The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 281

Episode 282 Druid

“It’s cold.”

As Han Yi-seo said.

First of all, I succeeded in getting permission to move around within this group.

For the first time since arriving in Gyeonggi-do.

I was able to take a closer look inside the survivor group here.

Because trust in me is still low.

A situation where you can’t help even if you want to do something.

“It’s good to gain trust by helping out, but… first, you have to find out the structure of this group.”

My job is a chef.

To fully utilize my abilities, all I need is a kitchen.

and.

‘They are the people who will eat my cooking.’

Gain the trust of those people.

To put my food in that mouth.

First of all, we needed to understand the living conditions of these people well.

With that thought in mind.

I decided to move around the group carefully.

“hello?”

“…No work.”

“….”

As long as I speak to him.

People who glare coldly and then go about their business.

‘I guess trust is really low.’

Do it.

Since an outsider suddenly came to visit, there would be rumors about where I came from.

I understand that people are suspicious of me.

‘That’s it, but everyone’s expressions aren’t bright to begin with.’

Everyone has no time in their hearts.

In that cramped heart, there may not be room to be kind to someone you meet for the first time.

Anyway, it’s like this.

It seemed a bit difficult to get something through conversation or observation.

It’s all I can do.

Just walking around and looking around.

‘Hmm. If you look at the inside, it looks similar to the bases of other awakened groups.’

After surrounding the area as wide as possible with a wide wall, create a safe area.

A base that uses the buildings within it.

The good news was that there seemed to be no shortage of firewood.

It’s not a place like Chuncheon where all the trees disappeared.

Because I can dig up wood freely.

‘Even after going through all that, it looks like there are a lot of trees… Are the combat workers working really hard to cut down the trees?’

anyway.

Although there is a huge cold wave outside.

Inside the wall, firewood burning in various places warmed the air, making it relatively warm.

okay.

In this respect, it is similar to other survivors’ bases in Gangwon-do.

‘If there’s anything different.’

After I took a step.

A huge, high wall surrounds the entire territory of this large group.

I walked in front of him and held out my hand towards the wall.

[Food material identification (reinforcement)]

[Safety barrier made with the care of an intermediate architect]

“…This is really amazing.”

Our guild’s engineers also created several bases and barriers near their units.

Engineers specialize in manufacturing items used in war.

The range of items used in war is so wide that it has become a huge all-round job.

but.

‘It might be better to build a wall this way.’

This barrier was not much better than the wall built by engineers.

No, go beyond that.

The level of completeness of the building was slightly ahead of that made by engineers.

‘It’s not like they were able to secure as much material as our unit, but this much.’

Not only the incredible height, but also the hardness, sturdiness, and uniformity.

Rather than the wall made by engineers.

I wonder if it would be right to compare it to the outer wall of a vimana.

‘It is inferior to the Vimana… but compared to the barrier built by engineers, it is far superior.’

There is one reason why this is possible.

Unlike engineers, who can be active in many areas, but have a relatively narrow field of specialization at the highest level.

‘There is an awakened person in Gyeonggi-do who specializes in creating things like these walls.’

This…

was an ability that would greatly help humanity survive.

also.

This was a building that confirmed my thoughts.

‘The greater the number of surviving humans, the better.’

As the number of awakened people increases.

An awakened person with such amazing abilities will rarely appear.

When such awakeners create synergy with other awakeners.

That power will grow infinitely.

What if awakened people with this ability are hiding all over the country?

Saving them will lead to the survival of humanity.

By manipulating the barrier like that.

I was walking around in a daze, thinking it was amazing.

“…Are you looking for a loophole in the wall?”

“?”

From far away.

Someone spoke to me.

“That would be of no use. It’s a barrier created by powerful awakeners active in the central branch. “No powerful monsters have been able to break through, and nothing will come out of trying to find a loophole, so stop trying in vain.”

I turned my head.

A man with long, roughly grown hair and a strangely natural-looking aura was standing there.

‘Or is he actually young compared to his appearance?’

The face visible through the scattered hair looked surprisingly young.

A face that seems similar to mine, or at most slightly older than mine.

Only after seeing that face.

I was able to guess the man’s identity.

“Iseo said I could trust you, so it’s okay to just walk around. Still, I hope you don’t look too suspicious.”

One of the executives of this northern branch.

A man who was blatantly suspicious of me.

and.

“Especially since this is an orchard that produces food, it would be best not to approach it any further.”

This group of humans.

It was a man who was making a living.

* * *

One of the executives of the Northern Branch.

The humans who feed this group of humans.

‘The name must have been… Kang Jae-ho.’

