Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 214

Goethe showed up yawning widely at the appointed time, his hair disheveled as if he had just woken up.

Considering that the sun had already passed its zenith and was heading west, he seemed extremely relaxed.

“I met a young lady named Kellypa yesterday, and she was so intense that I couldn’t sleep a wink.”

Startled, Morgana covered Calliope’s ears and shouted,

“Mr. Goethe! There’s a child here! Go to a bar if you want to talk about your escapades with… ladies!”

“What are you talking about? Kellypa is a writer I met in Gaul [ancient region of Western Europe, now France]. We were just debating whether comedy or tragedy is superior. What misunderstanding could you possibly have?”

“Oh, yes. Debating, you say. So, did you get that hickey on your neck from King Lear or something?”

“Ahem! Anyway, I’m curious to see how well Cainchel has prepared.”

Goethe looked away and whistled.

It seemed like I would have to conduct an investigation to find out what happened last night.

Just then, Cainchel arrived with a box that reeked of the sea.

When he opened it, it was full of large shells.

Goethe’s eyes widened.

“Those are abalones, aren’t they? Aren’t those the tough, tasteless shells that people throw away?”

As expected of a gourmet, Goethe was very knowledgeable about ingredients. He must have tasted them before.

Cainchel nodded in response.

“They are indeed tougher compared to commonly eaten oysters, mussels, or scallops. However, sometimes disadvantages can turn into advantages.”

In addition to the abalones, the box also contained seaweed that could be harvested from the sea.

That was where the sea smell was coming from.

“Seaweed and abalone… What kind of dish are you planning to make?”

“Both are ingredients that are hardly eaten in Britannia [Roman name for Great Britain] or Gaul. However, dishes using seaweed are emerging, mainly in the Tuscan Confederation [historical Italian state], which actively trades with Ming [Chinese dynasty].”

The seaweed that Cainchel bought at the market was an ingredient called kelp.

It contains umami-enhancing components and is used to add flavor to dishes rather than being eaten directly.

‘Bishop once said that MSG was a seasoning extracted from kelp, right? I should try making it sometime if I get the chance.’

After the war, trade with other continents began to flourish.

As a result, dishes using ingredients that had never been eaten before were emerging day by day.

At this very moment, the potential of cooking was evolving infinitely.

Cainchel set up a large iron plate in the open space and began to prepare the abalones in earnest.

First, he gently scooped out the contents of the abalone using a spoon.

“Abalones are unique in that they have teeth. The abalone’s intestines have a very rich flavor. They can also be used to make delicious soups or porridge.”

To eat tough abalone softly, thin slits should be made on the adductor muscle side and then heated for a long time.

The abalone shells were not discarded but were to be blanched in boiling water and used as bowls.

When Cainchel took out a bottle of liquor from a wooden case, Goethe’s eyes lit up.

“That’s Ming’s specialty, Cheongju [Korean rice wine]. Using alcohol to enhance the flavor of ingredients is a common cooking method in every country.”

He poured water and Cheongju into a pot in a 1:1 ratio and then set up a steamer with kelp on top.

Then, he placed the abalones on top of it.

Finally, he wrapped the abalones in thinly sliced radish and steamed them over low heat for about three hours to complete the steamed abalone with sake, Mushi Awabi (蒸し鮑).

“Isn’t that going to take too long?”

“You have to wait that long to eat tough abalone softly.”

Besides, the subtle smell of the alcohol boiling and the kelp cooking was quite pleasant.

Goethe scratched the back of his head with a nonchalant expression. He had realized Cainchel’s intention.

“You’re deliberately preparing a dish that takes a long time to get a lot of information about demons from me.”

“I have to prepare for failure, don’t I?”

“You’ve become very cunning. Or were you always like that…? Now that it’s come to this, ask me anything you’re curious about. I’ll even tell you what kind of underwear Kellypa was wearing last night.”

“That’s okay. First, I’d like to hear about the lineage of the 72 demons.”

“Tch. You don’t have a sense of humor. Alright. Then, let’s begin Goethe’s Introduction to Demonology class.”

That way, Cainchel and Morgana were able to gain knowledge about the demons they might have to fight.

It was a very informative three hours.

* * *

Goethe had to forcibly suppress the twitching of his lips when he saw the completed Mushi Awabi.

The abalone had become surprisingly chewy. The flesh, infused with the flavor of Cheongju, had a subtle sweetness.

Cainchel sliced the Mushi Awabi very thinly and placed it on the shell. Then, the abalone flesh looked like rippling water.

“This is that tasteless abalone? I can’t believe it.”

“It’s because it’s been boiled in alcohol for a long time. The moment you put it in your mouth, it will melt away with a moist and chewy texture.”

