Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 15

“Did you see that? What on earth just happened?”

“Julius was constantly on the offensive, and that clown just cowardly ran away… So why is Julius lying on the floor?”

“That doesn’t make sense! What kind of trickery is this? Otherwise, how could Cainchel, who was level 1 until a month ago, change so drastically?”

“That’s right! He must have cheated somehow!”

Cainchel Van Zistad was infamous at the Stanise Knight Academy.

The worst of the worst, unable to raise even a single level in three years.

Now that he suddenly shows a different side, he only receives suspicious glances.

Especially vehement were Julius’s followers.

“There’s no way Lord Julius could lose to such a dim-witted underling!”

“You cowardly bastard! What did you do to Lord Julius!”

“To resort to such dirty tricks in a sacred duel!”

They were convinced that Cainchel had used some cowardly method to defeat Julius.

Eventually, Instructor Ian stepped forward.

“How can you spout such nonsense after seeing the duel with your own eyes! I could understand if you were rookies, but aren’t you members of the Chevalier Class? Don’t tell me you’re wearing sandbags instead of brains while you’re doing physical training.”

Then, one of Julius’s followers spoke.

“So, Instructor, are you saying that the two of them fought fairly and that’s the result we got?”

As befitting a member of the Chevalier Class who was starting to look down on the instructor, his tone was impudent.

“Clearly, Julius’s swordsmanship was excellent. The footwork, flowing from the Fiore-style slope step [a specific swordsmanship technique] to the passing step, was as natural as flowing water. And the attack, targeting the opponent’s vitals with Duplieren [another swordsmanship technique], was like wielding a whip. But do you know why it didn’t work against Cainchel?”

“…I don’t know.”

“Because Cainchel completely read Julius’s movements. If you know where your opponent is aiming and attacking, you can avoid even the strongest attacks. I’m sure I emphasized this several times during Basic Swordsmanship Theory.”

However, Julius’s follower was persistent.

“Even with such insight, it’s impossible for a level 1 to show such movements. He must have cheated somehow…”

Instructor Ian was frustrated.

Clearly, Cainchel had become incomparably stronger than he was a month ago.

His efforts over the past three years were finally beginning to blossom.

Yet, despite proving it before their very eyes, he was being treated like a cheater.

At that moment, Cainchel, who had won the duel against Julius and was catching his breath, approached.

Cainchel bowed to Ian, expressing his gratitude for being the only one who recognized his growth.

“But Instructor, isn’t there something you’re forgetting?”

“Cainchel, don’t be too disappointed. I know you won fairly with your own skills.”

“That’s not it. Isn’t today the status update day? Wouldn’t things be cleared up if you checked my stats?”

Then, murmurs arose from here and there.

“That’s right! If we update his status, it’ll become clear whether Cainchel cheated in the duel or not.”

Eventually, the status update, which had been temporarily postponed, was resumed.

A sorcerer holding a mana charger asked Instructor Bucks, who was in charge of this status update.

“What’s the order? Originally, it would be from number 1…”

Instructor Bucks twisted one side of his lip.

“Then Cainchel’s turn would be last! Can’t you see everyone is eagerly focused?”

“…We’ll proceed with the last number first today.”

In the end, the status update started with Cainchel.

The measurement begins by removing the Joma sphere [a magical artifact used to measure stats] and placing it on the mana charger.

“Sir Cainchel. We will now update your status.”

As the sorcerer in the pure white robe caressed Cainchel’s Joma sphere, a bright light burst forth.

The first to see Cainchel’s status was the sorcerer in charge of mana charging.

“…”

She couldn’t say anything.

Then, the trainee knights who were watching protested.

“What’s going on! Why are you stalling like that? Tell us what Cainchel’s level is!”

“More importantly, you should tell us how many stars his Basic Swordsmanship is!”

The sorcerer stammered and reported to Instructor Bucks.

“It seems like this Joma sphere is broken…”

“That can’t be. What’s the state of the core?”

“The core is normal, but no matter how I look at it, there are too many stars marked. It’s impossible for Sir Cainchel’s Basic Swordsmanship to be 10 stars.”

“…Wait a minute. Let me see that Joma sphere.”

Instructor Bucks snatched the Joma sphere from the sorcerer’s hand and began to read what was displayed on it.

“What is this…? Level 14?! And Basic Swordsmanship 10 stars? Are you kidding me? Is this even Cainchel’s?”

“Yes! I’m sure of it.”

“Bring the core diagnostic device immediately!”

In the end, the sorcerer had to test Cainchel’s Joma sphere several times to see if it was working properly.

However, no matter how many times they ran the diagnostic device, the result came back as normal.

Eventually, Instructor Bucks, who was in charge of today’s status update, had to acknowledge the results.

“…Cainchel’s level is 14. And Basic Swordsmanship is 10 stars.”

“Wait a minute, Instructor! Is that really that underling’s status?”

“How can he raise his level so much in just one month! It doesn’t make sense!”

Status updates don’t check detailed stats. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even finish half of them before sunset.

For that reason, no one noticed that Cainchel’s stats were abnormal.

Cainchel’s stats were several times higher than other trainee knights of the same level.

Because all stats increased simultaneously when he leveled up.

‘I should keep this a secret for a while. I don’t want to be dissected alive.’

Even though Instructor Bucks announced his level, there were still those who couldn’t accept reality.

“Still, it doesn’t make sense! Lord Julius’s level is 55! I admit that Cainchel has raised his level a lot in the past month, but there’s no way he could close such a gap…”

Cainchel smiled and said to Instructor Bucks.

This can also be easily proven using the Joma sphere.

“Instructor. Excuse me, but could you look at the skill tab of the Joma sphere?”

