Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 187

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Chapter 57: The True Master

“I… I killed him. I killed a Sword Master!”

Erebus, who until half a day ago was Count Mikhail, trembled with joy.

Becoming a Chimera wasn’t as bad as he thought.

No, it was actually good.

A large crater had formed in front of Count Mikhail.

The Sword Master of Britannia, who had inflicted tremendous humiliation on Adolf.

His body had turned to dust, not even a single bone fragment remaining.

The power of Chimera Erebus, created by taking only the advantages of numerous monsters, was simply astonishing.

Moreover, it didn’t end there.

Like an elf, he could absorb life force from trees, granting him tremendous regenerative power.

“Oh! I was blind to His Majesty Adolf’s sky-like generosity!”

The wall of the Sword Master, which he could never overcome.

He had obtained the power to shatter it in an instant. A thrill that made his entire body tingle swept through Count Mikhail.

Crack-!

Something bit Count Mikhail’s neck, and began to suck blood.

“What!? No, could it be…!”

There was a black, shimmering mist.

The mist seemed to ripple and soon transformed into the figure of a young knight.

Keinzel spat out the blood of Count Mikhail that he had been holding in his mouth and muttered.

“Ptooey! What a terrible taste. It feels like dipping bugs in rotten fish broth and eating them.”

“Kugh! How did you survive that attack!”

‘Luck is enough for once.’ Count Mikhail gathered all his strength in both arms and swung them at Keinzel.

Kugugugung-!

It contained power enough to shatter nearby buildings with just the shockwave.

This level of attack was the first since Meliot, who was said to be able to break mountains and part rivers.

He could understand why Asura’s body, made of steel, couldn’t withstand a single blow.

Each time his bulging arms tore through the air, the entire space shook, creating a wall of shockwaves.

However, Count Mikhail’s attack merely cut through the air.

“What? Why doesn’t it hit! I… I…! I certainly gained invincible power!”

Keinzel checked the stats floating in his mind’s eye. Transforming into a vampire had greatly increased his health, mana, strength, and agility.

The divine power, which had turned to 0, didn’t even seem like a penalty.

— Partner! There are only 2 minutes and 20 seconds left!

“That’s enough! Jelly!”

Then, the jelly, which had turned dark red, stuck to both of Marquis Mikhail’s feet.

“What is this sticky stuff! Get off! Get off me!”

There was enough Aura [magical energy]. Keinzel pointed his sword at Count Mikhail, who was trying to escape from the jelly.

To cut through the body of a Chimera made from a Sword Knight, he needed the strongest attack he could muster right now.

“Glaize!”

The blade of Durendal, coated with three different types of Aura, gleamed.

Keinzel pushed Aura into every muscle in his body.

Vampire blood and Aura were incompatible.

When the forces that could never be combined collided, a small explosion occurred inside his body.

However, the near-immortal vampire body barely endured it.

Swish-!

The sword, fired at lightning speed, cut off one of Count Mikhail’s arms.

“Ah.”

Count Mikhail’s eyes widened.

It was an attack so fast that he couldn’t even react properly.

At the same time, his vision turned red.

It was only after a moment that he realized it was his own blood.

“Not yet, it’s not over yet! I haven’t lost yet!”

Then, as if turning back time, Count Mikhail’s body began to regenerate.

And in an instant, he returned to his original form.

“Strong… Is this youth… But, I have this ultimate body!”

However, Keinzel’s eyes were chasing after the other Erebus. It was as if he no longer had any business with Count Mikhail.

“I’m your opponent! Sword Master of Britannia!”

“No, you’re already finished.”

“Wh-what…! Ku, Keuheoheoheok!”

Count Mikhail’s body, which had finished regenerating, began to crumble from the tips of his fingers.

Marquis Mikhail was Chimera Erebus, possessing near-infinite regenerative power.

But with a single attack, his regenerative ability disappeared.

Keinzel’s attack, having become a vampire, had the Blood Drain effect, which had risen to 10 stars.

In addition, the Gourmet skill, which had reached 6 stars, was added.

The Gourmet skill allows you to eat a lot of food. And for Keinzel right now, food is only blood.

‘Ugh, I don’t get used to eating so much.’

The blood of Erebus, which was so disgusting that it made him gag with just one sip.

It was the same as eating it until his stomach burst. Besides, there were still three Erebus left.

“I don’t want to overeat like this, but I have no choice.”

The other Erebus were not at all intimidated by the sight of Count Mikhail’s body crumbling.

Rather, they burned with even more fighting spirit.

“Then, since there’s no time, come at me all at once! Onion Swordsmanship!”

Then, Durendal’s blade split into seven, slashing Erebus’s body.

No matter how strong the regenerative ability, its source is ultimately blood.

By using the vampire’s ability, it can be turned into nothing.

Dracula’s blood was the ultimate weapon to fight against enemies with immortal abilities.

@

Guooooo-!

Keinzel, who had defeated three Erebus in an instant, looked at the last one remaining.

But something was different from before. He had eyes closer to a human than a monster.

“Rommel, M-Marquis… I… I won’t attack, pl-please spare me.”

He was the one who hadn’t attacked even once since his first appearance.

Keinzel’s eyes narrowed. Marquis Rommel was a neutral aristocrat who had not taken sides in the battle for the throne.

‘…So, that means they even turned the man who was soon to become a Sword Master into a Chimera?’

The image of Ainkel, who had become a Chimera, flashed through Keinzel’s mind.

Bishop was looking for a way to restore his body to its original state, but so far, there had been no significant progress.

“If you have no intention of attacking, I will not cut you. Put this bracelet on one hand.”

