Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 226

Rain Man.

It refers to a person with the ability to control wind, rain, and clouds, appearing in Eastern mythology.

Bringing rain is considered the will of heaven, and rainmaking rituals to pray for it have been held regardless of East or West, ancient or modern.

“A Rain Man refers to someone who possesses the three abilities necessary to bring rain. In small Eastern countries, they are sometimes called Amefurashibito, or Usa (Rain Master), I’ve heard.”

It seemed that Rain Man was a term created by combining those two words.

“There is an old tale passed down from there. If you hear it, I think you will understand to some extent what a Rain Man is.”

Abdullah told the story, repeatedly smacking his lips as if regretting the empty ceramic.

In a small country in the East, a long and severe drought had continued for ten years.

The entire country was withering, and countless people were dying.

“At that time, an old man in beggar’s clothes appeared, going around to each village and asking if he could get a cup of tea. But it wasn’t easy. How many people would readily offer tea in a situation where they themselves lacked water to drink?”

The old man eventually collapsed from exhaustion on the street.

However, not only people who struggled to buy even a cup of water after working all day, but even wealthy people who had enough to help ignored the old man.

They were not confident they could handle the people who would flock to them asking for water if they showed mercy carelessly.

Thus, the old man was dying of thirst.

The only one who offered a helping hand to him was a child dressed in shabby clothes.

The child offered the old man a water bottle he had been carefully holding.

It contained only a small amount of dirty muddy water. The child bowed his head several times, apologizing for having only this to offer.

However, to the old man who was dying, that muddy water was like the water of life.

The old man drank all the muddy water in one gulp and smiled brightly, stroking the child’s head.

— Child. You saved me. I will give you a small gift in return.

As the old man raised his hand, wind began to blow from somewhere. And the sun, which had been shining down so hatefully hot, disappeared.

Replacing it were the dark clouds that everyone had been waiting for so eagerly.

Rumble, crash!

As if thunder had struck, rain began to fall with a whooshing sound.

Tears that they thought had already dried up flowed out.

This was a miracle performed by the old man whom everyone had ignored.

The child looked up. What was there was not an old man in beggar’s clothes, but a man emitting a mysterious light.

“……The old man’s true identity was a messenger sent by God to test humans. In the end, the good deeds of the kind-hearted child saved everyone.”

The story did not end there. The man who brought rain and relieved the drought disappeared like the wind after that.

But that power was transferred to the child.

“That person is the oldest Rain Man, Lord Suyo, who used the power of God, ‘Amefurashi’ [roughly translated as ‘Rain Bringer’], with a human vessel.”

“Suyo…….”

It meant Water Sprite.

After that, the power of Amefurashi is said to dwell in the human body and bring rain whenever there is a severe drought.

“……Are you saying that the reason why it always rains for three months of the year in the Ottoman Empire is because of that power?”

“That is correct.”

It was amazing.

In the Ottoman Empire, there is a culture of deifying the Sultan. If Amefurashi were to become known, the Sultan and the Rain Man would be divided into two factions, leading to political strife.

The Sultan must have known this, so he hid the existence of the Rain Man.

“All the problems started with the great drought that has been going on for 12 years.”

Before the great drought, rain used to fall without using the power of Amefurashi.

All the Rain Man had to do was add a little rain to regions with low precipitation.

However, after the great drought, the situation changed.

“……Without Amefurashi, not a single drop of rain would fall. The lives of countless people living in the Ottoman Empire depend on the shoulders of a single person. Do you understand what that is like?”

In the end, the Ottoman Empire had been enduring for 12 years thanks to a single Rain Man.

Keinzel’s eyes narrowed. If it was 12 years ago, wasn’t that when the War of the Seven Deadly Sins began?

“A similar thing happened in Britannia. The land was dry for a while due to the aftermath of the War of the Seven Deadly Sins.”

If the great drought in the Ottoman Empire was due to the War of the Seven Deadly Sins, then it should rain again now.

Thanks to Calliope’s sacrifice, demons will not set foot on this land for the next thousand years.

Even now, the Dragon Lord is doing his best to protect Calliope’s sleep.

Abdullah shook his head with a heavy face.

“……We suspected that the great drought that struck the Ottoman Empire was due to the Seven Deadly Sins, so I discussed it with His Majesty Aslan just recently. The conclusion is that we are still suffering from the great drought as you can see. It seems that the demons and the Seven Deadly Sins are not the cause of the great drought.”

‘The reason why the Sultan visited during the conferment ceremony was because of that.’

“Many scholars are still researching to find the cause of the great drought. But no significant results have been achieved.”

“Are you perhaps trying to entrust that to me?”

“No. The great drought is already a disaster that the entire Ottoman Empire must face. Would you please take a look at this for a moment?”

Abdullah took out a sparkling glass bottle from the pouch he was wearing on his waist.

Keinzel’s eyes widened.

“Why is a cola bottle coming out from there!?”

Abdullah chuckled and explained it.

“The current Rain Man, Lady Scheherazade, happened to come across cola and has been addicted to it every day.”

Recently, the production of cola has increased by about 50%, and sales have started overseas. The amount is so huge that it has become a steady source of income for the Gistad territory.

However, there was a rolled-up parchment inside the cola bottle. Upon closer inspection, something was written on it.

It seemed to be a letter to someone.

But the name ‘Keinzel’ was clearly written at the beginning, which was barely visible.

“……May I read it?”

“That’s why I brought it.”

