The Military Chef of a Ruined World - Chapter 464



Only Noblemtl

Episode 464 Anger (1)

“What on earth is that appearance… …?”

A human being I’m seeing for the first time.

A guy who speaks to us while appearing as a middle-aged man.

{What do you think? I think even native species can blend in with this?}

Although it has a human appearance.

Still not understanding human language.

Although his mouth did not move, his will was transmitted from his body to our minds.

{Actually, when I heard about my appearance problems from the commander, I had many concerns.}

The guy continued speaking in a cheerful tone.

{Actually, even before I met the commander, I had a strange feeling that communication with the native species was not going smoothly. I didn’t quite understand the reason… … I never imagined it would be for this reason.}

“… … .”

{From my perspective of wanting to interact with native species, this was a pretty serious problem. An even more serious problem was that… … it wasn’t easy to solve.}

I just blankly stared.

I just looked at the face of the guy who continued talking.

{Because I’m a doctor, not an artist.}

“… … .”

{I don’t have much of an aesthetic sense. Even if I had, I doubt my sensibility would match that of the native species.}

And it was so annoying.

A middle-aged man clapping his hands.

{That’s why I thought of it.}

“……what?”

{Isn’t it actually simple to win the favor of the native species through appearance?}

The guy said, pointing to his own face.

{It looks like a native species!}

“… … .”

As you said.

Taking human form is the best way to get along with humans.

My godmother and my grandmother too.

When talking to me, he took on a human-like appearance.

Even such powerful beings would think it is right to take human form when conversing with humans.

“I……!”

but.

“That freaking bastard… … !”

“for a moment.”

Seeing that guy’s appearance.

Soldiers who couldn’t contain their anger and were about to charge.

“But, Commander!”

“Are you telling me to just endure this after seeing this?”

“okay!”

I reached out and stopped them.

“I understand your feelings too. No!”

Simply taking human form.

If that were all.

“I… will be worse than you guys.”

“… … .”

I wouldn’t have been this shaken up either.

“hey.”

{Well, why though?}

“Where did that body come from, why did it suddenly appear with that body… … There are so many things I want to ask… … Putting them all aside. Let me ask just one thing.”

After I took a moment to catch my breath.

He said, pointing to the guy’s face.

“That look.”

After that guy met us.

He was speaking in a happy voice the whole time.

He said that the answer he gave was excellent.

It was a bright voice, as if asking for praise.

“You, don’t you know what that expression means?”

{Oh, of course I know that. As I said, I also want to have friendly relations with the native species. I have figured out what kind of expressions mean what kind of emotions.}

but.

The expression and tone of voice did not match at all.

{Isn’t that a smiling expression!}

“… … Wrong.”

{hmm?}

After I calmed my mind as much as possible.

I pointed that out to him in as calm a voice as possible.

“That’s not a smiling face.”

That makes sense.

That human has one face.

“An expression distorted by pain.”

{……hmm?}

Grotesquely distorted and grimacing… … .

Because it was a face filled with pain.

* * *

{Pain.}

When talking to that guy.

The guy gave me a few smiles.

{Is that what you mean by this expression?}

“……okay.”

A grotesquely wide, distorted expression.

From my perspective, that expression wasn’t very pleasant to see.

In his hometown, we just assumed that was a smiling face and passed it by.

{No, but how could that be?}

but.

That wasn’t it.

{When I found out through other native species.}

That guy had that look on his face.

It wasn’t because that guy’s race or hometown made him laugh like that.

{Clearly… … I said this was a smiling expression.}

“… … .”

That guy.

Because I thought that face was a human smiling face.

That’s the kind of expression they’ve been making when they laugh at us humans.

“Another human being.”

Iron Man.

I am quiet.

He said, putting his hand on my back.

“Are you talking about the humans you dealt with?”

Even while asking questions.

I couldn’t help but feel hopeful.

The guy said he sent back the humans he had dealt with unharmed.

According to the sensation captured by my taste buds, it wasn’t a lie.

{No. I’m not talking about those guys. I took the price I asked for from them and provided them with the appropriate treatment before we parted ways.}

“then?”

{As I said, I treated those who requested treatment and had information or items worth trading for a fee. However… … .}

That’s why.

I hope that guy is still trustworthy.

I sincerely hoped that we could continue to be together in the future.

but.

{Sometimes there were those who didn’t have anything worth trading with me.}

“… … .”

In that regard.

I looked at that guy’s body.

A middle-aged man who looks quite old.

He was wearing a tattered suit and an old white coat.

And there was an old name tag attached to the coat.

[Kang Il-hwan]

A name that sounds familiar.

I continued questioning the guy, trying to remember his name.

“What happens in that case?”

