The Military Chef of a Ruined World - Chapter 398



Only Noblemtl

Episode 398 You have no choice but to do it yourself

‘What is this?’

From far away.

The pure white wall begins to crumble, and the darkness outside begins to appear.

{I don’t have enough strength, so I don’t think I can talk for long.}

This world… … .

It was falling apart.

{Time is limited, so I will give you only the most important advice. Listen carefully.}

She sits in the middle of a world that is falling apart.

He looked at me and said.

{I lost so much vitality.}

“… … !”

{It seems like it will get better with time. It is impossible. It is a serious internal injury that cannot be recovered through normal methods. The best way would be to cultivate the martial arts and reach a state where the boundary between true and external energy is eliminated… … But it is a long way off for you right now. Find a good elixir or doctor.}

Kwaang… … .

As the world began to fall apart.

She just wants to get on with what she wants to say.

but.

“He’s a member of the National Assembly and he’s a brat… …!”

{… … ?}

I’m sure they have a lot to say too.

I also had a lot of questions.

Her true identity.

Why are you helping me?

The many secrets of this world and the enemies that will come in the future.

but.

Just before even the foundation for standing disappears.

I looked at her and shouted.

“You said this world is not protected!”

There were many things I wanted to ask.

Of all the questions, this is the one that needs to be asked the most.

There is no god on earth.

I’ve thought about that god and all that countless times before.

It was because of this absence that this world became such a difficult place to survive.

“But, if you are friendly to us!”

I felt like I was going to die from the unfair treatment.

But that doesn’t mean there’s anything you can do about it.

I just kept struggling to survive day after day.

“Can’t you take on that role!?”

Unlike those beings out there, whose trustworthiness is questionable.

This being before my eyes was quite friendly to me.

{I appreciate that you trust me so much, but… … .}

Maybe finally.

Someone who can fill that role may have appeared.

{Don’t trust others too easily.}

Phagec… … and so on.

Even the white floor I was standing on collapsed.

{I too… … may not be the person you want me to be.}

As soon as there was no more room to step.

My body begins to fall into darkness.

“Then what should we do!”

I’m falling into darkness.

I shouted at her sitting above me.

How do I manage to survive today?

In the end, it’s just a matter of somehow getting through one more day.

“Are we supposed to keep being played around by these other worlds and stuff like that?”

In order for us to survive, we need to be more fundamental… … .

A way was needed to overcome this destruction itself.

{… … method.}

And looking down at me like that.

Mirinae said with a subtle bitter smile.

{There is a way… … but it’s not like there isn’t one.}

That face for the last time.

The view darkens.

***

The once pure white world collapsed.

My body fell endlessly into deep darkness.

And while it was falling like that.

{If you can’t ask for help from others.}

Sleeping deep in the darkness.

Something huge… something like shiny scales.

Kuung… … .

{You have no choice but to do it yourself.}

Long, slit pupils.

He made eye contact with me.

***

[Characteristic – Food identification (reinforcement) is activated.]

[Observing… … .]

[Identification failed!]

[Due to too short an observation, food identification is cancelled.]

and.

Come to your senses… … .

“……uh?”

It was a familiar space.

My private room inside the Vimana.

Let’s raise our gaze slightly.

I saw the scenery I had been looking at before being dragged into that white space.

[00:00:00]

[Beginner’s Protection Zone is removed.]

Slurp… … .

Out the window.

The heat barrier between Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do appears to be disappearing.

‘Not even a second has passed?’

Still, I thought that a long time had passed.

In reality, not even a second had passed.

I wondered if I had just had a dream.

Swish… … .

“… … This isn’t a dream.”

Let’s lift up the clothes and look inside.

A red, flushed scar was visible.

‘A scar that cannot be healed even by vampire fatigue.’

Even though its regenerative ability has declined a bit recently.

There has never been a time when it didn’t play at all.

It must mean that it’s a special wound.

“Hmm. It doesn’t seem to be that bad.”

I guess I should say it’s fortunate.

As long as he was wearing his military uniform, it seemed like he would never show his scars to anyone.

‘Beginner protection has been lifted, ra… … .’

There was a lot to think about.

These are the phrases I saw when I reached level 40.

The person who invited me to that white space.

And even that person is afraid… … that fierce and powerful being that I have a connection with.

I have a lot of questions.

Even if we think more about this right now.

It wasn’t a question I could answer on my own.

‘… … I said I would contact you again as soon as I regained my strength.’

I’m sure I’ll be invited back to that space again soon.

Maybe we can talk a little longer then.

As I was thinking about that.

Guuuuung… … .

I could see the scenery outside the window changing.

The fortress returns to Gangwon-do as the wall of heat disappears.

The distance between Chuncheon, the current base of the legion, and Gyeonggi-do was actually not that far.

So, the moment the barrier opened.

Soon the fortress was able to return to Chuncheon… … .

[The maintenance horsepower of the mobile device has been depleted.]

