Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 172

The aura blade emitted a dazzling light.

Keinzel recalled the characteristics of aura blades that Elizabeth had told him about.

‘It definitely has various characteristics depending on the skills and swordsmanship you possess, right?’

Hector’s aura field, Adolf’s Licht [Light in German], and Loengrin’s Light Wings. It was rare for it to be implemented in the form of a sword.

Black mist or illusionary clones weren’t even weapons.

Then, what form would Signature’s aura blade take?

Usually, a signature dish refers to the most famous and most confidently prepared dish that represents a chef.

‘That means…’

Keinzel decided to go to the training ground and test Signature’s ability.

When he went outside, dozens of people were gathered. They seemed to have gathered after seeing the sudden burst of tremendous light.

Commander Colin, who was at the very front, asked.

“Ke, Keinzel Gong! Are you alright?”

It seemed they had mistaken it for some kind of accident.

“I’m sorry for startling you suddenly. I didn’t expect to break through the wall like this either.”

“Su, surely…”

“Could you please contact the Tower of Null?”

Then, joy appeared on Commander Colin’s face.

The Tower of Null is where Sword Knight verification takes place.

The only reason Keinzel, who was already a Sword Knight, would visit that place was one thing.

“Oh, God. To think you would give me the opportunity to witness the birth of a new Sword Master…”

Commander Colin grabbed his staggering body and disappeared somewhere.

There is only one Tower of Null in Britannia. So, Sword Knight certifications are usually done by knight training centers or mercenary guilds.

‘When I think about it, it was a ridiculous sinecure [a position requiring little or no work but giving the holder status or financial benefit]. I see why Elizabeth is the Tower Master.’

How much time had passed?

Commander Colin returned, panting heavily.

“I’m, I’m sorry. Tower Master Elizabeth is currently away. It seems you’ll have to wait a few more days for the ceremony.”

“Then I’ll ask for the ceremony personally.”

Then, the faces of the gathered trainee knights looked more than just disappointed; they looked grief-stricken.

Keinzel smiled bitterly.

Trainee knights consider participating in the ceremony at the Tower of Null a great honor.

But considering Elizabeth’s abilities, he could guess the true nature of the ceremony.

‘I thought it was something great… It’s just spying to steal the opponent’s skill window, isn’t it?’

If the aura blade is registered there, you pass as a Sword Master. If not, you fail.

If that’s the case, isn’t it the same as updating the status to check Joma Kyung [a fictional martial art technique]?

“Keinzel Gong. If you’re thinking of checking your aura blade, I’ll have the trainee knights step back.”

“I don’t really mind.”

“And please lower your tone. From now on, you must not forget that you are a Master representing Britannia.”

“…If Commander Colin says so.”

Keinzel’s title is only that of a local lord. However, once he becomes a Sword Master, he receives the same authority as a Marquis [a high-ranking noble].

Once this fact becomes known, Britain will soon be turned upside down.

Arriving at the training ground, Keinzel activated his aura blade. It looked more like a lump of aura than a sword.

‘This can’t be all there is to Signature. Maybe…’

“Onion Swordsmanship!”

Then, Keinzel’s aura blade increased to seven and plunged into the ground.

Kukukuku-!-

Instantly, over 3,000 auras disappeared, causing a tremendous explosion.

Keinzel then used other cooking skills.

“Flambé!”

This time, Signature turned into a huge fireball. It had enough firepower to roast a whole cow.

Commander Colin’s face, who was watching, was filled with astonishment.

“H, how can someone who just became a Sword Master have so many types of aura blades…!”

Keinzel, who had barely figured out Signature’s ability, sheathed his sword.

This is enough for a test.

‘What do you mean multiple aura blades? I only have one, Signature.’

Many techniques are needed to make a single dish.

Signature, which embodies that, enhances the characteristics of all cooking skills.

In the end, Keinzel’s aura blade is implemented in various abilities and forms as many as the number of cooking skills.

‘This is totally awesome.’

It was an aura blade that could unleash tremendous versatility and power depending on how it was used.

Moreover, Signature requires two or more cooking skills to properly demonstrate its abilities.

He didn’t have to worry about being exposed to Elizabeth.

@

Commander Colin ran to Keinzel, who was about to leave the training center. A man with a face he had never seen before was with him.

A classic cloak and silver shimmering armor.

The scratches here and there showed that the armor was not for decoration.

“Keinzel Gong! Please wait a moment! Count Conrad says he has something to tell you.”

A strangely familiar name.

However, this was the first time Keinzel had met Count Conrad.

Count Conrad said with a troubled face.

“I’ve always wanted to meet Keinzel Gong. I heard you’ll be leaving Britannia for a while. So, I took the liberty of asking a friend.”

Keinzel, who was listening, felt embarrassed by his humble attitude.

It was as if he had committed a terrible wrong and came to apologize for it.

“I’m sorry, but I think this is our first time meeting.”

“Yes, I know. I came to apologize for my son’s rudeness.”

“Son? Could it be…”

A familiar figure emerged from Count Conrad’s wrinkled face.

Julius, whom he had confronted several times since entering the training center.

Come to think of it, his surname was Conrad.

If it was a duel, it was conducted with mutual consent, so there was no reason for the Count to apologize.

However, it was undeniably Julius’s fault for causing trouble at the ball he attended with Frellia.

