Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 32

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11. Prelia

The Joma Mirror was the most famous magical artifact created by the alchemist Bishop of Alchemy.

Its simple ability was to show the owner’s stats, level, and skills as numerical values.

However, Cainchel’s Joma Mirror was different.

‘Ever since I held the kitchen knife, the Joma Mirror has been showing strange things. And what on earth is this skill tree?’

[Basic Swordsmanship can be upgraded to Intermediate Swordsmanship.]

* You can gain the secrets of various intermediate swordsmanships such as Strong Sword, Quick Sword, Illusion Sword, and Variable Sword through cooking.

Cainchel swallowed hard. He recalled the tremendous power of the intermediate swordsmanship Abel used.

With a single swing of his sword, three goblins fell simultaneously. And that wasn’t even a perfectly mastered intermediate swordsmanship.

But beneath the intermediate swordsmanship, another skill appeared.

[Proficiency in Basic Swordsmanship is very high.]

[Transcendence beyond the limits of Basic Swordsmanship is possible.]

“What’s this? Transcendence of Basic Swordsmanship?”

It was a skill that reminded him of Meliot, the Swordmaster of Diligence.

A man who trained only in basic swordsmanship and eventually rose to the position of Swordmaster.

His slash could break mountains, and his thrust could split rivers.

Cainchel narrowed his eyes.

The limit to which basic swordsmanship could be raised was 10 stars.

‘But my sword and the sword of Meliot I heard about were so different that they didn’t seem like the same basic swordsmanship. I just thought it was because the stats were different…’

To think there was a stage that broke through the limits of basic swordsmanship.

Cainchel muttered, looking at the Joma Mirror.

“Am I supposed to choose between intermediate swordsmanship and mastering basic swordsmanship?”

Which one should I choose to get closer to Swordmaster?

Whichever one I choose, I can definitely become stronger than I am now.

That’s why it’s even harder to choose.

“…Damn it. Both are too good.”

Days of just swinging the sword every day because I couldn’t learn a proper rising sword technique.

But to be having such a happy dilemma.

It was like being asked to choose between a dish that brought out the taste of the ingredients to the extreme and a dish that was decorated so splendidly that it looked so delicious.

Cainchel chuckled.

To think that cooking came to mind even in the moment of choosing between mastering basic swordsmanship and intermediate swordsmanship.

“But shouldn’t I make it a dish that is both outwardly splendid and brings out the taste of the ingredients to the extreme? Chef Gordon also said that the most important thing in cooking is taste. Just like a bowl of food is completed only when everything is included, if I can master both basic swordsmanship and intermediate swordsmanship at the same time…”

Then, a completely different content than before appeared on the Joma Mirror.

[If you possess both ‘Basic Swordsmanship: Mastery’ and ‘Intermediate Swordsmanship’ simultaneously, the experience required for growth doubles.]

“Huh? It works?”

The corner of his mouth went up. To think he would find the answer so easily.

‘Yes! If I can’t give up on either, then I just have to raise them all!’

If it hadn’t been for Gordon’s words, he would have worried and chosen intermediate swordsmanship.

Required experience doubled? That level of penalty was nothing.

Cainchel can raise his swordsmanship level by cooking.

Then all he has to do is double it from now on.

There was a time when he couldn’t get even a handful of experience no matter how much he swung his sword.

Even so, he swung his sword silently.

Cainchel could smile and do any hard labor as long as he could level up.

Besides.

‘These days, I strangely enjoy cooking. Then it’s decided.’

Cainchel muttered quietly.

“If you’re worried, you should eat both.”

Then a huge star appeared in front of Cainchel’s eyes.

[Basic Swordsmanship has broken through its limits.]

* Basic Swordsmanship: ★★★★★★★★★★

There were so many stars that they didn’t all fit on one screen.

Eleven stars. Basic Swordsmanship Mastery that has broken through the limit of 10 stars.

And the plating knowledge he learned from Gordon today began to come to mind.

A technique to decorate food more beautifully and deliciously.

[The skill of decorating food has been sublimated into the ‘Intermediate Swordsmanship’ skill.]

[‘Intermediate Swordsmanship’ has been created.]

* Intermediate Swordsmanship: ★

It was intermediate swordsmanship that he could only watch.

Only 1 star.

But from now on, he will be able to raise the experience of intermediate swordsmanship by cooking.

