The Military Chef of a Ruined World - Chapter 61

[Chef’s Nemesis – Encountered with a Gourmet Glutton]

[A profession quest has been assigned]

[Profession Quest – Nemesis Assassination (Gourmet Glutton)]

[Slay the nemesis]

[While pursuing this quest, your combat abilities will be doubled against the enemy]

[Gourmet Glutton]

[They are beings who have gained distorted power through improper eating methods]

[For chefs who advocate for proper dining, they are one of the unforgivable adversaries!]

[Quest Reward – Random Skill Book]

 

“A job quest?”

 

The world has indeed transformed into a system akin to a game.

But now quests too?

“No. It’s too late to be surprised by things like this.”

Calming my mind, I slowly read through the quest window’s content.

As a result, I understood why that creature had such a bizarre appearance and power.

” Gourmet Glutton… huh.”

A being that gains distorted power through improper means.

That improper means likely refers to—

“H-hyung! Please spare my life…!”

The act of killing his subordinates and growing in size.

That’s what it must mean.

And my profession is that of a ‘chef.’

It seems such ‘meals’ are unacceptable.

Well.

That’s not important.

The most important thing when a quest appears is the reward.

The problem is that—

[Quest Reward – Random Skill Book]

A skill book?

Not much is known about how to obtain skills.

By achieving certain accomplishments, or…

Or, by paying an exorbitant amount of points at the point shop to purchase a ‘Random Skill Book.’

It’s either this or that.

In the latter case, even for someone like me, who has saved up a considerable amount of points, the price would be so high that it would make me flinch to obtain it.

But they’re just giving it away just like that?

“I can’t let this opportunity pass.”

I glanced at the hulk like monster still hunting down his subordinates.

Come to think of it, those plunderers were our potential new recruits that I intended to reform through my cooking.

Watching the monster absorb them and grow stronger, I realized I couldn’t just stand by and observe.

“Everyone, focus!”

I shouted to the soldiers.

“That guy seems to be absorbing humans to increase his power.”

“Is that so? Then what should we do…?”

“What do you think?”

Calmly, I reached to my waist and pulled out a kitchen knife.

“Take him down quickly, before he absorbs anymore.”

“….”

The soldiers, who had been stunned by the surreal scene, sprang into action once the order was given.

“Yes, sir!”

There was no hesitation.

“Kahahaha!!! Where do you think you’re going, you pig!”

With Corporal Jeong Gwang-il leading the charge, the other soldiers swiftly followed suit, launching their own attacks.

Unlike the previous one-on-one fight between Jeong Gwang-il and the fleshy monster, this time, it was an all-out attack by our forces.

The plunderers who might have helped the monster were already absorbed by him.

I thought we could easily take him down, but—

“Ugh…!”

“Corporal Jeong Gwang-il!?”

Corporal Jeong Gwang-il, who had charged in first, was sent flying, coughing up blood.

“Kahahahahaha, now this is getting interesting…!”

Though he got up as if nothing had happened and wiped the blood from his mouth.

Even someone as strong as Gwang-il had sustained a critical injury.

He got up and wiped the blood from his mouth, as if nothing had happened and was ready for a second round.

But seeing someone as strong as him getting tossed around like a toy and sustaining critical injury I understood,

“This monster has become incomparably stronger than before!”

Perhaps it was because it had already devoured countless plunderers.

The flesh monster, which had already been powerful, was now overwhelmingly strong.

Such a powerful monster reminded me of ‘Mac’ from the hardware store.

‘Hmm. If I go in, I’m as good as dead.’

My specialty is cooking, not combat.

Despite being one of the first in the squad to awaken, I would probably rank somewhere in the middle at best.

Considering that our strongest fighter, Corporal Jeong Gwang-il, was struggling like this, it was clear that my chances were slim.

Under normal circumstances, I’d be folded in half within three seconds of the battle starting.

‘Still, I can’t just stand by and watch.’

Gripping my kitchen knives in both hands, I approached the monstrous creature.

I had one thing I could rely on.

