The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 68

Episode 68 Village (2)

After returning to the unit.

My leaders and I sat in one of the ammunition battalion’s buildings and looked out the window.

I could see the scenery outside the unit.

There are also some people walking around there.

“What are these people doing?”

“that is. “Not long after you left to conquer the dungeon, those people appeared.”

“At first I thought it was an attack, but it wasn’t like that. Instead, they entered a building near our unit and settled in like that.”

A soldier speaking with a troubled expression.

At first I wondered what the problem was.

We already need to increase the number of troops.

Wouldn’t it be a good thing if survivors came to visit?

“That wasn’t the case.”

“What’s going on?”

“They settled near the base… but they are refusing to join our unit.”

Minjae, who was listening to the report together, nodded and said.

“You just want to suck honey.”

Those who settled near the base but refused to join.

Their intentions are obvious.

The most important thing for survivors now is safety above all else.

And around here, our soldiers patrolled and dried the seeds of monsters and zombies.

The best land to settle down.

“But joining our unit is also risky, so I just want to settle down nearby and enjoy that safety.”

but.

That decision was also a bit surprising to me.

Until recently, all the survivors who met us seemed trembling with fear.

As a result, they mistook us for the deserters who were running amok nearby.

however.

They’re trying to settle down near us like that.

“I guess the rumor is spreading that we are a normal unit.”

“Should I like this? “Should I not do it?”

Jeongsooah shared information about us with the group she was interacting with.

I guess the rumor about our unit is spreading around those groups.

There are rumors that there are still normal military units that have not been turned into marauders.

“Let’s kick them out.”

at that time.

Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk, who was listening to the story, spoke firmly.

“Are you going to kick them out?”

“Isn’t there an urgent need to increase the number of troops? “If we leave people like that alone, the number of survivors who will think they can be provided safety without joining the unit will increase.”

“hmm.”

“It’s hard for us to just ignore them… so if something happens, we’ll have to protect them. The burden only increases. “I think it’s right to leave only those who want to join and kick the rest out of our territory.”

It’s a little harsh, though.

What Suhyuk said wasn’t really wrong.

But I don’t know.

“hmm.”

“I wonder if you have any reason to hesitate.”

As a result of Suhyuk urging him to listen, he listened to what he said and thought about it carefully.

“what. Is there even a reason to kick them out?”

“What are you saying…!”

“It’s actually not that bad.”

We’re kicking out survivors who try to settle near us?

Are you crazy?

Why do you do such a wasteful thing?

* * *

A few days later.

Survivors who are trying to settle down nearby.

“My name is Cheolwook.”

“I’m Kim Jeong-sook.”

They were invited to the unit.

He’s a neighbor who lives nearby.

Maybe we should talk about it first.

“hello. “My name is Lieutenant Kim Hyun-seok, and I am the acting battalion commander of the 423rd Battalion.”

Of course, it was me who decided to call them.

From our side, it was Lieutenant Kim who represented the dialogue.

Hou-dae is also fine.

It’s okay to talk too.

Everyone who has not experienced him in earnest regards him as an example of a great soldier.

Truly a first impression bully.

In fact, I heard all kinds of insults in the military, saying I couldn’t do my job and was just greedy.

‘There is no one as talented as Baji.’

I thought about just leaving.

However, other than what the system assigns me, my official status is Sergeant Cook.

It is a position that is difficult to trust.

“They say that if it’s treated as a war, I can be promoted to sergeant.”

During wartime, soldiers who are recognized for their abilities often receive special promotions.

The only officer, Lieutenant Kim, is also alive.

It wouldn’t be surprising if my official title became sergeant.

But what can I say.

The moment when you are promoted from an ordinary soldier to a noncommissioned officer.

‘In a daily life that has already collapsed. I feel like I’m getting further and further away.’

Anyway, the important thing is not whether you are a sergeant or a sergeant, but because you are the guild commander.

The promotion to sergeant was declined and passed on.

That’s what I felt recently.

Maybe my first impression wasn’t very trustworthy.

‘The external battalion commander should be Lieutenant Kim.’

Actually, the other reasons are additional.

