The Military Chef of a Ruined World

Chapter 139-149

[Your culinary skills shine brightest on the battlefield]

[Cooking effects related to combat are doubled]

[The efficiency of large-scale cooking is significantly increased]

[All traits will evolve to an advance level]

[You have acquired a new skill]

[Skill – Assistant Chef]

With this level-up, I had taken a step up in my profession.

Not only were all my traits enhanced, but I also gained a new skill.

While I had gained quite a bit in various aspects, I couldn’t help but reflect.

“War Chef…”

My new title.

It felt a bit off.

While attaching the word “war” does give it a certain weight, I couldn’t shake the feeling.

“Isn’t this just a cook?”

…Well, how should I put it? It felt like I had come full circle.

I had started as a mere cooking soldier, facing countless monsters and enduring various hardships along the way.

As a result, it seemed I had finally achieved what could be considered a high-level status within the system.

Yet the outcome was… a cook.

It was a bit absurd to think about.

However, as I read through the effects laid out before me, I realized they weren’t so bad after all.

[Combat-related cooking effects have been doubled, and the efficiency of large-scale cooking has significantly increased…]

I had come to understand not too long ago how crucial the role of a chef could be.

But that aside, the typical goals of an ordinary chef likely don’t revolve around enhancing their customers’ combat abilities.

Most of my cooking had been geared solely toward battle.

In that sense, it made sense that I had transitioned into a chef specialized for combat.

“Not too shabby.”

After all, I would still be crafting meals primarily for combat purposes moving forward.

Specializing in that area wasn’t a bad thing at all.

Next, I needed to check out the skill I had acquired.

Every time I advanced in rank by ten levels, I received a free skill.

[Assistant Chef]

This was the skill I had just obtained.

[Great chefs are often referred to by the title Chef]

[This term shares its roots with ‘chief’ and refers to the head chef who directs the kitchen]

[In other words, it signifies the master of the kitchen]

[Having qualities as a head chef who commands and manages many other chefs is also an essential trait for any culinary professional!]

[Invisible Sous Chefs will Assist Your Work]

“What?”

According to the explanation, it seems that I will have sous chefs assisting me in my cooking tasks. Well, I guess I’ll understand better once I actually try it out.

With that thought, I decided to use the skill, but…

“…Is this really possible?”

Even for me, I couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

“Excuse me?”

Jeon Gwang-il frowned.

It was understandable to feel a sense of caution if the unit commander suddenly came to have a talk.

“If this is about what happened last time, you don’t have to worry… You know, the Berserk Effect.”

“I know about it.”

Yet, I felt that what I had said back then could not entirely encompass the situation.

I couldn’t say that out loud, so I continued, “Regardless of that, I think it’s necessary to have a conversation with the other members of the unit.”

“Isn’t that something Lieutenant Kim has been handling? Why the sudden interest, out of the blue?”

“I almost died recently.”

“What?”

At my abrupt statement, Jeon Gwang-il’s eyes widened in shock.

“I didn’t mention it out of embarrassment, but anyway…”

“Uh, when did this happen? Was it when I was unconscious during the defense?”

“No, not that time. It was when those bastards sent assassins after us.”

“Oh.”

I recalled that at that time, Gwang-il had managed to defeat the enemy without taking any injuries.

On the other hand, I…

“Despite everything, we’ve managed to survive quite well, haven’t we?”

“That’s true.”

“We navigated through crises effectively, and I thought we were safe enough. So, I let my guard down…”

“.…”

“Then, right at that moment, those assassins showed up. If it weren’t for Mac, I would have been dead by now.”

Gwang-il, with a serious look in his eyes, said, “It seems wise to keep guards separate from those vampires too.”

“That’s something to consider. I didn’t come all this way just to talk about my it. There might be others like me who have become complacent or are distracted by other issues. I want to address any potential problems before they escalate.”

“Hmm…”

Gwang-il’s gaze still reflected dissatisfaction.

With his current state of mind, it might be hard to hear the things I wanted to discuss.

But.

“Gwang-il.”

“Yes?”

“This is a more important issue than you might think. If we brush it off, it could lead to serious problems later on.”

“I understand, but I don’t see it as a big issue…”

“And I’m prepared to do whatever it takes for the survival of the unit.”

“…?”

Gwang-il looked at me with a puzzled expression.

In front of him, I had laid out two kinds of food.

On one side, there was simple fried rice and stir-fried meat.

On the opposite side, there was a single candy in a paper cup.

[The Honest Emotion Candy of the War Chef]

“What’s this…?”

“It’s a candy that makes you a little more honest when you eat it.”

“…Huh.”

Or in other words, it’s known as the sweetest confession drug in the world.

The only other person who knows that emotions can be influenced through [Special Sauce] is Min-jae, aside from me.

Gwang-il seemed slightly surprised, but then he said, “As expected from Sergeant Shin. You can even do something like this.”

“I guess I’m a bit talented.”

He seemed to think, ‘I guess this person can do just about anything.’

“I can guarantee the taste. It’s candy, yet it’s good for your health, too.”

“….”

“Do you want to eat it and then talk, or just talk?”

“Huh. Isn’t there an option to not talk?”

“I don’t have the luxury for a mental clinic right now.”

Even I thought this was a bit extreme, but Gwang-il, while looking at the candy, let out a faint laugh.

“I’ll just go ahead and say it.”

“Good choice.”

I tucked the candy into my pocket.

Gwang-il glanced at the remaining dishes and asked, “So, what’s with this food?”

“Oh, this?”

I grinned.

“Let’s just eat while we talk. You must be starving.”

Once before, I had a rather sincere conversation with this guy.

It was during a time when we were getting to know each other better.

We hadn’t grown distant; rather, we had become closer.

Once he decided to speak, he shared his concerns without hesitation.

However,

I was left wondering, ‘What does that even mean?’

“So, what you’re saying is…?”

“Yes.”

“…Is it because I’m so exceptional that I can solve any problem effortlessly? Were you thinking that you or the other soldiers were of no use?”

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il nodded in response.

“Pretty much.”

“You’ve worked hard to become stronger, yet it feels like you’re no longer of any help. It makes you feel like there’s a growing gap between us, right?”

“Yes.”

So, I wasn’t misunderstanding anything after all.

The conclusion I reached after piecing everything together was quite simple.

‘What kind of superhuman do they think I am…?’

I knew the soldiers had a tendency to overestimate me, but this seemed a bit excessive.

This guy viewed me as some kind of superhuman.

So remarkable that instead of being helpful, they believed they were nothing but an obstruction.

The most glaring example of this…

“Are you saying that my reason for not fighting is to allow you to grow?”

“Well, isn’t that the case?”

“….”

My profession is that of a [Chef].

Originally a support role from the rear.

Sure, there are times when I end up in front-line battles.

But it’s hard to see how having a non-combat role involved in combat would be efficient.

Naturally, most of the time, I provided support through cooking.

Yet this kid had somehow twisted that into a strange misunderstanding.

He thought I was deliberately letting enemies that I could deal with in an instant go so that my troops could improve.

‘I can’t believe this.’

As I stroked my brow in frustration, Gwang-il continued speaking.

“I owe my life to you, Sergeant Shin. I really want to repay this debt somehow.”

“Uh, sure.”

“But instead of repaying your kindness… I end up causing you problems.”

“There are many things I don’t quite understand here, but I got the gist of it.”

I realized that the soldiers overestimated me to a degree.

After all, I held a position of authority as the Guild Master… or rather, as the Legion Commander.

‘Thinking back, I didn’t see that misunderstanding as entirely negative.’

It was indeed a bit burdensome.

But…

‘In a world like this.’

In a place where you never know when death might come knocking.

That’s why a leader always had to be a strong figure.

Just the fact that their commander is an impressive person is enough to make the members feel reassured.

So, there were times I intentionally let things slide a bit.

“Who can I blame? It’s my fault for leaving things as they are.”

“Excuse me?”

“Never mind that. If you’re finished eating, let’s get up.”

As I stood, Gwang-il looked puzzled.

“Let’s get up? But this is my room… Are you suggesting we move somewhere else?”

“To the training grounds.”

“Why the training grounds…?”

A towering figure stood before me, measuring an impressive 2.3 meters in height.

Even while seated, he was nearly at eye level with me.

“It’s time for some post-meal exercise,” I declared confidently.

“Let’s do some sparring.”

[Training Grounds Lv.2]

This facility was created with the invested Occupation Points.

Training here yields enhanced results, and one can even earn experience points through practice alone.

There are various benefits, but that’s not what matters at the moment.

“Corporal Jeon Gwang-il has arrived.”

“Oh, Sergeant Shin is also here?”

Inside, I could see warriors diligently engaged in their training sessions. Those who had awakened as warriors seemed to have also experienced a growth spurt.

It was a gathering of towering figures flaunting impressive muscles and athletic physique.

‘I’m not exactly short myself,’ I thought, but standing amongst them made me feel like a dwarf.

Feeling a bit awkward, I cleared my throat and spoke up. “I need to have a word with Gwang-il. Sorry, could you please step aside for a moment?”

“Oh, sure. No problem.”

“We were about to wrap up anyway.”

As the soldiers moved aside, I quietly made my way to a corner and picked up a wooden dagger.

“Sparring, huh…”

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il slipped on his gloves, mumbling to himself, “You sent the soldiers away to consider my feelings, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

“After all, since I’m acting as the warrior chief, I shouldn’t be seen taking a beating in front of others. You really are meticulous… it’s quite impressive.”

“Uh, well, let’s just say that’s true.”

I stood in front of him, shaking my head at his nonsensical remarks, then took my stance and stated, “Give it your all.”

“I know. If I don’t fight with full strength, this will be over in no time.”

Thud, thud.

After tapping our weapons together twice, the sparring commenced.

And then, about a minute later…

Thud!

I found myself sprawling on the ground.

“Y-you said to fight seriously, but it feels like I’m thrashing you like some sort of rookie!” Gwang-il exclaimed.

Silence ensued.

“Hey, you heartless jerk—ugh!”

Naturally, it was me who had hit the floor.

Chapter 140: Corporal Jeon Gwang-il

“Are you serious? You really hit like a seasoned veteran. Ugh!”

“….”

Damn it.

It hurts like hell.

Honestly, before the fight began, I felt a sliver of confidence.

Although I lack combat skills typical of a chef, I had my own advantages. My extraordinary sense of taste and my experience with bloodsucking against Ariella were formidable assets.

In terms of raw stats alone, I was surprisingly strong.

However, it all went down the drain.

About five seconds into sparring…

It was… well, utterly one-sided.

“Hey, Sergeant Shin Young-joon.”

“Ugh! This is killing me! What do you want?”

“I’d like you to fight seriously.”

Whether I was getting hurt or not didn’t seem to concern Gwang-il, who looked down at me with a frigid gaze.

“What nonsense are you spouting? I’m fighting with all I’ve got!”

“Do you really think I don’t know how strong you are, Sergeant Shin? This feels nothing short of an insult.”

“Cough! Then why don’t you unleash your [Berserk] to the maximum?”

Really? We’re still on that?

Trying to lift my spirits, I couldn’t help but let out a strained chuckle.

“Gwang-il.”

“Yes?”

“Want to see something fun?”

After barely managing to sit up from the floor, I rummaged through my pouch and pulled out some combat rations.

“Honestly, I’m getting tired of just pretending to be strong.”

With him, I thought it would be fine to show a little vulnerability.

I picked four different types of rations and tossed them into my mouth in one go.

“What are you doing?”

Normally, in typical situations, only one cooking effect applies at a time. Even if you eat multiple dishes at once, you wouldn’t get any meaningful additional buffs—a common understanding among soldiers.

But thanks to my [Absolute Taste (Enhanced)], culinary buffs stacked up for me.

[Active Cooking Effects – (4)]

“……!”

As the cooking effects kicked in, I felt a rush of power coursing through me.

Strength, agility, and magic —my stats soared.

And as a chef, I was tapping into a reservoir of potent traits I should never have had access to.

“Finally, I’m serious…!”

Could it be that he mistook the change in my demeanor as the real beginning of a fight?

He seemed to be reveling in the moment, yet—

“Gahhh!”

“What?”

It was anything but that.

The pain that surged through my entire body was levels above anything I had experienced from his blows.

“Sergeant Shin? What in the world!”

“Cough, cough… I told you I’d show you something interesting. Just look.”

I extended my arm towards the bewildered opponent.

His eyes widened in shock as he took in my hand.

“What is this?”

My fist, clenched tight.

Even he could feel an indescribable power radiating from it.

But at the same time—

Crack, crack…

“Is…is your muscle twisting?”

“Isn’t it fascinating? The one experiencing this pain could very well be the one dying.”

My muscles, once whole, now writhed and screamed in torment.

“It’s the price for cramming an excessive amount of buffs into my body.”

With my [Absolute Taste (Enhanced)], the effects of the food I ate were amplified beyond normal levels.

Yet, instead of just one, I had shoved down multiple amplified dishes.

There was no way my body could withstand such an overwhelming impact.

And thus, it screamed in agony.

“What you’re saying isn’t entirely false. To be precise, it’s half-true.”

“What does that even mean?”

“If I want to, I can become stronger than you. But you know, I’m not a combat class.”

It was true that the profession of a chef deserved at least some recognition in the realm of rare classes.

Yet, that was all it was.

The fact remained that I was a supporter, not a fighter.

Whether rare or common, a supporter is still just a supporter.

“This is the price one pays for a non-combat class to gain strength.”

“.…”

He gazed at my arm, beads of cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

“Truthfully, under normal circumstances, eating this much food at once would likely cause my body to burst and die.”

“Excuse me!? Bursting and dying? What on earth do you mean by that?”

“No, I mean in ordinary cases, that’s what would happen. But I have a way to endure it. If I didn’t, I would have burst long ago.”

Excessive buffs placed a heavy strain on the body.

No matter how high my stats were, I should have reached my limit by now.

Yet there was one reason why I was still alive.

Ariella’s blood.

Through the process of absorbing Ariella’s blood to its limits, I unintentionally drew closer to the nature of a vampire.

The result of that was an enhanced healing factor.

This healing factor gave me some relief from the adverse effects.

As my body teetered on the brink of destruction from the overwhelming buffs.

