The Military Chef of a Ruined World

Chapter 54

Huh? This knife is… trash?”

Shit.

I couldn’t help but flinch after saying that.

A knife made for me.

Given how cool it looked, it must have been crafted with some care.

This was an insult of the highest order.

“Oh, I’m sorry—”

“Haha. You do have an eye for knives, don’t you.”

“…Pardon?”

“Yes, that piece of trash — set it aside.”

“Oh. Sure.”

“Next, try this one.”

The old man handed me another knife.

It looked similar to the one I had just held.

Whack!

The result was the same.

I spoke up confidently.

“Grandpa Park, these knives seem to have some issues.”

“As if I don’t know that? Try this one next.”

My bold statement was brushed aside effortlessly.

“Hmm. Try this one.”

And so, I tried the next knife.

And the one after that.

Grandpa Park kept handing me similar knives, asking me to swing them around.

As this went on,

Even someone like me, who didn’t know much about knives, started to notice something.

“The lengths are getting shorter and shorter.”

“Haha, you catch on quickly.”

After going through several knives,

At one point,

Swoosh—

Unlike the previous knives that got stuck in the log, this one cut cleanly.

The knife I held this time easily sliced through the thick log.

“Huh?”

“Hmm. The length is about 600mm. You’re handling it quite comfortably.”

Grandpa Park was silently jotting down notes as he watched.

At this point, even I could understand what was going on.

I opened my status window and checked one of my traits.

The name of that trait was:

Junior Grade Dagger Mastery

The series of actions repeated so far were meant for…

“You were figuring out the right length for a dagger.”

“That’s right.”

It was all about determining the standard for what constitutes a good dagger.

“The term ‘dagger’ sounds nice, but there’s no official standard for what qualifies as a dagger in the realm of knives.”

“Is that so?”

“Think about it. A dagger is simply a short blade. But what defines ‘short’? The standard changes depending on its use, doesn’t it?”

Indeed.

When it comes to cutting an apple, even the long sashimi knife I used would seem excessive.

Yet, it is still considered a type of short blade.

“Usually, length alone is used to define the classification, not arbitrary terms like ‘dagger.’ That’s why I was checking them.”

“Then what about these impressive knives?”

“These? I made them as practice pieces using scrap metal lying around, to revive my senses. They’re not even good enough to be toys for kids.”

“….”

I finally understood why Grandpa Park had such a nonchalant reaction when I called the knives impressive.

‘To begin with they were hastily made items.’

No wonder he wasn’t impressed by my compliment.

‘He figured out a trait about myself that I wasn’t even fully aware of.’

The standard for my skill, Junior Grade Dagger Mastery was now clear.

About 600mm

“That’s quite long, isn’t it?”

As far as I knew, regular kitchen knives are typically 15-25cm in length.

Even very large ones are usually under 30cm.

“The sashimi knife I had before was around 300mm, which was already considered quite long for its specialized purpose.”

Now twice that length?

“It’s not a length typically used for a kitchen knife.”

“That’s right, isn’t it?”

“But at least you now have a good idea of the standard length.”

Grandpa Park showed me a page from his notebook.

There was a drawing of a rather long Japanese knife.

“This is the longest type used for cutting tuna. This one is 600mm.”

“Ah, so this is the knife you’re comparing it to.”

“Exactly. And even that tuna knife is still considered a ‘kitchen knife’ at the end of the day.”

In other words, these 600mm blades represent the upper limit of what would be considered a standard kitchen knife.

“Since your occupation is that of a chef, I imagine this length is about the maximum that would be suited for you to use effectively.”

“I see…”

Actually,

This wasn’t a bad news for me.

The length of the kitchen knives I had been using was around 300mm.

Knowing that even knives twice that length could be covered by my trait was a significant advantage.

A longer blade length offered tremendous benefits.

‘Especially since there are many large monsters.’

No matter how sharp my knife skills were,

Stabbing a monster with a body tens of meters long wouldn’t make much of a difference.

The pain would likely only be akin to a slight prick from a needle.

‘’Just as it’s impossible to kill a dinosaur by stabbing it dozens of times with a 0.01mm needle, the same principle applies here.'”

It was all thanks to my [Chef’s Eyes] skill that allowed me to identify the enemies’ weaknesses and helped to offset the shortcomings of using a short weapon up until now.

