Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 299

The monsters surged forward, driven by Marcus’s final command and fueled by pure animosity.

Their formation was ragged; smaller creatures were easily knocked aside by the larger monsters’ clumsy advances.

They were little more than moths to a flame, charging to their doom.

Facing a tenfold difference in strength, a direct confrontation offered little hope of victory.

Therefore, Talmus tasked Karack with thinning their ranks as much as possible.

Karack unleashed his Mystic Art, Rising Strike, a wide-range explosion.

It was devastatingly effective against large groups, a true spell of mass destruction.

“Warriors! I will clear the path! Roar, Thunder Axe! Unleash your true power!”

With a whoosh, Karack’s muscles visibly swelled.

Transformed into an avatar of violence, Karack raised his arm.

“Here I go—Rising Strike!”

With a deafening roar, the Thunder Axe, crackling with blue aura, slammed into the ground.

Kugugugugugung-!

The earth split and twisted around the point of impact.

The shockwave alone tore apart smaller monsters like Gnolls.

Having obliterated over fifty monsters with a single blow, Karack launched himself into the air.

He dove headfirst into the oncoming wave of monsters.

His already formidable leg strength was amplified tenfold by his aura.

The force of his impact was like a catapult, monster heads exploding like watermelons under his feet.

Immediately following, another Rising Strike detonated.

A massive crater formed, as if a meteorite had struck the ground.

Karack fought with breathtaking ferocity.

His actions were clearly intended to elevate the status of the Orcs in Argon.

“All troops, charge! Let none pass! Krash!”

“Germa Krash!”

Chieftain Abhim’s roar unleashed the Orc warriors waiting in the rear.

Smaller creatures like Gnolls and Kobolds had their skulls crushed with a single blow, collapsing in heaps.

Even the larger monsters faltered after three or four strikes.

In moments, nearly five hundred monsters lay dead, carpeting the ground.

This feat was only possible because these Orc warriors were the elite of monster extermination.

The soldiers watching from Oakland Castle felt a chill run down their spines.

“T-to think such an absurd attack is possible… Could there be a Sword Master among the Orcs…?”

“…With that kind of power, even the sturdiest fortress would crumble. Have we been at war with such monsters all this time…?”

“I thought they were just stupid and useless…”

However, countless monsters remained.

Just then, the Wyvern Riders launched their attack.

“Now is the time to instill fear! Drop the lightning pouches primarily on concentrated groups of monsters!”

The Wyvern Riders simultaneously released small cloth-wrapped packages.

The lightning pouches burst upon impact, unleashing tremendous bursts of electricity.

These were weapons crafted by Orcish shamans, using specially treated Kraken organs.

They were rarely used, due to the risk of harming allies.

However, all the Orc warriors on the battlefield had consumed Cainchel’s Kraken barbecue.

Latex.

It rendered their skin as elastic as rubber, reducing physical shock and providing insulation against electricity.

Of course, this was a one-time opportunity.

The soldiers watching would undoubtedly believe the lightning pouches were a weapon unique to the Orcs.

Pajijijik-!

Dozens of lightning pouches detonated simultaneously, bathing the battlefield in blinding white light. While not instantly lethal, the electricity temporarily paralyzed the monsters, rendering them immobile.

For the skilled monster hunter Orc warriors, this was more than enough.

“Germa Krash!”

The Orcs’ battle cries mingled with the monsters’ agonized groans.

Finally, two hours after the battle began,

Not a single monster capable of movement remained on the vast plain.

It was an overwhelming victory.

* * *

Talmus raised both hands in greeting as Cainchel approached.

“As you predicted, eating the Kraken barbecue protected us from the electricity. It even deflects minor shocks. Thanks to you, we annihilated the monster army with minimal losses.”

The strategy of using lightning pouches to temporarily incapacitate large numbers of monsters proved particularly effective.

Regardless of the Orc warriors’ strength, the monster army outnumbered them nearly tenfold.

Without the Kraken cuisine and its Latex effect, they would have suffered significant casualties, even in victory.

“Well, I learned something useful too, so let’s call it a win-win.”

