The Military Chef of a Ruined World - Chapter 386



Only Noblemtl

Episode 386: The Association President (1)

“This part is almost done!”

“Then help me clean up over there!”

The battle is over.

The legions that had been fighting a battle worthy of a myth, were defeated when the battle ended.

He began to organize the battlefield busily like an ordinary soldier.

‘You’re taking all the monster’s corpses.’

‘Wouldn’t that create zombies? Before winter came, we used to burn the corpses of monsters.’

The Awakened members of the Association were blankly staring at the sight.

and.

It wasn’t just the battlefield that soldiers began to recover.

“Keuh-euk… … .”

There were many casualties from the battle.

Jo Beom-seok led the battle in a way that minimized casualties, but the scale of the war was too large.

There were deaths and many injured people.

“… …Can I really believe that?”

“Please leave it to me.”

To the extent that it is difficult for the association’s personnel alone to handle it.

A group of soldiers walk among the wounded.

Their shoulders were marked with a red cross.

‘Conscripted soldier.’

When those soldiers first demanded entry into the wall.

The Awakened members of the Association had no choice but to hesitate a lot.

It was true that they were the ones who saved them.

Still, it is a force I am seeing for the first time.

There was a brief debate about whether it was right to let them inside the barrier.

-I understand you’re wary of us. So, please only let the medical personnel in.

Let’s say it’s to treat those many injured people.

They decided to take a risk and send a small number of soldiers inside the wall.

and.

As the soldiers began their full-scale activities… … .

“Oh my god… … What healing power… …!?”

Seriously injured patients who were difficult to treat with just the Association’s healers.

The legion’s healers quickly recovered the wounded, focusing on those who were seriously injured.

‘It has incredible healing power.’

‘How high level are those healers?’

The abilities of the soldiers who fought against those monsters were also amazing.

What was more noticeable from the perspective of those who didn’t know better was not the strength of each soldier, but the artillery fire from tanks and self-propelled guns.

And that was a flying fortress in the sky.

‘The average level may be high, but… … it’s hard to accept that alone. The abilities from the equipment and guild are also amazing.’

But now it was different.

At first glance, the incredible speed of recovery made people feel the strength of the legion and break out in a cold sweat.

“I have a few questions to ask. Could you please cooperate?”

“What do you want to ask?”

While the healers were treating the wounded.

The soldiers outside the barrier also began to move busily.

“I would like you to tell me in detail what happened in this province. In particular, I need information about those giants and where they came from.”

“Hmm, if that’s the case… … .”

The soldiers outside are where the giants came from.

I asked for more information about the source of that cold air.

And then, a little later.

“We have identified the location of the remnants!”

“All hands on deck!”

Guuuuung… … .

Most of the power, including that sky fortress, was directed towards the source of that cold air.

It must be to completely wipe out any enemies that may still remain.

‘It’s amazing.’

The processing speed is ridiculously fast.

People realized that this wasn’t the first or second time the legion had done something like this.

[A force that achieved 100% occupation rate in one region was born!]

[Area of ​​achievement – ROK.17]

[Once the first achiever of the Occupation War event appears, the Occupation War events in all other regions will end!]

Just before the legion came over the other side of that barrier.

A system message appeared before their eyes.

That corps was pacifying the vast territory of Gangwon Province.

I’ve probably done this same thing several times before.

and.

“Next, may I ask who your representative is, citizens?”

“A representative?”

“We have just arrived in Gyeonggi-do. We cannot stay here for long. So, we need to think about post-processing and what you will do in the future.”

The soldier who brought up the subject.

He answered as if he was asking something obvious.

“We would like to know who is the representative who will communicate with us.”

* * *

“General Cho, are you feeling okay? You were completely buried in that barrier.”

“Thank goodness they’re fine now. Those guys… … their healing powers are no joke.”

After healing some of my wounds with the help of the Legion healer.

The leaders of each branch gathered together and began a meeting.

The reason they gathered was simple.

“I am a representative.”

The person the legion 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 federation of leaders from each large group under the association president.

Now that the president of the association has disappeared.

There was no one who could be called a representative.

“Does it have to be just one person? Can’t each branch manager communicate with the corps as a joint representative?”

“Hmm, I don’t think it’s something to be decided so lightly.”

“yes?”

“After all, aren’t we each in the position of leading our own branch… …our own group? Each of us represents different interests.”

Jo Beom-seok said with a worried expression.

“Even when we met among ourselves, there were many conflicts of opinion. When we talk to that corps, it is highly likely that we will not be able to come to a unified opinion.”

“Isn’t that not possible?”

“If it were a meeting between us, we could just coordinate with each other. But we have to talk to that legion. If we disagree because our interests are different… … they’ll think that we’re less united as a group than we thought. The legion and the association… … we’ll end up revealing our disadvantages in that conversation.”

“Uh… … In the first place, wasn’t that side a much stronger force than us? Even if you just look at it, it seems like someone as strong as the Association Chairman is rotting away. Isn’t it inevitable that we’ll be at a disadvantage?”

“But shouldn’t we at least be guaranteed at least a minimum level of rights?”