The increased blade length was a boon.

A longer blade meant a greater reach,

And therefore, more destructive power.

“Next is this one.”

“Oh, it’s not over yet?”

“We need to be more thorough.”

It wasn’t over.

Grandpa Park then handed me a double-edged blade.

In other words,

A sword rather than a knife.

“As I expected from the name ‘Dagger Mastery,’ double-edged forms are not covered regardless of length.”

“That’s a bit disappointing.”

“Next, try this one.”

A knife with a broad blade like a Chinese chef’s knife.

A Chinese cleaver.

“The thickness seems to be the limit here – trying to pass this off as a kitchen knife would be a stretch.”

Eventually, I held all sorts of bizarre shapes.

A knife with three blades branching from the handle.

A nearly circular curved blade.

A saw-toothed knife.

A knife with blades on both the top and bottom of the handle.

“This should be enough.”

The evaluation process finally concluded, after my concept of what constitutes a ‘knife’ had been thoroughly shattered

“If I start working now, it will be done within a week. Ah, would you like to watch?”

“Can I?”

“You should at least see the material being melted down. It’s your trophy, after all.”

“Excuse me?”

Saying that, Grandpa Park opened a door in the corner of the workshop.

When the door opened, what appeared was a smelting furnace.

A room with a massive furnace in the centre.

“Ah! Hello!”

“…Hello, Commander.”

Near the furnace, two magicians were waiting.

The sisters who used to share a room with Grandpa Park.

Each had awakened as a fire and ice mage, respectively.

In a world without coal or oil,

It was these two magicians who managed the heat.

“Hyejin, start the fire.”

“Yes.”

As soon as we entered the furnace area, Grandpa Park spoke.

Whoosh.

Magical flames engulfed the furnace.

“Make it hotter!”

“Yes, yes!”

Whoosh—

Even with my fire affinity as a chef,

The heat was overwhelming.

As the furnace temperature rapidly increased,

Grandpa Park looked at me and spoke.

“The last favour I mentioned before. I’ll tell you now.”

The mages’ contributions,

The workshop’s creation,

And the final favour that he had mentioned.

“Can I use that?”

“Excuse me?”

Turning my gaze in the direction Grandpa Park pointed,

Engineers in thick clothing were bringing in something massive from the corner.

An object I was quite familiar with.

‘The Queen’s Blade.’

White spider monsters with six legs and two additional blade-like forelegs.

This was an object of overwhelming size among them.

The blade of the queen I had personally cut down.

“Haha! So, this was the last favour?”

“Yes. It seems this material is quite valuable.”

The spider monsters that had occupied the ammunition depot.

Their bodies were relatively weak and succumbed easily to heat,

But their two blade-like forelegs were extraordinarily tough.

They were sharp, and resistant to heat.

Now out of all the claws, the Queen’s blade-like forelegs were particularly impressive.

“I asked around with the other soldiers too. Since you were the one who felled this, they said the ownership rightfully belongs to you.”

“You didn’t mention this before and suddenly bringing it up now. Was that intentional?”

“Yeah. It does carry quite an imposing presence, right?”

Indeed, the immense sense of awe from the Queen’s massive forelegs was no joke.

“So, can I use it then?”

“Yes. Feel free to use it as you wish.”

“Great!”

There was no way I could refuse, given they intended to forge my new weapon from this.

Is there any reason to refuse?

“The commander has granted permission! Put it in right away!”

“Yes!”

With great effort, the colossal foreleg was moved into the furnace.

The heat was likely far beyond what would be required to melt ordinary iron.

Sure enough, the Queen’s foreleg began to glow red-hot and slowly it began to melt.

“It seems even that can melt.”

“It’s thanks to the blacksmith’s skill. Without that, ordinary heat wouldn’t do. We’ve already tested it.”

“Tested it?”

“I melted down the claws of the regular spider soldiers, since no one had claim to their ownership. It was all just practice for making your weapon, of course.”

Grandpa Park, holding a hammer, approached the furnace with a smile.

He said, chuckling, “It was a dress rehearsal for making your weapon.”

***

“It’s finished.”

A few days later.

Before my eyes lay a leather bag.

Even though my knowledge of cooking is lacking, I can still understand this much.

A knife bag.

“The knife sheath and bag were made by Lee Sanh-ah.”

