The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 303

Episode 303: Sacred Kitchen

“…I only have to endure it for 3 months.”

“It would be great if we could attack those monsters like you said. But it’s also too dangerous.”

Beomseok Jo continued calmly.

“Those monsters seemed to understand the habits of humans. It won’t be a monster that can be subdued just by heading out to subdue it. So, the president of the association must have lost as well. I don’t know if the central branch’s power would have been intact, but…”

“So. Be more proactive in finding the missing Central Branch people…”

“Are you saying that?”

Let Jung-gu argue.

Beomseok Jo responded as if he was dumbfounded.

“I should tell you in advance. When the president of the association said he was going to attack that cold weather, I was against that opinion. “It is never a good strategy to throw all your troops at once against an unknown enemy.”

“….”

“You were the one who agreed to that.”

“That is.”

This was my first time hearing this too.

Honestly, I was a little surprised.

“You approved of that unreasonable operation, and now you want me and my group to join in the cleanup? “There are degrees of shamelessness.”

“….”

“Going to subdue such dangerous monsters now that the Central Branch’s power is gone is a very risky action. As the leader of the Southern Branch, I have no intention of putting the awakened members of the branch in such danger.”

In those words.

Park Jung-gu couldn’t give a proper answer other than gritting his teeth.

“If you really want to do that, just take your group and do it. “Don’t try to sacrifice others as well.”

Do you look at it as logic or as a right to speak?

Not only is there some lack of evidence, but also the fact that the central branch was in favor of the operation that destroyed it.

Park Jung-gu’s side seemed to be clearly lagging behind.

“Isn’t that a bit complacent?”

Let the flow of conversation turn against you.

I don’t know if it will work or not.

First of all, we decided to provide support fire for Jung-gu.

“Who are you?”

“…My name is Shin Young-jun, who recently joined our group. “He is quite capable.”

“Hmm.”

In Jung-gu’s words.

Beomseok Jo said with a slight frown.

“I think I’ve heard that voice somewhere else…”

He said something I didn’t quite understand.

The old man shook his head and continued speaking.

“Well, let’s skip that part for now. Normally you, who are not the leader of the group, would not have been allowed to open your mouth… But now, tell me why you opened your mouth. “What does it mean to be complacent?”

“You said earlier that you only need to last three months. “If the Legion’s plans go as planned, that wall will be opened within at least three months.”

“It did.”

“It lasts three months. “It would be a good thing if it became clear.”

This.

I have to use them to find my parents.

That wasn’t the reason I said it.

“It took less than a year for the world to look like this.”

Purely my judgment and intuition.

“From what I experienced, the monsters were getting stronger day by day. All I have to do is hold out for 3 months? “With that kind of defensive attitude, it will be hard to be confident that you can last three months.”

“Then what do you think we should do?”

“To survive in this world….”

In Gangwon-do.

In the process of continuing to fight and survive.

The truth I realized.

“Even if we know that that place is dangerous, if we decide that we can obtain the power to keep us alive longer there!”

“….”

“You have to actively push yourself into that danger, fight, and win. “It may be dangerous right now, but it will be the way to survive for the longest time.”

To survive in this world.

You must fight and achieve victory by throwing yourself into danger.

I am.

I tried to convey that realization to them.

“…I know you helped us. but.”

At my words.

The leader of the ‘Eastern Branch’ who was listening to the story.

Architect Kim Jong-du responded as if he was displeased.

“I don’t know why I have to listen to such advice from someone who is not the leader of the group.”

“….”

After hearing his words, I looked around.

The same goes for that old man named Jo Beom-seok.

The people’s expressions didn’t look very good.

“…I’m sure what I said wasn’t wrong.”

“Hehe, that’s the right thing to say. You said you only recently joined the Northern Branch? “Where were you before?”

“I just worked alone.”

“Ah… you worked alone?”

Park Jong-du is tired and laughing.

“A person who has never led a group gives advice to leaders of other groups. “Do you think this makes sense?”

“….”

“I wonder what it means to work alone in this day and age. Well, to be honest, I’m not interested. “The important thing is this.”

A man who already looked rough.

Kim Jong-du slightly lifted his glasses and said.

“It was we, not you, who helped you survive until now by leading others in this world while you were acting alone.”

“that.”

“That sounds reasonable. But I don’t know where you were and what you were doing to finally join the Northern Branch… You have fought harder than anyone else in this world, and as a result, you have survived along with many others, but you are not the only survivor. “It’s us!”

“….”

“Do you think you have the right to intervene in their decisions?”

I can’t answer anything.

I don’t know how they accepted that.

“We must act proactively to counter the threat… You are not wrong. But you have to understand that it’s a little different when you’re leading people.”

Kim Jong-du also spoke in a slightly calmer voice.

“Know that hundreds and thousands of human lives depend on our decisions. “As people’s lives are at stake, we need to be more careful about our decisions.”

“….”

“I understand that you are very motivated, but you need to think from the perspective of a leader.”

