“Hey, Young-joon! I’m glad you’re here. Listen to what I have to say!”
Last night.
Or, more accurately, the night when I was acknowledged as the leader of this unit.
All the unit mbers gathered for a eting, and we had two main agendas.
One of them was none other than .
To appoint Sergeant Shin Young-joon as the leader of our unit.
And the other agenda item was…
To get rid of Lieutenant Kim.
“A few days ago, out of nowhere, the soldiers stord in and locked up here! What’s the aning of this!”
At the point when the agenda to appoint as the leader was passed.
It was practically a given that the agenda to remove Lieutenant Kim was also approved.
Lieutenant Kim is strangely adept at politics.
If left unchecked, he could undermine our unit’s efforts and authority.
To avoid such a future.
Getting rid of Lieutenant Kim was essential.
“I oppose removing Lieutenant Kim.”
“Isn’t it a waste?”
I was the one who opposed it.
“I suggested removing Lieutenant Kim, and I was prepared to do it myself. Do you really have to intervene?”
At that ti, it was who opposed Min-jae hyung’s proposal and had replied
“I’ll handle that part. Just lend a hand.”
It seems Min-jae hyung even considered directly removing Lieutenant Kim himself.
But in the end, he respected my opinion.
And agreed to cooperate.
That’s how Lieutenant Kim’s life was spared.
“Min-jae hyung ca through with the request.”
Min-jae hyung’s electric magic.
Commonly known as the ‘Million Volts,’ knocked out Lieutenant Kim, making him the first prisoner here.
Min-jae hyung’s ability.
Perfect for subduing soone.
Back to my visit with Lieutenant Kim.
It went sothing like this.
“If the soldiers are upset with for sothing, tell them I’ll apologize!”
“Huh?”
“Last ti, I spilled coffee and blad the duty soldier for it, and during inspection, I vented my frustrations on the soldiers for my mistakes!”
“….”
“And what else, during working hours, I dumped my work on the administrative soldier and rested in the warehouse! And…”
Coming to his senses in this trapped situation.
Lieutenant Kim seems to have thought a lot about why he ended up here.
Perhaps he concluded that it was due to resentnt.
Apologizing while listing actions that could have caused resentnt.
“But there seem to be quite a lot.”
Already notorious among the soldiers as a lazy officer.
There were many stories that I knew, but it seems Lieutenant Kim had committed many more lazy acts than I or the other soldiers knew.
“I see.”
“Yes! Young-joon, please help . You get along well with the unit mbers.”
While I do get along with the unit mbers.
It’s not the sa with you.
…I almost said it.
I held back and kept the words I had thought of.
“I tried to persuade them myself, but there are still too many opposing soldiers. There were more soldiers who resented Lieutenant Kim than I expected.”
“I-I see…”
Lieutenant Kim made a despairing expression.
He’s probably imagining examples of officers being killed by their soldiers in situations like this.
By the way.
I’ve heard stories of officers who excessively forced FM on their soldiers, and ended up being killed by them, but I’ve never heard of an overly lazy officer being isolated.
“Still, I’ll keep trying to persuade them, so don’t worry.”
“Ugh. Young-joon…”
“More importantly, please have so of this. It must have been tough being locked up here…”
In front of a tearful Lieutenant Kim.
I set down the tray I brought.
“Lieutenant Kim, you like pasta, don’t you? I made it with cream sauce.”
“Ah. Young-joon… Thank you so much!”
The prepared dishes were cream pasta paired with so beverage.
It was a dish that targeted Lieutenant Kim’s taste for pasta.
“It’s been a while since I made a dish without worrying about ingredients, so I think I made quite a decent dish.”
Given that it was a dish I was confident in.
The response was imdiate.
“Mmm, delicious!”
“Is that so?”
“Slurp… But what’s this at? I heard there weren’t many ingredients left in the unit…”
“…Ah, that? It’s just, um, what do you call it… chicken at.”
“We had chicken at left?”
“Uh, yeah. Sothing like that.”
Anyway, since the description said ‘similar taste to chicken at,’
I didn’t think it was a wrong statent.
