Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 2

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Chapter 1: The Underachiever of the Stanis Knight Academy

Keinchel returned to training the day he was discharged from the infirmary.

Eating the chicken soup and regaining the will to challenge the advancement exam again helped a lot.

He was determined to do everything he could, knowing this was his last chance.

‘But what kind of training is it today…?’

Keinchel’s expression darkened as he checked the schedule.

Of all days, it had to be today.

It was the part he hated most among the numerous training courses.

Keinchel wore a strange expression, as if he was neither crying nor laughing.

As if inviting comparison, the faces of the other trainees were full of anticipation.

“Finally, that day has come.”

“I almost died trying to contain my curiosity.”

“Right. It feels like wandering through a desert without any landmarks and then discovering an oasis.”

“Look at you, writing like that after reading Wolfgang’s poems lately.”

Like children in the Rookie Class, they were chattering non-stop while waiting.

However, it didn’t last long.

The training instructor entered the auditorium with a solemn face, and it became as quiet as if water had been poured on them.

“Silence! Today’s status update will be conducted by this instructor. Squad members, stand in formation.”

Then, with a thunderous salute, over a hundred trainee knights moved in unison.

The instructor called the trainee knight at the front.

“You.”

“Trainee Knight Arel, number 47!”

“Do you know why we update our status under the guidance of an instructor like this once a month?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Why is that?”

“By objectively looking at our abilities, we recognize our shortcomings and use them as a stepping stone to becoming a knight.”

The instructor seemed pleased with the answer and patted Trainee Knight Arel on the shoulder.

“Very good. I have something to say to you all. It has been half a year since you became trainee knights.”

– There’s even someone who’s been stuck here for three years.

Then, the rookies, who had been wearing solemn expressions, burst into suppressed laughter.

It was obvious who they were talking about.

In that moment, the eyes of Keinchel, standing at the very back, and Instructor Ian met.

The instructor’s eyes held many emotions.

“Silence!”

The instructor shouted and quieted the trainee knights before continuing.

“I believe you are slowly getting used to life here. You will be very busy preparing for the upcoming advancement exam. To boost your morale, today’s status update will be conducted together with the Chevalier Class seniors.”

As the instructor finished explaining, men in neat formal attire entered the auditorium.

Each of them had a confident look on their faces.

They were the ones closest to becoming knights.

“They say even advancing to Senior is difficult, so can we really become Chevaliers [knights-in-training]…”

“We’re not Keinchel, so we won’t fail the Senior advancement exam. Don’t worry and let’s just get our status updated.”

“Haha! That’s right.”

“But I wonder what level the Chevalier seniors are.”

“I’m more curious about their swordsmanship level. It must be amazing.”

The status update is conducted in front of other trainee knights.

In other words, their levels and stats are revealed.

When the instructor gestured to the sorcerer in charge of the magical tools, the full-scale update began.

“Then, Sir Arel. Joma Mirror.”

“Yes!”

The trainee knights wore magical tools called ‘Joma Mirrors’ around their necks.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary pocket watch.

However, when magic power was injected, it displayed the owner’s stats and level as numerical values.

However, it consumed a significant amount of magic power, so the Stanis Academy only checked the trainee knights’ stats once a month.

That was the status update.

“Level 7 with Elementary Swordsmanship at 3 stars. Your overall stats have also increased evenly. You’ve worked hard.”

“T, thank you.”

That was the end of the Rookie Class’s status update.

And then it was the Chevaliers’ turn.

The instructor’s movements became even more solemn. The ones having their stats measured from now on were the closest to becoming knights.

“Sir Vincent. We will now update your status.”

“Yes, please do.”

The sorcerer in white robes touched Vincent’s Joma Mirror and slowly began to inject magic power.

Then, Vincent’s stats began to appear on the Joma Mirror.

Everyone watching forgot to even swallow their saliva and stared at the scene.

A gasp of admiration escaped Instructor Ian’s lips.

“What, level 57? And Intermediate Swordsmanship at 7 stars!?”

That alone was an amazing status.

A figure that wouldn’t be out of place as a knight right now.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

Instructor Ian had seen the stats of many trainee knights, but this was the first time.

