The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 386
Episode 386: President of the Association (1)
“The cleanup here is almost done!”
“Then help me clean up over there!”
The battle is over.
The legion was fighting a battle that seemed like something out of mythology, but when the battle ended.
Like an ordinary soldier, he busily began clearing up the battlefield.
‘They’re taking all the monster’s corpses.’
‘Wouldn’t that create zombies? Before winter came, we usually burned the corpses of monsters.’
The awakened members of the association stared blankly at that scene.
and.
It wasn’t just the battlefield that the soldiers began to clear.
“Kuhuheook….”
There were many injuries from the battle.
Jo Beom-seok led the battle in a way to reduce the number of deaths as much as possible, but the scale of the war was too large.
There were many dead and many injured.
“…Can I really trust you?”
“Please leave it to me.”
It is difficult to handle with the association’s manpower alone.
A group of soldiers walk among the wounded.
A red cross was engraved on their shoulders.
‘Medical soldier.’
When those soldiers first demanded entry into the wall.
The awakened members of the association had no choice but to hesitate a lot.
Although it was true that they were the ones who saved them.
Still, it is a force I have never seen before.
There was a brief debate about whether it was right to let them inside the wall.
-I understand that you are wary of us. So, please only let the medics in.
Let’s say it’s to treat those many injured people.
They decided to take a risk and let a few soldiers inside the wall.
and.
Let the soldiers begin their full-scale activities….
“Oh my… what kind of healing power…!?”
Seriously injured people who were difficult to treat with the association’s healers alone.
The legion’s healers quickly recovered the wounded, focusing on those who were seriously injured.
‘It has incredible healing power.’
‘How high are those healers?’
The abilities of the soldiers who fought against those monsters were also amazing.
What was more noticeable to those who did not know much about it was the artillery fire from tanks and self-propelled guns, not the power of each soldier.
And it was a flying fortress.
‘The average level may be high… but that alone is hard to understand. ‘The abilities due to equipment and guilds are also enormous.’
But it was different now.
At a glance, the incredible speed of recovery made people feel the power of the corps and break into a cold sweat.
“I want to ask you a few things. “Can I ask for your cooperation?”
“What do you want to ask?”
While the healers were treating the injured.
The soldiers outside the wall also began to move busily.
“I would like you to tell me in detail what happened in Gyeonggi-do. “We especially need information about those giants and the places they came from.”
“Hmm, if that’s the case….”
The soldiers outside are where the giants came from.
I asked for detailed information about the source of that cold air.
And after a while.
“The location of the remnants has been identified!”
“Everyone sortie!”
Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu….
Most of the power, including the Sky Fortress, was directed toward the source of that cold air.
This is probably to completely eliminate any enemies that may still remain.
‘tremendous.’
Ridiculously fast processing speed.
People realized that this legion had not done this before.
[A force that has achieved a 100% capture rate in one region has been born!]
[Achieved area – ROK.17]
[As the first person to achieve the Conquest War event appears, the Conquest War event for all other regions will end!]
Just before the legion came over from beyond that wall.
A system message appeared before their eyes.
That corps conquered the wide area of Gangwon-do.
The same thing must have been done several times.
and.
“Next, may I ask who the citizens’ representative is?”
“Are you a representative?”
“We have just arrived in Gyeonggi-do. I can’t stay here for long. So, post-war processing, what you guys will do in the future, etc.”
The soldier who spoke.
He answered as if he was asking something obvious.
“I want to know who the representative will be communicating with us.”
* * *
“General Cho, are you okay? “He was buried in that wall.”
“Luckily, I’m fine now. “Those guys… their healing abilities are no joke.”
After healing the wound to some extent with the help of a Legion healer.
Leaders from each branch gathered together and began the meeting.
The reason they gathered was simple.
“Representative.”
The person the corps found.
To talk about the association’s representatives.
“First of all, the president of the association is the representative.”
“Right now… um, it’s ambiguous?”
The association was a union in which the leaders of each large group gathered under the chairman of the association.
Now the president of the association is gone.
There was no one who could be called a representative.
“Does it really have to be just one person? “Isn’t it okay for each branch leader to communicate with the corps as a co-representative?”
“Hmm, I don’t think it’s something to be decided so lightly.”
“yes?”
“Aren’t we ultimately in the position of leading each branch… each group? “The interests that each person represents are different.”
Beomseok Jo said with a worried expression.
“Didn’t we have a lot of disagreements when we had our meeting right now? “There is a high possibility that we will not be of one opinion when talking to that legion.”
“Is that not possible?”
“If it’s a meeting between us, we can coordinate with each other and that’s it. But I have to talk to that Legion. The moment we disagree because we have different interests… they will think that we as a group are weaker than we think. Legions and associations… we end up revealing our disadvantages in that conversation.”
“Uh… isn’t that a much stronger force than us in the first place? Just looking at it, it seems like a strong person like the president of the association is rotting away. “Aren’t we bound to be at a disadvantage?”
“Still, shouldn’t the minimum rights be guaranteed?”
In those words.
