The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 314

Episode 314: Food Ingredient Management

I thought of that when I first saw that characteristic.

‘Maintain the ingredients in the best condition.’ la.

If ordinary people see it.

You might just think of it as a somewhat useful ability and move on.

but.

It wasn’t for me at all.

‘Because to me, everything is like food ingredients.’

I just don’t do it because I’m reluctant.

I can do whatever I want.

Even unusual ingredients such as stones.

There are also things that are considered physically inedible, such as elements.

…My kin, like humans.

myself too.

and.

‘My unit members too.’

If you put your mind to it.

You can cook as much as you like.

‘Because all of those things are like ingredients to me.’

The moment that ability comes into my hands.

Ingredients under my control.

Me and my unit members.

All will be managed in ‘top condition’.

Without being affected by corruption, etc. over time.

Even if external factors intervene, the damage to the condition is slowed down.

‘You can say that you are completely immune to aging and disease… and that your resistance to enemy attacks becomes stronger.’

Depending on who uses it.

It becomes a fraud skill beyond imagination.

the problem is.

‘That’s not my characteristic.’

Unfortunately.

There was no way to acquire other people’s characteristics.

‘…no.’

actually.

There is one such way, though.

“…Seniors?”

“huh?”

“Why are you suddenly looking at me like that? “You must be scary.”

“…It’s just like that.”

Even though.

Because you can’t cook and eat that guy.

So what I thought was the other way.

After teaching that guy how to cook.

It makes me come to a realization similar to what I have now.

next.

After making the most of that ability to survive here….

‘Recruit him into our unit.’

Roughly that kind of operation.

in other words.

For this.

“Now try cooking with this.”

“…Hey senior, this is it.”

The realization I gained.

that.

“It’s an iron plate.”

I needed to get this guy too.

“It’s an iron plate.”

“Why are you giving me this…?”

“I told you, right? “Try cooking with this.”

“…Are you sane?”

Howard looked at me like I was crazy.

but.

To me, it’s just laughable.

“You are still tied to the cooking of the past.”

“….”

“You’ll have to change that thinking a little from now on. Especially when it comes to ingredients.”

I placed my hand on the end of the iron plate that he was not holding.

I grabbed the end and activated the skill.

[Elemental Cooking]

Then.

The gray iron plate turns into liquid.

It was placed in the cup I brought.

“…What is this again?”

“It was [cooked] on an iron plate.”

I put the liquid in one corner.

He said, crossing his arms.

“As you know, it is not easy to find ingredients from the past in today’s world. “It may have been possible in the early stages of destruction, but it will become more difficult as time passes.”

“….”

“As the world has become like that, we chefs must be able to regard everything as an ingredient. This goes beyond ordinary food ingredients, such as iron plates, dirt, rocks, monster corpses, and even feces and urine. And if necessary…”

The last words I spat out.

Howard’s expression hardened.

“Even if we are the same person.”

“…Is that the know-how that allowed you to reach that level?”

“okay.”

“Senior…”

He hesitated a bit.

I asked a question in a low voice.

“Have you ever cooked or eaten a human?”

“….”

I can roughly understand what the question was asking.

“I have never eaten it.”

“Yes, I haven’t eaten… I haven’t eaten… I understand.”

I couldn’t lie here.

I understand the reluctance.

Because in order to pass on this realization, it was necessary to tell the truth.

“I’m not really asking you to cook people. “I just want you to know that you can cook.”

“Is that so?”

“If you just realize this, you will be able to become a real [chef]. “You will be able to bring out your true power as an awakened person.”

On my word.

Howard nodded with a stern expression.

Soon I closed my eyes.

“Everything is an ingredient… everything…”

With my eyes closed.

It seems as if he is somehow trying to accept the enlightenment I have passed on.

Howard mutters as if brainwashing himself.

If it’s like my case.

The moment when you truly attain that realization.

“Iron plates, stones, feces and urine, humans… food ingredients…”

Howard also said that the limitations of food ingredients will disappear.

The utilization of his management-type characteristics will increase infinitely, but…

“Kuh-huh…!”

“!?”

Howard thought to himself for a while.

He suddenly took a deep breath.

“Weeeeeek…!”

Run to the kitchen sink.

I started spitting out what was inside.

“Are you okay!?”

“Ugh… Ugh.”

With slightly tears in my eyes.

The guy who vomited out everything he had inside.

“Hey, senior….”

“Huh?”

“Thank you for sharing your valuable insight. But…”

the guy said, breaking into a cold sweat.

“I… I can’t do it.”

“I can’t believe it. “It’s not that difficult.”

just.

All you have to do is change your mindset like I said.

I didn’t understand why I couldn’t do this.

“You eat iron. “That’s not eating.”

“No, I mean. You don’t need to eat it…”

“No, I guess that’s true. But…”

Ugh.

A guy who continues talking while gagging.

“To look at fellow humans as food ingredients.”

He said, covering his mouth with a trembling hand.

“To truly accept that realization… there’s no way that’s possible.”

“….”

I was speechless at those words and stood there in a daze.

Was he excited about what just happened?

Without even realizing it, I continued talking.

“If only there was a human capable of that. “I’m sure he’s already mentally damaged to the point where he’s lost his mind.”

Although it didn’t seem like it was aimed at anyone in particular.

In those words.

‘….’

I couldn’t reply.

