The Military Chef of a Ruined World Chapter 33

After cleaning the barracks, the task of turning this place into a temporary base was entering its final stages.

“We need so fire magic over here too!”

“Got it!”

Torches made from nearby trees were set up in various places around the courtyard.

The area around the barracks was an empty plain.

By illuminating the surroundings with torches, even the night beca bright.

“It looks quite similar to our base.”

“It’s a bit lacking compared to our base, but it’s decent enough.”

An environnt similar to that of our base for defense.

We have secured a sufficient distance for our allied mages and marksn to intercept enemies.

“Well then. Let’s start the guard duty right away.”

“Okay. We’re counting on you.”

Several long-range specialists ascended to the rooftop of the barracks.

From there, they would observe the surroundings and intercept any approaching monsters or zombies.

After a few soldiers went up to the rooftop to start their duty, “The rest of us will gather at the central courtyard of the barracks for now.”

In the middle of the barracks’ buildings, there was a small pavilion-like structure ant for relaxation of the soldiers.

The remaining survivors and soldiers gathered around and sat down near it.

Once all the unit mbers were seated the eting began.

“For now, our mission to descend to the surface has been successful. Great job, everyone. Applause.”

“Wow.”

A sowhat ceremonial ‘wow’ and a round of applause followed.

“I’d like to throw a party like we did before leaving the base.”

“Huh?”

“Seriously? Are you kidding?”

“Unfortunately, we still don’t have the luxury for that!”

“Ugh.”

Disappointed soldiers.

I also wouldn’t mind having so fun and relaxation.

But we really don’t have the luxury for it right now.

We’ll postpone that for another opportunity.

“The important thing starts from now on.”

The reason for gathering the soldiers for a eting.

“I’ll explain from here.”

As I finished speaking, Min-jae stepped forward.

In his hands, he held a small whiteboard notice board.

It seed like he had taken it off from the central corridor of the barracks.

“As you all know, our descent to the surface was to expand our influence. But for now, we don’t even have enough resources to survive, let alone expand our influence.”

Min-jae showed the whiteboard to the soldiers as he spoke.

“The things written here are the lists of what we imdiately need.”

The contents of the whiteboard were simple.

[1. Food]

[2. Oil]

[3. Ammunition]

[4. Miscellaneous, etc.]

“I have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

One of the soldiers who looked at the whiteboard raised his hand.

“What do you an by ‘we have little food’? Haven’t we gathered tons of at already?”

As he said.

Thanks to the abundance of monster carcasses hunted down from the mountains, there’s no problem with at.

In fact, cooking just at would be convenient for .

“I have no problem, but might it be a problem for you guys?”

“Huh?”

“No matter how good at is, if you only eat at, it can’t be called a balanced diet, right?”

“Ah.”

Half of it was a joke, but.

In fact, half of it was serious.

Having a variety of flavors is quite an important factor.

“In fact, flavor is one thing, but more importantly, it’s about the nutritional issue.”

Humans need essential nutrients to survive.

Various nutrients that can be consud through cooking.

“If it’s just at, our bodies will only be supplented with protein and fat.”

I don’t know the internal functioning of an awakened human being.

Also, I’m not sure whether it’s a type of power that can maintain health even after nutritional imbalances in the body.

“Having only at might not cause problems for about a month. But if it continues longer, who knows what will happen. To be precise, it’s not about food but about securing various nutrients.”

“Hmm. I see.”

“It’s sothing we’ll have to think about, even if not imdiately.”

Food is one thing.

Number 2 is oil for moving vehicles and generating electricity with generators.

Number 3 is the issue of supplying ammunition for our unit’s main firepower, the marksn.

In fact, each one is important without missing a beat.

“I have a suggestion!”

“Oh.”

At that mont,

A soldier raised his hand.

“You seem quite enthusiastic. What’s your suggestion?”

“I highly recomnd Number 4!”

“Number 4?”

I turned my head to look at the whiteboard Min-jae was holding.

And there it was, Number 4.

[4. Miscellaneous, etc.]

“Oh… So, you an you’re recomnding ‘Miscellaneous, etc.’?”

“No, not exactly ‘Miscellaneous, etc.'”

The soldier spoke with enthusiasm.

“I’m suggesting that we need to secure materials! I strongly recomnd it.”

His na was Corporal Lee Gong-woo.

He was an engineer type awakened in our unit.

“Securing materials…”

“Yes. I’m confident it will be helpful no matter what.”

Corporal Lee Gong-woo spoke confidently.

Listening to him, I thought, ‘Certainly. When we descended from the mountains, we also thought about securing materials.’