Concern appears on some people’s faces.
“Minimum rights.”
“…Are you saying they could take away our rights?”
“No matter what, aren’t they the soldiers who saved us? “I would like to go that far.”
“I wish I could do that too. “You have to think about what if.”
Maybe it was a peaceful time.
This is a more serious reality than most wartime situations.
“Rather, we must keep in mind the possibility that soldiers may be even more merciless.”
Although it is true that the Legion saved it.
In inter-organizational matters, one should not leave everything to the other party.
“Whoa… my head hurts. “When I saw the soldiers appear, I was so happy that I almost cried.”
“Isn’t it true that things get a little more complicated once you get into reality? Well… I don’t know how those soldiers will treat us.”
“Now that I think about it, General Cho was a soldier. “Do you know any faces over there?”
In those words.
Beomseok Jo answered with a serious expression.
“…Actually, that’s why I say I have to deal with it carefully.”
“yes?”
“I don’t know which unit it is.”
After the legion broke through that black wall.
Jo Beom-seok carefully observed the corps members.
“Since it is said to be the corps of Gangwon-do, I naturally thought it would be the 18th corps in charge of the defense of Gangwon-do. But the unit mark on the uniform was different. “If there was a military veteran among you, you would know.”
“Oh, now that I think about it….”
“Their unit mark looked like a lizard with steel scales… or a dragon. The problem is that, as far as I know, there is no unit that uses that mark.”
“Couldn’t it be a unit formed after General Cho was discharged? Or maybe he somehow rallied the destroyed units and created a new unit…”
“It may be possible. “If you look closely, there is one more strange thing.”
The reason why Jo Beom-seok carefully observed the corps members was no different.
He wanted to check if anyone he knew was in the mix.
“There are no officers.”
“…?”
“They were all soldiers. Of all the people I’ve seen, the one who seems to have the highest rank is said to be the head of the therapists. “He identified himself as a Private First Class.”
“Hmm. “I’m a private.”
“Even the private was of high rank.”
There were also some who had no rank as soldiers at all.
Probably from civilian background.
Despite the fact that the world is overflowing with reserve army sergeants.
There were very few people among them who had a proper rank.
“Even though I was discharged from the military, I occasionally went to lectures and constantly saw faces in the military. At least I’m sure there aren’t any faces I recognize among them.”
In those words.
People’s gaze also becomes a little uneasy.
“I’m volunteering to join the military, but there’s no face that General Cho recognizes.”
“Are you saying they are unreliable people?”
“I don’t think you should look at it that way. Because it is true that they saved us. There is a high possibility that the lack of officers is simply because everyone has disappeared from this world. But… it may be a bit far from the intact military unit in Gangwon-do that people expected.”
Although the probability that they are evil people is not high.
It is difficult to rule out that possibility.
“More than anything, they are the ‘Gangwon-do legion’. “They may have lent their strength to subdue the monster, but they are not the ones who represent the interests of the ‘Gyeonggi Province Association.’”
It would be nice if I could comfortably join that corps and be safely protected.
Reality did not go that easily.
‘It might be friendlier than those monsters. Nevertheless, it is a force whose true identity is unknown when encountered for the first time.’
The difference in power was clear.
As long as that sky fortress exists, the Association will not be able to overcome the Legion.
Nevertheless.
“It’s too dangerous to just leave our fate up to them.”
Many people in the Association have been waiting for support from the Legion.
More often than not, it was not about following the Legion’s orders.
They say their power is stronger.
This side also had to be able to claim its rights.
It’s just weak compared to the legions.
That is not to say that the organization called the Association has no power.
furthermore.
“They asked us to guide them to a representative.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“With their power, they could have subjugated us to their subordination in an instant. It would have been entirely possible to ignore our will. However, they asked us to introduce a representative who could gather our opinions. in other words.”
In those words.
Heo Yun-chang, one of the leaders, tilted his head and muttered as if he had noticed something.
“Does that side also want us to remain an independent force?”
“…I don’t understand. “What is the benefit of not subjugating us?”
“You might think that if we accept a force the size of ours at once, the chaos might increase.”
Association’s thoughts.
The will of that corps.
The conclusion was that the association should remain an independent organization.
“…General Joe. “Let’s ask just one question.”
“Something.”
at that time.
Heo Yun-chang looked at Jo Beom-seok and asked.
“If I don’t remember wrong, I think General Cho wanted to join the military unit.”
“Well, it was like that.”
“that. Is it still the same now?”
“…what?”
In those words.
People’s eyes opened wide.
* * *
“Mr. Yoon Chang…?”
“What kind of question is that all of a sudden?”
The question Heo Yun-chang asked Beom-seok Jo.
People who heard that question said in confusion.
“Right now is a time when it is not enough for us to come together, so why would you say something that would incite such discord?”
“Well, I think so too. “Still, I need to make this clear and move on.”
Heo Yun-chang said, crossing his arms.
“Looking at various circumstances, it does not seem like that corps is a force that will blindly oppose us. But even though he seems like an ally you can trust, there are a lot of suspicious things about him.”