Discovering that Kraken entrails possessed the ability to generate electricity was a valuable find.

‘I should catch a few and stock up on the way back to Britannia.’

Talmus shook his head, as if unsatisfied.

“Don’t mistake me for an ungrateful barbarian. A celebration awaits you. Deina, in particular, insisted you attend.”

Cold sweat trickled down Cainchel’s face.

He had reluctantly revealed his identity to deter Deina, who proposed marriage daily. She simply laughed, dismissing the difference in their races.

She assured him that if it bothered him, he could magically change his skin to gray, rendering him unrecognizable.

“…I think I should return to Britannia soon.”

“Huh, is that so? I suppose my daughter isn’t attractive enough to hold a hero like you. I understand.”

“Ahaha…”

As expected of the chieftain who led numerous Orc tribes, he saw through Cainchel’s intentions.

“May I see the Orc chefs one last time?”

Cainchel’s lips twitched.

“If I did, I’d inevitably find countless things I failed to teach them properly. I wouldn’t be able to leave for at least six months. So, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Talmus clutched his stomach, erupting in laughter. He understood Cainchel’s meaning.

“Euhahaha. You’re the best. You’re right. A single victory won’t erase centuries of animosity between humans and orcs.”

Complete independence might remain unattainable within his lifetime.

“But even the mightiest mountain crumbles from small cracks. What I couldn’t achieve, Karack will. And his son will continue the work. The saying ‘one for all, and all for one’ embodies that spirit.”

As Cainchel prepared to depart, Karack, who was overseeing the cleanup, approached.

He stared intently at Cainchel for a moment, then extended his hand, offering something.

“Will you accept this, Cainchel van Zistad?”

“…”

It was a massive axe, still dripping with monster blood.

A treasure possessing unique skills, like Fragarach [Cainchel’s sword], the Thunder Axe.

He offered it without even wiping it clean, a typical Orcish gesture.

Cainchel swallowed hard.

The Thunder Axe was a treasure worthy of being called a divine artifact, but he doubted anyone could wield it effectively.

Orcs possessed inherently higher stamina and strength than humans.

Even among them, only Karack, a Sword Master, could barely lift and wield it.

Karack licked his lips.

“I originally intended it as a wedding gift for Deina. A real shame.”

“…”

Karack briefly explained the Thunder Axe’s origins.

“It was forged from a divine artifact that pierced and killed the king of the giants. Cough, cough. It’s definitely too unwieldy for a human. If you don’t want it, melt it down and make horseshoes.”

Suddenly, something slimy emerged from Cainchel’s shoulder. Bishop [Cainchel’s slime companion] transformed the end of his tentacle into a tongue and licked the handle of the Thunder Axe.

― Ooh, this taste is…!

‘What are you talking about, Bishop? You can’t taste.’

― …Hmph. You’re poking at my sore spot. Anyway, it’s the same material as my partner’s Fragarach. Marcus seemed strangely afraid of this, so that’s why.

Cainchel’s eyes widened.

Even with Fragarach alone, he felt limited in his ability to confront numerous Demon Dukes.

Adding the Thunder Axe would dramatically enhance the power of the Seven Virtues [Cainchel’s group of companions].

But the question remained: who could wield it?

“Leave it to Sir Gawain! Ehehet! Well, axes aren’t really my thing, but it’s got a unique skill!”

Gawain, appearing from nowhere, rubbed his cheek against the Thunder Axe, his eyes gleaming.

Spinning his arms, he gripped the axe handle with both hands and strained.

“Kkeueueueueung…!”

But the Thunder Axe barely budged.

“Uwaaah! Damn it! This is totally ruining my style. If this is the case, I have my own ideas. Third Form, I Alone Am Supreme…!”

He finally managed to lift the Thunder Axe after activating his Aura Blade.

“…Huk, huck, heuk. How is it, Cainchel? It suits Sir Gawain the best… Cough, cough…”

But that was all he could manage.

Gawain collapsed backward, still holding the Thunder Axe aloft.