A tone of voice that seems to be trying to console and soothe me.

In that tone.

I clenched my fists and muttered to myself.

‘…not enough.’

What I said was never wrong.

Looking at the expressions of those around me.

At least that old man named Jo Beom-seok, who goes by the name General.

Yunseong, who was said to be an elite member of the central branch, seemed to think that what I said was not entirely wrong.

Even Kim Jong-du from the eastern branch.

Because it was not a direct denial of the logic itself.

As someone who has survived in this world, you probably don’t think I’m completely wrong.

the problem is.

‘Authority… not enough!’

I’m not wrong?

Yes, that may be true.

but.

‘It’s just that much.’

Even if you say I’m not wrong.

There is a level of persuasiveness that makes you have to follow it unconditionally.

That’s not true either.

If at this time I had a long-term relationship of trust like other leaders.

The story could have been a little different.

But no.

‘This is not my territory.’

Unlike Gangwon-do, which had clear authority as the ruler of the corps.

Here I was a stranger who had only recently joined.

If it was when I was in the ‘Steel Legion’.

On the contrary, they say that they are saying things that are even more unfounded than they are now.

My achievements in the Legion’s struggle for survival so far must have given authority to my words.

‘The humans here don’t know me.’

My words come from experience gained through long struggles.

Although it may make sense to that extent.

I couldn’t have the authority to convince them.

It had no effect on their survival.

I have never participated in the history of struggle they went through.

‘A complete stranger.’

In the words spoken by such a person.

Because it is a law that cannot have any authority.

* * *

A proposal to investigate the cause of that cold that came up at the meeting.

Opinion on the proposal was almost entirely in the opposite direction.

“What Youngjun said is not wrong. “Either those monsters could suddenly flock in, or the temperature could drop even more rapidly within those three months, and everyone could freeze to death!”

The only one who brought me here was Park Jung-gu.

I expressed my opinion with all my might.

“For monsters that strong, wouldn’t it be safer if they were inside the wall? In particular, the one closest to the cause of the cold is our southern branch… but as you know, we are confident that no matter what enemy comes, we will not be able to penetrate the defensive battle within the wall.”

“The problem that the temperature may drop is…!”

“Isn’t that a guess after all?”

“It’s also a very likely guess.”

“well. “It seems to me that you want to believe that the guess is true.”

Jo Beom-seok, with his arms crossed, narrowed his eyes and looked at Park Jung-gu.

“Park Jung-gu. “You loved fighting.”

“….”

“Winter has come and there have been fewer monsters than before, so there will be less battles and less leveling up. However, it is too dangerous for them to go directly to the source of the ‘demon spirit’ or cold. “So you want a fighting chance, don’t you?”

“…That’s not necessarily the only reason.”

Although Jung-gu denied it.

I also know that he is a huge battle fanatic.

‘There is a reason for that.’

But me too.

For that reason, I was in no position to say anything to Jung-gu, who stepped forward.

Because those words really stung me too.

In the end, the reason I am persuading them is also.

At first, the reason was that it was advantageous for their survival, but…

‘It’s a little different now.’

My parents.

I thought there might still be life in there.

Because it is largely due to that reason.

“…Whew. “Now that it’s like this.”

When things didn’t go well.

Jung-gu stood up with a nervous look on his face.

And then.

Just as I was about to put my hand behind my back and grasp the handle of the axe.

“…It’s still barbaric. Are you trying to persuade us by force?”

“It can’t be helped.”

The general saw that.

He said, glaring at him as if he was pathetic.

“Park Joong-gu… do you think that will work?”

“Haha, after all, isn’t this association itself a place that came together through the power of the association president? “If you have the strength… there’s nothing you can’t do, right?”

“Hmm. “It sounds like you have that much power.”

That sharp gaze.

Slowly passing by me.

“Well, regardless of whether your strength is sufficient or not… you won’t be able to persuade me by putting pressure on me.”

“In the end, the general is not a person who has united under the power of the president of the association. “What’s different from now…”

“You’re misunderstanding something. “The reason I joined the association’s president was because the president’s argument was reasonable.”

The president of the association was strong.

He did not simply oppress everyone with force alone.

“To survive in a world like this, all of humanity must join forces. I thought that wasn’t wrong, and the president of the association also had strong power. That’s why I just followed.”

“Are we different?”

“It’s very different. Aren’t we going to rush our troops towards the cause of that cold? In fact, it sounds like a suggestion that we all die together. After hearing that, it would be better to die here.”

“….”

The use of violence was also considered as a last resort.

Let’s start with the thought that it won’t work.

Park Jung-gu just clenched his fists and trembled.

I couldn’t do anything.

“Whew. “I understand what you’re worried about.”

Beomseok Jo, who saw that, sighed and said.

“The cause of that cold… The current situation is dangerous because we don’t know anything about what’s happening there. “I agree with that.”

“then…!”

“So how about doing it this way? “I will send a scouting party little by little from our southern branch, which is closest there.”

“…A small scouting party won’t be able to go deep into the depths.”

