Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Chapter 110 : What Happened That Day (1)

What Happened That Day (1)

There's something that people who live each day with passion often say:

"I wish there were more than 24 hours in a day!"

It must be because they have so many things they have to do, and so many things they want to do.

The expression is used so often that there's even a song with the same name.

― 24 hours just isn't enou~gh. Oh, baby!"

Who would have thought that this phrase would apply to me?

Right now, I was incredibly busy.

I couldn't afford to waste even a bit of the 36-hour strength buff I'd gotten, a blessing that surpassed even a mere 24 hours.

Whoosh, swish! Shoosh!

I scattered Sword Energy with Strong Sword, then continuously swung with Quick Sword as a follow-up.

It was an exhilarating feeling.

'I don't even have to eat rice balls between training sessions. How convenient is this!'

The strength buff from food lasts 30 minutes.

That's reasonable if you assume a real battle,

but from a training standpoint, it always felt too short.

Any time I tried to focus for a good while, I'd lose my momentum.

Plus, the act of eating rice balls every thirty minutes was sheer torment.

'It's bad enough to move so vigorously right after eating, but to do that every 30 minutes really isn't easy.'

That was precisely why now was the golden opportunity.

'I need to wring every drop out of this 36-hour strength buff!'

This was the time to thoroughly enjoy that sensation of a strength buff running while on an empty stomach.

I would focus solely on training, determined to find the clue to ascend to the 4th-rank.

With that thought, I poured my entire mind into swinging my sword.

But it turned out this ardor wasn't mine alone.

"Urahp!"

Chachang, Chang!

All the soldiers, myself included, trained with a level of crazed obsession, as if we'd all been dosed with something.

"Hyaah!"

Thud!

"Damn, again!"

Kakang. Chang!

Not only did the buff not wear off, it even added an extra 10%.

They were definitely feeling the difference too.

Everyone was training, eyes blazing.

On the other hand, the battalion commander simply watched the training from afar with a mysterious smile.

According to Special Operations' intel, the beastkin would sortie in three days,

so until then, we'd have no real missions.

"They just told us to watch out for injuries."

Wait. Was I really in the mood to be psychoanalyzing the battalion commander right now?

I quickly shook off my wandering thoughts and poured my focus into sword training.

With each consecutive strike of the Quick Sword technique, I subtly adjusted the Sword Energy.

First strike – emit a thin, long wave,

Second strike – emit thicker Sword Energy,

Third strike – maximize the strength of the Sword Energy,

Fourth and fifth strikes – make them as sharp and keen as possible.

This was the training method based on Ralph's advice.

― If you master converting mana into energy, you'll be able to ascend to the 4th-rank."

The key was "mastery".

He told me that because I was still inexperienced in this area, I couldn't quite grasp the feeling for the 4th-rank yet.

So,

'I'll keep practicing until I can perfectly control my Sword Energy.'

If this isn't the time to fully enjoy the strength buff, when would I do it?

Shoosh. Whoosh. Fwoom! Shashak!

Who knows how much time passed like that.

When I snapped out of it, I found there was no one around me.

Well, with all the Sword Energy I'd scattered everywhere, it made sense they'd moved far away.

I wiped my sweat, pulled out a sugar candy, and popped it into my mouth.

.

.

〈 Concentration increases slightly. 〉

〈 Stamina increases slightly. 〉

〈 Consuming a certain amount of sugar prevents stamina loss. (30 minutes) 〉

I was about to resume my training,

but then I saw two people approaching and stopped in my tracks.

'Lantz and Schutmann.'

Schutmann had his usual friendly smile,

but Lantz was staring at me more rigidly than usual.

'What's this? What are they up to?'

I almost glanced at the battalion commander for a moment, but managed to restrain myself.

Why are they suddenly coming toward me? Should I greet them first?

As I was contemplating this, Schutmann's voice rang out.

"Lieutenant Ian."

His sly tone was as repulsive as ever.

So I answered him just as slyly.

"Yes, masked swordsman."

"If you don't mind, would you be willing to spar with me?"

It was such an abrupt suggestion.

And at that moment, I understood the look Lantz had given me earlier.

He must have been envious about my sparring with a squire.

Or maybe even jealous.

But what was Schutmann up to?

Challenging me to a duel in front of so many people all of a sudden.

'Feels fishy.'

Expressionless, I stared at Schutmann as inconspicuously as I could and answered.

"I appreciate the offer for a sparring match, but, I must dec—"

"Hahaha. This would be a good learning experience, Ian."

I jumped in surprise and turned my head to the right.

When did that old man show up here?

'I didn't notice him at all.'

Once again, I was reminded that the battalion commander was in a different league than the company commanders. I went to salute, but he stopped me and continued.

"What are you doing, Mr. Ian? Hurry and get ready for the spar, haha."

At the same time, he handed me a blunted sparring sword.

I didn't even know when he'd prepared something like that.