His aura seemed depleted from his fierce battle with Marcus.

Cainchel’s eyes narrowed. As Gawain had demonstrated, no human could wield it. Perhaps Meliot could manage it somehow.

‘I guess it can’t be helped, since it was originally made for Orcs.’

Suddenly, an idea flashed through Cainchel’s mind.

‘Wait a minute. He said to melt it down and make horseshoes, right?’

Of course, no sane person would use a divine artifact as a horseshoe. But what if he forged other weapons from the Thunder Axe?

At least three swords. If he only made the blades, he could get five.

They would be a tremendous asset in the upcoming battle against the Demon Dukes.

Cainchel’s gaze locked onto the dark axe handle.

‘Hmm, if there’s any left over… I mean, if there’s any left over, wouldn’t it be possible to make a small pot? Since it’s a divine artifact containing lightning, the fried food would taste amazing.’

But how many blacksmiths could melt a divine artifact and reforge it?

He asked Karack, who shook his head.

“Hmm, the blacksmith who made the Thunder Axe… There’s no artisan of that caliber on the Argon continent. Ah, right. I think I heard that the person who made the Thunder Axe lives in a country called ‘Song’ [referring to the Song Dynasty in ancient China].”

“…?!”

If it was ‘Song,’ it was the former name of the Ming Dynasty, accessible only by sailing east from Britannia for several months.

Cainchel retrieved a small hair ornament he wore as a necklace.

It was a place he needed to visit at least once, for the sake of his teacher, Jeokun.

Cainchel was the guardian deity of Britannia, one of the Seven Virtues.

He couldn’t afford to spend over half a year on a ship for personal matters.

But creating weapons to fight the Demon Dukes was a different matter entirely.

He clenched the jade hair ornament tightly. It contained Jeokun’s essence.

‘With this, I can deliver Jeokun’s keepsake to Miss Ivory.’

However, reaching the New World and the Central Continent already required crossing vast oceans.

Traveling to the East Continent from there would take nearly the same amount of time.

He would be confined to a ship for almost half a year.

‘…I don’t really like that.’

Above all, he wouldn’t be able to cook properly. Just then, Karack approached and whispered.

“It will be difficult to find a ship sailing to Britannia now. If you’re willing, I can take you there on a wyvern. Though you might get showered with arrows when you reach the coast.”

Traveling by wyvern would be several times faster. But wyverns were living creatures; a non-stop flight to the East Continent was impossible.

Then, a savior appeared.

“Ihihi. You can leave that to me, Zistad.”

‘That frivolous voice…’

It was Magnus Basilea, the guardian dragon of the Zistad territory.

Talmus and Karack, instinctively recognizing his identity, knelt.

“It is an honor to meet the great race.”

“Hihhi. No need for formalities. We’re leaving right away anyway. By the way, Zistad. You promised to make me Mille-Feuille Nabe [a type of Japanese hot pot] every week in exchange for becoming a guardian dragon. What will you do if you abandon your post for so long?”

“…I should have asked Oracle to do it.”

“The Mille-Feuille she makes is delicious, but yours is the best.”

Even if he craved Cainchel’s cooking, he couldn’t possibly chase him all the way to the New World.

Magnus shrugged, grinning foolishly at the dumbfounded Cainchel.

“Just kidding. I need to go to the East Continent anyway. Let’s discuss the details on the way.”

Cainchel’s eyes widened. What had happened on the East Continent that required Magnus, bound by karma and unable to properly use magic, to cross the continent?

“…I understand. Then let’s leave immediately.”

Cainchel licked his lips, glancing at the orcs who were frozen by the sudden appearance of the massive dragon.

He regretted not being able to properly bid farewell to the chefs he had grown fond of.

But soon, the cooking techniques of water, fire, wind, and earth that he had taught would spread throughout Argon.

That would surely eliminate the monster factor within the Argonians’ bodies.

“Then.”

Cainchel bid farewell to the New World in his heart and climbed onto Magnus’s back.

The sudden appearance of a huge dragon caused a minor commotion in Oakland Fortress.

But that was the concern of those left behind.