The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 31
Episode 31 Article (3)
“…The soundproofing is really bad.”
As I entered the building, I could hear heavy breathing coming from all directions.
The only way to find out where zombies may be hiding is through sound.
‘This makes it impossible to understand by sound.’
Is the entire building overrun with zombies?
The sound of heavy breathing coming from all directions.
Even if the senses of the awakened are more sensitive than those of ordinary people, it is difficult to determine the location of the zombies hiding within.
‘Unstable.’
I knew it intuitively.
It’s dangerous to go in like this.
After making a decision, I looked back and gave the command.
“Retreat first…”
That was then.
“Sergeant Shin!”
As I turned around and tried to leave the building, I saw soldiers running towards me.
I was confused for a moment, but
I knew right away that it wasn’t their intention to attack me.
It’s big…
above my head.
Because the sound of heavy breathing could clearly be heard from there.
‘Shit!’
A water pipe passing through the ceiling of an old building.
The zombie that had been up there unseen was falling down, attacking me.
He quickly raised his hand to protect the top of his head.
“Kaaaaagh!!!”
“Tsk!”
Sigh!
Fortunately, the response was not delayed.
I could feel the zombie’s teeth sticking into my military uniform on my right arm.
‘Not just a military uniform, but a military uniform that can withstand a few bullets.’
A zombie that, if you play it well, is at the level of an adult man.
No matter how hard you bite, your rotting teeth cannot pierce a uniform made of lizard skin.
‘If I had been bitten in an area not protected by the military uniform, it would have been the end.’
I feel cold sweat running down my face and observe the zombie biting my arm.
Did he realize that the military uniform was impenetrable?
It looks like it’s trying to bite somewhere else.
‘Where!’
My next move was faster.
He swings his arm wide and throws the guy to the floor.
bang!
Caw!
A zombie thrown to the floor of a building.
Kaaaaagh!
It seemed like he didn’t feel any pain and immediately got up and tried to run at me.
Kwasik!
The zombie’s head exploded from the strong blow of the military bullet.
‘I’m not a fighter, but I’m also an awakened person.’
If you hit it hard with a foot wearing military boots, it’s enough to break a bone.
“Sergeant Shin!”
“Are you okay!?”
“You’ll know when you see it. “I’m fine.”
Aside from surprise attacks, these zombies have no special combat power.
It was a bit dangerous, but fortunately I didn’t get bitten.
‘But it’s too early to be relieved.’
Kaaaaagh.
Crumble.
Did the sounds of the battle just now stimulate them?
The sound coming from inside was unusual.
The soldiers looked at me. His
eyes seemed to be asking if it was okay to go in like this.
After thinking about it for a while, I made a decision and spoke.
“For now, it’s gone.”
* * *
“It was Sergeant Park from our department.”
After retreating from the official building to the end of the vacant lot.
Those were the words that Gwangil came up with.
You’re probably referring to the zombie that attacked me in the official building I just entered.
Sergeant Park.
“I remember him as someone who was close to you, and I’m sorry.”
Corporal Jeon Gwang-il was the ace of the facilities team.
I was friendly with both soldiers and executives.
I remember that Sergeant Park was closer to the soldiers because he was younger.
“no.”
Gwangil seemed to flinch for a moment, then shook his head and said.
“Sergeant Park wouldn’t have wanted to live like that.”
Gwangil at least gave a positive answer.
Apart from that, the soldiers’ mood was quite calm.
It was the same when I saw the drivers turned into zombies.
It’s not a very good feeling to see someone you know turned into a zombie.
Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I stopped feeding soldiers dishes such as ‘tenderloin’ and ‘comfort’.
Later, when the situation becomes stable, I will have to cook again for mental healing.
“For now, everyone take a break. And the captains. “This way for a moment.”
“yes?”
“Let’s have a meeting.”
I took out only the leader-level personnel and moved to a corner.
After being separated from the soldiers for some time.
“You asked me to come to your official residence.”
Before I could speak, Corporal Jeon Gwang-il spoke first.
“uh.”
“Are our unit members dead or alive? “Are you sure you wanted to check?”