[The Profession Quest is in progress]

[While pursuing this quest, your combat abilities will be doubled against the enemy]

A buff that applied during the Job Quest, significantly boosting my combat abilities.

It was a ‘significant’ increase, after all.

Even if I wasn’t as strong as Gwang-il, I should be considerably stronger now.

“Sergeant Shin!?”

“Fall back, sir! We’ll handle this…!”

The warriors engaged in close combat were startled as I approached.

They were probably wondering why someone not even in the combat unit had come to such a dangerous place.

Ignoring their attempts to stop me, I focused my gaze on the flesh monster before me.

[Chef’s Eyes activated]

[Acquired Junior Grade Cooking Secret: Enlightenment of Gourmet Glutton Preparation]

Recalling the preparation method that flooded into my mind, I gripped the cleaver in my right hand, [Black Cleaver].

A thick, heavy knife.

Hoping it would be effective against the flesh monster, I swung the blade.

But then—

‘…Huh?’

As I swung the knife, I sensed something had changed.

I had expected to become somewhat stronger due to the effects of the Job Quest, but this was—

‘This isn’t just ‘somewhat’ stronger.’

‘My body feels so light.’

With my strangely lightened body, I slipped naturally through the soldiers like flowing water.

The monster, preoccupied with fighting the warriors, didn’t notice my approach.

Following the preparation method that surfaced in my mind, my knife-wielding hand moved instinctively.

Slash—

The thick skin parted like paper under the blade.

And that wasn’t the end.

[The Resentment of the Last Queen burrows into the wound]

[You have inflicted a critical injury on the enemy]

The [Black Cleaver] and [Dokkkogusik] were both crafted from the front legs of the white spider queen that had occupied the ammo depot.

“Graaaaargh!!!”

The flesh monster let out a scream of agony.

“What… what’s happening?”

“It’s Sergeant Shin! Sergeant Shin Young-joon’s attack worked!”

The monster, which had withstood not only the warriors’ attacks but also the assaults from the rear mages, was finally in pain.

“It hurts. It hurts. It hurts…”

Seeing the creature suddenly thrashing around in pain, I felt the astonished gazes of my fellow soldiers on me.

‘I, myself was surprised about the attack’s effectiveness. So, I can only imagine how shocked the others must be.’

But there was no time to stand around in amazement.

“You… will die…!”

The intense pain I inflicted had drawn the monster’s attention towards me.

The creature, now seemingly twice as large, swung its enormous hand toward me.

If it caught me, my bones would be pulverized.

But—

‘It’s slower than I thought.’

Or rather—

‘Have I gotten faster?’

I dodged its attack with a nimble movement, then swung my knives at its opening on the left side.

Slash—

“Graaah! It hurts, it hurts!!!”

The creature began to cry out in pain, tears streaming from its eyes.

While it screamed in agony, I seized the moment.

“Seems like you enjoy eating.”

As the creature’s mouth opened wide to scream, I shoved my foot into it, forcing it open even further.

And then—

[Junior Grade Chef’s Arachron Jerky of Deep Despondency]

“Try tasting this.”

I tossed in the [Combat Ration].

“Come on, everyone! Assist me!”

“Help Sergeant Shin!”

The emotion imbued in the [Combat Ration] was deep despondency.

“Aah, it hurts… stop it…”

Wrapped in a blanket of powerlessness, the creature’s ferocity visibly diminished.

The soldiers also joined me in the battle.

Even though I have grown stronger due to the effects of the quest,

If I had fought one-on-one, it would have been impossible for me to defeat them.

Though thanks to the effect of my dishes, the flesh monster had lost its momentum considerably and with the soldiers fighting alongside me,

“There’s not even a slight variation.”

Clearing my mind,

I continued swinging the knives in my hands.

Attacking the monster relentlessly.

Slash.

Slash.

Stab.

Cut.

Stab.

Split.

How many times did I repeat that process?

“It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts…”

As a result of continuously carving into the grotesquely swollen flesh heap, its size had been reduced on par with a normal human.

At the end, it knelt on the ground and sobbed.