No idea what was going on, but I ended up accepting it almost absentmindedly, at which point Schutmann spoke.

"Just give that one to me, battalion commander. Lieutenant Ian can use his familiar weapon."

Without thinking, my pride was wounded enough that a vein popped on my forehead. Snap.

'I know I can't use my kitchen knife, but this still pisses me off.'

He was definitely looking down on me.

However,

'If Schutmann is using a blunted sparring sword, maybe I stand a chance?'

After all, my weapon was the Blood Iron kitchen knife, black Vein.

With this much equipment disparity, even if I lost, I could at least respond meaningfully for a few moves.

'Let's do it.'

As I silently took my preparatory stance, the battalion commander said,

"Lantz. Go call the other company commanders as well. This will be a worthwhile match to watch."

"Yes!!"

Lantz gave a loud answer and ran off.

My previously boiling competitiveness began to subside.

The reason the battalion commander suddenly pushed for this spar,

and the reason for gathering all the company commanders was—,

'Is it in case we have to launch a surprise attack on the spot?!'

The battalion commander could issue orders through Brain Voice, couldn't he?

If I could just open up a small gap during this match,

and at that moment, at the battalion commander's signal through voice transmission, everyone launched a surprise attack?

'It might succeed.'

Especially since Schutmann was relaxed, holding only a sparring sword.

Right then,

「Indeed, you're sharp. I'm counting on you.」

The old man was impressive. How did he figure out I'd read the situation when I tried so hard to hide it?

But seriously, sir, how can you go ahead like this without any agreement!

Well, whatever—I...

'Need to attack as if I'm aiming to kill him.'

Gulp. I swallowed dryly before I even realized it.

Oh no, my tension must be apparent to everyone watching.

At that moment, the battalion commander's voice rang in my head.

「Don't push yourself too hard. I called the company commanders just in case, but remember, your opponent is a squire.」

...... What am I supposed to do with that?

I barely suppressed my lips from twitching in disbelief.

Schutmann probably didn't catch on, did he?

Let's hope to god he didn't.

As I kept my preparatory stance, Hank and Ralph appeared.

Of course, Hank radiated blatant jealousy,

while Ralph just stared slack-jawed in surprise.

"You're here, company commanders. Come closer. Ah, Hank, over there."

The battalion commander calmly arranged the company commanders.

Lantz stood behind Schutmann,

Ralph behind me,

with the battalion commander and Hank covering both sides in between.

'We can ambush from all sides.'

The battalion commander was truly extraordinary.

With all the company commanders assembled, it didn't take long for subordinate officers and soldiers to surround us as well.

'A perfect formation.'

It was Schutmann's fatal blunder.

I didn't know why he suddenly asked for a spar, but

this situation was unmistakably an opportunity for us.

As I came to this conclusion, Schutmann's voice sounded.

「This spar is just meant to remind you to take it easy. Please don't take it too hard.」

I could feel my eyebrow twitch,

and the battalion commander raised his right hand high.

"Well, then, the preparations are complete. Haha."

However, Schutmann didn't take a preparatory stance nor raise his sword.

Instead, recalling his earlier voice message—

'A spar meant to remind me to take it easy?'

Whatever he meant by that, it just made me angrier.

He was looking down on me, and everyone knew it.

"Duel, st—,"

Fine. I'll go all out from the get-go.

As I resolved myself, the battalion commander's right hand dropped.

"—art!"

I pushed off hard from the ground and pulled both arms back.

Let's start with Strong Sword.

Clang!!

"??"

There was a sound of metal shattering, and Schutmann disappeared.

I froze.

I instinctively turned to look for Schutmann,

over there—thunk—the broken knife blade was stabbed into the ground.

"Huh?"

My left hand felt light.

I looked down.

My kitchen knife was neatly snapped.

Meanwhile, the Black Vein in my right hand was undamaged.

I hadn't even used aura.

I lifted my head.

Serious Lantz was glaring fiercely.

When I turned back, all the other company commanders were glaring as well.

Only the battalion commander wore that same inscrutable face as before.

"That was a fine match."

At Schutmann's voice, I looked at him.

He had passed behind me and was now standing almost right in front of Ralph's nose.

'So in the blink of an eye, he broke my kitchen knife and got that far away?'

But sorry, the match wasn't over yet.

I still had Black Vein intact—

"??"

Tremble, tremble, tremble. My right hand shook violently and uncontrollably.

Suddenly, I felt a jiiiiing sensation in my right hand.

Rather than breaking, the shock had just now surged through my hand.

"Ghh."

At last, the burning pain forced me to drop the Blood Iron kitchen knife as well.

Clatter.

What the—was this for real?

'No way. I lost without doing anything.'

The overwhelming gap in power suffocated me with despair,

and the smile under Schutmann's mask burned in my mind.

I felt unbearably humiliated.

"That black kitchen knife is impressively sturdy. I enjoyed this."

With those words, Schutmann walked toward Lantz.

