Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 241

The processed meat Zhaime made caused a huge sensation in the Ottoman Empire.

Putting a large-cut steak directly into his mouth, he could feel the rich juice.

“Good heavens… The moment it enters my mouth, the meat literally melts away. Besides, the sauce on the side is really sweet and delicious. Who would have thought beef could be so delicious?”

In particular, the rich, oily taste that came out as he chewed was something he had never experienced before.

Moreover, the potatoes fried in the oil left over from grilling the meat were also a work of art. The unique savory taste of beef permeated the fluffy potatoes, making him want to keep eating them.

Zhaime’s strategy was thoroughly focused on promoting the appeal of beef.

Usually, he would present customers with a sirloin steak rich in juice, drizzled with sweet port sauce.

However, Zhaime judged that he could not capture the taste of the upper class with that alone.

So, he prepared a beef tongue steak with a rich, tender taste and tremendous flavor, and…

“Chef Zhaime, what part is this? The beef tongue steak I had the other day was delicious, but this is literally fantastic.”

“That’s called Chateaubriand steak. It’s made by slicing a whole tenderloin, of which only 4 servings can be obtained from one cow.”

The finest tenderloin steak was a very popular menu item in Galia as well.

It is the most tender of all beef and has a rich juice, making it perfect for steak.

In addition, tumbling and injection were used to supplement the lacking taste and marbling.

Perhaps that’s why it was exuding such tremendous flavor.

The sauce used there was made with demi-glace [a rich brown sauce] as a base, along with white wine, minced onions, mushrooms, thyme, and bay leaves.

It could be said that it was the dish Zhaime was most confident in.

The Horus tribe leader, who was watching, nodded with a satisfied face.

“Thanks to Chef Zhaime, the pro-beef faction is growing at a tremendous rate. If we continue like this, I think it’s entirely possible to beat pork.”

“…By the way, have you ever had Chimaek [Korean fried chicken and beer]?”

“It was certainly amazing to be able to drink cool beer in this desert. But, isn’t chicken a common food even if you just go to the Tuscan Allied Nations? In my opinion, Chef Zhaime’s processed meat steak looks much more amazing.”

“You flatter me. But why are you still pushing beef even though Muhammad is dead? It’s nice for me to be able to compete with Chef Cainchel’s cooking skills, but at this rate, the Horus tribe will go bankrupt.”

“Hmm…”

The Horus tribe leader closed his mouth and pondered. He seemed to be wondering how much he should tell Zhaime.

However, the two were already in the same boat. He couldn’t hide it any longer.

“Maybe the meat war isn’t just a battle of pride.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know the details either. However, I received a report through a secretly planted spy that death will befall the unchosen minority.”

“…Are you saying that the lives of countless small and medium-sized tribes who eat beef in my dishes are at stake?”

When the Horus tribe leader nodded silently, Zhaime’s face turned white.

If he had known that fact, his hands would have trembled and he would not have been able to grill the meat properly.

“…!”

At that moment, a huge fact flashed through Zhaime’s mind.

The Ottoman has been constantly divided between pork and beef for hundreds of years. It is virtually impossible to reduce the minority to zero now.

However, if it is chicken, which can be said to be a third force, the story is different.

Anyone can enjoy it, regardless of religion or belief.

If Chimaek spreads widely throughout the Ottoman Empire, the end of the meat war may come in a true sense.

“Could it be that he knows this fact and is cooking chicken…”

Zhaime’s eyes widened as he realized Cainchel’s plan. As expected, it was an idea worthy of a man who became a hero of Britannia with a single dish.

But is that really possible?

Chimaek, which is eating cool beer with fried chicken, is definitely an attractive food. However, it was not a completely new dish, just a change in the way of eating.

There are only about 10 days left now.

To spread Chimaek throughout the Ottoman Empire in that short amount of time, something more revolutionary was needed.

At that time, a man who appeared to be a bodyguard came into the room. And he started reporting with a look on his face that what was coming had come.

“As the tribe leader said, a dwarf who sells Chimaek has finally come to our tribe. But what kind of magic did he use to get those stubborn dwarves to cooperate?”

In the Ottoman Empire, humans and dwarves have a symbiotic relationship.

The dwarves handed over the exclusive rights to iron mined from the mines in exchange for the right to trade anywhere.

Zhaime nodded.

“We won’t know unless we ask them directly.”

“Anyway, if he’s calculating and moving that far, he’s a really scary man. Anyway, Chimaek, which is eating beer and fried chicken together, is an attractive food. But the Horus tribe is already used to Chef Zhaime’s beef steak. It won’t be able to gain support unless it’s really delicious.”

“But, you know what? Maybe Chef Cainchel is drawing an even bigger picture than that.”

“…What are you talking about?”

Zhaime’s eyes lit up. He did not miss the bright red sauce on the bodyguard’s lips.

* * *

Crispy and moist fried chicken goes unbelievably well with beer.

However, no matter how delicious the food is, it is difficult to satisfy everyone’s taste with just one flavor.

“The chicken is definitely friendly and the dwarf is delicious. I wish it was a little spicier.”

“Hey, you’re saying the complete opposite now. What are you going to do if you drink a glass of beer? Anyway, I agree with your opinion.”

In the Ottoman Empire, they enjoy spicy and stimulating foods with plenty of spices and chili peppers to forget the heat.

Perhaps that’s why there were quite a few people who were not satisfied with just fried chicken.

So Cainchel added specially spiced chicken to the menu.

When something was added to the fried chicken, a customer in line asked.

“Is that a new menu?”

“It’s seasoned chicken prepared for those who want a more stimulating taste. It’s made especially spicy, so you’ll have to be prepared to eat it.”