Simultaneously, it was the noble blood that began to mend the injuries inflicted upon me.

“Why don’t I fight more often? I mean, with things always ending up like this, it just doesn’t seem worth it. After all, I’m just a supporter.”

No matter how much my resilience allows me to endure,

The source of this resilience comes from the monsters.

Relying solely on this fact was a heavy burden.

What if I became too dependent on this regenerative ability and crossed a line one day?

I could easily turn into a vampire.

“Well, most of the crises have been handled by Sergeant Shin, right? Not just in battle; you’ve even resolved issues with your cooking…”

“True, isn’t it? I may not be great at fighting, but I can hold my own in the kitchen. Hahaha.”

“….”

In terms of combat, the situation is as it is, but honestly, I do take pride in my cooking.

As I chuckled lightly, he shot me a look that suggested he wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

“Okay, that was just a throwaway comment.”

I tried to sound a bit more earnest.

“The important thing is, I can’t do anything on my own.”

“….”

“A short skirmish is possible. Like you said, if I can just endure the side effects, I could become much stronger than you. But that strength is only temporary, and the side effects are real.”

The moment the buffs from my cooking wear off,

my combat abilities would plummet, likely dropping to a level similar to that of mid-tier warriors—or worse.

“If it weren’t for the soldiers fighting alongside me, I’d have been a corpse long ago.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Don’t say that having you around doesn’t help. You’re invaluable.”

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il nodded solemnly, though his face still showed lingering doubts.

“I understand.”

“Yet you still look dissatisfied.”

“Ah, well…”

He hesitated for a moment before letting out a sigh.

“It’s just that it seems unchanged that I’m not strong enough.”

“No, that’s not—”

“The reason you, Sergeant Shin, are pushing yourself like this is ultimately because the strength of the other soldiers is often lacking.”

“….Um.”

That’s true,

if my comrades had been strong enough,

I wouldn’t have had to stress over cooking and all that.

Just giving them buffs would have sufficed.

But…

“It’s not easy to become that strong. You, yourself, are already more than capable.”

“Compared to what you’ve achieved, it’s nothing.”

“….”

What can I say?

This guy’s feelings of defeat and impatience are so deeply rooted,

it doesn’t feel like they can be easily dismissed.

‘Why is this strong guy feeling anxious?’

For someone who has already grown so much,

I have no idea how to help him.

It seems clear that he understands I need him by my side.

It’s a different matter altogether that he isn’t satisfied with himself.

“Of all things, why does he have to compare himself to me?”

It’s not like I’m particularly exceptional.

If he feels inadequate when measured against me, that becomes a difficult issue to navigate.

In truth, there is a way out.

It’s simple—something that can be resolved in one fell swoop.

Hmm…

“Should I use cooking as a solution?”

By feeding him a dish brimming with bold flavors, this timid character transformed into a ‘Berserk Warrior.’

Even now, he remains self-conscious about his perceived shortcomings.

Yet, he bravely faces formidable opponents without a hint of fear.

If I were to prepare a dish with all my effort and enhance it with a special sauce packed with passion…

Perhaps that lingering sense of defeat could be pushed aside completely.

But…

“Still, I don’t think I’d like to go that route.”

The fact that he has become like this, to some degree… no, it’s entirely my responsibility.

That gentle soul has morphed into a maddened warrior.

While I had no choice at the time, it feels like I’ve altered someone’s very character.

What’s more, this isn’t someone who has committed a crime; this is my sweet junior.

Honestly, I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

Unless the individual is a criminal or it’s a situation that demands such drastic measures…

I wouldn’t ever consider using a potent special sauce that leaves a lifetime impact.

“You don’t need to worry too much.”

Fortunately, my attempts at persuasion didn’t fall completely on deaf ears.

“I understand now that I’m of some help to Sergeant Shin.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear you grasp that.”

“Yes, I’m sorry for causing unnecessary concern.”

“That’s nothing to apologize for. If you’re going to apologize, you might as well apologize for roughing up your superior…”

It seems I’ve conveyed the fact that I’m indeed a valuable asset to him.

I don’t think this will escalate into a significant problem.

He won’t be spouting nonsense like, “Wouldn’t it have been better if you had just let me be?”

“Sergeant Shin.”

“Yeah?”

“I want to become stronger.”

“…Is that so?”

His struggle with self-satisfaction is not something I can fix for him.

“I will become strong enough that you won’t even feel the need to fight yourself… I promise.”

The only way to resolve this is for him to grow stronger on his own.

If that’s the case…

“Work hard. And if you need anything along the way, just let me know.”

“Haha. Yes!”

All I have to do is trust him and wait.

I’ll be here until he is strong enough to feel satisfied with himself.

After that, I continued to hold interviews with several soldiers.

Once the interviews concluded, I moved on to my next destination:

[Hospital Lv.2]

It was the hospital.

“Oh, a soldier…!”

“Ah, you can lie down if you need to.”

As I stepped inside, I noticed several individuals lying down, who immediately sat up after seeing me.

These were not soldiers from our unit.

They weren’t even awakened individuals who had cooperated with us in the city defense.

“Lie down? How can I do that?” one of them exclaimed.

“Considering how you saved us from those monsters, I’d feel inadequate even if I bowed to you in gratitude,” another added.

These individuals were enslaved soldiers—their humanity exploited by the monsters during the battle.

In the chaos of the retreat, it seemed there hadn’t been enough time for the monsters to recover those they had enslaved.

Thus, these individuals ended up being rescued by our unit.

“I’m truly sorry. We were threatened with being devoured if we didn’t obey,” one of them explained.

“Just being threatened? Some of us…” another mentioned darkly.

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Intrigued by their words, I asked, “Threatened? Do those creatures speak Korean too?”

“Oh, not all of them, of course. But there are some monsters that call themselves shamans. They’re disturbingly thin and different from the typical ones.”

Ah.

It was clear that there were indeed monsters capable of using magic.

I remembered feeling quite disoriented when they created a path between the rivers.

“It seems some of these creatures have learned how to enslave people,” one of them added.

“They were rather clumsy at it, but…”

While I was already aware that monsters could learn language, the revelation that some of them could use humans as slaves was still shocking.

“If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me about the situation where you were?” I inquired.

“Yes. We should definitely share that with you,” one responded.

What I learned about conditions in the west was grim.

About half of the cities in western Gangwon Province had already fallen under their control.

In the meantime, humans hiding in the cities were either killed or captured by the monsters.

“Did they kill anyone who resisted and turn the rest into slaves?” I asked.

“Well, yes, they killed everyone who resisted. However, not everyone who surrendered was spared,” came the reply.

“?”

“Only those they deemed useful, like us, survived as slaves. Everyone else was…”

The man faltered, unable to continue.

I couldn’t help but sigh in distress.

‘Given how few humans have survived, should I assume the west has effectively been wiped out?’

If everyone had simply become a slave, there might have been a chance for their rescue in the future.

But from what I gathered, even those who had survived as slaves were a mere handful.

No matter how many troops we had, it would never be enough to fight back against the monsters.

This was not good news.

“So, how are the enslaved individuals treated?” I probed further.

“Well… they sometimes beat us severely for not obeying, and in the worst cases, we can be eaten,” one recounted.

“However, unless we resist extremely harshly, we generally aren’t killed. If they find us useful, they try to keep us alive and put us to work,” he added.

Should I consider it a blessing in disguise?

At the very least, it seemed that the enslaved individuals were not facing immediate death.

However, it’s uncertain how long that situation will last.

Sooner or later, we must reclaim the territory currently held by them.

“What’s been happening since then?”

“There’s no indication of a large-scale offensive, as Taejun mentioned. But…”

Min-jae checked several points on the map.

“There have been skirmishes here with dozens of those green-scaled creatures. We managed to fend them off with the Lava Dragonlings at our side.”

“…As expected, they’re playing it this way.”

Just as Taejun had said.

It seems they’ve concluded that breaching our fortress is no easy task.

With this bastion as our base, we’re setting up even more defensive structures, and we have Lava Dragonlings on our side.

Our unit is already specialized in defensive warfare.

Unless they muster a significant force, we’re not inclined to fall easily to their attacks.

Thus, their chosen tactic is

‘Guerrilla warfare.’

A feasible option for them, given their overwhelming numbers.

Guerrilla warfare typically doesn’t require a commanding officer;

They can simply spread out and ambush people in the area.

“Thanks to the Lava Dragonlings, we can increase the number of patrols. So, the immediate damage isn’t too severe.”

“But even minor losses can accumulate over time.”

This guerrilla warfare will persist.

Until we manage to crush their main stronghold in return.

‘Crush.’

We have the fortress and feel confident in our defense.

The issue lies in the offense.

Generally, it’s said that the attacking side needs three times the manpower of the defenders.

“…Is that even possible?”

At this point, it felt overwhelmingly daunting.

‘The number of surviving humans is inherently limited.’

No matter how many people we gather,

There will inevitably be a cap on their numbers.

“To break through that numerical limitation, each soldier needs to become extraordinarily strong.”

“No matter how much we level up or equip ourselves with better gear… is it even possible to reach that level of strength?”

While we currently boast a formidable unit compared to other Awakened individuals,

If we are to match the power disparity with those ‘green-scaled’ creatures,

It feels like an insurmountable distance.

At least, it seems impossible with just our unit.

As these thoughts crossed my mind,

“Sergeant Shin? Sorry to interrupt your meeting, but…”

“What’s going on?”

“One of the merchants wants to speak with you…”

A merchant had arrived at our camp.

It wasn’t someone I had never seen before.

“Remember, he’s the one who provided you with the information you were looking for last time.”

“Ah, that guy. He said he was a merchant.”

“Right. Lieutenant Kim is currently talking to him, but I thought it would be best if you joined us.”

“Hmm.”

His name was definitely Sang-heok.

He was the one who had tipped me off about the whereabouts of the gluttons’s lair.

‘He’s someone who has helped me after all.’

I made my way, following the soldier’s guidance, with the idea of catching a glimpse of his face.

“I’m Lee Sang-heok,” he introduced himself.

“Lieutenant Kim Hyun-seok here. Just call me Lieutenant Kim,” he replied with a friendly tone.

“So… I’d like to know why a merchant like you came to find our unit,” Lieutenant Kim inquired, leaning forward slightly.

“Well, to be honest, I’m considering embarking on an expedition,” the merchant replied.

He seemed to be the outward leader of a considerable organization.

Watching Lieutenant Kim trying to set the mood, I felt a bit uneasy.

“An expedition, you say?”

“Yes. I was wondering if I might be able to get some assistance with that…”

It suddenly clicked why he had come to our guild.

He was planning a journey far away and wanted our help.

But an expedition, really?

“…Where to, exactly?” I questioned with curiosity.

Lieutenant Kim appeared to share my intrigue, tilting his head as he looked at the merchant.

‘Are there any places worth traveling to?’ I wondered.

All around us, there were only monsters everywhere.

For an expedition to make sense, there should be other people to trade with.

“Ahem. This is something I’m sharing only with you at this very moment,” the merchant continued.

“?”

“Going north from here… toward Yanggu County, there are reports of a sizable group of people. They might be comparable to your military unit.”

“….!”

“If that’s the case, they likely have valuable goods, making the expedition well worth considering.”

While the merchant continued to persuade Lieutenant Kim, I found myself absorbed in thought.

The merchant’s words barely registered with me because I had my own pressing concern.

‘Are there actually groups that could rival us?’

My biggest dilemma at the moment was figuring out how to strengthen our unit.

There were limits to how many people we could recruit, and the growth of our members would take time.

But then I realized something.

There is one fast way to enhance our strength.

Alliances.

Joining forces with another already powerful entity.

“Of course, I’m not asking you to help me for free. It would be mutually beneficial for your soldiers as well…” the merchant was saying.

“Let’s go,” I interjected.

“Excuse me?”

Having interrupted the ongoing conversation between Lieutenant Kim and the merchant, both turned to me in surprise.

“The expedition. I’m saying let’s go together.”

Chapter 141: The Merchant Who Visited Our Guild

The merchant who approached our guild was a man named Sang-heok.

In the past, he had provided me with crucial information, which was instrumental in establishing a direct line of trade for our guild.

At that time, I had merely thought, “I guess it was just a coincidence that he heard noises from the underground sewer.”

But now, reflecting on it, I realize there must have been a reason he could gather information so efficiently.

[Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)]

[Sang-heok]

[Novice Merchant Lv.9]

[Trait]

[Novice Information Acquisition Proficiency]

“Information acquisition proficiency?”

I had never seen anyone in our unit with a trait like that. It seemed to be something unique to merchants.

While we relied on Soo-ah’s [Spirit Visit] and Taejun’s [Astronomer] to collect information in our surroundings, we were primarily focused on scouting the dangers within Chuncheon at the moment.

We had no knowledge of what was happening in other regions.

However, according to this merchant, there lies a city to the north where a significant human force has established itself.

“And it’s in Yanggu…”

The cities occupied by those green-maned tribes were Cheorwon and Hwacheon, which are located on the northwestern fringes of Gangwon Province.

“If Ariella is right, it’s impossible to leave Gangwon Province due to the Black Wall. Then…”

Our current stronghold is Chuncheon, while Yanggu is home to those tribes.

If we could establish a defensive line between these two cities, those monsters would find themselves trapped, with no escape routes.

If we could form an alliance with that faction, the benefits could be substantial.

“Let’s engage in that trade together.”

“Uh, Lieutenant Kim? Who is that person…?”

“Ah.”

This was the reason I had interrupted the conversation.

Lieutenant Kim looked a bit flustered as I joined in; however, he had garnered quite a bit of experience as a leader by now.

“Sergeant Shin Young-joon. He’s one of our unit’s most seasoned soldiers.”

“…!”

“Young-joon, if you want to speak up, please do so without hesitating.”

“I’m sorry, Lieutenant Kim. But I felt it was necessary to voice my thoughts.”

It was well-known that our unit had only one officer, and naturally, Lieutenant Kim was recognized as the commanding officer.

Being the most senior soldier meant that, effectively, he was the second-in-command of our unit.

“Uh, nice to meet you. I’m Sang-heok, and my profession is merchant…”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

After giving a slight nod to Sang-heok, I turned my gaze back to Lieutenant Kim.