“Hmm. Let’s see…”

The radish softens the tough abalone, and the kelp replenishes the lack of umami.

Moreover, the abalone flesh infused with the aroma of Cheongju offered a very unique texture.

“…It’s similar to escargot but much more elastic. The deep flavor that comes out as you chew is the result of slowly boiling it and infusing it with the taste of alcohol.”

Goethe’s analysis was accurate.

However, he pointed to the iron plate with an expression that something was still missing.

“It’s amazing that you made such a wonderful dish with ingredients that are not commonly eaten. You’re indeed a chef who created seasoned chicken. But that’s all. This is no different from monster cuisine.”

He seemed to be referring to the time when he had a cooking competition with Gordon’s daughter, Oracle.

“…You knew that Hool was me in disguise.”

“Who do you think I am? I’m Goethe! Even if you change your voice, tone, and behavior, you can’t fool my eyes.”

As expected of a great writer. Cainchel chuckled and took out another box this time.

“Then you must also know that my dish is not over yet.”

“I knew it. If you were only going to serve steamed abalone, there would be no need to prepare that big iron plate.”

“That’s right. Mushi Awabi is just an hors d’oeuvre [appetizer]. The main course is this beef.”

When he opened the box, the rich aroma of meat aged to its limit wafted out.

It was so densely marbled that the whole thing looked white.

It looked as if flowers had bloomed on the meat.

“…No, it can’t be! This is beef!?”

It was the first time Goethe, who had traveled all over the continent and eaten countless dishes, had ever seen such meat.

“Hors d’oeuvres are eaten to stimulate the appetite before the main course. Once you’ve eaten Mushi Awabi, Mr. Goethe, you’ll become a prisoner of the evolving steak.”

“Where did you get such delicious-looking beef? Damn it, eating the abalone steamed in sake made me even hungrier…”

Cainchel sprinkled olive oil on the heated iron plate. And he started by grilling thinly sliced garlic first.

This makes the garlic flavor permeate the meat, making it even more delicious.

Eating crispy garlic chips with the meat is also a good match.

A wide spatula is needed to cook the meat freely on a hot iron plate.

Cainchel had a very convenient ability to freely create tools of the desired shape.

“Jelly!”

― I’ve been waiting, partner!

When he used the spatula to put the meat on the iron plate, it started to cook instantly with a sizzling sound.

As the pure white marbling melted and was absorbed into the flesh, an incredibly rich aroma that was hard to believe was beef wafted out.

Morgana, who had been hiding in a distant place on purpose, shouted, panting.

“I can’t wait any longer! How can it smell so much better than when we ate it on the farm?!”

“It’ll be done soon. Please wait a little longer.”

“…Aaaagh!”

Morgana’s senses were already sensitive. If she was told not to eat the finished dish, she was about to collapse.

He seasoned the beef, which had turned light brown on the iron plate, lightly with pepper and salt.

The rich meat aroma spread throughout the building, creating an enormous sense of hunger.

Cainchel cooked both sides of the meat on a hot iron plate and then covered it with a lid.

This keeps the juices trapped inside the meat, making it taste even richer.

‘Fallen Star!’

Then, the situation inside the lid felt as vivid as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

Using a hot iron plate cooks the meat evenly overall.

In addition, mushrooms and vegetables can be stir-fried in oil infused with the aroma of meat and garlic.

Above all, the chef’s passion for cooking is directly conveyed to the guest in front of him.

When he opened the lid, a beef steak grilled in an ideal shape was revealed.

The oil was sizzling in the beef that had been heated by the iron plate.

Goethe stared at it with an expression as if he had been possessed by a demon. It was the first time he had ever seen such an appetizing steak.

Squeak, squeak-!

When he started slicing the meat with a kitchen knife, the crimson flesh was revealed.

The juices that flowed out of it permeated the mushrooms that were being grilled together, creating an unbelievably savory smell.

“The best way to eat this kind of beef is to sprinkle it with salt only, without adding any sauce.”

Cainchel finely ground the treasured gem salt and put it in a small dish.

The light pink powder was emitting a mysterious glow that was too precious to eat.

But he had to eat it.

No, he couldn’t resist eating it.

“How can it smell like this without butter or cream…?”

The outcome of the bet was no longer important. He wanted to eat the meat in front of him.

He just grabbed the fork with that thought in mind.

Goethe took the steak that Cainchel had cut into bite-sized pieces to his mouth.

And he chewed it.

“…Huh!?”

At that moment, a storm raged in Goethe’s mouth.

The meat was so tender that it felt like it had melted and disappeared.

Each time he chewed, a generous amount of juice flowed out, filling his mouth.

Goethe took a garlic chip with a fork and brought it to his mouth as if he had been possessed by something. The crispy garlic refreshed the meaty taste that filled his mouth.

