The Military Chef of a Ruined World

While I’d like nothing more than to grant that wish, a nagging thought plagued me.

‘Yes, there are sins for which it should be punished, yet what about the favor it has granted?’

If it perished now, it would merely have atoned for its sins without any acknowledgment of its sacrifice. 

That felt—well, how do I say it? 

“How frustrating.”

The system had stated it was impossible, so what was I supposed to do about it?

Such thoughts, I considered, were irrelevant to me.

“If it can’t be done… then I’ll make it so.”

This was a phrase drilled into me from my earliest days as a lowly private.

Usually, while living, you might think there are things beyond possibility—but surprisingly, the seemingly impossible often becomes attainable.

This instance would be no different.

“Nothing is impossible.”

I would keep pushing on until the components of its body transformed from that of a monster into human parts.

If I continued to stuff enough food inside, something had to give.

And just as I prepared to shove more food in,

Ding.

‘…?’

A clear, ringing sound echoed in my ears, and a system message appeared before me.

[Warning!]

[It is impossible to restore a being that has transcended humanity to its former state.]

What in the world?

Now even my systems were tossing their own impossibility claims at me?

“Thanks for the kind reminder, but…”

No point in dwelling on shortcomings.

“Unnecessary buttering up.”

I swiped the message from my view and then stared as more appeared below it.

[Regardless, will you continue to challenge the impossible?]

…What?

* * *

[Regardless, will you continue to challenge the impossible?]

What kind of nonsense is this?

Just a few seconds earlier, my systems had told me it was impossible, and now it was asking if I might want to attempt to do so?

I glanced down at the quivering form of the Gourmet Glutton.

‘An individual I hardly knew.’

Initially, my sole purpose for being here was to seek affirmation for my own doubts.

I had already received that affirmation.

And I had successfully extracted all of its blood.

Surely this would aid Ariella in her growth.

At this point…

‘If I leave now, I suffer no losses at all.’

No need to push myself against challenges deemed impossible.

There was no motivation for it.

But still…

What truly held me back was singleness of sentiment.

“Ah, this interloper’s self-esteem.”

Of all beings, it was my own dish.

The more people told me it couldn’t be done, the more I felt the need to assert,

‘That can’t be right. If it’s my cooking, it can be feasible!’

“There’s still cooking left. Open wide.”

“…!”

Regardless of what the status window said, I would keep doing what I had set out to accomplish.

I forcibly pried open the creature’s mouth and hurled another meal towards it.

Then…

[You are challenging the impossible.]

[Checking conditions…**]

“?”

The message in front of my eyes.

[Conditions have been fulfilled]

[Divine Power: 1]

The description stated something I had seen before in my stats once thought to be meaningless but now appeared to have potential.

Divine Power.

[With just ‘1’ Divine Power, impossible tasks can be achieved]

[Warning!]

[Should your challenge fail, your Divine Power stat will be permanently erased, and recovery will no longer be possible]

“What the…”

In that instant, I could feel something strange stirring deep within my body.

It was not too difficult to conclude what this was.

‘Divine Power?’

I wasn’t certain why it had activated now, but I knew without doubt that it began to initiate a reaction.

“What on earth is transpiring… I have no clue!”

Nonetheless, my duty remained constant.

Keep doing what I am doing.

“Grr… Grrr…!”

As I continued shoving food into its mouth until my arms ached,

Time trudged on.

Eventually, even the effects of the ‘Calm Mind’ expired.

But even still, I kept propelling food into the creature’s mouth driven by a simple thought.

“Rumble…”

Hours passed in that manner.

And at the very moment, when every last plate had been served and there was not a single dish left to give…

Ding.

[The subject’s species and profession are transforming]

Once every meal had disappeared into nothingness, a series of messages flooded my vision.

[Lee Hyun-jin]

[Primate Human – Gourmet Glutton]

[Transforming…**]

The form lying lifelessly on the ground, once teetering on the edge—now, in stark contradiction, was beginning to sprout flesh anew.

[Transformation complete.]

[Awakened Being: Lee Hyun-jin]

[Primate – Human]

[Profession: Gourmet Glutton Lv.1]

Flesh that was no longer of a beast, but of a human.

[Profession Quest – Extermination of the Nemesis has been completed.]

[Quest objectives overachieved]

[Quest rewards have been granted]

[Achievement unlocked!]

[Achievement: The Miracle Chef]

[Through your cooking, you restored an adversary who had lost his way back to his rightful place!]

[An extraordinary feat that is rarely seen across all dimensions]

[One of the greatest accomplishments possible for a Chef!]

[Rewards for achievement granted]

[You have accomplished a record worthy of myth!]

[Your Divine Power stat increases by 1]

[Divine Power: 2]

‘Divine Power.’

A stat I had classified as unidentifiable; it seemed to result in a newfound energy coiling within me.

‘The ability to make the impossible possible.’

Unlikely tasks made feasible.

“Ha, ha… ha…”

If I were to categorize this situation against video game-like foundations,

I could easily conclude what it would be referred to.

A cheat.

Or rather…

“Isn’t this a hack?”