Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 190

Kainchel almost screamed.

A seventh-grade dish moved the soul of the person who ate it.

It couldn’t be made just because one was good at cooking.

‘I haven’t even reached the 7th grade yet, but 8th grade? No, does such a dish even exist in the first place?’

Elizabeth smiled and concluded.

“Well, that means you have to keep cooking. Let me know whenever you need a taste test. Your sister will help you.”

“Then let’s go back. Everyone must be waiting anxiously.”

He wanted to grab Guinevere by the scruff of her neck and go to Britannia.

However, Kainchel’s mission was to help Phidley become king.

He intended to stay at least until he was crowned.

Elizabeth, left alone, clicked her tongue and muttered.

“Tch. That’s why you can’t trust kids…”

@

Phidley cheered in victory only after seeing Elizabeth return unharmed.

The war, which had started as a battle for the throne and escalated into a civil war, had come to a complete end.

However, he couldn’t just be happy.

“…A victory that only left scars.”

Phidley sighed from the throne, where only the king of a nation could sit.

Although the coronation had not yet taken place, Phidley was tacitly recognized as the king.

Sword Master Erich and Marquis Nicholas, who could be called his right-hand men, were with him.

Phidley looked at Kainchel sitting in the VIP seat with a regretful expression.

Of course, Elizabeth sitting next to him was also a great help, but Kainchel was the main player in this victory.

How nice would it be if he could be with him in the future.

The thought that he couldn’t was heartbreaking.

Marquis Nicholas knelt before Phidley, who was sitting on the throne.

“Your Majesty. Those who directly supported Adolf should naturally be given the death penalty. But, please have mercy on those who did not.”

Anyone who had even a little involvement in the assassination of the late king had already disappeared into the execution ground.

But the remaining nobles were the problem.

Some people voluntarily went under Adolf, but most of them had no choice but to kneel.

They couldn’t all be treated the same way.

“The question is how to distinguish them.”

“…That’s right.”

Then, a great noble who had participated in the rebellion bowed his head and appealed.

“Your Majesty, the great new King Phidley! Please believe me. I had no choice but to cooperate because that heinous demon said he would cut off my head if I didn’t follow his orders!”

Everyone lies. For their own safety, to earn more money.

It is impossible to distinguish between lies and truth unless you use magic.

Eventually, Phidley decided to borrow Elizabeth’s wisdom.

“Lady Elizabeth. I’ve heard that some masters of the sword can tell if someone is telling the truth through the sound of their heart. Can you do that?”

Logically speaking, it didn’t make sense. Elizabeth smiled and shook her head.

“I can barely imitate it. How about asking the kid… No, Count Gistad.”

“Surely, my benefactor can do that too?!”

Phidley was so embarrassed that he used the word benefactor in an official setting.

What can’t Kainchel do!

“Yes, that’s right. Humans shed tears when they are sad, and their palms get wet when they are embarrassed, don’t they?”

Phidley, who knew the tragedy surrounding Princess Leia’s tears, nodded.

“Are you saying you can distinguish the truth of words by the taste of the sweat?”

“Let’s do a simple test now.”

Then the great noble vehemently protested.

“Your Majesty! I have never heard of discerning the truth of words in this way!”

“If you refuse for no reason, you will only arouse more suspicion.”

“Keuheuk…”

Kainchel grinned and licked the sweat running down the great noble’s cheek.

Slurp-

Then the gourmet skill, which had reached 6 stars, began to analyze its ingredients.

[Sweat of a liar]

“As expected of a great noble, you are good at managing your expression. But you can deceive your eyes, but you can’t deceive your tongue.”

Then sweat began to pour from the great noble’s face. It was proof that he was very embarrassed.

“Y-Your Majesty. Surely you don’t trust this man’s words more than my loyalty to the royal family for life?”

Kainchel shrugged.

“It’s a lie again.”

“Euaaaaagh!”

Eventually, Phidley had to acknowledge Kainchel’s ability to discern the truth.

And Kainchel licked the sweat of more than thirty nobles. It wasn’t a very pleasant experience, but the effect was certain.

In an instant, the hidden defectors were revealed.

Eventually, one of the nobles waiting for his turn took out a dagger.

“Kihihihi! I can’t serve as king someone who joins hands with elves! Die, Phidley!”

Deeeeeeng-!

However, the dagger stuck in Phidley’s body bounced right off. He had eaten seasoned chicken in advance in preparation for the assassination.

“Take him away.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Even the assassination attempt failed, and despair appeared on the faces of the Adolf faction nobles.

But there was no way out. In the end, they had no choice but to prostrate themselves and beg for mercy.

“Your Majesty, please have mercy…”

“…Please just spare my life.”

But Phidley was firm. It was different from the neutral nobles who had been given consideration for their punishment earlier.

Aren’t these the ones who could stab him in the back at any time?

“I understand. I will have mercy.”

“T-Thank you for your grace.”

“Originally, those involved in treason should have their entire family exterminated. But I will not hold your families accountable. Take them all to the execution ground.”

In the end, thanks to Kainchel’s efforts, even those who were hiding among the neutral nobles could be caught.

Phidley looked at the faces of the remaining people with a complicated expression.

To think that more than half of the nobles voluntarily joined Adolf.

Moreover, losing two Sword Masters was also a big deal.

Even if Heinrich, who was captured as a prisoner in Britannia, was returned, there would only be three left.

