Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Chapter 103 : Into the Storm (5)

Into the Storm (5)

Since ancient times, Korea has been known as the Land of Courtesy in the East, a strictly Confucian country, even having a saying that "boys and girls over the age of seven should not sit together."

And yet—

'What is this situation?'

Why can't my brain read the situation instantly?

It's truly lamentable, but since it wasn't too difficult to figure out, I quickly caught on to the flow.

First, Plerine was hugging me. She gently stroked the back of my head—tap, tap, taap—tickling my ear.

"Don't get hurt, and come back healthy, boss."

...... Just what are you doing right now, Plerine?

My thoughts of Schutmann faded, and anger flared up first.

'How dare you hug the boss as if handling a child?!'

But I could only think it; I couldn't say it out loud.

After all, I'd been the one to make the first move.

'I was the one who grabbed her hand and pulled her abruptly.'

Damn. The boss and subordinate hugging.

I wondered if there was a labor office in the Duchy,

When suddenly, I recalled a conversation I had with Dunbell after our cooking duel.

When he thought Clara and I were lovers, Dunbell responded like this.

― Does hugging make us lovers? Give me a break. Clara is my subordinate. Colleagues can hug each other, too.

That was it. The culture here was completely different from mine.

In other words, Plerine's action toward me was merely an expression as a colleague!

Still, I really~ didn't like what Plerine had just done to me.

I even grew anxious.

Because—

'Isn't this a flag?'

Wasn't this like a classic scene from a war movie?

The male protagonist (that's me) with a day left before heading to the front.

And then being embraced by family (or a person equivalent) telling him to be careful.

And on the battlefield, he inevitably says,

'We'll definitely come back alive.'

Chills! Goosebumps appeared all over my body.

Of course, I wouldn't say such a trash line out loud on the battlefield,

but I couldn't shake off the negative thoughts already stuck in my head.

"Let go immediately, Plerine."

Remaining every bit the modern, gentlemanly boss, I conveyed my sentiment through words instead of force.

Right away, Plerine removed her arms from around me and stepped back one, then two steps.

At last, a safe distance.

"What's wrong? Did I upset you?"

Plerine pretended nothing was wrong and spoke brazenly,

so I put on a yet more dignified boss's face.

It was time for a bad luck averting ritual.

"Repeat after me!"

I raised my right hand in a pledge pose,

and Plerine followed suit.

"I'll lead, so say it reverently with all your sincerity."

"?"

It was time to chant the magic spell that had dispelled the flag I'd planted at Grey Fortress.

"Withdraw!"

"... Withdraw."

"Too soft! Louder!!"

"Wi-withdraw!!!"

Whew. Came back from the brink there.

Truly, one should never let their guard down in this world.

***

I succeeded in erasing the hug with Plerine as if nothing had happened.

Just like a Red Sun hypnosis: I don't remember a thing, E-be-beh-beh.

But the conversations before and after it remained vividly in my memory.

The key point, which Plerine reaffirmed, was this—

'Schutmann won't kill me.'

It had been Schutmann himself who said so.

While a more emotional or dumb medieval type might, going by what I'd seen so far, Schutmann would definitely not kill me.

'In fact, come to think of it, he even talked about offering me up to someone higher up by any means.'

With a cool head, I could see things I hadn't noticed before—

and another key realization soon followed.

'With Plerine's strength, she wouldn't be easily subdued by just anyone.'

That meant that, unless facing overwhelming force, Granfen couldn't be wiped out, and the odds of my employees being hurt were drastically reduced.

Still, there was a lingering source of anxiety, so I confirmed with Plerine:

― Schutmann basically boasted that he could kill you. In reality, you didn't even notice him entering my room. Are you really okay?

Plerine replied with a hint of aggrieved indignation:

― I was drunk. It won't happen again. Never.

I nearly twitched my lips, but suppressed it.

I'd never seen Plerine drunk before, not once.

'Yet I'd also never seen her with such an aggrieved expression.'

