Chapter 13

Survivors (3)

“Eating a proper meal makes me feel like I’m alive again.”

“Sniff… I can’t believe chow tastes this good.”

“No, seriously, it’s delicious. What is this? Is this really the army food I knew?”

Breakfast time.

I stood in a corner of the base dining hall, watching the survivors eat the food they’d been served and chat.

There were all kinds of problems, sure.

Still, seeing people enjoy the food I made put me in a good mood.

“Oh, cook? Thank you for the meal. It was so good. I didn’t even feel like I was eating army food.”

“No, thank you. I’m just glad you enjoyed it.”

There’s something people say sometimes that chefs and cooks do nothing but cook every day, so even if they hear “It’s delicious” or “Thanks for the meal” all the time, they eventually become numb to it.

That’s not true…It feels good every single time. Every time I hear it, it’s fresh, thrilling.

“This is why I cook.”

As I stood there, contentedly watching the dining hall,

Gwang-il, who’d finished eating, slid up beside me and spoke.

“Sergeant Shin Young-jun. What do you think?”

“Huh? About what?”

“You know. That…”

Lowering his voice, Gwang-il asked with a serious face.

“Food supplies.”

‘Hmm…’

“Based on about a hundred of us, we were supposed to have around two months’ worth of rations left, right? It’s already been close to two weeks, and if we include those people too…”

“Well, it’d be a lie to say it won’t matter.”

Emergency rations and combat rations stocked for more than two hundred people.

When people started dying and we were down to around ninety, it wasn’t exactly abundant, but it wasn’t lacking either. But to a unit that was just under a hundred, we added twenty-five more.

‘Even by simple ratios, that’s a 25% increase.’

Food consumption speeds up by that much. Most of the regular meal ingredients were already almost gone. From here on, I’d have to cook emergency and combat rations however I could and serve them.

“I’ve been adjusting the menu so we can stretch it as long as possible. We’ll just have to tighten it even more.”

“Will that be enough?”

“No idea. Even then, I think the limit’s probably a little over a month.”

Gwang-il’s expression darkened.

“…I just hope they’re worth that much.”

What?

“Hey. Don’t talk like that.”

“Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

I scolded him, but

I couldn’t say I didn’t understand how he felt

Gwang-il turns into a berserker in combat, but in everyday life, he’s the gentlest person in the unit.

If even Gwang-il let something like that slip without meaning to, that meant the survivors joining us was an anxiety factor for us.

‘Our cohesion has gotten stronger, but…’

Like I’d been talking about with the soldiers earlier, our unit had developed a bond. The result of repeatedly fighting a common enemy and watching each other’s backs.

As a result, the unity among our soldiers had become stronger than anything before the monster attacks. But in exchange, it also became harder to accept people who weren’t comrades. And…

“Young-jun, I’m gonna kill that bastard Lieutenant Kim and go to prison.”

“I get how you feel, but calm down, hyung.”

Lieutenant Kim, who’d kept living in the same unit with us.

He was nowhere near what you’d call a “comrade.” Even more so than the survivors who’d joined today.

“Sergeant Lee Minjae? Did you go talk with Lieutenant Kim?”

“Yeah. I almost blasted him with a million volts, but I barely held back and came out.”

‘Ah!’

“Million volts” meant Minjae hyung’s lightning magic.

Of course, that wasn’t the official name, but it was easier to call it that than something like “Beginner Electric Discharge.”

“What did you talk about?”

“Later. I’ll explain properly when everyone’s gathered. I need to cool off first.”

Minjae hyung said that, picked up his tray, and went to eat…Whatever they talked about, it definitely wasn’t anything good.

‘Lieutenant Kim… this is getting complicated.’

Food problems, and Lieutenant Kim. We’d just killed the lizard chieftain and I’d started thinking things were finally stabilizing, but.

“Whew, thanks for the meal.”

In the middle of sighing over those thoughts, another survivor greeted me.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Man, it wasn’t just ‘good.’ It was incredible.”

“Haha…”

Hearing “thanks for the meal” does lift my mood a bit, but then that survivor continued.

“By the way, what’s your job?”

“My job?”

When I heard the word “job,” what came to mind was the text on my status window.

『Job: Rookie Cook』

I was about to answer “cook” exactly as it said, but,

“I was a university student. And now, as you can see, I’m a mess hall cook.”

“Ah, I see. Anyway, thanks for the meal.”

The survivor said that and turned away, leaving the dining hall.

Watching his back, thoughts filled my head.

‘Asking a soldier out of nowhere what his job is?’

A soldier’s job is being a soldier.

Why would you ask?

Maybe it was just a conversation topic, asking what I did before enlisting. But recently, the “job” we talk about in our unit doesn’t mean that.

『Job: Rookie Cook Lv. 9』

Something only awakened people can see. A job that appears on the status window.

