The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 33
Episode 33 Everything is delicious when fried. (1)
After the official residence has been cleaned to some extent.
The work to turn this place into a temporary base is also in the final stages.
“Please use fire magic here too!”
“yep!”
We set up torches all over the vacant lot using trees cut down nearby.
The area near the official residence is an empty plain with nothing in it.
Let’s light up the surroundings at night with torches.
“It looks somewhat similar to the military unit.”
“It’s a little short compared to the unit, but it’s still very impressive.”
A defensive environment similar to a unit.
Sufficient distance was secured for friendly wizards and gunners to intercept the enemy.
“then. “I’ll start security right away.”
“OK. I’m counting on you.”
Several ranged awakened people went up to the roof of the official residence.
They will observe the surroundings from there and intercept approaching monsters or zombies.
After some soldiers went to the rooftop for duty.
“The rest will go to the center of the official residence for a moment.”
In the middle of the official buildings, there was a small pavilion that seemed to have been placed for rest.
Nearby, the remaining soldiers and survivors sat huddled together.
After all unit members were seated.
The meeting has begun.
“First of all, the operation to somehow get down to the ground was successful. Thank you all for your hard work. clap.”
“Wow.”
There is a very formal ‘Wow’ and small applause.
“I feel like I want to throw a party like I did before I left the base.”
“uh?”
“no way. Is it angle?”
“Unfortunately, we don’t have time yet!”
“OMG.”
Sad soldiers.
I also want to have fun and eat a little.
I really can’t afford it.
Let’s put that aside until next time.
“The important thing starts now.”
The reason why the soldiers were gathered in one place and held a meeting.
“We need to decide our guild’s next destination. “We would like to hear the opinions of all unit members.”
“I’ll explain from here.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Minjae hyung next to me stepped forward.
In his hand was a small whiteboard notice board.
It looks like something that was hanging in the central hallway of the official residence was removed.
“As everyone knows, the reason we came down to earth was to increase our power. But right now, we don’t have enough resources to survive, let alone increase our power.”
Minjae shows the whiteboard he was holding to the soldiers while talking.
“What is written here is a list of what we need right now.”
What was written on the whiteboard was simple.
[One. Food]
[2. Oil]
[3. Bullet]
[4. etc.]
“I have a question.”
“say.”
One of the soldiers who looked at the whiteboard raised his hand.
“What do you mean there is not enough food? “Didn’t we secure a lot of meat?”
As the guy said.
There is no problem with meat because the corpses of the monsters hunted down from the mountains are picked up and frozen in large quantities.
Actually, I feel comfortable just cooking meat.
“I don’t have a problem. “You must be the problem?”
“yes?”
“Even if I like Amman meat, that’s true. “If you only eat meat, you’ll get bitten.”
“ah.”
Although I’m only half joking.
Actually, I’m half serious.
A menu with a variety of flavors is a pretty important element.
“Actually, the taste is delicious. “More important than that is the nutritional issue.”
There are things called ‘essential nutrients’ that humans need.
All kinds of nutrients that can be consumed through cooking.
“Because there is nothing but meat. “Our bodies are only supplemented with protein and fat.”
I don’t know how great the magic power created in the bodies of awakened people is.
It is unclear whether this type of power can maintain health even after the basic nutritional balance is completely broken.
“There won’t be any problems if you only eat meat for a month. If it takes longer than that, I don’t know what will happen. To be precise, the problem is not food but securing various nutrients.”
“Hmm. okay.”
“Even if it’s not right away, it’s something we’ll have to think about at some point.”
Number 1, food, is like that.
Number 2 is oil for moving vehicles and oil for turning generators to generate electricity.
Number 3 is the issue of supply and demand of bullets for gunners, our unit’s greatest firepower.
In fact, it is an important part without any exception.
“I have an opinion!”
“oh.”
at that time.
One soldier raised his hand.
“I have good spirit. “What is your opinion?”
“I highly recommend number 4!”
“Number 4?”
I turned my head and looked at the whiteboard Minjae was holding.
Number 4 written on the board is this.
[4. Etc.]
“Uh… do you mean you want to recommend etc.?”
“no. “Not exactly, etc.”
A soldier speaking in a voice full of enthusiasm.
“We need to secure materials! “I strongly recommend this.”
His name is Corporal Lee Gong-woo.
He was an engineer awakener in our unit.
“Secure materials.”
“yes. “I am sure it will be of great help.”
Corporal Lee Gong-woo speaks confidently.
I thought about what he said.
‘surely. Even when I came down the mountain range, I thought about securing materials.’
When leaving the unit and coming down to the ground.
We tried to use the vehicle actively.
