Chapter 149 - King of Cooking Hans 2 (1/2)

Hans was preparing a meal for the residents as usual.

The broth boiled in a large pot as smoke rose in the kitchen.

“Phew…”

Honestly, whatever he was making couldn’t be called cooking.

It was just chopped radish and cabbage being boiled in a pot.

The Queen of Thorns Alice was raising the citizens of the kingdom as livestock, so there was a fundamental limit to the food ingredients Hans could obtain and use.

“I want to at least make some fish soup to feed everyone...”

As a chef, he always wanted to entertain people with food.

But he was currently boiling this unappetizing soup that couldn’t be called ‘food’.

“I should’ve run away to the Lydia Kingdom back then...”

When the Queen of Thorns first appeared, he only thought of her as merely a new monster like any other.

This world would often update itself. Because of these updates, previously nonexistent ruins would spawn and the system would modify itself.

However, the people originating from the Eeth Continent did not find these changes odd.

They just thought of it as the gods intervening in the world.

”I can’t see the light of hope.”

A hundred days had passed since his wife’s death.

The cause was an unknown disease.

Since everyone couldn't eat well, their immune system was weakened, and many died from various seemingly insignificant diseases.

Nevertheless, the treatment towards the people of the kingdom did not improve.

For Alice, the Queen of Thorns, they were just tools she needed to create more members of her race.

As Hans sighed, he heard a knock at the door.

Knock knock.

”Come in.”

Kazaks didn't knock like humans would do.

The door creaked open and a black-haired young man appeared.

It was Chun Woohyuk.

“Who are you? I’ve never seen your face around here before.”

“I came to save you.”

Woohyuk spoke straightforwardly.

As two more humans appeared behind him, Hans was greatly confused.

“H-how did you…”

“We climbed over the wall. By riding this guy.”

Behind the group, a golden goat peaked his head out.

After Woohyuk unsummoned the animal, he observed Hans' reaction.

“…”

“Do you think you can use your talents to your heart's content here? I hear that ingredients are scarce, which appears to be true seeing how that pot only has a few vegetables in it.”

It wasn't soup just for one or two people, but for the hundred residents approximately in this area.

Hans hesitated, and shook his head.

“No. You’re right. It would be impossible. As you may have realized, this place is hell.”

“Be my vassal. Then you will be able to help countless people.”

Hans watched him with a surprised face.

“You want to subdue all the demons and unify the Eeth Continent?”

“I have already acquired the Rhine Kingdom and the Dane Kingdom. And the Lydia Kingdom and Izuna Kingdom are currently my allies.”

Woohyuk emphasized on his cause rather than promising Hans a rich life devoid of hardships.

He was well aware that Hans was someone who valued honor.

Hans took his time and contemplated, as if Woohyuk’s plan had somehow worked.

“You're cause is definitely worth joining. But I worry about those who will be left behind in this castle.”

“I can't save them all right now. You're well aware of that, right?”

“Yes, of course. No matter how strong you are, you cannot easily defeat the Queen of Thorns' army.”

Even though the five Paladins of the Empire were participating, there was no sign of an end to this war.

The main reason was that the Kazaks were continuing to increase their numbers by using their enemies as their hosts.

In addition, there were demons and unknown alchemists supporting them from behind the scenes.

“Alchemists?”

“Yes, they are making purple pills and supplying them to the Queen of Thorns. I happened to learn that fact while I was at the royal palace.”

Hans was originally a chef cooking for aristocrats.

Reina expressed her worries when she heard Hans' words.

“So the Clipport's Fruit is being circulated.”

“That's probably the reason why the Paladins of the Empire are struggling.”

Unlike Rosenkreuz, Paladins did not use the Clipport's Fruit for themselves, because they considered the act itself to be dishonorable.

They were chosen by the seven gods to be the guardians of the empire.

“In any case, even if you stay here, you won't be of any help to the kingdom's citizens. It would be better to come with me to the Rhine Kingdom and make plans for the future.”

“I see. But before that, I am a cook. I have the duty to feed the people who are starving.

Hans wanted to provide a decent meal to the residents of this castle at least once before leaving.

Having understood his intentions, Woohyuk began to take ingredients out of the sage's pocket.

“Just, just where the hell did you get all this…”

“I've been around many places and gathered a lot of things.”

The sage's pocket could also be increased in size to the form of a bag, so he could fit a lot of things inside.

Moreover, it had unlimited capacity.

So Woohyuk was able to prepare the ingredients Hans needed before coming here.

“It’s been such a long time since I last saw fresh ingredients.”

”Use as much as you want.”

Among the ingredients that Woohyuk took out, there were mandragoras and stymphalian bird meat.

Mandragora would increase the immune system of the weakened residents, and stymphalian bird meat would provide the stamina to withstand a long period of famine.

Hans shed tears at Woohyuk's extraordinary consideration.

“I didn't think you'd be interested in a chef like me. The other monarchs are not quite like you.”