The Military Chef of a Ruined World - Chapter 413



Only Krnovel

Episode 413: Dogmatism (1)

“If we’re going to join forces… … I think it’s important to have a focal point, right?”

“Can you elaborate on what that means?”

I looked at the face of the person who claimed to be from the government.

The name is definitely Yoo Jin-hwan.

If it’s as I explained earlier, then definitely.

‘What department, vice minister… was what he said?’

I thought I would never see your face in person in my lifetime.

He was a truly high-ranking person.

“Hmm. Lieutenant Kim seemed like a smart guy, but I didn’t think he’d understand this.”

Eugene Hwan seems to have self-esteem befitting his high position.

He looked down at us with a triumphant expression and said:

“If there is a strong threat from another country, as Lieutenant Kim said, then we should respond together as a nation. However, we have been scattered for over a year. Even if the forces scattered in various places suddenly decide to cooperate, it will not be easy to cooperate properly.”

“I guess so.”

“So what I’m saying is that we need someone to be the focal point. And that role is.”

He chuckled.

He said, pointing to himself.

“Because I think I can handle it.”

Lieutenant Kim looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Eugene Hwan shrugged his shoulders and said.

“Does Lieutenant Kim Hyun-seok know how the President’s powers are exercised?”

“I know to some extent.”

I don’t remember it perfectly though.

If the President, the leader of the Republic of Korea, is unable to exercise his power for some reason.

I knew that other high-ranking officials were supposed to take his place.

‘I’m sure the first place was the Prime Minister.’

Then, I think there was some kind of vice minister there… … .

“Unfortunately, our country is currently experiencing an unprecedented situation. Not only His Excellency the President, but also the Prime Minister… … and the ministers of each department. Not a single one of them survived.”

In that regard.

My unit members and I had no choice but to open our eyes wide.

‘Everyone’s dead?’

Unlike other regions, the number of surviving humans in Seoul was unbelievably large.

But those high ups were annihilated.

“Not a single person who could have been the focal point of this national crisis survived. Even though 10% of the population of Seoul survived, not a single one of them… … .”

It seems we’re not the only ones who found that odd.

A strange shadow fell over his face.

“It was to the point where I could sense a kind of malice that hoped that a proper leader would not emerge… … .”

“… … .”

“Ahem! Well, enough dark talk.”

He quickly shook his head and said.

“Anyway, even in this crisis, we somehow managed to keep the government system alive. The dead are dead, and the living must live. So what’s important is who will now exercise the power of the president.”

“yes.”

“Actually, that’s me.”

“……yes?”

All those who could have acted as president are dead.

However, these are people of high status who can act as proxy.

They also have their own proxy.

“The minister of the ministry I belonged to has passed away, but I, as a vice minister, am supposed to act in his stead when the minister is unable to exercise his authority for some reason.”

The acting president is the minister.

In the absence of the minister, the vice minister exercises the minister’s authority.

in other words.

“Right now, the power of the President of the Republic of Korea is mine. At this point, I am the head of state of the Republic of Korea.”

“… … .”

I glanced around and looked at the people in other areas.

“… … Hmm.”

“This is ridiculous.”

Of course we do.

Survivors from other areas also looked at him with somewhat bewildered expressions.

“Well, I know it might seem a bit far-fetched! But what can I do? It’s true.”

He seemed to sense those gazes as he waved his hand and said.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m not particularly obsessed with power. When the world returns to normal, we’ll have proper elections to elect representatives. I’m just here because we need a command center to respond to this emergency.”

“… … .”

“Lieutenant Kim. I was so glad when you brought up the idea that the survivors of the Republic of Korea should cooperate. It made me realize that we’re not the only ones who think like us. But… … I think we need to be a little more realistic.”

He said, stroking his chin.

“It’s been over a year since that heat barrier appeared and isolated each region. You, the survivors of other forces gathered here, and those who didn’t come here… … Each region must have formed their own forces. Do you think it would be easy for them to cooperate?”

It was not an easy time.

In these times when it is difficult to trust even fellow humans, it is difficult to simply trust forces from other regions.

“It’s hard to trust each other, and even if we somehow manage to build a cooperative relationship, there will be many problems. The most important thing is the command system. Since everyone basically thinks they are equal, it’s a blow to their pride to receive orders from another force, and it’s also hard to give orders. But that’s what it is.”

Shh.

“If there is a justification, the story is a little different.”

It’s a pretext.

I had a rough idea of ​​what he was trying to say.

“It won’t be easy to establish a connection between regions that are on equal footing. There may be a big power struggle to determine the order. However… … .”

There is no superiority or inferiority between regions.

If there really is one, there is just one.

“The capital of the Republic of Korea is Seoul. The head of state is the president.”

“… … .”

