The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 40

Episode 40: The Ghost in the Mart (1)

“In exchange for telling you the location, there is a condition.”

She boldly approaches the deal.

Even we needed that deal.

It is true that there is a shortage of food ingredients and medicine right now.

‘Did you remember what I said earlier?’

This means that there is only a lot of meat and no other items.

He seems to have remembered what he lightly said, thinking it was a child.

It’s understandable why I hid it and didn’t say it back then, but now I’m saying it.

‘They must have been waiting to see whether we would protect them.’

Then it looked like we were about to leave.

I took out the card I had saved at that time.

I guess it’s something like that.

When I think about it this way, it’s incredibly clever.

If you think of him as a child and look after him, you could end up in big trouble.

I also decided to take a more cautious approach.

“Let’s hear it first. What are the conditions you are talking about?”

“Please protect us.”

what.

I didn’t think there would be anything else than that, though.

“The conditions you proposed are certainly attractive, but as I said, they are difficult. “In the first place… I don’t know if I can completely believe what you say.”

“I understand that you don’t believe it. But really-.”

“Oh, that too, but that’s not all. “There’s a part for you too.”

After interrupting her, I began to persuade her.

“I’m just saying it now. “We have a different group nature than survivors who mainly operate in hiding.”

“What does that mean?”

“Our goal is to gradually increase our power.”

Unlike survivors, whose immediate goal is to survive each day.

We are aiming beyond that.

“…power?”

“Well, I’m having a bit of a hard time right now.”

A world that has changed.

The law presented by that world is [war of occupation].

Grow your power and occupy the land.

That’s the rule of this game.

We don’t know what it will be like now, but it is clear that we will eventually have to increase our power.

“During the process, encounters with monsters and zombies will often occur. More people don’t only bring good things. This means that it is easy to be exposed to the eyes of enemies.”

The same applies to the official residence that is currently being used as a base.

A building that was not built with battle in mind.

It wouldn’t be strange if it caught the attention of monsters at any time and turned into a battlefield.

“That means it might be safer to hide here than to follow us.”

“….”

“If you say you will join us again after safety is assured, we may accept it then. “If you feel like the food you gave us isn’t enough, we can give you a little more.”

In order to conduct a transaction, shouldn’t the conditions be clearly stated?

It’s hard to be sure that following us is safer than hiding out here.

I was trying to tell you that part.

“I still don’t like it.”

There was no change in the answer.

“It might be safer here, and even if we come back later when our situation is stable?”

“yes.”

“hmm.”

That seems like a pretty solid idea.

At this point, I’m curious.

“Let’s at least hear the reason. “Why do you want to join us so much?”

“That’s…”

You simply want to join a safe force.

For that reason, we might not be such a great option.

I was a little surprised to see that he didn’t give up even after I explained it to him.

After hearing my question, Suyeon Lee seemed to think for a moment.

I took a deep breath and answered.

“…It was terrible.”

“what?”

“I’m hiding out here.”

I wondered what the story was about.

The words that came out of his mouth were quite dark.

“do you know? We’re afraid someone might notice us from outside, so we close the doors on all sides and can’t even move because we’re afraid we’ll be caught pretending to be someone. and. “You can’t see anything and you can’t move… Then your ears start to brighten up.”

I seem to remember that time.

A shadow fell on the child’s face.

“I worried every time I heard a strange noise outside. What does that mean? Is it a monster? What if that monster finds us? Are you going to die in vain like that? “I do.”

“….”

“Even if I survive the day and fall asleep, when I hear an unknown sound, my eyes automatically open. “I had to hold my breath, tremble with Soo-hyuk, and hope that the sound would go away.”

I hadn’t thought about that part.

I just thought it might be safer to just stay hidden.

‘I realize this again….’

We in the unit.

Compared to the survivors on the ground, the situation was better.

She said looking at me.

“Every day was more terrible than you can imagine. So much so that there hasn’t been a single day when I haven’t had thoughts of suicide. “If I have more days like this, I will have mental problems and I will die sooner.”

“hmm.”

“Even if I get caught up in a battle and die in the future, I think following my uncles will help me live a long time.”

It seems that their will is firm.

There is no point in persuading me any more.