“I apologize for interrupting, Lieutenant Kim, but I believe we should pursue that trade opportunity.”

“Is there really a need to do it that way?”

“We don’t even know how people in other regions are managing, do we?”

Sure, Lieutenant Kim would listen to me anyway.

At this point, there was a general consensus that it would be beneficial for him to take on the role of commander.

Given that there were others watching, I had to pretend to respect his authority.

“If traders come and go, it will become easier to gather information from other areas. This trade itself could also support the survival of both sides.”

“Hmm.”

“Besides, we can’t remain here forever, can we?”

As soon as I finished speaking, Lieutenant Kim closed his eyes, appearing to be deep in thought.

Then he said, “That’s a valid point.”

Wait, what?

That was more of a lie to make it seem like I was persuading him.

While not entirely false, my intentions weren’t purely noble either.

‘The crucial part is making contact with forces that could potentially become allies.’

This merchant has information about the group in the north.

I just wanted to benefit a bit from his endeavors.

After all, Lieutenant Kim was unlikely to oppose me anyway.

Pretending to ponder, he turned his gaze toward the merchant and spoke.

“Were you called Sang-heok?”

“Yes!”

“I must admit, I am somewhat skeptical about your proposal. We’re currently overwhelmed just defending the area around Chuncheon City and Inje County.”

“Uh, um…”

“Moreover, an expedition to a different region would put my soldiers at risk. I really don’t want to thrust my troops into a battlefield where safety isn’t even guaranteed.”

“But!”

“Up until a moment ago, I felt the same way. However, listening to Young-Joon’s opinion has shifted my perspective a bit.”

After taking a sip of the coffee before him, Lieutenant Kim continued.

“Our Corps was originally tasked with the defense of all of Gangwon Province, not just Chuncheon. However, with communication severed from other units, it’s become exceedingly difficult to defend even one city with just our forces.”

“….”

“Given that circumstance, we’ve been deliberately turning a blind eye. Nonetheless, our primary role remains unchanged: to defend the entirety of Gangwon Province. While we may lack the manpower to send soldiers elsewhere, we still need to gather information about the situations in other cities.”

“Are you saying…?”

“That we’ll support the merchant activities.”

“Oh, thank you!”

It seemed that he didn’t expect such an easy acceptance.

Sang-heok looked astonished, constantly bowing his head in gratitude.

“While it’s good that we’re discussing trade…”

Lieutenant Kim received his thanks casually.

“Yes, if you have any questions…”

“Is there anything worth selling?”

Just recently, this city had been submerged in water.

Most of the items on the ground had become unusable, even in a major city like this one.

There were even fewer usable items compared to the Inje County we were in.

I was skeptical whether there was anything worth selling to people from other regions.

“Ha ha! I never thought soldiers would be asking that.”

“?”

Sang-heok looked at me as if I were asking something obvious.

“Don’t you have combat rations?”

“Ah.”

“Ah, that’s right, isn’t it?”

I hadn’t considered that either.

It’s such a common item in our unit that I rarely think of it as something precious.

“As you know, food is scarce in this world. Even if we try to cultivate crops, it takes time, and we can’t eat the meat of the monsters… Besides, winter is coming soon, isn’t it?”

“Winter… That’s true.”

Lieutenant Kim nodded, his voice trailing off thoughtfully.

Winter.

Nature’s power is formidable.

The civilization that once allowed us to conquer nature has crumbled to dust.

When winter arrives, even Awakened individuals will find their activities limited.

As for ordinary people? Their situation is dire.

Fortunately, there’s still some time left, but for the average person to survive the winter, preparations need to begin immediately.

“Lieutenant Kim, when winter comes… many will die.”

“Hmm. Most of them will probably succumb to starvation.”

“Yes. To survive, it’s essential to preserve food. Unfortunately, food that can be stored long enough to last through winter is quite rare. Moreover, if that food provides buffs and tastes good…”

The value will skyrocket.

“In fact, even in this city, combat rations are relatively scarce. It’s because we have soldiers who can produce them here. The supply source is right nearby.”

“The more supplies we receive, the lower their value will drop.”

“…Ahem.”

I coughed suddenly.

Both of them turned their gazes toward me.

“Hmm? Did you say your name is Young-joon? Is there something bothering you?”

“No, not at all. Please, continue your discussion.”

Hearing them imply that my cooking might lose value stung a bit.

“Anyway! While combat rations are precious even here, they are immeasurably more valuable in other locations where people lack any means to obtain them.”

“Oh?”

“If we transport these combat rations to other places and trade them for valuable items, we can then bring those items back here, where the price of items is lower, and convert them back into more rations. Selling those again… and if we keep repeating this process…”

“Repeating it?”

“It’s not just money multiplying… that isn’t right. Those scraps of paper are being used as toilet paper. Regardless, we can see it as a way of multiplying resources!”

This setup indicates we could reap significant rewards.

Our foremost goal is to establish alliances, but if we can gain benefits, there’s no reason to refuse.

“Then, what is it that you desire from us? I assume you came here for a particular reason.”

“Yes, well, given my profession in trade, I’m confident in that area… However, truthfully, I would be helpless if I were to encounter a horde of zombies along the way.”

“Since you’re not a combat specialist, that’s understandable. You’re asking us to lend you escort forces, am I right?”

“Additionally, if you could invest in some combat rations, I would be incredibly grateful. I was considering using the reward from last time as capital, but the larger the scale, the better.”

Investment.

We have an excess of combat rations, so the idea of investing a bit to acquire worthwhile items isn’t bad.

The critical issue, however, is the efficiency of that investment.

“If you could do that… I’ll not only repay the invested combat rations but also give you ten percent of the profits from this transaction!”

“Ten percent?”

At first, I thought that seemed rather small, but before I could voice my concerns, Sang-heok began to explain.

“It’s not a bad deal at all. You’d be effectively earning money without having to lift a finger. While soldiers might not feel the pinch, having more of anything is always better, and on top of that…”

Sang-heok continued explaining, drawing out the benefits of the deal.

The more I listened, the more I started to feel that this deal wasn’t just favorable for us—it might actually be overwhelmingly beneficial.

“Hmmm. Are you implying you’re willing to concede that much?”

“Absolutely! And then blah blah blah.”

“Wow! I can’t help but think this might be a deal that benefits us too much.”

“Haha, let’s think of it as a step toward maintaining a good relationship moving forward…”

“Hmm. Hmmm.”

It seemed that Lieutenant Kim shared similar sentiments.

The figure of 10 percent loomed large.

That merchant was making an extraordinary concession.

What initially seemed reasonable increasingly felt radical. But then—

“Wait a moment.”

And so, I interrupted him.

“Ah! Did you say your name was Sergeant Shin? ”

“Let’s set it at 30 percent.”

“………What?”

The merchant, who had been enthusiastically trying to persuade us, suddenly stiffened.

“Let’s go with 30 percent of the profit we take.”

“………Excuse me?”

The look on the merchant’s face was one of disbelief, as if to say, “What nonsensical proposal is this?”

With an expression of injustice, he replied, “That’s outrageous! The 10 percent I offered was already a huge sacrifice on my part to ensure we maintain a good relationship! Yet you’re asking for three times that?!”

“Let’s say 40 percent.”

“……If we conclude the contract like that, I’ll be at a disadvantage even if I take on business—”

“50 percent.”

“……Lieutenant Kim Hyun-seok! Please say something!”

“Me?”

Lieutenant Kim, who had been watching our conversation, cast me a worried glance.

I could almost read his mind.

“From what I understand, 10 percent sounds like a pretty great deal.”

“If we push too hard, won’t we end up worse off when it falls apart?”

“Weren’t you the one who suggested we engage in business with him, Young-joon? Why are you suddenly making such unreasonable demands?”

Well, that was about the gist of it.

But those thoughts stemmed from a lack of understanding.

“Unless you want to go hungry tonight, you should just do as I say.”

I shot Lieutenant Kim a look that conveyed that sentiment perfectly.

That was enough for him.

“Ahem. To be honest, I’m not well-versed in the nuances of these transactions. I’ll let Sergeant Shin Young-joon handle the specifics.”

“W-wait!”

Even Lieutenant Kim, who seemed to be on the verge of giving in, backed me up without hesitation.

The merchant looked utterly defeated, as if the sky were falling around him.

“I can’t believe this. It seems you soldiers don’t have much experience in trading. This kind of deal benefits neither party—”

“60…”

“Stop right there!”

As I was about to suggest a 60 percent share, he hurriedly reached out and covered my mouth.

“Let’s go with 50 percent. 50 percent is good.”

As Sang-heok nodded, beads of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

Watching him, I thought to myself,

“Could 50% really be the fair price?”

To be honest, even while listening to his explanations, I initially believed that a 10% share would be highly advantageous for us. It seemed to be a deal where they were willing to make sacrifices in order to gain our favor.

But let’s take a step back and think about it rationally.

A 10% cut of the net profit?

“Is it reasonable for the party taking on both the investment and the risk to settle for just 10%?”

It didn’t make sense for a deal of that nature to be in anyone’s best interest. Just a little reflection made the answer clear.

And yet, both Lieutenant Kim and I were on the verge of being convinced that the 10% was a reasonable offer.

The reasons were obvious.

[Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)]

[Lee Sang-heok]

[Traits]

[Novice Grade Trust Enhancement]

[Novice Grade Articulation Mastery]

[Skills]

[Price Gouging]

[Scamming]

His skills seemed to allow him to make an absurdly low offer feel convincing.

I wondered, “Who does he think he’s fooling?”

Generally, one cannot inspect another person’s status window.

But I possessed [Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)], which meant that, from the perspective of my profession, other people were merely a type of ingredient.

Glimpsing into someone else’s status window wasn’t difficult at all.

Thanks to my prior analysis of his traits and skills, I was able to judge the situation with a clear mind.

Had I not done so, I would have undoubtedly fallen for his scheme.

Perhaps 50% was indeed the right price.

If the deal went beyond that—say, to 60%—then it would genuinely become a loss for them.

“Good deal. Thank you.”

“Haha… No, thank you. Heh.”

Although I felt a twinge of indignation, I reminded myself that being a merchant meant pursuing profit above all else.

I had no intention of holding it against them.

“But I certainly won’t allow myself to be taken for a fool.”

The lingering spirit of the queen reportedly increased their critical strike probability, among other benefits. With so many enhancements, I had never felt they lacked anything. I figured I would continue to enjoy using these exquisite blades for a long time to come.

However, as humans, no matter how good our equipment is, there’s always that desire to acquire more. I had been thinking it was about time to add something new to my collection. Serendipitously, I had come across such quality materials.

“Hmm, I see. Since the materials are promising, I should be able to craft something worthwhile,” Grandpa Park noted.

“And… actually, there are quite a few more items I’d like you to make,” I admitted, a bit sheepishly.

“Oh?”

“Ahem. While a sword is important, I was thinking about things like pots and ladles too.”

“….”

Seeing Grandpa Park in such high spirits, I thought this was the right moment to make my request, but his expression suddenly shifted.

‘Did I ask for too much?’

He knitted his brow slightly and said, “Well, since you’re the commander, I’ll follow your orders. My specialty is blades, but… creating other items isn’t really a problem. However…”

“Oh, yes?”

“In order to craft those items, I’ll need quite a bit of material, won’t I?”

Grandpa Park’s gaze became sharp, piquing my concern.

“Let me make this clear from the start: I refuse to settle for anything less than the best materials. Compromising at a mediocre level would be an affront to my pride. I will put my heart and soul into crafting everything with high-quality ingredients.”

“I truly appreciate that,” came the reply.

“…You know, my standards have become quite elevated over time. It won’t be easy to find materials that meet my criteria. Do such materials even exist?”

Grandpa Park was a master among masters.

While he could certainly create weapons of a respectable quality with just any makeshift materials, he was a person who could not accept anything less than perfection.

As he mentioned, locating materials that meet his stringent standards would indeed be a challenge.

But then, a sly grin spread across my face.

“Why don’t you see for yourself?”

“…?”

I led the awakened workers to one side of the fortress.

[Storage Level 2]

This was the place where our squad had stored the byproducts and materials collected from monsters.

As I opened the door, gasps filled the air.

“What is this…!”

“Goodness.”

The members of our squad stared in disbelief, their mouths agape.

“Commander! How is there this much…?”

“Have you all really amassed this many materials?”

The interior of the storage was piled high with monster byproducts. The sheer volume resembled a mountain, overflowing within the confines of the warehouse.

“What do you think? With this amount of materials, I think there’s a good chance we can find something that meets Grandpa Park’s standards,” I suggested.

“Hmm. Indeed. With this kind of quantity…”

Of course, not every single item in the storage could be classified as high-quality material. However, given the vast numbers represented, even selecting a few promising pieces from the lot would yield a substantial advantage.

“May I take a moment to look around?”

“Of course. Please, feel free.”

Just as I possessed the ability of [Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)], artisans like blacksmiths had the trait known as [Material Identification].

Grandpa Park’s eyes roamed over the storage’s contents.

“Ooh. This quality is…”

“This isn’t too shabby either. If utilized well, we might be able to explore some new creative avenues…”

“Ahh. If only I had these materials back at the workshop!”

Grandpa Park couldn’t hide his excitement as he admired the stacked resources.

It seemed that those engaged in production were particularly sensitive to the quality of materials.

Just like how I felt a surge of pleasure when I encountered good ingredients, one could only imagine how thrilled Grandpa Park felt.

“It’s certainly not bad. No, to be honest, it’s absolutely fantastic.”

“Hehe. I’m glad to see you’re pleased.”

First the [Level 2 Smithy], and now with these materials, it was an exhilarating situation for any artisan.

The usually stoic Grandpa Park couldn’t help but grin.

“Isn’t this amount just a bit excessive?”

In stark contrast, Lee Sang-ahh, upon seeing the quantity of materials in the storage, gasped in astonishment.

“Lee Sang-ahh, while we’ve been comfortably making the items we wanted in the Ammunition Battalion, the soldiers out on the expedition have endured tremendous hardship. Can’t you feel it just by looking? Think of how many battles had to be fought to gather this much material.”

“But still, there’s a limit to everything…”

With an utterly bewildered expression, Lee Sang-ah stared at the materials laid out before her.

“This is more than something that can be explained by just saying you tried, isn’t it?”