When we left the base and descended to the surface, we intended to use vehicles actively.

We expected them to carry not only materials but also serve as barricades.

‘But that was impossible.’

Barricades? What barricades?

Regular cars were torn apart like pieces of paper by monster attacks.

At that ti, Corporal Lee Gong-woo said sothing.

“If only we had the materials, we could have managed sohow.”

“Your occupation is that of an engineer?”

“Yes.”

“Your suggestion about securing materials must be related to that. Explain it in detail.”

With my permission granted, Corporal Lee Gong-woo continued with excitent.

“What you ntioned. Of course, they’re all important.”

“But?”

“The problem isn’t about whether we need them imdiately. It’s about…”

Corporal Lee Gong-woo said firmly.

“Whether it’s feasible or not.”

“Hmm.”

“Securing food, oil, and the like. Of course, that’s good, but we don’t know much about the surface.”

That statent wasn’t entirely wrong.

Although survivors have joined our group, they were also people who fled to our unit without fully adapting to the surface.

“So. The first thing we need to do is to find a safe way to explore the surface. That’s essential.”

“Is that what you an by securing materials?”

“Yes. My occupation, the engineer, may have the na ‘engineer,’ but it’s a bit different from the engineers of modern warfare.”

From what I know, the main role of modern engineers is removing or installing obstacles,

as well as maintaining unit facilities.

“Of course, I can perform those tasks, but you could say it’s been expanded with the concept of dieval engineers.”

“dieval engineers?”

“Making and modifying war weapons, for example.”

Sothing grandiose was ntioned.

War weapons, huh?

“In dieval wars, there were things like ballista or catapults, right? Making and modifying those weapons locally was also the role of engineers.”

“…We can make siege weapons?”

“It’s impossible right now. But with the necessary materials, it’s definitely possible.”

It might sound sowhat vague.

But Corporal Lee Gong-woo seed confident.

“Think about the recent assault on the barracks.”

I tilted my head at Corporal Lee Gong-woo’s words.

‘Wasn’t it resolved well?’

We successfully attacked the barracks through my cooking.

There wasn’t anything particularly considered a problem there…

“In the recent assault on the barracks, only three squads were involved.”

Ah.

That’s true.

To cautiously operate while avoiding the attention of monsters and zombies, we had no choice but to limit the number of operatives.

We restricted the number of operatives to a minimum.

“In hindsight, sending the entire force to storm the barracks would have been the most ideal choice. Fortunately, there were no issues this ti, but when you think about it, we didn’t know what might happen at the barracks.”

“It’s not easy for the entire force to move at once.”

“If we mobilize vehicles, it’s not impossible, right?”

Mobilizing troops using vehicles?

In response to that, Sergeant Lee Min-jae frowned and said, “Impossible. If we’re attacked by monsters or zombies, vehicles will be torn apart like paper. It’s better if the troops clear the way ahead.”

“That’s exactly it!”

Although Sergeant Min-jae intended to refute, Corporal Lee Gong-woo surprisingly agreed with Sergeant Min-jae’s statent.

“Since we can’t use vehicles, humans have to clear the way bare-handed. Hmm…! The pinnacle of inefficiency!!!”

Corporal Lee Gong-woo’s voice rose considerably, showing his excitent.

“And this is not about monsters being the problem!”

Bang!

He pointed his finger at the cars parked in the corner of the barracks.

“These feeble vehicles, defenseless against monster attacks, are the problem!”

“…”

This guy.

Has quite a Spartan mindset.

“If vehicles could withstand monster attacks, there would be no need for cautious movent. Our operations would be overwhelmingly easier.”

“Can you make such vehicles?”

“Yes! With enough resources and ti, absolutely!”

Corporal Lee Gong-woo was so excited that he was almost ranting.

“Just provide the materials! I’ll show you sothing!”

… Everything’s fine, but

His excitent makes it a bit hard to follow.

“Uh, Corporal Lee Gong-woo. You seem a bit too enthusiastic.”

“Oh. Oops. Was I too excited?”

“I’d like to say no, but… you were a bit. Please calm down.”

“Sorry.”

It wasn’t just who felt awkward.

When another soldier next to him pointed it out, Corporal Lee Gong-woo quickly suppressed his excitent.

Watching him feel a bit embarrassed, I thought,

Having too much passion might be an issue.

‘But he’s not wrong.’

Securing materials, sothing I secretly put off thinking it wasn’t essential.

However,

One of the features of this ‘ga’ that I vaguely grasped bothered .

‘Are production jobs more powerful than they seem?’

As an awakened chef I have experienced this firsthand.