Basic Swordsmanship Mastery that has even broken through its limits.

Newly acquired intermediate swordsmanship.

What changes will they bring to Cainchel?

But first, preparing the ingredients for tomorrow was more important.

@

“…In the end, to acquire intermediate swordsmanship, you must learn the rising sword technique. Most of you here are learning swordsmanship passed down in your families, right?”

Answers of agreement came from here and there.

Cainchel licked his lips.

‘Sorry, but I didn’t have any of that.’

The man who was explaining intermediate swordsmanship now was Cain Carters, Abel’s brother.

A flamboyant appearance closer to a nobleman than a knight.

Besides, he was also a head taller than Abel.

“Then I’ll simply show you the Carters family’s secret swordsmanship, ‘Enatos Xiphos’ [meaning ‘innate sword’ in a fictional language]. Ah, Abel is in the Yellow Knights, so some of you may have already seen it.”

Cain walked to the scarecrow placed in the corner of the training ground.

And he drew his sword and swung it in one breath.

A single strike.

At the same time, seven scarecrows fell.

Cheers erupted from here and there.

“I can only use seven blades yet. But if I master it completely, I will be able to defeat nine enemies simultaneously. Likewise, the characteristics of intermediate swordsmanship are strengthened as the level rises…”

After explaining the characteristics of intermediate swordsmanship for a while, Cain looked at the gathered members of the Yellow Knights.

His gaze stopped on Cainchel.

“Are you perhaps Sir Kundam? I heard there was a genius of the sword in this class, so I really wanted to meet you. Hahaha. I heard that you not only single-handedly slashed over a hundred goblins in the Goblin Extermination War, but also found and defeated the chieftain. Would you give me a chance to see Sir Kundam’s swordsmanship?”

It was a suggestion to have a light sparring match.

Then it was Abel who was flustered.

“Brother. I told you Sir Kundam is from the Black Knights. That person is Cainchel van Zistad, the Meister [master] of the Yellow Knights.”

“Ah…, I’ve made a mistake. That’s strange. You looked like the strongest rookie I met today, so I naturally thought you were Sir Kundam. Hahaha!”

Abel poked Cainchel in the side and said in a small voice.

“Don’t feel too bad. He’s not usually the type to say such silly things, so it’s strange. How could he confuse you with Sir Kundam?”

“Maybe Sir Kundam and I look similar to Sword Knights.”

“…Maybe.”

In the end, the sparring match proceeded as a brotherly showdown between Abel and Cain.

The fight between three blades and seven blades was so beautiful that it even evoked admiration.

Cainchel watched Cain and Abel’s sparring, engraving even the smallest movements into his eyes.

Cain is a Sword Knight who freely wields not only intermediate swordsmanship but also Aura Sword.

Such Cain mistook him for Kundam.

Kundam is a genius of the sword who has never missed the top spot in the rankings since entering the training center.

Far from being unpleasant, he was happy.

‘That means I’ve become that strong.’

The brothers’ duel, which lasted nearly five minutes, ended with Abel’s surrender.

“Huff…, huff… huff…. I, I lost.”

“Hahaha, our cute little brother can now wield a sword quite decently. Until recently, you would cry and run away just by looking at a sword.”

“…That was more than ten years ago.”

“Okay, okay. I was trying to boost my brother’s spirits, so I went easy on you on purpose. How could you not even graze me once? Then let’s have dinner and catch up on the stories we haven’t been able to tell each other.”

Cainchel could see why Abel hated his brother so much.

@

As planned, Cainchel was to make dinner for Cain and Abel.

He wanted to make the 5-star creative dish, Wild Duck, but Einchel pleaded with a face that looked like he was about to cry.

― Sir Cainchel, please make it simple! If I get on the wrong side of a nobleman, my, my, my salary!

‘The pleasure of making Wild Duck will have to be postponed until survival training.’

In the end, the menu was prepared with things that had already been evaluated by Gordon, which were simple.

Bread and Boeuf Bourguignon [beef stewed in red wine].

In addition, consommé soup with carrots and bacon and a walnut-flavored salad.

Most were 4-star dishes.

Besides, the bread was a whopping 5 stars.

It seems that the bread making he learned while making honey butter sandwiches has finally fully matured.

Cainchel was in the room right next to where Cain and Abel were eating.

