The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 38

Episode 38: Empty supermarkets (2)

A dark space without any lights.

In it.

“Oof.”

A young voice rang out.

“Shh. Suhyuk. quietly.”

“Uh huh. sister. sorry.”

Another voice comes out and warns.

The owner of the voice that gave attention.

Suyeon thought as she looked at her younger brother, Suhyuk.

‘He’s really… It’s dangerous to even make a sound in reply.’

Annoyance that comes up inadvertently.

But when I saw my younger brother making noise again, my thoughts changed.

From irritation to self-destruction.

‘I’m getting annoyed with my younger brother. ‘What are you doing?’

Even if the stress had built up, it shouldn’t have happened.

I regret it, but I couldn’t even say an apology.

Because speaking out is dangerous.

You might be wondering what the problem is with trivial conversations.

She actually saw people die while thinking that way.

Monsters appear one day and start killing people.

Among them, there were many monsters that were sensitive to sound.

.

.

.

In the darkness where only silence flows again.

Sigh –

She felt the presence of something being held out in front of her.

‘You ate it all.’

A signal that my brother has finished eating.

He handed over the remaining food to her.

She reached out and took the can her brother passed over.

After carefully reaching in and taking out the contents.

moved to the mouth

‘Ugh.’

A feeling of disgust that rises in an instant.

I feel proud that my younger brother has endured it so well.

gulp.

I somehow managed to swallow the saliva and move it down my throat.

Small tears welled up in my eyes.

‘It doesn’t taste good…’

The food the siblings were eating was not normal food.

Pet food.

It is said that some are more expensive than those for humans.

Basically, dishes that are not made for humans.

In a time when society was operating normally, it would not have been mentioned.

Even though it tastes good, the problem is health.

Since it is not food for humans, it may cause some kind of illness.

but.

‘I’m glad we have pet food now.’

Somehow, I continued eating.

She recalled something that happened in the past.

The group she and her younger brother belonged to.

I remember when that group robbed the supermarket.

‘The bag is full. I think it would be difficult to contain any more.’

After struggling to deal with all the zombies in the supermarket.

She and the rest of her group decided to gather as many supplies as possible.

‘I think these can be eaten. It’s a waste.’

‘huh? Old man. Are you talking about this pet food?’

‘What’s wrong with pet food? I heard that these days, people can eat it too.’

‘no. That’s what it means….’

The problem is when the situation gets to the point where it is difficult to take care of it anymore.

Although it was already difficult to take care of more, one man became obsessed with pet food.

The group went through a brief scuffle.

‘stop! stop! It’s more dangerous to stay here.’

The woman who was the leader of the group came forward.

‘still. You should at least chew the bark of a tree. ‘It would be such a waste to leave them all behind.’

‘Then let’s do it like this. Because it’s impossible to take it with you right away anyway. ‘Hide it nearby.’

‘If that’s the case… I agree.’

‘Does this mean I can take it with me when I come back to this area later? Umm. ‘It’s not bad.’

like that.

Pet foods hidden out of sight in a corner of this warehouse.

This was the reason she and her younger brother were able to avoid starving to death.

But thinking about the past.

I felt even more depressed for no reason.

‘Auntie Soon-i… Oppa Cheol-i…’

The people who protected her and her younger brother.

Although they were all good people.

The only ones who survived were her and her brother.

-Run away, Suyeon.

-Oh man! But…

-Stop talking nonsense, come on!

Sniff….

‘Oops.’

She was embarrassed by the crying that came out inadvertently.

I had to hold my breath to not make a sound.

‘It’s in the past. ‘Because we shouldn’t dwell on the past and end up in danger now.’

Suyeon quickly wiped away her tears and composed herself.

What happened to the dead people?

What matters is that she and her brother survived.

You have to focus on that.

However, if there is a problem.

I don’t think this situation will last long.

‘There isn’t much food left. When these run out….’

A short imagination.

His expression couldn’t help but suddenly darken.

After the siblings decided to lock themselves in this warehouse.

What she was most afraid of was not the darkness without a single light in or the corpse of a zombie rotting in a corner.

‘Small sounds you hear when you hold your breath.’

Small sounds coming from outside.

Most of them were not human.

A strangely dragging sound.

A heavy, distorted sound that cannot be produced by human vocal cords.

Even the sound of heavy footsteps made you wonder if an elephant was passing by.

‘Monsters.’

Every time I hear something like that.

She imagined that one day she would have to leave this hiding place.

And I had to be afraid.

‘The people who protected me are no longer there.’

I think about feeling the warmth of my younger brother, who seems to be asleep after eating.

