Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 143

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There were many late-stage talents who claimed they would soon become Sword Masters.

However, it was rare for a Sword Master to say such a thing directly.

No, it almost never happened.

“Did you hear? Lady Elizabeth clearly said that young knight has the qualities of a Sword Master…”

“I have ears too. But is that such a big deal?”

“A free knight with no affiliation becoming a Sword Master! This is unprecedented!”

As he said, all of the Seven Virtues were affiliated with someone or something. Of course, most of them were leaders.

Commanders of the military, captains of the Knights of the Grand Cross, heads of martial arts families, and so on.

Elizabeth, who always lived true to her desires, was also the leader of a martial arts organization called the Tower of Martial Arts.

But now it was said that a Sword Master from a free knight background, unaffiliated with anyone, would appear.

Those who heard it all had the same thought.

If they could get Cainchel van Jistad on their side, they could stand at the center of the storm!

A prime example was Count Alejandro Auguste von Algedi.

By taking Meliot as his son-in-law, he was enjoying power close to that of a Grand Duke.

The nobles sitting in the VIP seats rushed to Cainchel.

They seemed to want to get on the good side of the suddenly appearing prospective Sword Master at any cost.

“Sir Cainchel, I am Von Algrec, the head of the Vinzgau barony. I would like to formally invite you to a ball in my territory. If you give me your contact information, I will send you a formal invitation…”

“I was impressed by your valiant performance in the duel with the Sword Master. If you don’t mind, how about having a cup of tea and a sincere conversation?”

In addition, even nobles whose names were well-known were making courtship-like remarks to Cainchel.

Suddenly, so many people crowded around that it was impossible to even leave the auction house.

“I apologize, but I sustained injuries from the duel just now. I would like to get treatment first.”

Only then did the nobles notice the many sword cuts on Cainchel’s body and step back.

“Haha… Then can we meet again after you finish treatment? I’ll be waiting here.”

As the old hyenas retreated, noble young ladies flocked in this time.

Most of them had come to the auction house to buy rare jewels.

“Nice to meet you, Sir Cainchel. I enjoyed the duel just now. My heart is breaking at the news that you’re injured… If you come with me, I’ll bandage you up.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to receive treatment from a proper priest than that? I know a priest in Edinburgh very well.”

Thus, girls wearing dresses that revealed the contours of their bodies clung to Cainchel.

Soft hands grabbed Cainchel’s wrist, and the strong perfume scent emanating from their bodies was enough to make him dizzy.

Cainchel frowned at the feeling of his nose going numb.

‘…This is why chefs don’t wear perfume.’

He had met many beautiful women so far, but this was the first time he had received such a physical onslaught.

They were also desperate.

Treating the injuries of a young knight who would become a Sword Master.

If they could create even a small connection in that way, they thought it would surely help their families.

It was Elizabeth who saved Cainchel, the same Elizabeth who had just crossed swords with him.

“Get lost.”

“E, Elizabeth-nim? What did you just say…”

“Can’t you hear me? I said get lost.”

“S, s, sorry!”

The young ladies, overwhelmed by the Sword Master’s aura, sobbed and disappeared somewhere.

Elizabeth then spoke to the old hyenas who were taking a step back and observing the situation.

“My business isn’t finished yet, so don’t bother me and do your jobs. And if you follow me unnecessarily, I’ll have a conflict with you this time.”

And she grabbed Cainchel’s arm and took him to the private waiting room.

It was a space that Richard had prepared for her.

Perhaps because she had given a stern warning in advance, no one dared to follow them.

@

“Kid, we can talk quietly here. Here, Draupnir [a magical ring that replicates itself] as promised.”

“Thank you for saving me. I would have suffered for a while if Elizabeth-nim hadn’t pulled me out.”

At that, Elizabeth widened her eyes for a moment and then furrowed her brow deeply.

“Who said I saved a greenhorn like you? Ah, are you perhaps talking about just now?”

“Yes.”

“That’s because my business wasn’t finished yet. Don’t misunderstand it in a strange way.”

Elizabeth suddenly felt hot, as if she was feeling the heat, and fanned herself with her palm.

And she walked around the room for a while.

“Hmph, still, the brat knows basic etiquette.”

She seemed strangely pleased.

Grumble!

At that moment, a cheerful sound echoed from Elizabeth’s stomach.

It seemed she hadn’t eaten properly because she was engrossed in the auction.

‘Even Sword Masters go hungry. I’ve also obtained Draupnir, so shall I do a little service for a while?’

“If you’re hungry, shall I bake the butter potatoes I mentioned during the duel earlier?”

“Oh? Really? How long will it take?”

“It’ll be done soon.”

Elizabeth nodded as if she had been waiting for it.

The reason she brought Cainchel here was also to have him cook.

A man with a cooking level as high as 6 stars.

How delicious would the potatoes he baked himself be?

“Wait a minute. You said you needed a bonfire, right? I’ll light a fire here.”

Elizabeth spun her arm around and tried to emit aura containing flames.

“…The potatoes can be baked in the kitchen, though.”

“Ah, is that so? Ahahaha!”

She was a woman who seemed like she would burn down the entire waiting room if left alone. Cainchel hurriedly ran to the kitchen.

A short while later, Cainchel returned with butter potatoes steaming in his hand.

“Wild butter potatoes baked over a bonfire are also delicious, but this time I steamed them in a steamer.”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

When she cut the salted and steamed potato in half, hot steam rose.

And the pure white flesh that revealed itself.

The aroma that wafted from it was so appetizing that Elizabeth had to clutch her rumbling stomach again.

The potatoes were so soft that they crumbled with just a slight touch.

