Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 192

Born into royalty and having sampled cuisines from across the globe, Phideli stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“Sanguinaccio dolce, you say? I’ve never encountered a dish by that name.”

“It’s not particularly extravagant. In the Marpasino region of Florence, there’s a tradition of slaughtering pigs for every festival. Sanguinaccio dolce [a sweet blood pudding] is often served at the end of the celebrations.”

“So, a blood dessert. I’m quite intrigued by what it tastes like. If you don’t mind, may I observe its preparation?”

Kainzel, still clinging to a sliver of discretion, shook his head.

He couldn’t reveal the process to Phideli, or anyone else for that matter.

“They say the anticipation is the best part of any journey. The excitement of waiting only amplifies the pleasure of tasting the dish, wouldn’t you agree? Please be patient a little longer.”

“Indeed. That’s perfectly reasonable. Then I shall wait with Grand Duke Vlad.”

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“I have no doubt. Your cooking always makes my heart sing.”

Upon entering the kitchen, Kainzel decided to experiment with Fragarach first.

Legend had it that Fragarach was capable of vanquishing evil by reacting to the user’s divine power.

He wasn’t sure why it was preserved as a national treasure. Now that it was in his possession, he intended to put it to good use.

“Should I begin by channeling aura brimming with divine power?”

Currently, Kainzel possessed a remarkable 94 points of divine power, a figure rarely seen even among high-ranking priests.

‘Now, transform into the ultimate ladle!’

However, Fragarach remained unresponsive.

It seemed some sort of initiation was required to wield it.

“Pfft. You naive boy. That’s not how you use it.”

Kainzel turned towards the kitchen entrance at the unexpected voice.

Fortunately, it wasn’t Phideli, but Elizabeth.

She was grinning, clearly amused.

“Oh, Lady Elizabeth. Do you happen to know about Fragarach?”

“It’s practically a demon’s worst nightmare. I’ve at least heard the name,” Elizabeth said, waving her hand dismissively, seemingly uncomfortable with the sword, before explaining, “Fragarach is also known as the Sword of Achievements.”

“It’s said that the more accomplishments one has, the greater the power it bestows.”

“So, to wield this, I must demonstrate my achievements?”

“Precisely. It’s essentially a sword that evil individuals can’t handle.”

“Achievements… I can’t exactly summon a minstrel to compose a heroic ballad, so how do I prove them?”

“It’s said to resonate with the soul and perceive accumulated achievements. Why don’t you hold the sword and reflect on your past?”

“I’ll give it a try.”

Kainzel grasped Fragarach and closed his eyes. Immediately, the countless events he had experienced since departing the knight training center flooded his mind.

He had confronted the Seven Sin Cult, thwarting their attempt to resurrect the Seven Deadly Sins.

He had defeated Algedi, who had sacrificed his territory’s inhabitants in pursuit of immortality.

Most recently, he had stood against Adolf, who sought to plunge the entire nation into a maelstrom of war.

Surely these accomplishments were sufficient to be recognized as Fragarach’s wielder?

“……!”

He concentrated so intensely that he was drenched in cold sweat, yet nothing happened.

“Hmm. That’s peculiar. Think harder, boy. Haven’t you ever saved someone’s life, like when you healed my wound?”

“…You mean the wound my sister inflicted on your chest?”

In that instant, a revelation struck Kainzel. There was. There were many.

‘I was mistaken. My achievements as a chef far outweigh those as a swordsman, correct? That’s what I should focus on.’

Kainzel gripped Fragarach’s hilt once more. This time, he contemplated his culinary endeavors.

The moment the curse on Frelia was lifted, Count Gregsia’s expression remained vivid in his memory.

What about the curry he had prepared for the people afflicted by wrath?

And the gazpacho he had concocted to counteract mercury poisoning.

Even the seasoned chicken he had provided for the defeated soldiers.

Of the countless dishes he had created, how many deserved to be considered achievements?

Kainzel could confidently assert:

All of them.

An intense heat surged through his hand.

He experienced the memories of the countless individuals who had wielded Fragarach before him. For some reason, most appeared to be martial artists from the East. Perhaps Fragarach originated from that region.