“Since then, I’ve been trying to apologize to Keinzel Gong several times. But it wasn’t easy to meet you.”

‘I’ve certainly been traveling around so much that I’ve never stayed in one place for more than a week.’

It didn’t seem like he had come to apologize to Keinzel after hearing that he had become a Sword Master.

“I heard that you had settled in the North, so I was planning to go and apologize soon. But I heard from Commander Colin that you were here, so I rushed over.”

Conrad was a Margrave [a noble title, ranking below a duke] in charge of security in southern Britannia. It was not a position he could easily leave.

Yet, he rushed over without even wearing formal attire.

Even if he used the gate, it was amazing.

“He only knows how to swing a sword and doesn’t know anything about etiquette. I will apologize on his behalf, so please forgive the rudeness he committed at the ballroom.”

He was about to kneel down right now.

Keinzel found the shadow of Payne in Count Conrad’s bowing figure.

Before he knew it, one side of his chest became hot.

Keinzel no longer had any feelings for Julius.

Besides, it was Julius who was humiliated at that time.

“I’ve forgotten all about that. But do you happen to like borscht [a sour soup common in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia]?”

“…Borscht, you say? When I went to the North because of the war, I remember eating it really deliciously. I sometimes think about it and ask my servant to make it. But it never tastes like what I ate back then.”

“If you use the Deus Order’s gate, you can come to Gistad Territory. Then I’ll treat you to some amazing borscht.”

Count Conrad’s face brightened as he realized that it meant he was accepting the apology.

“I understand! I will definitely visit you.”

Keinzel, who had newly become the lord of the North. And Count Conrad, who had been protecting the South for generations.

Keinzel silently grabbed the hand the Count extended.

And quietly bowed his head.

It was the best compliment he could give to a father who came to apologize for his son’s rudeness.

@

Elizabeth, who found Keinzel returning to Britain, waved her hand.

“Hey, kid! How’s the aura blade?”

“…I’m sure I contacted you through the Tower of Null, but didn’t you hear?”

“Tower of Null? Is there such a thing?”

“You’re the Tower Master?!”

“Ahaha! They’ll come looking for me if they need to. Anyway, congratulations. Let’s see how useful the aura blade you got is.”

Elizabeth used Insight to check Keinzel’s skill window.

But all she saw were cooking skills that didn’t seem to be usable in battle.

“What’s wrong with the status of the five skills you used right before?!”

‘To deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies! I can’t let them find out about Signature this quickly!’

But Elizabeth seemed more interested in something else.

She was spinning her arms, wondering what she had found in Keinzel’s skill window.

“Ah! You ate baked potatoes before you came! Bake me some too!”

“Didn’t you say you were going to check the aura blade?”

“That can wait! Potatoes are important right now!”

“…Butter potatoes will do?”

“Yeah!”

Elizabeth explained the upcoming schedule while eating potatoes.

Erich was able to move to some extent thanks to the High Priest’s devoted care.

But his injuries were more severe than expected, and he would not be able to travel long distances for a while.

“We need his help to infiltrate the Deutschland royal castle. But Erich’s current condition makes it difficult to even cross the border. Is there any good way?”

After Adolf murdered the king.

Deutschland had locked down its borders and strictly restricted entry from Britannia.

It was as if they were doing something inside that shouldn’t be known.

‘Adolf joined hands with Merlin. Maybe…’

They couldn’t just stand by and watch what was happening in another country.

After Deutschland was swallowed up, it would be Britannia’s turn.

“A carriage is out of the question, of course…”

They had to travel through an enemy country with someone who couldn’t even walk or ride a horse.

After thinking for a while, Keinzel decided to borrow Bishop’s wisdom.

― I was wondering when you were going to ask, partner.

‘Bishop. Don’t you have a magic tool that heals wounds in an instant? I have plenty of money, so don’t worry about the price.’

― …There are magic tools that speed up healing, but they cannot heal wounds that even the High Priest could not heal.

Keinzel nodded.

The same was true of medicinal cuisine. Ultimately, healing wounds depended on the patient’s own healing power.

― The best thing to do is to wait until he is completely healed. But who knows how long that will take.

‘I can’t carry him around either… Oh, wait a minute. That thing you carry your main body around with. What was it called?’

― Are you talking about Automata [plural of automaton, a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being]? Certainly, that could assist Erich’s movements.

Keinzel, having come to a conclusion, told Elizabeth about it.

Elizabeth stroked her chin and let out a strange groan.

“Hmm. Certainly, with the artificial body Automata, even people without arms or legs can move perfectly. But is the person who knows how to make that Astolfo?”

“Yes, that must have been his name.”

“I’m sorry, but that perverted old man has been exiled for a long time. He was in Galia [an ancient region of Western Europe] until recently, but no one knows where he is now. Maybe he’s drinking cola with the Sultan in the Ottoman Empire [a former Turkish empire].”

“Is he missing?”

“You could say that. Rather than searching for that person and traveling around the continent, wouldn’t it be faster to wait for Erich to get better?”

Bishop’s voice was transmitted through Keinzel’s neural network. Keinzel smiled and said.

“I know where that person is.”

“Oh, really?”

To be precise, it was Bishop who knew Astolfo’s whereabouts. But it wasn’t entirely wrong either.

Keinzel and Bishop shared everything, including body, mind, and senses.

The man who makes the impossible possible #1