The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 297
Episode 297 It’s my son.
‘The way to persuade others…isn’t it just about words?’
When I first heard that story.
I thought about my cooking.
I was also struck by the fact that Jung-gu didn’t know anything about my cooking.
And after thinking for a moment about what Jung-gu knows about me.
It wasn’t difficult to interpret what those words meant.
‘Please help me convince them.’
and.
If verbal persuasion does not work for them.
‘Please persuade me with force….’
Hmm.
To be honest, I was a little embarrassed at first.
but.
Considering the personality of this man named Park Joong-gu.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand it.
‘A battle fanatic who thinks strength is everything.’
The attitude of trying to solve problems through force.
In some ways, it may be natural.
but.
‘I don’t know.’
I also felt a little uneasy.
“Can I ask you one question?”
“hmm?”
Breaking through the blizzard.
I was heading to a place called the central branch of that association.
“What’s going on? older brother.”
“…Stop saying that. anyway.”
When you almost arrive at your destination.
I slowly moved forward and stood next to Jung-gu, who was leading the warriors, and asked.
“What you asked me to do.”
“hmm. “I guess you’re asking me to lend you some of your strength.”
“Do you really think it’s possible?”
This man named Park Jung-gu overestimates my strength.
There was nothing strange about that in itself as it was what I intended.
Of course, my actual combat power is not that high…
‘If only I used a slightly different method.’
In fact…
there is also a way to press it with force.
There wasn’t any.
What worried me was something else.
“If we suppress them by force, will they truly follow us?”
“hmm.”
“Even if the leaders of other groups gather there… I’m not sure whether the people in each branch will actually listen to orders if we beat them up… I’m not sure.”
“Haha… I understand you thinking that way.”
To my question.
“It certainly won’t be without backlash.”
“yes?”
“But it won’t matter.”
Jung-gu nodded and said.
“Since you only lived beyond that ‘demon realm,’ you probably don’t even know how people’s thoughts changed after the destruction of the earth. “Then it’s understandable to think that way.”
…hmm.
I don’t think there are many people who have been around as many people as I have, but anyway.
“The guild we belong to… how do you think this ‘association’ came about?”
“yes?”
“It’s hard for me to say this as a member of that guild, but it probably won’t be easy for one guild to unite all the humans in that area. According to our predictions, other regions…even Gangwon-do, which is said to have a surviving military base based on the information coming from the radio, could not have done so.”
“….”
I had some thoughts about this part.
“Isn’t this weather limiting the environment in which humans can survive?”
“hmm.”
“Thanks to this, the surviving humans were crowded into a small area and were able to integrate more easily.”
“Haha… Are you sure you’re someone who just came down from the Demonic Realm? “You’re sharp, yes.”
Jung-gu looked surprised, as if he didn’t expect me to know that story.
Since I come from a different region, I know their unique characteristics, so it was a predictable prediction.
“It definitely would have had a big impact. But not everything.”
“what do you mean?”
“Imagine that all the humans gathered in this area had the same level of power. “So, could humans have achieved integration so easily?”
maybe.
It couldn’t have been that way.
“Because it is a world where materials are precious. There is a high probability that they are still divided… and fighting… and that’s how it is. “In fact, when integration was being promoted, there were many forces that opposed that opinion.”
“So, is there a reason why integration was possible?”
“hmm.”
Jung-gu crossed his arms.
He said, looking up into space as if reminiscing about old times.
“The president of the association… It wasn’t even an association at the time, but he led his group… and visited those who refused to integrate.”
“…and?”
“Those who reject the integration essential for the survival of humanity, or those who are so evil that they should not be allowed to belong to a group….”
That impression.
I frowned slightly.
“I broke their heads one by one.”
At first, I thought it was some kind of metaphor.
“I don’t mean it as a joke or an exaggeration, I mean it literally.”
“….”
I guess it wasn’t the case.
“I thought the president of the association was a pretty gentle person.”
“haha. The president of the association is a good person to some extent. So I decided to follow. But as mild as it was, it was definitely not that.”
at last.
There is only one thing that could come into being in a group called the Association.
“The president of the association… you were incredibly strong.”
The president of the association is now missing.
It was because he was incredibly strong.
‘…but.’
The word is integration.
It is about subduing all other groups under one’s feet.
It is not easy for that to happen so quickly.
It was well known that somewhat drastic measures were used.
“Anyway, was he that strong? “The person who is the president of the association.”
“hmm. Compared to you, I honestly don’t know who is stronger. In your case, you overwhelmed me without even showing your combat skills…”
He seemed to think about it for a moment.
