Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 179

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55. The Secret of the Akard Empire

Elizabeth had taken care of more than half of the Tartaros, and the knights were putting up a good fight.

However, the battle wasn’t over until all the remaining Tartaros were dealt with.

Kainchel, who had defeated the boss using Blood Drain, immediately leaped into the air.

A bat landed on his shoulder.

It was Leman, sent to observe the situation.

A bat that could fly through the sky and use ultrasound was the best scout.

“What’s the extent of our casualties so far?”

“There are quite a few with minor injuries, but fortunately, none are life-threatening!”

Even though they were tasked with rescuing survivors and containing the enemy, rather than annihilating them, it was still a remarkable feat.

Meringue, which blocked a fatal blow, was like having two lives.

‘Moreover, if I use Onion Swordsmanship to increase the amount of Meringue, the amount of aura consumed isn’t too burdensome. I should use it often in the future.’

Aura Blade Signature, which maximizes the power of cooking skills.

At first, he wondered what it was, but the more he used it, the more appealing it became.

Leman continued to report on the situation.

“There are 8 Tartaros remaining, and their locations are…”

It was fewer than he had expected.

The knights of Potsdam seemed to have fought better than he thought.

Kainchel decided to test a new cooking skill he had acquired here.

He created a flambé flame in his palm and wrapped it in aura.

This way, the heat wouldn’t be felt until it received a certain amount of impact.

Among foreign cuisines, there is a technique of lightly searing the surface of raw fish or meat.

Kainchel named the technique after that.

“Tataki!”

Then, many spheres containing blazing fire were created.

This alone wouldn’t be enough to defeat them.

However, if their bodies caught fire, their movements would be restricted, and it would also serve as a signal flare for an attack.

“The effects of the Sea Pie will soon wear off. We need to finish everything before that happens.”

As the installation of Tataki was completed, flames soared simultaneously from various parts of Potsdam.

“What is it?! Did someone set fire to the territory again?”

“No! Only the monsters are on fire!”

“Oh, ho! So, we don’t have to worry about a surprise attack. Then, let’s launch a full-scale attack! From Squad 1 to 3, those who still have bubbles on their bodies, join in!”

It wasn’t just the knights who were burning with fighting spirit.

Elizabeth, who had been yawning with a bored expression in the central square, sparkled her eyes.

“Ahaha! I wondered where they were hiding, but they were over there. Since there are no Tartaros left near here anyway, it’s okay to leave my post for a while, right?”

Black mist poured out of Elizabeth’s body.

It was the Aura Blade she had stolen from Walter.

Its destructive power was far below that of the Light Wings.

However, it could only attack the desired target, making it useful for assassinations or battles within the territory.

“Then, shall we go on a rampage tonight! Then, the kid’s cooking will taste even better, right?”

Kuaaa!

The black mist covered the Tartaros. Within it, even the strongest monsters were restricted in their movements.

And a streak of light shot out from Elizabeth’s waist.

The pure white aura-wielding blade mercilessly sliced the Tartaros’s body in an instant.

Only a pool of blood remained where the black mist had cleared.

@

“Onion Swordsmanship!”

Kainchel swung his sword at the last remaining Tartaros.

The body, nicely grilled by Tataki, was cut into bite-sized pieces.

Of course, he didn’t have the slightest desire to eat it.

In the end, the only bosses discovered were the two that Kainchel had defeated.

‘It seems Adolf went to conquer other territories with him.’

Soon, all the lords would kneel before Adolf, who possessed overwhelming power.

However, Phiedel’s counterattack was only just beginning.

The soldiers cheered as they saw Kainchel easily defeat the Tartaros.

“Wow!”

“We won!”

“Long live Captain Kainchel!”

“Long live His Highness Phiedel!”

Elizabeth, who had approached Kainchel, let out a sigh full of dissatisfaction.

“Tch, why are they calling out the name of Phiedel, who didn’t do anything? At this rate, it’s like the Seven Deadly Sins War…”

“A focal point is needed for people who are scattered to gather together. By the way, is there any hidden story in the Seven Deadly Sins War?”

Then, Elizabeth avoided Kainchel’s gaze, unlike her usual self.

“…I’ll tell you about it soon. The kid deserves to hear it.”

Hearing the news of the victory, Marquis Nicholas shed tears of emotion and grabbed Kainchel’s hand.

“This victory is all thanks to Duke Kainchel’s efforts. I don’t know how to repay you…”

“When the civil war ends, wheat and barley will grow again in the burned land. I heard that the wheat from Potsdam is very fragrant and delicious when baked into bread. I would like to receive a little of that.”

Marquis Nicholas burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahaha! I didn’t know that Potsdam’s wheat was famous even in Britannia. Anyway, wheat… That seems a little insufficient. Anyway, I swear on the honor of the Nicholas family that I will repay this favor.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Although it had suffered a lot of damage, Potsdam was returned to its original owner.

The group, who had ended the recapture battle in victory, gathered at the Nicholas family’s mansion instead of the half-collapsed Potsdam Castle.

The first to speak was Phiedel.

“This is a precious victory gained through the efforts of our benefactor and Lady Elizabeth. But it also holds great significance.”

“That’s right. People fear the unknown, but if there is a way to win, they will resist by any means.”