We expected it to not only contain supplies but also serve as a barricade.
‘It was no problem.’
What are barricades?
Regular cars were torn apart like pieces of paper by the monsters’ attacks.
There is something Corporal Lee Gong-woo said at that time.
‘If I had the materials, I could have done something.’
Called.
“I thought your occupation was an engineer?”
“yes.”
“I guess the idea of securing materials is related to that. Please explain in detail.”
After receiving my permission, Corporal Lee Gong-woo became extremely excited and continued speaking.
“What you said. Of course, it’s all important.”
“however?”
“The question is not whether it is needed right away. Rather than that.”
Corporal Lee Gong-woo spoke firmly.
“The question is whether it is possible.”
“hmm.”
“Securing food, oil, etc. “Of course, that’s good, but we don’t know much about the ground.”
That statement was definitely not wrong.
Although there are survivors mixed into our group.
They were also people who had not completely adapted to the land and ran away to find our unit.
“so. “It is essential to first prepare a way to safely walk on the ground.”
“Is that what you mean by securing materials?”
“yes. My professional engineer goes by the name engineer. However, it has a slightly different meaning from engineers in modern warfare.”
The main role of modern engineers I know of is removing or installing obstacles.
Other than that, it’s about maintenance of auxiliary facilities.
“Of course, it can perform that role, but I think you can think of it as an addition to the medieval concept of engineering.”
“A medieval engineer?”
“Production and modification of war weapons, etc.”
Some big word came out.
A weapon of war.
“You know things like ballistas and catapults used in medieval warfare? “It was also the engineer’s role to create and modify such things locally.”
“…You can make siege weapons.”
“It’s impossible now. But if you have the materials, it will be possible.”
Although it sounds like a somewhat absurd story.
Corporal Lee Gong-woo appears to be confident.
“Think about this attack on the official residence.”
I tilted my head at Corporal Lee Gong-woo’s words.
‘Didn’t it work out well?’
The attack on the official residence was successfully accomplished through my cooking.
The only thing that could be considered a problem there is…
“This attack on the official residence. “There were only three squads that went out there.”
ah.
That’s right.
It was an inevitable choice in order to operate carefully while avoiding the gaze of monsters and zombies.
The number of active members was limited to a small number.
“If you think about it properly, the most ideal choice would have been for all troops to rush into the official residence. I’m glad there were no problems this time. “If you think about it, you never know what might happen at the official residence.”
“How easy is it to move the entire army at once?”
“There’s nothing that can’t be done if you use a vehicle.”
Moving troops in a vehicle?
At those words, Sergeant Lee Min-jae frowned and said.
“It’s impossible. If you are attacked by monsters or zombies, your vehicle will be torn apart like a piece of paper. “In that case, the unit members should prepare the road in advance.”
“That’s the point!”
Minjae said this with the intention of refuting it.
Corporal Gong-Woo Lee rather agreed with what Min-Jae said and went forward.
“Since vehicles cannot be used, humans have to pave the road with their bare hands. Mmm…! “The height of inefficiency!!!”
“Uh uhh.”
Corporal Lee Gong-woo, his voice rising as if he was quite excited.
“And it’s not about monsters!”
Pop!
He pointed with his finger to the cars parked in the corner of the residence.
“The problem is those weak vehicles that are helplessly attacked by monsters!”
“….”
This bastard.
That’s quite a Spartan mentality.
“If the vehicle can withstand a monster attack. You don’t even have to move carefully. “Our activities will also become overwhelmingly easier.”
“You can build such a vehicle. Is this it?”
“yep! “As long as you give enough materials and time, anything is possible!”
Corporal Lee Gong-woo speaks passionately, probably because he is quite excited.
“Just give me the materials! Let me show you something!”
…It’s all good.
The tension is so high that it’s a bit difficult to follow.
“That Corporal Lee Gong-woo. “It seems like you are overly enthusiastic.”
“oh. Big. “Are you too excited?”
“I’d like to say no. It was a bit like that. “Please calm down.”
“I’m sorry.”
I wonder if I wasn’t the only one feeling burdened.
Corporal Lee Gong-woo quickly calms down when he is pointed out by another soldier next to him.
I thought as I looked at the guy who looked a little embarrassed.
The problem was that I had too much passion.
‘It’s not wrong.’
Securing materials was something I put off because I thought it was not essential.
but.
One of the features of this ‘game’ that I had a vague understanding of was something that bothered me.
‘Production workers are stronger than you think, right?’
Of course, I am a chef.
Equipment created by seamstress Lee Sang-ah also provides tremendous defense and stats.