“Haha. It’s not something to be proud of, but I’m confident in spicy food. I eat a handful of jalapenos to forget the heat.”

Cainchel shrugged and placed the seasoned chicken on the plate the man was holding.

“Then you’ll have nothing to worry about.”

“It’s a little red, but how spicy can it be…? Ugh…!”

The man, who bit into the spicy seasoned chicken with a confident expression, screamed.

The moment he put it in his mouth, his head turned completely white. It was so spicy that it felt like his mouth was on fire, and tears even welled up in his eyes without him knowing.

“Who on earth eats such spicy food…! Oh, but it’s delicious?”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Cainchel did a lot of research to make the taste of seasoned chicken even better.

And he found out that if he dried Galia chili peppers, which are famous for their spiciness, and made them into powder, the taste would be much better.

However, that would make it a little more intensely spicy than before.

When he asked Abel to taste it, his ears turned red and he looked for water.

But that spicy and stimulating taste caused a huge sensation.

“Have you ever had seasoned chicken? It’s so spicy that it feels like fire is coming out of your mouth, but it’s also strangely addictive. Especially when you eat seasoned chicken while sweating profusely and then drink a cool beer, the taste is just amazing.”

“Hey. How many people haven’t eaten seasoned chicken these days? Can’t you stop talking about that? Even if I just look at dwarves these days, my mouth waters and I’m going crazy.”

“I’ve eaten a lot of spicy things so far, but that’s the first time I’ve eaten something so deliciously spicy. Ha… I think I’ll have to go on an expedition to eat Chimaek.”

With the addition of seasoned chicken, Chimaek’s popularity soared.

Until recently, people who had been arguing about whether it was right to eat beef or pork began to look for chicken.

Of course, minor disputes still existed.

“As expected, crispy and moist fried chicken is the best with cool beer!”

“What are you talking about? You have to eat spicy seasoned chicken until you sweat to say you’ve eaten proper Chimaek. I don’t know what taste you eat fried chicken for.”

Cainchel smiled and presented the solution so simply.

“Then you can have half and half.”

“Half and half?!”

It was the moment when the great menu of half seasoned and half fried was born.

“…Have you ever had half-and-half Chimaek? Not only can you enjoy two kinds of chicken, but it’s also a delicacy to dip the spicy seasoning on the fried chicken.”

“Oh, that’s right!”

“Besides, the pickled radish that comes as a service is really delicious and crunchy. If you eat a lot of greasy fried food, your mouth gets greasy, but it cleans it up really neatly.”

“That’s right. I like pickled radish more than chicken. That sweet and sour taste is really addictive the more you eat it!”

In that way, Chimaek spread throughout the Ottoman Empire in an instant. It became a common sight to cheer and line up when you found a dwarf frying chicken.

“Half and half, lots of radish!”

“This side too, half and half, lots of radish!”

It was a word that could be heard very easily no matter where you went in the Ottoman Empire.

* * *

And finally, the day came to settle the meat war. The method was simple. Each tribe could report the meat to be offered at the rain ritual using a communication crystal ball.

Scheherazade stared at the plate filled with rainwater with a nervous expression. There, Abdullah with a solemn face was reflected.

From now on, the outcome of the war that will determine the fate of the Ottoman will be announced.

What choice will the more than a thousand small and medium-sized tribes have made?

Sinbad, the agent of Allah and the current ruler of the Ottoman Empire, rose from his seat.

“Then we will start reporting from the prepared tribes!”

“Our Harpy tribe wants to offer Chimaek… no, chicken.”

“…The Amunet tribe is…”

As the report progressed, surprise appeared on Abdullah’s face, who was standing to the left of the Sultan.

Who would have thought that pork and beef would not get a single vote?

He knew that chicken’s momentum was great. But no one expected such an overwhelming difference.

In the end, Abdullah announced the results with a surprised and even shocked face.

“…With the unanimous consent of all except Byzantium, whose results have not yet been released, the meat to be offered at this rain ritual has been decided to be chicken.”

Then the tribal chiefs in each region nodded with an expression that they understood.

“That’s a relief. If one of the pigs or cows had been chosen again this time, it would have become a seed of conflict again. With this, we will be able to focus on drought countermeasures for a while.”

Seeing their reaction, Scheherazade finally realized Cainchel’s aim.

No matter how great Chimaek is, a few pieces alone cannot break down a long-standing tradition.

However, those who saw the dish of half-and-half chicken, which contained half fried chicken and half seasoned chicken, realized.

If you choose this, people who like the crispiness of fried chicken and people who are attracted to the spiciness of seasoned chicken don’t have to fight.

Cainchel delivered a finishing blow to Scheherazade, who was making a blank expression.

“In the end, the Ottoman people chose half-and-half chicken. Now it’s Scheherazade’s turn to make a decision.”

“…You are a really cowardly man. In the end, even if the Ottoman Empire is destroyed, it will be the result of its own choice. Okay. As promised, I will make it rain after the rain ritual is over.”

“The Ottoman Empire will not be destroyed.”

Then Scheherazade’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean? My power to make it rain is about to run out. That means I’m going to die soon. I think you know what will happen then without me having to say it.”

The Ottoman Empire had been suffering from irregular droughts for a very long time. It was the rain person with the ability of Amehurashi [rain-summoning power] who solved it.

Then, when it stopped raining altogether, Scheherazade’s power ran out.

“Think about it. What made Scheherazade’s power run out was the great drought. Then the solution is very simple. Make it rain without Amehurashi.”

“Could it be…”

“Yes. Fortunately, we were able to find the cause of the great drought.”

“…!”

Scheherazade fell backwards in the same position she was sitting in. Abdullah also showed the same reaction.