‘When soldiers asked each other about jobs, answers like “warrior” or “mage” came out naturally.’

In my case, at least it really was “cook,” but…If one of the other guys heard that question, he might’ve slipped and answered, “I’m a warrior,” without thinking.

Last night, I remembered what Taejun had said while staring up at the night sky.

‘Tomorrow, a guest will come.’

‘And… it’d be better to hide your claws.’

A chill ran down my spine.

“Damn it…”

Hide our claws?

Taejun said he’d only read the omen,

and that he didn’t know the detailed meaning, but…One thing felt certain.

There might be something going on among these survivors.

* * *

That night.

“Sergeant Lee Minjae? I think everyone who’s coming is here.”

Most of the soldiers on the base gathered on the roof of a small building next to the barracks.

“A meeting? Do we really have to do it hidden up here?”

It was Minjae hyung’s request that we meet here. So Lieutenant Kim and the survivors wouldn’t notice.

A meeting among the soldiers only. Except for a few soldiers staying behind in the barracks to keep an eye on Lieutenant Kim and the other survivors, everyone on the base gathered here.

“Before what I really want to say, I’ll tell you about the conversation I had with Lieutenant Kim today.”

Minjae hyung opened like that, and the conversation he relayed went roughly like this.

— “Lieutenant Kim, what do you think you’re doing?”

— “Sergeant Lee Minjae, what are you talking about all of a sudden?”

— “Stepping in with the survivors without even discussing it with us.”

Lieutenant Kim’s sudden interference.

For us, it was nothing but bewildering.

— “What’s wrong with that? If anything, didn’t it get handled nicely thanks to me? Or is the problem that I accepted the survivors? Did you decide to kick them out, and that’s what this is about?”

— “That’s not what I’m saying. Even so, if you’re going to step into something like that, you should at least discuss it with us, since we’re the ones handling the base operations…”

— “What, you punk? Hey, Minjae. Are you out of your mind?”

At our complaint, Lieutenant Kim snapped back as if he were the one offended.

— “I’m the only officer on this base right now, and the top commander.”

— “Ha…”

— “Me choosing to consider your opinions is my freedom. It’s not something mere soldiers get to demand.”

It wasn’t entirely wrong…If the one saying it hadn’t been that Lieutenant Kim.

— “Mere soldiers… he thinks being a Sergeant means you’re actually somebody…”

After hearing that far, Minjae hyung said he’d barely resisted the urge to fire off a million volts and had stormed out. The soldiers listening didn’t look happy either.

“And based on that conversation, the first proposal I want to make is this.”

Minjae hyung took a deep breath, then spoke.

“We have to get rid of Lieutenant Kim. That’s what I think.”

“Whaaat!?”

Such an extreme statement.

A small commotion rippled through the soldiers.

In that atmosphere, I stepped in, since I could talk to Minjae hyung more casually, and continued the conversation.

“No, hyung. I told you to calm down.”

“I’m just saying it bluntly.”

“Bluntly? Lieutenant Kim isn’t some object you can just ‘get rid of.’ What are you even saying?”

At my words, Minjae hyung glanced toward the third floor of the barracks where the survivors would be resting, then continued carefully.

“This morning. Thanks to Lieutenant Kim stepping up and organizing the survivors, the survivors think Lieutenant Kim represents us.”

“…Yeah, that’s true.”

I’m angry too.

“But that’s not actually the case, is it? Even if Lieutenant Kim gives some weird order, we can just discuss it among ourselves and decide.”

“Are you sure this ends with one incident?”

“What?”

Arms folded, Minjae hyung spoke with a grave expression.

“Think it through. Maybe more and more survivors will keep joining us, and our group could grow a lot bigger than it is now.”

Survivors showed up once. There’s no guarantee they won’t show up again.

“And if, every time someone joins, Lieutenant Kim steps up as the representative?”

“…”

“One day, the number of people who think ‘Lieutenant Kim is our representative’ will be bigger than the number of us.”

“…!”

‘Sure. If that moment comes…’

‘Our will won’t matter anymore.’

Lieutenant Kim could truly become the one who represents us…The commander.

“If he were someone competent, that’d be one thing. But we all know he’s all show and absolutely useless.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Everyone seemed to agree, because murmurs rose among the soldiers.

— “That’s true.”

— “Lieutenant Kim leading us. Just imagining it is terrifying.”

— “I used to share an office with Lieutenant Kim. It was hell…”

‘Hearing that, I thought to myself too.’

— “Lieutenant Kim actually said “mere soldiers”?”

‘Competence aside, if someone like that became our commander, how would he treat us?’

“As you all know, the day Lieutenant Kim becomes our commander is the day this unit falls apart.”

“Ahem.”

“So before that, we have to do something about him.”

‘I understand what Minjae hyung is trying to say, but…’

“Still… this is the army.”