‘Me and Suhyuk. ‘Can the two of us survive?’

It was still different when I was part of a survivor group.

Difficult thoughts were judged by the adults leading the group.

Although she and her brother had to do the hard work together.

Still, it was quite reassuring to have adults together.

But now I saw them all dying right in front of my eyes.

What remains is my younger brother.

And just one cold-touch fire axe.

She had no confidence in surviving this world.

After all the remaining food runs out.

Like it or not, she and her brother will have to go out into the world.

The only thing left to do is to be captured by monsters and die a painful death.

‘…I wouldn’t want to die so painfully. rather.’

She gently smoothed the handle of the axe.

The fire ax I grabbed when escaping from the apartment.

There is still blood from the zombies that were cut apart when the supermarket was recaptured.

I gently pointed the blade of the ax towards my wrist.

I can feel my heart beating faster.

As long as you hit it down.

Nowadays there are no proper medical tools.

You can die for sure.

but.

‘Let’s stop.’

After some thought, she put the ax down on the floor.

If she had been alone, she might have chosen a less painful path.

however.

‘Because Suhyuk is with us too.’

My younger brother was with me.

It’s not that I haven’t considered the option of dying together.

It seemed impossible to cut my brother’s throat myself.

‘…even if the worst happens.’

Instead, she made up her mind.

‘Let’s protect Suhyuk at least.’

Just like other adults died protecting them.

That was the time when I made up my mind and made that promise.

…Kkii Iik.

A sound came

from outside .

‘Something came into the supermarket…?’

plod along.

‘….’

‘….’

Lots of footsteps.

Small sounds.

‘I can hear something like a voice…’

The sound was so quiet that I couldn’t hear it.

If they were ordinary humans, they wouldn’t have talked in such a low voice.

She made as little noise as possible.

Before I knew it, I could feel my younger brother, who opened his eyes, also holding his breath.

This wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

But so far everyone has left without any problems.

‘If you hold on quietly this time too.’

at that time.

Was my posture a little uncomfortable?

My younger brother tossed and turned slightly.

Sreuk.

A sound smaller than a whispering voice.

She also thought this wouldn’t be a problem.

however.

Pop.

‘…uh?’

Small noises from the supermarket.

Even the footsteps and small voices.

Right after my brother started tossing and turning slightly.

In an instant, everything disappeared.

She had a hunch.

‘A monster sensitive to sound…!’

I’ve been so vigilant.

Anyway, that’s true.

It only reacts to the sound of clothes brushing against each other.

Step by step.

Step by step.

The sound that had stopped for a moment began to sound again.

The sound of footsteps.

Unlike just before, when we were wandering around without any rules.

There was a regularity to the footsteps heard this time.

‘It’s getting closer.’

It’s been a while since I made up my mind to assume the worst possible situation.

‘The worst… came too soon.’

She lamented internally and got up.

And he held the fire ax with both hands.

Even if the worst happens, I will protect my younger brother.

A decision that is not old.

Therefore, the will to protect it still remained.

The time to carry out the resolution came quickly.

She looked closely at the door.

I was planning to hit the ax the moment the door opened.

however.

Kwaaaaang!

Rather than opening it.

A door shattered into pieces.

If she is strong enough to break down a door, it means that she is a monster that is difficult to defeat.

But I didn’t have time to think about that.

I reflexively hit the ax towards the figure in front of me.

and.

Sharp –

An ax that cuts off with its handle intact.

Just when I was about to fall into despair.

The shape in front of me began to appear clearly.

Looks a little familiar.

‘Old soldier?’

But when I heard the words come out of his mouth, my thoughts changed.

“Primates… human species?”

A being that looks like a soldier.

But the human species.

Primates?

Maybe it’s the word ‘person’?

It is not a word that can be used for the same person.

‘In the first place. You came this way just because you heard the small sound Soohyuk made. There’s no way a human could have hearing like that.’

When I thought about it, I saw more suspicious parts.

For example, a kitchen knife in your hand.

If you were really a soldier, you would have a gun, but there would be no reason to hold a kitchen knife like that.

That’s right.

‘A monster in human form.’

When you look at the strength, it makes sense.

She spoke hastily.

“Please don’t eat my younger brother.”

Even if you knew that it was a humanoid monster.

There is no change in the fact that it is an enemy that cannot be defeated anyway.

It’s clear that you use language.

There was only so much she could do.

Did it work?

The other person’s expression suddenly distorted.

* * *

Don’t eat it.

Normally, I would have thought it was nonsense.

‘After all, there is something that stings.’

