Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 67

————– 67/203 ————–

Chapter 21: Fearsome Rookies

Percival carefully opened the jar as if it were a treasure chest.

Inside, crystals shimmered in the light.

“Doesn’t it look like a jewel?”

“Yes, it’s beautiful.”

“I call this Jewel Salt.”

Keinzel’s eyes flickered with interest.

The rabbit stew’s flavor had been elevated to another level by a very special seasoning.

Even with his four-star gourmet skill, he couldn’t identify it, leading him to believe there was some great secret ingredient.

But the truth was just salt.

Percival chuckled and took out a grain of Jewel Salt, placing it in a small mill and grinding it.

It turned into salt powder with a radiant glow.

“Would you like to taste it?”

Keinzel carefully took a very small amount of Jewel Salt with his fingertip and put it in his mouth.

“······!?”

It was a salt with a completely different taste from anything he had ever eaten.

Keinzel carefully savored the salt, using his entire tongue as if to imprint the taste on his body.

“How is it?”

“I can feel a clean, salty taste, and it’s incredibly smooth. What on earth is this subtle flavor…”

“The Jewel Salt you just tasted is the secret to the stew’s flavor. Salt plays a role in regulating the concentration of water that makes up most of the body, so it can be said to be a very important seasoning directly connected to life itself.”

Keinzel quietly nodded. Now, thanks to various merchant guilds, it is easy to obtain, but until a hundred years ago, salt was a precious seasoning traded for the same amount of silver.

As a result, nobles often exploited farmers by imposing heavy taxes on salt.

“Salt is usually harvested from the sea, isn’t it? It usually has a salty taste along with a bitter taste and a complex mix of flavors. But this salt has no such foreign substances at all. Where on earth did you get this salt?”

“Heh heh, you have a surprisingly sensitive tongue. Have you ever heard of the Emperor’s Salt?”

“I heard that the *fleur de sel* [a type of sea salt] produced in the Guérande region of Gaul is called that.”

Gordon, who had a lot of interest in the cuisine of other countries, had told him about it.

When seawater is trapped in salt pans, a thin salt film first forms on the surface of the water, then gradually grows, creating salt crystals.

The white film that floats on the water before these salt crystals form and sink is skimmed off and dried to make *fleur de sel*.

“Yes, in Gaul [ancient France], they say that only Guérande *fleur de sel* is used for dishes served on the king’s table. That’s why it’s called the Emperor’s Salt. It’s generally known as the best salt. And I accidentally discovered that there is an even better salt above that.”

Percival took out a grain of salt and placed it on his palm. Then, the crystal, which looked like a jewel, sparkled in the light.

“Have you ever seen such pure salt among the rock salt that the earth holds? That’s why I decided to call this the God of Salt: Jewel Salt.”

“God of Salt…”

It was definitely a title that he had to acknowledge.

He had tasted many salts so far, but this was the first time he had ever been overwhelmed by the taste.

No matter which cookbook he looked at, there was no mention of such salt.

Even Gordon, who was a royal chef, said that *fleur de sel* was the best salt.

The God of Salt, which brings out the flavor of ingredients to their limit.

If he were to cook with this, what kind of taste would it have?

‘If I put Lizardman meat whole into unground Jewel Salt and pickle it to make *jamón* [dry-cured Spanish ham]…’

Just imagining it made his mouth water.

“…Do you happen to have more Jewel Salt?”

“Kuh kuh. So you want this too, huh?”

“That salt is a treasure that anyone interested in cooking would want.”

“I’m sorry, but this is all I have right now.”

The Jewel Salt remaining in the jar was less than a handful.

He didn’t know how much he used to make stew, but he would use it all up soon.

As Keinzel’s face contorted in despair, Percival stroked his beard and chuckled.

“That’s the story for now.”

“Ah.”

Percival said he had obtained the Jewel Salt by chance. Maybe there was still some left there.

“You don’t have to glare at me with such a devouring look. I’ll explain it to you. Let’s see…. It was about seven years ago.”

Percival settled in Mino Territory, waiting for his lover, who had promised to return.

He opened a tavern, making use of his cooking skills learned as a mercenary, but business was not good.

In the end, Percival had to wander deep into the White Mountains every day to find ingredients to use for cooking.

Occasionally, monsters attacked, but they were no match for Percival, who wielded Aura [a type of magical energy].

Then one day, Percival discovered a very deep cave.

“Isn’t it normal to explore to the deepest part when you find such a place! Kuh kuh!”

“…”

Percival was more reckless than he had thought.

Keinzel briefly offered a silent prayer to the mercenaries who had worked under this man and listened to the story.

“It must have taken me three days to walk. The torch I brought went out, and I wouldn’t have been able to endure it if I hadn’t strengthened my eyesight with Aura. And in the deepest part of the cave, I found this treasure. At first, I thought it was a jewel. But when I put it in my mouth, it was salty! Well, I thought I’d deceive even a blind merchant and dug up a few lumps. When I put it in my cooking, it was amazing.”

Certainly, it looks exactly like a jewel.

“Then can I still go there now and mine salt?”

“That’s right. There’s still plenty of Jewel Salt left there.”

Keinzel jumped up from his seat. If he could get such a treasure, he would go there even if it was hell.

