Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 37

Kainchel realized that the composition of Rescue Team 1 was a strategy to create a discard pawn. He thought, ‘The opponent made a bad move.’

Thanks to Fallen Star’s performance, Kainchel alone could face all the enemies.

‘In other words, the Black Knights’ hand is getting weaker, but the Yellow Knights can continue to send out strong hands.’ He mused. ‘They are no match for each other.’

The Black Knights used about 10 minutes each time to check the situation.

‘But that caution gave me the leeway to use Fallen Star,’ Kainchel thought. “Fallen Star!”

Kainchel moved around the landmarks, checking where Rescue Team 4 would infiltrate.

However, a considerable amount of infiltration time had already passed.

No hostility from the Black Thorns was felt at any landmark.

‘They can’t erase their hostility towards me this quickly. Then there are only two possibilities,’ he reasoned.

They either gave up infiltrating or were using a completely different route.

Rescue training is different from actual combat.

Unless they infiltrate through the predetermined landmarks, they won’t earn points even if they rescue the hostages.

‘In the end, that means they’re using the discard pawn as a truly disposable piece,’ Kainchel concluded.

They are used as pawns to learn about the opponent’s strength, deprived of even a handful of possibilities to score points.

It tasted bitter.

As a below-average student, Kainchel was often assigned the role of a discard pawn in rescue training.

A mission where it is impossible to earn points.

‘It’s the same as the level that didn’t rise no matter how hard I swung my sword,’ he thought with a sigh.

‘There’s no way that nice Kundam would have suggested creating a discard pawn. The Black Meister [Meister translates to Master in German, here referring to a strategist or tactician] must be the culprit. If he wants to see Fallen Star’s abilities that badly, should I give him what he wants?’

Kainchel expanded his range of movement not only between landmarks but throughout the entire castle.

The castle, which had been neglected for decades, was the perfect place for rescue training.

He moved leisurely, as if taking a walk.

However, in less than 30 minutes, he was able to find Rescue Team 4.

They were crouching and hiding on the garden-side balcony, invisible from inside the castle.

Kainchel slowly walked towards them and said.

“It’s a spooky castle, like living armor might appear, right?”

Of course, there was no answer.

However, Kainchel quietly continued.

“But isn’t it hard to hide? Are you eating well?”

The time was well past lunchtime.

As it is outdoor training, combat rations are supplied, but most of them are tasteless dried potatoes or jerky.

This is a very important issue for Kainchel, who needs to cook to strengthen his swordsmanship.

“······!”

He could feel the embarrassment beyond the wall.

Kainchel licked his lips. ‘It seems like I won’t be able to get an answer.’

Another hostility was felt on the opposite balcony.

‘Is the Black Meister moving directly to observe the situation?’

‘A guy I don’t like.’

‘Did he ever think about how the person who became a discard pawn felt, even for a moment?’

Suddenly, a great line came to mind that would make the Black Meister’s heart drop.

Kainchel slowly approached the wall and leaned against it.

On the other side, the Black Meister would be listening to check the situation.

He whispered to him in a very small voice.

“Tell the Captain to come himself, Black Meister.”

Thud!

He heard something hanging on the balcony falling.

@

“Mo, mo, mo, monster! Monster······!”

The Black Meister muttered with a dazed expression.

He doesn’t look like he can give a proper answer.

Kundam sighed.

“It seems that what we were dealing with was really a monster.”

From the beginning, Kundam was reluctant to use a discard pawn, even for the team’s victory.

He had no choice but to accept it because the Black Meister strongly insisted.

“With this, the Yellow Knights have earned almost all the points they can get.”

All that remains are the 10 points that can be obtained by defending the hostages until the end and the 2 points held by Kundam and the Black Meister.

The time for Rescue Team 5 to enter is approaching.

It will be difficult to defend the points they have with the Black Meister in that state.

“But as long as the Captain remains, we have not lost yet.”

If the Strider is the weapon of the Knights and the Meister is the head, then the Captain is the heart.

He took out the Joma Mirror [A magical item used to assess a person’s stats and abilities] he was wearing around his neck and looked at it for a moment.

[Kundam – Lv35]

And a status specialized in wielding a sword.

Expert Swordsmanship 10 Stars and Intermediate Swordsmanship 7 Stars, which are rare even in the Chevalier class [A rank or class within the Knights Order].

In addition, a genius of the sword who has mastered four rising sword techniques.

“I am confident in my swordsmanship, if nothing else.”

Kundam sat the half-crazed Black Meister in a chair and stood up.

A few days ago, there was a huge event at the Stanis Training Center.

A duel between Kundam, the current Rookie Rank 1, and Vincent, the current Chevalier Rank 1.

The two people’s swordsmanship levels were the same, as if they had been planned.

However, Vincent’s overall stats are much higher.

Spectators thought Vincent would win even without using an Aura Sword.

However, swordsmanship is not just about the numbers on the Joma Mirror.

Dynamic visual acuity to capture the opponent’s movements. An eye for measuring distance. Even the sense to read the opponent’s thoughts.

Kundam had it all.

The result was a draw.

The two shook hands and praised each other’s skills.

Vincent told Kundam to visit the Sven Marquis family anytime.

It was a scout offer.

However, Kundam smiled and refused. It was because he had already decided on a teacher.

Vincent clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

Kundam thought of Tristan, one of the Seven Virtues and a Swordmaster of Loyalty.

