The Military Chef of a Ruined World

“Refining the uncontrollable magical energy inherent in humans… Could that be the essence of a chef?”

“My race hasn’t changed, so this regeneration isn’t a bad thing at all.”

I decided to view this as a beneficial development. Yet, I needed to delve deeper into this chef ability.

“I’ll need to investigate that later.”

“Yes?”

Fortunately, I had a lead nearby. The now-monsterized human that Chang-Su mentioned—and his party—had yet to locate it. That creature was likely still hanging around the dungeon, now that it had been unsealed. Surely, it would find a home somewhere in the city, and we might encounter it soon.

When that time came, I hoped to finally resolve my lingering doubts.

“I’m back from duty!”

“Welcome back! I’ve prepared meals for the next shift. Eat up before heading back.”

The reason our unit chose to stay was simple: we wanted to attract the many Awakened individuals in the area to join our ranks.

Several days later…

“So, how many people decided to enlist today?”

“Just two.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Two?” I frowned. The soldiers munching on their rations looked equally perplexed.

“It seems fewer people want to join than I hoped.”

Our ultimate goal in lingering around was to build our ranks, yet only a trickle expressed interest in joining us.

“What gives? They can’t have encountered any deserters-turned-raiders, so surely their impressions of being a soldier can’t be terrible.”

“But it’s not great either. Everyone knows we closed that dungeon.”

“Still, wouldn’t defeating the boss serve as a sign of competence?”

In a world torn to shreds where monsters wandered freely, being a soldier should have provided some sense of security. I never expected people to shy away so much.

“What’s the reasoning behind this? There are many possibilities, but…” I turned to Chang-Su, who hailed from this area and was somewhat close to our group.

“Maybe it’s because the people in this city find it hard to band together.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember what I mentioned before? There’s been serious fighting between groups.”

“Oh…”

“It was a showdown between those who had enough food and those who didn’t. Quite a few lost their lives back then. Our group had combat capabilities and a decent food supply, so we weren’t attacked, but…”

“No way…”

“Because of that clash, many groups collapsed, leaving individuals from those collapsed factions merging into others. It’s likely that some of those groups still harbor deep-seated grudges.”

Chang-Su shrugged, and I could sense the weight of that history.

“I heard from the other soldiers that if over a hundred Awakened individuals gather, it becomes a guild, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Even with plenty of Awakened individuals in the city, not a single guild has formed. It’s complicated. People don’t naturally band together just because it would be beneficial. Each Awakened individual can fend for themselves without needing a large group.”

Thinking back to when I first awakened, I realized he was right.

“If only I had been a knight or an assassin, I could have at least tried to stand on my own.”

Those capable of standing alone were drawn to jobs like that. If they had been powerless, they would have sought out our guild.

But those who could manage their own security had little incentive to join forces with us.

“Honestly, this makes the situation more disappointing. Are you really not considering joining our unit?”

The man before me, alongside Chang-Su and his group, echoed the same sentiment.

“That’s right, Captain!”

“Why won’t you come along with us?”

Given that his group was small, it was almost unfair to say no, especially since almost half had made that choice.

“It’s because of the ones I’ve helped with my cooking… their families.”

The individuals he had treated, who were now recovering from their ailments, were starting to awaken. Those who cared for them were capable Awakened individuals, ready to leap into battle.

I welcomed them without hesitation and without any embellishment. “I completely understand.”

Still, Chang-Su and some others in his group declined.

“Besides, I’m not big on being tied down. The truth is, I’d like to grow this group before I consider any further actions.”

“Huh?”

“If you gather over a hundred, it becomes a guild. I want to at least reach that point. Once we have a solid foundation…” His gaze turned distant.

“I want to discover why this world has fallen into such chaos.”

Chang-Su seemed to have shifted quite a bit of thought after our recent dungeon excursion.

“These monsters… I used to think they were just mindless beasts, but there’s more to it. They were fighting to protect their young. While I don’t forgive them for that, it’s opened up new questions.”

It seemed he had reached the same conclusion I had after clearing that subway dungeon. I recognized that we were fundamentally different races, never meant to coexist harmoniously.

Each side struggled to survive; it was nature’s rule that the strong would thrive.

“Think about it. If those monsters had a reason for their actions, our real enemy isn’t just them. It’s something deeper.”

All the monsters I had once sought revenge against were now dead, suffocated in their own chaos once the dungeon was sealed.

Yet Chang-Su appeared bent on harboring thoughts of vengeance.

“As long as the circumstances creating these monsters persist, our revenge won’t be over.”

He seemed determined to pursue this quest even further.

“Well, I’m not suggesting we live in a constant state of unease. Since most of our comrades have decided to join your unit, let’s ensure we maintain our camaraderie. If you ever need our help, just call.”

This growing bond felt crucial to me.

“Understood. Chang-Su, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need a hand.”

“Oh, can I really do that?”

“Yes?”

He smiled awkwardly, clearly hesitant. “I actually have a small favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Could I get some combat rations?”.

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