He doesn’t seem to have any intention of hiding that he is suspicious of me.

He was glaring at me with a cold expression.

A barrier that looks better than anything our unit’s engineers built.

The result was that I continued to walk, idly touching the barrier in fascination.

It seemed like I had arrived near an off-limits area without even realizing it.

“I didn’t mean to do that. “I’m sorry if I bothered you.”

“I’m glad it’s nothing.”

First of all, I made a gesture of raising both hands to let them know that I had no intention of doing anything suspicious.

That didn’t seem to ease my suspicions.

I took a step back after hearing the man’s warning.

I looked around at the surrounding scenery.

OK.

‘It’s a real orchard.’

It was incongruous with the surrounding scenery, where the ground and buildings were frozen due to the extreme cold.

It seemed like the best harvest season had arrived…

I saw a large orchard.

and.

This is what created this orchard.

[Ingredients Identification (Enhancement)]

[Awakened Person: Kang Jae-ho]

[Job: Intermediate Druid Lv.26]

[Natural Communication]

[Growth Promotion]

[Natural Flower – Wood]

[Beast Flower – Wildfire]

…

…

‘This is the guy.’

The man’s occupation is a druid.

Was it originally said to be something like a Celtic shaman?

It’s not a concept I’m familiar with, though.

It was also a job that appeared quite often in games.

A quick look at the characteristics.

There were a few things that stood out.

‘In addition to the ability to turn into a tree… it also has the ability to turn into a bear.’

Although the Druid profession is only common in games.

It was also a job I had never seen before among awakened people.

It definitely belongs to a rare profession.

His occupation is a shaman who joined our unit.

It looked a bit like Borgin.

‘If Borjin is the type that communicates with the spirits of the earth or observes the movements of the stars, I feel like the main focus on that side is communication with nature.’

Even though that kind of transformation ability was amazing.

What is even more important in this world right now.

It was the other side.

[Growth promotion]

[By pulling the earth’s energy, it accelerates the growth of plants.]

[Instead of maximizing the consumption of earth power, plants can grow in any environment.]

‘Crazy.’

In this abnormal climate with a cold wave.

The reason such an orchard was able to be created…

is all thanks to this man’s abilities.

‘This man… in terms of our unit, he is in a similar position to Uncle Cheol-wook.’

Similar to the farmer awakeners in our unit.

In charge of food production.

In our unit, concerns about food disappeared relatively early on.

After the world falls apart.

What people needed most to survive was food.

Our unit’s food shortage was quickly resolved because I was the one cooking the monsters.

Until I started distributing combat rations.

People in Gangwon-do also had to risk their lives to find food.

‘The mere fact that he is in charge of food production is enough to establish him as a key figure in the group.’

furthermore.

I didn’t know this when I first joined this group.

That barrier protecting a fairly wide area.

This orchard was located in the innermost part of the orchard.

It occupied close to half of the area surrounded by the wall.

“…That’s amazing.”

“What do you mean it’s amazing?”

“An orchard like this in this kind of environment. “It makes no sense at first glance, but didn’t you make it possible?”

I said with pure admiration.

Because I never thought something like this would actually be possible.

‘Even Uncle Cheol-wook wouldn’t do something like this.’

Although he is a farmer and can show great abilities in growing crops.

It was impossible to avoid the influence of the season or environment.

In fact, when the environment was bad, crops often failed.

Nevertheless, it is possible to cultivate a wide range of crops.

I never felt like I was lacking… but

if Cheol-wook tried to farm here, it probably wouldn’t have been possible.

What made that possible.

It’s this man’s skill called [Growth Promotion].

“Nothing comes from praising.”

but.

He responded by giving me a wary look.

“You said you haven’t been in contact with humans since Doomsday.”

“…Honestly, I don’t believe it, but I will adapt to that concept for now. As I said, you may not know, so let me tell you… “The world today is one where it is difficult to easily trust others.”

“Is that so?”

“yes. “The sudden discovery of an outsider we’ve never seen before can really shake up the atmosphere in our group.”

Although I expected it.

As expected, he seems quite wary of me.

I brought him here because I thought he might be in the same company as those criminals.

I ended up releasing it within the group because it wasn’t really that.

To them, he’s still an untrustworthy guy.

Another official, a shaman, said it was okay, so they couldn’t lock him up again.

It has become something that causes great concern.

“I’m sure you’ve heard, but I really have no intention of harming you.”

“…Well, you are free to claim that.”

“….”

An attitude as if he had no intention of being trusted.

Rather, it looks even hostile.

and.

Things weren’t very good for me right now.

‘No wonder the food ingredient supplier is suspicious of me.’