“Thank you for such valuable ingredients, Young-joon. When I get out of here, I’ll treat you very well.”
Lieutenant Kim, who was already known for his voracious appetite.
The carefully prepared dish targeted his palate perfectly.
Naturally.
The effect was trendous.
“And probably, the effects I expected from this side will co soon.”
My thoughts were imdiately confird.
Lieutenant Kim’s attitude had strangely changed.
“Hehe…”
Should I call it an attitude?
Lieutenant Kim was chuckling strangely.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Yeah… no, it’s just… probably because it’s been a while since I had sothing tasty… I feel good. Hehe…”
“It’s good to see you in a good mood.”
Actually.
I felt a sense of guilt for doing this to Lieutenant Kim.
He’s a bit…
Well, quite incompetent, and has committed many petty offenses.
But it’s not like he committed any major cris.
“But it’s necessary.”
When the conversation about getting rid of Lieutenant Kim ca up,
I was prepared to get my hands dirty.
Compared to that.
I could easily bear the guilt.
“It’s also sothing I have to endure.”
With that in mind, I watched Lieutenant Kim, who had finished his dinner.
I roughly tidied up the dishes and left the room.
And the next day.
I once again served Lieutenant Kim with a ticulously prepared dish.
“Darn it. Those guys… making , an officer, like this…”
“Please calm down.”
“When I join the higher unit outside, they’ll all be court-martialed or sent to military trial. Young-joon, you’ll be spared.”
“Thank you.”
“S-So. Today’s nu is…”
“Today, it’s noodles.”
Forgetting about apologies or whatever he said earlier.
Lieutenant Kim muttered about being sent to a military trial if he leaves.
“It’s ridiculous, but it’s not worth bothering about at this point.”
I listened to such remarks with one ear and continued to feed him.
“Hehe… Huhuh… Heh…”
“…”
Every ti the al ended.
Lieutenant Kim chuckled strangely.
I silently watched him and left after roughly cleaning up the dishes.
als continued to be provided afterward.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Three als a day.
Since eating only noodles might get boring,
I occasionally mixed in other dishes.
Lieutenant Kim, confined and dismissed by the unit mbers.
To that man who now had no authority whatsoever.
I still went to the trouble of cooking and serving him.
“Hehe… Young-joon, you’re here.”
“…Yes.”
And now.
Even though Lieutenant Kim didn’t eat, he was still chuckling strangely.
“What’s on the nu today…?”
“Today, it’s your favorite chicken pasta.”
“Hehe… Good, good… Heh…”
[Lizard Rosé Pasta filled with extre happiness]
[Forgetting all pain and worry, only happiness remains with this pasta]
[A new recipe developed using ingredients never used before in human history. Experience points will be increased]
A smile that couldn’t be happier than this.
* * *
[Lizard’s Thigh at]
[Lizard at a bipedal race of reptiles]
[Ingredient Identification – Tastes similar to chicken at. Due to frequent exercise, it has less fat content, resulting in a bland taste]
Lizard at.
Today, it was brought to the ss hall fresh from the creature that the unit mbers had hunted, just like any other lizard before it was burned.
“…This is the first ti I’ve cooked with monster ingredients.”
Lizard at.
It might not seem like a big deal just by words.
But these creatures are monsters that devour humans.
In the past.
Half of the unit mbers were killed by these monsters.
Their corpses beca a al for the lizards, severely damaged and disfigured.
“I can’t tell others to enjoy the at of such a monster.”
It’s a dish that I have never prepared before.
More than that it’s a question of whether it’s acceptable to eat creatures that devour humans.
Until the unit mbers can accept lizards as food.
We couldn’t use lizard at as an ingredient.
Thanks to that, we had to rely solely on the remaining ingredients in the ss, and our supply was quickly dwindling.
“But it’s necessary to know what it tastes like when used as food.”
Because when there’s nothing else to eat, even monsters have to be eaten.
It was a good opportunity for that experint.
So, I imdiately tried cooking the lizard at…
And the results were astonishing.
[Lizard Rosé Pasta filled with extre happiness]
[Forgetting all pain and worry, only happiness remains with this pasta]
[A small amount of mana is included. Enhances the overall taste and performance of the dish.]