“….”
“I think we must act as cautiously as possible when dealing with that corps. And if so.”
That gaze.
I turned to General Cho Beom-seok again.
“The southern branch that wanted to join the military… has to make that clear.”
“…!”
Unlike other branches whose only goal was survival.
The southern branch had a clear goal.
Reconstruction of military bases.
Or join.
“I think it’s time for you to choose.”
People look at the people of the southern branch with anxious eyes.
“Will the Southern Branch join the Legion? Or are you going to join the association?”
If Jo Beom-seok and the southern branch join the corps.
Now the central branch is not functioning properly.
It’s as if one-third of the association’s power has been lost.
Even if they say there is no need to fight that army right now.
It will take a considerable amount of time to repair that loss.
When people look at Jo Beom-seok with nervous eyes.
Eat.
“You’re asking all kinds of sad questions. okay.”
Beomseok Jo smiled lightly.
“Since you asked a question, I will answer honestly. “If it were not long ago… the entire southern branch of the association would have tried to join the corps right away.”
“…!”
“It is true that there are no familiar faces… but it still takes the form of a military unit. It’s true that from my perspective, that side is a bit friendlier. Besides, it’s an association because it sounds good… We were just an alliance of different groups coming together out of necessity. “To be honest, the process was quite coercive.”
A group that was forced to come together due to the power of one person, the president of the association.
Gyeonggi-do Survivors Association.
The bond was quite loose.
“Especially, we at the southern end didn’t even have much interaction with the northern branch at the northern end. “Even though I saw Jung-gu a little bit, I rarely saw Mr. Lee Seo’s face.”
“That’s true, but… I’d better think about it a little more…”
When people’s complexions turn pale.
“Well, it was like that not long ago.”
“…?”
“Of course not now. “From the beginning.”
An old man with a tired, light smile.
He said with a slightly sad look in his eyes.
“I wish we had been fighting together like this for the past few months. “Aren’t we comrades in arms now?”
“…!”
It was an association that had almost no cohesion as a group.
The past few months have been a little different.
Attack the epicenter of the cold.
Fight against those giants.
In this demon world, we resisted together until the very end.
Although that period was only a part of the entire period during which the association was founded.
The density was not greatly reduced even over the years and decades.
“That means.”
“Let me ask you a favor.”
Beomseok Jo scratched his face and opened his mouth as if he was embarrassed.
“Somehow my nickname became General Cho.”
“yes. “I heard you were originally a general.”
“It’s something I don’t say to others because I’m embarrassed… but to be honest, I only got the rank of brigadier general when I was discharged. “In fact, the period of time he was called general was not long.”
“Oh, did you say that?”
“It was a position given to me as an honorary position before I was discharged. Somehow he ended up being called that… but I always thought it was a pretty embarrassing name. so.”
An old man shrugging his shoulders.
“I hope you won’t call me general from now on.”
“…!”
There is a strange atmosphere among the leaders.
Trust in each other.
“I lived as a soldier for decades… Now, I think my identity as a branch leader of the association rather than as a soldier has become a little stronger.”
Since there is no integrated field, there may be conflicts of opinion.
They say they overcame a difficult battle together…
A consensus that we are comrades in arms.
It was what bound them together.
* * *
“Then let’s go back to the main topic. “I’m talking about deciding on a representative.”
“yes.”
“I would like to recommend Youngjun Shin.”
No one was surprised by those words.
I’m not here right now due to an injury.
There was no disagreement about the fact that he was the person who exerted the greatest influence on the association.
but.
“Actually, I already asked about that.”
“hmm?”
“I don’t like it.”
“what?”
Park Jung-gu scratched his head and said.
“He is a slanderer and he is not a member of our association. He said he absolutely did not want a representative position. “I think it would be right for someone else to go…”
“Huh… I don’t think there’s anyone better suited than that friend.”
A sad sigh spread among the people.
“If you think about it, Youngjun has been like that for a long time. “He seemed reluctant to come to the forefront unless it was an unavoidable situation.”
“… Are you saying that his abilities are outstanding, but his personality is not?”
“That friend looked quite young. But I never thought he would have any desire for a position.”
“You can’t do it because you don’t belong to our guild. “You don’t have to think like that…”
Leaders are in trouble.
The leaders gathered here all have similar influence.
The reason Jo Beom-seok was the commander of the expeditionary force was simply because it was the best position to utilize his profession.
He did not have the influence to be considered the head of the association.
“…Shall we vote among ourselves?”
“Isn’t this just causing trouble for no reason?”
“Youngjun is the right person… I don’t know how to persuade you…”
When they were racking their brains for a while.
“Over there…!”
suddenly.
Someone runs outside in panic.
“I have something to report to you!”
“What’s going on?”
“Outside…!”
A member of the association who looks urgent.
“The president of the association…”
“…?”
From the words that came out of his mouth.
The leaders could not help but be astonished.
“The president of the association is back!”
“…!”
Shock spreads among the people.
after that.
“…I’m sorry we all met like this.”
An old man…
He appeared inside the tent.