Glancing up discreetly.

I saw Lee Sang-ah standing next to Grandpa Park.

“The workshop. It also affects the skills of the seamstress.”

I wondered what could be so important about a knife bag or sheath.

But upon closer inspection, it wasn’t just that.

[Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)]

Contrary to its name, now this ability allows me to assess all manner of things and not just food ingredients.

[Leather Sheath filled with sincerity of a Junior Grade Seamstress]

[Preserves the enclosed knife in optimal condition. Additionally, if the blade is damaged, the sheath’s magic slowly restores it]

[Leather bag filled with sincerity of a Junior Grade Seamstress]

[Bestows faint magic on the enclosed knife. After withdrawing the knife from the bag, it grants a ‘sharpness’ buff for 10 minutes.]

“Wow.”

“They said you’d be using it, the Legion Commander, so I put in some extra effort.”

Her crafting skills had improved during this time, perhaps due to added bonuses from the workshop.

Even this auxiliary equipment had effects exceeding my expectations.

“If the knife bag and sheath are this good, how impressive must be the main gear?”

With anticipation, I opened the bag, my heart beating rapidly.

Inside the bag were two kitchen knives.

…Two?

“Not just one?”

“The Queen’s claws came in pairs, didn’t they? So, the blades should also come in pairs as well.”

Well, I couldn’t argue with that logic.

“From the start, it never made sense for a chef to carry only one knife.”

“That’s right. Until now, you’ve managed with just one for vegetables and meat, right?”

In most cases,

Chefs don’t stick to just one knife.

Depending on the dish, having various knives is essential.

Of course, I wasn’t a chef but a former soldier.

As a chef, at most I would separate knives for cutting meat and vegetables, nothing more sophisticated than that.

I might also have a Chinese-style cleaver for cutting meat, but that’s all about the extent of my knife usage.

‘These must be the real blades used by master chefs.’

My past aspiration to become a chef after leaving the military…

Now it feels like a distant memory.

“It seems like I’m starting to at least assemble a basic set, even if it’s just the bare minimum.”

“Go ahead, give them a try.”

Following Grandpa Park’s words,

I decided to try out one of the knives.

The one I held was the longer of the two.

As I gripped the knife,

a status window appeared before my eyes.

[Ingredient Identification (Enhanced)]

[Dokkkogusik*]

[A masterpiece created by a Junior Grade Blacksmith with all his might, possessing qualities of a master]

[Made from the forelegs of the renowned White Spider of Arachron, a material renowned for its quality.]

[The Queen’s foreleg in particular, is an excellent raw material that retains its edge remarkably well]

[Designed for efficiently handling large ingredients, it is on the longer side of a kitchen knife]

[While it doesn’t possess any special magical properties, it’s faithful to the basics as a sturdy and sharp weapon]

[Significantly increases Strength and Agility when equipped]

[It will not wear out easily]

[It will not break easily]

[Carries the resentment of former leader of an entire species]

[When used in combat, the probability of causing a critical hit increases]

Though it resembled a Japanese chef’s knife in form, the length was more akin to a short sword, exceeding the typical size of a cooking blade.

This was likely due to the limitations of my own specifications.

It was probably around 600mm in length.

The feel in my hand was quite different from the start.

I had thought I had gotten used to the sushi knife wielded by my junior,

but holding this one made that notion quickly disappear.

I also noticed an ornate, antique-looking pattern along the side of the blade.

“What is this design on the blade?”

“Ah that? It emerged naturally during the forging process. Quite elegant, isn’t it?”

“Amazing.”

I’ve never had much desire for knives in my life.

But holding this now, I think I understand why my junior proudly regarded the chef’s knife crafted by a master.

“Try holding the next one.”

The second knife was shorter in length but had a wide blade.

As I gripped the knife a description similar to the previous one appeared before my eyes.

This knife’s name is…

[Black Chinese Cleaver]

“It’s a Chinese-style knife.”

“It’s one of the most versatile knives for cooking. And it could be useful in combat as well.”

True to his words, this blade had a substantial heft to it, though the edge was not overly long.

It could likely be wielded like an axe to cleave through tough objects.

Both blades were exceptional in quality, eliciting admiration.

Both knives are truly exceptional to evoke admiration.