[Attempting to land on ground base.]

Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu… … .

The shape of the fortress changed little by little.

After it changed into the round shape I remembered.

Landing on a huge lake.

It had been several months since I left for Gyeonggi-do on a business trip.

I was able to successfully return to Gangwon-do.

***

Kuuung… … .

“Return complete… … !”

A Vimana slowly lands on the lake and settles down.

This is a fortress that grew rapidly in size even when it was Lv.2.

Now that it has reached Lv.3, it has grown so large that it almost seems to touch the nearby ground.

“Okay, then.”

“… …Let’s get to work!”

As the Vimana landed on the ground.

The engineers went straight to work without any rest.

The reason was simple.

Also, to build a bridge connecting to the mainland.

“… … This bridge. Do we really have to build it anew every time we take off or land?”

“No. Last time, I attached it to the fortress so that it was connected to the land when on the ground, and normally attached to the fortress wall. In theory, there was no need to do it again like this… … .”

“Then why now?”

“It was all broken in the last battle. Why, when that giant was hanging on to the fortress.”

“ah.”

anyway.

The level of engineers has also increased dramatically compared to the past.

As they all clung together, within hours a bridge was built leading to the ground.

So then, what are you going to do?

The bridge is completed

Sergeant Lee Min-jae came and asked.

You’ve worked hard so far, so it’s time to take a break…

no.

I’m resting. I took a long rest under the pretense of recovering until that barrier opened.

I’ve returned to Gangwon-do, but I guess I still have a lot of work to do.

and.

The first thing I need to do is.

“First, I need to take a look around Gangwon-do.”

“Well, that’s true.”

I have heard some reports though.

During the time I was gone, Gangwon-do must have changed a lot.

Even though it looks like this, I am still the commander of the corps.

As a captain, I needed to be aware of the change.

“Then please leave the escort and guidance to me.”

“Gwangil, you?”

A large soldier who gets up with me.

I looked up at Gwangil and replied.

“Aren’t you very busy? You could ask another soldier to guide you.”

No matter what.

This guy is currently one of the most senior officers in our unit.

As befitting your position, you’ll probably be busy with a variety of things.

“Hehehe. I also took a break from work under the pretense of guiding the sergeant.”

“……boy.”

Contrary to what I said.

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il was really not the type of person to put off work with excuses like this.

The day I first escaped from my unit and left the mountains.

I still vividly remember the image of that guy silently going out to work alone even when everyone else was tired and resting.

It’s true that you’re busy, but you volunteered to be my guide.

“… … It’s nothing. Please take good care of me.”

“yep!”

It would be a bit much to refuse this offer.

like that

Guided by Private Jeon Gwang-il, we decided to take a look around the changed Gangwon-do.

***

“… … .”

and.

“……what’s this.”

“Haha, it’s changed a lot, hasn’t it?”

After leaving the Vimana.

What unfolded before my eyes was… … .

It was a completely different scenery from what I remembered.

“tower……?”

All over the city, there were huge spires erected.

“What is that magic circle?”

In facilities everywhere.

An unidentifiable magic circle was drawn.

“Haha, what is that? The talents that joined the unit were quite diverse.”

“Uh huh.”

“When that knowledge is gathered… … synergy is created.”

[Demon Hunters] who have knowledge derived from demons.

Borjin, who uses the magic of the Greenmane tribe.

There, there are several books obtained from that underground mine.

“While Corporal Shin was away, we weren’t playing around either.”

“… … .”

The result of such concentrated technological prowess.

Chuncheon was changing into a city with a mysterious atmosphere, with strange patterns engraved all over the place.

And that wasn’t all.

“Looking for someone to go hunting! Last healer needed!”

“We are recruiting people to go on a raid mission in the Paji region! This mission rewards Legion C-grade equipment!”

“Ah, you’re a combat worker. Your job is… … Yes? A thief is a bit… … .”

A huge square in front of the Vimana.

There was a huge crowd of people gathered there, chatting with each other.

It was originally a city with a relatively large number of survivors.

The energy was different now.

“… … What is that gathering? A raid?”

“Ah. There are still many monsters, and we are short on manpower. These days, in addition to food, we are entrusting civilians with subjugation missions in exchange for things like equipment.”

“duty……?”

“It’s a kind of subcontracting. They grow through combat while completing our missions. We also lend them equipment, which increases their survival rate… … and the compensation is generous. They’re quite popular.”

Anyway, it seemed like a lot had changed since I was in Gangwon-do.

I stared blankly at the sight.

A large crowd of people gathered and chatted in the square around the fortress.

and.

‘… … People’s expressions aren’t that bad.’

Among them… … .

There were also many who had smiles on their faces.

***

It wasn’t just Chuncheon that changed.

-Was your trip comfortable, my friend?

“Don’t be ridiculous. I thought I was going to die.”

The first place our unit set foot on.

Now I visited the ammunition battalion.

‘… … This place has changed quite a bit since before.’