[Fragarach’s exclusive skill ‘Qi Control Sword (以氣馭劍)’ has been created.]

‘Qi Control Sword…?’

It was a term unfamiliar to him. Yet, he could comprehend it.

Before he realized it, Fragarach was levitating in the air.

“…Alright! It worked!”

To be honest, he felt slightly disconcerted that his culinary achievements surpassed his martial ones. However, for now, he resolved to be content with acquiring a new skill.

Elizabeth, who had been observing from the sidelines, remarked with admiration, “The power contained within Fragarach was high-level swordsmanship. Congratulations, boy. You’ve gained another aura blade with this.”

“This is high-level swordsmanship?”

“In reality, once you attain the level of Sword Master, distinctions in rank become largely irrelevant. That’s simply how it is. But to draw Fragarach in the kitchen, could it be…”

Kainzel licked his lips and replied, “Please keep this a secret from His Majesty Phideli.”

“……”

“Well, Fragarach responded to my achievements as a chef rather than a knight, so let’s just say it tacitly approved.”

With that, he used meringue to attach a ladle to Fragarach’s blade.

Thus, a cooking tool was born, appearing rather shabby but possessing exceptional capabilities.

With this, all preparations for crafting the blood dessert were complete.

@

Sanguinaccio dolce is a type of pudding made by mixing sweet ingredients such as sugar, chocolate, and raisins into pig’s blood.

As expensive sugar was used, it was considered a dessert to decorate the end of the festival.

Basically, it was not much different from making chocolate pudding. But it had to be boiled for much longer.

Kainzel first filled a large pot halfway with water and then placed a smaller pot on top of it.

If it was cooked at too high a temperature, it would become hard blood sausage.

Boiling it very slowly in a double boiler was the secret to making delicious sanguinaccio dolce.

First, pour 1 liter of milk into a small pot and boil it until steam comes out.

Then add 450g of sugar to make a syrup.

When making desserts, accurate measurements in grams were essential.

‘Then add vanilla and dark chocolate and stir until they melt completely and become one.’

He decided to use Qi Control Sword to do that work. Kainzel gripped Fragarach and put his heart into it.

Then, with a buzzing sound, Fragarach flew into the pot.

“Oh, it works! Good, stir it very slowly so that it doesn’t clump together. Yes, at that speed…! Perfectly wonderful!”

While Fragarach was boiling the pudding.

Kainzel killed a pig and extracted fresh blood. He poured it directly into the pot so that it wouldn’t coagulate even a little.

“Exactly 1 liter of blood.”

The pig’s blood mixed with dark chocolate turned into a very seductive crimson color.

“Now my work is done. Shall I leave the rest to the ladle?”

Usually, a hardening agent was added to shape the pudding.

In the case of custard pudding, egg yolks or starch flour were used.

But sanguinaccio dolce didn’t need that. The plenty of blood slowly cooked and gained a jelly-like elasticity.

Kainzel nodded, watching Fragarach move so exquisitely that he was even impressed.

“It’s stirring the pig’s blood in the pudding so that it doesn’t harden immediately and turns soft. Fragarach! You’re really the best ladle…!”

In addition, by changing the parts in the front, it could also be used as a rolling pin to shape noodles.

All Kainzel had to do was check every few minutes to see if the pudding was setting well.

It was a very satisfying automatic cooking tool.

Thanks to Fragarach’s performance, Kainzel was able to make sanguinaccio dolce very easily.

After transferring the finished pudding to a small bowl, sprinkle white powdered sugar on top to finish.

Kainzel took it to those who were waiting.

“Here is the sanguinaccio dolce. It will taste even better with warm Assam tea.”

Princess Katrihn’s eyes softened as she received the pudding and black tea.

“It just looks like sweet pudding, but is this really a dessert made with blood?”

“Yes. There’s a lot of pig’s blood in it. It’s sweet and salty, and has a slight metallic taste. It will be very strange when you put it in your mouth.”

Katrihn swept her flowing hair behind her ears and moved her spoon.

The crimson color created by mixing dark chocolate and blood was so seductive that it seemed to be sucked straight in.

