Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 312

Keinzel munched on jerky to replenish his depleted Aura. He felt his strength surge back instantly, perhaps due to improved efficiency.

‘At this rate, I can even do that, huh?’

“Noodles……!”

After manipulating the mass of Aura a few times, hundreds of ultra-fine strands of noodles were created.

And all of them were chewy noodles. Something he couldn’t have imagined even a week ago.

‘……It works! Eating a bowl of Youngyak Samsatang [a stamina-boosting ginseng chicken soup] has me flying high.’

The Golden Guard screamed as the almost invisible threads of Aura wrapped around their bodies.

“W-What is this?!”

“Suddenly, our movements are sealed?! What kind of sorcery is this!”

“Can’t you undo this right now!”

Keinzel shrugged and called out to Wang Jeoksam, who had just arrived at the Imperial Palace.

“Lord Wang, could you warm up the canned goods you have and distribute them to the bound Golden Guards? Sorry for the trouble!”

“Haha! That’s a very simple task! But are you planning to break into the Imperial Palace from here? Before that, I will *haeje* [解除 – release/remove] the Gimmun *jin* [陣 – formation/barrier] that is blocking the door.”

The Imperial Palace had a barrier that was dozens of times stronger than the one surrounding Nammyeong.

You cannot enter the interior without properly disabling it.

That’s why he risked traveling with Wang Jeoksam.

At that moment, Keinzel’s eyes narrowed as he sensed someone’s presence.

“It seems there’s still a gatekeeper we have to deal with.”

“Yes? What…….”

Most of the troops originally guarding the Imperial Palace would be at the North Gate to face Dokgo Cheon.

The Anti-Heaven Alliance, composed entirely of supreme masters, was enough to make even the Emperor of the Great Ming Empire feel threatened.

However, those who could be called the core force would surely remain here to guard the Imperial Palace.

‘He’s coming……!’

The firmly closed gates of the Imperial Palace opened, and a middle-aged man in military uniform walked out from within.

The unruly hair made it seem like he had just woken up from a nap.

However, the sloppy appearance was only on the surface.

With each step he took closer, it felt like a blade was touching the back of his neck.

After surpassing the limits of a human, Keinzel’s senses had become very sharp. Now, he could even dodge arrows flying at him with his eyes closed.

It was warning him that the man in front of him was dangerous.

“Haaam……. To disturb my pleasant time with Lady Dalgi with only three intruders. I need to deal with this quickly and go back to drinking tea.”

It seemed he had been with Princess Dalgi until just now. That alone was enough to guess the man’s strength to some extent.

He must have broken through tremendous competition to take the princess’s side.

Cheongun, the best swordsman of Wudang, widened his eyes in shock when he saw the man’s face.

“S-Sagunak?! Why are you here……!”

Then, Sagunak’s lips softly curled up as he recognized Cheongun.

“Oh, it’s been a few years, Cheongun. You have a lot more wrinkles.”

“……You seem to be getting younger every time I see you.”

From a distance, they looked relaxed, as if they were old friends reuniting after a long time.

However, Keinzel could tell how tense Cheongun was.

The right hand gripping the sword hilt at his waist, ready to draw it at any moment.

Moreover, his lips, which always wore a gentle smile, were stiff and trembling.

Just how strong was he to make Cheongun, called the best swordsman of Wudang, react like that?

At that moment, Cheongun’s voice, connected to the neural network, was transmitted to Keinzel’s ears.

“Can you hear me, Great Hero?”

“I can hear you well.”

“I never expected to meet Sagunak, the Thunderclap Sword Emperor, here. Listen carefully. That man is incredibly strong. Among the masters of the Anti-Heaven Alliance, perhaps only the Dark Demon Emperor, Dokgo Cheon Gongja, can face Sagunak.”

“……Is he that strong?”

“Among the millions of martial artists, Sagunak is the second strongest among the Three Emperors and Five Emperors.”

Keinzel swallowed hard without realizing it.

Judging from his title, Sagunak’s weapon was thunder and lightning. It was a type he had never faced before.

“Ten years ago, Sagunak burned over a thousand Demonic Cult members alive in one strike. Thanks to that, the war between Justice and Evil was ended in an instant. But the thought that that thunder and lightning is now aimed at this old man is, frankly, frightening.”