This isn’t just about ‘chef’ and ‘seamstress’ scams.
What if ‘blue-collar workers’ are a fraud?
engineer.
This means that these guys also have great potential.
After organizing my thoughts, I looked at Corporal Lee Gong-woo and said.
“Gongwoo.”
“yes!”
“Are you really confident?”
Deciding on the unit’s mission.
It should not be taken lightly.
“I’m just saying this just in case.”
“yep.”
“I just want to use your abilities. “If you said it with such a light heart, I have no choice but to dismiss it.”
When I asked him a serious question, Corporal Lee Gong-woo’s face, which had been excited until then, became tense.
“This is more important than other activities. “You have that confidence, right?”
“yes.”
Nevertheless, I was confident in my answer.
“As long as the materials are secured. We can create things that will make future activities on earth much easier. There are quite a few ideas created with other engineers. If you need it, right now. “I can show you-”
“There’s no need to show it. “It’s okay if you’re serious about it.”
Bullets, oil, food, and other things are of course important.
If you could make the process of getting it easier.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to prioritize that one.
“I’ll ask you first. “Does anyone have any objections?”
It was quiet.
It seems like everyone has no objections.
“Then it’s decided.”
Our unit’s next target has been decided.
* * *
The goal was set.
It was something that couldn’t be done right away.
We have just succeeded in recapturing the official residence.
Since it is a temporary base, there are still a lot of areas left for maintenance.
“Then let’s talk about it in detail starting tomorrow. Let’s all go in. “Thank you for your hard work today.”
“yes. Thank you for your effort!”
So we ended up spending the night at the official residence.
Although the reason may be different, it is an official residence with many vacant rooms.
Thanks to this, I was able to enjoy one room per person, which I couldn’t enjoy even in the military.
Well, it’s a building without electricity.
and.
Early morning the next day.
Squeak…
“Haam…”
I opened the door of the official residence and came out.
When I looked up at the sky, I saw a dark sky as the sun had not risen yet.
The reason I came out from this time was because I was so sincere…
it wasn’t at all.
It’s just like an occupational disease caused by cooking.
“Tsk. “My eyes automatically open at 4 a.m.”
Still, I broke it quickly.
I came out because I wanted to solve one of the ‘corners that need improvement in many ways’ mentioned above.
“Tskcha.”
Bring several heavy pieces of metal to the center of the vacant lot.
In the past, two or three people would move items together.
Now that I have awakened, I can do it alone.
“Let me see.”
I look at the items gathered on the floor of the vacant lot.
A large cauldron.
Large grill.
And even a stand to place the grill and cauldron on.
“This is enough for cooking. “I’ll have to ask the kids for the table later.”
The identity of what I am making is simple.
‘eatery.’
First of all, a temporary base has been created.
There should be a restaurant too.
‘It would have been nice to have been able to use the official residence’s kitchen. ‘You can’t hold on to something that doesn’t work.’
All electricity, water, and gas were cut off.
The official residence’s kitchen only had a nice appearance, but could not function as a kitchen.
Then there is only one way.
I have no choice but to make it myself.
Just in case, all the field cooking equipment used by the unit was loaded into the vehicle.
In fact, contrary to its grandiose name, all it contains is a large cauldron and a grill.
It’s pretty bad, though.
“And you have no problem cooking basic dishes, right?”
When I was training in the military, I mainly cooked with this.
The kitchen facilities should be like this for now.
‘then. Let’s start by preparing breakfast.’
Step 1 of meal preparation.
Prepare the ingredients.
I opened one of the trailers parked in the vacant lot.
Inside, there were piles of monster corpses covered in thin ice.
If it were me before, I would have been quite shocked by the visual.
Now that we are used to it, it seems like nothing more than a food ingredient.
[Chef’s Eyes]
“I think it might be useful, so I’ll leave it behind. hmm. “This is okay.”
Use your skills to understand the management methods and characteristics of the monsters piled up in the trailer.
Just in case, save the monsters that have useful characteristics for now.
We selected those that did not have very clear characteristics and took them out.
[Learning how to care for a red kangal]
Sweet.
Prepare the meat according to the cooking method that comes to mind.
Monsters whose bones and flesh are separated in an instant.
Among them, I left out the bones and leather separately because I thought they would be used by tailors.
Parts of meat that are difficult to use, such as fat, are also classified separately.
Then all that was left was the lean meat.
Sprinkle salt and pepper generously on the meat cut into appropriate sizes.
Meat that has not yet been completely thawed.
It will slowly melt and the liver will seep inside.
‘The ingredients are enough.’
After placing the grill on the brazier and pedestal.
Below, firewood roughly picked up from around the area is piled up.