If there’s one thing, I’m concerned about… Then it’s their name ‘Dokkkogusik’ and ‘Black Chinese Cleaver’.

“Hmm…”

“Is it okay to use these names?”

“Huh? You have an issue with my naming?”

“No… It’s cool. It’s dignified, too.”

Our plan to seize ammunition was to secure ammunition,

but I never expected the unexpected gains of battle to be used like this.

Moreover, it seemed like I wasn’t the only one getting new weapons.

“Let’s test if attaching some spikes to the flat of a hammer would still have it recognized as a hammer by our engineers.”

“Like a meat tenderizer? Not a bad idea. Our combat engineers only have [Hammer Mastery] skill, after all.”

“We tried experimenting with the Sentinels’ [Shield Proficiency] – even attaching blades to the shields, they’re still recognized as shields. Putting the blades on the bottom could let us use them as weapons too.”

“The mages are asking for staffs… I wonder what that’s about.”

In the corner of the workshop, I could see the Combat Engineers gathered, deep in discussion.

It seemed like they were designing weapons for the unit members.

Just like how I checked the standards for [Dagger Mastery],

They’re inventing weapons tailored to other awakened job traits.

“…Those guys always liked making things from scratch, like plastic models or DIY kits.”

They always enjoyed creating and assembling something.

Given that proper production facilities like the workshop have been established…

Their hobbies and aptitudes align perfectly.

Now that the environment is set up as well.

“It must’ve been tough for you guys to operate as warriors, huh?”

“Oh, come on, don’t start.”

“I remember when they forcibly assigned me to the warrior role because of my [Hammer Mastery] and stamina enhancement traits. Back then, I thought I was going to die; I had no combat skills.”

“Heh, I’m a chef myself. I know exactly how that feels.”

With the materials and the workshop now set up,

It was quite nice to see them creating and researching various things that fit their main profession.

“The standards for [Greatsword Mastery] have no limits on maximum size, but there are restrictions on the minimum size…”

“The rouge-type awakened ones are skilled with daggers like the sergeant, but their skills seem to be more about throwing, so they focus on mass shooting.”

“At this rate won’t there be a shortage of white spider by-products?”

“Hey, over here! Can someone help me with dismantling this vehicle?”

After landing to the ground,

After coming down to the surface, the number of Awakened had grown by additional twenty.

And it became clear that the diversity of occupations was greater than expected.

‘We may categorize them broadly as “Warrior” or “Mage” types, but the specifics are quite varied.’

Even within the Warrior class, there were Berserkers, Sentinels, Knights, Swordsmen, Lancers and more.

Among them, there were those who needed to use specific weapons like my ‘Dagger Mastery’ to demonstrate their abilities.

Until now, we had been getting by with whatever weapons we could find in the point shop, even if it didn’t work perfectly with our awakened abilities.

Because of this reason many awakened weren’t satisfied with their equipment.

“Not anymore.”

I look down at the clothes I was wearing.

A black and grey digital camouflage uniform made from lizard skin.

“It looks stylish, performs well, but…”

Maybe it’s because this is a custom-tailored garment, something I’ve never worn before.

Despite being a leather military uniform, it feels as comfortable as wearing nothing at all.

This protective suit was exclusively created for me.

And then there are these two blades that I recently obtained.

“The Queen only had only two front legs to use as weapons, so I could only make two knives for now.”

“So, one of those giant legs became a single blade?”

“Yes. It seems the system can only produce one item per raw material. Bring me more usable materials, and I’ll make as many as you need.”

Weapons that will be made for me in the future.

“I think these two swords will be enough for me.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? As a chef, you should know how to wield a variety of knives for different purposes. And you’re our leader at that – you need at least ten blades!”

It’s not just for me.

Every guild member will be supplied with weapons and armour tailored for them.

Now that we’ve reclaimed the ammunition depot and solved the marksmen’s bullet problem,

The armament of the unit members has begun in earnest.

If survival was the goal for all unit members in the mountains,

The first goal on the ground was settlement.

And we’ve effectively accomplished that.

So now…

I discreetly turned my gaze towards the distant horizon.

Out there lies the former military base that has now become a maze.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Translator: One Force

TL Note:

*Dokkkogusik it generally refers to something being “old-fashioned” or “outdated.”   

It conveys a sense of traditional or antiquated style or approach.

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