The Cook of a Perished World - Chapter 73

Episode 73: Tank Battalion (1)

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa #73 tank battalion (1) kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

A shell that fell near the friendly formation exploded with a violent sound.

Although no soldiers were directly hit by the explosion,

the horror of modern firearms lies not in a single explosion but in the aftermath.

Fragments from the shell flew in all directions and struck our troops.

“It’s artillery fire!”

“Everyone spreads out! Take cover!”

We have been through many battles and gained experience.

Although it was a sudden bombardment, no soldiers panicked.

Most of the soldiers moved in unison and hid in a safe place nearby.

however.

“Cough… clack….”

“… clack.”

I quickly took cover behind a building and turned my head when I heard a sound nearby.

Soldiers nearby during the first shelling.

Those who were directly hit by shell fragments were unable to understand commands, let alone take cover.

‘Shit.’

No matter how much one is said to be an awakened person who transcends humanity.

There was no time to grow into a monster that was fine even after being bombarded.

But…

‘There is life.’

Does this mean that he has grown to the point where he can barely survive if the artillery bombardment misses him?

The soldiers were bleeding and groaning in pain, but they did not lose their lives.

However, they were exposed to the shelling site without taking cover.

‘I don’t know the identity of the shelling. There is no guarantee that it will be a one-time thing.’

If things continue like this, you never know when you might be attacked again.

I got up to bring them to a safe place.

Wow.

Someone grabbed my wrist.

“…What are you doing?”

“Sergeant Shin. “These guys are as good as dead already.”

Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk.

“Judge calmly. You never know when the next attack will occur. “It’s painful to lose soldiers, but protecting the safety of the sergeant is important for the unit’s survival.”

“no.”

I shook off his arm.

“We haven’t lost any soldiers yet.”

If it had really died, I would have thrown it away without any regrets.

I don’t want to lose the living by dwelling on the dead.

But that won’t kill you.

The military uniforms we wear are made of the leather and scales of the steel lizard.

I know that defense well because I experienced it once.

At the time of recapturing the ammunition battalion.

This is the equipment that saved my life even when the ammunition depot exploded.

“Kuhuh…”

They look like they are on the verge of death from shock.

Thanks to the protective power of the combat uniform, he survived without being pierced by fragments.

Praying that the artillery barrage would not hit again, they lifted the two soldiers and moved around.

Recently, the effect of [Absolute Taste] has led to an explosive increase in stats.

It may be because I lack combat characteristics, but I am confident that I have the best stats.

Even though I had to move two soldiers at once, it didn’t feel that heavy.

“Medical chaplain! “Jump out!”

“yes! “I’ll start treatment right away!”

Fortunately, there was no additional artillery fire while the soldiers were being moved.

As soon as the two soldiers were put down, Private ‘priest’ Shin Jung-soo and ‘healer’ Private Sa Ui-jun, who were nearby, came running.

“Can you save me?”

“The condition is serious. “I think it’s possible.”

Panting soldiers.

I thought of my successors in the kitchen class who died in the military unit.

‘Those two people didn’t deserve to die like that.’

Same goes for these two.

Fortunately.

As the treatment progressed, my breathing began to noticeably stabilize.

‘Whoa.’

Only then was I able to turn the cotton around a little.

I only realized it now that the entire uniform was covered in the blood of the two soldiers.

‘The vampires’ mouths will water when they see it.’

By the time I wiped the blood from my arm onto my pants.

Kwaaaaaaaaaa!!!

The next bombardment followed.

It didn’t stop there.

Bombardment continues to rain down on the surrounding area.

Heat rose right next to it and debris flew.

“Big!”

They are somehow holding on by using the building as cover.

There is a limit to how long you can endure.

“What should I do, Sergeant Shin?”

“We can’t continue to withstand the bombardment!”

The abilities of the awakened ones are beyond imagination, and the more they come together, the more synergy they exert.

If we had anticipated the bombardment, we might have been able to break through by preparing sufficient countermeasures.

But now, their bombardment was not expected.

There was no preparation whatsoever to approach through the bombardment.

“Everyone retreats. Even if it is a combat vehicle, it is dangerous if it is directly hit by a bombing raid. “Once you’ve gone far enough to the back, get into the vehicle and back away carefully.”

“yes!”

When retreating from artillery fire.

I am in a place where artillery fire is coming.

I glanced at the tank battalion.

‘I can’t even see it clearly from here.’

Probably a howitzer-type bombardment.

Even though we were being bombarded, we couldn’t even see the enemy.

This is it.

You don’t know.

“Who is shooting?”

Who are the guys who shelled us?

