The sight of a merchant having a conversation with Lieutenant Kim caught my eye.

“So… I’d like to hear why a man named Merchant came to visit our unit.”

“Actually, I’d like to go on a commercial trip.”

Could it be that he is the external leader of a fairly large group?

Seeing Lieutenant Kim setting the mood makes me cringe a little.

“Upbound?”

“yes. Actually, I thought I might be able to get some help there…”

I was wondering why you came to our guild.

He seemed to be planning a trip to a distant place.

I want to get the help I need.

by the way.

Up and down.

“…Where do you mean?”

Lieutenant Kim also seemed to have the same doubts as me.

I tilted my head and asked the merchant.

‘Is there a place to go uphill?’

The only thing that abounds everywhere is monsters.

Commerce can only be established if there are people who can buy and sell goods.

“Hmm. “This is information that only I know right now.”

“?”

“It is said that if you go north from here… toward Yanggu-gun, there is a fairly large group of people. “Maybe it’s comparable to soldiers.”

“…!”

“For those people, there will be a lot of useful items, so it’s worth going on a commercial trip.”

After that, it was a business negotiation that tried to persuade Lieutenant Kim by saying various things.

It didn’t even sound right to me.

There is only one thing that is important to me.

‘Is there a group that might be comparable to us?’

What is the biggest concern I have right now?

There was no way to increase the group’s power.

There is a limit to increasing the number of people, and it takes time for unit members to grow.

But when I thought about it.

There is one way to increase your strength the fastest.

alliance.

With other forces that already have strong power.

Combining those forces.

“Of course, I’m not asking for free help. It could be beneficial to the soldiers as well…”

“Let’s go.”

“yes?”

I was talking to Lieutenant Kim.

When I said that, Sanghyeop, who was behind me, looked at me with surprised eyes.

“Let’s go on that trip together.”