The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 173

Episode 173: Surviving Winter (2)

“Lieutenant Kim….”

“Ruler of the Legion.”

Did you think you wouldn’t hear it from here?

These people mumble in low voices while sweating coldly.

gulp.

He seemed quite nervous about Lieutenant Kim’s appearance.

I could even hear the sound of dry swallowing.

As I was standing behind Lieutenant Kim, I looked at him and thought.

‘Lieutenant Kim, that nobleman… As time goes by, Hou Dae becomes more plausible.’

In any case, our guild boasts the strongest power, at least in this area.

If you look at the number of awakened people, there may actually be more of them.

Military items captured from various military units and then remodeled by engineers.

A huge fortress and powerful mercenary soldiers attached to it.

And a unit where each and every member boasts transcendent strength.

“I want to hear why you asked to see me. As you know, we are a bit busy right now.”

Lieutenant Kim Hyun-seok, at least when viewed from the outside.

He was the sole ruler of such a powerful force.

‘In reality, Boss Baji listens to my orders.’

A lot of time has passed now.

Lieutenant Kim also seems to have adapted quite well to the role of Commander-in-Chief.

Lately, I’ve been feeling like something like dignity has started to creep into what I do little by little.

One of the reasons may be that my level increased and I was promoted to [Intermediate Commander].

“Someone, please come forward and take a look.”

“Ah hmm.”

People who were overwhelmed by its presence.

One of them came forward and opened his mouth with a nervous expression on his face.

“We would like to ask you to join the Legion-”

What he said was.

It was 100% consistent with what I and the other soldiers were expecting.

and.

The answer to that is also ready.

“I’m sorry, but that might be a bit difficult.”

“…!”

Even before the other person has finished speaking.

Lieutenant Kim interrupts.

“What is that?”

“I have no intention of easily increasing the number of soldiers for some time to come.”

recent.

There was one thing I became convinced of as I watched the unit members grow through repeated battles.

‘Increasing numbers blindly does not benefit the corps.’

The level of awakened people is not determined by numbers.

Rather, the strength of each person is more important.

Powerful traits and jobs at high levels.

A properly armed Awakened person can accomplish several times the work of an ordinary Awakened person.

‘A guy like Gwangil would be an example of that.’

Until now, we have been blindly increasing the number.

If you keep going that way, someday.

There comes a moment when the numbers become too large.

‘When the time comes. It is bound to become difficult to fully support the growth of each soldier.’

so that.

Now that winter has arrived, we have made one decision.

‘Elite of the unit.’

From now on, no one will be able to set foot in the corps.

Only those who have proven sufficient qualifications will be able to join our guild.

Actually, I have always wanted to become an elite.

There was no opportunity to make that possible.

‘The opportunity to do so was the martial art that the guild members are learning.’

Its strength is beyond imagination.

The only ones who can hand this out are [Myoyang Temple] or our corps.

Moreover, unlike Myoyang Temple, which only teaches degraded martial arts.

Our corps teaches advanced martial arts suited to each individual.

‘This is a power that can fully be called a privilege.’

In order to become an elite.

Because I have to make others feel like they want to join the military.

There were many privileges given only to corps members before.

This martial art will be its representative.

In any case, the defense of the territory is handled by dragon soldiers.

Rather than increasing the numbers.

The judgment was that it would be better to accept only those whose abilities and personality have been proven.

“That can’t be possible. “It wasn’t like that before.”

“The people who came in then are still with us as reliable soldiers. But a lot of time has passed, hasn’t it? “I think you can say that our situation has changed from the past.”

“…that.”

“If you want to join, you can go for an interview… but I don’t think there will be many people who will be able to pass.”

In Lieutenant Kim’s words.

A look of despair appeared on the faces of the people gathered.

‘If you want to get on the rope, you have to get on it quickly.’

It’s not like the time I had to sign up was short.

The bus had already passed.

“If it was someone who fought with us before, I would give it some thought… but looking at it, it doesn’t seem like it. “I will ask you first.”

Lieutenant Kim’s eyes looked around at people’s faces.

Those who do not have any friendly relations with us.

If it were the people who helped us in battle, I would have been worried, but not them.

“Why do you suddenly want to join the unit?”

“…that is.”

In those words.

A man behind him stepped forward and said.

“Our groups each have at least one ice-type wizard in the group.”

