Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 170

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Chapter 52: The Meaning of Soul Food

There are about a dozen knight academies in Britannia. Most of them were established after the War of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Many knights died in the War of the Seven Deadly Sins.

Eventually, there was a need for young knights to replace them.

The Stanise Knight Academy was thrown into an uproar when they received a letter announcing Kainchel’s visit.

“L-Lord Kainchel is coming?”

“You should call him Duke, not Lord! He’s the lord of Gistad County.”

“I don’t think that’s what’s important right now! Lord Kainchel, the pride of Stanise Academy! Ah, I’d give a fortune just to receive his teachings…”

Kainchel was on the verge of becoming a Sword Master just one year after leaving the academy.

To the trainee knights, he was like a being from above.

“What kind of person is he?”

“He must have been born with a natural talent for swordsmanship. I heard from a senior that he received Savior rank in all training exercises and was promoted to the Chevalier class.”

Kainchel would have been dumbfounded if he heard that.

Far from having a natural talent for swordsmanship, he was considered a troublemaker, called the worst underachiever in the academy’s history.

It wasn’t just the trainee knights who were in an uproar.

Colin, the director of the academy, was also driving the instructors hard with bloodshot eyes.

“D-Duke Kainchel is finally visiting the academy?”

“Yes, Director. According to the letter, he will be visiting today.”

Then, Colin shouted excitedly.

“Immediately summon all the trainee knights and prepare to welcome the honored guest! Hehe, hehehe! My luck is finally turning around!”

The reputation of an academy is determined by how many outstanding knights it produces.

If Kainchel becomes a Sword Master, the status of the Stanise Knight Academy will increase several times over.

“Duke Kainchel is said to be close to Instructor Ian, right? Bring him here immediately!”

“Why Instructor Ian…?”

“How can we miss such a great opportunity? I’m thinking of asking him to guide the trainee knights for an hour or two. Then, my insight in discovering Kainchel’s talent and raising him into an outstanding knight will be known.”

“Ah! As expected of you, Director. I will bring Instructor Ian immediately.”

However, Instructor Ian could not be found easily. Eventually, the time for Kainchel’s visit was approaching.

“Hoo! There’s no more time to wait. It’s a shame, but I’ll have to ask him directly. How are the other preparations going?”

“Rookie, Senior, and Chevalier classes have all been summoned.”

“Good. Go to the auditorium immediately and finish preparing for Duke Kainchel’s welcoming ceremony. There must be absolutely nothing that upsets him!”

“Understood, Director.”

But no matter how long they waited, Kainchel did not come.

No, he had already arrived at the academy.

@

Instructor Ian greeted Kainchel, who entered the academy through the back door.

“Ian, bro! It’s been a long time.”

“Oh, ahem! Duke of Gistad, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Do we have to be so formal? Speak comfortably.”

Seeing Kainchel, who hadn’t changed at all, a bright smile appeared on Ian’s face.

Kainchel reached out his right hand and bumped fists with Ian, who raised his fist. Then Ian shouted.

“The basics of swordsmanship are?”

“Muscles!”

“Haha! You haven’t changed, you rascal! Are you still doing your basic physical training well these days?”

“Of course. Oh, by the way, I was able to beat a Sword Master thanks to the Booster you taught me.”

Ian’s eyes welled up at the sight of Kainchel’s face after a long time.

Of course, Ian smiled awkwardly and grumbled that dust had gotten into his eyes.

Kainchel briefly explained to Ian, who was curious, about what he had experienced after leaving the academy.

Ian cheered at the part where he overwhelmed Meliot for a moment using the ‘Double Booster’.

“I told you, Booster is the best technique!”

His face was filled with pride and joy as he looked at his disciple.

“Oh, wait a minute. I have something I prepared to give you when you came.”

Ian took out a tattered bundle of parchment from his chest and smiled as he handed it over.

“This is…”

“It will be helpful if you read it.”

Kainchel swallowed hard and unfolded the parchment.

There, the appearance of all the muscles that make up the body was written along with detailed explanations.

Ian put his hand on Kainchel’s shoulder.

“You can already perfectly handle the skeletal muscles of your entire body. Now it’s time to move on to the next stage.”

“…Are you talking about involuntary muscles?”

“Oh, how did you know?”

Kainchel talked about Morgana, the Sword Master of Purity.

She is said to be able to control not only the involuntary muscles of her entire body but also blood vessels and genitals.

Then Ian nodded.

“I knew my hypothesis that an Aura Blade [a technique to imbue one’s will into their aura] is needed to strengthen involuntary muscles was correct.”

Aura Blade is the power to imbue will into Aura.

Ian studied not only muscles but also the nerves and sensory organs that move them.

The essence of it was all contained in the parchment.

‘Maybe I can strengthen not only muscles but also senses.’

But to do that, it was necessary to understand the involuntary muscles of the whole body first.

Bishop was impressed.

— Your partner’s teacher is also amazing. Did he create this vast amount of data all by himself?

Thus, everything Ian had researched throughout his life was passed on.

How to use it was up to Kainchel.

The two men’s secret meeting was ended by Instructor Bucks, who was looking for Ian.

“F-Finally found you… Instructor Ian, what are you doing here? The director is looking for you, so go quickly.”

“Oh, why is the director looking for me?”

