The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 243
Episode 244: Attraction (3)
Corporal Lee Gong-woo gave it to me.
[Complete Type 1 of Legion System Protection]
I was the one who received that item.
I activated [Food Ingredients Identification] and checked the specifications.
[Advanced Poison Resistance]
The result…
was quite surprising.
“Crazy…a reward?”
“sorry. For us, this is our limit…”
“What are we sorry for?”
They seemed to be sorry that further development was not possible.
This was truly incredible.
If it’s a higher grade… definitely.
Between intermediate and advanced.
‘This is… the power of a pure blue-collar worker who has not been involved in battle like me.’
Although I am confident that the buff that comes from my cooking is also great.
It only activates when eaten, or cannot be applied multiple times, etc.
There were also disadvantages.
That underground mine is an example.
Because of the nature of the environment, where my food was contaminated with poison, I couldn’t take a lot of combat rations with me.
‘These equipment are different.’
Considering that advanced traits are only given after level 30.
They just wear clothes.
Creating an incredible item that allows you to obtain characteristics just before advanced level.
“To be honest, we thought we did pretty well. “According to original expectations, I thought this guy alone would be able to break through that miasma up to 20 kilometers.”
Not anymore.
Because the quality of the poison has increased rapidly.
“This guy will probably reach his limit before then.”
Fog forms on the faces of blue-collar soldiers.
“sorry. “Sergeant Shin.”
“I thought that if I continued like this, I would be able to create an item that would allow me to break through that underground passage. “It was our arrogance.”
“What is arrogance? “You created an item like this, so have some confidence.”
They were never arrogant.
These guys have proven their abilities.
“but.”
“You know. “It’s not that you couldn’t do it.”
I am.
He said, looking at that endlessly deep hole.
“That underground mine… is unbelievably deep.”
Even thinking about it again, it’s ridiculous.
No, let me think about it.
The place we have arrived now is 15 kilometers underground.
‘That’s not the outer passage we took down, it’s 15 kilometers in a straight line!’
We went down the outer passage and had to travel a much longer distance.
Since all of them are high-level awakened people, they can move through passages where monsters have already been cleared at the speed of a car.
There was no major problem with travel time.
Nevertheless, it is true that it was a long expedition that made me vomit every time.
“What on earth did those Dwarven guys want to do by digging so deep?”
“That’s right. “Just do it in moderation.”
Digging that deeply.
You’ve awakened something deep inside.
‘…hmm.’
I guessed it to some extent originally.
also.
The cause of that miasma….
‘It must be something that woke the Dwarven.’
Just look at the admiration of the blue-collar soldiers.
It was clear that the technological power that that civilization possessed was enormous.
Something that destroyed that civilization overnight.
To solve that poison.
We too have to approach that guy.
‘Is it possible?’
Normally I wouldn’t have hesitated this much.
Because I had the confidence that no matter what happened, I could overcome it using my cooking.
Because of his confidence, not long ago, he openly argued with a guy who called him a devil and all.
But this time is different.
‘An environment that makes it extremely difficult to use my cooking.’
Unless the ‘game’ of this world suddenly changes its balance and drastically increases the duration of cooking.
There is no way that new dishes can be made in that poisonous basement.
At best, carrying combat rations in one’s pocket is the limit.
Combat rations of very poor quality compared to properly prepared dishes.
“Whoa.”
I wonder if I should just give up like this.
My heart wanted to conquer that place somehow.
The moment when you have to make a decision.
then.
In times like this, there is only one thing to do.
[Shaman: Hmm.]
I decided to contact the shaman in our unit.
‘I didn’t want to make you invest time since he was busy getting the information needed to occupy the area.’
In fact, it was a strategy that I could have just given up on if things went wrong.
But now I feel like I want to attack that place somehow.
You can also visit a shaman.
however.
[Shaman: …I don’t know either?]
[Chef: Huh?]
Actually, the shaman’s answer.
It was very ambiguous.
[Chef: I don’t know. What are you talking about. If you want me to solve a riddle again like last time, just tell me. I’ve gotten used to it now, so to a certain extent…]
[Shaman: That’s not it. Did you forget? This ability. It doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be activated just because you want it.]
[Chef: ….]
Now that I think about it, it was like that.
but.
That hasn’t happened since he ate my cooking and his abilities became stronger.
If I had a question, he always gave me an answer.
I thought that the effect would be maintained at least in Gangwon-do.
[Shaman: Maybe… it’s because that gate is a different world.]