And the equipnt made by seamstress Lee Sang-ahh provided trendous defense capabilities.

It’s not just about being a ‘chef’ or ‘seamstress’.

If production jobs are overpowered?

Then Engineers.

These guys may possess considerable potential as well

After organizing my thoughts, I looked at Corporal Lee Gong-woo and said,

“Gong-woo.”

“Yes!”

“Are you really confident about this?”

Deciding the fate of the battalion is a serious matter.

You can’t take it lightly.

“I’m saying this just in case, but…”

“Yes.”

“If you’re saying this lightly or just want to try out your abilities, then I have no choice but to reject it.”

As I asked seriously, Corporal Lee Gong-woo’s face, which had been excited until then, tensed up.

“This is more important than other activities. Do you have that conviction?”

“Yes.”

Despite that, there was confidence in his answer.

“If we secure materials, we can create items that will make future activities on the surface much easier. I have many ideas and plans with other engineers. If necessary, right now… I can show-”

“No need to show it. If you’re serious about it, that’s enough.”

Bullets, oil, food, and other things are certainly important.

But if we can make the process of obtaining them easier… Then it wouldn’t be bad to prioritize his suggestions.

“Let ask just in case. Does anyone have objections?”

It was quiet. It seed like everyone was in agreent.

“Then it’s settled.”

Our unit’s next objective had been decided.

***

Though we had decided the goal, it was not sothing that we could execute imdiately.

We had just successfully recaptured the barracks.

As it was a temporary base, there were many corners to be refurbished.

“Let’s discuss the details from tomorrow onwards. Disperse for now. Good job everyone.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work!”

And so, we spent the night at the barracks.

Strangely enough, the barracks had plenty of empty rooms.

Thanks to that, we could enjoy the luxury of having one person per room, which we couldn’t have in the unit.

Though it was a building without electricity.

The next morning, before dawn.

Yawn…

I opened the door of the barracks and stepped outside.

Looking up at the sky, it was still dark, with the sun yet to rise.

I ca out at this hour not because I’m particularly diligent…

It’s sothing that I have developed over the years while cooking as a chef.

It’s just like an occupational disease caused by cooking.

“Tsk. Nowadays I wake up automatically around 4 a.m.”

Since I was awake, I thought, I might be able to resolve one of the ‘areas that need various adjustnts’ that I had ntioned earlier.

“Hmm.”

I placed several heavy pieces of tal in the center of the courtyard.

In the past, a few people would have moved these items together.

But now, after awakening, I could handle it alone.

“Let’s see.”

I looked at the items gathered on the courtyard floor.

A large cooking pot (cauldron).

A large grill.

And even a stand to place the grill and the cooking pot (cauldron) on.

“For cooking, this should be enough. I’ll have to ask the others for tables later.”

Since it was our new temporary base, we needed a new dining area.

And for that I was building a cafeteria out there.

“If only we could use the barracks’ kitchen. But we can’t hold onto what’s not possible.”

With all utilities cut off, including electricity, water, and gas, the barracks’ kitchen was just for show and couldn’t function as a kitchen.

So, there was only one solution.

To make it ourselves.

Just in case, all the field cooking equipnt we used in the unit was stored in the vehicles.

Actually, despite its grand na, it was just a large cooking pot (cauldron) and grill.

It’s quite crude, but it’ll do.

“There shouldn’t be any problem with basic cooking, right?”

Even in the unit, we mostly cooked using these.

For now, this level of kitchen facilities should suffice.

“So, should I start preparing breakfast first?”

Step one of al preparation.

Prepping the ingredients.

I opened one of the trailer compartnts parked in the courtyard.

Inside, there were piles of monster carcasses with frost on them.

It might have been a terrifying sight for the old .

But now, I’m so used to it that they just look like ingredients.

[Chef’s Eyes]

“I think this might co in handy, so I’ll keep it. Hmm, this looks good.”

Using my skills, I assessed the thod and characteristics of handling the monsters piled up in the trailer compartnt.

I decided to save any monsters with potentially useful characteristics for later use.

Those with less distinct characteristics were selected and brought out.

[Acquired Junior Grade Cooking Secret: Enlightennt of Red Kangal* Preparation’]

Slicing swiftly, I prepared the at according to the system prescribed thod that ca to my mind.

Monsters whose bones and flesh separated effortlessly.

Among them, I set aside bones and hides that the seamstress could use.

I also separated parts of the at that were not suitable for consumption, such as tough portions and fat.

What remained was just the flesh.

I generously sprinkled salt and pepper on the appropriately sized pieces of at.

The at had not completely thawed yet.

As it slowly lted, the seasoning would seep inside.