Keinzel stared at Sagunak with a mixture of tension and excitement.

Smooth skin without a single wrinkle. He looked to be at most in his late 20s.

No matter how abundant mana was in the Eastern Continent, it was impossible to gather that much Aura at such a young age.

“Did he perhaps achieve *banrohwandong* [返老還童 – rejuvenation; returning to a youthful state]?”

To encounter a transcendent being who had surpassed the fixed lifespan of a human in a place like this.

“Fortunately, that’s not the case. He is the closest person to a transcendent being among the vast martial artists, but he is still human.”

“Then how did he get that appearance?”

“Sagunak can freely control thunder and lightning. He is using it to slow down aging.”

In reality, he was said to be an old man over seventy years old.

Cheongun approached Sagunak, still not letting his guard down.

“Sagunak. You are just bewitched by the Gumiho [a nine-tailed fox spirit]. Yes, just wait a moment. If you eat the Mapo Tofu made by Great Hero Keinzel, you will be able to return to normal.”

Then, Sagunak’s lips twisted hideously.

“I already know that I am bewitched.”

“T, then what’s the problem!”

“Lady Dalgi has given meaning to my life, which I have dedicated to becoming stronger. I’m sorry, Cheongun. If you are her enemy, I will kill you now.”

The negotiation failed. Cheongun looked at Keinzel with a bleeding heart.

Most of the Golden Guards guarding the Imperial Palace had left for the North Gate to face Dokgo Cheon.

Who would have expected the enemy to suddenly fall from the sky?

However, that would only last for about an hour at most.

Realizing that the barrier of the Imperial Palace had been destroyed, they would soon return here.

It was an urgent situation where they had to recapture the Imperial Palace before that happened.

“……I never thought that Sagunak, who had retired ten years ago, would appear after falling for a woman. But don’t worry. This old man will defend this place with the determination of *donggwijeosin* [同歸於盡 – willing to die together]. Great Hero, you must immediately infiltrate the Imperial Palace and deal with the princess.”

Cheongun had a detached look in his eyes that only someone who was risking his life could show.

However, Keinzel shook his head.

“If I go in alone, I will not be able to break through the barrier inside the Imperial Palace and will self-destruct.”

“T, then what should we do!”

“I have a secret plan.”

“A s, secret plan?!”

Keinzel smiled and nodded. After eating the Youngyak Samsatang, the name of a cooking skill that had become several times stronger came to mind.

* * *

Pajijik-!

Kururureung-!

Small sparks began to fly from the body of Sagunak, the Thunderclap Sword Emperor. What started as static electricity quickly turned into a lightning storm when he injected his inner energy.

If the Kraken’s electric shock attack was a small spark, then this was a flame that would burn down a vast forest.

Only then did he realize why the opponent wasn’t wearing iron armor.

‘He’s planning to release that lightning and turn this entire area into scorched earth. The Imperial Palace is protected by a barrier, huh? Tch, if I had known this would happen, I would have brought Kraken jerky.’

If he had Kraken jerky that could turn his whole body into latex, he could have faced the Thunderclap Sword Emperor much more easily.

However, it was too late to regret it.

Instead of worrying more, Keinzel stepped back.

There was no reason to engage in close combat against Sagunak, who was covered in lightning.

‘It’s a shame, but I can’t block that with Beginner-level Vajra Body. Then…….’

The opponent was stronger than anyone he had ever met.

But why? He didn’t feel like he would lose.

“Then, I will now make you pay the price for disturbing my pleasant time with Lady Dalgi. Go, Lightning Strike (*Rakrai* [落雷 – Japanese for Lightning Strike])――!!!”

Kwarurureung-!

At the same time, dozens of lightning bolts struck the place where Keinzel was. The tree that was directly hit turned into a charred lump of charcoal in an instant.

It was an attack with tremendous power that would instantly incapacitate him if he even grazed it.

However, Keinzel was no longer there.

He had perfectly evaded the opponent’s attack by moving along the single sword path shown by the Brilliant Road.

“H, he dodged lightning with a human body?!”

Lightning was an attack method that far surpassed the speed that a human body could produce.

No matter how much you predict where the attack will come from, it is impossible to react to it.

Only then did Sagunak realize that the young foreigner in front of him had also taken a step towards becoming a transcendent being.