* * *

“…I told you as much as I could, but I’m sorry, but I think it was too much for me. senior.”

“…I see.”

“Cooking is ultimately about what goes into people’s mouths, so I can’t think of ingredients that I can’t eat as ingredients for dishes that will go into the mouths of my guests. It’s impossible for me. “I tried somehow to accept that idea, but… it was difficult.”

“Um no, whatever. Things like that happen, too.”

at last.

My plan to give this guy the same level of culinary knowledge as me failed.

‘I thought it would be easy.’

To achieve that level of enlightenment.

It seems like it’s more difficult than I thought.

No, maybe.

I also thought that it might be even more difficult because it was this guy.

‘He has a strong sense of duty as a chef.’

The ingredients that enter the customer’s mouth must always be maintained in the best condition.

People who think they can’t recommend ingredients to others if they can’t eat them themselves.

‘I guess he was able to acquire those characteristics because he was that kind of guy.’

Characteristics that keep materials in the best possible condition.

There was some similarity between those characteristics and that guy’s mindset as a chef.

“I can’t help it. “Then give up on that part.”

It’s unfortunate, but it can’t be helped.

Even if I don’t apply that trait to other humans as much as I thought.

There are definitely parts of that guy’s abilities that can be utilized.

“Next, let’s try cooking the monster’s meat.”

“Umm, it’s monster meat.”

“This doesn’t matter, right? I showed you eating it myself, and you tried it too, right? And there were no problems.”

“That’s right.”

“Think of [the chef] in the game. The [Chef] in the game is the only one who cooks with monster meat, right? “This is something that [chefs] should be able to do, right?”

“That too… I guess so.”

Let me convince you that way.

Unlike when I was told to look at everything as an ingredient.

At least this guy seems to have been accepted somehow when it comes to handling monster meat.

‘okay. Even if I can’t utilize that trait… it wouldn’t be a bad thing if this guy could cook monster dishes instead of me, who can’t really function as a chef.’

Well, at least this isn’t a bad result.

Thinking so.

I was watching him grill the monster’s meat.

however.

-Tiring.

“…?”

The moment the dish is completed.

[A hidden achievement has been achieved!]

[Achievement – Teaching]

Right before your eyes.

A status window appeared.

[I gave the right teachings to a chef who was stuck in a wall and his growth was stagnant, helping him move to the next level.]

[This is the first achievement among human chefs who have realized true cooking.]

[Rewards for achievements are given. You lose.]

[Characteristic – Great Teacher]

[You will be able to give effective teachings to cooks of a lower level than yourself.]

[If you have a disciple who has achieved enlightenment through your training, you can change one of the traits or skills of one of them to ‘ It ‘deteriorates’ and becomes usable.]

“…Huh?”

* * *

like that.

After I remained in this central branch.

For the next few days, I spent most of my time exchanging teachings with Howard.

but.

There was a time when those teachings could not be exchanged.

That’s it.

“I guess I’ll stop here for today and go get some food, Senpai.”

“Oh, has it already been so long?”

It was meal time.

I’m not the cook here.

There was no need to cook.

Because Howard had a duty to feed the humans here.

When he cooks and people eat.

I sat near the entrance where the kitchen and dining room connect.

I looked at the people who visit this restaurant.

I’m bored because I have nothing to do.

It’s not for that reason.

‘I came up with another method, but… ‘It would be good to know that he is a traitor.’

People who come to the restaurant.

Glancing at them.

[Ingredients Identification (Enhancement)]

[Ma Seok-hyeon]

[Occupation: Lesser Tanner]

was activating the trait.

I asked you to find the traitor.

It’s difficult for me to actively look for traitors here right now.

Is there anything blatantly related to crime in the job?

Like those ‘vampires’, they are of different races.

I was wondering if there was someone in that situation.

‘…It doesn’t work out that easily, after all.’

Most humans were just [humans] with ordinary jobs.

The operation to easily find the traitor seems to have failed.

Still, I thought you might not know.

When I kept looking at people.

Sigh….

“There you are.”

Over my head.

A shadow of a human shape appeared.

Let’s raise our heads and look that way.

“I heard that some people from the northern branch were staying for a few more days… but I didn’t know it was Chief Seo’s son.”

What is there.

The man who currently serves as the acting leader of this central branch.

[Awakened: Ha Yun-seong]

[Intermediate Gladiator Lv.21]

It was Yun-seong.

“What are you doing here anyway?”

“Oh, I’m not doing much. Should I just call it sightseeing?…”

“What do you mean sightseeing?”

It was something I said without much thought.

Yunseong said with an expression that made him feel a little uncomfortable.

“I am acquainted with your parents, but apart from that.”

“…?”

“This is where precious food is distributed. It is not a facility you can visit lightly.”

“Ah…”

“I don’t know who is here in charge of permission, but I would like you to leave when you are finished eating.”

…uh.

To be honest, I was a little embarrassed by this reaction.

‘Come to think of it, I’ve never had a proper conversation with this man.’

I was only told that they knew about my parents.

Since we haven’t had any conversation since then.

I didn’t really know what kind of personality this man was.

I guess I have a slightly sensitive personality.

It seems he was dissatisfied with me continuing to sit in the restaurant.

I tried to quietly retreat.

“Who gave permission?”

A voice coming from inside the kitchen.

“I gave you permission?”

“…you?”

A man who was preparing the next menu for a while.

It was Howard.