Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Chapter 93 : Calm Before the Storm (4)

Calm Before the Storm (4)

The reason I hadn't told the battalion commander about Jeros until now was complicated.

Of course, not fully trusting the battalion commander played a big part,

but the bigger reason was

my own

'...love and hate for Jeros.'

Memories with Jeros flashed by like a revolving lantern.

He was the one who told me about the existence of the [shop window] through Satisfaction Points,

he saved my life by hinting at Burt's true identity,

let me earn money for the first time in this world,

and even taught me about mana and Swordsmanship.

I recalled what Jeros said to me after I returned from the minor Demon Realm.

― Kukukuk. That's right, that's right. You've grown. So you must not forget. The reason you're able to grow like this is because I spared your life. Kukuk.

It was just as he said.

The reason I, who once only got beaten by Burt and cowered before adventurers, was able to punish them,

and—though I really, really hate to admit it—the reason I'm alive and breathing now,

'It's because Jeros showed me mercy.'

I had been ignoring it, but I knew.

That's why I didn't tell the battalion commander about Jeros.

I just couldn't bring myself to say it.

Even if I had handed over so much money and even if he had acted suspiciously,

'Because I owe him a debt.'

But I can't put off this confession any longer.

I mustn't hesitate.

Because—

'Even if Jeros is gone, Schutmann remains!'

It was now certain that the White Fang was hostile to Granfen.

In this situation, the presence of squire Schutmann wasn't just an ordinary threat.

'A 4th-rank apprentice knight and a 5th-rank squire are completely different.'

Just as I, a 3rd-rank, had performed overwhelming feats against adventurers,

in small-scale local battles like ours, a squire is a being on another level.

So I had to tell the battalion commander as soon as possible.

With this resolve, I returned to the shop, fell asleep, and then woke up—

'Feels like I closed my eyes just to open them again.'

Maybe it was because of sleep deprivation and the flood of new information I learned.

I was exhausted.

'Craving an Americano like crazy.'

Instead of coffee, I cooked meat and vegetable rice porridge for recovery.

All the employees had worked hard through the early morning and must have been tired.

Luckily, everyone seemed satisfied as they ate, so I said,

"Take care of the shop and clean up after breakfast."

"Why? Are you going somewhere?"

Plerine asked, and everyone looked at me curiously.

"I have something to report to the battalion commander."

"You've been seeing him a lot lately. What's it about?"

I almost confessed the truth, but then realized Clara was also here and changed my mind.

'Saying it now would only complicate things.'

Plus, if Plerine regained her memory, that overprotectiveness would only get worse.

I decided to tell them later and spoke instead,

"The battalion commander told me to form a team of cooks. I roughly decided, so I want to report it."

It wasn't the main purpose, but since it was true, it wasn't a lie.

However, Plerine was as perceptive as ever.

"Isn't there still time before the deployment?"

A simple question for most, but to me, it sounded like, 'A quick decision for such a cautious boss? Are you really going for that reason?' Still, I responded calmly,

"I need to see if I'm getting the people I want or not. Better to let them know early and reach an agreement."

"Hmmm."

Plerine still looked at me suspiciously,

but thankfully Harper helped smooth things over.

"That's right. The sooner you select subordinates, the better. Structuring the team is crucial for management! For example..."

He launched into another management geek lecture,

and swept along by the atmosphere, Plerine began eating again.

'Somehow got through that.'

Relieved inside, I thoroughly scraped up the rice porridge.

〈 By consuming the completed Korean-style "Decent Bear Meat Vegetable Rice Porridge (Mid-low-grade Ingredient: Ice Bear)," you gain bonus effects. 〉

〈 Stamina regeneration significantly increases. 〉

〈 Stamina regeneration will not drop. (4 hours 30 min) 〉

〈 Calmness will not drop. (3 hours) 〉

Today of all days, the stamina and calmness buffs felt especially vivid.

*

For today's executives' breakfast, I prepared hearty beef bone soup.

I also revealed a special side dish for the first time,

"Hoho! Ian, what is this crisp and refreshing dish? It goes so well with the soup!"

The battalion commander's reaction was very enthusiastic.

The other officers were no different.

I made sure everyone could hear:

"It's dongchimi."

"Dongchimi?!"

"By the way, don't just eat the radish—try a spoonful with the broth, it's even tastier."

The officers followed my suggestion and exclaimed with delight.

They said the refreshing flavor was doubled, or something to that effect.

Smiling like a humble boss, inside, I grinned like a cartoon protagonist pulling off a master plan.