“Fate is so strange. I never thought I would cut off the ninth sprout with my own hands. But that is also for love.”

“……!”

For some reason, something deep inside Keinzel’s heart stirred at the word ‘love.’

At the same time, the face of a friend with honey-colored hair came to mind.

Three years after entering the Stanise Knight Training Center.

No matter how much he swung his sword, his level did not rise, and his stats did not change either.

In fact, he wanted to give up several times.

Nevertheless, what allowed him to endure was the existence of Abel, who simultaneously cut down three bundles of barley with such beautiful swordsmanship.

He wanted to be like that!

Wanting to rebuild the fallen Jistad family by becoming a knight was just an excuse.

For that one thought(一念), Keinzel continued to swing his sword.

The moment he held a kitchen knife, the opportunity that he thought he had no connection with began to explode.

― From now on, you are the captain, Keinzel.

At that moment, Keinzel’s stopped time began to flow. And now, he had become a hero who saved Britannia.

‘But my heart hasn’t changed at all since the first time I met you, Abel.’

The reason he couldn’t convey that was because Abel was a half-elf.

She had a lifespan almost five times longer than humans, and she would live for hundreds of years after Keinzel died.

Knowing the loneliness of those left behind, Keinzel had to hide his true feelings deep in his heart.

Abel also pretended not to notice that she had feelings for him.

‘But why am I suddenly thinking about Abel? Could it be…….’

Keinzel looked at the Imperial Palace, widening the distance between himself and Sagunak, who was preparing for the next barrage.

An unidentified light pink smoke was billowing out from there.

Bishop warned.

― Be careful, partner. It seems they are even using the Bewitching Fragrance to bewitch the Thunderclap Sword Emperor, who is close to being a transcendent being.

Keinzel smiled bitterly as he smelled the seductive scent that was clouding his mind.

‘Bewitching Fragrance……. But thanks to that, I was able to know my heart for sure. I should thank the Gumiho for this. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll let her off the hook.’

― ……I don’t know what you’re talking about. Anyway, the time I can move is limited. Hurry up.

Keinzel nodded lightly and stepped on Jingak in an instant.

His body, which was shot out with greatly increased agility and double boosters, was like a flash of light.

Keinzel’s body, which flew at a speed that momentarily distorted its shape, reached Sagunak’s nose.

“This time, I’ll go on the offensive. Fish and Chips……!”

Piiiiing-!

At the same time, the sword strikes divided into dozens of strands began to tear Sagunak’s entire body apart.

However, you cannot reach the position of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors just by shooting lightning.

“Still slow!”

Momentarily, sparks flew from Sagunak’s entire body, and his movements became so fast that not even an afterimage remained.

The speed was equal to Keinzel’s using double boosters……. No, it was even faster than that.

However, that level of superiority was not enough to block all of the seven Pragarakhs and Durendals.

Kwaddeuk!

With a chilling sound, a blade containing cold air pierced Sagunak’s left shoulder.

“Keuk, this little thing!”

Even though he suffered a major injury that prevented him from moving one arm, Sagunak’s momentum did not subside.

No, rather, he began to laugh in a low voice, as if something was so pleasant.

“Keuk, Keuheuheuh. How enjoyable. I never thought I would meet a strong person who would push me this far. I would like to enjoy it a little longer, but I suddenly miss Dalgi’s body fragrance. Let’s end this now. From now on, I will tell you why I got the title of Thunderclap. The reason is.”

At the same time as the word ‘Thunder God Descent’ popped out of Sagunak’s mouth.

A tremendous amount of internal energy began to pour out of his entire body as if it would explode.

The sound of thunder and lightning echoed in the cloudless weather.

Before he knew it, Sagunak’s body had turned into a giant wrapped in enormous lightning.

Kururureung-!

As the lightning giant stretched out his arm, dozens, no, hundreds of lightning bolts poured out from his fingertips.

The speed was incomparable to what it was just now.

The only fortunate thing was that Sagunak’s internal energy, which was almost infinite, was decreasing at a tremendous rate.

Kill or be killed. Thunder God Descent was literally a double-edged sword.

Keinzel’s eyes shone with a different light.

“Bishop……!”

― Oh! I’ve been waiting, partner!

At the same time, a thin tentacle was shot out from the sticky mucus that had been attached to the roof of the Imperial Palace.