In that regard.

There is a look of concern on some people’s faces.

“Minimum rights.”

“… … Are you saying that they might take away our rights?”

“No matter what, they are the soldiers who saved us. I wonder if they would go that far.”

“I wish I could do that too. I have to think about what ifs.”

Maybe in peaceful times.

This is a more serious reality than any wartime situation.

“Rather, we should keep in mind that soldiers may be even more merciless.”

It’s true that the Legion saved him.

In inter-group work, you shouldn’t leave everything up to the other person.

“Whew… … My head hurts. I was so happy when I saw the soldiers that I almost cried.”

“I guess things get a little more complicated once we get into reality. Well… … I don’t know how those soldiers will treat us.”

“Come to think of it, General Cho was a soldier, wasn’t he? Don’t you recognize any faces over there?”

In that regard.

Jo Beom-seok answered with a serious expression.

“… … In fact, that’s why I have to be careful.”

“yes?”

“I don’t know which unit it is.”

After the legion broke through that black wall.

Jo Beom-seok carefully examined the members of the corps.

“Since it was called the Gangwon-do Corps, I naturally assumed it would be the 18th Corps, which was in charge of the defense of Gangwon-do. However, the unit marks on their uniforms were different. If there are any of you who have served in the military, you would know.”

“Oh, come to think of it… … .”

“Their unit mark looked like a lizard with steel scales… or maybe a dragon. The problem is that, as far as I know, there is no unit that uses such a mark.”

“Could it be that it was a unit created after General Cho was discharged? Or maybe a new unit was created by somehow gathering together the destroyed units… … .”

“That could be true, but if you look closely, there’s one more thing that’s strange.”

There was no other reason why Jo Beom-seok carefully examined the faces of the corps members.

He just wanted to check if anyone he knew was mixed in.

“There are no officers.”

“… … ?”

“They were all soldiers. The one who seemed to be the highest-ranking among those I saw was said to be the leader of the therapists. He identified himself as Private Sa-ui-jun.”

“Hmm. A private.”

“Even a private was a high rank.”

There were some who had no rank at all as soldiers.

Probably of civilian origin.

Despite the fact that the world is overflowing with reserve sergeants.

Among them, there were very few who had proper rank.

“Even though I was discharged from the military, I still see faces from the military from time to time while attending lectures. At least, I’m sure there’s no face I recognize among them.”

In that regard.

People’s gazes also become a little uneasy.

“I volunteered for the military unit, but General Cho doesn’t recognize any of my faces.”

“Are you saying these are untrustworthy people?”

“I don’t think it’s worth looking at that way. It’s true that they saved us. The fact that there are no officers means that they’ve all simply disappeared from this world. However… … I’m saying that it might be a bit far from the complete Gangwon-do military unit that people expected.”

The probability that they are evil people is not that high, though.

It is difficult to rule out that possibility.

“First of all, they are the ‘Gangwon-do Legion.’ They may have helped us subdue the monsters, but they are not the ones representing the interests of the ‘Gyeonggi-do Association.’”

It would be nice if I could join that legion and be safely protected.

Reality didn’t flow that easily.

‘They may be friendly compared to those monsters, but they are still the first force we encounter whose true identity we cannot identify.’

The difference in power was clear.

As long as that Sky Fortress exists, the Association will not be able to defeat the Legion.

Still.

“It’s too dangerous to just leave our fate in their hands.”

Many in the Association have been waiting for support from the Legion.

More often than not, it was not intended to follow the orders of the legion.

They say their power is stronger.

This side should have been able to assert its rights too.

It’s just weak compared to the legion.

It’s not like the association as an organization has no power.

furthermore.

“They asked us to guide their representative.”

“What does that mean?”

“If it were their power, they could have subjugated us in an instant. They could have easily ignored our will. But they asked me to introduce a representative who could collect our opinions. In other words.”

In that regard.

Heo Yun-chang, one of the leaders, tilted his head and muttered as if he noticed something.

“Does that side also want us to remain an independent force?”

“… … I don’t understand. What good would come from not subjugating us?”

“You might think that if we accept a force the size of ours all at once, chaos might escalate.”

The association’s thoughts too.

The will of that legion.

The Association came to the conclusion that it should remain an independent body.

“… … General Cho. Let me ask you one thing.”

“Something.”

at that time.

Heo Yun-chang looked at Jo Beom-seok and asked.

“If I remember correctly, General Cho wanted to join the military unit.”

“Well, that was true.”

“That. Is it still the same now?”

“……what?”

In that regard.

People’s eyes opened wide.

* * *

“Mr. Yoonchang… … ?”

“What kind of question is that all of a sudden?”

A question that Heo Yun-chang asked Jo Beom-seok.

People who heard that question looked puzzled and said,

“Now is the time for us to stick together, so why are you saying something that would cause such a conflict?”

“Well, I think so too. But I have to make sure I get through this.”

Heo Yun-chang said, crossing his arms.

“Considering the various circumstances, it seems that that legion is not a force that would blindly oppose us. However, there are many suspicious aspects about them that make it difficult to view them as an ally that we can trust.”