'According to plan.'

There's no Korean who eats only soup and rice.

The thing that must be present between those two is 'kimchi'.

But for medieval Westerners, kimchi was a high hurdle.

'The fiery red color and spicy taste just aren't to their liking.'

Even my employees avoided napa kimchi and kkakdugi.

So I changed my strategy,

'Let's start with the lowest hurdle and work our way up!'

I tested dongchimi on the employees and it got passing marks.

So today I could serve it, and Ralph praised it loudly.

"Ian, thanks to this dongchimi, the meal never gets dull! It's insane!"

Everyone else nodded and devoured the food excitedly.

'Great. Looks like I'll be able to move on to the next step—white kimchi—quickly.'

Satisfied with the results, I subtly approached the battalion commander.

"Battalion commander, may I see you after breakfast?"

"You have business, I see. That's convenient, hoho."

Huh? Convenient?

"I was going to call you in right after breakfast anyway."

At those words, Hank shot me a glare.

Oddly, not only Hank, but also Lantz and Ralph looked at me.

'Now what? This feeling of unease...'

After the executives left, having given out more Satisfaction and Recognition Points than usual,

I took off my apron and told the employees,

"I'm stepping out, so clean up and rest. Oh! Naba, no Swordsmanship training for a while!"

The kid pouted, but everyone except Naba nodded vigorously.

"Plerine, help Naba with some mental training instead."

"Me? All of a sudden?"

Plerine's lips twitched at my instruction,

but, overwhelmed by Naba's pleading gaze, she sighed and replied,

"You'd better not deny me 'Employee of the Month' after all this."

Trying to strike a deal with the boss, are you? I thought—

"That's not something I can just ignore, senior Plerine."

Harper suddenly cut in with a solemn voice.

"I mean, for April at least, shouldn't I get it?"

Surprised by Harper's confidence, Plerine shot a laser glare through her eye patch.

Yet, against all odds, Harper met her stare head-on, approaching Plerine.

"Let me list my recent achievements. For example, I played a huge role in brewing makgeolli, and even raised a whopping 10 golden..."

Naba, watching those two, looked even more dejected.

Clara, meanwhile, looked busy polishing the table, muttering, "Get a grip, seriously."

Hmm. If not for Clara, this shop might not even function.

"... Thanks, Clara."

"?!"

"!?"

Ignoring the suddenly silent Plerine and Harper, I left the shop.

"I'll be back."

*

I saluted as I entered the battalion commander's office.

"I swear upon steel."

"Loyalty shines upon you."

I'd been visiting the battalion commander's office frequently lately.

But being here with the company commanders, not alone, felt awkward.

'I had a feeling when I caught their eye during breakfast, and I was right.'

But why did they call me with the company commanders present?

"Sit."

"Yes, sir."

I sat down where the battalion commander gestured with his chin;

beside Hank, across from Ralph.

Sitting between them, I felt pretty important.

"Now then,"

Lantz spoke in his usual serious tone.

"Now that Lieutenant Ian is here, let's begin the company commander-level meeting."

Wait.

Company commander meeting?

I'm just the cook 'platoon leader', you know?

The battalion commander noticed my troubled expression and said,

"It's fine. From now on, you're the cook platoon leader and acting special investigator. Hoho."

"...?!!"

I almost blurted out, "What kind of nonsense is that?" but barely held it in.

"Haha. Commander, you really are a joker!"

Awkwardly scratching my head, the atmosphere felt tense.

Under the desk, Hank gave me a sharp kick.

That bastard!

'At least it woke me up.'

Acting special investigator, huh.

The mountain of homework was giving me a headache, but I tried to remain calm.

If it weren't for the calmness buff from breakfast, I would've lost it.

"My apologies for the awkward joke, but what does 'acting' special investigator mean, exactly?"

"Exactly as it sounds. Publicly, I'll be known as the special investigator, but you'll handle the actual work. I leave my special operations members in your hands."

Damn it.

That's even harder than just taking over outright.

Just picturing that foul-mouthed Ricky pushing back made my head throb.

"Commander, wasn't it only two days ago you told me to select cooks? Isn't that too many subordinates for me to manage?"

"Don't worry. I'll send Corporal Ricky, who's on special operations, as a cook. Hohoho."

"Eat acorns and die, you bald old man,"—unfortunately, that was only my inner voice.

"... Thank you for your consideration."

Why did it have to be Ricky, of all people!

While my insides festered, Ralph winked obscenely and added,

"Ruth will be assigned to your team too. Take good care of her, Ian."