“It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts…. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please spare me. Please spare me……”

I watched the scene, catching my breath.

Grabbing his diminished shoulders, he crouched and begged for his life.

A fellow who possessed considerable strength.

If spared, there might be a way to use him somehow.

However,

[Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)]

[Gourmet Glutton]

[Once human but has completely transcended humanity through improper means.]

Unfortunately,

This fellow has already morphed into a monster.

“I’m sorry, but… I don’t think you’ll even be reborn.”

A monster that gains strength by eating humans.

Now that I remember, the plunderers that we had encountered, requested only for the humans while completely disregarding the food resources.

Even the mere thought of enslaving humans is a grim affair.

And watching him absorb his own subordinates to bulk up his body,

It’s just…

“It hurts. It hurts. Mom… save me….”

Gulp.

Even if I kept it alive through the [Chef’s Special Sauce] with its rationality almost gone, it would be too difficult for me to control it with my cooking.

Since, I didn’t have any other options.

I tightly gripped the knife in my hand and swung it with all my strength.

Slash-

And then,

Just like when defeating a monster.

A system message appeared before my eyes.

[You have gained experience points]

A strange sense of satisfaction flowed through my body.

I could feel an enormous amount of experience points filling me up.

[You have defeated the player]

[You have acquired 3,271 points from the player’s possession]

“From their possession?”

His points were transferred to me.

Could it be?

Could it be that by killing a person, I can also acquire their points?

As I thought about this,

I suddenly realized.

“Is this my first murder?”

I’ve already taken the lives of many monsters.

Although he had become more like a monster than a human.

“Tsk.”

Yet, he was once human.

I didn’t feel particularly good about it.

Though my fingers holding the knife trembled slightly.

I clenched my teeth and suppressed the trembling.

‘I can’t get bogged down by needless thoughts.’

To be depressed over the thoughts of someone I had killed with my own hands.

I don’t have the luxury to think that.

“What I need to focus right now isn’t the dead enemies.”

Rather it’s the survivors.

How we’ll survive with them is the most important thing.

In that regard,

The amount of points that came in this time was enough to surprise me.

“3,271 points?”

Originally, these points belonged to all the plunderers who were absorbed by that flesh monster.

And it didn’t end there.

[Profession Quest – Completed the extermination of the nemesis]

[Reward – Random Skill Book]

Initially, it was a punitive expedition to increase the size of the subordinates.

But the reward obtained was beyond what I had expected.

Covering my mouth with blood-stained hands.

I chuckled, letting out a satisfied laugh.

Such rewards, you can hardly resist laughing at them.

***

“Wow, you’re laughing.”

“…After fighting such a monster like that, you’re laughing so relaxedly. Seriously.”

As Sergeant Shin Young-joon chuckled while confirming the rewards.

The soldiers who watched him muttered.

“I-I wonder what I just saw.”

“Did I really see that? Sergeant Shin literally killed that monster.”

“Right? It wasn’t a mistake, was it?”

“Sergeant Jeon Gwang-il also fought with it but…”

The soldiers were in confusion.

The power Sergeant Shin Young-joon showed against that grotesque mass.

It was at a level that they couldn’t believe belonged to someone with the profession of “chef.”

And on top of that, he was covering his mouth with blood-stained hands and laughing.

It was a sight… straight out of a movie, the very image of a battle-crazed madman.

“I never knew because I always saw him providing rear support and commanding.”

But seems like,

“That’s Sergeant Shin’s original self.”

“Sergeant Shin didn’t even use a gun when he awakened. I heard he tore apart lizards with just a kitchen knife.”

“Insane. Is that humanly possible?”

As stories from his awakening were highlighted,

The soldiers looked at Sergeant Shin Young-joon in awe.

“No, wouldn’t it have been better for him to be more directly involved regularly?”

“Yeah. Why was he always stuck in the rear?”

The soldiers wondered.

The answer came from a man over 2 meters tall.

“Haha. You guys still don’t get it?”

“Sergeant Jeon?”

