Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 274

14. New Continent

The sea teems with marine monsters and pirates, all eager to plunder cargo.

As navigation technology advanced, trade between continents naturally increased, spurring the development of various gunpowder weapons.

Sailors often faced colossal creatures like Krakens during their voyages.

Long-range weapons with immense firepower became indispensable.

Sailors are trained in swordsmanship and cannon operation to defend themselves and their ships.

Consequently, their commander, the captain, is typically a seasoned veteran.

Captain Ahab issued orders swiftly and precisely.

“Sea Serpent sighted 320 meters northwest! Crew of the Marronnier, prepare for battle stations!”

“Aye, aye, Captain!”

“First mate, maximize the sails! The rest of you, fetch the gunpowder from the armory to load the cannons!”

The cannons were pre-positioned on deck, but the gunpowder couldn’t be stored there. Exposure to the damp sea air for even half a day would render it useless.

“Open the armory!”

“All sailors to your stations!”

“Gunners, load all cannons!”

Captain Ahab stroked his long beard, observing the crew’s coordinated movements.

Encountering a Sea Serpent was akin to facing a natural disaster like a storm or a tidal wave.

Even if the ship were destroyed and they became fish food, sailors often accepted it as mere bad luck.

But this time, things were different.

The Marronnier carried two Sword Masters, arguably Britannia’s most formidable force.

Moreover, they possessed a unique weapon specifically designed to combat the Sea Serpent.

Amidst the crew’s hurried footsteps, the gunner expertly loaded the cannon.

“Gulp…”

However, the cannon’s ammunition was unusual. Instead of cannonballs, they loaded cans that bulged as if on the verge of exploding.

*Would these even fire correctly?*

Just then, Cainchel and Gawain arrived on deck, slightly delayed.

“Whew, Captain Ahab was right to be so confident. Everyone is well-versed in naval combat. I’d even consider recruiting that gunner into the navy. Anyway, shall we get started?”

“Then, please try to prevent the Sea Serpent from getting too close to the ship, Brother.”

“That’s easy enough!”

Cainchel nodded and activated his cooking skill, Pasta. The noodle he would knead today was Lasagna.

It was a dish where meat sauce, cheese, etc., were layered between noodles, and then baked in the oven, specializing in wrapping something.

The smell of Surströmming [fermented Baltic Sea herring] was already atrocious, but he amplified it further with his skill.

He had to be careful; a mistake could harm their allies with the stench, which was intended to paralyze the Sea Serpent’s sense of smell.

“Lasagna!”

Instantly, a tremendous amount of aura vanished, and a translucent barrier enveloped the entire Marronnier.

Gawain whistled, surprised.

“Amazing, Junior. You couldn’t create a shield of this size when you fought Basaqo? How have you improved so much in just one year? What kind of training did you undergo?”

“I just tried it, and it worked.”

“Swordsmanship? Or cooking?”

“Of course, both.”

Gawain smiled and gave a thumbs up.

Cainchel, standing before him, was no longer just a junior but a colleague who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

“It’s coming!”

At that moment, the sailor stationed on the sail to monitor the Sea Serpent’s movements shouted.

Simultaneously, the Sea Serpent, previously at a distance, surged upward, creating a massive spray of water.

Its colossal body, dozens of meters long, crashed down beside the Marronnier.

Krrrrrr-!

The impact of the Sea Serpent hitting the water generated a huge tidal wave.

A small ship would be instantly crushed if caught in it.

In a flash, a massive wave engulfed the Marronnier.

But the Marronnier was no longer there.

Cold sweat trickled down Captain Ahab’s face as he observed from the deck.

“An illusion so meticulously crafted that it even deceives the Sea Serpent’s senses… It’s almost like magic.”

Gawain’s Aura Blade Seventh Form, Mirage.

The ultimate illusion sword distorts and reconstructs reality.

While the Mirage is active, the likelihood of the Sea Serpent’s attack directly hitting the Marronnier is virtually zero.

The sailors, who had watched the Sea Serpent’s approach with tense expressions, erupted in cheers.

“Woo-hoo-hoo! It’s attacking empty air! We’re safe!”

“If you have time to celebrate, help load the Surströmming cans!”

After confirming that all the prepared cannons were loaded with the cans, the gunner raised a flag.

“No need for a direct hit! Just get them close to the Sea Serpent! Even a child could do that! Everyone, fire!”

“Yes, sir, Gunner!”

Bang, bang, bang!

With a cloud of smoke, a deafening roar echoed from the gunports.

Through the thick smoke, dozens of cans flew haphazardly.

It was a tactic designed to spread the stench over the widest possible area.

Cainchel, confirming that the cans were near the Sea Serpent, flicked his finger.

“Flambé!”

It seemed as if fire was transferred along the connected Fettuccine [a type of pasta].

Bang, Pow!

Pow, pow…!

They exploded simultaneously, spewing their contents.

“Kuaaaaa!”

The Sea Serpent seemed utterly disoriented, twisting its body in agony. The stench of Surströmming was devastating to creatures with a keen sense of smell.

Captain Ahab quietly clenched his fist, watching the Sea Serpent writhe.

“…I landed a solid blow for your sake, Captain Verdock.”

Many sailors who had sailed with him had been killed or maimed by Sea Serpent attacks.

Captain Ahab shouted to the sailors, whose morale had soared.

“Look! That is not a god. It’s just a slightly oversized sea snake!”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Then, from now on, we move at full speed to the northwest!”

He felt a sense of exhilaration he wouldn’t have experienced had he not accepted Cainchel’s suggestion.

* * *

Kurururung…!