He quickly nodded and said.
“Well, too. “Even if I use the skills you didn’t show me, I don’t think I’ll be stronger than the president of the association.”
“That much?”
“It may be on a similar level, but it is quite difficult for me to imagine a person stronger than him.”
I couldn’t help but be a little surprised by those words.
‘The power I showed… was laced with a lot of bravado.’
Although the original me is not that strong.
The result of putting all our effort into the mix with maximum bravado.
It must have made quite an impression on this man.
‘I can’t believe you can say you’re stronger than me.’
Although he is a person I have only heard of.
A person who had a huge influence on them.
It seemed certain that he had the appropriate ability.
“The opinions of the remaining branches are divided… The reason the association cannot act as one is because the president of the association has disappeared.”
That’s why he disappeared.
This is the biggest bad news that the people of Gyeonggi-do have experienced right now.
“The good thing is that all the forces opposing integration have been eliminated, so those who remain are those who are in favor of integration… They all probably see that the current situation is not good.”
“But why…”
“But because we can’t fall under another power of similar size, all powers probably want an opportunity for proper integration. “It would be best if the president of the association came back, but…”
He sighed.
“The golden time has already passed… I can’t believe it, but I guess I can say that the president of the association and that attack team have been virtually wiped out.”
In such a situation, integration must be achieved again.
I wondered if something like that was possible.
“In the end, what you need is an opportunity… All you need is the president of the association or someone who can replace him.”
“yes…?”
“and. “There is one virtue that a human being who can become a focal point must have.”
That intense gaze.
It sticks to me.
“A power so powerful that it can overwhelm all others!”
“….”
“As you said, that is the only way to bring the guild’s opinions together to investigate the cause of that cold.”
…no.
But that’s it.
‘Aren’t you asking me to act as the leader of this force?’
Let me frown.
Jung-gu said with a hollow smile.
“Did I put too much pressure on you?”
“Hmm.”
“Well, I’m not necessarily asking you to do that. I just wish things would turn out that way. “If you feel burdened, you can refuse.”
“It’s okay to refuse.”
“I don’t know if it was me who was strong, but what can I do if it’s you? You have a choice. If you don’t like my proposal, you can just come and have a look at the central branch. It’s quite a place worth visiting. In particular, the food there is quite delicious…”
Jung-gu seemed to want to say something more.
at that time.
“oh.”
He stopped talking.
He stretched out his finger and pointed straight ahead.
“Look over there.”
“…?”
When I turned my head at his words,
I saw a distance.
Beyond the driving snowstorm.
A blurry shape appeared.
“That’s the central branch.”
It looks twice as big as the one in the northern branch.
A barrier of enormous height and width.
After a difficult journey.
He succeeded in arriving at his intended destination.
“It’s so cold I’m dying, so let’s go in quickly. “We’ll talk about the rest inside.”
“…yes.”
like that.
As we follow Jung-gu and approach the wall.
I thought to myself.
‘Overwhelm with power… la.’
surely.
In a world like this, it might not be a big problem.
It may feel barbaric for the strong to rule.
Those who are ruled can also be protected by the powerful.
But…
what should I say?
‘That’s not the way to hang out with me.’
I work in production, not in combat.
Overpowering with force is not my method.
Thinking about how to solve this.
I headed towards the gate of the barrier that slowly opened.
* * *
“You are here. Mr. Jung-gu.”
“hmm. “It’s been a while, Yunseong.”
Let’s go inside the wall.
Someone inside came out to meet us.
I looked at the man talking with other northern branch group members.
I quietly asked Jung-gu.
“Who is that person?”
“hmm? iced coffee. “I’m talking about Yunseong.”
What can I say?
A person who acts like the leader of this branch just by looking at what he does.
but.
This central branch was told that most of its forces were missing.
“This man was originally one of the elites of this central branch.”
“yes?”
“Now that the president of the association is gone, he is taking on a sort of acting role as leader.”
I couldn’t help but be a little surprised by those words.
“Those elite people all disappeared while trying to solve the cause of the cold…”
“Ah, that’s a bit complicated. To explain roughly, I heard that the author also participated in that expedition. “But you were injured before the proper strategy even began?”
“Injured?”
“haha. “It wasn’t easy coming here from the Northern Branch.”
Even leaving aside the environment caused by a huge snowstorm.
The number of monsters that could withstand this cold was not small.
There were several encounters with such monsters.
“You got injured in the process. In fact, it is very common for people to get injured while moving.”
