Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 24

8. The Second Season

[Brilliant Road: 1/5]

* Insufficient experience in developing new menus has left it inactive.

‘I made so much, and it’s still like this!’

For the past week, Cainchel had been holed up in the kitchen, dedicated to developing new menus.

He earned over 10 gold coins selling honey butter sandwiches during the hot season.

That’s enough to create a variety of dishes, using his creativity without worrying about ingredients.

The first thing he made was sardine pie, baking whole sardines into pie crust.

The face of the sardine, peeking out through the golden-brown crust, was quite charming.

‘…But it was rated 2 stars. It was a bit fishy, but still edible, right? Why?’

‘Witch Octopus Fry,’ made by attaching octopus to a crab shell and frying it, was a mere 1 star.

Besides that, Cainchel created a variety of dishes, displaying his unique imagination.

However, the Brilliant Road slot remained empty.

‘Did I underestimate it too much?’

What was missing?

What did the honey butter sandwich have that the sardine pie and witch octopus fry didn’t?

‘Could there be a grade restriction?’

The honey butter sandwich was the first 5-star dish Cainchel had ever made.

The highest-rated original dish he made after that was 3 stars.

Most were 1 or 2 stars.

‘…So, unless it’s an original dish at least at my cooking level, I can’t fill the slot.’

That meant he had to create four more original dishes at the level of the honey butter sandwich to obtain Brilliant Road.

It was an absurd condition, but that only fueled him more.

‘Four 5-star original dishes? I’ll make them! I’ll see just how overpowered that skill is! Oh, it looks like the formation ceremony is about to start.’

In the grand hall, about a hundred trainee knights from the Rookie Class stood in neat rows.

It was for the formation ceremony marking the beginning of the Second Season.

Cainchel placed the Joma Mirror inside his clothes and rested his right hand on the ceremonial sword.

Cainchel had been through these ceremonies countless times over the past three years.

He knew the order of events so well he could recite it with his eyes closed.

Instructor Bucks shouted.

“Are you all aware of the Seven Deadly Sins that ravaged the continent ten years ago!”

A resounding answer echoed.

“””Yes, we are!”””

“And do you know that there were great knights who triumphed over them!”

“””Yes, we do!”””

“Any of you could become such a great knight! No, you must! Through the First Season, you have gained the strong will and physical strength befitting a knight! You are fully prepared to face the Second Season!”

Cheers erupted from here and there.

The names of the Seven Virtues were objects of admiration for the trainee knights.

Heroes who fought alongside Holy King Aslan against the Seven Deadly Sins and emerged victorious!

“Through the Second Season, you will learn how to fight enemies and lead subordinates as knights! Only those who pass all of it can advance to the next class!”

Instructor Bucks drew the sword from his waist.

“Only those who are prepared to challenge, draw your swords!”

Clang!

Clang!

Then, all the rookies in formation drew their swords and shouted.

“Draw swords!”

“Draw swords!”

“Draw swords!”

As they raised their drawn swords to the sky, Instructor Bucks said.

“Everything is for His Majesty Aslan!”

“For His Majesty Aslan!”

“For His Majesty Aslan!”

Thus, the rookies entered the Second Season to advance to the Senior Class.

@

“So, what do you think the first training will be?”

“Who knows? Cainchel might know.”

“Cainchel?”

“This is the third time already.”

“Hehe, that’s right.”

Unlike the First Season, which was individual, the Second Season’s training is team-based.

If the First Season was about individual capabilities, the Second Season is about developing collective capabilities. It’s a season to learn how to obey superiors’ orders, trust comrades, and fight as one.

So, in the Second Season, five knight orders of 10 members each are organized according to rank.

The organization, consisting of Captain, Meister [a skilled specialist or master], and Strider, is the same as a regular knight order.

However, there was someone who found Cainchel’s presence particularly uncomfortable.

“Tch. Why do I have to be in the same group as that underachiever?”

It was Abel Carters, ranked 2nd in the Rookie Class.

The second son of Baron Carters, he was a skilled swordsman who wielded a tremendous quick sword, despite his small and slender frame.

Cainchel and Abel’s eyes met as Cainchel looked at the other members from a slightly distanced position.

If Cainchel’s rank hadn’t suddenly risen to 35th, the two would never have been in the same group.

Perhaps that’s why Abel didn’t like Cainchel.

It takes three people to support one hole [meaning one weak person requires extra support from others].

Cainchel knew the meaning behind Abel’s gaze.

‘Abel Carters. His basic swordsmanship is 6 stars, but he’s a tremendous technician with 7-star intermediate swordsmanship, having mastered the family’s secret swordsmanship.’

Abel’s intermediate swordsmanship was on par with Vincent, the number one in the Chevalier Class.

However, his weakness was his lack of fundamentals and overall stats.

That’s why he couldn’t become the number one in the Rookie Class, which seemed to have hurt his pride considerably.

His brother Cain was number one in every class.

Abel clicked his tongue and muttered.

“Tch. I wanted to be number one before this Second Season ended. Hey, Cainchel.”

