Surviving on the Northern Front with Gukbap

Change (5)

After confirming Plerine's recovery, I immediately returned to the training center,

"Oh, you're back, Ian?"

Jeros was nowhere to be seen; only Ralph was there.

As expected, the nickname "practice bug" fits him more than "Ralph of Fruition".

"Wasn't Jeros here?"

"Jeros? Why? I've been alone since I got here."

Damn it.

Did he really leave because he couldn't wait a little bit?

Annoyance surged, but I sent it away with a deep breath.

I had just cleared one of my huge assignments.

'I didn't realize how much of a difference Plerine's presence made.'

All my anxiety drained away.

Of course, since the actual lesson was only thirty minutes, I only intended to give him 50 shilling.

"Why do you ask about Jeros?"

I nearly mentioned the swordsmanship lessons but closed my mouth.

If the battalion commander hears about it, things could get complicated.

"Oh, nothing. I just had something to talk to him about."

"As if he'd really hang around the training center."

Ralph then suggested we spar since I was there,

but I waved it off, in no shape for such things, and left.

When I got back to the shop,

"Platoon leader. The battalion commander says tonight's officers' meal will be a special one."

A soldier who had been speaking informally to me only a couple days ago said so.

This is a strange feeling.

"Understoo—Ah, okay."

As soon as the soldier left, Naba and Harper's faces twisted.

"How could they demand a special meal out of nowhere?" said Naba, his eyes swollen.

"If they order, you obey. What choice do we have?"

A special meal, huh.

Wondering what to prepare, my mind just couldn't get working, probably because my body was totally shot.

It couldn't be helped.

Time to use the power of collective intelligence.

"Plerine, go over to Branch 2 and bring Dunbell."

"Okay."

"And Clara too."

*

That evening, the officers' dinner was lavish.

Dunbell showed off his skills.

At first, that pig complained about being called over while busy, but then—

― Dunbell. You can use all these ingredients as you please.

His eyes snapped wide open and he started cooking like a madman.

I watched Dunbel's cooking process closely, as though possessed by Chef An Seong-ji.

'His focus and delicacy are impressive. He'll develop quickly with a bit of instruction.'

Meanwhile, I prepared only the rice and the bone broth.

My willpower was too drained to make anything else.

'Damn you, Jeros. You left me in shreds.'

Of course, since it would've been only Dunbell's food otherwise, I also put out some makgeolli.

Can't skip drinks for such a great victory celebration.

As a result, the battalion commander and the other officers left very satisfied with their meal.

It was a joyful party.

'Though, as expected, Jeros was nowhere to be found.'

I was curious where he'd gone but didn't bother to ask.

After all, officers sometimes skipped meals depending on their schedules.

'But to skip even the victory celebration?'

Jeros really was a true outsider.

Anyway, after wrapping everything up, I finally returned to my room.

So glad to see my own bed, even though I'd only camped out for a single day.

"Humans really do need to sleep in beds."

As I stretched my legs and melted into the softness,

my brain spoke to my soul.

'Hey! If you don't sleep right now, I'll kill you!'

That's how tired I was; I could even hear this kind of delusion.

So then, I shall now finally—sleep—

Knock knock.

That unpleasant sound woke me up.

A knock is modern common sense and a polite act, and yet—

'Whenever there's a knock, something crappy always happens.'

Battalion commander, Schutmann, Clara—even them.

"......"

Damn it. My sleepiness vanished.

Leaving my bed, I made a resolution.

'If it's Clara, I'm going to half-kill her.'

With such joy, I undid the latch and opened the door.

"Haha. Who dares disturb the boss's rest—."

I couldn't finish my battalion commander impression.

One of the four employees showed up—someone I really wasn't expecting.

"Sorry."

It was Plerine, awkwardly apologizing.

If it had been Naba, Harper, or even Clara, I'd have understood, but Plerine?

"What's up? You're still not feeling well?"

"No, I'm energetic. Couldn't be better."

Then why did she come? I was really curious, but one thing was clear.

'The atmosphere is completely different. Totally different!'

Compared to when Clara came in that risqué nightgown—

Back then, I really thought, 'She might jump me!'

But with Plerine, there wasn't even a hint of that.

Ah, yes! This is exactly—

'The perfect girl-friend vibe—safely platonic, no romantic feelings!'

My heart felt so at ease.

The difference is truly enormous when there's no ulterior motive.

While having this realization, Plerine spoke up.

"Can we talk for a bit?"

"About what?"

"Just, this and that."

Hmm... That's not like Plerine.

No matter how expressionless she always was,

she would make her intentions clear when she spoke.

What could this be about? My curiosity grew and grew.

"Sure, I'd like that. Go ahead."

"Can we go into your room to talk? Everyone's relaxing, so we'd disturb them out here."

"You don't want the others to hear?"

"Yeah."

Well, then.

"Fine. Let's talk in the kitchen."

For the record, I really don't like anyone coming into my room.

*

Slurp.

Plerine and I went down to the kitchen, sipping hot mushroom broth instead of tea.

"......."