This was to respond whenever a VIP called the chef.

Cain’s voice could be heard over the wall.

“Abel. What on earth are you doing? I told you to get as close as possible to Kundam.”

“…Brother. Sir Kundam is the captain of another knight order that we are competing with. I don’t think there will be a chance to get close…”

“What? Who told you to go to the training center to play knight with a sword? I told you to befriend at least five useful guys. War is coming soon. You need to secure as many knights as possible before then.”

“Didn’t the war end ten years ago?”

“Aigo… You’re so naive. Don’t go around saying you’re my brother. Fighting the Seven Deadly Sins is like a natural disaster. The war I’m talking about is a fight between humans. Rumor has it that the hairy bastards in Deutschland [Germany in this fictional world] are preparing to hunt dragons. The time will soon come when knights will really be needed.”

Cainchel, who was listening to the two people’s story over the wall, swallowed hard.

‘I think I heard something huge…. What? There’s going to be a war soon?’

If Cain is saying it like that, it means most nobles know about it.

‘Recently, nobles have been coming and going to the training center unusually often, so they were trying to mark potential trainee knights.’

Nobles who didn’t even give him a glance when Cainchel was a poor student.

But the situation changed when it became known that he had received a Savior grade in training.

He often saw nobles in fancy clothes looking at him and asking the instructors something.

The moment will soon come when Cainchel will have to choose a lord.

‘Well, before that, I need to move up to the Chevalier [knight] class first. But drawing the Aura Sword comes first.’

As Cainchel was lost in thought with his arms crossed, he heard Cain’s horrified scream.

“W, what on earth is this bread? It’s unbelievably soft and the flavor of the wheat is felt as it is…. My God. I’ve never eaten such delicious bread even in the capital….”

“…”

As expected of 5-star bread, it seemed to have captured Cain’s heart in an instant.

“The training center has improved a lot. In my day, we got dried rye bread and undercooked fish and chips. Oh, this soup is delicious too. Dipping the bread in it makes my body melt away. Oh, Abel. Why aren’t you eating? What’s the trendy word these days for this level of taste? Ah, right. It’s a taste that the idiotic Prelia would admire.”

Cainchel, who was secretly listening to Cain and Abel’s conversation, had to cover his mouth in surprise.

‘…P, Prelia? She’s definitely the young lady who enjoyed the sandwich I made, right? But idiotic? She looked normal no matter how I looked at her…’

It was Abel who solved that question instead.

“…Who is the idiotic Prelia?”

“Ah, you don’t really like those rumors, do you?”

Cain, who had been laughing for a while at how enjoyable it was, began to explain.

“Young Lady Prelia is the only daughter of Count Grexia Wellide. You know who the Count is, right? That merchant Count.”

“…Yes.”

“That daughter is very pretty, but she’s an idiot. I heard she hurt her head and only sleeps all day, and can’t do anything even when she’s awake. But she ate a honey butter sandwich or something sold on the street and said it was delicious. Since then, that sandwich has become very popular, so I was thinking of trying it. But they don’t sell it these days.”

‘Not husky but honey butter! That’s my story!’

Cainchel wanted to shout, but he barely held back by pinching his thigh.

“Of course, it’s just a rumor. That’s because the idiotic young lady can never speak. Do you know why?”

“No.”

Cain’s voice suddenly became incredibly small. Cainchel had to focus all his attention to hear it.

“…It’s not that, but she became like that because she suffered from the curse of sloth…”

Thump!

He couldn’t hear the rest properly because of the sound of the chair moving.

But he could clearly hear the words ‘curse of sloth’.

‘What, what…. Young Lady Prelia has that curse? No, she did seem to sleep a lot. But she definitely spoke well, right? I definitely heard her say it was delicious!’

Cainchel’s body trembled.

The curse of sloth.

It was an incurable wound and curse left by the Seven Deadly Sins.

And it was also one of the causes of the downfall of the Zistad family.

Cainchel quietly got up from his seat.

He wasn’t going to wear clown clothes for a while.

But he couldn’t just stand still after hearing such words.

The girl Prelia, who ate the food he made so deliciously.

He had to check if she really had the curse of sloth. And how she was able to speak.

Cainchel’s eyes gleamed.

The time has come for the clown Hool, who disappeared into the darkness, to reappear.

Prelia #2