“I think this should suffice for ingredients.”

After placing the grill on the support, I stacked pieces of firewood that had been roughly gathered from the surroundings below.

I tore a few pieces of paper from the barracks and lit them with a lighter before tossing them into the firewood.

The firewood, slightly damp from the morning dew, didn’t seem like it would ignite easily.

“Oh.”

To my relief, smoke started billowing out and the fire began to burn.

“Lucky.”

As the preparations neared completion, the morning sun began to rise slowly.

“Oh, Sergeant Shin. What are you doing?”

“Preparing breakfast.”

It was the ti when ordinary soldiers began their activities.

So soldiers began to wake up and step outside the barracks, squinting at the light.

“Yes? Wasn’t breakfast going to be jerky for a while?”

“I considered that. But I thought it would be more comfortable to cook the food myself.”

“Wow, Sergeant Shin…”

“I’m so touched.”

“Gross, you, guys. Perfect timing. There were tables and tents in the barracks’ storage, right? Bring them out for .”

“Yes, Sergeant!”

As the soldiers fetched the tents and tables, I started grilling the at on the heated grill.

Sizzle…

The sound and aroma of grilling at began to fill the air.

Even those resting in the barracks began to sll it and ca outside.

“Wow. at for breakfast?”

“Yeah. Surprisingly, at is good for breakfast, too.”

“Wow. Truly a chef.”

As most of the soldiers ca out to the courtyard,

“The tables and chairs have been set up!”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

By the ti the dining area was ready,

[The dish is ready]

[Imbued with the Stability of a Junior Chef]

The first batch of at was ready.

“Everyone, line up. It’s first co, first served for the al.”

“Yes, Sergeant!”

“Oh, so of these are for the guys on duty. Once you finish your al, bring these to them first.”

As the guys who had finished their al took away the cooked at,

I continued grilling the next batch.

Amidst this, I felt so peculiar gazes.

When I looked in their direction, I saw so soldiers not eating and glancing at .

“Why aren’t you eating? Oh, are you the type to skip breakfast? Is the at too heavy for you?”

“No, it’s not that.”

I thought they might have complaints about the nu, but that wasn’t the case.

“It’s just that since Sergeant Shin is working, we thought we should let you eat first. Even though you’re doing your best…”

“Oh, what am I hearing now.”

This military culture.

“Ahh… Don’t worry about . I’m eating one or two occasionally to check if they’re perfectly grilled.”

“Still…”

“In fact, picking and eating like this is the most delicious way.”

“I-Is that so?”

Only then did they start their al.

Despite everything, seeing the soldiers enjoying their al made feel content.

For a while, we couldn’t provide comforting als like this imbued with ‘stability’ due to lack of ingredients.

Worries about the soldiers’ morale started creeping in.

Even though the only ingredient available was at, being able to resu als like this gave so peace of mind.

“Well, breakfast seems sufficient for now.”

In truth, the efforts since dawn weren’t solely for the soldiers’ breakfast.

“From now on, the real tasks are getting closer to the goal.”

After clearing the grill where I was cooking at, I placed a pot on the burning logs.

The water collected by the soldiers from the stream yesterday was poured into the pot.

“Oh, are you preparing lunch already?”

“Huh? Not really.”

A few curious soldiers approached upon seeing the scene.

Whether they were interested or not.

With the pot slightly filled with water, I tossed in the fats of the monsters that I had set aside.

Chunks of fat.

“Ingredients aren’t just about at.”

Eating only fat might be a bit much,

but it would be wasteful to discard them.

Luckily, there was one ingredient left in the camp that hadn’t been completely used up.

A cheat ingredient in cooking.

Continuously stirring the monster fat in the water, the chunks gradually turned brown over ti, and the color of the water changed slightly along with it.

Technically, it wasn’t water anymore.

After stirring for about half an hour, satisfied with the result, I lowered the pot to the ground.

I took out all the fatty lumps and stored them separately.

Then, I brought so glass bottles from the barracks.

Tilting the pot, I poured the contents little by little into the glass bottles.

“Phew, the sll is intense.”

As I looked at the bottles, [Ingredient Analysis] was activated.

[Animal Oil Mixed with Magic Essence]

[This is animal oil infused with various types of magic essence]

[When used in cooking, it transforms into magic essence suitable for the dish]

A cheat ingredient in the culinary world that makes everything taste delicious when fried.

It was the completion of the oil.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Translator: One Force

TL Note:

This is the first regular chapter of the day.

1 more regular chapter 2 more additional chapters (For NU target completion) coming up in few hours.

Thanks a lot to all the readers for the reviews and ratings.

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