The Military Chef of a Ruined World

Boom!

A powerful impact struck my body.

* * *

[Finally caught you, you pesky insect!]

“Ugh!”

An enormous blow hit my abdomen.

My gear was made from the hide of a lizard, and on top of that, I had eaten a lizard dish to boost my defense.

Even so, the impact was this strong.

Barely regaining my senses, I looked down at myself.

My uniform around the waist had been completely torn away.

If that were the only problem, it would be manageable, but…

“This is insane…”

The attack had landed right on my waist. To be precise, a huge hole had been punched through the right side of my body.

Drip…

I could feel something I wasn’t supposed to lose was trying to seep out.

Hurriedly, I brought my hand to the wound to stem the flow.

“Isn’t that a bit too strong?”

If I hadn’t eaten that lizard dish, the hole would’ve been much bigger.

Had it not been for the recent upgrade to my Absolute Palate skill, I’d already be dead.

I did my best, but this is as far as I go.

[I’m not much of a chef, but… I can at least imitate one]

The giant monster approached, ready to grind me into minced meat.

I might be able to manage walking, but there’s no way I can dodge the next attack.

But I smiled lightly and spoke up.

“Still, I’d say I’ve bought enough time, haven’t I?”

[What did you say?]

“I’m not planning to die quietly.”

The giant monster hesitated for a moment upon hearing my words.

Boom!!!

[Urgh…]

A massive impact hit the giant.

“Sergeant Shin!!!”

“We’re regrouping!”

The soldiers, scattered by the earlier wave, began to form up once again.

[These worthless insects dare interfere…!]

A huge spear appeared in the giant’s hand—

the same spear that had inflicted critical damage on me, even with all my buffs stacked.

But now…

[Legion’s Aura activated]

[Bonus combat abilities has been granted to the legion members in formation]

For the soldiers who had restored their formation, things were a little different.

“Brace yourselves! It’s coming!”

“Defensive stance, now!”

[Command Directive – Assume Battle Formations!]

With Lieutenant Kim’s command, our forces received buffs.

“Shields up, to the front!”

“Ready and steady!”

The awakened soldiers, specialized in tanking, raised their shields against the incoming spear.

Boom!!!

As a result…

“Ugh, damn, that thing hits like a truck.”

“The force is insane! Everyone, stay alert!”

“How in the world did Sergeant Shin survive that alone?”

The damage to our formation was nonexistent.

The shield bearers only suffered a bit of strain in their wrists.

‘This is the power of a team.’

It was a realization that struck me once more.

I had long since concluded that going solo was not the answer, and that I needed to build a unit.

And that unit had grown… quite significantly.

While each individual might not be a match for that giant monster, the awakened individuals of our unit gained synergy when they gathered around each other.

We had consistently trained to fight massive monsters.

And when those forces gathered and formed a proper formation,

even a powerful boss didn’t seem so intimidating.

This was the strength we had built.

The unit I had nourished and led—

It’s the story of My Army.

* * *

“Sergeant Shin! Over here!”

While the soldiers held off the giant, a few from the rear approached me, offering their shoulders for support.

“Haha! You were amazing, sir!”

“You’ve done enough. Let the rookies handle it from here, Sergeant. You can just—wait, what?”

As they tried to support me, the soldiers noticed something and flinched.

“…!”

“This… this wound…”

“Heh, hurts like hell.”

It was only natural for them to be shocked. After all, there was a hole the size of a hand at my side.

“Damn it, this is no time for jokes.”

“Your injury is worse than we thought!”

“Quick, get him to the medics!”

Soon enough, the medics and the unit priest arrived.

“Sergeant, show us the wound immediately!”

Without a word, I moved my hand, revealing the gaping hole in my side.

The hand-sized wound… It was terrifying to think that my guts might spill out at any moment.

I glanced down at the wound, expecting the worst. But then I noticed something strange.

The flesh was slowly, but surely, regenerating.

“Oh…”

It was a bit of a grotesque sight, but watching the wound heal was also oddly fascinating.

“Thanks. Our medics really are something, aren’t they? That’s some impressive healing.”

“….”

“…?”

However, the expressions on the medic and the priest were odd. They were staring at the wound with cold sweat on their foreheads.

What’s with these guys? Why do they look so shaken all of a sudden?

Wait… could it be?

“Is the wound too severe to treat?”

“No, sir, that’s not it.”

Relief washed over me—at least it wasn’t that bad. I mean, I could literally see the flesh knitting itself back together, so it couldn’t be untreatable, right?

But then Private Sa Uijun, wearing a grim expression, spoke up.

“Sergeant Shin.”

“Yeah?”

“We haven’t even started treating you yet.”

“…What?”

I glanced down at my abdomen again.

Sure enough, the wound was slowly but visibly regenerating.

“Come on. Anyone can see the wound is healing. What do you mean you haven’t done anything?”

“Sergeant, we’re used to not being surprised by the stuff you pull off, it’s kind of an unwritten rule around here… but this? This we can’t just let slide.”

The two medics looked utterly bewildered, as if they couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

Our unit priest and awakened [Priest], Private Shin Jungsu, cautiously asked,

“Sergeant, how is your wound healing by itself?