The taste of the bean sprouts, which were stir-fried so crispy that they didn’t die, and the spicy stir-fried onions was also considerable.

It was a taste that was only possible because it was cooked with beef on an iron plate.

“I, I can’t stop eating…!”

It was as if the more he ate, the hungrier he became.

Eventually, he was able to let out a pleasant sigh only after eating all the dishes on the iron plate.

“…This is beef, but it’s not beef. Damn it, what the hell is it!?”

“First, let me tell you why I prepared two dishes. Faust is the abalone steamed in sake.”

Goethe seemed to have overeaten a bit, and he patted his stomach with a painful expression and replied.

“Cainchel is right. Unlike Werther or Götz von Berlichingen [Goethe’s other works], he used completely new and unfamiliar ingredients.”

“You asked me about the secret to the taste of beef. The answer is very simple. It’s because I put so much effort into raising the cattle.”

When he briefly explained the appearance of the farm, Goethe’s eyes widened.

“To think there’s a place that treats livestock like that…”

“Anyone can think of it, but it’s not easy to do, right?”

“…Hahaha. Goethe got a taste of his own medicine. I have to admit it. This is a dish that deserves a hundred points… no, about 222 points. But what’s important now is not the score of the dish, right? How are you going to persuade me with this beef steak?”

Cainchel smiled with satisfaction.

From now on, the information he had heard from Arc would be useful.

“You were talking about ingredients just now, right? Unlike other novels, I heard that Faust did not refer to actual experiences.”

“Who said that… Cough. Mr. Arc?! Is Mr. Arc here!?”

It seemed that Arc’s existence aroused awe beyond fear.

“Let’s have a touching reunion later. Anyway, I want to ask you one thing. If you had the opportunity to hear about the frustrations and despair experienced by those who actually made a contract with the devil, what would you do?”

“Of course… but there’s no such person, right? Do you know how long I’ve been looking for one!?”

“You said that there must be three witches with a connection to the Demon World to close the door, right? Would you like to think again about what that means?”

Goethe opened his mouth with a shocked expression. It seemed that he had been misunderstanding something very big until now.

“Wait a minute… So you’re not talking about scholars or people like me who study demonology, but there’s actually someone here who has made a contract with the devil?! That’s ridiculous… Who the hell is the witch!?”

Then Morgana and Bathory, who had been eating steak like crazy, raised their heads.

“Hooheuteuhuhyo?”

“…I told you, Bathory. Don’t open your mouth while eating. It’s ugly.”

A scream erupted from Goethe’s mouth as he realized what that meant.

“Uaaaaaagh! I can’t believe I’m going to be the protagonist of the Bluebird! [a symbol of happiness]”

It was a fairy tale about a protagonist who goes in search of the bluebird that brings happiness.

In the end, he realizes that the bird he kept at home was the bluebird.

Goethe, who had been rolling on the ground for a while, drooled and said.

“Why did you hide it?! Did you think I was such a big mouth?”

“Yes.”

“I’m sorry.”

For some reason, Bathory and Morgana bowed their heads and apologized at the same time.

Goethe sighed so loudly that the ground collapsed and said with a strangely refreshed expression.

“…I have to admit it. Cainchel. I lost. After all, whether it’s cooking or novels, it can only be called a masterpiece if it contains the heart of a person.”

If he had revealed that there was a demon contractor in front of him from the beginning, he would not have admitted it this way.

Only after eating the evolving steak that exceeded the limits of beef did he decide to do what he had been agonizing over for weeks.

Goethe took out the manuscript of Faust, which he had been cherishing.

“As you heard from Arc. I know that this manuscript can never be a masterpiece. But I was scared. Readers kept asking me to write a new book. And that expectation is getting bigger and bigger. Three years… Do you know with what heart I put out this empty manuscript as a finished product?”

“…You knew.”

“I compromised that not all manuscripts can be perfect. But my mind changed after eating your cooking. This is a complete failure…”

And he grabbed the parchment with both hands and twisted it.

But the thick parchment could not be torn that easily.

Goethe gave so much strength that he tasted sweetness in his mouth, but the manuscript remained intact.

“Uaah! Tea! The paper is too strong! Goethe also wants to show off a cool side!”

That’s how the third witch joined.

Goethe put his arm around Cainchel’s shoulder and gave him a sly smile.

“I want to ask you one last thing before I leave. The elf I met last time, Princess Elizabeth, and even Princess Morgana. Which one is it? Ah, Countess Bathory’s atmosphere was also unusual?”

Cainchel, realizing what he was asking, gently stroked the kitchen knife he was wearing on his waist and replied.

“They are all precious guests without exception.”

“Ah, I see.”

Goethe sighed with an expression as if he had heard a joke that wasn’t funny.