In my head, primate grooming methods.

And the recipe is clearly engraved.

‘Eat.’

I’ve never actually tried to do it.

Probably not in the future.

Nevertheless, I was honestly shocked when I was told not to eat it.

I can’t help but think of the grooming method that exists in my head.

But from the looks of it.

I don’t think he said it knowing what was in my head.

“that. “I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

“yes?”

“I won’t eat you.”

When I spoke to her normally, the girl seemed surprised and flinched.

I observed the scene calmly.

When it came to food ingredient identification, I was identified as a human.

First of all, it can’t be a monster.

‘Are you a middle school student? Or high school students?’

He doesn’t look old.

A young face that looks like a student at a glance.

Although I am not wearing a school uniform.

The day the monster appeared was also a weekend, so it was only natural.

‘Even if he is like that. The boy behind him looks like he’s just an elementary school student.’

I couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

A world overflowing with monsters and zombies.

Aren’t these two people who seem too vulnerable to wander around in such a world?

“Sergeant Shin?”

“Is there a problem?”

I can’t believe I was thinking like that.

After me, other soldiers also entered the room holding weapons.

“Are they really survivors?”

“uh. “I think that’s the case.”

“The sound we heard. “I guess it wasn’t a monster.”

The two children were seen startled when they saw the other soldiers.

Feeling like something was wrong, I spoke cautiously.

I tried to speak as softly as possible.

“You don’t have to be so scared-.”

I flinch.

“Because we are ordinary soldiers-.”

Shock tremble.

“….”

this.

If I do something wrong, my heart will be hurt.

“Sergeant Shin.”

at that time.

Someone called me from behind.

It was Corporal Jeon Gwang-il.

“They still seem like children.”

“Uh oh. “It looks like it.”

“Think about it from the kids’ perspective. Even if you were an ordinary soldier, wouldn’t that be someone you could treat with comfort?”

“ah.”

I didn’t think of that.

‘but. Even from our perspective as active-duty military personnel, soldiers are ordinary.’

Being a soldier is usually not a comfortable existence.

This is not the case for adults as there are many cases where people around them or themselves have served in the military.

Those two still look young.

Tough men in military uniforms carrying deadly weapons.

It is true that it is a difficult combination to feel comfortable with.

then.

“Chief Lee Sang-ah.”

“yes. Here you are.”

The unit members gathered outside the door after hearing the sound.

In the meantime, Captain Lee Sang-ah revealed himself.

“First of all, it will be the softest impression here. “Please comfort me.”

“yes. Originally, my job was to manage survivors. “Please just leave it to me.”

The awakening of other survivors has been postponed as there is not enough time yet.

She was the only awakened survivor here.

Because we were in the same position and my impression was somewhat gentle.

It might be easier to approach than us.

“Guys, come here.”

“….”

“are you okay. Because it won’t hurt you.”

While I and the other soldiers were far away.

She somehow succeeded in getting out with the two children who appeared to be brother and sister.

We should expect her to calm the kids down well.

“Phew….”

“Because I have a hard time dealing with kids.”

Let Lee Sang-ah take the children and move.

The remaining soldiers breathed a sigh of relief.

Of course, I’m not good at dealing with kids either.

“They didn’t feel like ordinary kids.”

“yes?”

Puzzled soldiers.

Come to think of it, I guess you didn’t see the other guys?

The ax hit me as soon as I went through the broken door.

‘It was enough weight and power to kill a person.’

It was not an ax that could be wielded by an ordinary child who had no experience chopping firewood.

I don’t know, but…

“It seemed like he was used to the axe striking with the force of killing. “I don’t know, but I think I may have caught a few zombies.”

“I have similar thoughts.”

Minjae hyung stepped forward to help me.

“You said earlier that Gwangil might be afraid of soldiers, right? But my thoughts are a little different. Rather than just being scared because I don’t know anyone.”

Minjae glances in the direction of the children.

“It seemed like they were on guard against an unknown enemy.”

“That might be right. Or both.”

Beware of the enemy.

Now, it’s not a word suitable for guys who look like they’re in elementary or middle school.

‘Because it’s this kind of world.’

It is difficult for children to remain like children.

It must be something like that.

That was when I was thinking about that.

container.

Degurrrrr….

Something got caught in my thoughtless steps.

Let’s shift our gaze to the floor.

“This?”

The warehouse where the children were located.

I saw open cans rolling around on the floor.

A small candle with its contents completely emptied.

I reached out and tilted one of them slightly.

OK.

I saw the logo written on the can.

‘….’

The logo depicts a picture of three dogs smiling brightly.