“Didn’t we just check it? Your Basic Swordsmanship is 10 stars. Ha-! How on earth can your swordsmanship skills increase so much in just one month!”

A reality that is hard to believe even when seen with one’s own eyes.

But there was still something important left.

Cainchel said once again.

“There must be something more.”

“What kind of skills would a Rookie Class member have besides Basic Swordsmanship…? Ugh!”

Instructor Bucks’s face contorted in shock.

Eventually, Instructor Ian couldn’t help but intervene.

“What on earth is written there…? Huh!”

Instructor Ian also tried to scream but covered his mouth with both hands.

And barely managed to utter what he had seen.

“…Disarm 3 stars and Fallen Star 7 stars…”

“What! Are you telling me that Cainchel has two skills?!”

“And one of them is 7 stars? Are all the instructors collectively crazy? That would be more realistic!”

Even trainee knights belonging to the Chevalier Class rarely have proper skills.

That’s how much one had to train a single skill for a long time to acquire it.

Moreover, it takes years to properly increase proficiency.

But the underling Cainchel has two skills?

Cainchel excused himself and took the Joma sphere from Instructor Ian’s hand.

“So, do you understand how I defeated Julius? I simply used the Disarm skill to catch him off guard.”

It was a large auditorium with many people gathered, but there was no sound.

Standing before their eyes was not an underling.

But a trainee knight with two skills.

Cainchel said to Instructor Ian, who had a dazed expression.

“Instructor. Then please declare the outcome of the duel.”

Julius was unconscious after being hit by Cainchel’s Disarm skill.

If it was a fair fight without any objections, then the victory was entirely Cainchel’s.

“Alright. Then, according to the laws of Deus [the governing rules of the academy], this duel is won by Cainchel Van Zistad…”

At that moment, someone who still denied Cainchel’s victory screamed and rushed out.

“Not yet, not yet! The duel is not over yet!”

Julius Konrad, who had regained consciousness, stood there with red eyes gleaming.

The duel ends when one side declares defeat or loses consciousness.

It was a match where the result had already been decided.

Instructor Ian said soothingly.

“Lord Julius. The duel is over. It’s your defeat. So, put down your sword.”

“What? Are you saying that I, Julius Konrad, lost to such an underling! I didn’t lose! I didn’t lose!”

In the end, Julius touched something he should never have touched.

“Kuaaa, Uaaaaaack!”

Julius’s face turned red as if it would explode.

Then, something overflowing at the tip of the sword he was holding began to flow down like thin threads.

Someone who was watching screamed.

“O, Aura Sword… Lord Julius has awakened the Aura Sword!”

But it wasn’t a normal Aura Sword.

The Aura Sword, which should have wrapped around the sword like a thin film, continued to flow down.

Extreme anger forcibly squeezed the energy channels throughout his body, creating an incomplete Aura Sword.

In that state, he would fall into a Mana fetter state where he couldn’t use mana for a while.

Instructor Ian, flustered, blocked Julius’s path.

“Put down the Aura Sword right now! If you make a mistake, the energy channels throughout your body will be twisted and you’ll suffer great internal injuries!”

“Kuk, Kikikik! I don’t care! As long as I can kill that underling!”

Then, the aura gathered on Julius’s sword began to burn red.

Those who have trained in the mana cultivation method passed down in the Konrad family can wield an aura with fire energy.

“Huh, for the Flame Emperor to manifest in this way…”

Instructor Ian bit his lip without realizing it.

The Flame Emperor was an aura with tremendous power that burned the opponent it touched.

Julius roared like a wounded beast.

“Kuaaaaaaaack!”

And with a face distorted like a demon, he rushed at Cainchel.

And swung the sword imbued with the Flame Emperor.

The surging flames were fired as if to engulf Cainchel.

“Damn it! It’s too much to block…!”

Even if it’s an incomplete Aura Sword, you need aura to block it.

Instructor Ian closed his eyes tightly, anticipating the terrible scene that was about to unfold.

But Cainchel was not at all flustered.

He just stared at the blazing flames and muttered as if it was trivial.

“Is this the famous Flame Emperor? My kitchen fire is hotter.”

Then, he grabbed Julius’s sword with one hand.

An action possible because it was a non-edged practice sword.

Cheeeeeek!

Smoke rose with the unpleasant sound of burning flesh.

But this was nothing compared to when he received the baptism of fire.

At that moment, the Joma sphere Cainchel was wearing around his neck sparkled and displayed his current stats.

[Cainchel Van Zistad – Lv14]

– Stamina (16), Agility (14), Strength (14), Dexterity (14), Intelligence (18), Magic (13), Divinity (13)

– Fire Resistance (34%), Poison Resistance (11.2%), Cutting Resistance (5.3%)

* Cooking Level: ★★★★

* Gourmet Level: ★

* Tea Ceremony Level: ★

* Disarm: ★★★

* Basic Swordsmanship: ★★★★★★★★★★

* Fallen Star: ★★★★★★★

The enormous fire resistance of over 30% was blocking the heat emitted by the Flame Emperor.

Cainchel recalled Julius eating the steak he had grilled deliciously.

‘Thank you. Thanks to you, I was able to raise my stats so much. But you’ll have to eat porridge instead of steak for a while.’

Cainchel raised his fist and slammed it into Julius’s face.

Pow!

With a dull sound like a sandbag bursting, Julius’s body rolled across the floor.

This time, not even cheers rang out.

Although it was an incomplete Aura Sword.

He had achieved a perfect victory against the famous Flame Emperor.

That’s how Cainchel won the duel.

And Instructor Ian won money from the bet.

The turmoil starts now #3