“As expected of a hero of the Seven Deadly Sins War, that’s an accurate analysis. The balance, which had been overwhelmingly tilted towards Adolf, has begun to be balanced with the participation of the two of you. Soon, nobles who feel repulsed by Adolf’s tyranny will come under my banner.”

Phiedel said that and scratched his head as if he were embarrassed.

“By the way, about the Sea Pie that our benefactor made. May I ask you to continue making it in the future?”

Kainchel’s cooking allows even soldiers who cannot handle aura to exert tremendous power.

That is necessary to lead the future war situation favorably.

“I can make it for you, but I don’t have much ingredients left.”

“I will provide you with as much meat as you want. Beef, pork, chicken, duck, just tell me!”

Kainchel whispered the identity of the meat that went into the ‘Sea Pie’ into Phiedel’s ear.

“That’s actually Sand Worm meat.”

“Excuse me? Did I hear you wrong?”

“To be exact, it’s Giant Sand Worm meat. Other Sand Worms wouldn’t have such a tremendous effect.”

The Giant Sand Worm, which is 10 times the size of a normal Sand Worm.

It was a monster treated as a natural disaster even in the Ottoman Empire, where they enjoyed eating Sand Worm meat.

“…Are you saying it’s a dish containing the energy of a monster?”

“That’s right.”

“Goodness… Then, Dragon meat too…”

He shocked them by drinking poison like water, and now he’s making dishes containing the energy of monsters.

He was a man whose limits could not be guessed.

However, even Kainchel, who had a high cooking level, could not increase the insufficient ingredients.

‘Who would have known that I would eat almost all of that huge Giant Sand Worm in two months?’

The dwarves living in Gistad Territory had tremendous appetites. The Sand Worm meat, which he thought he would never be able to eat all his life, was now running out.

Thanks to that, he was able to raise his poison resistance a lot, but he couldn’t help but feel disappointed.

“But surely Griffons were also monsters, right? Could we ask a lord who owns flying troops to obtain that meat?”

Then, a low groan flowed from Phiedel’s mouth.

The flying troops riding Griffons were a symbol of Deutschland [Germany].

How could the royal family’s crest be a Griffon?

To the flying troops, Griffons are not just horses to ride. They are partners who spend their entire lives together.

How many people would be able to eat with a smile if they revealed that it was Griffon meat?

“…But, that’s the same with Sand Worm meat. I understand. I’ll try to find out.”

Kainchel’s eyes lit up.

What kind of taste would Griffon meat have? He was itching to cook right now.

Flap-!

Richard von Fremang, who was sitting on Kainchel’s shoulder, flapped his wings.

He seemed to have something to say.

“My lord! Do you perhaps need monster meat?”

“Of course, I need it.”

“Then I know a place.”

“If you’re talking about wild Griffons, I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to go catch them.”

Many wild Griffons live in the plains of Deutschland. Kainchel had also fought them before.

“No, it’s not. And there’s no need to hunt. It’s literally a monster farm!”

“Farm…?”

Could it be that there is someone other than Kainchel who cooks and eats monsters?

The answer that came from Leman’s mouth made Marquis Nicholas, who was sitting in his seat, stand up.

“There’s a guy among my kind who has a very unique taste. He only drinks the blood of monsters, not humans. So, he created his own farm in a place not far from here!”

Vampires only eat blood. In the end, impure substances such as meat remain.

If he could get that, Kainchel’s monster cooking would advance to the next level.

‘……To think I’d find a clue to improve my cooking skills in a place like this.’

Moreover, the monster farm is said to be close to Potsdam.

Marquis Nicholas muttered with a shocked face.

“A, a monster farm near Potsdam? Where on earth…?”

“It’s Vlad County.”

Then, even Phiedel screamed.

“There’s a vampire living there?! No, in the first place, that’s not even a territory!”

Kainchel grabbed Leman’s wings with both hands and pulled them, asking.

“That’s right. I also know what Vlad County is. That’s Vlad the Great’s tomb.”

“That’s right! That’s where it is!”

“……”

Vlad the Great was a hero who helped the first emperor of Akard establish the empire.

The emperor honored him by naming the place where Vlad the Great was buried as the Grand Duchy.

That has been going on for nearly a thousand years.

‘Of course, the tomb is quite large. It’s about the size of a mansion. But to raise large monsters, it has to be at least the size of a territory.’

When no one believed him, Leman flew around the room as if he was wronged.

“Prince Phiedel! Do you perhaps know Vlad the Great’s full name?”

“…I only know that the national name of the Akardalucard Empire was named after the hero Count Vlad.”

“It’s Dracula!”

It was the name with the letters of the Akard Empire reversed. Phiedel’s eyes burned hotly.

“Are you saying that Vlad the Great is a vampire? If there is even a grain of falsehood in that statement, I will not forgive you, even if you are the benefactor’s subordinate!”

“I’m wronged! It’s true!”

In the end, Kainchel stepped forward.

“Your Highness, Leman’s words make sense. He has been running an underground auction house in the darkness of Britannia for hundreds of years. Perhaps the same thing happened here.”

“…I understand. Then, let’s go to Vlad County for now. But if Vlad the Great has been hiding and living for a thousand years, he won’t easily hand over what we want.”

Then, Leman shouted in a strangely cheerful voice.

“It’s okay! The blood dishes that my lord makes are the best! Even Grandpa Dracula will become a prisoner if he eats just one bite!”

The Secret of the Akard Empire #2