He tore off some pieces of paper attached to the official residence, lit them on fire with a lighter, and threw them into the firewood.
Firewood slightly wet from the early morning moisture.
I was worried that it wouldn’t catch fire easily.
“oh.”
To put my worries in vain, it soon began to emit smoke and burn.
“You’re lucky.”
As soon as preparations were completed, the morning sun was slowly rising.
“Oh, Sergeant Shin. “What are you doing?”
“Ready for breakfast.”
The time when ordinary soldiers, not cook soldiers, begin their activities.
Several soldiers opened their eyes and began to shine their faces outside the residence.
“yes? “Didn’t you just eat beef jerky for a while?”
“I thought so. “But I thought it would be more comforting to cook the food myself.”
“Wow, Sergeant Shin….”
“I’m touched.”
“These are disgusting. It’s a good thing. There were tables and tents in the official residence warehouse, right? “Please take it out with the kids.”
“yep!”
While the soldiers were bringing tents, tables, etc.
I put the meat on the heated grill and started grilling it.
Chiik….
The sound and smell of grilling meat begin to resonate.
People who were resting in the official residence began to smell the smell and come out one by one.
“Hey. “Is it meat from breakfast?”
“huh. “Meat is surprisingly good for breakfast.”
“Oh oh. “A chef indeed.”
Most of the soldiers come out to the open space.
“We have all the tables and chairs set up!”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
By the time everyone had prepared a place to eat.
[The dish is complete.]
[With the stability of a low-ranking chef…]
The first piece of meat is complete.
“Everyone stand in line. “Meals are served on a first-come, first-served basis.”
“yes!”
“Oh, I’ll save a few for the kids on duty. “For the kids who finished eating first, bring some of this.”
I continue grilling the next piece of meat while watching them take away the cooked meat.
Meanwhile, I felt a strange gaze.
When I looked at the place where I felt the gaze, I saw that some soldiers were not eating meat but were looking at me.
“Why aren’t you eating? ah. Are you the type of person who doesn’t eat breakfast? “Is the meat too heavy?”
“No, that’s not it.”
I thought there was some dissatisfaction with the menu, but it seems that wasn’t the case.
“Sergeant Shin is at work, so I was wondering if we could eat first. Still, you’re the best…”
“Ah. “What else can I say?”
Damn military culture.
“I’m picking it up and eating it one by one while it’s grilling to see if it’s seasoned well. “Don’t worry, just eat.”
“still.”
“Actually, it’s the most delicious thing to pick up and eat like this.”
“Is that so?”
Only then do they start eating.
Still, seeing the soldiers enjoying their meal makes me feel happy.
For a while, dishes such as ‘Stable’ were not served due to lack of ingredients.
As a result, I was worried that the kids might have mental problems.
Even if the only ingredient is meat.
Now that I can resume eating like this, I can feel a little relieved.
‘then. ‘This is enough for breakfast.’
actually.
The reason I had a hard time coming out early in the morning wasn’t just because of the unit members’ breakfast.
‘What I’m going to do from now on is closer to my real purpose.’
I lifted the grill where I was cooking the meat and put it aside.
A cauldron was brought and placed on top of the burning firewood.
The soldiers pour the water they brought from the stream yesterday into the cauldron.
“Are you preparing lunch already?”
“Huh? It’s not like that.”
Several soldiers who saw this started talking to me as if they were interested.
Either that or not.
A cauldron slightly submerged in water.
I threw the fat from the monsters that had been set aside in advance into it.
lump of fat.
In other words, it is scaffolding.
‘Because food ingredients don’t just mean meat.’
It’s a bit weird to only eat fat.
Still, it’s a waste to throw it away.
There was one ingredient that happened to have used up what little was left in the bag.
In cooking, an ingredient is called a cheat key.
I continued to stir the scaffolding of the monsters submerged in water.
The lumps turn brown over time.
Accordingly, the color of the water changed little by little.
To be exact, it would have been something other than water.
After stirring like that for about a few dozen minutes.
Thinking that this was enough, I placed the cauldron on the floor.
Take out all the lumps inside and store them separately.
I brought the glass bottles I got from the official residence.
Then he tilted the pot and poured the contents into the glass bottle little by little.
‘The smell kills.’
Several bottles filled with yellow liquid.
When I looked at the bottle, [Food Ingredients Identification] was activated.
[Animal oil with mixed magical power]
[Animal oil with a mixture of various types of magical power.]
[When used in cooking, it changes into magical power suitable for the dish.]
A fraudulent ingredient in the cooking world that is said to make anything delicious no matter what you fry.
This is the completion of oil.