Tsk.

Listening to her, I thought to myself, “This is why I dislike perceptive people.”

I wished I could just brush it off, but her mighty skepticism was too palpable to ignore.

It seemed I needed to explain myself after all.

“Well, you’re not entirely wrong. We didn’t gather these items through our hunts alone.”

“Excuse me?”

“Then, how do you suppose we collected such a large quantity?”

Just as she pointed out, the amount we had on hand would likely take at least another six months to accumulate through hunting alone.

“To be precise, explaining will take a bit of time… Are you aware that I’m responsible for creating combat rations for the awakened in the city?”

“Oh, yes. I heard about that in the guild message the other day.”

“Right. It’s beneficial for both the city’s citizens and us. I’ve always thought you had a sharp mind. But why do you ask?”

Clearing my throat softly, I proceeded to elaborate on the origins of the materials.

“That combat ration is manufactured whenever people bring in monster corpses. We process the meat and convert it into combat rations. In that process, we take a portion of the completed rations as a fee.”

“…Wait, what?”

At that moment, she seemed to have pieced something together.

“Oh no, it cannot be that…,” she muttered nervously.

Meanwhile, Mr. Park continued looking at me with a perplexed expression.

“What’s the big deal?”

“Well, people tend to scrutinize the quantity of combat rations rigorously during the process. They worry we might have taken more than our share.”

“And?”

“Oddly enough… very few people ever ask for the bones, horns, or teeth back.”

“…..”

“Isn’t that intriguing?”

In that moment, a strange silence fell between us.

The two of them looked at me oddly.

“Sir Commander? You don’t mean to say…”

After a brief pause, Lee Sang-ah stared at me, her eyes wide in disbelief.

“Did you… skim a bit off the top?”

“Now, now. What kind of talk is that?”

Well…

…it’s not entirely untrue.

“Well, I suppose it is true that we took it without permission.”

Chapter 143: The Expedition 2

“We decided to make good use of the items they left behind. It’s not much different from that, right?”

“Isn’t that just theft?”

“There’s nuance in language, you know.”

“….”

She looked at me with an expression that said she simply couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

Well, if you put it like that, it might sound like I did something really wrong.

But honestly, I didn’t have any malicious intent.

“I told you, right? There were a few people begging to have their items back. Of course, we returned everything to them.”

“That’s somewhat reassuring, I guess…”

“The ones who asked for their leftover materials were probably the awakened from the production industry within the group.”

I fiddled with a bone lying in the storeroom as I spoke.

“Most people aren’t interested in monster bones or teeth.”

On the flip side, this meant that those who didn’t ask for their items had no connection to the awakened from the production industry.

“Think about it. If there aren’t any awakened individuals, what good would it do to keep these leftover materials?”

“Uh-huh. They would be pretty useless, I suppose?”

“Exactly. Most of them would have been discarded anyway since they have no practical use.”

“Oh…!”

It seemed she finally understood what I meant.

Her mouth dropped open in surprise—Lee Sang-ah looked taken aback.

“Using those leftovers isn’t necessarily a bad thing, right?”

“Y-Yeah, that’s true.”

Once I finished explaining, she let out a sigh of relief as if she realized she had been mistaken.

Now that the awakened from the production industry haven’t fully developed their abilities, the leftover materials from monsters are completely worthless to anyone other than a select few with connections to them.

It would take some time before those items gain any actual value or become a viable trade commodity.

I merely sought to prevent these leftovers, which would otherwise go to waste, from being discarded and aimed to utilize them more efficiently.

“I’m so sorry. I just thought you were trying to pull a fast one on everyone.”

Lee Sang-ah’s face turned slightly red, betraying her embarrassment as she continued, “… What on earth do you think of me?”

“Hehe. I’m just glad that’s not the case.”

Anyway, considering the substantial amount of materials piling up, many of them turned out to be quite useful.

“Anyway, is this enough?”

“Of course. As you said, there’s no need to worry about the materials. Do you have anything specific in mind? Feel free to tell me anything.”

“Yes! Then it’s right here.”

“… You’re quite prepared, I see.”

In fact, I had already thought about this particular aspect.

I passed a pre-prepared list to Mr. Park.

“Uh?”

Mr. Park frowned as he looked at the list.

“Is this really necessary? So much?”

“Oh, is it too much?”

In reality,

As I pondered over the list I was creating, I couldn’t help but briefly question whether I was asking for too much.

The artisan devoted immense care to each piece of equipment.

I wondered if conveying such a substantial amount to him might impose excessive labor.

“That’s nothing. It won’t be too difficult for me,” he said.

It seemed that the reason for Mr. Park’s furrowed brow wasn’t due to my request after all.

“If it’s not that, then what is it?”

“I just thought it might not be beneficial for you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.

Mr. Park responded with a cold gaze.

“Having a multitude of cooking tools isn’t necessarily a good thing. The real question is how well you can handle those tools and how familiar you have become with them. The number and quality of the tools are secondary to that.”

“I understand that to some extent,” I replied.

After all, I wasn’t a novice chef anymore.

I’ve come to appreciate various philosophies regarding cooking through my experiences.

“If you understand, then there’s no need for further discussion. Just learning to master one new tool requires a significant investment of time. If you receive a large number of tools at once, it’ll only prolong your adjustment period with each one.”

Mr. Park spoke with a tone that reflected sincere concern.

“My personal recommendation is to start with this: for the time, accept just one knife made from that axe. Once you’ve mastered that single knife, you can then move on to the next tool. I believe that would benefit you.”

“Hmm. I understand your point, Mr. Park.”

I wasn’t a complete beginner anymore.

I recognized that one well-mastered tool is far more effective than hundreds of unfamiliar ones.

However, I had a different perspective.

“I think it’ll be fine.”

“…Are you sure you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes. But, how should I put this…”

A smile crept onto my face.

“The tools aren’t for me to use.”

They weren’t for my use.

They were for my ‘assistant chefs’ to wield.

By the time all the tools Mr. Park had made were completed, we received word from Sang-heok.

“Preparations for the supply mission are complete!”

Sang-heok had come to inform us that everything was ready.

With our tools finally in hand, we were also fully prepared to embark on the mission.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ah, yes. Lieutenant Kim, it’s been some time.”

Lieutenant Kim stepped out to greet Sang-heok, shaking his hand, and they exchanged a few words about the upcoming mission.

Then Lieutenant Kim said, “Hmm. About the guard duty we’re assigned…”

“Yes?”

“These soldiers will be responsible for that duty,” he said, gesturing toward me and a few other soldiers.

However, for just a brief moment, Sang-heok’s expression darkened slightly as he took in our appearance.

But it was only for an instant.

He soon shook his head vigorously.

“Thank you very much for providing such valuable support!”

When he looked at Lieutenant Kim again, his face appeared to brighten with gratitude.

“Well…”

This time, Lieutenant Kim turned to Sang-heok and asked, “What’s the plan for transporting the supplies? We’ve already prepared the combat rations, but how do you intend to move them?”

“Oh, I was thinking of putting them in this,” Sang-heok replied, indicating the backpack slung over his shoulder.

Naturally, those around us gawked at him, their expressions questioning, “What on earth is he talking about?”

“…If you need a vehicle for transport, we can arrange that,” Lieutenant Kim offered.

“Oh come on, this bag is more than enough,” Sang-heok insisted.

“More than enough? If fuel is the concern, we can manage that,” Lieutenant Kim pressed.

“Haha. I understand what you’re getting at,” Sang-heok said, his smile widening as he set the bag down.

“This is a pretty good item, you know.”

Without further explanation, he moved to begin transferring the combat rations into the bag, and within minutes, we understood what he meant.

“An infinite bag?” someone whispered in awe.

“Oh, you’ve played a few games, haven’t you?” Sang-heok replied, grinning as he continued to fill the bag beyond what seemed possible.

“It’s not truly infinite,” he clarified. “There are limits, but it can hold everything we need for this expedition.”

“Wow!” came the collective response.

It was a sort of pocket dimension, and while I too had access to a similar space called ‘Shadow Veil,’ I never expected to come across someone else with such an item.

“It’s certainly impressive. But where on earth did you find a bag like that?” I couldn’t help but ask.

The gear crafted by our guild’s crafters boasted remarkable performance, but a bag like that seemed impossible to create.

“Haha, this is all thanks to you all,” he chuckled.

“Huh?”

“You remember the information we sold last time? With that simple piece of intel, we received a significant reward and successfully completed a large transaction.”

As he scratched his head and grinned, I realized he was serious.

“It turned out to be quite the achievement.”

“I see,” I replied, starting to grasp the big picture.

“This bag was a reward for that achievement,” he explained.

At this, the soldiers around us started murmuring excitedly.

“Wow. An achievement, huh?”

“I guess he’s more impressive than he looks.”

In that moment, as they processed what it meant for him to have accomplished something significant, I noticed the way their gazes toward him shifted slightly.

But my reaction was different. I was left puzzled, while the others were captivated.

“Hey, Byeong-min,” I asked the soldier standing next to me.

“Yes, Private Lee Byeong-min at your service.”

“Is… is achieving something really that impressive?” I inquired, still a little confused by their enthusiasm.

“Excuse me?”

A soldier looked at me as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.

“Well, it’s truly remarkable. Of course, our guild members have achievements like dungeon clears under their belts, but this person has achieved personal milestones.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, while group achievements are impressive, they can often be obtained with a little help from others. On the other hand, personal achievements are solely one’s own work; their difficulty is beyond imagination.”

“Is it really that hard?”

“It’s no exaggeration. In our unit, only a handful have managed to achieve personal milestones…”

As the soldier continued his explanation, he suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!” upon seeing my expression.

“Ah, come to think of it, Sergeant Shin is one of those rare cases.”

“Well, for now.”

“If it’s Sergeant Shin, then it’s only natural that he has at least one personal achievement.”

Uh-oh.

That might be true, but…

“Actually, I’m curious. What if it’s not just one? Maybe he has two or three?”

“Umm… let’s just say it’s somewhere around that level.”

“Wow… indeed, Sergeant Shin is truly remarkable.”

The soldier gushed, unable to contain his admiration.

Yet, hearing those words left me with a curious feeling.

“Two or three, huh?”

Achievements?

“It’s too many to keep track of.”

I had been accomplishing so many that I didn’t even realize how extraordinary it was.

“…I probably don’t need to mention it.”

Even if I did, I wondered if they would believe me.

Anyway.

It wasn’t that I was achieving things too often; it seemed that achieving milestones was much harder than I thought.

In fact, among our team, many had benefited from guild-level achievements, but virtually none had managed to secure personal milestones.

“Indeed. Now I understand why the rewards for achievements are so enticing.”

With how challenging it was to achieve them, the rewards were quite appealing.

“Um, please keep this a secret. As you know…”

“Yes, I understand. It could attract unwanted attention.”

“Ha ha… I’ll trust you on that.”

He seemed anxious despite his cheerful demeanor.

For us, as a leading group, these were not items worth coveting.

However, thinking it over, I realized it would be something others might risk everything to obtain.

Just revealing their existence must have been a huge gamble for him.

We loaded our bags with combat rations.

“Alright, shall we set off?”

And with that, our ascent began.

Our journey was on foot.

We considered using combat vehicles, but after the Doomsday, most roads had been rendered unusable.

Especially the highways, which were in a state that made them completely impassable.

It seemed walking would be the better option for traveling to another city.

Not long after we had begun our ascent…

Feeling a peculiar gaze upon me, I turned my head.

“Ah.”

It was the merchant who had been watching me.

Our eyes met.

“Indeed, it’s you from that time,” he said.

“Ah, it’s been a while,” I replied.

With our eyes locked, I felt a certain obligation to greet him, though my thoughts ran elsewhere.

‘Hmm. This feels a bit awkward.’

But in truth, I didn’t really have a reason to feel uncomfortable. The real issue lay in the fact that he probably didn’t think too highly of me.

‘After all, I cost him a considerable opportunity.’

When it came to determining the benefits of this trade, he could have taken advantage of our group and made a significant profit. That chance had been blocked by me.

‘Even if we arrived at a fair price, human emotions aren’t that simple.’

It wasn’t surprising that he might harbor some resentment toward me.

Yet, he smiled and said, “Haha. You’re Young-joon, right? I’m glad we’ll be working together.”

“……?”

Sang-heok seemed unconcerned, laughing as he spoke.

“Hmm? Is there something on your mind?”

“Well, I thought you might not be very fond of me.”

“Excuse me? Why would I dislike you?”

As I shared my thoughts, he chuckled as if it didn’t matter at all.

“Oh, that. To be honest, it is a bit disappointing, isn’t it?”

“I suppose it would be. You were planning to settle for 10% and ended up giving away 50% instead.”

“Ha ha ha! If I had taken it all, I could have achieved quite an accomplishment.”

What a brazen fellow he was.

“Well, getting 50% isn’t a loss either when it comes to a deal. If I were to hold a grudge, I’d have dozens of rivals among customers trying to bargain with me. Moreover…”

He smirked.

“For soldiers, it’s not just a simple customer relationship; it’s a collaborative one.”

“?”

Though he wore a smile, his sharp gaze remained fixed on me.

“When you figured out that my initial offer was unusual back then, I was quite surprised. Even now, I’m still a bit curious about how you pulled it off.”

“Well, I have my own little secrets,” I replied.

“Ha ha! I thought you were quite capable.”

If we are talking about abilities, I do have a certain knack—an ability under the guise of traits.

“Anyway, while a simple customer is a prime target for exploitation, we are now in a working partnership.”

“Having a capable partner isn’t a bad thing, then?”

“That’s the gist of it.”

Indeed.

At this moment, we shared a kind of alliance.

The merchant and the legion are collaborating for a venture to another place.

It’s actually a good thing that our partner has strong abilities.

“You have quite a generous side,” I remarked.

“One cannot achieve greatness by getting bogged down in trivial matters,” he replied.

From my perspective, this wasn’t bad at all.

“Ahem. But if I may, I have a somewhat impertinent question.”

As our conversation unfolded, the merchant cautiously interjected, “Is the escorting force truly at its maximum capacity?”

“Excuse me?” I asked, surprised.

“Oh, I’m not questioning the abilities of the soldiers. Who would dare doubt the skills of the legionnaires in this city? It’s just that….”