The letter, written in clumsy common language of the continent, contained the following:

— I happened to taste the cola made by Keinzel-nim [a respectful suffix]. The taste was so refreshing that all the worries and concerns that had been piling up in my heart disappeared. When I’m tired from work, I drink cola and regain my strength. It’s hard to get, so I only have one bottle a day, but now it’s a time as precious as my life. If I ever get the chance, I would like to try other dishes made by Keinzel-nim.

“She left that behind, and the Rain Man disappeared.”

“Don’t tell me she disappeared to eat the food I made…….”

Perhaps if he opened the door and went outside now, Rain Man Scheherazade would be lining up to eat his food.

“That’s unlikely. How could Lady Scheherazade, who is ignorant of the ways of the world, travel from one end of the continent to the other? She must have been kidnapped by someone aiming for the Rain Man’s power.”

However, the only clue left by the missing Scheherazade is this letter.

Moreover, she clearly wanted to meet Keinzel.

“Originally, the rainy season should have started a month ago. But with Lady Scheherazade not here now……. Not a single drop of rain is falling in the Ottoman Empire. I heard that Duke Keinzel has solved impossible missions several times. I’m sure you can find her. Please save the Ottoman Empire.”

To think that the storm caused by cola would come back in this way.

Keinzel’s eyes sank heavily.

He wanted to help Abdullah if he could. But he was one of the Seven Virtues, the backbone of Britannia, and the lord of the Gistad territory.

Even if it was within the country where he could freely move through the gate, he would have to leave his position for several months or more to go to the Ottoman Empire.

Keinzel went to Abel, who was waiting outside, just in case.

The sale of cola was entirely her responsibility.

“Hmm……. We have definitely been trading steadily with the Ottoman Empire since last year. They buy a large amount at once, and they pay in gold coins instead of promissory notes, so they were a reliable trading partner.”

Abel looked at Keinzel, who was troubled, and chuckled.

“Keinzel, what do you want to do?”

“I want to help. I’m sure my cooking can reach a new level with that.”

A message informing him of the updated skill was floating in front of Keinzel.

[The guest is very satisfied with the tea you brewed.]

[You have excellent knowledge of tea.]

[Tea Ceremony level has increased.]

The Tea Ceremony skill, which had been stopped for a while, finally reached 6 stars.

Then, additional functions were opened, like the Gourmet skill that analyzes the condition of ingredients.

[Tea Ceremony: ★★★★★★]

* If you touch dirty water, it will be made suitable for brewing tea.

* Can detect nearby water veins.

All of them were abilities related to water.

It meant that water was that important to brew good tea.

However, both additional functions had very low proficiency.

The only thing he could purify was making salt water drinkable.

The range in which he could detect water veins was also less than 10m [approximately 33 feet].

If he increased his proficiency, he would be able to do much greater things.

Keinzel licked his lips.

This incident made him realize that the Tea Ceremony skill was related to water.

If he solved the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the Rain Man, wouldn’t he be able to naturally increase the proficiency of purification and drinking water detection?

He wanted to take on this task for that reason as well.

“Then what’s the problem? You don’t have to worry about being away. Most of the territory’s work is still being handled by the acting lord Nimue, and if it’s about virtue, the master will somehow take care of it. Everyone owes you a debt. They will be happy to grant you this request.”

“Thank you, Abel.”

Then, Abel, who had been folding her arms with an indifferent expression, turned red to her ears.

“Wh, wh, what are you talking about! Friends do this much……!”

Now all that was left was to get permission from Aslan, the emperor of Britannia.

Keinzel was still uncomfortable meeting that man.

The reason was…….

* * *

Aslan, who heard about the situation in the Ottoman Empire, laughed and took out a blank piece of parchment.

“I will allow the dispatch. Leave the state affairs to me and Loengrin and feel free to go. Just make sure to prepare the documents yourself.”

It didn’t even take a minute.

Saint Aslan, who had been sealing the Seven Deadly Sins with his body as a medium.

He ate the Happiness-Calling Beef Stew and changed as if he had been reborn.

Aslan asked with strangely sparkling eyes.

“By the way, Keinzel. When are you going to teach me how to bake Madeleine that I asked for before? Uhehehe. I want to enjoy tea time with Caroline with homemade cookies as soon as possible.”

But to think that he would become a daughter’s fool in this way.

A while ago, when he asked what would be good to give to Caroline as a royal order, he had to sweat.

“I told you to start by practicing kneading the flour.”

Then, as if he was so embarrassed, Aslan’s eyes curved softly.

“That’s the thing. No matter how much I knead it with force, the dough doesn’t swell! Can’t you help me with that a little?”

“You can’t say it’s homemade cookies unless you start with the dough. Did you perhaps put in baking powder?”

“Ah.”

“So, of course, the dough won’t swell. You have to add that to get the fluffy texture unique to Madeleine. Didn’t I tell you that several times?”

“Don’t do that, just help me a little. If it’s baking powder, I think I bought about 100kg [approximately 220 pounds] from the Magic Tower.”

“……You don’t need that much. 100g [approximately 3.5 ounces] is enough to eat for the next year. Anyway, practice kneading hard until I come back.”

“Hehehe, I understand.”

Keinzel, who had obtained permission more easily than expected, left Aslan’s office.

From now on, those who work in the Imperial Palace will see Aslan making Madeleine dough for his daughter every night until late.

When he came outside, Abel, who had finished preparing for the trip, was waiting.

“Abel?”

“Fortunately, it seems that you have received His Majesty’s permission. I have something to say before leaving for the Ottoman Empire, Keinzel.”