“…Oh, my god. Aura Sword 1 star…”

Then, cheers erupted from the Rookie Class.

“Aura Sword? S, surely a Sword Master?”

“Idiot. Aura Sword means ‘Sword Knight’! But a Sword Knight coming out of the trainee knights! Oh my god. To see something like this in person. I’m so lucky!”

The instructor was just as shocked.

What was in front of him was no longer at the level of a trainee knight. Being able to handle Aura meant he should already be called a knight.

“S, Sir Vincent. I will report to the director. You will be going to the capital soon.”

Being able to handle Aura was that big of a deal.

Vincent grinned and said.

“It’s all thanks to Instructor Ian’s excellent guidance.”

Of course, this achievement would have been impossible without the mana cultivation technique passed down from his family.

But he decided not to talk about it.

It had to appear fair on the surface so that the other trainee knights would be motivated.

Overshadowed by the birth of a new Sword Knight and quickly passed over, the stats of the Chevalier Class, excluding Vincent, were also considerable.

Instructor Ian continued to admire as he watched the stats appear on the Joma Mirror.

At this rate, it was almost the best performance ever.

He was starting to look forward to the advancement exam in half a year.

That’s how the trainee knights’ status update was coming to an end.

Vincent raised one corner of his mouth and smiled.

He couldn’t end it like this. The biggest event of the day was still left.

He asked Instructor Ian with a truly curious expression.

“Instructor, but it seems like one person’s status hasn’t been updated yet.”

“The update of all trainee knights is complete.”

“No. There is still one person left. Isn’t that right? Sir Keinchel.”

In that moment, hundreds of eyes turned to one person’s face.

Keinchel Van Zistard, the underachiever of the Stanis Knight Academy.

He was the only one who had not yet received a status update.

Keinchel tried to calm his trembling hands and answered.

“…I apologize, but I decided to receive it separately later.”

That was Instructor Ian’s consideration.

“How can there be such a thing? As long as you are a trainee knight, everyone must update their status together.”

“…”

In the end, Keinchel’s status was updated in front of hundreds of people.

Instructor Ian couldn’t say anything for a while after seeing Keinchel’s Joma Mirror.

Then Vincent urged.

“Instructor. Please tell us Sir Keinchel’s status.”

“…The level is 1… Swordsmanship is Elementary Swordsmanship 1 star.”

Then Vincent started laughing while holding his stomach.

“Everyone. Did you hear that? The level is 1. My god! How can your level be 1 after training at the academy for 3 years! I don’t think you can explain it just by saying you have no talent? And I think you were dispatched on a goblin extermination mission a while ago. Even if you caught one or two goblins, you would have gained experience and leveled up a few times. Huh? Ah, don’t tell me you couldn’t even catch a goblin? Oh my! I’m sorry. You have an even greater talent than I thought.”

“…”

There was nothing to say.

Everything Vincent said was true.

Numerous gazes were watching Keinchel with various emotions.

Contempt. Mockery. Ridicule.

Among them, there was some pity mixed in, but the number was small.

That’s how the status update ended with Keinchel becoming the laughingstock of the trainee knights.

“Damn it… I thought I would have at least leveled up to 1…”

He swung his sword so hard. Why didn’t it go up even a little bit?

This didn’t make any sense.

Keinchel reached out his hand to Instructor Ian, who was holding his Joma Mirror.

“I know my status well. Can you please return it, Instructor?”

“Please wait a moment, Sir Keinchel. There’s an unfamiliar letter in the corner…”

“There’s no way that’s possible. My status hasn’t changed at all for 3 years. You know that fact well, don’t you? Then I’ll be on my way.”

“…Rest well today and attend training from tomorrow.”

Instructor Ian knew that Keinchel was training harder than anyone else.

That’s why he felt so sorry.

If only Keinchel had even a shred of talent…

@

Vincent von Sven.

He was the eldest son of Marquis Sven, the most powerful family in the Empire, which had produced Sword Masters for three generations.

He and Keinchel were classmates who became trainee knights on the same day.

Now there was a huge difference between the Rookie Class and the Chevalier Class, but they once lived in the same dormitory.

