Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 36

Captain Abel of the Yellow Knights explained the outline of the training exercise.

“First, the ‘hostage-takers’ will be based in this entire old castle.”

Wry smiles appeared on the faces of the members.

“Even though it’s just training, it feels strange to play the role of hostage-takers.”

Abel chuckled.

“That’s the point. As knights, you’ll often have to escort someone. What happens if the person you’re protecting falls into the hands of terrorists or kidnappers?”

“We must protect them with our lives to prevent that from happening.”

“Of course, that’s ideal. But in real combat, there are many variables. Always assume the worst-case scenario and act accordingly. If the person you’re protecting is kidnapped, securing their safety is the top priority, followed by subduing the enemy. This rescue training simulates that situation.”

He continued, “Being a hostage-taker yourself is also valuable.”

“Understanding the enemy’s mindset allows you to respond more flexibly in real situations.”

The members nodded as Abel finished his explanation.

“The atmosphere seems lighter. Did something good happen?”

“Kh, ahem! Let’s just say it’s because I gained a competent Meister [master or expert].”

Captain Abel spread a map of the old castle on the table.

A finger traced a line to the central hall.

“This is the hostage’s location. As many troops as possible should guard it.”

Abel’s finger swept down the parchment.

Five landmarks were marked.

“These are the points the hostage-taker team must defend. We’ve pre-selected easily infiltrated locations. In a real battle, there won’t be markings, so be careful if you ever have to kidnap someone.”

Abel even had the余裕 [leeway or余裕] to joke, thanks to his briefing with Cainchel.

“The rescue team can only infiltrate through these five landmarks.”

“Then three people should guard the central hall, leaving seven to split up and guard the landmarks.”

“Exactly. Predicting which landmark they’ll target is crucial to this training. Now, I’ll explain the strategy in detail. Meister Cainchel, take over.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Cainchel, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. After giving Abel a light high-five, he took over the explanation.

“The rescue team’s priority is undetected infiltration. However, since the central hall is only accessible through the landmarks, some combat is inevitable. If you infiltrate a landmark guarded by two or more people, one can hold them back while the other alerts the enemy. Overall, this favors the hostage-taker team. After taking turns in both roles, you’ll receive an evaluation based on points earned. Teamwork is essential.”

The rescue team must defeat the hostage-taker team guarding the landmarks and infiltrate the central hall.

Defeating a member of the hostage-taker team earns 1 point.

Rescuing the hostage earns an additional 10 points.

If the hostage-taker team detects an infiltration, they can kill the hostage.

In that case, the hostage-taker team gets 10 points.

Usually, +10 points guarantees a Gold or higher grade for everyone.

+20 points or so earns everyone a Platinum grade.

The Yellow Knights members nodded, impressed.

“It’s so much easier when someone who knows the training content well takes on the role of Meister!”

“Are we really going to beat the Black Knights led by Kundam at this rate?”

In rescue training, it’s common to earn points as a hostage-taker and lose points during the rescue.

Safely rescuing a captured hostage is difficult.

Earning about 10-20 points is enough to be number one among the five knight orders.

But Cainchel had no intention of settling for that.

“In this training, I… no, we will acquire all the points and achieve an overwhelming victory.”

The members cheered.

“Ooh! Are you aiming for Savior again!”

“That’s our Meister!”

The members saw Cainchel, who had been active in the Goblin Extermination War, standing before them.

The underachiever Cainchel was no longer visible.

Only a Meister who would bring victory to the Yellow Knights remained.

Cainchel briefly explained the hostage defense strategy.

“First, Captain Abel and two members will guard the central hall. One member will be in charge of each landmark.”

“Isn’t that defense too weak? If the rescue team tries to break through one point, they’ll be immediately 뚫릴 [뚫릴 – penetrated].”

“That’s why Strider Wagon and I will move between the landmarks to identify enemy intrusions.”

“You mean you’re going to flexibly change the personnel guarding the landmarks.”

Perhaps the most ideal method, but also dangerous.

The landmarks are dozens of meters apart.

If the enemy invades while moving, they’ll break through without resistance.

A strategy that requires perfect prediction of the rescue team’s movements.

The member who asked the question smiled.

“Well, if Meister Cainchel says he can do it, we have to believe him.”

Then Ian, who was playing the hostage, was moved.

“Cainchel! I always believed you’d be recognized!”

“…Instructor Ian, you can’t untie the ropes and get up like that when you’re playing the role of a hostage.”

“Huh? Is that so? Sorry. But why is this rope so weak? It breaks as soon as I put a little force on it.”

“That’s something even an elephant can’t break.”

“Hahaha! It must be a defective product!”

A member next to the chair checked the condition of the rope Ian had cut.

It was incredibly strong, resisting even a blade.

The member’s back was soaked with cold sweat.

There was a rumor that Instructor Ian fought and won against a bear that invaded the training grounds with his bare hands.

He thought it was a story made up to scare the trainee knights, but now…

Cainchel dragged the excited Instructor Ian to the chair.

He pretended to tie him up with a rope and said, “Instructor, you can’t just stand there with an expression that you’re going to cut the rope and beat them all up if you don’t like it. You have to sit quietly.”

“Okay.”

Despite the hostage’s attempted escape, the training proceeded as planned.

