The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 151

Episode 151: Jeolbap

“Now that I think about it, that sergeant said that his level is over 30.”

“The monks don’t tell us the exact level, but Monk Seungju is probably around the late 20s.”

“…A single sergeant is of a higher level than the strongest monk in this temple, Seungju?”

“Then how high is the level of the officers in that unit?”

at that time.

one person said

“It’s because of us.”

“what?”

“I heard that awakened people become stronger by collecting points. Those soldiers belonged to a military unit. “You must have comfortably accumulated points and grown.”

“….”

“On the other hand, since the monks had to feed us with the points they collected, our growth rate was bound to slow down.”

As a result.

The monks were defeated by the soldiers.

“Anyway. “There is only one thing that is certain.”

“What?”

“There is nothing we can do in the current situation, as we are weak.”

“….”

No one could refute those words.

Time passed slowly.

* * *

at last.

After the meeting held in the morning, people went into the evening without doing anything.

Are the monks and the awakened people having separate meetings?

Other than those standing guard around the temple, no one was seen.

and.

That evening.

“Lords.”

“…?”

The biggest adult in this temple.

The head monk stood in front of the survivors and spoke.

“I have prepared a meal. “Let’s eat together.”

“Meal… you mean?”

“yes. “I don’t know if Jeolbap will suit your taste.” It was

so unexpected

that I couldn’t understand the meaning of it, but people who were shocked by the morning’s events had no motivation to object.

People moving quietly following the guidance of monks.

At that place.

“…wow.”

“What is all this?”

An incredibly sumptuous meal was prepared.

Although it did not contain meat as it was pickled.

Nonetheless, each and every piece of food looks incredibly delicious.

The portion was so huge that it seemed like everyone would have enough to eat.

of course.

‘Suddenly eating like this… it doesn’t make sense.’

It’s something unusual.

There was no way a normal person would not have noticed.

“I will explain later.”

“What an explanation.”

“I’m sure it’s not a strange food, so you can eat it with confidence.”

gulp.

Last few months.

These were people who had never eaten a proper meal.

Especially those who recently had to eat only tasteless, hard rye bread.

“Hey!”

“Hey! “Are you really planning on eating it?”

“If there’s something strange, the only way to do it is to die!”

at last.

Some people started to sit down and start eating, unable to stand it any longer.

“I heard the soldiers are going to conscript the awakened people anyway. “I can’t do anything, so I’m going to die slowly. Why not just eat and die!”

The moment you take a bite of the dish prepared like that.

The man who swallowed his food opened his eyes wide and muttered.

“It’s delicious…!”

“It suits your taste. Fortunately, the.”

Even after that.

Continuing to say, ‘It’s delicious, it’s delicious…!’ A man stuffing food into his mouth while doing so.

“That much?”

“…Okay.”

If I had just seen the food prepared, I might have been able to endure it.

It’s hard to resist seeing other people playing with chopsticks so excitedly right in front of your eyes.

“damn.”

“I don’t know what the situation is, but… I don’t think the monks will do anything bad.”

at last.

Other people who were watching also sat down and started eating.

“What is it? “It’s really delicious…!”

“Maybe it’s because I’ve only been eating rye bread lately. Hehehe. “It melts in your mouth.”

“Well, I think it tastes better than anything I ate at a fancy restaurant…”

“Oh, anyway, I guess that’s just my mood.”

After the soldiers left.

People who have lost their strength due to tension and helplessness.

But let’s fill our bellies with delicious food.

The people, who were in a good mood, immersed themselves in the meal while engaging in nonsensical conversation.

That scene.

The monks just smiled and looked on.

* * *

“…Kkeok.”

like that.

After all meals are over.

‘…When I actually tried it, it was so delicious that I ate it without any hesitation.’

‘So what happened in the end? This dish.’

‘It was so ridiculously delicious for a cut meal. Didn’t you catch something strange?’

After they finished eating, they looked at each other and started whispering.

The head monk stepped forward and said.

“Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Yes yes.”

“It was really good, but… so what did it end up being? this.”

“You agreed to explain after you finished eating, right?”

The head monk nodded at those words.

“Like I said. “It’s not strange food.”

“Then where on earth do you get the ingredients to cook something like this?”

“The soldiers gave it to me.”

“…!”

When those soldiers who had long been forgotten were mentioned again.

People’s faces are tense.

“Why do soldiers do this…?”

“When they found out that there were about 100 awakened people, they gave us food to eat until they came back in three days.”

100 awakened people eat three meals a day.

If you eat for 3 days, that’s roughly 900 servings.

It was an adequate amount to feed about a thousand survivors.

“Then he said: When they come under their wing, they are provided with enough food. “There are many awakened people stronger than us, so we will be able to increase our strength easily.”

“…Why are you giving us that kind of food?”

“haha. “It’s not something I would say as someone who received alms.”

The head monk smiles and opens his mouth in a light tone.

“Don’t you think it’s really cheesy?”

“!?”

People were taken aback by the sudden outburst of harsh words.

The head monk continued speaking casually.

“If food is to be provided, everyone will be able to eat it, but only the awakened people will be given it separately. When I talked to them, I found out that they only treat awakened people as human beings. Other than that, I treated it like a bug.”

“Okay.”