It was a smaller number than the Kingdom of Galia, which had four Sword Masters.

And if you think about the number of knights who were sacrificed in the civil war, it was terrible.

Eventually, Phidley made a decision.

“Marquis Nicholas. The country has suffered a lot of damage from the civil war. It will take too much time to restore this with human power alone.”

“Are you saying…”

“I think that we should not only recognize Eldrad’s autonomy, but also lead the country together with them in the future. Through this civil war, I was able to see the power of the elves. They are not suitable for occupation wars, but they are superior to any other force when it comes to defensive warfare.”

Eirene, who was sitting in the VIP seat, opened her eyes wide and stood up.

“Are you formally asking me to become a noble of Akard?!”

“That’s right, Queen of the Elves. Didn’t we agree to treat you the same as humans before?”

“…Then there will be two kings in one country. Is that okay?”

“I hope you can bear with it as a Grand Duke. So, if Eldrad is officially recognized as a Duchy, Akard will become a united kingdom of two countries.”

In the history of the continent, the territory of a different race has never been recognized as a country.

Phidley’s proposal was that unconventional.

On the continent, elves were treated no differently than wild animals. It is dangerous, so they do not invade their habitat, but if they have the opportunity, they capture them and use them as slaves.

But he is allowing not only autonomy but also governance.

“What about the enslaved people…?”

“I will help you rescue them at any cost.”

“…Then there’s no reason to refuse.”

Eirene shook hands with Phidley.

It was the moment when the first united kingdom in the continent, ruled by humans and different races, was born.

“From now on, I declare that the name of this country will be changed to the United Kingdom of El Akard, and that I will rule together with Grand Duke Eirene! This will take effect at the same time as my inauguration!”

Phidley did not make this decision solely out of goodwill.

Eirene’s direct bodyguard is skilled enough to stand up to a Sword Master.

In particular, the spiritist Apple Mint will be a tremendous force.

Gottfried, who had been watching Phidley’s mood from the corner, intervened.

“I-I can’t accept it! A country ruled by elves! What’s the difference between giving your property to a dog or cat you raise!”

“Shut your mouth, Gottfried! I told you to be grateful that I didn’t cut off your head and live quietly for the rest of your life!”

“H-Hik! I’m sorry, Your Majesty… I overstepped my bounds…”

The confident expression he had under Adolf disappeared, and only humility remained.

But Gottfried is also a descendant of Princess Leia.

He couldn’t be killed in order to maintain a good relationship with Grand Duke Vlad in the future.

Eirene offered Phidley, who was worried about his disposal, an option.

“Flowers are blooming wildly on the outskirts of Eldrad these days. I need a manager for that, so would you like me to take care of it? Well, the title should be something like a diplomatic aide for smooth communication with Eldrad? Since he’s a member of the royal family who lost the battle for the throne, let’s just let him suck honey for the rest of his life.”

“That would be good. Thank you, Grand Duke Eirene.”

“Wahahaha!”

Phidley approached Kainchel, who was sitting next to Elizabeth.

For some reason, the sausage roll he had made was lingering in front of his eyes.

Everything started with a bowl of food he made. If it hadn’t been for that, Deutschland would have disappeared from the map.

“Benefactor. Is there any dish that elves and humans can eat together? I want to share it together at the coronation.”

“Please speak comfortably. Aren’t you the king of a country now?”

“I can’t do that. Benefactor is Katrin… No, the benefactor of all of El Akard.”

He wanted to prostrate himself and bow down. But there were too many eyes watching, so he was just sad that he couldn’t.

“There is a difference in weight between a prince using honorifics and a king’s words.”

“…I understand. I have to be mindful of showing my gratitude to my benefactor, so becoming a king isn’t always a good thing.”

“Anyway, there’s a great dish for that. It’s a dish that elves and dwarves used to eat together, called tofu steak.”

“Tofu steak? That sounds delicious just by the name.”

Phidley swallowed without realizing it.

@

The coronation of Phidley, the first king of the United Kingdom of El Akard, was held quietly.

With so many people dead from the civil war, it couldn’t be held in a flamboyant manner.

And those who participated in the coronation shared the tofu steak made by Kainchel.

Exclamations of admiration came from here and there.

“Is this food made from beans! W-What is the identity of this unbelievable umami [savory flavor]?!!”

“Everyone, human or elf, can enjoy this. Isn’t it like looking at El Akard!”

In the end, El Akard’s royal chef had to learn how to make tofu from Kainchel all night long.

Wouldn’t the smell of boiling soybeans be coming from El Akard’s kitchen every morning from now on?

The United Kingdom of El Akard, ruled by humans and elves together. The transformation was just the beginning.

Phidley, who had finished his meal, called Kainchel in a quiet voice.

“Come to think of it, Count Kainchel said he was leaving soon?”

“Yes, I can’t leave my territory empty for long.”

“Right. You were also the lord of Gistad. There is something I would like you to accept before that.”

“…Surely there’s more dragon meat left?”

“That was all I gave you back then. Anyway, let’s talk about the details in person.”

Phidley took Kainchel somewhere. There is a place in the castle where only the royal family can enter.

It seemed like such a place.

After passing through several secret doors and walking for a long time through a passage lit only by ore lamps, they were able to reach their destination.

“…This is a room?”

When he opened the door and went inside, a man he had never expected greeted Kainchel.

United Kingdom of El Akard #2