Despite the cloudless sky, thunder rumbled from an unknown source.

Ominous waves surged, and colossal tidal waves began to rage on the horizon.

It was all the work of the Sea Serpent, consumed by fury.

His mission was to destroy all ships leaving Britannia.

That’s why he had used the waterspout to sink the small ship before him.

But the ship that should have been crushed was not only moving perfectly but also launching attacks that paralyzed his sense of smell.

Yet, the Sea Serpent refused to yield.

If the ship reached the New World safely, he would face severe punishment from the Lord.

The crew of the Marronnier felt a strange sense of pride in their continuous victories.

“Hahaha! Did you see the look on that embarrassed sea snake’s face?”

“It was truly amazing. Who would have thought we could drive away a Sea Serpent with canned goods instead of cannonballs?”

Fifteen days had passed since their first encounter. Even with its sense of smell impaired, the Sea Serpent relentlessly pursued the Marronnier.

They had fought four battles, and each time, the Sea Serpent had been forced to retreat due to the overpowering stench of Surströmming.

“But how awful is the smell of Surströmming that it causes so much pain?”

“Ah, that. I tried it once when I visited Macedonia. It’s beyond anything you can imagine. And I heard from the side that Lord Jistard made it specially, so the smell is much worse than the original. Ugh… Just imagining it makes the canned food I ate a few days ago want to come back up…”

Captain Ahab, sitting across from Cainchel, asked with a worried expression.

“Are you really going to fight him?”

“Yes. But you don’t need to worry about the safety of the Marronnier. The two of us will handle the Sea Serpent.”

“…Didn’t you initially say you were just going to run away?”

“I changed my mind.”

The Sea Serpent was more persistent in his pursuit of the Marronnier than he had anticipated.

If this continued, there would be problems even after they disembarked in the New World.

Without Cainchel and Gawain, the Marronnier would likely be destroyed if attacked.

He had to eliminate the Sea Serpent for the safety of Captain Ahab, who had risked everything to follow Cainchel.

Captain Ahab understood Cainchel’s intention to fight the Sea Serpent, and his eyes reddened.

He spoke with a strangely determined expression, as if he had made a firm decision.

“I will fight with you. That creature has claimed the lives of countless sailors for too long. It can be said to be the achievement of all the sailors. At least let me witness his end.”

Then, the first mate, the boatswain, and the gunner stepped forward and stood behind Captain Ahab.

“We will fight together too. My brother was killed by that sea snake bastard. I want to avenge him.”

“Me too!”

“We came here prepared for this in the first place.”

It seemed the other sailors felt the same way.

Their eyes reflected a strong will to confront a powerful enemy, even if it meant death.

“…I understand. Let’s fight together. After all, isn’t the best part of sailing catching, cooking, and eating fish?”

Then Captain Ahab laughed heartily.

“Are you planning to cook the Sea Serpent? Haha! How long have you been on a ship that you’ve already become a sailor? But fighting him on the sea is difficult, no matter how fierce your sword is. So, let’s aim to reach the coastline as quickly as possible.”

“Then, I’ll leave things in your capable hands until the end.”

“The most skilled sailors are sailing the ship, so don’t worry and leave it to us.”

“Lord Jistard! Just trust us!”

The Sea Serpent, who brought tidal waves, was a symbol of despair for the sailors.

The moment to witness his end had finally arrived.

And three days later, the day of the decisive battle dawned.

* * *

As soon as they reached the coast, the Sea Serpent appeared as if he had been waiting.

As expected, he knew Cainchel’s destination.

The gunner shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Rejoice, everyone! It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to fire real cannonballs instead of canned goods!”

“Oh! Oh! Oh!”

“This time, let’s aim carefully and give that unlucky face a really painful hit!”

No matter how strong the firepower of the cannon was, it was difficult to inflict a fatal wound on the Sea Serpent. But it was possible to check the opponent’s movements.

At the same time as the crimson cannonballs erupted from the gunports, Gawain’s figure vanished. It wasn’t just moving fast; it was completely synchronized with the movement of the cannonballs.

“Second Form, Mimicry.”

Kwaang-!

Only one of the dozens of cannonballs struck the Sea Serpent’s body directly.

But that was enough.

Gawain’s body, which had disappeared, reappeared next to the Sea Serpent’s neck. He drew his sword and slashed through the air.

“Krararara-!”

Blood gushed from the Sea Serpent’s neck like a fountain.

Gawain wasn’t diligent enough to practice basic swordsmanship for the rest of his life like Meliot.

He wasn’t born with the blood of the Celestial Race and possessed tremendous aura like Loengrin.

Nor could he steal other people’s skills like Elizabeth.

Moreover, he was so dull that he couldn’t wake up even if someone screamed next to him once he fell asleep.

But Gawain always won more than 50% of his matches against them.

There was no guaranteed victory, but there was also no guaranteed defeat.

That was why Gawain was called the greatest virtue.

Cainchel closed the distance with the Sea Serpent instantly, using the elasticity of chewy noodles, and thought.

‘Is that Brother Gawain’s Aura Blade Ten Colors(十人十色) [referring to his versatile swordsmanship]?’

There are countless types of intermediate swordsmanship, such as strong sword, fast sword, illusion sword, and variable sword.

And Gawain could handle ten types of intermediate swordsmanship.

None of the techniques he uses are the strongest in any single field.

But its versatility was unmatched by anyone.

‘Then, I can’t just be losing to my brother either.’

Cainchel, drawing Fragarach [a mythical sword], looked at the Sea Serpent writhing in pain and activated his cooking skill.

“Onion Swordsmanship……!”