Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 107

Having left Weimar and ridden on horseback for two full days, we were able to reach the Alsace region.

From this point onward, entry was strictly prohibited to outsiders. In the end, the trading group led by Alfredo decided to remain in Weimar.

“From now on, we’ll be entering the Elven Protected Area. Until we reach Eldrad, you must be careful, as numerous monsters may attack.”

“Why do I need to be careful of monsters in the Elven Protected Area?”

“That’s related to the founding of Eldrad. It was when I was young… roughly a hundred years ago.”

“…Nimue, you’re over a hundred years old.”

At that, Nimue’s ears turned bright red.

“Well, a hundred years old is still young for an elf! In human terms, it’s about thirty… no, late twenties!”

“Yes, late twenties.”

Up until a hundred years ago, Deutschland [Germany] was called the Akkad Empire, the strongest military power on the continent.

The first emperor of the Akkad Empire asserted:

‘Only humans, who resemble the form of God, are superior, and coexistence with other races is impossible.’

Eventually, a massive interspecies extermination war broke out.

“At that time, the elves living in Eldrad were the ones who resisted to the end. Thanks to their life-risking struggle, they were officially recognized as an autonomous region.”

That’s why the elves of Eldrad are particularly aggressive and hostile towards humans.

They did not even tolerate the stationing of troops for monster subjugation.

As a result, the Alsace region, where Eldrad is located, became a dangerous place inhabited by numerous monsters.

“Then, are the Elven Knights of Eldrad just standing by while the monsters run rampant? They’re clearly digging up the forest and destroying trees.”

“What monsters destroy is only a part of the forest. They judged that it was better for human access to decrease because of the monsters.”

Avel, who had been listening from behind with Cainchel and Nimue, interjected.

“Nimue, if you’re so hostile to humans, isn’t it dangerous for Cainchel to follow you?”

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll take responsibility for the negotiations with the Queen of Eldrad, so just trust me. I’m sure they’ll like the dishes Cainchel makes, too.”

Avel sighed. *Is it really okay to trust this person and follow her to Eldrad?*

Nimue smiled brightly and moved even closer to Cainchel.

“Did you know? Eldrad has many special ingredients that are hard to find in the human world. I’m sure you’ll like them.”

“I’m curious about what kind of ingredients they are. Could you tell me more?”

“Well… Just a moment, something is approaching.”

Nimue, who had been talking with a smile, suddenly perked up her ears.

The sound of footsteps was carried on the wind.

The closer you get to the forest, the more sensitive an elf’s senses become. She was detecting the approach of a monster.

She drew the two swords she was wearing on her waist and said.

“Be careful. It’s a very large monster.”

Before long, the sound of footsteps became close enough to be heard by human ears. Cainchel, who had finished preparing to fight in an instant, activated his Aura Sword.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

A grotesque, muscular giant was running, destroying the forest.

A body several times larger than a human and a single eye between its eyebrows.

It was a Cyclops, a monster with immense strength.

Its only weapon was a stone ax in its hand, but its size was enormous. I had heard a lot about them, but it was the first time I had actually seen one.

“Kuaaaaaaah――!”

The Cyclops roared. Its single eye was dyed red with hostility.

*I need to use a booster to block that attack!*

Cainchel focused the aura spread throughout his body on the muscles in his waist and shoulders. And then he raised his sword to meet the blow.

Clang-!

A tremendous roar echoed as steel and stone collided, loud enough to tear the ears. At the same time, a cloud of dust rose.

No matter how much a Sword Knight enhances his physical abilities with aura, he cannot overcome the Cyclops’ immense strength.

Avel, who was following behind, screamed.

“C, Cainchel!”

However, contrary to Avel’s expectations, Cainchel was fine.

Cainchel, who had easily blocked the opponent’s attack, raised his sword and cut off one of the Cyclops’ arms from the shoulder.

“Kkeuaaaaaaak!”

The one-eyed giant howled in pain.

Cainchel opened his mouth and looked back and forth between the sword he was holding and the Cyclops.

*Huh? When did my aura get this strong?*

It wasn’t this strong even when I fought the Griffin.

There was only one thing I could guess.

Fhidle had handed him the crumbled dragon meat, saying it was a failed attempt at carving.

It was something that couldn’t be called meat at all. But I didn’t want to throw it away, so I ate it all up before leaving.

He grabbed the Joma Mirror hanging around his neck with one hand and checked the numbers floating on it.

[Aura 140/550]

*This means I can use the Aura Sword for almost 10 minutes?!*

It was an absurd number. It was definitely around 400 when I checked it a few days ago. But just eating a few crumbs increased my aura this much.

What would happen if I properly cooked and ate the dragon meat?

It is said that the total amount of aura possessed by a normal Sword Master is around 10,000 if quantified.

Because they have such tremendous aura, they can realize the aura sword itself.

*If I can properly cook dragon meat, the vessel for becoming a Sword Master will be complete.*

Cainchel put strength into the hand holding the sword.

The dragon’s meat.

Perhaps I have obtained an unbelievable opportunity.

The Cyclops, who had been fatally wounded by Cainchel, screamed and began to run away.

If I leave him alone like this, other monsters may flock to the scent of blood.

Nimue swung her sword at the fleeing Cyclops.

