The Military Chef of a Ruined World

This guy’s palate is so refined that my cooking would have to be twenty times better than it currently is just to satisfy him?

‘The difference is way too big.’

If I think about it, my profession is that of an [Intermediate Chef].

Although I’ve been handling all sorts of tasks with cooking ever since I awakened as a chef, the title ‘intermediate’ doesn’t seem all that impressive when ranked.

I should have suspected something when I learned about buffs through cooking.

“There are chefs in your world who are overwhelmingly more skilled than I am.”

As a result of being served by him, my cooking has apparently not made an impact on a creature whose palate had been elevated.

…I’ve dealt with species that don’t eat meat before, but I never thought my cooking might not work for this reason.

[Indeed… I understand your intentions. It was a cute little prank.]

[Though your skill as a chef is shallow, it seems you possess quite a range of talents. How long has it been since you began to learn cooking seriously?]

However, despite the minimal effects of my dish, the tone with which he addressed me had softened slightly.

‘What’s going on?’

Caught off guard by the sudden change in atmosphere, I simply replied with my thoughts.

“Um, just a little over two years.”

I started learning when I first became a military chef. If I consider only the time since I became an awakened one, it hasn’t even been a full year.

[Hmm! Two years, you say?]

He appeared slightly surprised at my answer.

[To achieve such a level in just two years—what remarkable talent! Little insect, do not rush your thinking.]

“Don’t rush my thinking? What do you mean?”

[The realm of cooking, the questions you hold—all will gradually become clear with time.]

What’s this?

It seems like, in the end, he won’t reveal anything substantial.

[Nevertheless, allow me to offer you one piece of advice.]

“…?”

[The enemies you face will grow stronger over time. It would be wise to prepare in advance.]

Hmm…

After delivering his words, I could hear rough breaths escaping from his body.

[It’s painful, isn’t it? It’s time to finish this.]

At his words, I glanced back briefly.

“…They weren’t just mindless man-eating monsters.”

Though Chang-su had initially been excited at the thought of ending his life, he now seemed preoccupied with other matters.

Well, whatever.

I could at least grant him an easy end on his way out.

Gripping kitchen knives in both hands, I plunged them into the giant’s gills.

Swoosh…

I targeted the weak spots of that creature.

Vital organs essential for life were sliced through effortlessly.

[Insect.]

Just before its breath was completely snuffed out, the creature managed to utter its final words.

[The taste wasn’t exceptionally great… but it was a rather pleasant meal after a long time.]

A surge of energy poured from its body into mine.

[You have gained experience.]

[You have defeated the ‘Pope of the Deep Ocean’.]

[You have slain the leader of a race.]

[Achievement – Condition for King Slayer has been fulfilled. (3/3)]

[You are the first human to eliminate multiple race leaders.]

[A reward will be granted to the one who leads the way.]

[Reward: Trait Enhancement Ticket x1]

[Title – King Slayer]

[Trait – Combat Power Evaluation]

‘Insane.’

The requirements for obtaining this title were notoriously challenging.

Perhaps that’s why I received three rewards for it.

‘I’ve received the Trait Enhancement Token before, so that’s familiar…’

But what caught my attention was the next item.

[Title – King Slayer]

[You have caused the deaths of leaders from various races and civilizations.]

[All living leaders will feel an inexplicable sense of fear upon seeing you, while those who survive your gaze will double-check to ensure their necks are still attached.]

[The majesty of kings will no longer have any effect on you]

[All stats increased by 30%]

[All types of effects against leader-level entities will be increased by 100%]

[You gain complete immunity to skills and characteristics related to fear]

For someone like me, whose base stats were already incredibly high, this surge in power was significant.

Moreover,

‘Having all effects increased by 100%…’

It means that against race leader-level entities, all of my abilities would be doubled.

Though my cooking had only a 5% effect on the Pope, with this title active, it would have applied at 10%.

…But thinking about it that way, it seems only slightly better.

And finally,

[Trait – Combat Power Evaluation]

[Due to encountering many races and collecting their blood, you can now approximate the strength of each race]

[You can discern the potential and strength inherent in each race]

[This characteristic is linked as a sub-effect of the Ingredient Identification (Enhanced) trait]

Then I heard voices calling from outside.

“Sergeant Shin!”

“Come out!”

As I stepped outside, I looked up at the sky.

Crack…

The dark sky shattered, and light began seeping through the cracks.

‘The dungeon is closing.’

The water that had risen to my chest began to drain away.

At last,

[You have cleared the interdimensional dungeon – Dasmur]

[You have succeeded in collecting the fragments of the wandering world]

[Rewards will be granted based on your contributions]

[Contribution – Maximum]

[You will receive the essence of the fragmented world]

[Checking class… Chef]

[Please select your reward.]

* * *

The dungeon that had engulfed all of Chuncheon city gradually receded, allowing the city to return to some semblance of its former state.

The most bustling central buildings were gone, replaced by strange temple-like structures, but that was about the only change.

However, it didn’t mean the city had become peaceful.

Craaack!!!

“Damn it!”

“What the hell? Where did these creatures come from?”

A massive monster, resembling a wild dog, pounced on the city’s residents.

During the time of the dungeon, there had been no other monsters around, but now that it was closed, these creatures appeared as if they had always belonged in that very spot.

“The sky seemed to come crashing down, and then monsters started showing up.”

“Things were better before!”

These people had originally been living in high-rise buildings, avoiding the monsters from the dungeon.

Apparently, they ended up escaping the dungeon completely unaware, due to us.

People who were now being attacked by the monsters expressed their dissatisfaction.

“Urrgh!”

Snarl!

Despite their complaints, their skills with the weapons they wielded were surprisingly decent.

They were in an environment that felt relatively safe, akin to our own unit.

Most of those living there had already undergone their awakening.

While there weren’t many high-level awakened individuals, they were still strong enough to defend themselves.

‘Although the purpose of entering the dungeon was for the growth of my unit…’

Watching the people fighting against the monsters, I couldn’t help but think, “I think we’ve unintentionally gained an advantage in an unexpected way.”

“Yeah.”

The sudden invasion of monsters had resulted in over 90% of humanity’s demise.

The fight between monsters and humans was always a battle of overwhelming numerical disadvantage for humanity.

‘Yet, that gap… has somewhat narrowed.’

Countless awakened individuals who had been languishing away in the closed-off city were now unleashed into the world.