“that’s right.”
“Hmm.”
After hearing my answer, Gwangil turned his head and took a peek at the resting soldiers.
“Did you really have to check? The morale of the soldiers doesn’t seem to be very good. “Maybe it would have been better to go investigate somewhere else.”
A guy who keeps looking at the soldiers and talking.
“You’re right. Actually, I thought so too at first. But… I still thought it was necessary to stop by the official residence.”
“What is the reason?”
“Mental management.”
“yes?”
Incredulity spread across the faces of Gwangil and other leaders.
“Isn’t it strange?”
“Well… to be honest, yes.”
When I see the soldiers being depressed right now, it’s hard to think that my goal is mental management.
But my thoughts are different.
The current appearance is only temporary.
“What if? “What would it be like if there were surviving members of the unit here?”
“I’m not sure what you’re talking about.”
“What if there were surviving members of the unit in this residence and we were able to save them?”
We left the official residence and passed by.
What if, when you visit the official residence in the future, you find traces that there were members of the unit who were still alive until recently?
‘At that time, the guilt will increase.’
Guilt for not being able to save the unit members who could have been saved.
And guilt lasts longer than just depression.
Even though I knew there was a high possibility that there would be no survivors, this was why I had to confirm.
“They visited the official residence to check if there were any survivors. “I think its meaning is greater than you think.”
“Ah…”
After the explanation was over, Gwangil nodded as if he understood.
“You seem surprisingly thoughtful…?”
“Hmm. “I only thought about the benefits of being a base and never thought about that, but after listening to it, it certainly seems right.”
Lee Sang-ah, who looks at me as if he sees me again, and Min-jae, who looks lost in thought.
In any case, everyone seemed to understand my decision.
“then. What do you plan to do from now on?”
Minjae asked a question, crossing his arms.
Whatever the intention, it is true that the goal was to attack the official residence.
The problem starts now.
“I have to send everyone away.”
These are people who worked together in the same unit.
I can’t let you walk around like a dead person like that.
“Easier said than done, but I guess it’s harder than you think?”
Sergeant Lee Min-jae glances back and looks at the official residence buildings.
“Those buildings. “It was like a dungeon where you never knew where enemies would pop out.”
“yes.”
“I think we can deal with hundreds of zombies coming from the flat ground. Zombies who don’t know where to hide in a narrow building? “It’s usually not that difficult.”
It is difficult to determine the location of zombies through sound.
I looked at Lee Sang-ah and asked.
“Don’t the survivors have any know-how? Things to be careful about when entering a new building.”
“I’m more careful than usual… that’s all. “Entering a building or area without information has always been a dangerous challenge.”
In terms of combat power, we would be incomparably stronger than the group of survivors she led.
But that is still a case of all-out war.
Even if you are an awakened person, if you are ambushed by a hidden zombie and get bitten anywhere, you will die.
“Should we just bring in all the wizards and pour out magic with maximum firepower? “It won’t be difficult to eradicate the hidden zombies.”
“Are you planning to destroy the entire official residence?”
“It’s a joke.”
Sergeant Lee Min-jae laughs at the confused reaction of Corporal Jeon Gwang-il.
Even the official residence will be destroyed.
“We should consider that method too.”
“yes?”
Noise may be a problem, though.
If you find it difficult to attack, this is an option worth considering in order to send away zombies.
“Are you serious?”
“I’m serious, though. “It’s plan B.”
I slowly raise my head and look at the sky.
The sun was high in the sky.
I glance at my watch and see that it’s already lunchtime.
The best time to try Plan A.
“Let’s eat first.”
* * *
A vacant lot outside the official residence.
After confirming to some extent that the surroundings were safe, I opened the military bag I had brought with me.
“Let’s see…”
What came out of the military bag was not a sleeping bag or protective clothing.
Old bursta.
A rather deep frying pan.
And large chunks of meat wrapped in paper foil.
“Oh, is that meat?”
“uh. “We carefully selected the best parts.”
“Oh oh…!”
There is a bit of energy among the slumped unit members.
“It’s because the meat was provided by Gwangil and the others. “Thank you to them.”
