The Military Chef of a Ruined World

Chapter 75.1

After acquiring the [Absolute Palate] trait, I gained the ability to do quite a lot more.  

Being able to utilize the abilities of monsters was an enormous advantage, after all.  

However, that doesn’t mean I can do anything and everything.  

‘I’ve always known there are things that are impossible for me.’  

The reason I set the goal of growing the unit was for this very purpose.  

I, who cannot survive on my own, needed the unit to do what I cannot.  

In other words, this moment is what I prepared for.  

“Corporal Seo Su-hyeok, you’ll do it.”  

When I can’t handle something, the members of my guild can help resolve it.  

“Because you’re the most suitable person.”  

He is the best ‘marksman’ awakened in our unit.  

Marksmen are long-range Awakened, but they differ slightly from typical mages.  

Unlike mages, they cannot unleash widespread firepower.  

However, the penetrating power and destructive force of each shot, and their advantage in engagement range is unmatched by any mage or marksman in the unit.  

This task is suitable for him alone.  

“You’ll snipe that eyeball.”  

Sniping.  

It’s the most convenient solution for resolving annoying problems.  

Brrrrrr…!  

“Sergeant Shin! The food truck is ready!”  

Recently, when the engineers modified various vehicles,  

I had requested one particular item.  

A mobile catering equipment.  

…That’s the official name, but:  

“Huh? Isn’t that just the food truck?”  

Some prefer calling it a food truck.  

“…Both are accurate, I guess. Just call it whatever’s convenient for you.”  

It’s a vehicle equipped with a large gas stove, oven, sink, and all sorts of cooking tools.  

Essentially, it’s just a field kitchen.  

In the military, during large-scale training, the cooks receive field cooking training.  

Our unit is quite small, so we just used a cauldron and gasoline stove for cooking.  

In a regular military, people might not even care whether such a thing exists or not.  

But with me around, this equipment will be incredibly effective for our unit.  

‘I assigned Su-hyeok the sniper task, but I don’t plan on just watching idly.’  

Befitting my support role,  

I intend to provide full-fledged assistance.  

“I understand the cooking buffs are impressive, but do we really need to go this far?”  

The puzzled Sergeant Seo Su-hyeok seemed to think I was overdoing it.  

“Combat rations alone would be more than enough, I think.”  

“This guy, complaining now.”  

It’s true that I haven’t had many opportunities to serve my proper cooking lately.  

The soldiers were already receiving buff meals through the [Combat Rations], and there were a few occasions where I personally handled things due to [Absolute Palate].  

So, it seems Seo Su-hyeok believes my cooking isn’t that much better than combat rations.  

But combat rations are essentially preserved food.  

No matter how deliciously they’re prepared, they have limitations compared to freshly cooked meals.  

‘Come to think of it, has there been any soldier who’s tasted my proper cooking after my stats skyrocketed?’   

The stat increase from [Absolute Palate], and my evolution into an [Intermediate Chef] as my level rose, granting me the [Intermediate Cooking Mastery] trait.  

This Seo Su-hyeok will be the first one to taste my proper cooking.  

‘Consider yourself lucky.’  

Since I’m serving proper cooking for the first time in a while,  

I plan to put in maximum effort this time.  

Tak tak tak tak.  

The sound of me preparing the ingredients on the cutting board echoed quietly.  

“Once again, Sergeant Shin was right.”  

As I was focused on the cooking, the soldier watching me quietly said that.  

“Right about what?”  

“About needing to find out why they attacked us.”  

“If you put it that way, I wasn’t entirely right either. I didn’t expect the monster to be controlling the soldiers.”  

“The fact that you discovered that was right. If we had just gone with my proposal to use force right away, it would have been a disaster.”  

Hmm.  

I hadn’t even considered that scenario.  

“A monster with the ability to control others. Even if we managed to penetrate the barrage and enter the tank battalion, that entity would have likely spread its mist-like energy at that point. If that had happened…”  

Even I, with my overpowered stats, had difficulty driving away the energy that reached me.  

About half the unit members would have been unable to break free.  

An unintended civil war would have broken out.  

“I nearly put the unit in danger. And I also ended up blurting out some nonsense to the sergeant… I’m sorry about that.”  

“It’s okay, I’m sorry too.”  

The argument from last time.  

When I went to rescue the soldiers, what he said to me was actually a way of showing concern for my life.  

I was a bit bothered by the fact that I had let my emotions get the better of me and said some harsh words.  

“…You didn’t really say anything too harsh.”  

“Huh? What do you mean?”  

“You were right. That I shouldn’t be valuing people’s lives like numbers or living that way. Honestly, it hit the mark.”  

The guy sitting blankly on the floor continued calmly.  

“What’s so wrong with that? Honestly, I still don’t fully understand.”  

This guy is the epitome of pursuing pure rationality.  

Pursuing rationality isn’t inherently bad.  

I’d also like to just focus on personal gain if possible.  

The problem is…   

This guy is just too cold.  

As a human being, no matter how much you try to pursue your interests, you can’t avoid being affected by emotions.  

But this guy is different.  

If there’s a choice that’s advantageous, he can just relegate emotions to the backburner.  

Seo Su-hyeok is the best marksman and squad leader in the unit.  

He didn’t obtain that position simply by being the first to awaken.  

He genuinely has the best shooting skills.  

‘I guess his personality also contributes to that skill.’  

Shooting a gun means taking someone’s life.  

Even the best snipers will inevitably hesitate for a moment before pulling the trigger.  

But this guy will make a cold, rational choice even in those moments.  

As a marksman, that’s the ideal quality to have.  

However…  

‘As a comrade in the unit, it might not be so great.’  

The reason our unit has managed to survive so far, I believe, is thanks to the camaraderie and emotional bonds between us.  

As I put the prepared ingredients into the preheated oven, I said:  

“I thought leading the unit was the best choice for our survival.”  

“Yes.”  

“As a chef, I’d be helpless without the other guys. I can’t just survive on my own with a single knife. So, a big part of why I prioritize developing the unit is for that reason.”  

“I kind of figured that was the case.”  

“But what about you?”  

This is a person who always makes the most rational choice, devoid of emotion.  

So why does he care about the unit’s survival?