“Hmm?”

“There are probably similar wizards within the Legion. “I bet they all feel the same way.”

“What do you mean?”

“A trait that those who have awakened to a freezing class have is affinity for cold… They say there is one thing you can know if you have this trait.”

The man sighed and opened his mouth.

“This winter… it’s going to be extremely cold.”

surely.

It seems like the unit’s frost-type wizards said something similar.

‘I said, at best, there hasn’t been a cold like this in 100 years.’

A huge cold spell.

Our unit is ready to withstand even a moderate cold wave.

“It is difficult for us to survive in that much cold.”

“Especially here. You know. I was trapped in that wall of water for a long time. “At that time, the monsters probably ate all the trees, so it’s hard to find even a single piece of firewood.”

“The situation may be better for groups with fire-type wizards, but it is difficult to maintain a fire for 24 hours without firewood.”

Lieutenant Kim seemed to have roughly grasped the situation.

I nodded calmly.

“indeed. “So you wanted to join our unit.”

but.

Lieutenant Kim seems to have no particular inspiration.

One of the opponents who saw this opened his mouth as if he could not control his anger.

“Are these so-called soldiers… planning to let civilians die?”

“And Mr. Kwak!”

In those words.

“…her.”

Lieutenant Kim said with a faint smile.

“You said you were worried about the cold.”

“…yes.”

“Isn’t this a bit strange? Normally, when winter comes, the first thing to worry about would not be the cold, but food.”

“….”

“The reason you don’t have to worry about food now. “What is it?”

Our unit…

To be exact, it’s thanks to me.

The corpses of monsters that they couldn’t handle.

Because I processed it and made it into a great meal.

“Seeing as there is no answer, I guess you don’t want to talk.”

“….”

“Well, let’s skip that. okay. The cold is a problem? “Then leave for another area.”

“It’s a different region.”

“Isn’t the lack of firewood a problem unique to this city? Something like Hongcheon-gun over there. If we settle in that area, there will be plenty of trees for firewood. In fact, one large guild in Yanggu-gun has settled there and is making a good living. “The only worry was food, and we took care of that.”

In those words.

The other person, who was intimidated, muttered in a low voice.

“There are so many monsters there…”

“There are definitely no monsters around here. Those monsters that were once abundant. “Who do you think organized it?”

There are mercenary soldiers still roaming around.

It is a safe area created thanks to continuous subjugation of the area through mercenary soldiers.

“We are doing our duty as soldiers with all our might.”

“….”

“There may be complaints. Don’t ignore the fact itself. Do you know anything? “Will we, who are offended by those words, choose to abandon that duty?”

“Are you saying that you will abandon your duty!?”

“That’s just in case.”

Those who feel a little relieved by those words.

But Lieutenant Kim’s words did not end there.

“There is nothing forcing our actions now. The reason we perform our duties as soldiers is because we are truly soldiers. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

If a situation arises where you have to give up your obligations.

We are in a position where we can give up that obligation.

“That kind of thing.”

“So… if you want to be safe in our territory, just be quiet…” “

…Oh, I understand.”

As he falls back.

Others behind him scolded him, saying, ‘I told you not to show off like that…!’

“Is that the end of what you want to say?”

Let Lieutenant Kim show his anger without hiding it.

There was tension among the leaders of the gathered awakened people.

After a while.

“That…”

In a rigid atmosphere.

Another awakened person stepped forward.

“Actually, I thought it would be best if you could let me join the unit.”

“hmm?”

“I was going to make another offer in case you were rejected. “Mr. Kwak suddenly intervened and I missed the right time to speak.”

“indeed. “I guess you have a second best solution.”

“exactly. “The cold coming in the future doesn’t mean there is no solution.”

“…?”

Lieutenant Kim also opened his eyes wide in surprise at those words.

“A solution? Are you serious?”

“but. It’s impossible for us. So… I’d like to get some help from the Legion.”

“First of all, I want to hear what’s going on.”

What the man said.

It was quite shocking even for me who was listening from behind.

“It’s about restoring electricity.”

“….”

At those words.

Lieutenant Kim, as well as all the soldiers who were listening.

Even the other awakened people over there looked dumbfounded.

‘Will that work?’

The electricity was cut off less than a month after the day of destruction.

To get electricity, you have to turn on the generator.