“If it were an order from an equal power, others would feel uncomfortable, but if there is a justification for it as an order from the President, wouldn’t they be able to somehow understand and cooperate?”

of course.

This was only the case if Seoul retained that much power.

No matter how great a dynasty is, if it lacks power, it will be torn to pieces by warlords.

but.

I thought back to the military power I had seen in Seoul before coming here.

‘It’s not lacking.’

The number of Awakened is small.

The number of survivors and their armament was excellent.

The Awakened are definitely strong, but it takes quite some time for them to become stronger than soldiers with guns.

They had to be seen as a force with hundreds of thousands of low-level awakened people.

Considering that they can gradually awaken, their potential is beyond imagination.

“Isn’t it natural for the government to take on the role of integrating those who survived in this land?”

* * *

Enemies lurking in the north.

To prepare for them, we had to rally the survivors.

And they.

That’s what can do it best.

“It’s the government.”

Before destruction.

They claimed that they were the ones who claimed to be the ruling power of the Republic of Korea.

I looked at the sight and thought.

‘There must be a reason why you’re saying that.’

and.

Just as I thought.

“The fastest way to gather the survivors of this land would be to center around Seoul. So… … .”

Yoo Jin-hwan opened his mouth while looking at Lieutenant Kim Hyeon-seok.

“Lieutenant Kim Hyeon-seok. Your unit will need to cooperate there.”

… … So it turns out like this.

Even though they call themselves the government.

Perhaps the most influential force in this land.

‘It will be us.’

Because our power is stronger than Seoul’s.

It wasn’t for that reason.

‘The radio we sent out.’

Through that radio.

We had made our presence known to the survivors of this land.

It is self-evident that if we, who are like that, come under the government’s control, it will be much easier for the government to integrate the survivors.

and…….

Honestly, when I heard that,

I couldn’t help but fall into some deep thought.

‘They’re not wrong either.’

Contrary to what I thought before coming here, they at least have a pretty decent system in place.

It was a force that also had the power to call itself a government.

At least in terms of justification.

It is true that Seoul is more representative than us, who came from far away Gangwon Province and had a small number of survivors.

If we cooperate with them, it will be a little easier to unite survivors from other regions.

The problem is.

‘That means the legions are under their command.’

This was the problem.

Is it okay for the legion to fall under the command of another force?

This is a group that was raised through extreme hardships in Gangwon-do.

The attachment I have to the Legion is beyond imagination.

A corps like that would join someone else’s command.

Is it okay to make that kind of judgment?

‘Honestly, I don’t like it.’

It is inevitable that you will feel resistance.

But at the same time.

Maybe this rejection is just a manifestation of my useless pride.

‘If we break our pride and cooperate with them… …what if it is more advantageous for our survival?’

I don’t know very well.

These are the ones who survived this destruction intact.

‘Joining them might help us survive.’

If that’s the case, then it’s me who has to bend my pride.

And it might be for the good of the Legion and its members.

‘What should I do… … .’

and.

When I was struggling with that part.

“To be honest, I thought the other soldiers would have been wiped out.”

“You don’t know how lucky we are that you survived. As long as your unit is with us, our plan will proceed smoothly.”

Those government officials continued to speak.

Yoo Jin-hwan also looked at Lieutenant Kim Hyeon-seok and said.

“Oh, of course I don’t intend to ignore the achievements you’ve made. You’re the unit that survived Gangwon-do and preserved your strength to this extent. I’ve already thought about what to do.”

“What do you mean?”

“The position of Commander of the 12th Army Corps is currently vacant. Since this is an emergency, I will use my presidential authority to elevate you to that position.”

He said, looking at Lieutenant Kim’s face with a smirk.

“Commander of the 12th Army Corps… Lieutenant General Kim Hyun-seok!”

“… … .”

“From lieutenant to lieutenant general. It’s an unprecedented promotion, but considering your achievements, I think I should give you this much. Not bad, right?”

But, at that time.

I felt a strange sense of incongruity in Eugene Hwan’s words.

‘They said they would give me a promotion.’

The sense of alienation felt there.

When I was trying to figure out what that strange feeling was.

“You guys.”

Someone opened their mouth.

“… … You speak as if the Legion were a subordinate force of the government.”

Only after hearing that.

I was able to realize the identity of the strangeness I felt.

They don’t take into account our acceptance or rejection.

As if we were already under their control.

Already, they were talking to us as if we were their subordinates.

‘……for a moment?’

and.

I opened my eyes wide and looked at the person who said that.

“Lieutenant Kim?”

“What does that mean?”

I was thinking about what they said.

I was thinking about whether it was right to join them or not.

“It’s a simple question. Will the Legion join the government or not… .”

however.

When I was worrying like that.

“I think that’s something for me to decide, not you.”

“……what!”

Lieutenant Kim Hyeon-seok spoke first.

.