The merchant cast a quick glance around.

“Still, the numbers seem… a bit low.”

There are only ten soldiers participating in this expedition, including myself.

“Isn’t that a bit too few?” he said.

“Ah, indeed.”

I recalled how Lieutenant Kim’s expression had darkened for a brief moment when he introduced us as the escorting force. But he quickly returned to a nonchalant demeanor, so I wondered what had happened. It seemed that he was indeed disappointed by the meager number of troops.

“As you know, this venture is quite significant,” I reminded him.

“I understand.”

“Ahem. This might sound a bit over the top, but I’m putting nearly my life on the line for this expedition.”

From the merchant’s perspective, I could understand why ten soldiers would seem insufficient for such an important mission. However, I added, “Rest assured, we value this expedition just as much as you do, perhaps even more.”

“Oh… so it really is a situation where forces are limited?”

“Not necessarily,” I replied.

“Huh?”

Now that the Dragon soldiers are assisting in the city’s defense, we could easily manage with about thirty men if needed.

“Really? Then why are we limited to this number…?”

“Have you ever experienced combat before?” I asked.

“What? Ah… just once. During the incident when I was trapped in the city, I underwent awakening in a group.”

“So, you haven’t fought in a skirmish yourself, then. We might have something to enlighten you about.”

“What do you mean?” he asked, intrigued.

With a smile, I replied, “The strength of an awakened individual isn’t measured by sheer numbers.”

My gaze fell upon the towering figure standing at the forefront of our escort—standing a formidable 2.3 meters tall.

“Ugh… I didn’t expect to encounter such trouble on what was supposed to be a distant journey.”

As I was thinking this the man on the floor spoke up,

“I-I’m truly sorry for not recognizing your importance…”

“Well, there’s really no need for you to apologize, sir.”

The man leading the raiders, Beom-jae thought to himself.

‘Damn it. Where did this monster come from?’

A group of around thirty raiders had been formed, mostly consisting of those who had awakened early in their powers. They were still in the process of gradually acquiring more awakened members and building their strength. And in this endeavor, they had obtained the necessary resources… from others.

They thought they were growing stronger at a surprising pace, but…

“It took less than five minutes.”

Even upon reflection, a chill ran down their spines. About ten soldiers had managed to overpower their thirty in under five minutes, despite the raiders occupying a more favorable position!

“It’s eerie to think about again…”

One soldier had leaped up four stories in a single burst of strength, effortlessly scaling the building like a cockroach, eliminating the group members who had taken refuge on the upper floors one by one.

All that was left was unshakeable fear.

Curiously, only nine soldiers had participated in that battle. One of them, who wasn’t even a combat specialist, had been trembling in the back, merely observing. Meanwhile, another…

“He was busy prepping vegetables in the background.”

This man had stood at the rear, slicing onions while watching the fight unfold.

As he crouched low next to the immobilized raider, a soldier spoke up.

“Hey there.”

“Y-yes!”

“How long have you been at this? It seems like you’ve done it quite a bit.”

“Uh, well… If I said this was my first time, would you believe me?”

“…Would you believe yourself?”

“Honestly, asking this is a waste of time. Listen up, everyone.”

“Yes, Sergeant!”

“These people… Let’s see. Herd them into that building on the first floor.”

The soldiers exchanged puzzled glances.

“Is that really going to work?”

“Well, we don’t want to get our hands dirty, do we? We’ve already seized all their valuables.”

At that remark, the raider felt an inward rush of excitement.

“Haha! What naive kids!”

These soldiers, although undeniably strong, seemed to embody only that strength.

In reality, they were just a bunch of young adults, barely in their twenties. They were far too naïve to survive in this harsh world.

“After all, how could they have only that little? They must have killed and plundered many people.”

The loot they had lost to the soldiers represented merely a week’s worth of collection. It was painful to part with it, but their true possessions were safely hidden elsewhere.

“Listen, gentlemen.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Please don’t engage in any more wrongdoing. Let’s see…”

The man paused, glancing up at the sky.

Evening was approaching, and the sunset painted the sky in warm hues as the day slowly began to fade.

“That’s about it. Um, please come out in about an hour.”

“In an hour… you mean?”

“Yes. If you come out before that, you’ll really be dead.”

“Y-yes….”

With those words lingering in the air, the soldiers departed, leaving everyone trapped in the room.

“What the hell?”

“Are they really leaving?”

It was only after confirming that the soldiers had truly gone that the group of looters began to murmur among themselves.

“Damn it. What kind of people are they?”

“…I thought I was going to die. Seriously.”

“Do you think they’re on the same level as those monks over at that temple?”

Amid the groans of the looters, one man spoke up.

“Well then. Should we just go?”

“What do you mean?”

“They told us to wait for an hour. But do we really need to follow that?”

He reached for the door handle, but at that moment…

“Wait, hold on a second.”

It was Beom-jae who grabbed his hand.

“Hyung?!”

“What if—what if they’re hiding somewhere, keeping watch over us?”

“Besides, if they wanted to kill us, they would have done it already… Do you really think they’ll go that far?”

“There’s no guarantee they won’t. Look, someone who can stand there calmly chopping vegetables while others are getting beaten is not in their right mind.”

“….”

“Who knows what kind of crazy things those kinds of people might do? Waiting for an hour is nothing; we can endure that a little longer.”

“Yeah, you’re right.”

In the end, the group resigned to staying put in the building as time dragged on.

Looking out the window, they noticed the sun setting slowly, darkness starting to creep in.

“Hasn’t it been about an hour yet?”

“Hmm. It might have gone a bit longer.”

As night fell, the looters stirred to life.

“Alright, let’s head out.”

“Damn it. Today’s haul was a complete bust.”

“Let’s not get too down about it, guys. There will be other chances to loot.”

“That’s true. Today might have been a flop, but starting tomorrow, we can get back to our usual business of taking and killing.”

“Haha. You’re right, Hyung. We’ll have to make up for today’s losses by being extra diligent tomorrow.”

With light-hearted banter, the group approached the door.

Beom-jae opened it and stepped outside.

“Hello?”

“…?”

Standing outside the open door was a woman.

She was a stunning blonde with sinuous red eyes that gleamed with mischief.

Lost in her captivating features, it took them a moment to register what was happening.

“Wh-who are you?”

The woman wore an outfit that didn’t quite match her vibrant appearance—she was in military uniform.

“Could it be that uniform belongs to one of those soldiers from earlier?” He pondered aloud.

“We—I mean, we were just following orders and were locked up! We’re trying to leave now that the agreed-upon time has passed!” she exclaimed, her voice a mix of urgency and frustration.

“They’re just a bunch of impatient kids, huh? Well, for now…”

After giving Beom-jae a gentle push, the woman stepped into the room. As she closed the door, she added, “We should start with teaching you some proper etiquette.”

The moonlight streaming through the window glinted off sharp fangs.

Boom!

“Ugh…!”

When Corporal Jeon Gwang-il extended his gloved fist, the impact startled the armored man, who stumbled back, letting out a groan.

“…!”

Yet, surprisingly, the one who bore the brunt of that encounter was Gwang-il himself.

‘He managed to block that.’

It wasn’t that Gwang-il had eased up on his attack. No, the intention behind that first strike was clear: to showcase strength and shatter the opponent’s spirit.

What prevented that from happening was purely the opponent’s skills.

“Hey, you runaway soldier! You seem to have some pretty strong power!”

It was clear that the opponent felt the strength as well, judging by his slightly flustered voice.

But then he added, “Even so, that’s all you have—raw strength!”

It was not enough to throw him off his game.

The battle continued unabated.

Thud!

“Ugh, you’re just a brute with no brains!”

Crash!

“Cough!”

Boom!

“What the hell? How are you so ridiculously strong!?”

Throughout the fight, the momentum was undeniably in Gwang-il’s favor. The armored man was mostly forced to defend against Gwang-il’s relentless onslaught.

However, despite the unevenness of the battlefield…

“…I can’t believe he’s fighting against Corporal Jeon Gwang-il like that…”

The soldiers observing the fight couldn’t help but be astonished.

I found myself partially agreeing with the murmurs of the soldiers.

‘Incredible.’

It was true that Gwang-il wasn’t using any kind of buff.

But that didn’t mean he was at a disadvantage either.

‘There’s a difference in equipment.’

The opponent was wearing standard store-bought gear, which had no enhancements to its stats.

In contrast, Gwang-il was equipped with the expertly crafted gear made by the awakened craftsmen, Lee Sang-ah and Grandpa Park designed specifically for their legion members.

‘You can tell by the way he moves.’

The strength in his strikes.

The speed of his movements.

Statistically, Corporal Jeon Gwang-il was overwhelmingly superior.

In normal circumstances, such an encounter shouldn’t have even been possible.

And yet, the fight was dragging on for a different reason.

It was probably due to—

“…the difference in technique.”

The armored man wielding his staff had a speed that was certainly average; however, when it came to finesse, he was on a completely different level.

He might have been physically overmatched, yet he managed to deflect all of Gwang-il’s attacks.

His skill was a far cry from standard self-defense techniques…

It was something extraordinary.

“Haha! You’re strong, but it seems you don’t know how to wield that strength,” he taunted, coughing slightly.

Corporal Jeon Gwang-il was one of the few combat veterans in our unit.

He had honed his skills through sparring with fellow soldiers, continuously refining his abilities.

The opponent’s mention of ‘wielding strength’ likely referred to something beyond ordinary martial arts.

‘Perhaps… how to utilize the power of the Awakened.’

And that was why…

As I watched the display of skill, a sense of exhilaration washed over me.

What if that man is right? What if we have yet to master the powers of the Awakened?

The moment we learn how to wield that power—how strong could we become?

While I’m not an expert in business, I do understand a few basic concepts.

One principle that stands out is ‘supply and demand.’

If you want to sell something, there has to be someone willing to buy it.

Selling beef jerky at a temple, where meat consumption is prohibited, is utterly absurd. It means you’re attempting to supply a product in a place with zero demand.

“Are you… really a merchant?”

“W-well… that’s strange. My information didn’t include anything about a temple.”

“….”

Now that I think about it, he did mention earlier that he lacked intel on this particular faction.

‘It’s becoming clearer; this guy hasn’t even reached level 10 yet.’

His class is ‘Novice Merchant,’ and his abilities are probably at the very basic level.

‘Even if he has some information-gathering proficiency, there are limits to what he can comprehend.’

Still, suggesting we sell beef jerky at a temple seems a bit extreme.

It appeared that Sang-heok was even more flustered than I was.

‘Well, maybe it’s not entirely crazy?’

In this world, it’s not like everyone has an abundance of food resources.

They might be willing to buy meat if it means survival, even if it means letting go of a precious golden coin.

From a statistical standpoint, the chances could be quite high.

‘Well, it’s not something I need to worry about too much.’

Commerce is all about opportunism.

If it works out, great; if it doesn’t, then so be it.

The main objective here is forming an alliance.

On that front, things were actually looking pretty good.

‘Thanks to Gwang-il’s efforts.’

Because Gwang-il genuinely pushed the opposition, even the armored man had to exert himself fully.

‘Though I did feel a bit unnerved when he activated his rage at the end.’

That kind of power is beyond control.

Moreover, if we delve into the reasons behind it, the fact that I turned him into a berserker complicates things further.

‘There’s no reason to blame Gwang-il for that.’

In fact, the inability to respond to Gwang-il when he was in a frenzied state was informatively beneficial in gauging the enemy’s strength.

‘He’s remarkably strong.’

The man who fought Gwang-il was tough, but more importantly, was the bald monk who appeared afterward.

‘The way he moved when he shoved Gwang-il back was anything but ordinary.’

Compared to the man he fought earlier, his movements were far more overwhelming.

It wasn’t just about high stats or anything superficial.

It felt like he was using a type of ‘skill’ that we were completely unaware of.

I have no idea what position those two hold within this faction, but it’s clear they’re not to be underestimated.

If figures of that caliber are considered average, then it’s not far-fetched to say that they could potentially be an organization that rivals us.

“What do you mean by a deal?” I asked.

“Well, I’ve brought some food,” Sang-heok replied.

“Food…!” The monk’s eyes widened at the mention of food, unable to hide his astonishment. He quickly glanced around to confirm that nobody else was present.

After ensuring that it was just the two of us, he turned back to Sang-heok with a serious expression. “Is that true?”

“Yes, but there’s a bit of a problem—”

“In that case,” he seemed to ponder for a moment before continuing, “you’ll need to handover your weapons.”

“That means…”

“I’ll guide you to the head monk. But!”

“But…?”

“Until you meet the head monk, you must keep the matter of the food a secret.”

The soldiers laid down all their weapons.

Though we were unfamiliar with this group, surrendering our weapons felt like a risky move. However, I understood their perspective.

“No matter what, we can’t let armed individuals inside.”

It would indeed be difficult for them to allow armed soldiers in. So, we decided to make a concession.

“Here you go.”

“…Those are some pretty massive gloves.”

One by one, they handed over their weapons. When Gwang-il finished returning his, it was my turn.

“Here it is.”

“Hmm? Is this all the weapons you have?”

“Yes.”

I handed him a single pistol.

“A pistol, huh? That makes sense; if you have a gun, carrying anything else would just be cumbersome.”

“I need it back, though. As you know, it was issued to me by a military base.”

“Don’t worry.”

Of course, my actual armament wasn’t that pistol. I had hidden my kitchen knives in the shadows.

“It’s good that I’ve gotten into the habit of carrying around a pistol.”

I could anticipate what might transpire inside, and I couldn’t afford to part with all my weapons.

Once the weapon surrender was complete, my team and I were permitted to enter the temple.

As we climbed the mountain, I noticed a broad wall fortified with various materials.

I also spotted some armored individuals wandering nearby.

We passed them and entered through the temple gate, and what I saw inside took me by surprise.

“…Why are there so many people here?”

Wandering around the temple grounds, I was struck by the sheer number of people there. Was this temple already somewhat famous before all this?

The area was quite expansive, yet it still felt crowded.

All around, I noticed people living in tents, making the most of their situation.

“I should have brought the chaplain,” I thought to myself. Though currently a priest reciting prayers like “Oh, divine one…,” the chaplain from our unit had originally been a Buddhist.