Would I hear his voice message? Fortunately—or unfortunately—nothing came.

"Let's go, commander Lantz."

"... Yes."

And so, Lantz and Schutmann walked off into the distance.

Watching their backs, the reason Schutmann sparred with me was now crystal clear.

'Don't get cocky. Is that it?'

No matter how hard I worked or struggled like this,

he was saying I'd end up dead by his hands anyway—

Might as well run away while I still could, just as he ordered—

Was that what he wanted to tell me?

'Don't make me laugh.'

This was no advice but an insult.

He set me on a pedestal, and as if the outcome were already decided,

he looked down and sneered.

Did he see me as nothing more than a toy dancing on his palm?

'Fine. If that's how you see it... I'll turn the tables on you, bastard!'

Even if I learned the difference in our skills from this duel,

my resolve would not change.

No matter how strong Schutmann was,

I would protect those who happily ate the food I made.

For those who loved my cooking, my comrades—I'd protect them all.

'Because I'm a chef, a boss, and a soldier of Granfen.'

So, I would show him my unyielding will too.

In the now-quiet training ground, I shouted toward Schutmann.

"Masked Swordsman!!"

Schutmann and Lantz turned at the sound of my voice.

Swallowing my anger, I spoke.

"You should salute the battalion commander before you leave!"

The moment I finished, the silence seemed to grow even deeper.

No breeze blew, not even the chirping of birds could be heard.

Breaking that silence, Schutmann spoke.

"Loyalty shines upon you."

"I swear upon my steel."

After giving the salute, Schutmann turned his back.

For the brief instant in which his body turned,

I saw it.

The sneering smile he directed at me.

*

After the special bear bone soup meal, the soldiers occasionally set out to search the nearby forest outside of training hours.

For one purpose only.

'Find the Ice Bear special variant!'

Not just the taste, but the sheer duration of the buff provided by that bear bone soup.

The officers, and even the company commanders themselves, would sometimes go hunting.

But even after four days, no one had found it.

'In my game research, the spawn rate for a boss... no, special variant was less than 0.1%.'

On average, you'd have to hunt 2,000 normal mobs to find one.

Truly abysmal odds.

I guess that's why the extra bonuses from eating a special variant were so overwhelming.

Anyway, now that I knew the perfect ingredient for bear bone soup was the 'Ice Bear special variant,' something stuck in my mind.

'Korean food's bear bone soup is normally made with beef, so why did Ice Bear end up as the perfect ingredient?'

It was basically a kind of wordplay-like logic.

If it's like this, guessing the perfect ingredients for other Korean food would be nearly impossible.

'Realistically, I'll just have to obtain special variant meat and experiment with various Korean dishes to find out.'

That leads to the question—what meat is the perfect ingredient for the 'original Happiness Gukbap'?

If I discovered it, could I surpass my father's broth?

I was desperate to know.

But there was one thing I had to do first.

'I need to deal with Schutmann first.'

With that resolve, I cooked, cooked, and cooked some more.

And now,

Bwooouuuuuuuuuuu.

A horn sounded.

Standing in the rear of the battlefield, I gripped my kitchen knife and spoke to Zaiya and Ricky.

"As the battalion commander ordered, focus on protecting our allies."

"Yes, platoon leader!"

After the match with Schutmann, the battalion commander and I met in secret again to talk.

Just like last time, via voice and messages scribbled on the ground.

That resulted in our current situation.

Direct participation in the battlefield.

「I didn't want to send you to the front, but it can't be helped. Alright, then.」

There were two benefits I gained by going to the battlefield in person.

First, I could increase my inheritance chance through growth via practical combat experience.

Second, if Schutmann tried anything unpredictable on the battlefield, I could respond immediately.

Of course, the battalion commander didn't permit me to be in the foremost line.

Still, it was better than just watching from afar twiddling my thumbs.

With that excitement, I set foot on my first real battlefield—

"... There's really nothing for me to do, huh."

The situation was completely one-sided.

Thanks to intel and recon, we knew the timing of the enemy's attack in advance,

and our unit entered the battle buffed and ready.

The groans and death cries ringing out from all around were mostly from the beastkin.

"That's a good thing, platoon leader."

Ricky gave me a gentle consolation.

A good thing, huh. Well, he wasn't wrong.

If our side was winning overwhelmingly

and I didn't even need to step in to fight,

how much more rational and ideal could it be?

But why!

'Why do I feel so disappointed and bored?!'

Damn it. I really had become a medieval person now.

Was it because I'd gotten a taste of the rush and fierce spirit from actual battle?

Even I couldn't believe myself. Haaa.

"... Let's withdraw."

And another week passed.

There were two more battles in that time,

but my squad and I kept being the first to head back.

It honestly felt like being a modern-day cook—just making rice rather than holding a gun.

Of course, our squad's overwhelming victories were praised as our achievements.

But still—

'Something about this just feels creepy.'

A vague sense of uneasiness kept growing,

until at last, that day came.