* * *

“Unless I’m mistaken. I think that military base shelled us. Is that right?”

Captain Lee Sang-ah spoke in a low voice.

Maybe it’s because I’m an unpublished writer, which is rare here.

He is cautious about whether what he saw is true.

“That would be correct. “It must have been a tank battalion’s howitzer bombardment.”

Minjae hyung affirmed Sangah’s question with a somewhat dark expression.

Knowing what type of enemy attack was not going to make the mood any better.

no.

Instead, it got to the worst.

The tank battalion’s weapons were pointed at us.

“Then the soldiers of the tank battalion attacked us. “Is it okay to understand it that way?”

“Given the circumstances, I guess that’s the case.”

It’s really hard to believe, though.

Obvious facts.

There was silence among the troops.

“Didn’t you say we were the only unit that survived?”

“Other than us, it’s clear that they are all deserters who were lucky enough to escape…”

Soon, someone began to express doubt.

A confused conversation began between the soldiers.

“That was actually arrogance. “We haven’t personally checked all military units.”

“No, but why are you attacking us? “We are the same human being.”

“Did you decide that it might be a monster in human form…? “Why did that slime guy transform into a human?”

This is where we get confused.

This is not the first attempt to recapture a military base.

Because we have already succeeded in recapturing the ammunition battalion.

but.

‘It means recapturing the military base. We have never clashed with military units and have no intention of doing so.’

Of course, I assumed that I would deal with the monsters that would be occupying the place.

I don’t know why.

That tank battalion is a military unit that is hostile to us.

then.

“If they are really the surviving soldiers. How should we deal with it?”

okay.

This is the problem.

“Should I tell you that we are not enemies?”

“Whenever you get close, they start firing shells, and the radio waves have been muted ever since the day of destruction. By what means?”

What if they are really the only surviving soldiers besides us?

If we were allies, we were allies, there was no need for hostility.

Why are you attacking us?

‘Are they really mistaking us for monsters?’

In fact, the types of monsters were incredibly diverse.

You may have been abused by monsters that approached you pretending to be human.

When the soldiers were in trouble.

“I don’t think it would be a bad idea to just attack.”

“what?”

Leader of the shooters.

Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk opened his mouth.

“Isn’t that the one who struck first anyway?”

“still. “Isn’t it a bit unfair to attack the same soldier?”

“To be honest, we are not just soldiers. “What was our mission as soldiers?”

Our unit is the 423rd Air Defense Battalion under the direct control of the 12th Corps.

The unit’s mission is:

Monitor enemies approaching from the coast or from the air using radar.

To block enemies attacking the radar.

“Aren’t you already half a deserter by the time you get off the radar and come down from the mountain?”

This bastard.

You’re proudly stabbing our unit’s sore spot.

“I was in favor of maintaining military discipline because it helps maintain group order, but… I don’t think they are people who would feel a sense of belonging because they are part of the same armed forces.”

“….”

“All we need are the tanks needed to subdue the vampires. If they don’t give it up and instead decide to attack us, the choice becomes simple. Either this side makes a concession, or… we force the other side to make a concession.”

Force concessions.

‘I can’t believe you’re thinking like a plunderer.’

This is something I felt last time too.

This guy.

My thoughts are a bit extreme and focused on efficiency.

emotion.

Remorse.

The type of person who doesn’t care about such things and can do anything if it benefits them.

“It is dismissed.”

I’m sorry.

His opinion is dismissed.

“Why?”

“It might be an ordinary infantry unit. Engaging with tank units is too risky.”

“Do you know how many awakened people are gathered here? “Even if it’s your first time being hit by an unexpected attack, if you go in fully prepared, you’re just an ordinary human being.”

“…The principle that we do not attack humans is still valid.”

“It was only for innocent people. “The fight with the marauders last time was-.”

“Because we cannot determine whether they are the same type of looters until we find out exactly how they attacked us.”

of course.

I have no intention of just saying ‘no’ without taking action.

Denial without a solution is of no help in solving the problem.

When I was trying to explain to this guy how I thought of it.

“…You’re obsessed with useless things.”

“What man?”

The guy said those words.

“Sergeant Shin doesn’t seem to realize that he is leading over 100 people.”

“I’m saying it because it exists. “If that is a military unit that maintains full strength, an all-out war is risky.”

“Do people who are self-aware do the same thing as before?”

Same thing as before.

I wondered what he was talking about.

“The corps commander sacrifices himself to save the lives of two soldiers. “Do you think it makes sense?”

I can’t believe you mentioned that here.

‘….’

Let’s slightly look away.

Two soldiers who had barely regained consciousness a moment ago were seen.