“Ah hehe… How can I even thank you?”
Gwangil scratches his head as if embarrassed.
Meat from monsters hunted down the mountain range.
If the kids hadn’t worked hard to take care of it, I wouldn’t have been able to use it.
“Hmm.”
However, Sergeant Lee Min-jae had an ambiguous response.
“Isn’t that what happens if you raise your abilities?”
In the past, unit members would have suddenly asked what I meant when I said, ‘Let’s eat first.’
But little by little, everyone got used to the fact that the food I cooked was not just a nutritional supplement.
‘Of course, the extent to which I could raise my abilities or change my emotions was limited.’
It’s just as Minjae said.
It’s not that there is a lack of combat power in the first place.
It would be difficult for ability buffs to help in the current situation.
“what. “Just wait a moment.”
I looked closely at the pieces of meat in the bag.
Meat wrapped in paper foil along with ice packs made by freezing wizards.
Among them, there is one item I was looking for.
“found.”
[Eavesdropping on Alaur’s ear]
[Material Grade: Medium]
[Freshness: High]
Alaur is one of the monsters we encountered while coming down the mountain range.
It was a fox-like monster with grotesquely large ears.
“Are there any fire type wizards?”
“Yes, Private First Class Son Byeong-moon.”
“Light the firewood here.”
“ah. yep.”
Hwareuk.
Since we don’t have proper equipment in the field, it’s a bit difficult to cook fancy dishes.
I plan to just bake it and give it to you.
Is it because it is imbued with magical power?
The meat of monsters is quite delicious even if you just think of it as meat.
Chiiikik….
Place a whole large piece of meat on a heated frying pan.
The meat cooks with a pleasant sound.
Looking at that, I thought about the skills I have.
[Chef’s Eyes]
A skill that tells you how to prepare an object and recommended recipes.
Thanks to this, I was able to gain [realization of how to take care of] monsters.
But unlike its name.
‘It’s not just about teaching you how to care.’
[Alaur’s grooming method by eavesdropping]
[Alaur’s large ears are organs that help it determine the location of natural enemies and prey, and are also considered a weak point because they are where major blood vessels pass through. If you cut this part, you can easily drain the blood….] It
is true that it does teach you how to take care of it.
So you’re saying that the monster’s characteristics are subtly mixed in little by little?
‘Big ears. ‘An organ that determines the location of natural enemies and prey…’
Thanks to this, the characteristics of the monster itself, rather than its weaknesses, can be identified to some extent.
That’s also why I chose this meat.
‘That preparation method and recipe. I don’t know who wrote it.’
It is very helpful in many ways.
yet.
[A low-level chef’s calm emotions of well-cooked grilled Alaour earlobe]
[This is a dish made with highly fresh ingredients. The effect of cooking increases slightly.]
[This is a dish made with ingredients containing magical power. The effectiveness of cooking increases.]
.
.
.
The dish is complete.
“Everyone, stand in line holding a box of boxes.”
“yep!”
Actually, there is no such thing as food.
It involves cutting a large piece of finished meat into appropriate sizes and distributing them.
Since it was only meat, they wouldn’t be able to eat to their fill, but the soldiers’ attitude was that it didn’t matter.
“Wow, the texture is like real beef.”
“Ke Bob and Ssam should have been together.”
It’s rice and ssam.
You should also secure carbohydrates and vegetables as quickly as possible.
But that’s not what’s important now.
After the meal is over.
As I watched the soldiers sit down and chew their meat, I also took a bite of it.
If it’s as I expected.
That message will definitely come out.
[All abilities increase by 5.]
[The magic power contained in the dish has an effect.]
[The magic power of ‘Eavesdropping Alaur’ contained in the dish seeps into the body.]
“Everyone, open the status window.”
“What’s going on?”
“Something. Strange trait-”
“Now wait a minute.”
The prediction was perfectly correct.
It was difficult to stop laughing.
“Why are you screaming all of a sudden?”
“What are you talking about? You made the sound….”
[Temporarily acquires the trait – ‘Sensitive Hearing (Deterioration)’.]
‘As planned.’