When she brought the silver spoon to her mouth, the pudding trembled. And it gently accepted it inside.

Katrihn unknowingly licked her pink lips slightly and brought the pudding to her mouth.

When she rolled her tongue slightly, she felt the colorful taste created by mixing milk, dark chocolate, and blood.

Perhaps because of the large amount of sugar and cinnamon, there was no fishy smell at all.

Who would have thought that chocolate and blood would go so well together?

“D, delicious!”

Katrihn’s hand quickened. The sanguinaccio dolce was more delicious than expected.

The sanguinaccio dolce was thick and strangely elastic.

The feeling on the tongue was different from custard pudding, which was hardened with eggs and starch.

But it melted away without having to chew, just like other puddings.

At the same time, an unbelievable sweetness was felt. The salt in the blood amplified the sweetness of the dark chocolate and milk.

The sweet taste that melted in her mouth and spread throughout her body made her feel like she was about to collapse.

Grand Duke Vlad, who was watching Katrihn eat the pudding with a happy expression, moved his hand.

“Then let’s eat too. Your Majesty, please have some too.”

“Thank you, Grand Duke.”

Phideli and Grand Duke Vlad, who had been waiting, began to eat the pudding.

“Ehehe. I need to eat one more bowl.”

Elizabeth’s bowl was empty, wondering when she had eaten it all.

“Have you already finished it?”

“Yeah, boy. Give me more.”

“……”

It seemed that speed was not the only thing she was good at.

Grand Duke Vlad, who scooped up a lot of pudding and put it in his mouth, exclaimed.

“It’s really sweet and seductive. To make such a dessert with the blood of a mere creature like a pig. I want to praise your skills.”

Phideli was also surprised. It was so delicious that he couldn’t believe it was a dessert made with blood.

“Princess Katrihn. You have chocolate on your mouth. Wipe it with this handkerchief.”

“Ah, thank you, Grand Duke.”

“If possible, could you call me grandfather, even if only here?”

Katrihn hesitated for a moment, then smiled brightly like a flower blooming. If you traced the bloodline back, Grand Duke Vlad was a distant grandfather.

“…Yes, I understand. Grandfather.”

Seeing that, Phideli felt his heart warming.

The vampire Grand Duke Vlad and the human Katrihn were sharing the same food and sharing their hearts.

Wouldn’t it be only the food made by Kainzel that made this possible?

“I regret not being able to watch you make it. Please show me next time.”

“……”

I’m sorry, but that will never happen.

Kainzel had to hold back what he wanted to shout.

@

“Are you leaving now?”

Grand Duke Vlad muttered with a regretful expression. He decided to stay in the basement of the royal castle for a while to assist Phideli.

“I’ll see you again when I need monster meat.”

“Yes, please come. I’m really indebted to you in many ways.”

Kainzel didn’t ask why Grand Duke Vlad was here.

Surely a big change had occurred in his heart to break his thousand years of seclusion.

“You’re welcome.”

“You drank my blood. Although you are not the same vampire, I feel like you are my own brother. If you need help closing the door, please tell me anytime.”

Flap-!

“Don’t worry! I, Lehmang, am always by my lord’s side!”

It was Lehmang, who had been sleeping in Kainzel’s cloak because he had used too much power.

“Hahaha! Yes, I almost forgot about you.”

Phideli and Eirene were not seen, perhaps because they were busy with work. But he had a feeling that he would meet them again soon.

Kainzel quietly turned his body and walked towards the gate. The monster meat he had brought from Vlad’s territory was full in the two-dimensional pocket.

He wouldn’t have to suffer from a lack of ingredients for a while.

“Then it’s time to return to Gistad territory.”

“What are you talking about, boy? We have to go to Briton first. Were you perhaps forgetting?”

“Lady Elizabeth…?”

“Tsk, you were calling me sister until just now. Anyway, let’s put out the urgent fire first.”

Elizabeth grabbed Kainzel’s hand and pushed him straight into the gate.

“Ah!”

Only then did a fact that he had forgotten for a while come to Kainzel’s mind.

PIRATE’S TREASURE #1