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il, who had been listening nearby, tapped the soldiers’ shoulders and said,

“He was trying to give us opportunities to grow.”

“Opportunities to grow? What do you mean?”

“Sergeant Shin is a chef, so he can gain experience points through cooking. But combat-oriented awakened like us can’t do that, right?”

“That’s true.”

“Oh, could it be!”

As the explanation continued,

Some soldiers began to understand what Corporal Jeon Gwang-il was trying to say.

“Yeah. If Sergeant Shin took up a knife himself, then everything would be easily resolved, but then we wouldn’t grow. So…”

“Are you saying he sacrificed his own participation for our growth?”

“Yeah. Sergeant Shin’s consideration is truly moving.”

Corporal Jeon Kwang-il spoke with tears in his eyes.

At that moment, one of the soldiers tilted his head and asked,

“Then, were you seriously injured when the ammunition depot exploded last time?”

“Combat ability and physical ability are separate. He might be a bit slower in running.”

“What about that monster at the hardware warehouse?”

“You mean ‘Mac’? He probably judged that it was more useful to keep it alive than to kill him. In fact, the engineers have been utilizing it well since they captured him.”

Whatever the actual reasons were.

The conversation fell into place quite neatly.

“So that’s how it was.”

“Sergeant Shin…”

“In that regard, I think we have a lot to reflect on.”

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il clenched his fist tightly, as if frustrated.

“Sergeant Shin has made so many concessions for us. But because of our weakness, we couldn’t bring down that damn thing. Imagine how frustrating it must have been for Sergeant Shin to watch.”

“Oh, that’s why Sergeant Shin stepped in this time!”

“He drew his knife out of frustration, seeing us struggle with our weaknesses, and took care of it himself. He must have felt relieved and smiled.”

“Ah.”

Impressed by this plausible interpretation, the soldiers exclaimed.

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il chuckled and said to them,

“Because Sergeant Shin cares for us this much, there’s only one thing we should do.”

“What’s that?”

“To ensure that Sergeant Shin doesn’t have to intervene like today, we need to polish ourselves and become stronger. That would be our only way of repaying his consideration.”

As Corporal Jeon Gwang-il finished speaking,

The awakened of the Warrior Squad gleamed with determination.

“Indeed… Understood.”

“Corporal Jeon! May I ask for some sparring once we return to the base?”

“I’d like to join in too…”

“Of course, one-on-one training won’t be enough for me either. Let’s handle about five of you at once.”

“Thank you!”

That’s how it was.

The soldiers were ignited with a desire to train because of their clear-cut misunderstanding.

The person who was directly involved in all this was unaware of all these happenings, even in his dreams.

***

After cleaning up the battlefield,

Our unit’s soldiers entered the residential area for reconnaissance.

The resources piled up by the plunderers were there, but

The important thing was the humans.

The reason we attacked the plunderers wasn’t for resources.

It was to liberate the slaves oppressed by the plunderers and recruit them.

The captured prisoners were reformed with the [Chef’s Special Sauce] to increase our unit’s numbers.

And for that purpose, about half of our forces were separately deployed as a siege team around the residential area.

“We were on high alert, but we haven’t had many plunderers coming our way,” Min-jae hyung who was in charge of the siege team, remarked.

“To be honest, it was quite disappointing. We thought most of them would end up as our prisoners, but it doesn’t seem to be the case now.”

“Unfortunately, that’s how it turned out.”

The plunderers we intended to capture as prisoners mostly ended up being devoured by that Gluttonous creature to bolster its strength.

It was quite astonishing to witness that despite its massive figure it could swiftly catch and absorb the plunderers.

It managed to grab and devour those plunderers who tried to escape during the initial combat phase.

The only ones we managed to capture as prisoners were the few that we had grabbed early on.

And the rest were those who had been held as slaves.

“Sister Soo-ah!!”

“Hey!”

“Soo-ah, we knew you’d come to save us.”

Including those who had been kidnapped by the group headed by Soo-ah, we managed to locate and rescue several other slaves.

Nonetheless, the numbers were not as high as we had expected.

The reason for this became apparent as we continued our search.