“so. “After talking about it… we decided to resist.”

“That resistance?”

“Even those who refuse to fight are forced into the battlefield, and those who refuse are not even treated as human beings. Something that goes against Buddhism. No, it is beyond human duty! “I cannot join such an organization.”

“Monks…!”

People felt strong emotions when they saw the monks.

To protect these survivors.

The monks had to give up many things.

There.

Now, if they just abandon themselves, they will be treated well and have the opportunity to develop their strength.

But the monks refused the opportunity.

Even though the world has become like this.

‘To not lose our humanity.’

Many of the original temple survivors were local residents.

Some of those who were moved by the sublime appearance shed tears.

“The meal we just had was our last supper.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“We are weak. “I chose to resist… but it probably doesn’t mean much.”

“That can’t be possible. Aren’t monks incredibly strong! “The awakened members of most marauder groups are no match for them…!”

“We thought that was the case, but it wasn’t until we met those soldiers that we realized we were mistaken.”

In those words.

People recalled the helmet they had seen in the morning.

A helmet that was distorted into the shape of a hand, as if trying to crush the entire head.

“We tried to stop them from crossing the mountain gate, but Monk Hyeyeon was seriously injured in the process.”

“…!”

“Even if you resist, you will eventually succumb to their power. We won’t have time to protect you in such a situation. So run away.”

“Running away.”

“Didn’t you enjoy your meal? “You won’t be able to go far if you’re hungry, but I’m sure everyone has some energy now.”

Only then.

People who found out why the monks gave up food.

“This temple was safe because we were protecting it. The moment we are dragged away, we will be defenselessly exposed to monster attacks. So… you need to find a safe place to hide.”

at that time.

One of the monks standing behind the head monk muttered indignantly.

“…If only there were a little more awakened people.”

It was a small voice.

Among the many people gathered around, there was someone who heard those words.

“What does that mean?”

“yes? ah. it’s nothing.”

“It’s nothing, right? “What difference would it make if there were a little more Awakened people?”

About that story.

Monk Seungju opened his mouth as if he had no choice.

“actually. Each one of us is not much better than them. We learned special martial arts. They invested points and gained overwhelming abilities. “The average power will probably be similar.”

“Isn’t this different from what you said earlier? “I’m sure I won’t win.”

“The problem is numbers.”

Phew.

Monk Seungju sighs.

“They know we are quite strong, but our numbers are too small. “If only there were a little more people, they wouldn’t have come out so recklessly.”

“…!”

“no. “If I had just improved my abilities with points before, I would have been able to overcome those robbers.”

Everyone knew why the monks could not improve their abilities.

It was to somehow feed the survivors.

then.

“Okay then. “Can’t we increase it from now on?”

“yes?”

“What I’m saying is that all we have to do is wake up and give strength to the monks.”

“It’s not a bad thing.”

“Will that work? “I heard that even awakened people are not that strong right after awakening.”

While the other survivors expressed somewhat skeptical opinions,

Monk Seungju held his chin and spoke.

“Maybe… it might be possible.”

“yes?”

“It is true that those who first awaken have low abilities. But the martial arts we learned are a little special. Even a person with a low ability level can demonstrate a combat ability several times higher than his ability level if he learns this martial art.”

“Even so… wouldn’t it be difficult to deal with those soldiers?”

“Think about it. “Didn’t you say that those soldiers are unable to deplete their manpower because they are trying to suppress a large-scale monster force in the northwest?”

“…ah!”

As for the current Myoyangsa Temple.

The soldiers might be able to easily subdue it.

“But as our numbers increase, the burden on them will also increase. What if they mobilize all their might? “Most of that power is being used to stop monsters.”

“In that case.”

“It might really be possible.”

“no. This is probably possible with a high probability. But…”

Monk Seungju looked at the people with a worried expression.

“For that to happen, the survivors must undergo awakening. After that, you must receive my teachings. You will have to fight against monsters and increase your strength… “Aren’t you afraid?”

In the first place.

Weren’t they still refusing to awaken because of that fear?

but.

“…I heard from those soldiers that the world was changing.”

“Jinsu’s father?”

What I said at that time was:

A man who until now had only opposing opinions on everything the monks did.

Jinsu’s father.

In other words, it was Hong Jeong-su.

“We were unable to adapt to the change because we were relying on the monks. “I think it might already be too late, but shouldn’t we start adapting now?”

Of course, he always raises his voice against monks.

He was the one who made it sound like he was talking about having to use monks.

The sight of him muttering now.

It was extremely polite.

“…If even Jinsu’s father thinks that way. All right.”

About that story.

Monk Seungju nods with a small smile.

“Then let’s start awakening the survivors from now on.”

“yes!”

“They said they would come in three days. Until then, as many people as possible must awaken and learn martial arts. It would be quite a forced march. “Do you mind?”

“Haha, what kind of weak talk are you talking about?”

“We were prepared too. Since it’s late, let’s run even harder.”

like that.

Everyone in the temple started to move around busily.

With one mind, without distinction between awakened and non-awakened people.

and.

On another mountain peak in the distance.

“I think it went well.”

“eww. “Maybe it’s because I’m acting like I’ve never done before. Why are you so tough?”

Smiling while looking down at the temple.

There was a cook.