Gwang-il spoke up hesitantly after listening.

“Outside, the army’s structure might still be operating. I don’t know for sure, but isn’t insubordination an offense punishable by death even in modern warfare?”

Minjae hyung, hearing that, nodded as if it were an expected point.

“Right. And that’s exactly why we have to do it.”

“Huh?”

“If Lieutenant Kim, the only officer in our unit, disappears, then the highest-ranking people will be Park Taejun and Shin Young-jun. Two Sergeants who were just about to go on their final leave.”

The soldiers’ gazes turned to me and Taejun…The two of us.

“And then, if we run into the outside army—”

And among them, Minjae hyung looked especially at me, then pressed on strongly.

“Young-jun. It’ll be fine even if you’re the one commanding us.”

“What?”

“Getting rid of Lieutenant Kim, well… we just make sure it doesn’t get found out.”

The sudden flood of eyes on me.

I was flustered by those stares, when…

“The reason I asked everyone to gather is because of this.”

Minjae hyung spoke to the other soldiers.

“It’s something we can only say when everyone’s together. It’s my second proposal, and really the main point tonight.”

He extended his palm toward me.

“The one who should command us is Sergeant Shin Young-jun.”

Minjae hyung said that.

Me commanding them? No.

“What, a mess hall cook has what kind of legitimacy…!”

It was way too abrupt a personnel decision. Panicking, I waved my hands and said that, then looked around.

“The other guys wouldn’t accept some mess hall cook being the boss—”

I expected everyone would think the same as me, so I tried to get agreement, but…

“Yeah.”

“…”

“Guys?”

The other soldiers just looked at me…No real opposition came out…Seeing that, I realized.

‘They already talked this over to some extent!’

Well, Minjae hyung isn’t the type to say something like this on a whim.

“Looks like there’s no objection.”

“No, wait.”

There is one objection. More precisely, the person involved’s will doesn’t, matter at all.

“Then let’s consider this motion passed.”

“From now on, our commander is Sergeant Shin Young-jun.”

In that moment…A message filled my vision.

Ding!

『Conditions have been met.』

『30+ members (30/31)』

『A leader recognized by a majority (1/1)』

『Clan Formation!』

‘A clan?’

『You have successfully formed the minimum raid-unit, 『Clan (30 members)』.』

『A clan is the first stage of forming a real group, beyond a temporary party.』

『A clan composed of a leader recognized by a majority and a large number of members who comply with that leader’s command will display a level of cohesion on a different plane from an ordinary party.』

『This is the second clan in the Greater Region – ROK.』

『This is the first clan in the Subregion – ROK. 17.』

『Achievement Unlocked – Comrades! Comrades!』

『You formed a clan faster than others!』

『A reward is granted for those who lead the way.』

『2nd place reward – Group Skill (Emblem)』

『From now on, you are the leader of the 423 Clan.』

『Awakened: Shin Young-jun』

『Job: Rookie Cook Lv. 9』

『Affiliation: 423 Clan』

『Position: Clan Leader』

The status window that appeared in front of me made it absolutely clear that I was the leader of this group.

‘Looks like they already finished talking it all out with the others anyway.’

‘Damn it. At this point, there’s no way out.’

“If it’s gone this far, I have no choice but to accept it.”

“Oooh!”

“Haha, we’ll be counting on you, Sergeant!”

The soldiers openly cheering.

I still don’t understand why they wanted me as their commander, but,iIf I’m taking the role anyway, I’ll do it properly.

“Then, as commander, here’s my first proposal.”

“Yes! Just say the word!”

“We’re not getting rid of Lieutenant Kim.”

“…Huh?”

‘These guys. They make me commander, and then they’re unhappy with my first proposal?’

“Let’s agree on one thing first.”

I looked across the soldiers and said, “Unless we are attacked first, we don’t kill people.”

“Uh, yes?”

“Hmm. If it’s an order, we’ll follow it, but…”

The soldiers looked confused.

“Do we really need to do that?”

“It’s for the unit.”

To Corporal Seo Su-hyeok’s question, I answered firmly.

If we start killing people just because it benefits us, we may survive physically, but…

‘Our minds will die.’

The reason I proposed this rule first was simple, so our unit doesn’t lose its humanity.

“Okay. Then what do we do about Lieutenant Kim?”

“Even if we make you the commander among ourselves, it’s meaningless if Lieutenant Kim is still around…”

“Ah, that part is separate from killing people.”

“Huh?”

“I was against getting rid of Lieutenant Kim from the start.”

Getting rid of someone like Lieutenant Kim.

“It’d be a waste.”

“…?”

Lieutenant Kim, right now, he’s useless at best and a liability at worst.

‘But throwing him away is a bit of a waste.’

If someone’s useless, the solution is simple.

“We just make him useful.”