The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 183
Episode 183: Please. (1)
[Food ingredient identification (enhancement)]
[Parasite B-36S type mutant (1st incubation period)]
[Freshness – Best]
This is….
The true identity of zombies.
[It is a parasite that travels around various universes and reproduces.]
“Parasite.”
[A parasite begins its full-fledged activities from the moment the host dies.]
[A parasite that settles in the nervous system of a dead host can control the body of the dead host.] [It
attacks other living things through the host . Then, they inject their eggs into the opponent through their mouth or fingernails.] [
The parasites that hatch from the eggs quickly drive the host to death and then begin their activities through another host as well.] Move the
body of the dead person . and.
They attack others, cause wounds, and become infected through those wounds.
Although it took the characteristics of zombies and added them as is.
Its true identity was a parasite.
There are many causes of zombies that appear in various media.
That’s why I came to the assumption that these guys were parasites.
There was one big reason.
[Chef Dasmur].
Because I saw his memories.
Even in that memory, there were two scenes that particularly served as hints.
The first is zombies of my own race rushing towards ‘me’.
That was what ‘I’ said while looking at those zombies.
-They look like bugs…!
It makes sense that the Pope calls us bugs.
A species that grows to a size of 10 meters each.
It seemed truly powerful, with magical power commensurate with its size.
Compared to them.
It made me think that we humans might look that much inferior.
but.
The races that attacked the chef at that time were different.
Even though they may have become zombies, they are of the same species as me.
“It was a little awkward to call those guys bugs.”
And the second time…
when the cook’s body was cut in half by the divine beast’s teeth.
The moment I was sucked into that stomach.
This was the view from inside.
‘Numerous parasites.’
Parasites themselves are not strange.
Apparently, Shinsu’s parasites are a great food ingredient.
but.
The parasites of Shinsoo that I saw as food ingredients were incredibly large.
A 10-meter-tall chef had to hold it with both hands to cook it.
On the other hand, what the chef saw just before he died.
A group of very small parasites.
I thought about it the moment I saw it.
‘Maybe that… is the true identity of the zombie.’
and.
The result is this.
“This is why it’s so hard to find…!”
I muttered as I looked at the small bug held between my fingers.
A pea-sized bug that possesses magical powers.
Even so, human corpses are infested with maggots.
Moreover, this guy is of such a size that it is difficult to distinguish it from other ordinary bugs.
‘…Leader Lee Sang-ah said that he leveled up by catching zombies.’
On the other hand.
Most survivors could not level up even if they caught zombies.
What was the difference?
I felt like I knew now.
I put some pressure on the finger holding the parasite.
OK.
Pajik.
A bug that explodes so easily that it feels futile.
and. A strange sense of satisfaction
rushing into the body
.
[Experience points are gained.]
Although the amount was very small.
It was a clear experience.
Necessary for awakening.
That energy.
“Leader Lee Sang-ah… When he caught the zombie, he was lucky enough to attack the area where the parasite was.”
When the conquest of Inje army was in progress.
I once stopped by the tailor shop where Lee Sang-ah worked.
I also saw the zombie that she caught and awakened.
And on the back of the zombie’s neck.
There were costume scissors stuck in it.
I found this parasite near the spinal cord.
‘It lives as a parasite near the spinal cord… and moves the host.’
Unlike others who could not awaken even after catching a zombie.
Those who successfully awakened by catching zombies.
They were lucky enough to attack where this bug was.
‘The reason you didn’t show up at our unit…’
I don’t know.
There may only be one.
‘Because our unit’s altitude was high above sea level, there were no mosquitoes.’
These bugs.
Surprisingly, I tend to be very particular about my living environment.
A radar unit located on a high mountain.
Not even a mosquito could settle there.
The same goes for parasites that create zombies.
In order to become a parasite on a host, it would have to move there first.
If the environment is difficult for zombies to settle in, parasitism will not be possible.
The reason these guys couldn’t live on our soldiers.
It was probably for the same reason.