The guys flinched even while receiving treatment, probably because they knew their story was being told.

“Even in the ammunition battalion. “I was caught in an explosion in an ammunition depot and almost died.”

“….”

“Even when dealing with looters or raiding dungeons, didn’t you go out alone even though you were a rear-guard class that didn’t have to go out in person? Since it was a success, I just let it go without saying anything. “It was irresponsible behavior.”

I heard one thing in particular when I was conquering a dungeon.

I did it because I was confident that it would be successful.

I thought persuasion wouldn’t work so I went ahead alone.

It’s my fault.

“If those two died, we would have lost two soldiers. “It’s a shame, but that was probably it.”

“…”

“but. “What if you die?”

The death of the guild leader.

That’s not the end.

One of the keys to our unit’s power is the wide-area buff through the dishes I made.

The confusion and loss of buffs that comes with losing the guild leader.

The army’s strength will be reduced by more than half.

“That’s true.”

Me too.

If I had been in a situation where I could afford it, I would not have come forward in person.

However, during the ammunition battalion and dungeon raids.

I was the only one who could solve the problem.

The same goes for the person who can run to save the soldier this time.

no.

There is one person besides me.

“If you were that worried about my safety. “You could have gone to save the soldiers yourself instead of me.”

The person who caught me trying to come forward.

Seo Soo-hyuk, this guy would have been able to do it.

“…I have no intention of being conceited. I think I have the skills to be the leader of a gunnery team. “My life is also of high value to the unit, even if it is not as valuable as yours.”

“value. You seem to be calculating the value of each soldier’s life. Corps commander 100. Commander 10. Soldier 1. What is it like this?”

I thought it would be necessary to address this guy’s attitude at some point.

I didn’t know it would be today.

“That’s not how you live. Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk.”

To be honest.

There were many times when I got annoyed.

“….”

The guy closed his mouth and glared strongly at me.

I’m not so clueless that I don’t know the meaning of that gaze.

I am a retired sergeant and that guy is a corporal.

Regardless of which rank is higher.

In terms of power in the unit, corporals are most often considered to be the powerful ones.

Because I’m the one who has to serve in the military for a longer period of time.

Even if that’s the case.

‘It’s the worst.’

I never thought I would experience this during my military service.

“Calm down! Suhyuk, you too! “It’s not right to talk to the sergeant like that.”

Did you feel that the atmosphere had become harsh?

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il intervened and separated me and Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk.

Corporal Seo Soo-hyuk shouted while Gwang-il was being pushed away by the guy.

“under. Then we should get out of here. “While those vampire bastards continue to increase, strengthening our power without obtaining tanks will be delayed.”

“….”

“Because of those military barbarians who even attacked us without even seeing our faces. You have great charity. “I don’t know who will know.”

“therefore. “You have to listen to what people say until the end.”

Watching the guy being pushed away.

I opened my military bag.

In that corner.

I saw a small glass bottle.

“I said I was against all-out war. I never said I would step down.”

[Identification of food ingredients (enhanced)]

[Blue water droplets]

[Freshness – medium to high]

Blue water droplets.

A slime-like monster that settled in the supermarket and hunted survivors who came to visit.

Wasn’t it a monster of such a high level?

Even if I cooked it, the stat increase was minimal and I didn’t get any meaningful characteristics, so I couldn’t use it.

but.

Cooking itself was not difficult.

Make jelly-shaped water droplets into round shapes.

Sprinkle a little bit of brown sugar, honey, soybean powder, etc. on top.

[Intermediate Chef’s Blue Water Drop Cake]

It looks like a once popular water drop rice cake.

Since no effort was put into it, eating this guy won’t cause your stats to increase dramatically.

‘This is enough.’

Recall the information about ‘Blue Drops’.

[The blue droplet is a magical creature with the habit of attracting prey by imitating the surrounding environment.]

If it was as I intended, I

would definitely be able to achieve that effect.

I threw the finished water drop into my mouth.

It tasted like sweet jelly.

[Activates the effect of absolute taste.]

[Please select a characteristic.]

Various characteristics are listed in front of you.

Let’s choose the name I was looking for among them.

[Acquire the relevant trait.]

[Characteristic – Assimilate the environment]

Slurping…

I thought my body was gradually becoming transparent.

Within.

It has become completely invisible.

“Sergeant Shin.”

“Has Sa disappeared?”

Looking at the soldiers’ reactions, it seems to be effective.

Even those soldiers wouldn’t be able to bombard an invisible enemy.

‘If they are soldiers like us, there is no reason to attack us.’

That’s why.

Shouldn’t you find out for yourself?