The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 154

Episode 154: What nonsense?

After listening to Monk Seungju’s story in full.

There was only one thought in my head.

‘Trainer NPC…!’

Trainer NPC.

It may be what it is these days, but in the past, it was almost an essential part of every game.

Their role is extremely simple.

Teaching new skills to players who come to see him.

‘no. ‘NPC’ may not be accurate.’

According to the words of monk Seungju.

It seems like he’s thinking about killing this monk, too.

It would be correct to think of it as a type of monster.

A special monster that can learn new skills if the conditions are met.

I crossed my arms and thought deeply.

‘That black curtain the monk was talking about… is probably a dungeon, right?’

The only thing that is puzzling is.

That being took out its arms from the dungeon and intervened outside.

There are two dungeons I’ve seen so far.

They were [Black Sand Spawning Ground] and [Erosion World Dasmur].

‘In both places, there was no case where the beings inside the dungeon came out.’

Are the two dungeons I’ve experienced so far strange?

Or is it strange that there is a tent under that cliff?

Come to think of it.

“That hand asked for the corpse of a monster?”

“yes. I don’t know why. Fortunately, the tent is located right at the bottom of this cliff, so it seems to be enough to throw the corpses of the monsters I hunt down that cliff from time to time.”

According to the story, it was a being that knocked out the approaching monster with a single blow.

Why did a guy like that ask me to procure the body instead of going hunting himself?

‘…Is it the limit to just remove my hand?’

no way.

I wonder if a being that seems so amazing would be like that for such a pathetic reason.

“…however.”

I was so excited at the thought of being a trainer NPC that I didn’t even pay attention to it.

If that’s what you said.

“You broke that contract when you told me…”

“Yes. you’re right.”

“Why did you do that?”

This monk.

Now, the contract with that being has been broken.

Even though I heard a threat that if I broke the contract, my heart would be ripped out.

“Anyway, didn’t you already notice it to some extent even if I didn’t tell you? “I still don’t know how I noticed.”

“still. “There is a difference between being caught by others and saying it directly.”

“Well, that’s true. but.”

The monk glances down at the baton in his hand.

It was an iron bar sold at a store.

It felt like it had been used for quite a long time.

“This baton technique is not just a way to move the body efficiently.”

“?”

“As I learned and trained my skills, my mind calmed down and became more organized. “I wonder if it was originally a martial art for mental training… But there are still many times when I can’t control my anger, so every day I realize how bad of a bastard I was before.”

Even though he doesn’t know when the death threat against him will be carried out.

Monk Seungju smiles empty-handedly.

“The crime of betraying people and trying to live alone. “This is the biggest karma I committed in my ugly past.”

“…no way.”

“You really solved our problem. If only we could give people a way to live. I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea for me to die alone. Like one life. “If you want to pay for your sins, it would be cheaper.”

We need to awaken the survivors by limiting food.

Compared to the head monk, he was a monk who used quite coercive methods.

‘In the end, it was a choice to save people.’

If this monk really only cared about my comfort, he would have just left this temple.

Unlike me, who couldn’t abandon the unit because it was obviously a support role.

‘Monk Seungju’s occupation is a paladin.’

Equipped with both great combat abilities and recovery abilities.

Because it is a job optimized for solo play.

Nevertheless, he did not leave the temple.

It was because of guilt and responsibility.

“I have already made up my mind, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Monk….”

“The problem is not me, but you.”

The monk straightened his posture and spoke with a serious expression.

“What are you going to do? The being inside… is probably something different from ordinary monsters. “I didn’t know it at the time, but just this martial art that was thrown away as if it was nothing was an incredible thing that helped our temple survive.”

“…Hmm.”

“Now, it wouldn’t be surprising if I broke the conditions and died at any time, but the fact that I made a deal with him was only possible because I was really lucky.”

Even if you say you’re going to visit that trainer NPC.

There is no way that we will be lucky enough to learn martial arts.

“If I’m lucky, I might be chosen as my next business partner and learn martial arts in return. or not.”

“Maybe the monk could deal with us as well to vent his anger for breaking the conditions, right?”

“yes.”

If you find that ‘hand’, you may be able to learn martial arts.

On the other hand, there is a possibility of being brutally murdered.

On the other hand, as long as you don’t go looking for the ‘hand’.

It’s just that Monk Seungju will be killed by a bastard someday.

There is a small chance that damage will come to us.

“The choice is free.”

I crossed my arms and was lost in thought.

First, an alliance with the people of this temple was concluded.

A defense line has been formed to prevent those ‘green manes’ from spreading to other areas.

but.

‘It’s still not enough to counterattack and subdue them.’

A stronger shot was needed.

For example.

Something like martial arts that this monk possesses.

“It’s not something I can decide on my own.”

for now.