“Th-that is….”

“It’s Draupnir, which seals Aura.”

“…Okay.”

Marquis Rommel nodded his large head and followed Keinzel’s words.

Only after using jelly to completely bind his body could he feel safe enough to talk.

Pshhhhh-!

After 3 minutes, the mist swirling around Keinzel’s body disappeared. And the long fangs that had grown returned to their original state.

‘About four more sips left.’

He would have to save it as much as possible until he defeated Merlin.

Thus, the battle that took place in Mikhail Territory ended in less than half a day.

The result of the battle was an overwhelming victory for the Phihleli army.

The Horizon and Elven Knights who had invaded the territory quickly swept away the Mikhail army.

Considering the abilities of the elves who ate mandrake stew, it was a natural result.

“Are you really Marquis Rommel?”

Phihleli’s face turned white as he looked at Marquis Rommel, who had become a Chimera.

“Ye-yes…, Your Highness.”

Rommel explained to those gathered that he had been modified into a Chimera called Erebus.

Phihleli gritted his teeth at the news that even Sword Knights were being used as Chimera material.

“If this continues, nothing will be left. …We were able to come this far thanks to the benefactor. Please lend us your strength a little more.”

“That’s what I came here to do. Besides, I’d be in trouble if Eldrad disappeared.”

Elizabeth muttered, staring at Rommel with drowsy eyes.

“But what about that big guy? I never thought we’d capture a Chimera as a prisoner.”

“Bishop is researching how to turn Chimeras back into humans. He said the more samples, the better.”

“Hmm, I wonder if even Bishop can restore a body that has been changed so much to its original state.”

“If all else fails, he said he can use magical tools to at least make them look human.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Now that they had Mikhail Territory in their hands, Weimar was right in front of them.

Moreover, Marquis Rommel, who had been there until half a day ago, was with them.

They could hear from Marquis Rommel about the power that Adolf possessed.

“Adolf is still sitting on the throne without moving, right?”

“Th-that’s right.”

“In the end, we have to face Adolf, seventy Tartarus [elite soldiers] in Weimar, and two Erebus at the same time. You’ve made quite a lot.”

“Most of them are just following him because they are afraid of Adolf’s power… If we can defeat him, everything will be over. If you have any more questions….”

Phihleli, who had been listening to Rommel’s words with a bonfire between them, stood up.

“That’s enough, Marquis Rommel. The late king is dead, and Deutschland needs a new king. I am an inadequate person who has not formally obtained the right to inherit the throne. That is why I need vassals like you. I will spare no support in restoring your body to its original state.”

“…Your benevolence is boundless.”

They had to defeat Adolf as soon as possible. Everyone gathered here focused their attention on Keinzel.

Adolf, a demon who possessed the power of a Sword Master and a dragon at the same time.

To face him, they needed Keinzel’s power, and cooking.

“To use Dracula’s blood again, I need to rest for at least half a day. Besides, I can use that power best when the moon is up.”

“Then the execution will be tomorrow night.”

The basic strategy was the same as today.

While those who ate monster cuisine faced the Adolf army, Keinzel and Elizabeth would behead the enemy commander.

“Benefactor! It’s really over now. Now that Mikhail Territory has been taken, Adolf is like a rat in a trap.”

At that moment, an enormous hostility suddenly appeared in front of Keinzel.

“――Who said I’m a rat in a trap?”

The space split open, and Adolf’s body, with dragon horns and wings, popped out.

Adolf glared at Phihleli with red eyes.

He lightly grabbed his neck. He was a weak body that would die if he put pressure on it.

Next to him was Sword Master Keinzel, who had inflicted tremendous humiliation on him in Britannia.

He looked like a gourmet, wondering what to eat first.

“Kahaha! I’ve finally met you! I won’t be easily defeated this time!”

At the same time, an enormous Aura formed on the sword that Adolf was holding.

And he swung it at Elizabeth.

It happened so quickly that she couldn’t even react properly.

Thud-!

Adolf’s sword pierced Elizabeth’s left chest and came out the other side.

No matter how much of a Sword Master she was, she would die if her heart was destroyed. No, that was the same even for a dragon.

She could have avoided the attack. But Elizabeth didn’t move at all.

Keinzel realized the reason.

If she hadn’t taken Adolf’s attack, Phihleli and Eirene behind her would have lost their lives.

When he pulled out the sword he had stabbed in, blood spurted out of Elizabeth’s chest like a fountain.

Phihleli, flustered, shouted.

“E-Elizabeth, why?!”

“I promised to protect you, you idiot prince… I always keep my promises….”

He thought it was just a passing remark.

Considering her usual words and actions, it wouldn’t be strange to take it as a joke.

“D-don’t say anything! Erich! Potion! Bring a recovery potion!”

Phihleli held Elizabeth’s body, which was about to collapse.

Elizabeth was looking at Keinzel until the moment she closed her eyes.

“Hoo, I didn’t know I could take care of a Sword Master so easily. Then now….”

“…I… I’m not dead yet. Sorry, kid… I’ll leave the rest to you….”

He didn’t know how she was still alive even with a hole in her heart.

But even now, he could feel the life force leaving her body.

A demon Adolf who tore through space and appeared.

He could no longer drink the blood of Vampire Dracula. And Elizabeth was unable to participate in the battle.

But for some reason, he didn’t feel like he would lose.

“Prince! Please take care of Elizabeth!”

“B-Benefactor….”

“Let’s take care of that guy first and then talk about the rest.”

Keinzel activated Onion Swordsmanship.

It was time to show the true power of Aura Blade Signature.

The True Master #2