"Ah...! I see. Haha. Thank you."

Ricky and Ruth.

Is this some kind of suicide squad?

If they're doing this, why even let me choose cooks to begin with, old man!

"How did Corporal Ricky and Ruth react?"

"They don't know yet. I'll inform them soon. Isn't that right, Lantz?"

Lantz closed his eyes and answered calmly,

"Yes."

I was realizing that a medieval army could be even more hellish than a modern exploitative company when,

"In that case, I'll introduce myself too."

That strange voice made my nerves stand on end.

Where did that come from?

'More importantly, who was that?'

I spread my mana through all my senses,

"!!"

and leaped to my feet, swinging my kitchen knife over my shoulder.

Clang!

"... You're nuts."

Hank said.

My kitchen knife was blocked by his gauntleted hand.

'Getting blocked so easily is infuriating.'

But my eyes weren't on Hank.

They were on the face of the man I'd originally intended to strike,

the man known as the masked swordsman.

'Schutmann.'

I thought some lunatic was creeping up behind me, and it was this guy.

"Hoho. Schutmann, that was a bit much."

The battalion commander spoke, breaking the silence.

Schutmann also lowered his mask and joked lightly,

"I had to check since you're appointing a 3rd-rank as acting special investigator, even if just temporarily."

A rugged, genial face covered in stubbly whiskers. It's been a while.

"I see. Hoho. What do you think?"

"Impressive. His reaction speed and agility are unbelievable for a 3rd-rank. I'm satisfied."

I slowly sheathed my kitchen knife while analyzing the situation.

Schutmann was definitely pretending he'd never met me before.

'Then I need to play along too.'

I saluted Schutmann and said,

"My apologies for my rudeness."

"This is the kind of rudeness I welcome."

"......"

"Pleased to meet you. I am Schutmann, a small fang of the White Fang."

What a shameless guy.

"I'm Ian, cook platoon leader of Granfen and acting special investigator. I thank the gods and the Sovereign for letting me meet you, squire."

We shook hands.

He wore a friendly smile,

but I had to struggle not to let my face contort.

'Damn it. Damn it! Damn it!!'

Wasn't I about to finally spill everything about the White Fang and Jeros to the commander?

'Complicated.'

Utterly complicated.

With Schutmann glaring at me with those keen eyes, I couldn't mention anything about the White Fang.

Then when and how do I tell them?

As I worried over this, Schutmann's Brain Voice rang out.

「Excellent acting. I'm impressed.」

Thank goodness he took it that way.

I'd been on edge, worried it'd show.

"Ian, only the commander and the company commanders here know about Squire Schutmann. So be discreet."

In response to the commander, Schutmann spoke before me,

"I don't think there's any need to worry. He seems quite capable of keeping secrets."

Schutmann's narrowing eyes focused on me,

but his friendly smile gave me chills all over.

'He thinks I'm good at keeping secrets?'

My throat felt dry.

Did he, by any chance—

'Has he been monitoring everything I've said to the commander?'

I reviewed my past conversations with the battalion commander.

During all those times, I'd never revealed dangerous details about Schutmann or the White Fang.

It was partly because I didn't completely trust the battalion commander,

but also out of a self-directed decision to withhold information.

But now—

'Did that choice save my life?'

Sure enough, Schutmann's voice echoed again.

「The fact that you never mentioned our meetings to Commander Kratan, we value that highly. I'm moved.」

Listening to his message, I sat back down expressionlessly.

「Just keep being quiet as you have, and you'll be fine. So will your employees.」

Only Lantz and Hank's chatter filled my ears then.

The Brain Voice didn't come again.

But my brain was now a tangled mess.

'What do I do? How and when am I supposed to report on the White Fang?'

It wasn't easy—a truly difficult crisis.

Thump, thump.

My heart grew hot with anxiety when—

「Ian.」

This time, the battalion commander's voice rang out.

「Still, only you and Lantz know Legion is alive.」

'!!'

I barely stopped myself from glancing instinctively at the commander.

Trying not to show my tension, I let out a relaxed sigh,

"You arrogant bastard!"

Apparently, that was right after Hank snapped at me.

He grabbed me by the collar and yanked me up, but my lips curled upward.

「Keep Legion's survival a secret from Schutmann.」

The commander's next words were especially sweet.

「Be careful of him.」

I couldn't control my expression.

I never knew I'd be so glad the commander didn't fully trust Schutmann.

"This bastard's smiling?!"

Wham!