{Well, if you can trade, that’s great, but if it’s not worth trading… … .}

To my question:

The guy answered with a slight shrug.

{It would be a shame to just send it away, so I decided to collect it as a research specimen.}

“… … .”

{As I said, I’m very curious about native species. The more research samples, the better. Native species are already valuable materials, so I can’t just let them go.}

A guy who answers as if nothing happened.

but.

“Then what about that smiling expression?”

{Well, I once asked these people I collected as samples to make facial expressions.}

“How did you ask for it… … ?”

{If you had just listened to me, I would have stopped there, but as the commander said, my appearance doesn’t seem to appeal to the natives.}

I hear those words.

{It caused me pain… … because I refused to cooperate.}

It felt like something important inside my heart was falling apart.

I felt that way.

{After causing so much pain, only then did he make a face.}

“… … .”

{When I asked if that was a smile, he definitely nodded vigorously.}

Only then.

I was able to realize one thing.

{Hmm… … I thought nodding was a native expression of affirmation, but I guess I was mistaken… … or maybe he was lying.}

“… … .”

{I hope that’s not a lie…}

This guy.

I don’t lie.

{Because lying… is not good.}

So far, this guy has answered every question I’ve asked him honestly.

Even that answer now.

That was the answer I got because I asked.

but.

‘I never said anything without first asking.’

I can’t help but laugh at my own foolishness.

Last time.

When the guy said he did some research on the system.

‘I had to ask how the research was conducted back then.’

Why didn’t you ask then?

It was actually simple.

‘Because I didn’t get any unpleasant taste from this guy.’

If he were a being with the common sense of a normal person.

Or reveal the part at which humans were used in the research.

Or maybe they were trying to hide it intentionally.

Then I could have noticed that part.

[Taste bud enhancement] was the power to be able to taste even such a suspicious feeling.

but.

The guy didn’t even try to hide it.

‘If I had asked him then, he would have answered without a care.’

Because I just didn’t ask.

The guy just didn’t say anything.

‘Cultural differences… … .’

It’s something the guy has said a few times.

I have never felt this much of a difference before.

“Your body.”

Suddenly… … .

“Is the owner of the body you are currently occupying also a case where a transaction was not concluded?”

{Yes. As the commander said, rumors about me seem to have spread among the natives to some extent. Iza also came to me and asked for a deal.}

“What was the deal?”

{Hmm, I don’t know why you’re curious about that… …but I guess I can answer.}

I asked with my teeth clenched.

The guy seemed to wonder why anyone would be curious about such a thing.

He answered my questions obediently.

{Actually, the request that Iza made was a bit unusual.}

“… … ?”

{Because he said he wanted to heal his colleagues, not himself.}

Colleagues… … .

I hope you get better.

{He said that his precious comrade was seriously injured and could not come here. Could he come with him to their base and treat him?}

Only after hearing that.

Where did I hear the name Kang Il-hwan?

I could see why that name stuck in my memory.

-I had to go outside to get food. But… …I was left out of that search. I couldn’t go around with this injury.

That makes sense.

It was just recently that I heard the reason.

-That was the last one. Heeseon, Bae Man, and Professor Kang Il-hwan, who had set out to get food… … We lost contact after that.

The one who fought until the end in Seoul.

Because it was a name I heard from a man’s mouth.

“A man like that… …Why is he here like this?”

{Hmm. It was good that he came to make a deal, but… … his demands were too much.}

The man survived in this hellish Seoul with a few colleagues.

In the end, even his colleagues were lost.

{There are many dangers in this Seoul. They asked me to go through all of those dangers and advance to their stronghold… … It was a request that I couldn’t give at a reasonable price.}

“……so?”

{At first, they demanded a reasonable price for it… … but of course, they were in no position to pay that price.}

Not a single ray of light comes in… … .

In that dark underground bunker.

{So, the deal fell through.}

“… … .”

{I collected these in advance because I thought they would be useful research materials.}

Doing nothing, just ruminating on my regrets.

It was dying so slowly.

{… … Hmm? Commander.}

The guy who finished talking.

He looked at me with a puzzled expression and said:

{I can tell from examining the commander’s body several times… … There seems to be something a little strange about the commander’s body right now.}

The last survivor of Seoul.

The reason why Jang Young-woong had to meet such a lonely and painful end.

{It seems like you’re secreting more adrenaline than usual. Your oxygen demand is increasing, your blood vessels are dilating… …your blood pressure is rising rapidly, and your face is turning red.}

He had no choice but to lose even his last comrades.

That’s why.

“It was you.”

It was this guy.

{Hmm. This seems to be… … .}

From my body.

Extremely spicy, so much so that it can only be felt as pain.

{It looks like a strange symptom… caused by extreme anger.}

Anger.

It was getting crowded.