If so, this is the problem.

Even if the kids want to join, it’s okay if we refuse.

The problem is the conditions imposed by the other side.

“Know where things are.”

And it’s not far from here.

I slowly turned around and looked at Captain Lee Sang-ah.

“….”

She, too, was frowning as if she was thinking about something.

She made eye contact with me and opened her mouth.

“what do you think about it?”

“Well, no matter how small a town is, there isn’t just one supermarket or warehouse. There are many other places besides here. “I can’t even guess where Sooyeon is talking about.”

“But Captain Lee Sang-ah suggested we skip those many places and come to this mart. “Isn’t there a good reason for that?”

“That’s right, isn’t it? This mart was small and in a remote location, so not many people visited it. “Other places are more famous than here and probably have more people who know them.”

in other words.

“There is a high probability that survivors have already passed through most of it, so in that case, it would be better…”

“I will guide you to a place where there is a high probability that the items will remain?”

“That’s the way it is.”

Her judgment must have been wrong.

In the first place, there was nothing difficult about targeting this mart.

The problem was that there were no supplies because people had already passed through.

“I’m sorry, but that’s true. “There is a high probability that someone has already been to the place you know about, so it is not of much value to us.”

“no. no.”

The girl retorts by shaking her head.

“The things there are still intact. “I’m sure most, if not all, will remain.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I saw it myself.”

“what?”

Manager Lee Sang-ah and I were surprised by the unexpected words.

The girl continued.

“All the adults died there.”

* * *

To succinctly summarize the situation Sooyeon described, it was as follows.

“Your group went there to get supplies and was wiped out except for you and your brother?”

“yes.”

If that is true, it is the basis for saying that things remain.

Because I really saw what was left.

‘It was a bit surprising that the two children were still alive.’

It would be understandable if they hadn’t acted together from the beginning.

I joined a group of survivors and survived with them.

It means that we lost them not long ago.

“for a moment.”

at that time.

Captain Lee Sang-ah slowly stepped forward and asked.

“Can you tell me who the people you said were in that group?”

“…? yes. “First of all, the two of us and the leader-”

Suyeon continued her explanation.

Lee Sang-ah, who listened to the explanation, nodded slightly.

“Are these people you know?”

“We don’t know each other. “These are people I’ve heard of at least from across the country.”

It is said that, due to the nature of the survivors having to hide, they were unable to increase the size of the incident, but they exchanged information in their own way whenever they encountered it.

Meanwhile, it seemed like it was a group I had heard of before.

She said, thinking deeply as if she was remembering something.

“My memory is vague, but I heard that the leader there was a very strong Awakened person. “Besides him, there was one more awakened person.”

“ah. What Aunt Suni said is probably correct. “I am talking about Cheol-i, the second person who awakened as a warrior.”

Be a warrior.

Even though Lee Sang-ah is the leader, he fights quite well.

In the end, her job is a production worker, just like mine.

It falls short of pure combat occupations.

A pure combat warrior.

There is a high possibility that the group led by that awakened woman named Sun was stronger than the group led by Lee Sang-ah.

A warrior who is even rumored to be strong.

There were not one but two awakened people there.

“So that group was wiped out?”

I don’t know if it’s just the deaths of the survivors.

It is difficult to downplay the annihilation of a group that includes two awakened people.

Of course, our guild, which has more awakened people than non-awakened people, is not comparable to those survivors.

However, it is unknown how strong the entity that wiped out the group will be.

At least enough to cut down two awakened people.

At most, it might even wipe out our guild.

The monster ‘Mac’ we met in the hardware warehouse was also incredibly powerful.

I couldn’t ignore the possibility that there was a monster of that level.

At least I fed Mac and cleaned him up.

There is a possibility that there are monsters that have no concept of eating.

and.

After listening to Suyeon’s story, there was one thing that bothered me.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“yes. anything.”

“The condition you gave us was that you would tell us the location.”

“that’s right. “There was definitely enough stuff for you all.”

Well, if you listen to that point, it’s quite attractive.

“But that condition. “Is this really for our benefit?”

“yes?”

Let’s listen.

It seems that the two siblings and their group members had a very special relationship.

It can be said that he saved those two while all the other group members were dying.