Oil to run generators is now the world’s most valuable resource after food.

It is so precious that even our troops have to cherish it.

Even the role of turning on the lights around the unit is left to wizards.

Oil is only used in battles where tanks must be mobilized.

But let’s get through the winter by restoring electricity.

Nonsense-

“Now wait a minute. I know you think it’s impossible. But first listen.”

“What is it? I’ll tell you in advance. “It wouldn’t even be worth the amount of oil that comes from robbing a gas station.”

“That will be explained in detail here. Mr. Jeon!”

Behind him, another man stepped forward.

“One of the few wizards in our group.”

“My name is Jeon Gi-hyeok. My occupation is a wizard… To be precise.”

He held out his hand.

Fazizik.

There was a small spark above it.

‘Electric wizard?’

It’s the same job as Minjae.

“As you can see, he is an electric wizard.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I think you know. The occupations of awakened people are related to the person’s aptitude or previous occupation. “What’s important is how I got the job of Electric Wizard.”

What are you trying to say by criticizing the build-up like that?

I was looking at it with a disgruntled attitude.

“Maybe because I was a power plant employee.”

“…!”

What came next:

It was enough to startle us a little.

I heard you were a power plant employee.

That can’t be right.

“Even if there was a nuclear power plant near here-”

“It’s not nuclear power. “If it was a nuclear power plant to begin with, it would be impossible for me to restart it alone, even if I asked for help.”

“then?”

“It’s the sun. “Do you have a map?”

Let’s bring the military map used by the unit.

He pointed to the center of Chuncheon city.

“This is Chuncheon City. If you look here, there is a river. That river is also where the legion’s huge fortress is located…”

“I know that much because that’s where our fortress is located.”

“Then we can talk quickly. As you know, there are three more islands here.”

I knew there was an island.

I remember that one of them was a fairly famous theme park.

Someday, we will connect a bridge through engineers.

I was planning on making that area our unit’s territory.

“It’s a place we haven’t even touched yet.”

During the last dungeon.

On the outskirts of the dungeon area, a powerful waterfall flowed that could split steel in two in an instant.

Due to the waterfall, all bridges leading to the island were destroyed.

To go there, you inevitably have to build a ship or something.

Until now, I had not been able to afford it, so advancing in that direction had been put off for a long time.

There was no reason to rush to touch those islands right away, so I was ignoring them.

“This island here is a solar power plant.”

A place I had no interest in.

It was a power plant that generated electricity.

“Are you asking us to recapture that power plant?”

“I’m sure there are monsters there too. “It’s difficult for us, who don’t even have a boat, to send enough people to that island.”

“Recapture.”

Lieutenant Kim falls into trouble.

Kihyuk spoke urgently.

“I don’t know if you know, but those islands aren’t even in that watery area. I don’t know what kind of mischief the monsters inside may have pulled out, but… there’s a high probability that the facility will be fine. “The power plant’s facilities were capable of providing electricity to as many as 2,000 households!”

“Hmm.”

“If only half of the facility’s solar panels were functioning properly, the majority of people living nearby would be able to benefit. Of course, it wouldn’t be possible all day long. Even if we can survive the coldest night, it means a lot…!”

Many people died.

The number of people who survived is by no means large compared to the past.

If the power plant really remains intact.

Just restarting the power there would be of great significance.

‘If we can get electricity… it won’t be a bad thing for us either.’

They say that we have [Vimana] and wizards can replace most things.

There is nothing bad about that.

As the unit is also reducing its external activities, there is plenty of room for troops.

‘this. Let’s do it.’

Nod.

I looked at Lieutenant Kim and nodded quietly.

but.

The way I nodded…

even though I clearly saw the OK sign.

“Hmm.”

Lieutenant Kim.

He let out a sigh as if he didn’t like it.

“Well, even if there’s something unclear about it.”

“no. It’s just a trivial reason. “What you’re asking us to do is that there are monsters out there that would be difficult to subdue with the survivors alone.”

“We can’t know that because we haven’t entered the island yet.”

“Then it’s even worse. “It is an unknown enemy whose identity has not even been revealed.”

stroking my chin.

Lieutenant Kim opens his mouth saying he doesn’t like it.

“What if we were confident that our soldiers could subdue them? I don’t want to send them into a dangerous battlefield.”

…this guy.

Why are you doing this all of a sudden?