Since I had nothing to say, I quietly waited for Plerine to speak.

Slurp.

But isn't it weird for Plerine to keep slurping like this?

She can handle hot food better than anyone—so why drag this out before talking?

"How was... the war?"

Finally, Plerine's voice came.

Relieved, I answered immediately.

"It was better than I thought."

Plerine noticeably flinched.

Had I picked the wrong answer?

"A-actually, the battalion commander stopped me from fighting, so I just watched from the sidelines. That's why I was fine."

It felt a little too dry for talking about a war,

but as an answer it should get across the point that I wasn't in danger.

Even with that in mind, Plerine still looked vaguely sad.

"The officers kept complimenting you. They all looked happy too."

"Well, of course. It was a great victory, and many..."

I nearly said, 'because we killed so many,' but quickly changed course.

"Because many survived. Haha."

At that moment, sweat rolled down the side of my temple.

It's hot—really hot. I'm burning up.

"The weather's definitely warmer now. Shouldn't we lower the indoor temperature?"

I joked, but honestly, I was overheating for another reason.

An ominous suspicion had arisen in my mind.

Could it be—Plerine,

'... Did she regain her lost memories?'

When I first met Plerine.

After turning an impet to ash, she said she would end all wars—then fainted.

It had been such an absurd statement that I remembered it clearly.

And now, Plerine had suddenly called me in to ask about the war.

She hadn't said anything odd before the departure ceremony!

Sweat started trickling down my back,

'Is it because of the employee of the month?'

Plerine's rank went up to UR, and she slept for a long time.

That must mean she got stronger, and the only reason for that would be—

'She must have recovered her memories!'

Damn it. I'm sure I'm right.

Plerine recovered her memories.

I never should have done that "employee of the month" thing.

I got all giddy just because I won the cooking contest!

'What do I do? How should I handle this?'

My employment contract with Plerine is to last "until she regains her memories."

This was no time to be happy that Plerine woke up.

Gulp.

Without realizing, I swallowed dryly as Plerine spoke.

"Boss, you know..."

Still, she trailed off, not at all like Plerine.

The silence felt so heavy.

Crackle. Crackle.

In place of her voice, the firewood's crackling filled the air,

until Plerine's lips finally parted—

"Plerine!"

I called out preemptively, just to stop her from speaking.

"Huh?"

For once, I saw Plerine look genuinely flustered.

Thump, thump.

My heart pounded, but I chose my words carefully.

So that Plerine would not leave me.

Pouring all my hope and truth into it.

"I always used to scold my father for not letting people go... Turns out, I learned wrong."

"... Huh?"

And just for a moment, I felt the mana around Plerine begin to stir.

"O-out of the blue?"

It was clear she was shaken.

So, with renewed courage, I said:

"I don't care who you were in the past, or what you did. As long as you're with me, that's enough."

Badum badum badum badum.

My heart was beating so fiercely I could even hear it in my ears.

Who'd have thought it could get this loud?

In that brief moment of dumb distraction,

Pff.

"?"

"Puhaha!"

Plerine burst into laughter.

The somber expression she had when talking about the war was gone.

"What was that? Hahaha!"

She even started clutching her belly, laughing hard.

What is with this flow?

I was losing any grasp of Plerine's mood or thoughts,

'Don't tell me I'm completely off again?!'

After recently doubting my deductive abilities because of my misunderstanding about Dunbell,

I started to review our conversation, wondering if my guess was off—

"That's..."

Suddenly, Plerine's voice trembled.

"What is it...?"

At last, a tear rolled under her blindfold. Drip. Stream.

It was an odd feeling.

I'd seen Plerine cry plenty,

but only when she was moved by the taste of my food.

'These tears are different.'

Not tears of happiness,

but flowing for a different reason.

'I feel her pain and sorrow.'

Now I was certain.

I knew it.

'Plerine really did recover her memories.'

The reason Plerine came to talk with me was because of her regained memories.

Bitterness filled my mouth.

It wasn't that I didn't want her to leave me.

'How painful must those memories be if recovering them hurts this much?'

How much suffering did my precious employee have to bear, to laugh and cry like this?

And,

'If the boss just sits there while the employee is suffering, what kind of boss would that be?'

I made up my mind.

I sprang to my feet and said,

"Plerine. Actually, there's a reward for the employee of the month."

"Huh?"

Plerine dried her tears and looked at me.

I grinned and went on.

"Tada! The employee of the month gets early access to Happiness Gukbap's new menu! Would you like to claim it?"

Plerine stared blankly at me for a moment,

then wiped her tears and nodded.

"Yes. I'd like that."

That's right. This is the Plerine I know.

"Perfect. Wait just a bit."

In the end, I never go a day without cooking something.

But somehow, I couldn't help humming.

"But boss, what's the new menu?"

Gripping my finely sharpened kitchen knife, I answered.

"The Original Happiness Gukbap."

The dish I'd always delayed because I couldn't mimic my father's flavor enough—

the dish that would become Happiness Gukbap's signature menu—

It was finally time to introduce it.