Maybe somewhere near South America.
Zombies themselves may not have appeared in mountainous countries.
If you think about it.
Even when looking at [food ingredient identification].
Zombies only appear as [human corpses].
There was no explanation that it was a zombie.
‘of course.’
A walking corpse is just a host for parasites.
The body was a small bug stuck inside.
“…With this, we have figured out the identity of the zombie.”
Looking at Chef Dasmur’s memories.
Although they are zombies that don’t seem like much right now.
There was a high possibility that he would become a trickier enemy later than expected.
Of course.
[Parasite is a type of parasite that forms a colony and evolves over time.] [A
sufficiently evolved parasite completely dominates the host’s body and affects its physical abilities.]
[The first incubation period . The parasites in question are not at a level of mutation that is high enough to reproduce the abilities of the host during life, so they are unable to possess reason.] [The
most appropriate treatment method for this condition
is-] “The first incubation period. “There is a next step.”
These guys are now in the ‘first incubation period’.
There is even an explanation that the more babies you give birth to, the more it evolves to the next level.
‘If you evolve like that… what happens?’
I’m not sure.
From what I saw in Chef Dasmur’s memories.
What was certain was that it wouldn’t go well for us.
I get goosebumps again.
Until recently, zombies had been left semi-neglected because they were not that threatening.
They passed that stage.
If it is fabled as something threatening.
‘I wonder what will happen.’
Zombies that may become a big threat in the future.
Before they evolve to the next level.
It meant a lot to know its identity now.
Well, if there’s one problem.
“When are we going to deal with all those zombies?”
Gangwon-do does not have a high population density.
Nonetheless, huge numbers of people died.
People who died without being able to have a proper funeral, such as cremation.
Most of them are walking around as zombies.
Fortunately, mercenary soldiers are patrolling to eliminate zombies near Chuncheon City.
And that’s only in some areas close to our base.
Reducing the number of zombies hiding everywhere is not easy.
‘At least with our guild alone… it’s impossible to eradicate the zombies.’
It might not be completely impossible.
However, there is a limit to the number of guild members.
It will take an extremely long time.
There is no guarantee that the zombies will not evolve in the meantime.
Above all, our guild can’t just focus on suppressing zombies for that long.
The experience value provided by the bug I exploded is very small.
It won’t be of much help to the growth of our guild members.
furthermore.
“Because winter has come.”
During this winter.
More people will die.
It’s time to save even firewood.
Applying makeup to prevent zombification will also become difficult.
Many people will die.
They will just wake up as zombies.
“I need a way…”
In normal times.
He must have found a way through cooking somehow.
‘I can’t feed those zombies one by one.’
The problem this time is that there is no angle that can be solved through cooking.
hmm.
This is…
‘…there’s no way, is there?’
All over Gangwon-do.
No, zombies that may be spreading throughout Korea.
How do you solve that?
I’m struggling with a problem that has no answer.
“Youngjun?”
“…huh?”
Someone came to the restaurant.
“Minjae hyung?”
A man wearing an electric snake that he captured some time ago.
It was Sergeant Lee Min-jae.
He opened his mouth with a slightly serious expression on his face.
“I came to ask you a favor.”
…A favor?
* * *
Sergeant Lee Min-jae is like the leader of our unit.
Since I, the actual guild leader, am quite busy with other things as well.
The external role of the guild leader is Lieutenant Kim.
And Minjae hyung often takes care of various matters within the guild.
So do I and other guys.
There were many times when I secretly felt that Minjae was taking care of this and that.
Because he is a person in such an important position.
I also paid close attention to observing Minjae.
Until right after the last attack on Salmoneus.
Minjae seemed excited about his newly acquired abilities.
But even for a moment.
‘He seemed worried about something recently.’
Staring blankly into space.
Sitting on the fortress wall and looking into the distance, lost in thought.
I often saw someone who looked like he was worried.
No, to be exact.
Rather, it was like that after the attack on Salmoneus.
Even before that.
‘It’s been that kind of feeling since the day the first snow fell.’