I think that way, I’ll have one less annoying thing to do.

anyway.

Lieutenant Kim ate the dish I made and his [Sensitive hearing (deterioration)] was activated.

The basic conversation will be conducted by Lieutenant Kim.

I was going to lead that direction.

“Lieutenant Kim Hyun-seok….”

“Please feel free to call me Lieutenant Kim.”

“Then Lieutenant Kim. “Can I ask one question?”

It was a man who revealed his name as Cheolwook.

A fairly large middle-aged man.

“If we are not mistaken, we believe that the soldiers were wiped out. As for the surviving soldiers, there are only a few deserters who abandoned their units and ran away.”

“We know that there are such rumors among the survivors.”

“And so far as I know. The name of this military unit was not something like the 423rd Battalion. “Are you real soldiers?”

The face of the man who asked that was tense.

Is this someone who lived around here?

I didn’t know anyone would notice that the unit name was different.

“With that suspicion in mind, you took a position near the base.”

“It’s this kind of world. “There weren’t many options.”

“I think I can definitely answer your question. Although contact with higher-level units was lost. “The battalion commander also died, but we consider ourselves soldiers.”

One of the survivors sighed, as if somewhat relieved by those words.

Cheol-wook, who had raised the question, still spoke with a suspicious expression.

“Aren’t they the soldiers who were originally in this unit? “The uniforms worn by the soldiers in this unit were not that black.”

“you’re right. “Our unit’s barracks are located somewhere else.”

“Then… what happened to the soldiers in this unit?”

“When we arrived here, the entire unit had been taken over by monsters. The soldiers have already…”

“…I see. “I guess that’s how it happened.”

Cheol-wook sighs deeply upon hearing Lieutenant Kim’s answer.

He said he lived around here.

I wonder if he knew someone in the ammunition battalion.

“Can I ask you something too?”

This time, the woman named Kim Jeong-

suk looked quite old and had a strong personality.

“If you really think of yourself as soldiers, shouldn’t you have started protecting civilians a long time ago? Several months have passed, so why come now…”

“We also had a situation.”

“What are the circumstances under which the military cannot step in when people are dying?”

The military exists to protect the people.

It means he didn’t fulfill his role properly.

From the survivors’ point of view, it is natural to want to place blame.

“It’s the same situation as other military units being wiped out. “Monsters attacked our barracks.”

“….”

“They were much stronger than ordinary monsters. In the process of blocking their attack, more than half of the unit died. “Currently, I am acting as the battalion commander.”

“What about the other officers besides you?”

“Except for me, all the executives have passed away. Once by monsters, the next time…”

He trailed off.

Lieutenant Kim looking down at his hands.

“It was done by our own hands.”

“Are you saying that you caused the worst with your own hands?”

“Auntie Jeongsuk, I don’t think that’s what you’re talking about.”

“yes?”

Cheol-wook looked at Lieutenant Kim with a slightly serious expression.

“You’re talking about becoming a zombie.”

“yes.”

“ah. iced coffee. “I’m… sorry.”

Only then did he realize that he was talking about dead executives rising as zombies.

Jeongsuk feels a little sorry.

“It must have been a memory I didn’t want to talk about. “I’m sorry for bringing it up.”

“no. “It’s already in the past.”

The atmosphere of the conversation became a little solemn.

A unit that fiercely protests against enemy attacks.

In the process, most of the soldiers were lost and even the battalion commander died.

The unit members had to personally kill the battalion commander who had become a zombie and was resurrected.

I have no choice but to become solemn.

It’s a pretty dramatic story.

‘What kind of story is that?’

Although it’s half true.

The other half was cleverly inflated.

It is true that the battalion commander and other officers have passed away.

Because he died at the official residence, not at the base.

but.

By saying this, the battle we experienced becomes ‘a battle so intense that even the highest commander lost his life.’

I also seemed to understand why Lieutenant Kim spoke in this way.

It is difficult to ask

the soldiers who had to go through such intense battles, ‘Why did they do anything other than saving the citizens?’

A story that is not a lie but is cleverly inflated to one’s advantage.

This was also the reason why Lieutenant Kim was criticized by the soldiers.