“Rose Bouquet!”

It wrapped around the Cyclops’ back like a whip and tore it apart.

And several elves wearing armor jumped out of the forest.

They were holding large bows that were over 1 meter long.

Peeeeeeng!

When the bowstring was plucked, a sound so loud that it was hard to believe it was an arrow echoed.

In the end, the Cyclops, pierced by dozens of arrows, fell forward with its eyes wide open.

The young elf standing at the head of them said.

“I’m sorry for being late, Master.”

“It feels like it’s been a very long time since I’ve seen you. Is it 20 years?”

“It’s been 40 years.”

“Has it already been that long?”

The young elf glared at Cainchel with eyes burning with hostility and said.

“But that human――.”

“He is someone who has been with us as a helper so far. Don’t even think about touching a hair on his head.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The Elven Knights quietly bowed their heads towards Nimue.

*I think I know why she spoke so confidently.*

The young elves of Eldrad were all her disciples.

@

The elven city of Eldrad was a very mysterious place.

There were no artificial structures, and everything was made of wood.

Cainchel stared at the table in the center of the room. On closer inspection, it was a tree trunk that had grown into that shape.

Beyond the wall, the voices of elven girls chattering noisily could be heard.

“Nimue brought a man.”

“Really! I thought she would never get married and live alone for the rest of her life!”

“And he’s a human.”

“So that’s why a human came to Eldrad alive. It’s my first time seeing a human.”

“Nimue said that human can bake cookies that even elves can eat. Horizon is good at everything, but he only bakes cookies once a year!”

“Wow! I want to eat cookies too! Cookies!”

“And he made incredibly delicious bean dishes!”

“Ugh, I want to eat it… I wonder if he’ll make it for us if we ask him?”

“I want to eat the vegetarian cookies more! I asked Nimue and got a piece to eat, and it was so, so, so, so sweet.”

“I’m jealous! Give me just one bite!”

“Uh, it’s gone! I ate it all!”

Cainchel massaged the back of his head, which was starting to ache.

After arriving in Eldrad, Nimue left the group for a while to meet the Queen.

*What on earth did she say to get such a reaction?*

It seemed like I wouldn’t be able to do anything if I left it like this because it would be too noisy.

When I opened the door and went outside, the elves who were gathered there started staring with wide eyes.

Cainchel took out a bag of vegetarian cookies he had baked for Nimue from his four-dimensional pocket and held it out.

“Would you like to have some?”

“…C, can we eat it?”

“These are cookies made only with nuts and honey so that even elves can eat them.”

“What is this black thing?”

“It’s chocolate, a type of dessert extracted from cocoa beans. The bittersweet taste makes the sweetness feel even better.”

“Waaaaah!”

Since there were more elven girls gathered than I thought, Cainchel had to give away all the vegetarian cookies he had.

“Thank you for the food!”

They gathered in a corner and began to eat the vegetarian cookies. The tension of facing a human disappeared like snow melting away at the first taste of sweetness.

“It’s delicious!”

“It’s so sweet!”

I was glad that the young elves seemed to have low hostility towards humans.

“If you guide me to the kitchen, I’ll make the bean dish I mentioned earlier.”

However, not everyone was fond of Cainchel.

A handsome young man, as befitting the beautiful elven race, blocked Cainchel’s path.

“Don’t approach the children, human.”

“Why, Horizon! The cookies this person gave us are really delicious! And he said he’d make bean dishes too!”

“Yeah! He’s not a bad human!”

“Nimue said he’s not a bad human either!”

Horizon was a man with clear skin that seemed transparent and dazzling silver hair.

In human terms, he looks to be in his mid-20s. But you never know the age of elves until you hear it directly.

Cainchel said as politely as possible.

“I just gave them the cookies I had because they wanted to eat them. If it’s rude, I’ll quietly go back into the room.”

This is Eldrad, the city of elves.

I didn’t want to cause a conflict by fighting unnecessarily.

But that wasn’t why Horizon came.

Horizon drew the sword he was wearing on his waist.

“…A kitchen knife?”

“I am Horizon, the first sword of this Eldrad and responsible for the Queen’s meals. I don’t know how you deceived Master, but there’s no way that vegetarian food made by a human could be delicious. If you have confidence, draw your sword. Let’s compete from now on to see who makes the more delicious dish.”

Cainchel’s eyes widened.

I never thought that the seemingly cold-hearted elven swordsman would suddenly propose a cooking competition.

Nimue said that there are ingredients in Eldrad that cannot be found anywhere else.

And the fact that he is responsible for the Queen’s meals means that he is a skilled cook.

There was no reason to refuse a cooking competition with such a skilled person.

Cainchel smiled and said.

“What if I win?”

“Hmph! If the Queen says that the dish you made is delicious, I will grant you one request. Of course, that’s unlikely!”

Cainchel’s eyes lit up.

It seems that the Queen of Eldrad will be tasting the dishes herself.

*I think I know why Horizon is so angry. The Queen must have heard Nimue’s words and said she wanted to eat the dish I made.*

Maybe I can get one of the things I need for dragon cuisine more easily than I thought.

Cainchel quietly drew the kitchen knife he was wearing on his waist.

“I accept that challenge.”

World Tree Guardian #1