@

A landmark connected to the basement of the old castle.

Meister Cainchel had been waiting here for ten minutes.

A look of bewilderment appeared on the face of the member in charge of the landmark.

The Yellow Knights’ Meister and Strider were supposed to be constantly moving and checking the landmarks.

But he was waiting in one place, radiating confidence that the enemy would try to break through here.

Cainchel opened his eyes, which had been closed, and spoke towards the unlit basement, which felt like an abyss.

“Aren’t you bored of waiting? Come out soon.”

“……”

“This is disappointing. Didn’t you say you were only going to beat me up this morning?”

“……”

Cainchel began to explain to the members as if he were an instructor.

“The rescue team is deployed in pairs. If you confirm their intrusion, you can kill the hostage, earning the hostage team 10 points.”

“Then if Sir Cainchel reports that he has found the rescue team, does that mean the Yellow’s victory ends?”

“That’s right. But then you only get 10 points and the turn is over.”

The ranking is determined by the points each team earns.

You have to get as many points as possible to be advantageous.

“In other words, for the hostage-taker team to get all the points, they have to defeat all the invading rescue teams and acquire individual points.”

If the two rescue teams that were deployed are defeated, the situation resets.

As long as the hostage isn’t killed, the rescue team gets a total of 5 chances.

“In the end, you can’t easily kill the hostage to get as many points as possible. It’s similar to reality, right?”

“Haha, that’s right.”

Cainchel looked at the darkness again and said, “I’m getting bored of waiting. Are you still thinking of coming out?”

With a grinding sound, two Black Knights members walked out.

It was the man who had picked on Cainchel that morning.

“…How did you know?”

“I can smell the onion soup you ate this morning all the way here. I made that. You were eating it so deliciously.”

“This bastard…”

Seureung- [sound of drawing a sword]

The Black Knights member drew his sword.

It’s a training sword without a blade, but a proper hit can break bones.

“You have a great sense. It’s not for nothing that you became a Meister.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Anyway, you want to get as many points as possible, so you won’t be able to kill the hostage easily. Ultimately, the team with the stronger force will win.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I am the Strider of the Black Knights, and this is the person with the next highest ranking.”

The Black Strider smiled with satisfaction.

Their strategy was simple: create a team composed of the strongest possible force, leaving a team of lower rankers as a discard. The top-ranked team breaks through the enemy’s defenses, and Kundam finally rescues the hostage.

They wouldn’t get all the points, but it was a strategy that could stably acquire at least 14 points.

“That means you two are the strongest team in the Black Knights except for Kundam. Good strategy.”

However, there was a major flaw in the Black Knights’ strategy.

Cainchel Ban Zistaad was several times stronger than he was during the status measurement before the hot season.

They didn’t even suspect he was using Fallen Star to track all the Black Knights’ movements.

Seureung- [sound of drawing a sword]

Cainchel drew his sword and quietly muttered, “Onion Swordsmanship.”

No need to swing twice.

Just one hit.

The Black Knights’ Strider and 3rd in command were hit in the head and collapsed.

@

When the first team deployed by the Black Knights failed, it was time to deploy the second team.

Kundam said, “It seems someone in the Yellow Knights is quick-witted. Black Meister, go spy on them.”

“Yes, Captain!”

So, the second strongest team and the Black Meister were deployed.

The Black Meister’s mission wasn’t to break through, but to observe from afar.

But the returning Black Meister’s face was white.

Kundam asked, “What’s wrong? Calm down and tell me.”

“…The culprit is the Yellow Meister.”

“You mean Sir Cainchel. What did he do?”

“He was waiting at the landmark they were trying to break through and defeated the team members instantly.”

Kundam narrowed his eyes.

“Let’s watch until the third team. If it’s the same situation, we may have to change our strategy.”

The captain of the knight order is the last line of defense and cannot leave his position until the end.

“Then I will deploy the third team. Please go and see exactly what is happening this time too.”

“Yes, Captain.”

The third team didn’t return either.

The Black Meister’s face was white, as if he’d had a terrible nightmare.

“M, Meister… The, the Yellow Meister again…”

“Black Meister, calm down. What are you talking about? I told you to go to a different landmark than before, didn’t I?”

“B, but even there…! H, he was waiting! With an expression that he knew where we were going to invade! Wh, what’s his identity! Wh, what is it! Besides, that, that swordsmanship! Th, th, that swordsmanship that even overwhelms the Captain, what is it!”

Kundam felt goosebumps.

They entered through a completely different route, but the same person was guarding it?

It doesn’t make sense.

It’s impossible unless he knows everything we’re going to do.

Kundam bowed his head.

Now all that’s left is a team of lower rankers.

“…I can’t give up. The fourth team is a discard anyway. Let’s aim for a place that is not a landmark at all.”

“Then isn’t that cheating?”

“You just don’t have to go to the central hall through there. It’s just to see how far the Yellow Meister can see through the Black’s movements.”

The Black Meister, who had barely calmed down, nodded.

“Good plan, Captain Kundam. If the movement is read this time too…”

Even breaking the rules, they enter a place that is not a landmark.

Can he even figure this out?

Kundam quietly bit his lip.

“Doesn’t that mean we’re dealing with a monster, not a person?”

The 4th team of the Black Knights was deployed.

Transcending Genius #3