She placed plenty of butter on it and brought it to her mouth.

“…Hwa! What is this? It’s delicious? So what I saw was real.”

Elizabeth widened her eyes and repeatedly said it was delicious.

It was so hot that breath escaped instead of words, but that made the softness even more noticeable.

As the butter melted from the heat of the potato and soaked in, the salty and savory taste became even stronger.

It was just steamed potatoes with butter on top.

It was a simple dish that even Elizabeth, who had never held a kitchen knife in her life, could make.

But it was surprisingly delicious.

Before she knew it, Elizabeth, who had eaten all the butter potatoes, muttered.

“These are the most delicious potatoes I’ve ever had.”

“Would you like another one?”

“No, bring me everything you’ve made.”

“…I steamed about twenty, would that be okay?”

“Yeah! I can eat them all!”

It seemed that Cainchel’s butter potatoes really pleased her.

In the end, Elizabeth ate all the potatoes that were piled up like a mountain.

And she patted her bulging stomach and said.

“You make delicious butter potatoes, and you’re good at swordsmanship. Hmm. Will you marry me?”

“…Did I hear you wrong?”

“Ah, sorry. I meant to say disciple, but I accidentally misspoke.”

She chuckled and waved her hand to fan herself.

And she sat down next to Cainchel with a thud.

No matter how you looked at it, there was an atmosphere that made it feel like what she had just said was sincere.

“Draupnir has the ability to most reliably seal the power of a Sword Master among the relics of the mythical era. The fact that you need it means you’re going to fight another Sword Master, right?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Stop pretending. Don’t worry. After all, Tristan is the only one among the Seven Virtues who has a sense of camaraderie. Who cares what happens to the rest.”

Elizabeth licked the butter remaining on the plate and said.

“Hmm! Still delicious! I wasn’t kidding about what I said just now, so if you need my help, come to the Tower of Martial Arts anytime. I’m usually there.”

How should he take this?

Before he knew it, something was starting to move fiercely around Cainchel.

Elizabeth smiled and said.

“But there’s a condition.”

“A condition?”

“I’ll tell you that then.”

It was as if she was sure that Cainchel would definitely come to the Tower of Martial Arts.

@

A small village on the outskirts of Krolltra.

There, Zeke, who had been waiting, spotted Cainchel and waved his hand.

“Hyung-nim [term of endearment for older brother or male friend]! Why are you so late! Oh? Abel hyung-nim came with you too?”

As if he didn’t like the title of hyung-nim, Abel glared at Zeke for a while.

But Zeke wasn’t one to change his way of speaking that easily.

Zeke got up from his seat with a long yawn. It was a return that was three days later than planned.

Now, he had to find the dish needed to return Meliot, who had become a Berserker, to normal.

Zeke’s eyes widened as he looked at the bat sitting on Cainchel’s shoulder.

“Hyung-nim, isn’t that a bat on your shoulder?”

Then, dozens of bats appeared from somewhere and merged into one.

Zeke screamed as he watched the bat transform into a handsome man.

“…Va, vampire?!”

Reman bowed with a refreshing smile.

“I am Richard von Freremang, who has become the master’s servant this time. Let’s get along well as fellow retainers.”

“Se, servant?”

“I heard that you were also hired by the master.”

“That’s true, but… calling me a servant is a bit… By the way, can vampire hyung-nim turn into mist and sneak in anywhere?”

“Hehe. In addition, although there are some restrictions, I can also see through people’s minds with my mystic eyes.”

“Hoo! We’re really going to be the best partners!”

Zeke and Reman, as those who worked in similar fields, quickly became close.

Before they knew it, they were shoulder to shoulder.

The group, sitting across from the old table, began to talk in earnest.

“I’ll tell you what I’ve investigated so far. I couldn’t find out the whereabouts of Lucia Auguste von Algedi after all.”

Perhaps a week wasn’t enough time after all.

Zeke shook his head.

“No. I probably wouldn’t have found out even if I had more time. First of all, the premise was wrong from the start. Meliot’s engagement to Lucia was twenty years ago from now.”

“Wait a minute. Then how old is Lucia now?”

“…If she’s alive, she’s probably over forty.”

The age of the assassin who had transformed into Lucia seemed to be in her late 20s at most.

But Lucia was born decades ago?

Zeke continued the story in a heavy voice.

“Miss Lucia was said to have been particularly fond of flowers, so much so that she had a large flower garden in the wide garden. But that was only until twenty years ago. After Meliot’s engagement, a gardener has never entered Krolltra Castle even once.”

“That could be…”

“Hyung-nim is probably right. Algedi Count’s daughter Lucia is highly likely to be dead. A long time ago.”

“If you think about it that way, there’s something strange. Meliot wasn’t a Berserker until he participated in the Seven Deadly Sins War, was he?”

That meant that he had lived as Algedi’s right-hand man for nearly ten years after Lucia’s death.

“I don’t know about that either. It’s too long ago and the security is too tight, so I couldn’t find out more than this.”

It seemed that the pride of the detective had been damaged while investigating this case.

No matter how good Zeke was at investigation and infiltration, he couldn’t find out about things from decades ago.

“But we can do it with our vampire hyung-nim’s ability! Even if it’s something from decades ago, if we look through the memories of someone who has lived since then, we can definitely find some clues!”

Reman nodded with a triumphant face.

“That’s right!”

“Three days. Please give me three more days. What tragedy happened in Krolltra territory? Why Meliot became a Berserker? I’ll find out everything!”

Zeke struck his chest with a very confident expression.

Thus, the first investigation announcing the birth of the Zeke and Reman duo began.

Chicken Soup for the Soul #1