I’ll have to ask the unit members’ opinions.

* * *

“It is said…”

Myoyangsa Temple’s restaurant.

I relayed the same story that Monk Seungju had told to the soldiers gathered there.

“her. That monk. “I wondered how he was so strong.”

“That’s why…”

The soldiers’ reactions varied.

These guys are interested in the ‘martial arts’ taught by monks.

“What is that monster again?”

“If you just listen to the story, it seems like he’s definitely not an ordinary guy.”

“…It’s not like a devil, right?”

These guys are wary of the ‘hand’ inside the tent.

and.

“….”

Contemplating with a serious expression.

Even Corporal Jeon Gwang-il.

actually.

If I had judged on my own, I would have been going straight down the cliff.

It was my thought that even if it meant gambling, I should not avoid the opportunity to increase my strength.

but.

‘It wouldn’t be good to keep going like this.’

Because the size of the army is growing.

Now it’s me, Minjae, etc.

Although some old soldiers can understand everything and make decisions.

It will become increasingly difficult to solve problems with such a simple system.

‘The guys here have been with us since the 423rd Battalion.’

In other words, they feel like executive candidates in our unit.

These guys may one day be in charge of making important decisions.

In this case, their lives are at stake.

I also wanted to listen to these guys’ judgments and opinions.

“hmm. To be honest. Is it really necessary to gamble? “I would like to.”

One soldier expressed his opinion.

“When I was up on that mountain and didn’t know the situation on the ground, I thought a little differently, but when I came down to the ground, I understood. “Right now, our guild is probably at least a few months ahead of everyone else.”

The other soldiers also nodded at those words.

“Maybe it’s because the base isn’t even stabilized like before. That fortress is like that, and the dragon soldiers are like that too. I don’t think we’ll fall apart anytime soon. “I think I could just steadily increase the number of people and raise their level, but why gamble?”

That certainly makes sense.

It is true that [Green Mane] is a threat, but after the fortress is built, it will be difficult for them to take over us.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to take that gamble later, when necessary?”

Let’s take a quick look at the other soldiers.

He seemed to be nodding his head as if there was nothing wrong with what he said.

“Then what happens to that monk?”

“hmm?”

The moment I was about to nod that I would eventually do it.

It was Corporal Jeon Gwang-il who opened his mouth with a worried expression.

“Monk Seungju.”

He’s a monk.

I said, scratching the back of my head.

“what. If it goes as the monk said, one day that monster will come and kill him. maybe.”

“In return for handing over information about him to us?”

“…Gwangil. “I know what you want to say.”

This guy, Gwangil, has a very naive personality.

You can’t just ignore someone who is destined to die, maybe something like that.

“Monk Seungju felt guilty about something in the past. The reason they tried to pay us, even at the cost of their lives, was to pay for their sins. This is what the monk did at the risk of death. We have no right to intervene there-”

“No. Sergeant Shin. “That’s not what I’m trying to say.”

what?

When I looked at him to see what he was talking about, he spoke with serious eyes.

“Monk Seungju showed a friendly attitude toward us. As a result, the monk was in danger of death.”

“For now, yes.”

“The problem is that this isn’t going to end this situation.”

huh?

“I know that Sergeant Shin is trying to establish friendly relationships with trustworthy awakened people.”

“That’s right… Because other awakened people are also gradually increasing their power. “It’s not a bad idea to have people who can help us when we can’t do it on our own.”

“The problem is that the person who showed friendly behavior toward us is in danger of being killed because of that action. “If it were known that we knew about the crisis and just ignored it… we would lose trust.”

“…!”

About that story.

I opened my eyes and looked at Gwangil.

“For now, we have formed an alliance with the people of this temple, but aren’t they still doubting whether they can trust us? If we succeed in saving the monk…”

“What if we succeed?”

“The Legion will be able to set a precedent of not abandoning those who have shown favor to them. “I might be able to gain trust from the people at the temple.”

This guy.

I thought he was just a naive guy.

“Monk Seungju encountered that being before he even went through awakening. If you just listen to the story, it feels like a transcendent being. “If you think about it, we too are superhumans, which makes no sense to humans of the past.”

Although Corporal Jeon Gwang-il had the highest level of combat ability, he rarely expressed his opinion in meetings.

“Of course he is strong, but our corps is by no means weak. “What we have to do is find him, somehow obtain martial arts, and at the same time block the threat to Monk Seungju.”

“…That’s amazing.”

I never thought I would think that far.

It made me wonder why he had been quiet at the meeting until now.

“haha. “That’s because I thought I always left the decision to Sergeant Shin.”

“?”

“Even after my last consultation, I felt like I had caused too much trouble. So, I’m trying to do some thinking.”

The guy scratching his head as if he was embarrassed.

“Actually, I have some personal greed in this matter.”

“Greed?”