Let me wonder.
Taejun came up with an answer of his own.
[Shaman: The stars I see are those floating above this Earth. They are not stars from another world.]
The ‘dungeon’ that terraformed the Earth was a space attached to the Earth anyway.
But the gate is a completely different world.
They say he is Sergeant Park Tae-jun, who can look into the stars of this universe.
A completely different world.
What happens inside that gate is unknown.
‘In the end, you don’t know anything.’
Should I worry again?
Just when my head started hurting.
[Shaman: But.]
[Chef: Huh?]
Taejun’s message continued.
[Shaman: Didn’t I tell you last time? You will have to build your own achievements, even if it means stealing my achievements.]
[Chef: That’s right. I still keep those words.]
[Shaman: I also don’t know why you have to do that… I don’t know the exact reason. But there is only one thing I can know.]
He told me to accumulate achievements even if it was just a bluff.
I am deep inside.
I thought the reason might be what I experienced during the battle to subjugate those demonic contractors.
‘To be the object of faith for our unit members in an unstable world.’
however.
[Shaman: The moment when that achievement is needed has not yet come.]
[Chef: …!]
[Shaman: But it will definitely come someday.]
According to Sergeant Park Tae-jun’s words.
The reason is that.
It hasn’t come to me yet.
[Shaman: I’m not sure about this.]
Nine times out of ten, that guy’s prophecy is correct.
and.
The point is that the prophecy has not yet come true.
[Shaman: No matter what you do, you won’t die before then.]
[Chef: …!]
At least until the prophecy comes true.
Even if I have to go through some tough things.
This means there is no need to die.
[Chef: Crazy.]
[Shaman: As I said, it’s not certain. Maybe it will be something that will help me in the afterlife after I die. You don’t have to believe what I say too much, Youngjun.]
He also didn’t seem confident in his guess.
[Chef: No.]
[Shaman: ?]
[Chef: As you said, it may not be a definite story. But that’s enough.]
[Shaman: …I see.]
The only question was whether I could do it or not.
If it comes down to whether you want to do it or not.
‘Exploring that dungeon is something I want to do somehow.’
Why is [Divine Power] leading me there?
Why are the monsters in the underground like that?
What is the cause of that poison?
There were so many things I wanted to check.
The only problem was that I wasn’t confident whether it would be possible or not.
‘That word. ‘Because it filled me with confidence.’
Although it may not be certain.
Taejun’s prediction is that there is a high probability that he will not die.
That’s enough.
I nod my head.
I got up.
Compared to when I first opened that gate.
It was true that my confidence had declined in many ways.
but.
‘What if I don’t die!’
No matter what hardships you will have to go through.
Even if you say that you may not achieve anything after all the hard work.
‘It’s worth a try, right?’
What I have to do is still the same.
Down there.
It’s still full of monsters that haven’t died properly.
So me.
Just keep digging into that mine.
I have no choice but to bring death to those guys.
* * *
“Once you reach the point, there are no monsters. “Go as fast as possible!”
“Loyal loyalty!”
Once the decision has been made.
I went straight to the basement as fast as I could.
Protective clothing made by production workers.
The effect of that first ‘finished product’ was enormous.
“Sergeant Shin. This protection not only resists poison…”
“Yes. “The performance of the equipment is similar to that of the military uniforms worn before.”
This is a change that occurred while reading the Dwarven descriptions.
In other words.
“This means that there is a high probability that the military uniforms worn before will also be greatly improved, right?”
“I know. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Anyway, so.
We were able to quickly reach the deepest point we had reached so far.
“Monsters will probably start to appear from here.”
“yes!”
“And this will probably be the final attack that I can go on with you guys.”
“….”
I checked the equipment one last time.
He spoke to the soldiers.
“If possible, let’s hope that this protective clothing will help us reach our goal.”
“yes!”
So again.
The attack resumes.
“Ugh, what is that machine again!”
“be careful! There seem to be many different types of restraints for mine excavation!”
There were several battles.
A battle more dangerous than any battle I have ever experienced.
Of course, there were several moments of crisis.
Someone had to return to the ground right away as a result of their protective clothing being torn.
Nevertheless.
The attack proceeded smoothly.
okay.
The capabilities of the unit members are sufficient.
With their abilities, they can somehow deal with even the slave monsters in the deepest places.
the problem is.
No matter how strong they are.
“Sigh.”
“Corporal Jeon Gwang-il!”
Eventually.
There is bound to be a section that becomes blocked due to poisonous air.
