Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 300

20. Crisis of Destruction

As Cainchel climbed onto Magnus’s back, the dragon’s massive form soared into the sky.

It felt more like floating than flying.

Magnus was being unusually hasty. Clearly, the situation was so urgent that the Dragon Lord himself had to intervene.

“The flight to the Eastern Continent will take about 72 hours. Oh, sorry, but I don’t have time to stop by Britannia, is that okay?”

Crossing two continents in just three days. As expected, a dragon was the fastest way to travel.

“Normally, I would have had to spend months at sea. But is it okay for you to maintain your true form like this? The mana consumption must be enormous.”

As an ancient dragon, Magnus subtly altered the surrounding environment just by absorbing mana. The effect was enough to cause a severe drought in the Ottoman Empire.

Of course, it wasn’t done with malicious intent.

Rather, he nested in Ottoman, where most of the land is desert, to minimize the impact on the environment.

That’s why Cainchel was providing Magnus with mana through cooking, however insufficient it may be.

“I’ve been stocking up by eating seven meals a day. I’m getting tired of mille-feuille nabe. So, Guardian! From today, present the main dragon with a more diverse menu!”

“You didn’t cross the continent just to complain about the food, did you?”

“N, no way! T, the main dragon is just carrying out his duties as a guardian dragon! Oh, and you know that horse feed is carrots, right?”

Cainchel swallowed hard. Magnus’s tone was light, but the underlying message was serious.

‘That clearly means the problem in the Eastern Continent is affecting the Central Continent as well.’

Moreover, Magnus, who usually remained an observer, was personally intervening.

Surely, something similar had happened once 15 years ago.

“…Could it be that a contractor of the Seven Deadly Sins has appeared?”

“Correct.”

For Magnus, who could talk for half a day once he started, it was an unusually concise answer.

But the information it contained was significant.

Cold sweat ran down Cainchel’s cheek.

“As expected, the Guardian is really quick-witted. To be exact, a contractor of Asmodeus, the King of Lust, has appeared in the Eastern Continent.”

“…But aren’t the Seven Deadly Sins closer to demigods than demons? After all, their origin is the desires that fell from Deus [God]. They shouldn’t be able to have contractors, let alone avatars.”

“That’s right. They can’t directly create contractors like other demon lords. But Asmodeus is different. She only took the place of Lilith, who was originally one of the Seven Deadly Sins, after she disappeared. She was the Succubus Queen who ruled over countless incubi [male demons who seduce women in their sleep].”

“…?!”

Who would have thought the story would lead here? From there, Cainchel could infer the rest.

In the Seven Deadly Sins War, Asmodeus’s army withdrew early.

This was because there was an opponent on the side of the Seven Heavenly Virtues against whom the incubi’s strongest weapon, the temptation of reason, did not work.

Elizabeth Metatron, the Sword Master of Charity.

She overcame the limitations of being a succubus-human hybrid and rose to the position of Sword Master.

If Elizabeth hadn’t been there, most of the Britannian army, which was made up of men, would have been subdued without even fighting.

As a result, Asmodeus created her own nemesis by rejecting Elizabeth.

“So, she nested in the Eastern Continent.”

“That’s right. Moreover, she used her contractor to infiltrate the heart of the Ming Dynasty [historical Chinese dynasty] and turn the entire empire into her own hands and feet.”

“Is that even possible?”

Ming is a great empire that succeeded in unifying the Eastern Continent.

Its population alone is in the tens of millions, and it is said to have over a hundred Sword Masters.

Among them are also many female Sword Masters.

Moreover, their sexual preferences are very diverse.

No matter how much power she has as an incubus, she cannot seduce all of them.

“If it were a human, that would be the case. But Asmodeus knew the limits of her abilities well. So, she made a very special being her contractor.”

Cainchel swallowed hard.

“The Nine-Tailed Fox with a White Face and Golden Fur. As the name suggests, it’s a nine-tailed fox that can transform into countless faces.”

“…?!”

It is said that the nine-tailed fox was originally a monster that hid while eating the livers of young men to become human.

Its power is enough to easily defeat even passing scholars or high-ranking monks.

But when Asmodeus’s power was added to its unique ability to disguise itself in countless forms, the situation changed.

“The nine-tailed fox, transformed into a beauty that anyone would fall for, used the power of the incubus to instantly make the emperor a prisoner of lust. And by absorbing the essence of countless people, she was reborn as a great monster that could even seduce the gods.”

It is said that the nine-tailed fox has lost its original purpose of becoming human and is now only focused on gathering as much essence as possible.

“The reason why lust is so scary is that those who are captivated by it willingly offer their souls. Already, over ten thousand souls have fallen into Asmodeus’s hands. And that number is increasing exponentially even now. If this continues, Ming will be destroyed, and a huge gate to the Demon Realm will be created in its place.”

And the aftermath will cross the sea and reach Britannia.

Cainchel trembled and shouted.

“Why are you telling me this now?!”

“The main dragon didn’t know either! Who would have imagined that so many fools would be so captivated by the nine-tailed fox that they would even offer their souls?”

‘This is not a problem I can solve alone. I need to contact all the Virtues right now…’

Thinking that far, Cainchel shook his head.

The empire has already fallen into the hands of the nine-tailed fox. From the moment I arrive there, I have to move as if everyone I meet is an enemy.

Moreover, Elizabeth is Asmodeus’s nemesis. The nine-tailed fox will also be paying attention to her movements.

“Ah, so that’s why you left Gawain behind and are only taking me to Ming.”

“Huh? There was another Virtue there?”