I teased, "Are you sure? What if it happens again?"

But when her hair started to rustle in response, I quickly changed the subject.

― Ahem. So, getting to the point?

In the end, the operation came down to this:

1. I'd blend in with the unit and head to the frontline with Schutmann.

2. There, I'd keep Schutmann under surveillance and aim for an opening.

'As Jeros said, just because the opponent outranks you doesn't mean you can't kill him.'

In games, the rule was that if someone outranked you, assassination was impossible,

But this isn't a game; it's the real world.

If the battalion commander and the other company commanders cooperated, even the smallest gap might appear.

Of course, the odds were as low as the lottery, but I've overcome worse odds before.

I'd just have to give it a try.

Also, Plerine said to tell no other soldiers about Schutmann.

― Apparently, if the battalion commander detects even a subtle change after receiving our secret pigeon, who knows what he might do if the messages increase.

That meant not to risk it unless absolutely certain,

and that the timing of this gamble was entirely up to me.

'Honestly, that's some pressure.'

The chances of failure were overwhelmingly high,

But since I was almost guaranteed not to die, only I could carry out this plan.

And—

'It's a mission I must do if I want to save Granfen.'

So, I forced myself to shake off the pressure.

Fellow warrior Ralph, who grew stronger with me.

The battalion commander who saved me during the duel with Pab.

And Zaiya, Ricky, Pab, and the others.

I couldn't simply let them die.

'Like Ralph in the minor Demon Realm, who tried to save his subordinates—I will never give up.'

Not to win, but to kill. Together, with them.

Finally, Plerine even brought up the failure scenario she'd rather not consider.

― Schutmann won't kill you, boss, but the chances of you being kidnapped are high.

She said this as she took my white fang shortsword, Nash.

― I'll enchant it. It'll be a tight squeeze, but I'll do whatever it takes before the morning deployment.

For an enchantment to take Plerine, a mage of her level, that long—I was curious, but instead of the magical details, I grasped the intent behind the enchant.

'She means to keep tracking my location.'

Enchant magic comes in a variety of forms,

but in the case of advanced-rank enchantments, you could even detect where the item was.

It was strictly the domain of top mages, and as expected of Plere-Mon—

― So in the end, the enchantment is just a decoration and I shouldn't actually use it, right?

― Of course.

Ah. This was the textbook definition of "all show, no substance".

― Even if I abandon every other piece of equipment, Schutmann will never leave behind Nash. That's why I'm enchanting it; but you must never use the enchantment I put on it.

Plerine emphasized this, fully aware that I already understood.

In the end, I couldn't ask what the magic was, let alone how to activate it.

The moment I used it, the tracking would disappear and Plerine wouldn't be able to find me.

So instead, I asked another question.

― Then how will you know if I've been kidnapped, or am in danger?

Moreover, the distance from Granfen to the frontline was quite far.

No way—does she have seven circles? Is teleportation possible?!

― That hope fizzled out in 0.4 seconds.

― Just stay alive. Whether it's sooner or later, I'll come rescue you, boss, no matter what.

Plerine spoke with a face free of laughter.

I briefly wanted to say, "Then why not kill Schutmann tonight?" but the words never came.

Her next words struck me speechless.

― So leave the shop, Naba, the kids, all the employees to me. I'll make sure... whatever it takes, um...

Her words trailed off,

But my heart lightened instead.

I felt refreshed.

So I finished her sentence for her.

― Just protect our shop well.

After saying it, it sounded like something you'd say to a dog,

but Plerine answered with a bright smile.

A smile I'd never seen before.

― Don't worry.

I was so happy, I couldn't even describe it with words.

At some point, Plerine, too,

had come to care for the shop and its staff as much as I did.

I was so proud, I could almost shed a tear.

Maybe that's why.

My mind felt clear, and I woke up refreshed.

I opened my eyes and got out of bed to stretch.

Must have been the best night's sleep I'd had in ages.

My body felt extremely light.

'It's been a long time since I felt this good.'