“Hehe. Is this poison? “It’s quite a bitter taste.”
“what the. “You’re probably the only one who would call it bitter.”
Corporal Jeon Gwang-il, who was attacked by the miasma, pretended like nothing had happened.
Although I also responded to that comment lightly.
‘It’s already at the breaking point.’
So much so that that guy is suffering from poison.
I, too, was feeling a little burnt inside.
I took out an object that looked like a watch from my pocket.
This item was handed over by the engineers when they discovered that this mine was connected underground.
[Corporation system depth meter with the sincerity of an intermediate engineer]
Depth meter.
It is a device that tells you how deep you have gone.
As it is an item made by an awakened person, the advantage is that there is no depth limit compared to an ordinary depth meter.
and.
The numbers written there are.
[18km]
‘Tsk.’
From the point we arrived at previously.
There was only 3 kilometers of progress.
According to the evaluation of food ingredients, the performance of this protective clothing has increased significantly compared to Mark 8.
Still, this is it.
As you go down, the intensity of this poison becomes truly unimaginable.
“If you get to this point, you’ve done well. “Sergeant Shin.”
Let me seem like I’m in trouble.
Soldiers from the strategy team approached and spoke.
“The fact that the capabilities of production workers have increased significantly is a tremendous achievement. A representative example would be the ability to upgrade protective clothing.”
“you’re right. If the soldiers wearing this protective clothing extract the magic stone… it may take a while. “Wouldn’t the speed at which the vimana’s magic power be filled also increase?”
What the soldiers said was clear.
That is correct.
It was also possible to obtain magic stones.
I also obtained several technical books on the so-called magic civilization.
‘If Minjae, who is currently unconscious, wakes up, there might be another way.’
but.
Nevertheless.
‘What I’m saying is that magic isn’t important. now.’
The reason why I want to attack this gate now.
It wasn’t because of what they said.
‘Extremely personal greed.’
[Strength: 8]
This place must be cleared.
I continued to have strong convictions.
“okay. “You are right.”
“Sergeant Shin?”
“All soldiers, turn back. “Everyone returns to the ground.”
“…yes!”
On my word.
I guess he was a little worried that I would continue to insist on the strategy.
The soldiers’ faces brighten slightly and they all turn their backs.
“step.”
and.
The very moment the soldiers turned their backs…
“Except me.”
“yes?”
I am.
The critical point where Gwangil was invaded by poison.
From there, we took one step forward.
“…crazy!”
“Eun-gong! Are you thinking of committing suicide!?”
The panicked soldiers tried to approach me.
Farsi style….
“Ugh.”
“Miasma…!”
Even if it is said that protective clothing reduces the pain to some extent.
It looks like he can’t get any closer due to the huge amount of poison.
Unlike those people.
I suffered no damage from the miasma.
Even if the protective clothing was pierced.
‘The miasma has been sufficiently weakened.’
and.
If the miasma is weakened by protective clothing.
[Nepenthes that melts the soul]
This flower was given to me by a friend.
It can’t be stronger than Nepenthes’ poison.
“…I know that Eunkong is free from this poison!”
Soldiers too.
I know that I am relatively free from this poison.
Nevertheless, there must be another reason to prevent independent action.
Know.
“The monsters inside… aren’t something Eunkong can handle alone!”
As Seohwan said.
We succeeded in digging quite deep, though.
Still in the basement.
-Keez….
-The
sound of powerful monsters was heard.
The sound of powerful monsters wearing something like [Excavation Restraints].
Am I going to defeat those monsters alone without a strategy team?
I’m not a combat person specialized in solo play.
If that happens, will you be a supporter?
“Seo Soo-hyuk.”
but.
“yes. Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk.”
“What you said, ‘I see something.’ “Can you still see it?”
“….”
In my words.
Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk opened his eyes wide and looked down into the basement.
“yes. “It’s still too dark to tell exactly what it is, but it’s clearer than last time.”
“okay. “That’s enough.”
“…Sigh. I know that trying to stop you now won’t help, but you’re not tired of it, really.”
According to what Suhyuk said, whatever.
We have almost reached our destination.
“You wait above.”
“What is that…!”
“I heard there isn’t much left.”
Eat.
I plunge myself into the sea of poison.
He spoke to the soldiers.
“I’ll be back soon.”
There isn’t much left until the goal. The final phase
of the underground mine strategy
.
‘It’s a bit of a stretch to give up here.’
It’s such a waste, isn’t it?