Given the size of such a temple, I thought he might have some knowledge or insight to share with us, which made me regret not bringing him along.

As my fellow soldiers and I observed the bustling crowd with a sense of wonder, someone remarked, “So, you find it surprising how many people are here?”

“Yes, a bit,” I replied.

“Well, it’s because there have been many requests for protection from survivors in the area. As we have accepted everyone, this is the result,” the monk explained.

The situation didn’t appear particularly favorable, yet the sheer number of people was impressive. I honestly expressed my admiration. “That’s amazing.”

“Amazing, you say?”

Puzzled, I responded, “Indeed. With such a large gathering, you’ve clearly established quite a community. I meant that in the most straightforward way.”

“Ah, I see. Yes, that’s one way to look at it.” The monk’s reaction seemed somewhat ambiguous. When I turned to glance at him, I noticed his expression had darkened significantly.

“What on earth…?”

After witnessing the struggle between Gwang-il and the others at the mountain gate, I realized these individuals were likely adept in some mysterious techniques.

Each of them seemed to be quite formidable. If they had this many strong members, wouldn’t that be a good thing? I could not understand why his expression was so somber.

“Cough cough.”

Before I could ask for clarification, the monk cleared his throat and quickened his pace. “I’m sorry, but we don’t have time for idle chatter. We need to relay the message to the abbot as swiftly as possible…”

Just then, a figure in the distance caught my attention.

“Monk Seung-joo!”

Someone was running towards us from afar.

“I was hoping to hurry, just in case…”

Upon recognizing the person’s face, the monk grimaced and muttered, “…Father Jinsu?”

“Monk Seung-joo! Who are these people behind you? Are you planning to let more outsiders in?”

The one who confronted us was a burly middle-aged man who blocked our path. As he took in our appearance, his eyes widened in alarm, and he shouted, “Military uniforms…? You don’t mean to tell me you’ve brought deserters into the temple!?”

“It’s not what you think. Please, calm down.”

“Calm down?! Do I look calm right now?!”

A man was shouting at the monk, challenging him.

“Don’t you see? People are starving to death as it is! And you want to bring more people here!? Ex-deserters at that!?”

Seeing this scene, I felt a twinge of confusion.

I had grown accustomed to certain powers, much like magic energy, as my level increased.

This monk, named Seung-joo, who was guiding us…

“His level is quite high.”

The man who had fought against Gwang-il earlier had shown him politeness as well. It seemed likely that he held a significant position among the Awakened Individuals.

Yet here was this middle-aged man confronting him so aggressively.

Was this monk really as impressive as he appeared? I pondered, but then I noticed something.

[Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)]

[Hong Jeong-soo]

[Primates – Homo Sapiens]

[Freshness – High]

There was no further information.

In other words, he was not an awakened one.

‘…Hmm.’

At that moment, an unsettling feeling flickered through my mind. I focused as much magic energy as I could and surveyed the area around me.

There were numerous people gathered at the temple.

Among them…

There were very few presences that felt like they would belong to the awakened.

If the strength of those I met at the mountain gate was any indication, it shouldn’t be too difficult to increase the number of awakened individuals.

Yet, with this small number…

I recalled the frantic days when I was running around, trying to awaken all my comrades.

If even one of them fails to awaken, many will start to claim they can’t do it either.

Back then, I had a conversation with Min-jae.

There could be friction between awakened and non-awakened soldiers.

If such discord arises, it would ultimately lead to division.

I glanced again at this monk, who appeared to be quite a powerful awakened one. His cautious demeanor hinted he feared someone might discover his true strength.

Alongside him, the middle-aged man continued to shout angrily, while countless non-awakened individuals stood by, arms crossed, watching with keen interest.

“This feels a bit off.”

And indeed, it felt very off.

Chapter 147: If This Continues, It Will End Badly

“This feels a bit off.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“It’s just a random thought. Don’t mind me.”

Even amidst all this, the middle-aged man persisted in confronting the monk.

“When it comes to making important decisions, wasn’t it agreed that we would discuss them together? Yet, the monks act as if they can do whatever they please… just disregard what the Buddhas think, is that it? Don’t they care about the opinions of the people?”

“Well… these individuals are not like that. They are Enlightened Ones from other regions.”

“Enlightened Ones, you say?”

He directed his ire at the monk, Seung-joo, pushing him aside.

“Hey, you over there!”

Of all people, the finger pointed right at me.

“Hey, mister. You’re an Enlightened One, are you?”

No way.

He looked to be around the same age as my dad and older brother.

When did he start calling me mister?

“Yes, that’s correct,” I replied.

“Then, as an Enlightened One, you must have a profession, right? What is it?”

His question stirred a flicker of annoyance in me.

Among Enlightened Ones, asking about one’s profession is usually considered impolite. But I supposed he didn’t know, being unacquainted with our kind.

“…I am a chef,” I answered.

“A chef?” he repeated in disbelief.

While discussing levels and stats might be considered rude, I thought revealing my profession was acceptable.

“Is there even such a profession among the Enlightened? You’re not trying to pull the wool over our eyes, are you?”

“That’s enough, Father Jinsu,” Seung-joo interrupted, cutting him off.

“Are you defending an outsider now?”

“I’ll explain the details later. For now, please step back.”

“…Tch.”

He clicked his tongue briefly and took a few steps back.

“Since you’ve gone this far, I’ll let it slide this time.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. I’ll bring up the fact that the monks have brought in outsiders during tomorrow’s meeting.”

“….”

“You’d better prepare yourself.”

With that, he distanced himself from us.

“I’m sorry,” Seung-joo said, a bitter smile on his face as he observed the man retreat.

He then turned to me.

“Father Jinsu has never been one to speak so harshly to others. It seems the stress of the world has taken its toll on him.”

“It’s fine. There’s no need for you to apologize.”

“…You have a generous heart, Father Jinsu.”

Though I hadn’t meant anything by it, the monk seemed to interpret my words differently.

“You mentioned that your profession as an Enlightened One is chef, correct?”

“…Yes.”

“In a world overflowing with monsters, being awakened as a non-combat profession is already a challenge. Furthermore, becoming a chef in a world where even basic ingredients are scarce… it must have been filled with hardships.”

Admittedly, there were many hardships indeed.

Perhaps this monk didn’t envision the situation quite like this.

“Uh, well, yes?”

“You must have had so much built up inside you. Yet, to endure such an insulting remark… you are impressive.”

The monk let out a sigh, gazing up at the sky as if lost in thought.

“Even though I am a monk, there are many times when holding back my anger is quite difficult… I suppose I should take a page from your book.”

This gentleman seems to be under some kind of misunderstanding.

When he asked why I wasn’t angry despite the words of the middle-aged man, it wasn’t because I had a particularly generous heart.

“It’s simply that if something is too absurd, I don’t even feel inclined to get angry.”

Certainly, I hadn’t even reached the point of awakening.

I’m far too proud of the path I have walked to be swayed by the words of someone who is too preoccupied with belittling others.

If my profession were truly insignificant, I might understand; however, I know better than anyone that it is not.

At this point, there is no need to concern myself with how others perceive me.

“Ah, so you came here for a trade?”

A short while later, we found ourselves in a conversation with the head monk of the temple.

“Yes, Master. I am Lee Sang-heok, and I am a merchant.”

“A merchant, you say? That must carry some significance as an awakened being.”

“Yes? Oh, of course.”

The head monk smiled wryly at the certainty in my voice.

“Nonetheless, if it’s trade, we welcome you. We were just in a predicament due to a lack of food… although it seems our ability to pay fairly may be a concern.”

“Actually, there is one more issue we need to address.”

“Yes?”

Sang-heok opened his bag and revealed some combat rations inside.

Carefully wrapped strips of jerky rested on a small piece of paper.

“This… The food I brought is this.”

“Ah, jerky, is it?”

“Yes. I had no idea this place was a temple.”

Sang-heok felt anxious, worried that the deal might fall through.

“Ah, I understand your concerns, but you don’t need to worry.”

In fact, the head monk’s response was quite mild.

“It’s meat… Are you allowed to eat meat?”

“Haha. Actually, the teachings of the Buddha do not prohibit eating meat.”

“Really?”

“On the contrary, He taught that whatever was received during alms should be consumed without discrimination. Thus, if one received meat during that process, eating it was perfectly acceptable.”

“Is that so?”

“The prohibition against eating meat arose later as a greater emphasis was placed on one of the precepts concerning non-killing.”

The head monk smiled lightly.

“Considering we’re already monks who’ve violated the non-killing precept…”

“….”

Indeed, that was true.

[Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)]

Awakened: Beop-hyeon

Class: Junior Priest Lv. 17

Unlike the countless people I had encountered since arriving here, all the monks had already completed their awakening. They weren’t just awakened; each one was a significantly high-level individual.

“Considering their levels, they’re comparable to soldiers from the 423rd Battalion…”

Given that our soldiers had ascended and gained levels by tirelessly hunting monsters post-awakening, it was clear these monks had likely completed their awakening not long after the Day of Destruction.

“The issue is that, despite having knowledge of awakening methods from long ago, the number of awakened among them is still quite limited.”

This only deepened my conviction about the strange, unsettling feeling I had experienced since earlier.

“We are already those who have taken lives. Even if those lives are akin to that of demons, we have broken the precepts, so it shouldn’t be a problem if we eat meat, right?”

“Ah, that’s true!”

Regardless, the moment we realized a transaction could take place, Sang-heok’s face lit up with joy.

“Then I’d like to discuss the details of the trade… but this is not just ordinary jerky. It’s especially beneficial for awakened individuals, but it’s quite difficult to explain with words.”

As expected, Sang-heok sprang into action right away.

“Hmmm. I never expected it to be such a precious item… I’m not sure if we have anything worthwhile to exchange.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that. In times like these, we should help each other as fellow humans. Even if I end up taking a loss, I’ll ensure we agree on a reasonable price.”

“Wow… I’m truly grateful.”

But I suspected the price wouldn’t be very reasonable at all. However, that was a matter for Sang-heok to handle.

“In truth, there is a monk who knows such matters better than I do. I think it would be best to consult with him. However, he is currently out dealing with the monsters around the mountain, so you probably won’t be able to see him for at least three days.”

With that, their conversation with Sang-heok came to an end. No matter how much of a head monk he was, it was impossible for him to manage all the supplies alone.

I would need to speak with that monk when he returned in three days.

After Sang-heok left, I remained in the room.

“…Do you have any other matters to discuss, benefactor?”

The head monk looked at me, seemingly puzzled.

“Yes.”

I straightened my posture and responded.

“The transaction can be handled with that merchant. However, I did come here for another reason.”

“Another reason?”

“I believe you’ve heard that a military base in the south is still operational.”

“Hmm… I’ve heard that there have been awakened individuals reported from that direction, although I thought those rumors were likely exaggerated.”

After Chuncheon was liberated from the dungeon, most remained in the city, but many had returned home as well. Through them, rumors about us began to surface little by little.

In a world stripped of the internet and other means of communication, it was no surprise that the spread of such information was slow.

“To be precise, our base is quite far away. But it’s true that we operate in the Chuncheon and Inje areas. Recently, we engaged in combat with a monster faction.”

I revealed everything without holding back about our skirmishes with the Green Mane Tribe.

We had barely fended off their attacks, but small-scale skirmishes continued. The fact that they were an enemy we could hardly manage on our own was also part of the truth I shared.

“Ah…”

“Mmm. It seems that’s what’s happening in other regions as well.”

I decided to get straight to the point.

“There are monsters everywhere in the world today. Meanwhile, the number of humans has drastically decreased.”

“…Many have died. It’s a tragic situation.”

“I believed that those of us who are still alive should help each other. Since their territory overlaps with this city, I intended to propose that we join forces to face this together.”

“So, you were suggesting an alliance.”

“That was the plan.”

At that moment, Seung-joo, who had been listening intently, looked somewhat puzzled and spoke up.

“You keep using the past tense…”

“Indeed, that’s correct.”

I crossed my arms and gazed out the window.

Countless people.

Remarkably few awakened.

Though I hadn’t seen much since coming up through the gate, I felt a deep sense of certainty.

“Even if we wanted to form an alliance, it would require a group capable of such. It doesn’t just happen.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“If it’s an offense, I apologize.”

However, I knew I had to speak my mind.

“There really are a lot of people here.”

“…?”

“But there aren’t many awakened individuals.”

I remembered the group of raiders I had encountered before arriving here.

Out of about thirty people, around twenty were awakened individuals.

In a time when the awakening methods were not well known, it was typical for a group of twenty to thirty individuals to have only one or two awakened individuals.

Yet now, with more time passed and the methods becoming widely known, the outcomes were evident.

Those who survived were few, but they were gradually growing stronger.

“Except for you all.”

“…!”

“I’ll be straightforward. I think there are at least a thousand people staying in this temple. How many of them are awakened individuals?”

The strength of the armored man I met at the gate lingered in my mind.

If a group of that caliber had gathered in such numbers, it would be expected that no raiding groups could dare operate in the nearby area.

They would surely have to be cautious of such a powerful force.

Yet, despite this, I still faced attacks from raiders.

That implies something quite concerning.

“This group—you might be missing a few screws.”

I realized I might have been a bit rude.

Seung-joo shot me a hostile glare.

“Before asking anything, common courtesy dictates…”

“Seung-joo.”

“Yes, Abbot?”

“We should stop this.”

It was the Abbot who intervened, pulling Seung-joo back from the brink of confrontation.

He looked at me and said,

“It seems that the master is somewhat aware of our situation.”

“Yes, we could have easily found ourselves in a similar predicament.”

“Ha, ha. Was your question about the number of awakened individuals? I have no reason to withhold that information.”

With a sigh, he continued,

“We’ve just managed to surpass 100.”

I had a lingering hope, but it turned out just as I feared.

It was in the early days of the ‘Day of Ruin.’

Our unit had begun efforts to increase the number of awakened individuals as a means of survival.

During that time, there was one thing I prioritized above all else:

“The awakening of every member. There can be no exceptions.”

Every member had to be forced to awaken, even if it meant coercion.

An instance of this was when I pressured Gwang-il, who was initially timid, into awakening and becoming a fierce warrior.

If even one person was allowed to remain un-awakened, it would inevitably reduce the number of those eager to awaken.