Perhaps because it used monster at.
Mana was included, enhancing the taste and performance of the dish.
That alone had a trendous effect, but…
[Using ingredients never used in human history, a new recipe has been developed.]
[Experience gained from consuming this dish significantly increases.]
[Achievent – Oh, this taste!]
[As a chef, you have created a dish using monsters for the first ti.]
[Those who make history all possess an uncanny spirit of challenge!]
[For opening a new path in the culinary world, you are rewarded with an achievent.]
[Title – Pioneer]
[Given to individuals who pioneer entirely new areas in their field.]
[The effect of job-related skills and characteristics increases by 50%]
Getting this achievent.
And receiving the title as a reward.
“It’s excellent.”
A 50% increase in the effects of all skills and characteristics.
It was an imnse effect.
It’s probably because opening up a new path in that field is considered remarkable.
“If that’s the case, it’s not bad.”
With that, I approached Lieutenant Kim with the dish.
It was the first day I brought my cooking to Lieutenant Kim.
* * *
A few days passed, and today.
It’s the third day I’ve brought food to Lieutenant Kim.
“Hehe… Heh… Young-joon… You’re here?”
Now, even though he didn’t eat the food, Lieutenant Kim was still chuckling strangely and drooling.
I watched him and confird that it was ti to move on to the next stage.
“Yes.”
“So… What’s for breakfast today?”
Today as well, Lieutenant Kim believed that I would provide a delicious al.
But I had no intention of eting his expectations.
“I’m sorry, but today it’s just combat rations.”
“…What?”
Lieutenant Kim made a face as if he misheard sothing.
‘Sorry, but you heard right.’
I looked down at the item I brought to Lieutenant Kim instead of the dish.
A square, yellow box.
It was the standard-issue combat ration of the Republic of Korea Army.
“Even so, I chose pork flavor, which you like, from the combat rations. You know how to prepare it, right? Here, pull this plastic strap…”
“W-Wait a minute! What’s this all about? Are you saying there’s no other al today except this?”
“Yes. That’s what I said.”
Lieutenant Kim, angry at the fact that it wasn’t the high-quality als he had been receiving every day, I explained the reason.
Of course, it wasn’t the real reason, but…
“Because there aren’t many ingredients left in the unit. It might be difficult to provide als like last ti in the future.”
“What? Then what am I supposed to eat…”
“What to eat? There you go, aren’t there combat rations?”
When I think of combat rations, I often imagine a dreadful taste. However, the combat rations that are available nowadays have undergone considerable improvent in their own way.
They’re deed decent enough for soldiers with generous appetites to eat without much complaint.
“I’ve been cooking for you out of consideration, Lieutenant Kim. You know that, don’t you?”
“Uh… I…”
“From now on, it seems we’ll have to make do with this.”
Thinking rationally, it’s not a significant problem. It’s just a matter of als being a bit less tasty for a while. After all, the combat rations are still edible.
“But for Lieutenant Kim, who has already developed a taste for my food, not being able to eat it has beco a major issue.”
“Not good, Young-joon. Is this how you’re going to treat ?”
“…”
“I was planning to speak favorably of you even after joining the higher-ups. But it seems there’s nothing good about it for you!”
“Ah, Lieutenant Kim. I told you there were reasons.”
“That’s not my concern! Just hurry up and cook sothing!”
Now he was shouting.
Ignoring him, I left the storeroom after leaving the combat rations there. It was a relief knowing I didn’t have to clean up afterward.
“You! How ungrateful can you be?”
“Do you really think you can treat like this? I have my dignity too!”
Even though I left the room, I could still hear Lieutenant Kim yelling. But I didn’t pay any attention to it.
He’s not in a state to think rationally right now.
“Hmm, as I expected…”
He probably won’t be able to stomach even one al.
And, my prediction was correct.
“Ugh… Ughhh…”
“…”
“This… This isn’t the taste… This isn’t the feeling…”
As soon as the next alti ca around, this was the sight that greeted .
Lieutenant Kim was sobbing in a corner of the narrow storeroom.