Tristan, who discovered Kundam’s talent for swordsmanship when he was a hunter, led him to the path of a knight.

It was thanks to Tristan’s strong recommendation that Kundam, a commoner, was able to enter the Knights Training Center.

And in just half a year, Kundam proved that he was a genius of the sword.

To Kundam, Tristan was a brother, a father, and a teacher.

“······I can’t lose in a place like this, even for the sake of my teacher who took me as his disciple.”

Kundam’s eyes burned with fighting spirit.

He slowly walked to the nearest landmark.

But there was no one guarding it.

In the end, Kundam was able to enter the central hall without any resistance.

All of the Yellow Knights who had disappeared were gathered there.

“Are you all here?”

The figure of Kainchel of the Yellow Knights came into Kundam’s eyes.

‘This must also be part of the Yellow Meister’s plan.’

“What’s going on? If even one rescue team member enters the central hall, you can no longer kill the hostages.”

Kainchel shrugged and replied.

“From the beginning, we had no intention of killing the hostages. Our goal is to acquire all the points held by the Black Knights. Now, all that’s left is Captain Kundam. If we just defeat you, we can get all the hostage defense points, so there’s no need to wait outside with difficulty.”

Kainchel raised one corner of his mouth, taking care to look as evil as possible.

Of course, what he just said was a complete lie.

The truth is that Kundam, who is an incredibly nice guy, did not harbor hostility towards him.

‘Fallen Star is a skill that detects the opponent’s hostility. But there’s no need to tell him that fact on purpose, right?’

Rescue training is conducted once more with roles reversed.

There is no need to reveal the weakness that Kundam’s movements cannot be read.

There are 3 people defending the central hall, including the captain.

However, since all of the Yellow Knights had points, anyone could participate.

‘The hide-and-seek is over. In the end, the sword is what will determine the final victory.’

Captain Abel of the Yellow Knights slowly walked to the center of the hall.

And he winked at Kainchel as if thanking him for giving him the order.

Captain Abel and Captain Kundam faced each other and paid their respects as knights.

“I am honored to be able to fight like this.”

“I hope we have a good match.”

The first to attack was Abel. He stepped forward and swung his sword.

What was emitted were three blades.

Kundam avoided it so easily by taking a small step back.

“Amazing. Is that the Enatos Xiphos, the rising sword technique passed down in the Carters family? It really feels like three swords are attacking at the same time.”

Abel’s fingertips trembled. How could he avoid a full-force attack so easily?

He picked up the sword because he didn’t want to lose to his brother Cain.

He wanted to prove that he also inherited the blood of Carters.

He thought that if he defeated Kundam, who is called a genius of the sword, his father would look at him.

But what is this overwhelming difference in skill?

He was Rookie Ranking 2nd. He thought he could reach Kundam if he reached out his hand······.

Kundam raised his sword and rushed towards Abel.

“This time, I’ll go first. Impact!”

A strong sword impact that concentrates all the power contained in the sword into one point!

Abel gritted his teeth and raised his sword.

Clang-!

Kundam’s eyes widened.

“It was an attack that I stabbed with the intention of blowing away the sword. But to think you’re still holding the sword. That’s a really great will.”

Not sarcasm, but pure admiration.

Knowing that fact made Abel even more desperate.

“I, I’m like this······.”

Abel was barely holding the sword.

However, his fingers are twisted in strange directions.

He won’t be able to block the next attack with this.

Even if he loses, there are still two entries left in the Yellow Knights.

However, Abel didn’t want Kainchel to lose the points he had carefully collected because of him.

And there was only one way to prevent that.

Abel took a breath and put his sword away.

Blood dripped from his torn palm.

Kundam tilted his head.

“Are you surrendering? In this case, I will get the points.”

Abel raised his left hand and gestured to wait a moment. And he approached Kainchel.

“Kainchel······. I was going to hide it, but I’m not stupid either. Since when did you get so strong?”

“······.”

“If you fight Kundam like this, you’ll lose. I think the next entry is Kainchel, so I think you’ll do something about it, but I want to get all the points if possible. Right? So, Kainchel. Take my heart.”

Tears welled up in Abel’s eyes and flowed down his chin.

Frustration at not being able to beat Kundam. Tears that melted away all his powerlessness.

Kainchel quietly nodded. He knew what Abel wanted to say.

Abel declared.

“From now on, the captain of the Yellow Knights is Kainchel. Therefore, all my authority up to now will be transferred to Captain Kainchel.”

Then the Yellow Knights members buzzed.

“What are you talking about? Suddenly changing the captain?”

“Surely the captain is the strongest person in the Knights······.”

The member stopped talking and looked at Kainchel.

No one could deny it.

Surely at this moment, the strongest in the Yellow Knights was Kainchel Van Zistad.

“Th, then what happens to the duel with Captain Kundam?”

Abel wiped away his tears and said.

“Kainchel will take over that from now on as well.”

Only then did the members realize why Abel had transferred the captain to Kainchel.

If they fight like this, they will lose the match against Kundam. They will lose their precious points.

Abel, who could not give up on that, used the last resort.

Yellow Meister Kainchel······.

No, Captain Kainchel grabbed Abel’s trembling shoulder tightly.

“I received it like this, so I can’t lose no matter what.”

“······Don’t lose.”

“I know. I wanted to surpass the genius of the sword once.”

Transcending Genius #4