If a group became divided between awakened and un-awakened members,

“There’s no doubt that division would arise.”

The strength of the organization would weaken.

My profession, a chef, is one where survival is nearly impossible alone.

This was unacceptable to me.

I had done everything possible to prevent such a situation.

“I believe you are already aware, but…”

These people were different from us.

They had not managed to avert their circumstances.

“With things going as they are, this temple is bound to perish.”

Chapter 148: Demon Subduing Martial Arts

“The situation wasn’t always this dire from the very beginning.”

Monsters suddenly appeared at the ordinary temple.

They killed the people there and abducted many into the woods.

It’s easy to deduce that those taken into the woods likely became the monsters’ next meal.

Situated on a high mountain, the temple made escape nearly impossible.

Many lives were lost.

However,

“On the very first day the monsters appeared, a monk who had gone missing returned, and remarkably, he had awakened to a new power.”

“……!”

“That monk over there is Seung-joo.”

I nodded stiffly at Seung-joo, who stood to the side.

‘He certainly looks formidable.’

It seemed he held a more significant position than I initially thought.

He was the first awakened individual to emerge from this temple.

In terms of our unit, he was in a similar position to mine.

“At first, there was much skepticism regarding awakening. Many argued it contradicted the precepts of non-violence and deemed it far too dangerous.”

“Even though each day’s delay in awakening meant more lives were lost?”

“Communicating with the outside world was impossible at that time. Some believed that military forces would come to rescue us if we just waited… Fortunately, thanks to Seung-joo’s persuasive efforts, we were able to begin the awakening process quickly.”

At that, my gaze shifted to Seung-joo.

“How did you manage to persuade them?”

“I wonder if you’re familiar with the term ‘Seungbyeong (Righteous Soldiers or Volunteer Soldiers).’”

Seungbyeong.

Isn’t that something I learned in school?

“Is it the one where monks fought against the Japanese during the Imjin War?”

“That’s close. We refer to monks who rise with weapons during national crises, driven by a sense of duty to protect the country, as Seungbyeong. Myoyangsa Temple, where we are now, has a deep history in that regard. The renowned monk Yuhyeon, who made significant contributions during the war, was born here.”

“Oh…”

“The circumstances may have changed, but the essence remains the same; people are still in danger. Even if it means breaking their precepts, these monks felt compelled to take up arms.”

Thanks to that, the monks experienced a rapid awakening.

The awakened monks descended into the city to rescue people, bringing them to safety in the temple.

That part was fine, but…

“Most of the temple’s patrons who sought refuge refused to awaken.”

They felt uneasy.

The thought of having to kill monsters frightened them.

“Many among those who had awakened also refused to engage in battle.”

This type was familiar from our own ranks.

Gwang-il was a prime example.

If they had truly considered the survival of the group, this attitude would be absolutely unacceptable.

“Did you just let that slide?”

“How could I force those who are frightened into battle? To even command them to kill… how could that be justified?”

“Hmm.”

“Yet, it isn’t as if there aren’t patrons willing to help. Just a week ago, we reached a hundred awakened individuals, forming what we now call a guild, thanks to a new patron who joined us.”

“A week ago?”

“Yes.”

A week ago.

I sighed deeply, burying my face in my hands.

‘Sang-heok said he obtained information about the group in the north a week ago.’

They had just exceeded a hundred members a week back.

At that exact moment, Sang-heok’s special ability would have activated.

‘After all, we are also a guild, at least in name.’

The comparison to a “legion-sized organization” wasn’t entirely inaccurate either.

However…

This complicates things significantly.

Despite sharing the same initial premise of understanding the awakening technique early on, we had achieved our strength before descending from our mountain.

These people had only just reached that level.

“It’s surprising you’ve managed to hold out this long. If nothing else, how have you managed with supplies? Feeding that many people must have been quite the challenge.”

“The awakened Seungbyeong went down to the city to gather food. But even that had its limits…”

The abbot withdrew an item from behind him.

“We’re currently relying on this.”

[Hard Rye Bread]

Hard rye bread.

The kind sold at shops for 10 points, notoriously hard and unpleasant to eat.

“…You survived on this?”

“Yes.”

“Feeding thousands with this?”

“If rationed carefully, one should suffice for about two meals. Thankfully, we’ve just barely made it work so far.”

“…Haha.”

At this point, I couldn’t even be angry. The absurdity of the situation forced a laugh from me.

Our unit hasn’t touched it in months.

Of course, I’ve heard that ordinary awakened individuals often rely on it for their meals.

It’s a world where sourcing food has become increasingly challenging.

Regardless of its taste or nutritional value, it’s at least considered safe to eat.

But is it really a problem-free option? Not quite.

“The price is simply too high.”

Ten points.

It might sound insignificant at first glance, but…

With a thousand points, you can buy a single stat potion.

The cost of 100 of those tasteless loaves equates to a minimum of one stat increase.

If you’re lucky, you might even raise it to three.

Knowing this, even ordinary awakened individuals try their best to find alternative food sources.

Rye bread is a last resort.

“There are really only two ways to increase your stats in this world: through leveling up or using stat potions. Yet, you’ve invested all that precious points into bread…”

“We can’t just starve to death, can we?”

“….”

The situation has become dire, leaving food so scarce that rye bread has become a staple.

“It’s maddening, honestly.”

The reason for this predicament is simple.

There are far too few awakened individuals compared to the number of people.

“One hundred awakened individuals must support over a thousand excess individuals, leaving no room for flexibility.”

With a combat-ready force of only 100, we have at least 1,000 non-combatants.

If this were the past, this ratio wouldn’t have seemed so unusual.

Even in our country, soldiers make up about 1% of the total population.

Being a soldier is a dedicated profession for war.

Without engaging in productive labor, there will never be more combat personnel than the workers needed to sustain them.

But now, the situation is different.

“The awakened individuals handle all production.”

In a world teeming with monsters, it’s dangerous for ordinary survivors to even move about.

Whether it’s to gather food or even to farm, every aspect favors the awakened individuals over regular individuals.

In fact, we now find ourselves completely dependent on purchasing food in the form of rye bread using points.

Both production and power rest in the hands of the awakened individuals.

“One thing I still don’t understand, though.”

“What is it?”

With such a structure, one would expect other issues to arise.

“Based on everything I’ve heard so far, it wouldn’t be surprising if awakened individuals acted like nobles, given they monopolize everything necessary for survival.”

I’ve heard that in some survivor groups, awakened individuals treat other survivors as inferiors.

But here, it’s the opposite.

“The survivors I met on the way here… they spoke as if they were superior.”

The monk, Seung-joo, standing before me is the first awakened individual of this temple.

Despite being a notable awakener, he appeared flustered in the presence of a non-awakener.

“We are aware of this concern. That’s precisely why we are careful to ensure that the notion of awakened individuals being superior does not take root.”

“…Well, that’s certainly an impressive choice.”

Our own unit was somewhat similar in that regard. We took special care to ensure that our members would not lose their humanity.

“Still, it seems like the survivors intimidate you a bit.”

The problem was that it wasn’t just some minor issue. The Awakened and the survivors didn’t just exist on equal footing; the Awakened appeared to be weaker.

That was quite odd.

“Well, there are simply more non-Awakened individuals than Awakened Individuals like us,” I replied.

At my words, Seung-joo’s expression darkened. The abbot responded coolly.

“So… it’s a matter of majority rule?”

“Yes. It’s one of the rules established early on to prevent unfair situations.”

“….”

One hundred Awakened individuals could easily wreak havoc among thousands of survivors. It wouldn’t be strange at all if they treated the other survivors as their subjects, ruling over them like nobles.

However, they were the same ones who chose not to awaken those who were fearful, unable to coerce even them into violence. Such actions were beyond their grasp.

As a result of their efforts to respect people’s opinions and manage the group, it ended up being,

“…A few Awakened individuals are now enslaved by the majority of survivors, providing for them.”

“….”

It was a rather rude comment, yet even Seung-joo couldn’t muster a rebuttal this time.

“Ha, it’s actually quite fascinating.”

At this point, my disbelief had transformed into something resembling anger. I decided to ask a question that had been nagging at me.

“How have you managed to survive until now?”

“Managed to survive? We’ve just fought hard…”

“But there seem to be at least a thousand survivors, right? And you said you’re relying on rye bread to sustain that population. I imagine all the points earned from battles are going straight into food? Naturally, you couldn’t have afforded to purchase things like stat-enhancing potions.”

Without the ability to enhance one’s stats, weakness would inevitably follow. It wouldn’t be surprising if someone ended up getting hunted down and killed while trying to gather enough points to feed thousands.

“I mentioned earlier that Seung-joo reappeared after going missing on the first day.”

“Yes.”

“What the monk brought back wasn’t just the awakening method.”

“…?”

“I’m the abbot, but I didn’t originally train at this temple, so I’m not completely familiar with all the details. However, Myoyang Temple has a long-standing history with the Seungbyeong martial arts.”

“Really…?”

“The martial arts passed down from the revered Master Yoo-hyun, known for his heroic deeds as a Seungbyeong, are still alive and well here. Seung-joo came to find those techniques.”

Martial arts.

I guessed he was referring to the techniques used by the armored man I had fought alongside Gwang-il. I turned my head slightly to glance at Seung-joo, who nodded silently.

“It’s a technique known as the ‘Hangma Seungbyeong Martial Arts (Demon Subduing Martial Arts).’ You’ve seen it in action, so you already know.”

“…The Hangma Seungbyeong Martial Arts, huh?”

“Hmm? Is there something unclear about it?”

“No, not at all.”

As Seung-joo said, I was aware that they were training in something special.

However, um…

“Is it really about martial arts to combat demons?”

Well, let’s just say that’s the case for now.

“I’ve listened well, but monks, if things continue this way, this temple is doomed.”

“Hmm. We are aware that we have many problems. But what can we do—”

“I’ve mentioned this multiple times!”

At that moment, it was Seung-joo, the monk, who interjected the abbot’s words.

“There’s only one way to resolve this situation: we must forcibly awaken the survivors!”

“Seung-joo! Didn’t we agree to put that idea aside?”

“The soldier is absolutely right. Our current circumstances are far from normal. Why should those risking their lives listen to the orders of those who are at ease?”

It seemed that the two monks had been discussing the situation in considerable depth among themselves.

They were engrossed in conversation, seemingly ignoring my presence.

“Even so, forcibly awakening them will not do. Are we willing to forsake our humanity entirely?”

“I have a suggestion,” Seung-joo pointed towards me as he spoke.

“There’s a merchant who came along with that soldier.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s buy food from him but impose limits on food distribution.”

“Limits on distribution? What do you mean by that?”

“Our points are running low, aren’t they? We needed to impose limitations on food supply anyway. Instead, we could offer a little extra food to those who agree to awaken voluntarily—”

Somehow, it seemed he had intended to leverage the food conversation which he’d previously asked me not to divulge before entering the temple.

“What’s the difference between that and forcing an awakening?”

“Then are you suggesting we all just wither away and die? Please, get a grip. Abbot! It took only a few moments’ observation from an outsider for them to realize our situation is precarious. While I respect your character, if things continue this way, we will all perish!”

The tone of the conversation was intensifying, contrasting sharply with their earlier polite discussions.

In the midst of all this, I found myself contemplating.

‘…This might be easier than I expected?’

The problems they faced seemed quite manageable from my perspective.

“Excuse me. Just a moment.”

“Lord, I’m sorry, but we’re in the middle of a discussion—”

“So, what you’re saying is that we can’t forcibly awaken the people, but if they awaken voluntarily, that’s acceptable, right?”

“…?”

“I think I can facilitate that.”

And that was true.

The issue of voluntary versus forced awakening was something my guild had dealt with in the past.

Which meant it was an issue we had already resolved long ago.

“You say you can resolve it? What do you mean?”

“I’ll help the survivors awaken voluntarily. I can also address the situation where they’ve been treating monks like slaves.”

“…I-Is that really possible?”

“No violent means should be employed.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

My methods would be far from violent.

“But first, I would like to request something in return.”

“To ask for a price, huh?”

“If you can truly resolve this issue, that would be remarkable, but I wonder if we can afford such an extraordinary price.”

“You can. It’s something quite manageable.”

I turned my gaze.

Looking at Monk Seung-joo, who claimed to be the heir of the ‘Demon-subduing Warrior Martial Arts.’

“About that Demon-subduing technique…”

“Oh! Are you asking for a transfer of martial skills? If that’s the case, I’d be more than happy to oblige! However, this martial art is fundamentally about staff techniques…”

“No, it goes without saying that you would teach it.”

“Hmm?”

What’s his angle here? Teaching just that wouldn’t suffice.

“First, I’d like to know where you obtained it.”

“….”

“And how exactly you came to possess this technique. What its exact concepts are. Where it originated from… You’ll need to provide a thorough explanation.”

At those words, the head monk tilted his head and replied, “Did I not mention this already? Our temple has been famous for its warrior monks for a long time; this martial art has been passed down from the esteemed Master Yoo-hyun of old.”

“……Do you genuinely believe that?”

“Excuse me?”

As I fixed my gaze intently on him, the head monk wore an expression of confusion.

“In that case, this discussion ends here.”

“Ah, now hold on. Please calm down, young one. I’m not quite sure what it is that you truly want…”

“I’m not asking you.”

“?”

I turned my head.

Looking at the other monk.

“It seems like Monk Seung-joo has a different perspective.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

At my statement, the head monk’s eyes also shifted toward Monk Seung-joo.

Then,

“Monk Seung-joo?”

“….”

“What’s going on? Why are you sweating so much?”

“Ah, yes. Uh, um…”

He was sweating profusely, as if caught off guard by something important.

“I-I’m terribly sorry.”

“Sorry? Well now…”

Watching his reaction, I thought, “If you’re going to deceive someone, at least be reasonable about it.”

Claiming to possess a martial art famous for fighting against the Japanese?

These weaklings, already incapable of taking any ability potions, had somehow been able to fight monsters thanks to that martial art?

“Shaolin martial arts wouldn’t allow for such exaggerations.”

From the very beginning, the name itself posed a problem.

[Ingredient Identification (Enhancement)]

[Awakened: Seung-joo]

Chapter 149: After All, He’s a Monk

[Class: Intermediate Paladin Lv.27]

[Stats: …….]