As I don’t know exactly what the problem is.
I was wondering if I should ask in person sometime soon.
“ruler. “My brother’s favorite coffee.”
“thanks. It must be hard to find one now…”
That Sergeant Lee Min-jae.
He came to me to ask for advice.
“ah. Actually, that’s not the case.”
“huh?”
“I heard that Inje-gun is developing a crop that can play a similar role as coffee. If we do it right, we might be able to restore coffee too.”
“That’s… definitely amazing.”
Sitting across from Minjae at the table in the restaurant.
He asked, offering him a cup of his favorite coffee.
“so. “A favor?”
Minjae and I often discuss the unit’s major and minor issues.
Minjae is also the one leading the unit when I am away.
Even if I am there, he takes care of the minor management.
In fact, acting commander of the corps.
Or vice commander… A role similar to that of deputy guild leader.
As Minjae is like that.
There were many cases where he suggested something to me.
“What’s going on that you’re even using such grandiose words as a favor?”
I heard the word request.
It seemed like this was the first time.
‘Maybe it has something to do with the way he’s been looking worried these days.’
What on earth is going on that I’m asking for a favor?
Let’s be curious and ask.
“First of all, before that. “There is something I want to tell you.”
“huh?”
“Thanks to you, my level has surpassed 30. “We talked about it last time, right?”
“That’s it.”
Thanks to this, new characteristics are awakened.
Minjae hyung is on a tremendous rise, even gaining a following.
‘It may not be as strong as Gwangil, but wouldn’t he have become incredibly strong?’
If you look at it in terms of wide-area attacks.
No one in the unit, including Gwangil, can keep up with him.
“I thought I would become an advanced wizard when I reached level 30, but that wasn’t the case.”
“Ah, so did I.”
I thought that after low intermediate level, it would naturally be upper level or advanced level.
I heard there are specialized fields starting at level 30?
In my case, war chef.
It was a job that applied additional bonuses to battle-related buffs and actions.
Because my main job was a cook.
Well, I think that might be the case.
“okay. And what I specialize in as an electricity-type wizard is….”
[Food ingredient identification (enhancement)]
[Awakened: Lee Min-jae]
[Radio wizard Lv.30]
“It’s radio waves.”
Spread…
spread.
‘…hmm. ‘I don’t know.’
Even if you say that.
I couldn’t quite guess what kind of skills the job would have.
“Actually, I have a little idea why I got this job.”
“huh?”
“Have you forgotten? my position. “He was a communications soldier.”
“…ah.”
Just like I was the king of the cooking class.
Minjae was from Wang High School in the communications class.
Nowadays, the distinction as a communication group has disappeared.
I didn’t think it meant much.
…for a moment.
That’s right.
“Now wait a minute. If you’re saying you got that job because you were a signal soldier.”
That job.
no way.
“Are you saying it has something to do with communication?”
“That is correct.”
“…!”
In those words.
I couldn’t hide my surprise.
Quang!
“no way!”
I jumped up from my chair, slammed the table, and shouted.
“The ability to restore communication is now available…!”
After ‘Doomsday’.
For general calls as well as emergency contacts.
TV, radio, intranet, military frequencies…
All types of communication were cut off.
Excluding guild messages that can only be sent between members of the same guild.
The only possible means of communication is something like a beacon used during the Joseon Dynasty.
Thanks to.
Our unit has significantly increased its strength.
Nevertheless, I did not know the situation in other regions properly.
A merchant who travels between various regions.
I was able to hear some vague rumors through the commercial conference.
That’s all.
The commercial association also does not have a wide scope of activities.
Other areas of Gangwon-do that are not yet under our influence.
What happened to those places?
no.
Beyond that, how are things going in other regions such as Seoul?
we are.
The state of not knowing a single thing.
‘If only we could restore that communication…!’
Through communication with survivors in other areas.
You will be able to check the situation.
Yeah, maybe.
I was trying not to worry as much as possible.
‘Information about the family…!’