Now, a long time has passed since then.

Around the ammunition battalion, huge trees had grown like fortresses.

-While my friend was away, I took good care of this place.

“… … What is that? It’s really great.”

-What?

The mountain where Alaune is located.

Standing at the highest point, I looked down on my surroundings.

The forest has now begun to spread beyond the ammunition battalion area and into the entire Inje Army.

This scenery… … brought back one memory to me.

{If there were a god of plants, the world would be covered with huge plants.}

A similar scene to the one shown in that white space.

I felt a little bit of fear in that scene.

-Look.

“… … ?”

Alaune stretched out her hand.

Points to a certain place.

What’s there is… … .

-The village that my friend settled here a long time ago. The people there.

“……ah.”

A village that was once located near the ammunition battalion.

As if the residents were some kind of natural people.

He lived in a house built among the trees.

-Your friend’s kindred spirits are very adaptable.

In the past, it seemed like tree roots would grow into even an ordinary house.

Now, they seem to be building their homes right on top of the trees.

-When my children continued to spread out, they seemed to be very confused. But at some point… …they asked my permission and started to build a society within me.

“Did you give permission for that?”

I remember her being quite grumpy with other humans besides me.

I thought it was because it was my request to protect the ammunition battalion.

-I gave permission. Instead, I was asked to take care of the forest.

“… … ?”

-Doing so made me feel strangely comfortable. Maybe, I was originally a species that lived under such ‘forest managers’… … .

After I broke up with Alaune.

Together with Private Jeon Gwang-il, I headed towards the village she had shown me.

“Oh! Aren’t you the cook?”

“The big warrior leader is here too.”

“Hehehe, it’s been a while.”

Let’s get to the village.

The people who had settled in that village welcomed me.

Those who have come to live like natural people.

But that face.

Just like Chuncheon… … it didn’t look too bad.

‘… … .’

Let’s see what it looks like.

I felt strange.

A strange feeling that I don’t know how to explain to myself.

“What do you think, Sergeant Shin?”

The lands that were so desolate.

Now that time has passed.

Each one has changed and developed into its own unique appearance.

Humans roaming freely around the village.

Even though the clothes are armor or military uniforms, and each person has a weapon attached to their waist.

The cityscape has changed into a forest with strange magic circles installed or giant trees growing in a row.

“What we’ve done so far… … .”

Still.

The very sight of people living freely… … .

“It is bearing fruit.”

Before the destruction.

It reminded me of human society.

***

of course.

It wasn’t all good.

Chuncheon and Inje-gun.

After visiting the two cities where our unit originally exerted influence.

The next place we visited was the lands where the Legion had only recently set foot.

“… … This place is desolate.”

“yes.”

Wonju, Gangneung.

Along with Chuncheon, they were one of the most prosperous cities in Gangwon-do.

now.

All that remained were ruined cities, where the prosperity of that time was hard to find.

Could it be because it became a nest of monsters?

Some buildings were covered in a strange slime-like substance.

Perhaps because of the recent battle between the Legion, the traces of the battle remained, making it look even more desolate.

And then there was the ruined city with a few monsters.

People who appear to have originally survived here.

And the soldiers of the legion were walking around.

“That person.”

“That warrior from that time. The best warrior in the legion… … .”

I heard some people muttering in surprise as they discovered Gwangil.

I looked at them and asked.

“Why are those people, or our soldiers, left here where there is nothing?”

I naturally thought they would all have moved to Chuncheon or Inje.

However, there were more people left in this devastated city than expected.

“To restore this place.”

“what?”

“It’s like this now, but there’s a reason why it used to be a major city in Gangwon-do. It also has a clear geographical advantage. So the engineers are staying here to gradually restore the facilities.”

“Even if that’s true for our soldiers, what about those people?”

“They must be the ones who wanted to help with the restoration.”

Private Jeon Gwang-il looked at them and said.

“No matter what, this was home to those people.”

“… … .”

“I stayed here because I wanted to help with the restoration, even if only a little.”

“I see.”

Now, there is nothing left in the city.

Still, there are many people who still have attachment to this land.

Even though it is a task that may take no time.

Those who remained in this dangerous city, giving up even the thought of returning to a comfortable and safe land to relieve their foolishness.

“It’s desolate for now though.”

The guy Gwangil was looking at the scenery with me.

He muttered in a small voice.

“This place too, will regain its light someday.”

“……okay.”

I also saw that sight.

He muttered in a small voice.

“It has to be done that way.”

But the civilization was shattered.

As long as people survive.

Because I think we can somehow rebuild it like Chuncheon and Inje.

***

like that.

After looking around various places in Gangwon-do.

The last place we stopped by before returning to Chuncheon.

[423rd Battalion]

Where our unit began.

It was the 423rd Radar Battalion.

and.

The first thing I encountered when I approached there was.

… … Cool.

Cold sweat pouring down his entire body and coughing up blood.

It was the appearance of Private Park Tae-jun.