However, the place she guides to is where the group was wiped out.

then.

“I’m asking if you’re trying to use us for your revenge.”

“…!”

“Wait. Corps commander?”

Suyeon wasn’t the only one who was embarrassed after hearing what I said.

I said, stopping Sang-Ah from interfering.

“This is an important part. “If it is a transaction involving exchange of information, it must be confirmed.”

“…I really didn’t lie at all! “If you go and look, you will be able to confirm that there are supplies piled up there.”

“Even if everything else is true, it’s hard to agree to a deal if the motive is false.”

The place Sooyeon knows is not a safe place.

A place where a monster capable of killing at least two awakened people would reside.

They tried to pass on information about such a place to us.

He said he didn’t try to force us into a dangerous place out of a desire for revenge from the group members.

How can we be sure?

Su-yeon, who heard my question, seemed speechless, as if a loophole had been stabbed.

Her vision wandered aimlessly in the air.

“…To be honest.”

After a while.

She seemed to have gathered her thoughts and opened her mouth.

“It’s not that I haven’t thought about wanting revenge.”

“Soo Soo-yeon?”

“Hmm.”

“Because they were people who were so good to us.”

If that’s the case.

We cannot accept this deal.

Because the guild cannot take risks to avenge the survivor we met today.

however.

Her words didn’t end there.

“It was a long time ago.”

“what?”

“Not now. “I don’t even want revenge.”

“That’s surprising again. Why? “I’m not just saying this to avoid the situation.”

“That’s right.”

My younger brother was sitting next to me and listening to this conversation.

Su-yeon sets her sights on Su-hyuk.

“Because Suhyuk and I survived.”

“hmm?”

“Some people died to protect us. “If we become obsessed with avenging the dead and those of us who sacrificed our lives to save them die.”

“….”

“That would make their actions meaningless. “I don’t want the work I gave my life to be in vain.”

Sooyeon made eye contact with me and spoke firmly.

“I have one goal. Me and Suhyuk’s survival. Even in the worst case scenario, I want to save my younger brother. Even if you die here, you will quickly die of mental illness or something. I only told you because I thought that information would be useful as a transaction condition. “There was no intention of revenge.”

“Hmm.”

“Really. Please believe me.”

The top goal is survival.

Survive.

“It’s similar to me.”

“yes?”

I also thought that I was being too bold when suggesting a high-stakes deal.

I liked that part.

The best mind to survive in this world… the best mind to have as a companion.

As she said, if you fixate on the past and see the damage, it’s a betrayal of the truth.

“Let’s change one condition.”

“What is it?”

“It is difficult to bring them under protection. “There is no time to protect anyone.”

“Then what does the deal mean-.”

“Join the unit.”

When Suyeon heard my suggestion, she looked like she was asking what it meant.

You might be wondering what the difference is between joining and protecting.

However, Lee Sang-ah, who was listening next to her, sighed as if she realized the meaning.

“Child soldiers… do you really have to do that?”

“If you have a strong desire and are aware, being young will not be a problem. “I have no intention of fighting in a dangerous battle.”

There are also young children in the survivor group led by Lee Sang-ah in the first place.

I was planning to awaken those children someday, too.

If you think about it being included, it’s not a big loss.

Rather than being taken under protection, you become a member of the unit as an awakened person.

If that’s the case, it’s quite acceptable.

“I’m not sure, but you’re saying you’re accepting us, right?”

“for now. The difference is that not only are you protected, but you also have to fight together.”

“If that’s the case, it doesn’t matter. Even when I was with adults, I didn’t really just hang out.”

“good.”

The transaction is concluded.

“Then let’s first listen to the information about the place you mentioned. Or rather, information about the monsters that killed adults comes first.”

“Oh, that’s…”

“Hmm?”

When asked for information about the monster that wiped out the group, she hesitates.

The reason was soon apparent.

“I don’t know that.”

“You don’t know?”

“I saw all the adults dying right in front of my eyes. “I couldn’t even see the monster. People died as holes were suddenly opened and cut in their bodies in an empty space.”

“what?”

What she explains is.

I’ve never seen it, but it reminded me of a somewhat familiar concept.

…like.

“It was like a ghost had appeared.”