The Military Chef of a Ruined World

“They must have some combat rations or something, right?”

“Hmm.”

“It’d be a waste to just send them away.”

Hearing that, Tae-wan nodded and spoke.

“You make a good point. You people!”

“….”

“You’ve learned a lot of information from us, haven’t you? You’ll have to pay an information fee.”

Information fee?

“If the information fee is a problem, then how about a passage fee to move elsewhere, or a lodging fee if you want to stay here.”

“Since you’ve come here, you must have a decent amount of food, right? Let’s share among fellow humans.”

Such an audacious display.

‘This man isn’t necessarily evil, but…’

On top of the already difficult situation, he had just heard the news that the outside world they had hoped for was also ruined.

In his despair, he was unable to make a proper judgment.

However,

‘But that doesn’t mean we need to accommodate them.’

I shrugged and looked back.

“Gwang-il.”

“Yes.”

“There should be some military combat rations left in the vehicles downstairs. Bring back a third of them.”

“Huh?”

Corporal Seo Su-hyeok frowned at my words.

“Sergeant Sin, do we really need to…”

“It’s fine.”

As they said, we did gain information from them.

And military rations aren’t that much, after all.

“This is not food I made, but combat rations that were stocked up in the ammunition battalion and tank battalion.”

“Ah, I see. I understand.”

I’m more than willing to provide it.

“You’re being quite cooperative.”

“As you said, it’s true that we received information. But we don’t plan to stay here, so don’t worry.”

“Heh, that’s good then.”

But this is a transaction after all.

We need to be clear on the amount to be exchanged.

“I’d like to hear more information in exchange for the food.”

“Sure, feel free to ask.”

“You said this building is your territory, and you sometimes interact with other buildings. I’d like to know more about the other factions.”

Tae-wan’s face seemed to slightly frown at that.

“That’s a bit of a complicated story.”

“If you don’t want to then no food for you.”

“What?”

As Tae-wan tried to get up, I slightly opened my coat, revealing the handgun holstered at my chest.

“Just so you know, I have no intention of handing it over peacefully even if you try to take it by force.”

“….”

“You seem to have quite a few awakened ones too. Don’t think we’ll be easy targets.”

“Tsk, fine. Sharing the information shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Though he said it was complex information, it turned out to be nothing major.

“The people occupying that other building are on the smaller side…”

It was just about how the different groups were situated in the various buildings, occasionally interacting via connecting bridges.

And,

“There have been some battles between them as well.”

“Battles?”

“It’s relatively stable now, but there was a big fight at one point.”

With food supplies dwindling, there were even some plunderers who attacked other buildings to seize their food.

“The plunderers were all killed in the incident, but after that, approaching the first floor was considered a hostile act.”

While it’s easy to just cut the bridges for aerial threats, those coming up from the monster-infested waters below can still break through even if the stairs are barricaded.

Listening to this, I thought again, ‘They really messed up their choices badly.’

Once I felt I had gathered the necessary information,

“I think that’s enough. I’ll be going now.”

As I stood up to leave,

“Wait a moment.”

“?”

Someone from the group approached Tae-wan and whispered in his ear.

Leader, think about it… those people…

Ah, is that so…?

Hearing that, Tae-wan’s eyes widened, and he cleared his throat.

“Ahem, there’s no need to leave so hastily.”

“Huh?”

“Since we gave you so much food, the information we provided seems a bit lacking. We’ll provide lodging as well, so why don’t you stay with us?”

“Y-yes, that’s right.”

“Our leader got a bit carried away earlier, but mistakes happen among fellow humans. Let’s make amends and live together!”

This sudden friendly attitude was easy to understand.

‘So, they just realized it now?’

Their food reserves were running low, and without sunlight, they couldn’t grow crops.

Their only sources were points and fishing, but the hardened rye bread bought with points was horribly inefficient, leaving fishing as their only viable option.

However, this area didn’t seem like a particularly good fishing spot, so they couldn’t possibly obtain enough food that way.

In other words, if this situation continued,

‘It won’t be long before the groups occupying the different buildings start fighting each other for control.’

They had already mentioned a previous fight to seize others’ food supplies.

The upcoming battles would likely be to secure more fishing grounds.

The fighting would continue until only the group with enough manpower to sustain themselves through fishing remained.

To survive in that struggle,

Securing as much combat power as possible would be essential.

These people who had been surviving here for months already knew their own combat capabilities were roughly equal.

And that’s when we, the soldiers with awakened abilities, had arrived.

‘They must have realized we are soldiers with guns, and that we have awakened individuals mixed in as well.’

In other words, we are an incredible force that can change the power dynamics between these human factions.

Objectively speaking, they would be hard-pressed to not try to entice us to their side.

They had initially shown an attitude of telling us to ‘get lost’.

“That’s fine. We’ll find a place to stay somewhere.”

“No, don’t do that!”

The people who are now trying to stop us from leaving.

They must have realized the significance of our presence in their current situation.

“I apologize for my earlier mistake. Please, at least hear us out!”

If they had properly understood, they wouldn’t have told us to get lost or demanded our food.

And,

“Let go of my sleeve.”

We don’t need to worry about their misjudgment.

As I stood up, shaking off Tae-wan’s hand trying to hold me back, I said:

“Thank you for the information. We’ll leave behind the combat rations we promised as payment. Enjoy your meal.”

“W-why are you suddenly in such a hurry? Can’t we at least talk it over?”

“If our leader’s harsh words upset you, we can apologize on his behalf…”

“I’m not bothered by that.”

These people who are now desperately clinging to us after belatedly realizing our worth.

To them, the only thing I could say was:

“…If you really want to keep us here, there is a way, but…”

“W-what kind of way?”

“You would have to pay the price.”

“…Huh?”

Since they were the ones who first defined our relationship as a transaction,

Just as I had purchased information with their food,

They would now have to ‘purchase’ our strength as well.

“But only if you can offer an appropriate price.”

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