It was quite useful now.

“We only recently left the barracks and arrived near here to recapture a military base that had been taken over by monsters.”

“Is that why soldiers from other units settled here?…”

“I think our situation is explained to this extent. “Can I also ask you a question?”

The self-introduction is now over.

This is where the main topic begins.

“You recently settled down near our unit.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“…Isn’t it freedom wherever we settle? “There is no reason for soldiers to care about other people’s residences.”

The two people seemed quite stung, even though they were asking what it mattered.

“If you would rather join the unit, we would welcome it.”

“I heard that story from other soldiers the other day.”

“Isn’t it true that horses are conscripted as soldiers at the junction?”

Kim Jeong-suk sighed and said.

“If it were just me, it wouldn’t be that bad.”

“Then…”

“But. “It’s too much for our group.”

I slowly turned my gaze to look out the window.

Her group members waiting outside.

The proportion of young children and the elderly was high.

“There is no one in our group who can fight except me. To become a soldier and fight… “It’s too much for our group members.”

Just looking at the number of people, it’s a group that makes you wonder how they’ve survived so far.

But I don’t know.

‘The awakened person’s abilities have nothing to do with age or gender.’

Mr. Park’s grandfather is a representative example.

Old enough to have grown granddaughters.

However, after Mr. Park’s awakening, he became a key figure in the unit who heard the sound of ‘Noya’ from the engineers who awakened first.

An awakening that makes humans transcendent.

I think her group members can become excellent soldiers if they just go through that process.

From her perspective, she wouldn’t know that we are literally mass producing awakened people.

He probably can’t easily make the choice to make those under his protection into soldiers.

“The situation may not be good there either. I won’t ask you to protect us or share food or anything like that. But isn’t it okay to settle down nearby? “I will make sure no harm is caused.”

“Same goes for our group.”

well.

I know this because I heard stories about survivors after coming down to earth.

Earth’s resources are limited.

Survivors have to compete for limited resources, so they are reluctant to let other groups wander nearby.

Although it doesn’t really matter to us who have abundant resources.

But we can’t just spoon into the safe zone we’ve created.

I muttered in a voice so low that only Lieutenant Kim could hear.

Lieutenant Kim took my words literally and said.

“There is no problem with settling down near the base.”

“Are you sure?”

“Thank you….”

“Let’s make a little deal instead.”

Cracks appeared on the faces of the two survivors who were smiling and answering.

“What a deal.”

“What kind of deal are you talking about?”

“Anything is fine. Point Food oil is also good. “If you give us a little price, we will protect you.”

“…I only do business because I like what you say. “Isn’t that what you’re saying is that you’re going to collect a protection tax, not a tax?”

“They weren’t soldiers, they were gangsters!”

Well, it’s not wrong.

“Didn’t you know? “The military is essentially an organization that relies on taxes.”

“Ugh.”

The two people’s expressions suddenly frowned.

These people came with a sense of gambling when they heard that there was a normal army left.

Because the army is asking for a protection tax.

You may feel betrayed.

I think I put too much pressure on it.

Let me explain it a little bit at this point.

“To be honest, I don’t need much.”

“What does it mean?”

“Actually, I don’t mind if you guys reject this deal. Still, we will protect you.”

“…?”

“From our perspective, we don’t want to see people nearby dying. But is that enough for you?”

Two people with expressions asking what this guy is talking about.

I decided to let them know why I decided to accept them.

“It looks like most of the troops except us have been wiped out. Our unit will grow its power through its own unique methods. The goal is to one day be able to carry out large-scale military operations with just our troops. And if you grow your power like that. “In addition to the two of you, there will be more survivors who want to settle near us.”

“I guess so, right?”

“Do you know what is created when people from different groups gradually gather in one place?”

“That’s frustrating. “What do you want to say?”

“Society is created.”

“…!”

This is why they tried to accommodate them, even ignoring Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk’s opinion of ‘Let’s kick them out.’

“If we survive on our own, we will end up being the only military unit left in a broken world. I wonder what the meaning of that is.”

“That’s what you mean.”

“We intend to rebuild human society.”

These people.

It will be the starting point.