They said gaining people’s trust was the top priority.

Among those people, there are separate priorities.

To be honest, he’s a barbarian who might throw an ax right at me.

It wouldn’t matter much if I gained the trust of that barbarian warrior rather late.

It’s not like I have a huge lack of power right now.

Rather, what I am urgent about is ingredients.

To be honest, the current situation, where the shadows were empty, was uneasy.

It is an environment where food ingredients seem more difficult to obtain than in Gangwon-do.

Meanwhile, the supplier of rare food ingredients is under suspicion.

This is never a good thing for me as a ‘chef’.

‘…by the way.’

I felt a little puzzled.

Doubting me.

There was no problem with that in itself.

Even if I look at it, my situation right now seems very suspicious.

But…

‘It wouldn’t be the first time someone came from outside, but they would show their guard so blatantly.’

Normally.

Even though they are wary, I think they will try not to show it on the outside.

He was blatantly suspicious of me.

“Why are you so suspicious?”

Feeling puzzled by that appearance, I asked.

He said, frowning in displeasure.

“Then should I trust someone like you who says he’s from Monster Land?”

“Did you say Han Yi-seo? “He seems to believe.”

“…I tend to acknowledge Lee Seo’s eye for people. but.”

He said, glaring at me.

“In today’s world, we cannot rule out the possibility that even that sister was manipulated.”

“….”

“To be honest, the situation in which you are speaking to me is very unpleasant… so I hope you will quickly leave.”

Something.

I don’t think that’s the only reason.

‘Not until I express my refusal to this extent.’

It was difficult to even talk anymore.

I smiled at his harsh attitude and took a step back.

* * *

I retreated.

…I backed down, though.

‘This orchard is so large.’

This orchard is built widely within the wall.

In fact, if you wanted to see it, you could see it from any building.

in other words.

‘Even if you don’t get close, you can actually see that orchard from almost any building within this wall.’

I feel sorry for that guy.

To begin with, he was a very rude man towards me.

‘Then I guess there’s no need for me to be considerate too!’

I was strangely concerned about the work in that orchard.

First, get far enough away to not get on the man’s nerves.

I secretly watched him work from afar.

‘I’m a bit curious about how food is produced.’

More than anything.

Because right now, the person I need to trust the most is over there.

‘I feel like I want to solve the problem through cooking.’

Maybe we don’t have the right ingredients.

Now I know that this power is more dangerous than I thought.

It can be dangerous to abuse it hastily.

Forcing someone to cook the food yourself is a last resort.

The priority is to find another solution.

“…I guess he went.”

Let me move far away and kill the sight.

Kang Jae-ho looked around, wondering if anything, and then muttered to himself.

‘I somehow got used to killing people by sight.’

Is it because there were many things to do after eating the cuisine of ‘Environmental Fairy Tale’?

It is possible to hide one’s presence from someone who does not have any skills related to detection without cooking.

The man who thought I was gone seemed relieved.

I started to continue doing what I was doing.

“Nature….”

He touched the tree.

“Grow up a little faster.”

like that.

Let’s mutter in a low voice.

Slurp.

An ordinary-looking tree with no fruits.

The branches suddenly bear fruit.

Growing at an incredible rate.

Soon all the grown fruits fall to the ground.

‘…That’s amazing.’

Not only is it not limited to the environment.

The growth rate too.

It looks more powerful than Uncle Cheol-wook’s skills.

but.

At the same time, I felt puzzled.

‘Does it show that it is more powerful than farmers when it comes to food production?’

His profession is Druid.

in other words.

‘It’s not a production job.’

As a production worker, no matter how hard I struggle to fight.

Just as there are bound to be flaws compared to real combat workers.

As a chef, no matter how hard I try to make fertilizer.

Although it tastes better than farmer Cheolwook’s fertilizer.

As if I was pushed out in terms of nutrients.

No matter how excellent an awakened person is.

In areas that are not your main specialty, you cannot show a stronger appearance than an awakened person of the same level who majors in that field.

He is not a production worker.

They produce food more efficiently than production farmers.

‘According to the rules of the ‘game’ that has governed this world… such a thing should be impossible.’

When I was thinking so strangely.

“Hmm…!”

‘…?’

He was in the midst of producing fruit.

He seemed strangely energetic.

and.

‘…It’s not producing fruit?’

Despite being so enthusiastic.

Let alone fruit bearing.

In fact, it even feels like the tree’s vitality is diminishing.

“Already here too…”

I was watching, wondering what was going on.

A young man clenching his teeth and sighing.

“Shit.”

He seemed to feel something uncomfortable.

He had his head down, clenched his fists, and was swearing.