“That’s why people say your head is full of muscles. Don’t you even know that the entire academy is noisy because of Duke Gistad’s visit!”

“…”

Bucks, who discovered Kainchel, exclaimed with a look as if he had seen a ghost.

“D-Duke Gistad?! Why through the back door…? J-Just wait a moment, I’ll go get Director Colin!”

And a little later, Director Colin appeared, sweating profusely.

“Huk, heok! Duke Gistad, welcome to the Stanise Knight Academy.”

“Director Colin, it’s been a while.”

“If you come this way, a welcoming ceremony is prepared. If you had given us a heads up in advance, we could have made it a little more splendid, but the time was too short…”

Kainchel shrugged.

From the beginning, the purpose of visiting this place was different.

“…Oh, by the way, would you mind giving some guidance to the trainee knights? Everyone wants to hear Duke Kainchel’s teachings.”

“Guidance?”

“Yes, they will consider it a great honor if you say a word.”

What on earth should he teach the trainee knights?

He couldn’t teach swordsmanship, but he could teach them how to chop onions.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not skilled enough to teach them.”

Director Colin, realizing that it was a gentle refusal, was sweating coldly.

‘I should have asked Ian to do it…’ But it was too late to regret it.

Kainchel smiled bitterly at the director’s attitude, which was completely different from when he left the academy.

‘I should mingle with them appropriately and then slip away.’

Thinking that, he called Richard von Frermang, who was hiding in his cloak.

He was going to have him investigate the academy while he was dealing with the director and trainee knights.

‘The medical officer was definitely talking outside the door at that time. They couldn’t have entered the ward avoiding their gaze.’

But they said they didn’t remember anything.

In the end, Kainchel left the academy without getting any clues.

But it’s different now.

Kainchel has Richard von Frermang by his side, who can see through the human mind.

‘I was intoxicated with painkillers at the time, so I couldn’t see the other person’s face properly. But the medical officers are different. They must have seen the person who brought the chicken soup. They just don’t remember it.’

Using the vampire’s magic eye, he could pull out the memories that had disappeared beyond oblivion.

@

Kainchel left the accommodation with a tired face. When he went to the agreed place, Leman was waiting.

“Did you find any clues?”

“Of course, my lord!”

Leman unfolded a map of the entire academy. He asked not to ask where he got it.

Vampires can turn their bodies into smoke or bats.

With that ability, they can infiltrate no matter how strict the security is.

“…I’m glad you’re my subordinate.”

Leman pointed to one corner of the map.

It was the ward where Kainchel was hospitalized after being injured while fighting goblins.

“As you can see, it is the most secluded room. Unless you are an assassin, it is difficult to infiltrate without being noticed by others. Besides, he was holding something to carry food, wasn’t he?”

Kainchel recalled the vague memories and said.

“…That’s right. I woke up hearing the sound of a cart being pulled.”

“In order to find the person who brought the soup to my lord, I went through the memories of not only the nursing officer but also everyone working in the medical office. And I was able to reach one conclusion.”

“Conclusion?”

“Do you remember what the stain on the table you used to eat every day looked like? If so, please draw it here.”

“…No, I know there’s a stain, but I don’t know what it looks like.”

A stain is just a stain.

Thinking that, something came to Kainchel’s mind.

“Are you saying that’s why I can’t remember his face?”

“That’s right. He is a person who is naturally there. So much so that you unconsciously pass him by. He must be someone who has been working here for a very long time.”

Thinking that, there were a few things that came to mind.

“Besides, no one should think it’s strange even if he’s pulling a cart. The only people who can do that are…”

Only one type of people meets all the conditions.

Leman flapped his wings and continued.

“…Yes, the person who brought the soup to my lord is the cleaner.”

‘And I thought he was a staff member when I saw him.’

There is only one person among the cleaners working at the academy who can wear the staff’s clothes.

The face of the man he had been close to while staying here came to Kainchel’s mind.

‘The only one who meets all the conditions is Uncle John, who manages the incinerator… Why did that person give me chicken soup…’

Kainchel headed to John’s accommodation. Even though it was late at night, he was awake.

“Uncle John…”

“Oh, isn’t it Young Master Kainchel? I always enjoyed the cigarettes you gave me.”

He had a relaxed expression as if he knew he would come.

Cleaner John was one of Kainchel’s few conversation partners along with Ian.

Kainchel, who had nothing, was able to get the things he needed from the academy with John’s help.

“…About the reason I came here today.”

“I know. You came to ask about the chicken soup, didn’t you?”

“…!”

“I thought it would take at least 10 years, no, 3 years. But you have reached the answer in just a year and a half. I am the one who brought you the soup. But someone else made it.”

Kainchel thought the soup he ate at that time was a 7-star dish [a dish with immense magical properties].

Then it explains why his level didn’t rise no matter how much he swung his sword until then.

The young lady Prelia, who had been asleep for 10 years, opened her eyes after eating a honey butter sandwich.

And Kainchel’s level, which had been stopped, began to rise after eating chicken soup for the soul.

‘Yes… I must have been cursed too.’

The curse of the Seven Deadly Sins disappears completely when you eat a 7-star dish.

Perhaps, without Kainchel noticing, such a miracle had happened?

John’s mouth opened and the name of a person he never expected came out.

The Meaning of Soul Food #2