“Percival-nim! Where is that place! I can’t tell you the reason, but I need that salt! If you tell me the location, I will serve you as my benefactor for the rest of my life!”

“Benefactor? Such words are absurd. Rather, you are my benefactor. The fact that there is a survivor of Gistad Territory like this is proof that Joanna was right until the end.”

Percival downed the remaining ale in one gulp and stood up from his chair with a flushed face.

Then, he shouted with all his might towards the direction of the capital.

“Look, Aslan! There are people alive! That they were already annihilated by the undead? That it would be a dog’s death to go? If you have eyes, look closely! That is Count Ardante…, no, Joanna…!”

Keinzel bit his lip.

He had learned through Abel how he had been reported.

And he was able to obtain a copy of the report that was written about the fallen Gistad Territory.

Just one piece of parchment.

Even that was not even half filled.

Keinzel felt a chill when he saw the deaths of thousands of people expressed in that way.

It was written there that Keinzel Ban Gistad had avoided the tragedy by being away in another place.

That is not true.

He was definitely there.

As Keinzel’s face became serious, Percival scratched his head and smiled awkwardly.

“Sorry. I guess I had a lot built up over the years. Anyway, I’ll tell you where I got the Jewel Salt. But there’s one problem.”

“Did the cave collapse or something?”

“Rather, it’s the opposite. The cave that leads to the place where you can mine Jewel Salt has become bigger and stronger.”

“Could it be…, there’s a dungeon there…”

“You’ve heard the rumors, too. That’s right. A dungeon has formed using that cave as a medium.”

@

Percival-yeonggam [a respectful title for an elderly man] said that until last year, he used to go to the cave every year to mine Jewel Salt for the year.

But this year, he couldn’t do that.

Coincidentally, the core of the dungeon was dwelling in that very place, and countless monsters flocked to it.

“In the end, I can’t mine Jewel Salt unless I completely conquer the dungeon.”

A dungeon is a living labyrinth.

Entering it was a life-threatening task in itself.

The good news is that the dungeon follows the basic structure of the cave.

Of course, the scale is dozens of times larger, but as long as you know the way, it’s not difficult to get to the deepest part.

‘The problem is that there are too many interests at stake there.’

There were hundreds of mercenaries in Mino Territory alone. They were hyenas gathered to hunt for the prey called magic stones.

Could he really get to the deepest part of the dungeon safely, past them?

There is a rule that must be followed when mining magic stones.

That is, not to approach the deepest part where the core of the dungeon is located.

The core contains enormous magical power, and whoever obtains it can amass enormous wealth.

However, the dungeon that loses its core loses its power and returns to a normal cave.

If it becomes known that Keinzel is aiming for the deepest part of the dungeon, everyone here will draw their swords and rush at him.

From their point of view, it’s the same as trying to cut open the belly of a goose that lays golden eggs.

‘Percival-nim has agreed to help, but three people can’t get to the deepest part of the dungeon…. At least five people…. ‘

Suddenly, the faces of those who would be very suitable for this task came to Keinzel’s mind.

‘…Maybe an unbelievable dream team might be born.’

But they are in a place that is a ten-day ride away from here.

But Keinzel had a magic tool that could instantly make that distance zero.

“Percival-nim. I’m sorry, but I’ll borrow a room.”

“Heh heh, is that a mobile gate? You’re carrying a mansion around with you.”

If he didn’t have this, he wouldn’t be able to travel around the North so carefree.

He had done it several times, but setting up a gate was difficult.

Even a slight mistake would distort the coordinates and transfer him to a completely wrong place.

Even Zeke checked several times at this time with the eyes of a hawk to see if there was anything wrong.

“H, Hyung-nim [term for older brother or close male friend]! It’s 12 degrees northwest, not 12 degrees west-north!”

“Ah.”

“Kkeueoeoeok! If you step there…!”

For a while, the two men’s bodies became entangled, and eventually a gate was installed on the second floor of the tavern.

Zeke watched it with very uneasy eyes.

“Y, You believe me, right? Then I’ll go. Gate!”

As he recited the activation word, the stored magical power was released at once, distorting the space.

“Hou! It’s always cool to see! Then goodbye, Hyung-nim. I’ll peel some garlic or something.”

“Where are you running off to? Come this way.”

“Ah, Ahaha! I guess I’m a little motion sick from space-time magic…”

Keinzel smiled and grabbed Zeke by the collar. Then, he threw himself into the open gate in one go.

The space in front of him seemed to distort, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the mansion where Count Well-ride was staying.

“U, Uwaaaeaeaeaeek…”

Zeke didn’t seem to be used to space-time magic yet. He buried his head in the chamber pot in the corner of the room and vomited.

An item prepared by the butler, Brad, for Zeke.

A warm breeze, incomparable to that of the North, blew through the open window.

Only then did Keinzel realize that he had returned to Citizen.

Count Well-ride, who had been waiting in the room, said.

“You’re two hours later than scheduled. So, did you arrive safely at the Gistad Territory you were aiming for?”

“I wish I could run right away, but I have a lot of things to take care of.”

“Hmm. It’s the same here. Keinzel-kyoung [a formal title]. A very big problem has arisen.”

Keinzel swallowed hard.

He had a mountain of problems left in the North.

But what, a very big problem has arisen?

At this rate, even two bodies wouldn’t be enough.

Fearsome Rookies #2