“To be honest, the reasons I just mentioned are merely additional.”

blankly.

The guy talking while looking down at his hands.

“I am too weak. “I’m probably the biggest idiot in the unit because I’m stupidly strong and can’t utilize my strength.”

“Hey, that’s because of insanity.”

“Madness. you’re right. “That’s a problem too.”

I wanted to tell you that it wasn’t your fault.

Gwangil didn’t seem to think so.

“The monk guarding the mountain gate. “Do you remember?”

“….”

“If it weren’t for Monk Seungju and Sergeant Shin. “I would have killed him.”

That is the penalty of [Insanity].

Instead of giving you tremendous power.

The power to take away reason.

“I came this far thanks to this power. “I am afraid of this power.”

“that.”

“The very idea of being dependent on and tied to this kind of power. “It’s probably because I’m weak.”

That’s right.

If this guy was incredibly strong, there wouldn’t have been a need to unleash [Madness].

It’s not wrong.

“So it’s not your fault-”

The guy suddenly starts deprecating himself.

I wondered if the depression had subsided like last time.

“That martial art thing. “Didn’t you say it’s a way to control the power of the awakened?”

“huh?”

“Monk Seungju. “He actually had that much power.”

The look in the eyes of the guy who raised his head.

was full of desire.

“If you learn that, wouldn’t you be able to gain the power to not have to rely on madness?”

“….”

“Power enough not to be a nuisance even to Sergeant Shin.”

He muttered like that.

A guy who clenches his fists tightly.

“But isn’t this too much of a personal greed? “That’s what I came up with earlier when I was wondering if there was any way to persuade him.”

“Haha… you suck.”

I’m proud of you.

Although I had an interview last time.

In the end, I remained uneasy at the thought that I couldn’t solve all of this guy’s problems.

but.

‘There was no need for me to care.’

This guy was trying to solve his problem in his own way.

Looking at the other soldiers.

No soldier expressed significance in Gwangil’s words.

“Even though it’s a gamble.”

“Just as Corporal Jeon Gwang-il said. “Because we are not weak either.”

Those gathered here are the highest level of elites among the awakened members of the unit.

It was a power that could easily subdue even a fairly powerful monster.

“I wondered if it was really necessary to gamble…but I think it might be a gamble worth taking.”

The soldier who first raised his opinion also said that and nodded.

“If it was decided that way, there would be no need to hesitate.”

I don’t know if it stops with simply acquiring martial arts.

The purpose of saving the monk Seungju was also added.

It must be said that the probability of an encounter with that ‘hand’ occurring is very high.

then.

You have to be fully prepared before going into it.

actually.

That’s why the meeting place is set in the kitchen.

After I went into the kitchen.

He said, turning on the burner.

“Let’s eat first.”

* * *

“I see you’ve made your decision.”

Let’s say we’re going to go down a cliff.

Monk Seungju nods.

“yes. Martial arts are martial arts… and we have formed an alliance with this temple. The monk Seungju, an ally, is in a situation where his life is threatened. “I decided I couldn’t just pass by.”

“Even my worries…!”

The monk trembles slightly with emotion.

But it still seemed like something I was worried about.

“The being I met… had a very mysterious aura. It’s probably a different level from an ordinary monster. Are you prepared enough?”

“Yeah whatever.”

I lightly shrugged my shoulders and answered.

“I feel bad saying this, but we are not that easygoing people either.”

“….”

“what. “We are doing this because we have our own thoughts, so don’t worry too much.”

“Hmm. All right.”

like that.

The soldiers and I followed the guidance of monk Seungju and went down the cliff.

A mysterious being who is said to have taught martial arts to monk Seungju.

How powerful is that guy?

With a hint of tension.

* * *

however.

-Have you come to kill me?

“…yes?”

A black curtain located at the bottom of a cliff.

In it.

A voice full of sorrow echoes.

-I treated you like a disciple and even taught you martial arts… Hehehe. I never thought I would be betrayed like this.

“What is that?”

-Foolish. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?

Sreuk….

A hand protruding through the curtain points to the soldiers.

-Those guys. The energy giving off is unusual. Still… it’s worth it with ease. the problem is.

The hand moved gently.

The soldier who was at the front.

-That guy.

pointed at me

-The thick scent of blood stings my nose.

“City Lord Shin Young-jun?”

-Plus the smell of oily iron… If it’s to kill me, I can’t help but say it’s not a bad choice.

With heavy sighing.

Fingers shaking.

-indeed. It’s a presence that’s too much to bear…

In those words.

“No way. “The reason you told me not to worry.”

Monk Seungju, of course.

All the soldiers look at me with their mouths open.

“Did you decide that you could kill this being…!”

In those words.

I calmly closed my eyes and looked at the sky.

I muttered to myself.

‘What… bullshit.’