Cold combat rations were scattered on the floor.
“Lieutenant Kim.”
“Y-Yes, Young-joon!”
Seemingly unaware that I had co, Lieutenant Kim, who had been sobbing relentlessly, responded to my voice and looked up.
“Have you changed your mind? Is lunch going to be a proper al?”
“…”
“Well, considering the circumstances of the unit, it might be difficult. We can manage with combat rations for one al a day. I used to skip breakfast anyway! So, for lunch…”
“It’s here.”
I said, offering what I had. This ti, it was bulgogi-flavored combat rations.
“This… This is…”
“I thought you didn’t like pork flavor, so I brought a different one.”
Naturally, Lieutenant Kim’s expression twisted noticeably.
“Sergeant Shin Young-joon…”
“Yes. Sergeant Shin Young-joon.”
“This is… This is an order from the top commander of this unit… Bring a proper al right now!”
Now, he’s using his rank to give orders.
“Ugh… That’s not it, is it, Lieutenant Kim?”
“What?”
“If you really want to eat a proper al, your attitude is wrong. In this world. Giving orders like this out of the blue…”
“Uh… This is an order as an officer! Are you mocking my orders?”
Despite his flushed face, Lieutenant Kim’s attempt at intimidation felt feeble.
“I’ll co back at dinner ti. By then… think about what attitude would be appropriate.”
There was a five-hour gap between breakfast and lunchti.
anwhile, there’s a seven-hour gap between lunch and dinner. He’ll have plenty of ti to think, and plenty of ti to struggle.
[Contained within extre happiness]
This was the reason why Lieutenant Kim was lanting so inadequately.
It’s because of the buffs attached to every dish I served him.
“The emotional changes brought about by cooking may be temporary. But…”
The repercussions of those emotional changes linger on.
A pri example is Private Jeon Gwang-il and other soldiers who couldn’t awaken their courage.
When they were fed a dish symbolizing “courage.”
Those who gained courage would rampage like berserkers, slaying lizards, but the next day, they’d return to their original selves without a trace of the courage they had shown.
“That doesn’t an those changes were aningless.”
Those who once gained courage.
When they fought the lizards after awakening, they showed no signs of fear.
It wasn’t because the courage from the dish still lingered.
It was because they had faced monsters with courage and conquered their fear.
While the emotional change itself may be temporary.
The experiences and mories left by those emotions continue to influence us afterward.
Lieutenant Kim’s feeling of happiness after eating the food was no different.
‘Excessive happiness…’
When that happiness ends,
It hits even harder.
‘That’s why I fed him dishes that maximized the effect, three als a day, for more than two days.’
As soon as Gwang-il ate the dish that enhanced courage, he beca a berserker.
The effect was that strong even with just one al.
And if he had it for a few days…
The emptiness… when that happiness isn’t felt, perhaps…
“Please… I beg you…”
“Hmm.”
“This… It’s not enough. No matter how much I eat, it’s not filling… Please, I’ll do anything…”
Just one day.
From lunch, barely holding on with willpower, to dinner, seven hours later.
The ti it took for Lieutenant Kim to surrender.
“Fine. I’ll cook. But there’s a condition.”
“Anything, anything…”
Actually, there might not have been a need to cater to Lieutenant Kim like this.
In fact, so suggested just confining and neglecting him would suffice.
Yet, the reason I made Lieutenant Kim surrender like this was…
“You’ll obey my every command without question.”
“Yes, yes. I understand!”
“Then, here’s the first order. Follow .”
Judging by the tendencies of awakened individuals in their acquired professions…
Lieutenant Kim could be a lottery.
Taking Lieutenant Kim with , we left the underground ss hall and headed toward the defensive line where soldiers were on guard.
At that mont a lizard attacking our unit was being subdued.
“You just need to kill that monster.”
Lieutenant Kim obeyed my command and killed the monster.
And…
[Novice Commander]
[Specialty: Novice Command]
[Abilities of soldiers under command increase by 10%.]
‘A 10% increase…!’
I scratched off the lottery ticket just in case.
And it turned out to be a winning ticket.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Translator: One Force
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