“Ugh.”

“What the…”

In a corner of the residential area, soldiers searching an isolated building were shocked to see what lay before them and could only exclaim in disgust.

Some of them were left alive but subjected to slavery, but many others weren’t as fortunate.

“Did they torture them here?”

“No, look closer.”

I pointed to the bodies piled up in the building.

The extent of dismemberment was relatively mild.

Traces of being used as toys to satisfy their captors’ desires were evident.

Beyond that, some corpses had been mutilated for no apparent reason.

“It’s not torture. They were just played with like toys until they died.”

“Even so, it’s strange. Using them as slaves would have been more efficient, so why kill them like this?”

The soldiers were puzzled.

I had a rough idea of the reason myself.

“They were probably meant as food for that monstrous creature.”

“Ah…!”

That monstrous creature, clearly known among the raiders as the ‘Hyung’.

“He was their leader.”

“He swallowed up his subordinates…”

“That’s right. In its haste, it absorbed its own underlings. I can only imagine how they usually operated.”

This must have been a place where slaves were kept before being processed into food. The plunderers must have kept them here temporarily before processing them.

“There are also signs they were used for releasing urges.”

“Did you hear what that monstrous creature said? Did it sound like it had any sense or reason?”

“….”

Its vocabulary skills were comparable to a three-year-old child’s.

Whether it was a side effect of gaining strength that cursed strength or something else entirely, I couldn’t say.

“….”

“Tsk.”

The soldiers’ faces darkened as they looked upon the gruesome scene.

However, we couldn’t afford to just pass this off as merely disgusting.

“We could have ended up like this too.”

We gained strength from the mountains.

From the perspective of the strong, we could have punished them.

If our strength had been lacking even a little,

we could have become one of those corpses piled up over there.

“Keep in mind. Never let your guard down. Even though we’re relatively strong now, we don’t know when we might be overtaken.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t trust monsters, but don’t trust humans either.”

“Don’t trust humans?”

“Then who should we trust?”

“You’re asking the obvious.”

“The Legion.”

“The only ones we can trust are our guild comrades.”

As we continued cleaning up the scene, someone approached me and spoke.

“Not just my eyes, but the whole group – how can we repay this kindness?”

It was Jeong Soo-ah.

And her group members who had been taken as slaves.

“Thank you so much. Please convey our gratitude to everyone. You’re our savior.”

“This is the person who…”

“…treated Soo-ah’s eyes…”

“T-Thank you!”

A savior, huh?

I felt a bit of that last time, too.

I had sensed her tendency for grandiose expressions before.

Anyway.

“The deal is now complete.”

“Yes.”

“Now, you should join our unit. I hope there are no objections.”

“Of course.”

“Then, from now on, let’s drop the formalities.”

Many of the group members looked older than me.

But because of my position,

I had to speak informally even to Grandpa Park.

“It feels a bit awkward, though.”

If I didn’t show appropriate dignity for my rank, the group could become unstable.

I had to endure, what else could I do?

“I’m actually more comfortable that way. Please call me as you wish.”

“Once you return to the unit, the guild enrollment process will begin.”

The non-awakened ones will proceed to awaken one by one.

For the awakened ones, the artisans of the workshop will make and supply equipment.

After that,

they will officially start working as our unit members.

“Yes. But…”

“Hmm? Do you have something to say?”

“Now that I’m officially part of the unit.”

“As a member of the unit, I want to share some information I have.”

Jeong Soo-ah, who used to scout around with her spirit.

Before eating my cooking, her range had been limited.

But after spending so much time on the surface and utilizing her spirit vision,

she might have the most up-to-date information about this region.

So, I asked the same to her with anticipation.

“What information?”

“You already know this world has turned into a game, right?”

Well, that’s that.

It’s something every awakened would know.

“Have you ever played games?”

“… I’m not a huge fan, but I play as much as others.”

“Then you’ll understand how important this information is.”

I was wondering what she was getting at with all the preamble,

but the words she delivered with a smile left me genuinely surprised.

“Have you heard about dungeons?”