“… … .”

“I think we must be as cautious as possible when dealing with that legion. And if that’s the case.”

That gaze.

I turned to General Cho Beom-seok again.

“The Southern Branch, which wanted to join the military unit… … must make its intentions clear.”

“… … !”

Unlike other branches whose only goal was survival.

The Southern Branch had a clear objective.

Reconstruction of military units.

Or join.

“I think it’s time to choose.”

People look at the Southern Branch personnel with anxious eyes.

“Will the Southern Branch join the Legion? Or will they go with the Association?”

If Jo Beom-seok and the Southern Branch join the corps.

Now that the central branch is not doing its job.

It’s like losing one third of the association’s power.

Even if we don’t have to fight that legion right now.

It will take a considerable amount of time to recover from that loss.

When people looked at Jo Beom-seok with such nervous eyes.

Sigh.

“Oh, you ask such embarrassing questions. Okay.”

Jo Beom-seok smiled faintly.

“Since you asked, I’ll answer honestly. Not long ago… … I would have tried to join the entire Southern Branch, the Association and all, right away.”

“… … !”

“Well, it’s true that I don’t know any of the faces… … But it’s still a military unit. From my perspective, it’s true that they’re a bit more friendly. Besides, it’s called an association because it sounds nice… … We were just an alliance of different groups that came together because of their needs. The process itself was, to be honest, quite coercive.”

A group that was forcibly brought together by the power of one person, the association president.

Gyeonggi Province Survivors Association.

The bond was quite loose.

“Especially, we who were in the southern end didn’t have much interaction with the northern branch which was in the northern end. Even though we saw Jung-gu a little bit, we rarely even saw Mr. Lee Seo’s face.”

“Well, that’s true, but… … I think I should think about it a little more… … .”

When people’s complexions turned pale.

“Well, that was the case until recently.”

“… … ?”

“Of course not now. Not in the first place.”

An old man with a faint smile.

He said it with a look of apparent resentment in his eyes.

“We’ve been fighting together like this for the past few months. Aren’t we comrades now?”

“… … !”

It was an association that had virtually no cohesion as a group.

The last few months have been a little different.

Attack the epicenter of the cold.

Fight against those giants.

In this magical realm, we resisted together until the very end.

That period was only a small portion of the entire period during which the Association was founded.

The density was not that different from that of years or decades.

“That, that is what I mean.”

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

Jo Beom-seok opened his mouth, scratching his face in embarrassment.

“Somehow, my nickname became General Cho.”

“Yes. I heard that he was originally a general.”

“Ahem, this is something I’m embarrassed to tell others, but… … To be honest, I only got the rank of brigadier general when I was discharged from the military. In reality, I wasn’t called a general for very long.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“It was an honorary title given to me before I was discharged. I ended up being called that somehow… … I always thought it was a pretty embarrassing title. So.”

An old man shrugging his shoulders.

“I hope you don’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… … but now I feel like my identity as a branch manager of the association has become a little stronger than that of a soldier.”

Since there is no unified chapter, there may be conflicts of opinion among them.

Saira, who overcame the difficult fight together… …

A sense of empathy as comrades.

That was what was binding them together.

* * *

“Then, back to the main topic. Let’s decide on a representative.”

“yes.”

“I would like to recommend Shin Young-jun.”

No one was surprised by those words.

He is not here right now due to an injury.

There was no disagreement that he was the most influential person in the association.

but.

“Actually, I already asked about that.”

“hmm?”

“I don’t like it.”

“what?”

Park Joong-gu said, scratching his head.

“He said that he absolutely did not want to be the representative because he was a serious person and was not a member of our association. He thought it would be better for someone else to take the position… … .”

“Uhh… … There’s no one as qualified as that guy.”

A sigh of regret spread among the people.

“If you think about it, Youngjun has been like that from the beginning. He seems reluctant to come forward unless it’s an unavoidable situation.”

“… … Your abilities are outstanding, but your personality is not like that?”

“That guy looks pretty young, but I didn’t expect him to have any desire for a seat.”

“You’re saying that’s not possible because you’re not a member of our guild? You don’t have to think like that… … .”

The leaders were in a dilemma.

The leaders gathered here are all people with similar influence.

The reason Jo Beom-seok took on the role of commander of the expeditionary force was simply because it was the best position to utilize his profession.

He did not have enough influence to be called the head of the association.

“… …Should we try voting among ourselves?”

“Isn’t that just creating unnecessary conflict?”

“Youngjun is the perfect person… … How can I convince him… … .”

While they were racking their brains for a while.

“Hey, hey… … !”

suddenly.

Someone comes running from outside in a panic.

“Look… I have something to report to you!”

“Wh, what’s going on?”

“Outside, outside… … !”

An association member with an anxious look on his face.

“The president of the association… … .”

“… … ?”

The words that came out of his mouth.

The leaders could not help but be astonished.

“The president has returned!”

“… … !”

Shock spread among the people.

After that.

“… … I’m sorry we had to meet like this, everyone.”

An old man… … .

Appeared inside the tent.