[Traits: …….]

[Skills: …….]

[Martial Arts]

[A Rank – Heavenly Whirlwind Celestial Staff Technique Lv.6]

“Is this really the Demon Subdueing Martial Arts?”

Not a single term overlaps, my friend.

“Do you have any inkling about this, Master Seung-joo?”

“I-I’m sorry, Abbot.”

“Sorry? About what, exactly?”

“I can’t provide the details. But please, trust me. I haven’t done anything strange.”

At this point, even someone as oblivious as me couldn’t ignore the truth.

“Monk Seung-joo… the martial arts that you are using… It’s not a tradition passed down from Grandmaster Yoo Hyun, is it?”

“I-I truly apologize.”

“Ha! I thought it was a ridiculous notion the first time I heard it.”

This isn’t some movie about Shaolin monks.

The idea that martial arts developed by the monk soldiers during the Joseon Dynasty could enhance the combat abilities of modern Awakened beings is utterly preposterous.

‘Absurd.’

Sure, there are individuals in our unit who have trained in martial arts.

Take Corporal Jeong Gwang-il, for instance.

He’s practiced everything from boxing to Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

As a way to overcome his timid nature, he trained in various fighting styles.

I can confidently say that while such martial arts might offer some assistance, they cannot exponentially enhance the combat power of an Awakened individual.

‘After all, ordinary humans and Awakened beings differ fundamentally in physical capabilities.’

Martial arts designed for average humans assume a baseline of ordinary physical ability.

No matter how exceptional those techniques may be, they are powerless against an Awakened being with abilities that transcend human limitations.

I glanced subtly at the Abbot.

[Awakened: Beop-hyeon]

[Class: Junior Priest Lv.17]

[Martial Arts]

[C Rank – Demon Subduing Martial Arts Lv.2]

At the very least, the status screens of everyone else besides Monk Seung-joo confirm that they have the Demon Subduing martial arts.

However, the issue lies in their ranks.

Monk Seung-joo possesses an A-rank martial art.

The Demon Subduing’s martial art is rated C.

I’ve never seen such a notation before, but one thing is clear: there’s a significant disparity between the two techniques.

‘The Demon Subduing’s martial arts… is a mere distant inferior version of the techniques Monk Seung-joo has mastered.’

As I stood there, arms crossed, I continued to observe.

Seung-joo, the monk, trembled, as if unable to believe what he was hearing.

“How did you… find out?”

“Well, I have my own ways of figuring things out.”

“….”

“Honestly, doesn’t this entire setup seem completely absurd? Even if you claim to have mastered martial arts from the Joseon era, it’s still just human skill. How could that possibly benefit someone who has awakened their powers?”

“….”

“Who would fall for this? People aren’t fools.”

“Cough, cough!”

At that last remark, the abbot’s face flushed slightly.

“Well, I also thought it was a bit far-fetched. Still, it’s unlikely that such exceptional techniques would suddenly emerge from the ground. There must be some underlying origin.”

“In the end, you believed that far-fetched story, didn’t you?”

“…Hmm.”

The abbot lowered his head, as if at a loss for words.

“Hah.”

After a brief pause, Seung-joo, who had been trembling and sweating, sighed deeply.

“I don’t know how you pieced it together, but it seems you already know everything.”

“Well, I have an idea.”

“You’re right.”

As expected.

“The techniques I’ve learned aren’t the martial arts of the Hangma Seungbyeong. The claim that they originated from Master Yoo-hyun is also a lie.”

“Are you saying the name itself was a lie?”

“…Yes. What I taught the monks was a simplified version of my martial arts. While it can be learned quickly, the drawback is that achieving mastery is difficult. The name ‘Hangma Seungbyeong’… I simply made it up.”

The once-trembling nobleman now spoke nonchalantly, perhaps because he had already been caught.

“You’re quite audacious, aren’t you?”

“Wasn’t it already obvious?”

Hmm.

I hadn’t known that other monks’ martial arts were simplified versions.

“Moreover, I am already a fallen monk who has violated the sacred regulations. If I’ve already broken the rule against lying, it wouldn’t make things worse, would it?”

“…Heh, I suppose that’s true.”

It was a bit absurd, but his boldness actually appealed to me.

“More importantly, can you really help us with our problem?”

“It’s possible. We’ve been through similar experiences ourselves.”

“Hmm. Then.”

After a moment of contemplation, he opened his eyes and said,

“Would it be acceptable to pay later?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“If the method you mentioned succeeds, then I will share what I know about my martial arts.”

My initial intent was to forge an alliance with them.

But upon arriving, I was quite disappointed to find they had significant issues.

On the flip side, that means, “If I can resolve their problems, they could turn out to be quite a valuable group.”

Perhaps the information he possesses isn’t anything special, but

restoring them to a functioning group is something that needs to be done regardless.

If they can transform into an alliance worth joining, then…

“Not a bad deal at all.”

As I muttered to myself and rose to my feet, the monk Seung-joo looked at me, puzzled.

“You’re suddenly getting up. Where are you heading…?”

“We’re quite busy ourselves. We don’t have the luxury to wait around.”

“…?”

“They say you should strike while the iron is hot.”

I flashed a smile.

“Let’s tackle the issue you mentioned right away.”

“…!”

“For now, let’s make use of the kitchen here.”

I led the two monks to the monastery’s kitchen.

“Why the kitchen…?”

“Come to think of it, you mentioned you’re a chef.”

“Really? A chef…? Is that even a profession?”

“…Hmm.”

The chief monk seemed a bit surprised, but what else could he do?

It’s not every day you encounter someone awakened to this profession, so I accepted the confusion without much thought.

“I wish it could be as simple as feeding them a dish of Courage…”

In the case of our forces, serving everyone a meal infused with Courage during their awakening had sufficed.

By providing them with emotionally rich dishes continuously, I had been able to take care of them effectively.

“But that method isn’t applicable here.”

After all, I’m not part of this monastery.

I can’t possibly stay here around the clock and prepare meals for every survivor who’s about to awaken.

So, I needed a different approach.

To come up with that method, I sat on the kitchen floor and took a piece of beef jerky, biting into it.

[Eavesdropping Alaur’s Jerky of the War Chef]

“What are you doing…?”

“Shh.”

[Temporarily acquiring the trait: Enhanced Hearing]

Blocking the monks’ questions, I focused my mind.

Sounds began to emerge from all around the mountain.

The thud of beasts’ footsteps on the ground.

The rustling of trees swaying in the wind.

The cries of monsters.

Even the ragged breaths of zombies.

And amidst all this, voices of people came through.

Earlier today…

Soldiers?

The military has definitely collapsed…

I concentrated on the conversation they were having.

And the moments passed like a blur.

“Monks.”

A moment later, I sat up and turned on the stove in the kitchen, preparing to cook. As I did, I spoke to the monks.

“You mentioned that since we’re in this situation, it wouldn’t matter if we told a few white lies, right?”

Myongyang Temple, part of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, was crowded with survivors from Yanggu County.

Among them were several individuals who held a prominent position within the community.

One of them, Hong Jeongsu, was a well-respected local leader, known affectionately as “Father Jinsu.”

As he surveyed the gathered crowd, he spoke up.

“I saw some people in military uniforms wandering around the temple earlier today.”

“When you say military uniforms, do you mean actual soldiers?” one person inquired, a hint of hope in their voice.

“I wish that were true, but the odds are against it. You all know what happened to our military base. It was completely wiped out.”

“Does that mean—?”

“The likelihood is that they are deserters,” he concluded grimly.

His words sent a wave of unease through the crowd.

“W-why would monks be involved with deserters?”

“I can’t say for sure. But one thing is clear: whatever their intentions, it’s probably not good for us… though I do have some suspicions.”

“Suspicion? What do you mean?”

Hong Jeongsu chose his words cautiously.

“I suspect they might be looking to shift the current balance of power.”

“The current balance?”

“Cough. I’m referring to the situation where the monks have been protecting us.”

Yet, the situation was far from normal. In this world, Awakened individuals held all the advantages.

“It wouldn’t be surprising if, at the moment we let our guard down, those monks began to behave like aristocrats.”

“Behaving like aristocrats?”

“Well, since we’re largely dependent on them for our survival, they might start demanding we follow their orders… you know, something like that.”

“B-but they’re monks. Would they really go that far?”

“Hah. Just because they are monks doesn’t mean they aren’t human. In a situation like this, it’s entirely possible for them to become corrupted.”

At that, the people’s expressions darkened.

“We must remain vigilant to ensure that doesn’t happen. It’s the only way we can keep ourselves safe.”

A few among them exchanged uneasy glances.

“I’ve thought this for a while, but doesn’t this feel a bit like we’re just using the monks?” one person voiced their concern.

“It’s true that our survival hinges on their support,” another added.

However, Hong Jeongsu merely scoffed, shaking his head with a hint of ridicule.

“Ha. If that’s how you feel, why don’t you go awaken yourselves and start helping the monks? Nobody will stop you.”

“….”

“But once you awaken, you’ll find yourselves fighting alongside the monks against the monsters. Speaking of which, didn’t we lose a monk recently? I heard he was consumed by those monsters and his body was never recovered… but I suppose such details hardly matter. If you’re going, then go.”

At those words, the two individuals who had appeared uneasy now silently settled back into their seats.

“Sigh. If we follow the monks’ guidance, we can continue to live comfortably under their protection. Why are we steering this conversation into such strange territory? Tsk, tsk…,” Hong Jeongsu complained.

“There may be a gnawing feeling of guilt, but we need to change our perspective. They are monks, after all.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I mean, they’re people who aspire to attain enlightenment and accumulate merit. If, in the midst of this turmoil, they suddenly decide to act as aristocrats, exploiting others like slaves, wouldn’t that render all their previous efforts and teachings meaningless?”

On the Other Hand,

If one sacrificed oneself to protect others…

“That’s a virtue in itself; it increases the chances of becoming a Buddha.”

“Is that really true?”

“Absolutely. It’s part of their practice. There’s no reason for us to feel guilty about it.”

Despite some people still displaying uneasy expressions, no one stepped forward to voice their concerns.

“After all, they wouldn’t want to fight those monsters anyway. Why pretend to be virtuous?”

Clears throat.

“In any case, we need to prevent such incidents from happening. I’m not entirely sure why we’ve brought in the deserters, but… we have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning, so I suppose we’ll find out then.”

“Ugh. I’m worried.”

“The key point is this: regardless of how the conversation unfolds, we must steer it in a way that prevents the monks from falling into corruption!”

“Understood.”

“I don’t want to deal with monsters either… Got it.”

Seeing the nods of agreement, Jung-soo couldn’t help but smile.

“Those monks are profoundly naive. With so many people on my side… they won’t be able to say a word.”

As long as public opinion was with their side, those gullible monks would have to continue to work like their slaves.

Regardless of what the monks said, they chose to align their words with maintaining the current situation.

Having made that agreement, the survivors gathered for the next day’s general meeting, but the atmosphere quickly shifted.

“I come from the 12th Division.”

“…The 12th Division?”

Their conversation partner wasn’t one of the monks.

Rather, it was a group of soldiers clad in military uniforms, armed with rifles and assorted gear.

What giants they are…

These weren’t ordinary soldiers.

Each one towered with impressive stature. One of them even looked to be over two meters tall.

Moreover, the color of their uniforms was strangely distinct.

Could they possibly be part of a special forces unit?

Is there only one guy who looks relatively normal amongst these giants?

Amongst this crowd of imposing figures stood a man of average build, at least in comparison.

He had a handsome enough face that, under different circumstances, might be deemed attractive.

But perhaps it was the strangely sharp expression he wore that lent him a slightly dangerous air.

With the soldiers standing tall around him, he finally spoke up.

“To be precise, I’m from the 423rd Detainee of the 12th Division. You can call me Sergeant Shin Young-joon.”

“Are you really a soldier?”

“No. As I understand, most military bases have been completely wiped out.”

As the people began murmuring, Sergeant Shin Young-joon nodded affirmatively and continued.

“We’re aware of how widely that information has spread. It’s true that the majority of military bases have been decimated.”

“…..”

“However, it’s not entirely true that there are no surviving units. Our 12th Division has amalgamated the remaining forces to wage war against the monsters.”

“Whoa…!”

As the conversation unfolded, excitement began to spread among the people.

The military, which they had assumed was completely annihilated, was still standing and had come to rescue them. It was impossible not to feel exhilarated by such news.

‘How foolish… Do they really believe that?’

Yet one person, Hong Jeong-soo, felt differently.

“However, as I’ve mentioned, many of the military bases have been decimated. We don’t have much left to spare…”

“Hey, you!”

Sergeant Shin Young-joon attempted to continue, but Hong Jeong-soo interrupted him, rising to his feet.

“…You have a familiar face. What brings you here?”

“Ah, you speak well of your military background. But everyone knows that many bases have been destroyed.”

As he spoke, Jeong-soo started to step towards the soldier.

That face was indeed familiar.

He recognized him as the soldier who had been brought by Monk Seung-joo just yesterday.

What kind of scheme he was involved in with the monks, Jeong-soo had no idea.

But it would be a grave miscalculation to think they could easily manipulate him.

“Where is the evidence that you’re not a deserter—”

Driven by that thought, Hong Jeong-soo approached the soldier.

And then, at that very moment,

“Wait.”

“Are you asking me if I’m standing here for nothing?”

“Who gave you the right to move freely?”

Click.

“…Huh?”

As Jeong-soo drew nearer, Sergeant Shin Young-joon pulled out his handgun.

“Ha. What are you going to do? Shoot me with that?”

BANG!!!

The sudden gunshot echoed through the sacred grounds that should never have been desecrated.

“.…”

Hong Jeong-soo.

He had consistently remained dignified, never losing his composure or confidence.

That was the reason he stood out among countless survivors gathered in the temple.

But now,

cold sweat began to trickle down his face.

Glancing down, he spotted a bullet lodged in the ground between his feet.

“Just now, that was a warning shot. If you move again without permission…”

Sergeant Shin Young-joon’s sharp gaze pierced through Hong Jeong-soo, aligned with the muzzle of his pistol.

“Next time, it won’t just be a warning.”

“….”

In that moment, all the survivors gathered in the temple felt an instinctive chill run through them.