“…indeed.”
“The others headed to investigate the epicenter, and I believe only the injured Yunseong returned.”
and.
All other elites who went to investigate the epicenter disappeared.
That man, who was the only surviving member of the elite, took on the role of leader here.
“Well, even though I said this, I don’t think we know each other very well.”
“Is that so? “You’re good at saying hello.”
“I just know the name and face. I usually talked to the association’s executives or president. “I didn’t have much time to talk to other group members.”
I looked at the man named Yunseong with a slightly curious gaze.
Jung-gu also looked at him and said as he entered the wall.
“Have the leaders of other branches arrived?”
“The eastern branch arrived yesterday.”
“Are we late?”
“no. You guys came on time. “The people from the southern branch haven’t arrived yet.”
“…also?”
“Well, it’s the southern part of the country that’s the furthest away, so isn’t it inevitable?”
I guess.
It seems that the southern branch was often late.
“Then let’s go in first.”
“hmm. I understand. “Where should the goods for trade go?”
“yes. As always, to the warehouse over there…”
The purpose of my visit this time was to participate in a meeting being held here.
In fact, the main purpose of this group coming here was for trade.
“uh?”
For him.
We loaded up the car with a lot of items, consuming precious gas.
Yunseong’s expression changed greatly when he saw what was inside.
“What kind of sheep is this…?”
“Hehe. “Something good has happened to our group recently.”
What he was surprised to see was none other than that.
It’s full of food.
“This will reduce our association’s food concerns a little.”
Due to the fertilizer dish I made.
The amount of food produced by Druid Kang Jae-ho has increased overwhelmingly.
The amount of food brought this time was enormous from their perspective.
“Oh, I see.”
While talking about food.
Park Jung-gu opened his mouth as if he had forgotten.
“It’s all thanks to Youngjun that we can make food like that. “I think it would be better to take care of Youngjun’s business first rather than other matters.”
In those words.
I said, tilting my head.
“It’s my job…?”
“Did you ask for it yourself and forget about it?”
What I came here for.
I thought it was just to persuade other groups.
“Didn’t you say there were people you wanted to find?”
“…ah!”
“At this meeting, the leaders of each branch spread across Gyeonggi-do will gather, so if you show them the list you gave them, you might be able to find a few more people.”
Jung-gu.
Other purposes were not forgotten either.
“What are you talking about? “These are the people I want to find.”
“Oh, actually.”
Let me and Jung-gu have a conversation like that.
A man named Yunseong approached me with a puzzled look and asked.
“Mr. Yunseong. “Can you read this note for me?”
“Hmm?”
Park Jung-gu seems to want to remove the bull’s horn as quickly as possible.
I handed him the list of people I had given him last time.
“What is this list? The number of people listed is considerable…”
“There are circumstances. “This is a list of people our branch is looking for.”
“hmm. It seems like there are too many to say that everyone is a survivor…”
“That’s right. “This is a list recorded based on the standards before [Doomsday].”
In those words.
The man named Yunseong frowned and said.
“Then maybe… there aren’t many people alive?”
“But just in case, please take a look. “Isn’t it possible that Mr. Yunseong also knows someone?”
“Hmm. I don’t think it will mean much… Well, if it’s a request from the Northern Branch that brought so much food. “Let’s do that.”
The man named Yunseong probably thinks it’s meaningless.
He seemed to think that reading this wasn’t particularly difficult.
I started reading the list with a calm expression.
“…uh?”
But after a while.
He seemed surprised to see something.
A man with his eyes wide open.
“Mr. Jung-gu?”
“hmm?”
“Could you please tell me in detail why you are looking for these people?”
“…Oh, it’s not that big of a deal, but it’s this young man here who contributed to producing that food.”
“Tap.”
Park Joong-gu puts his hand on my shoulder and speaks.
“This person is looking for someone for a reason. “Is there something wrong?”
“Hmm. “You’re the one looking for these people?”
A look full of caution.
It’s coming towards me.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“You…”
How could a man who had been calmly reading a note suddenly take on such an attitude?
I wondered what was going on.
“Shin Seok-jun. Seo Young-hee….”
“…Yes?”
“What is your relationship with these two people?”
In the words that came out of his mouth.
I couldn’t help but be very surprised.
no.
Of course.
‘Shin Seok-jun. Seo Young-hee….’
This name.
Something that is infinitely familiar to me.
The head and matriarch of the Shin family.
in other words.
“…I’m their son.”
“what?”
what i was looking for
Because it was my parents’ name.