“Yes?”

Cainchel’s eyes widened.

For some reason, he thought he heard Gawain’s voice shouting to take him too.

But he had already been flying for more than half a day. It was impossible to go back for him now.

‘Well, he’s my brother, so he’ll come on his own.’

Cainchel sighed and closed his eyes.

The Ming Empire, said to have fallen into the clutches of the nine-tailed fox. The gate to the Demon Realm, which is being newly created with the souls of countless people as a medium.

He needed to rest even a little before arriving in the Eastern Continent, where all of that awaited him.

* * *

About half a day later than expected, Cainchel was able to reach a small island where the Eastern Continent could be seen.

Magnus coughed awkwardly, feeling embarrassed.

“Ahem, ahem. I must be getting old. If I were ten years younger, two days would have been enough. Anyway, if we get too close, the main dragon’s appearance might be exposed, so let’s turn back into humans here and swim the rest of the way.”

“This is amazing enough. I never thought I’d be able to cross two continents in less than four days.”

Magnus was so pleased with the continuous praise that his whole body trembled.

“Hahaha! That’s right, the main dragon is pretty amazing. Of course, he is.”

‘Good, with this, I can ask him again next time I’m in a hurry.’

Magnus, who had dropped Cainchel off on the island, muttered in a quiet voice.

【Change】

It was a dragon word magic that twisted the laws of the world with a single word.

Before he knew it, there was a man yawning with a tired expression.

But it was a little different from what he remembered. His height and muscular build had grown to nearly 3 meters, as if he were looking at Karack. Moreover, thick fangs were sticking out between his lips.

Except for his snow-white skin, he was completely an orc.

Magnus licked his lips and said.

“Well, it seems like the appearance of the orcs I met in Argon was a little intense. Well, at least it doesn’t seem like passersby will pick a fight with you, so isn’t it okay?”

“That’s beside the point, it’s too conspicuous! Didn’t you say we needed to act secretly?!”

“Ugh, ugh, ugh. Then there’s no choice. It’s a bit of a waste of mana, but… Change again.”

Once again, Magnus’s appearance changed.

And what appeared was a woman of such incredible beauty that even Cainchel, who had met countless beauties, was impressed.

Hair of a vivid crimson color, literally burning. Beneath it were dreamy golden eyes and an unbelievably slender jawline.

Even though she was wearing a thick robe, the curves that she couldn’t hide were so attractive.

“How is it? Is this inconspicuous enough?”

It was a sweet and mellow voice, like a well-aged wine.

“I think the attention has increased in a different sense, but it’s still better than before. But can’t you transform into a more ordinary appearance?”

“Why? Is it too beautiful and burdensome? But you’ll have to get used to this much. The nine-tailed fox who has obtained Asmodeus’s power is like a glass doll made by melting the word ‘beautiful’. Actually, there is something else that would be best, but I can’t harm the Guardian’s body.”

“…”

He decided not to ask what it was.

“The name Magnus doesn’t suit this appearance, so from now on, call me Maia for short.”

“You shortened the name Magnus Basileia. I understand.”

Maia snapped her fingers, and the robe she was wearing wrapped around her entire body.

Cainchel also took out old leather armor from his interdimensional pocket and put it on.

“Then let’s get our stories straight. From now on, Maia-nim is the daughter of the Edelweiss Merchant Guild’s leader, and I’m her escort.”

“That’s easy enough. Got it.”

The Edelweiss Merchant Guild traded with Ming once or twice a year. As an excuse, they could say they wanted to increase the amount of trade and came directly.

‘It was the right answer to bring the Edelweiss Merchant Guild pass just in case.’

In the first place, Sheetri, who shares a body with Frellia, the real daughter of the guild leader, was with them. If the Ming Dynasty side asked for proof, they could prepare it at any time.

Cainchel picked up Maia and jumped into the sea.

All of his stats were over 100 due to the countless foods he had eaten. Swimming for about half a day was a very simple task.

‘If I meet a local, I can just say I was shipwrecked in a typhoon.’

Then, through the merchant association that trades with the Edelweiss Merchant Guild, he would be able to obtain some information.

But the situation on the coast was unusual.

Black smoke was rising, and the sound of weapons clashing reached Cainchel’s ears.

He didn’t have extrasensory perception like Morgana, so he didn’t know exactly what was going on. But it was certain that something unusual was happening.

Cainchel, who came out of the sea, narrowed his eyes and drew Durandal from the scabbard he was wearing on his waist.

“It seems like we’ve been attacked by pirates or bandits.”

Then Maia waved her palm and fanned herself, saying.

“…Ugh, sorry, but the main dragon can’t help. I’m completely out of mana and starving to death.”

“I’ll make you something after I roughly sort out the situation.”

“Really? Wow! I’ll be looking forward to it!”

When he thought about it, it was somewhat predictable. Pirates from the Ming Dynasty were wreaking havoc even in the vicinity of Britannia.

That meant that the Ming Dynasty’s security was a mess.

Hadn’t his teacher, Jeok-un, also been kidnapped by pirates and ended up in a distant foreign land?

If he asked the surviving villagers, he would be able to find out how the Ming Dynasty was doing.

From now on, what Cainchel had to deal with was the emperor, who could be said to be the heart of the Ming Dynasty, and the nine-tailed fox behind him. He needed as much information as possible.

He had to eliminate the pirates in order to obtain it.

Cainchel kicked off the ground and instantly flew into the air. And in less than a minute, he was able to reach the fishing village where the battle was taking place.

“Huh?”

But what was fighting there were neither pirates nor bandits.