“hmm. As you said, the scouting party I’m sending out will only be able to circle the outskirts… but if something goes wrong within it, we’ll be able to figure it out. “If something goes wrong, it won’t be too late to go and deal with it then.”

“….”

“Fortunately, time is on our side in that we only have to hold out for three months.”

I crossed my arms and thought.

‘If you look at the aspect of being the leader of the group, that old man is the best in this position.’

It just goes against my opinion.

That old man’s opinion sounded quite reasonable.

In addition, as soon as he saw Park Joong-gu disintegrate because his opinion did not work, he even suggested a compromise.

He is the leader of the southern branch, which is currently the strongest in the association.

The influence you have accumulated while working for a long time is also significant.

‘It’s different from a low-level executive like Lieutenant Kim. ‘He’s a real brat.’

In the first place.

I don’t even know much about this place.

I am a stranger without any authority.

And Park Jung-gu, who has no choice but to use his power to solve the problem.

‘The point is that these two were not people who could be persuaded.’

The fact that such an outstanding human being survived was itself something to be happy about.

Crack….

As for me right now.

It was never a pleasant thing.

* * *

at last.

According to General Cho Beom-seok’s opinion.

“Then… I guess that’s the end of today’s meeting.”

Increase your vigilance even more to where the source of the cold is.

Other than that, the conclusion was reached to maintain the status quo and focus more on defense.

and.

This conclusion….

‘It is an unconvincing conclusion to me.’

When I was thinking that.

“First of all, there will be trade between each group for the time being. We have another meeting three days later when the trade is roughly concluded. “After that, we’re going to return to our respective areas. Is that okay?”

“hmm. “I don’t care.”

“I will.”

Under the leadership of Yunseong.

The meeting is over.

People come out of the central building.

They dispersed to their respective rooms.

“…I’m sorry.”

Park Joong-gu came to see me and said exactly that.

“Of course I thought I could solve it with force… but it seems not to be the case.”

“…Well, there’s nothing we can do.”

“I think it will be difficult to convince them.”

Jung-gu had the same idea as me in that we needed to investigate the cause of the cold.

He looked very depressed when his opinion was rejected.

“But I still feel like we need to investigate that place properly.”

He closed his eyes for a moment and thought about it.

Immediately, he opened his eyes and said.

“Now that it’s like this, even if it means taking only the warriors of our northern branch…!”

“Don’t say that crazy thing.”

“uh?”

Jung-gu suddenly declares group suicide.

I’m not sure if all the branches’ troops can go, but only the northern branch’s troops are going.

This is truly suicidal.

“There are still ways to persuade them.”

“Is that really true?”

“yes. So…”

instead.

To me it’s better than that.

“Please show me to the kitchen.”

No matter what kind of human being.

It has been half-confirmed that persuasion can be done with a high probability…

There was such a method of persuasion.

‘cooking.’

It’s so dangerous.

I thought that if I overused it, it could diminish my own humanity.

A power that has been used very carefully so far.

[Chef’s special sauce]

But.

‘If it’s for this matter, then I need humanity.’

I am.

Even if there is a chance that my spirit escapes from being human.

I had to break through there.

‘It’s not easy to create a dish that not only evokes emotions but also changes judgment.’

After successfully imprisoning him somewhere, similar to what happened with Lieutenant Kim.

It would be possible as long as the same dishes were served there over and over again.

‘There are many people I have to cook for, and unlike me now, they each have power. Most of them are high level.’

It’s not easy to imprison them.

There is probably only one chance to use [Cooking].

In order to subdue high-level awakened people with high resistance with just that one opportunity.

I needed to cook dishes that put all my energy into them.

for this.

I asked to be guided to the kitchen, which was no different from a chef’s workshop.

…however.

“Kitchen…”

Park Jung-gu heard what I said.

He seemed to be hesitant about something.

“What is it?”

“The reason you’re looking for the kitchen is… isn’t it because you’re trying to make poison like you did in the northern branch? That means…”

Park Jung-gu hesitates with a slightly pale face.

“No matter what… I wouldn’t mind taking such drastic measures.”

ah.

Although I think I know what he’s thinking.

“I’m not trying to assassinate anyone or anything, so don’t worry.”

“Oh, is that so?”

I had no intention of making poison.

Just to change the emotions of people like that.

There was just a need to cook properly with proper equipment.

“Then that’s a good thing… but there is still a problem.”

“yes?”

“Come to think of it. “I guess you never stopped by this restaurant because you disappeared as soon as you got here.”

The reason he showed hesitation.

A completely different side.

“I think I’ve said it a few times… but the food here is quite edible.”

“…?”

“And there’s a reason for that.”

I followed his guidance.

Restaurant in this central branch.

And then I headed towards where the kitchen was…

“Hang?”

When I first arrived there.

What greeted me.

“What are you guys doing?”

He had his hair cut short.

He was a young man with a gangly appearance.

“You’re coming into the sacred kitchen with dirt feet!?”