Innate talent and mana cultivation techniques passed down from his family. Even personal training by a dedicated professor.

Vincent had everything.

There was a time when he gritted his teeth and swung his sword, trying to beat him.

But now that he realized that it was an impossible goal, all that remained was deep despair.

He had hoped, but the status window that hadn’t changed at all was just a source of resentment.

“Come to think of it, I’m hungry.”

Suddenly, he remembered the chicken soup he had eaten when he was admitted to the infirmary.

After that, he wondered who made it and searched for it, but he couldn’t find it.

Someone made it while Chef Gordon, who was in charge of the trainee knights’ meals, was away for a while.

‘To feed such an unidentified food to a patient. The nurse officers are amazing too.’

But the moment he ate it, he was so happy. It was literally chicken soup for the soul.

Anyway, today’s training was over.

Then…

‘Should I try to make something similar? Then I think I’ll get a sense of something.’

He had never cooked before.

‘Fortunately, Chef Gordon is off today, so I can make it if I avoid other people’s eyes.’

He was thinking of doing some odd jobs to pay for the ingredients.

That’s how Keinchel started moving to make ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’.

@

“One chicken, half an onion, 2 celery stalks, 2 carrots, one potato, 3 basil leaves, and 1 sprig of rosemary. Good. I have everything.”

When he gathered all the ingredients, it was quite a large amount.

In addition, salt, garlic, and ginger should not be missing.

Keinchel recalled the chicken soup recipe.

“First, wash the chicken thoroughly, pour water, add onions, garlic, ginger, herbs, and salt, and boil for about an hour. The spices were filtered through a sieve to remove the foam and only use the clear broth, right?”

And the chicken, which was cooked to a moderately chewy texture, was shredded and added to the pre-made broth along with sliced potatoes, carrots, and celery, and boiled for 30 minutes to complete.

Then, you can add noodles or rice cakes to eat.

The method of making it was easier than I thought. It took quite a while to make the broth, but he could wait that long.

He could do abdominal exercises in his spare time.

“Then let’s get started.”

First, he had to prepare the ingredients. The potatoes were peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces to make the texture better when soaked in cold water.

And celery was said to have a better flavor when using all the stems and leaves.

And the onion…

A kitchen knife had to be used to prepare the ingredients.

He had held and swung other knives so much that his hands were blistered.

Keinchel muttered, holding the kitchen knife with unfamiliar movements.

“Come to think of it, this is my first time.”

Hold the handle with three fingers, attach the index finger to the blade. And if you put your thumb on the blade, you can use the kitchen knife without shaking it.

“I have to start with the potatoes first.”

It was written that the texture would be better if you peeled it and soaked it in cold water.

Keinchel held the potato in one hand and started moving the kitchen knife back and forth.

Then, the potato, which was the size of a fist, was reduced to the size of a small chestnut.

This was because he cut not only the skin but also the flesh.

It was a more difficult task than he thought.

However, as the prepared potatoes piled up, his skill in handling the kitchen knife was gradually improving.

It was amazing.

His swordsmanship skills didn’t improve no matter how hard he tried.

It was then.

Ding-

The Joma Mirror hanging around his neck was making an alarm sound. It seemed that the magic power he had charged for the status update was still left.

“Why all of a sudden? Is it broken? This is academy property, so I have to pay for it if it breaks…”

He put the kitchen knife on the cutting board and took off the Joma Mirror to examine it.

[Elementary Swordsmanship level has increased.]

“Huh?”

For a moment, he didn’t understand what he had seen.

Increased? What? Swordsmanship?

Why?

Why?

He swung his sword so much for 3 years, but not a single letter changed.

Tears streamed down.

In that moment, something hot started to overflow from Keinchel’s eyes.

“Wh, what is it. Why. Only now… Da, damn it. I, I also leveled up… Leveled up…!”

Keinchel wiped his eyes with his sleeve and read the letters that appeared on the Joma Mirror again.

He didn’t see it wrong.

[Elementary Swordsmanship: ★★]

It was just one more star.

The Underachiever of the Stanis Knight Academy #2