I gripped Blood Iron's kitchen knife and swung it.

After so many sparring matches with Ralph, it fit my hand perfectly.

Now that some time had passed, it was clear Gerald's approach to crafting was right.

'Right—Quick Sword is better suited for a chef's knife like this than a Chinese cleaver.'

I couldn't be more grateful that Gerald didn't make it exactly as I'd ordered.

I finished warming up just as sweat was about to bead on my skin.

When I entered the kitchen, Dunbell was already there.

Scunch, scunch.

He was sharpening a knife.

"Oh, you're here, boss."

"Yeah. Good morning."

Ever since he tasted the original Happiness Gukbap at the staff dinner, Dunbell had started coming in to work from early in the morning.

He wanted to learn as much cooking from me as possible, he said.

Frankly, at this point, I was starting to feel respect for the guy.

'Even in modern times, it was rare for someone to be this obsessed with cooking.'

I couldn't help but praise myself for finding such an ore—

"Boss, for someone being dragged off to the battlefield, you look way too cheerful."

I held back my irritation and stayed calm, like a modern adult.

It sounded like teasing, but this, too, was apparently part of North culture.

Just as the departing soldier must never utter a death flag,

those staying behind always act nonchalant, making jokes.

Like this.

"If you're leaving, at least taste this before you go."

It was a close call, but I obediently tasted it, afraid of jinxing myself.

I sipped the broth Dunbell had made.

"It's not bad, but it's a bit muddy. Did you skim the foam properly?"

"Yeah, I did."

"Then I think you boiled it too long."

"... You really can't fool the boss's palate."

So I prepared the original Happiness Gukbap for breakfast with Dunbell.

After the taste test at the crew dinner four days ago, all the employees insisted we start selling it immediately.

And today was the day it would be listed on the menu.

'Only on the day I leave does the shop finally live up to its name.'

As I was feeling a bittersweet emotion,

the executives entered, their faces more solemn than usual.

But their stern expressions didn't last long.

"Ohhhh?!?"

"What is this flavor?!"

I'll skip describing how these medieval folks devoured the original Happiness Gukbap.

"If you eat it together with the red vegetable on the side, it tastes even better."

I slyly suggested the napa kimchi.

I'd made it less spicy and a bit sweeter, tailored to their tastes.

As expected, they were absolutely loving it.

Of course, an enormous number of points came pouring in, too.

〈The customer is satisfied with the dish〉

〈You have gained 1 'Satisfaction'〉

〈Customer—Pab Pedrick acknowledges your food〉

〈You have gained 1 'Recognition'〉

〈Customer—Gluer Levasin...

.

.

The rate of recognition was higher than usual.

As I basked in that sense of pride, the executives left again with somber faces.

'So now it's my turn.'

I left the cleanup to the employees and went up to my room on the second floor.

I donned my expensive padded armor,

strapped the utility knife belt over it,

hung Blood Iron's kitchen knife on my right,

and the used kitchen knife on my left.

And the rest I tucked into my bag just in case.

'All right. All the gear is packed.'

When I went downstairs, Ricky and a helmeted Zaiya were there, moving supplies.

"Platoon Leader! Good morning!"

"Platoon Leader! Good morning!"

Both were still tense and disciplined.

As they snapped off a crisp salute,

"... Eh?"

Ralph's gift and the youngest, Ruth, appeared belatedly, looking bewildered.

He seemed surprised to see the special operations corporals being so deferential,

but the special operations squad never let such a gap slip by.

"Hey, you. Ruth, right? Move your ass."

"So you're from the guards? You're even worse than I thought."

As the two goons approached the ashen-faced Ruth,

a voice from Plerine caught my attention.

"Boss."

"Yeah."

Even when we'd opened the shop this morning,

Plerine had looked especially tired.

She must have spent the night doing the enchantment.

'I feel sorry and grateful.'

But I didn't say so out loud.

She already knew anyway.

"Come back safely."

"Yeah. I'll be back."

See you soon, shop.

See you soon, my employees.