“Yes, Captain.”

The Captain, who can be said to be the commander of the knight order, is the person with the highest rank.

And it is also the Captain’s authority to select the Meister to assist him and the Strider to be in charge of combat.

“Don’t think I’ll treat you like a senior just because you’re older, so follow my orders well as the Captain of the Yellow Knight Order.”

“Understood.”

“Well, it seems like your skills have improved to some extent, so if you follow my instructions, you might be able to become a Senior Class.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Cainchel bowed his head.

There’s no reason to resist. Cainchel’s goal isn’t the Senior Class, but promotion to the Chevalier Class through a double class-up after becoming the overall number one.

There’s no need to say such things here.

He just needs to show it with results.

The Rookie Class is divided into five knight orders: Yellow, Red, Blue, Green, and Black. They sometimes cooperate and sometimes compete as they engage in the Second Season’s training.

Abel was the Captain of the Yellow Knight Order, and Cainchel was a member of it.

The Yellow Knight Order, with a total of 10 members, was waiting in a temporarily created command and control room.

An order will soon be issued from headquarters. The full-scale training will begin according to that.

A boring wait.

The sound of chatter could be heard from here and there.

“But why is Cainchel still being ignored even though he won the duel against the great Julius?”

“It must have been luck. Honestly, it’s a bit strange. He was like that for three years… Even if it’s true, it’s hard to make up for it all at once.”

“But he’s been steadily climbing the ranks since then.”

“If you like that underachiever so much, should I suggest to the Captain that we put him in the same trench [meaning share the same burden or punishment]?”

“Th, that’s okay.”

About an hour passed, and the first order was issued.

Captain Abel drew his sword, took an example [formally acknowledged the order], and began to read the order.

Then he explained the contents to the members.

“Then we’ll start the first training right away. This knight order will now engage in an annihilation battle with the goblin village that has appeared in the designated area.”

“Annihilation battle!?”

Voices of dismay flowed from here and there.

An annihilation battle, which ends only when either the allies or the enemy are completely wiped out, was one of the most difficult training exercises.

Moreover, the goblin village is located quite far from Stanis. They would have to spend two days in the field, round trip.

The only food was tasteless raw potatoes, and they had to sleep on the ground with a cloak.

Abel glanced at Cainchel.

He knew that Cainchel had received the same training three times.

However, he did not ask for advice on it.

It was an expression of confidence that he could achieve good results without the help of an underachiever.

The members who heard the training details began to chatter.

“Well, annihilation battles are tough, but it’s just goblins.”

“Haha, I can take down a goblin in one hit!”

One village consists of about 30 to 40 goblins.

That’s a level that 5 armed knights can annihilate without any damage.

Even though they are trainee knights, their armament is the same as knights.

Since the number of personnel deployed is twice that, they should be able to achieve victory without any damage if they just follow what they have learned.

“But isn’t that location on the order the village that Cainchel went to for reconnaissance during the First Season?”

“Huh? Really? Surely he was so scared that he lied about there being poison goblins there, right?”

Cainchel’s eyes suddenly turned cold.

The training he had done three months ago was a simple task of finding out the location of the goblin village.

And at that time, Cainchel happened to confirm the existence of poison goblins.

A variant goblin born with a potent poison in its body at a low probability.

If its existence is confirmed, four times the usual number of personnel are needed to wipe out the village. In addition, they had to bring a separate antidote to cure the poisoning.

Cainchel tried to report it as it was. But all that came back was ridicule.

― What, poison goblins? There’s no way such a rare creature would come out in a place like this. I’ve been training for 10 years, but I’ve never heard of a poison goblin coming out.

― Aren’t you actually scared and didn’t scout properly? And then you’re lying about there being poison goblins because you’re embarrassed. An underachiever, a liar, the worst.

In the end, Cainchel’s report was discarded by another trainee knight and not even delivered to the higher-ups.

No! There were definitely poison goblins there!

To find that evidence, Cainchel sneaked back into the goblin village alone.

The result was that he was discovered by a goblin on guard and suffered a major injury.

Cainchel engraved the map drawn on the order into his eyes as if he were memorizing it all.

Until three months ago, he couldn’t even defeat a single goblin.

But the moment he grabbed the kitchen knife, a stroke of luck that he never thought he would have in his life began to explode.

He took out the Joma Mirror he had put in his clothes and read what was floating there.

[Cainchel Ban Zistad – Lv31]

– Stamina (33), Agility (31), Strength (31), Dexterity (31), Intelligence (35), Magic Power (30), Holy Power (30)

* Cooking Level: ★★★★★

* Baking Level: ★★★★

* Gourmet Level: ★★

* Tea Ceremony Level: ★

* Disarm: ★★★

* Beginner Swordsmanship: ★★★★★★★★★★

* Fallen Star: ★★★★★★★

A level more than 10 higher than the average level of Rookie Class trainee knights.

Moreover, his stats overwhelm even the Senior Class.

Cainchel bit his lip.

Even though he risked his life to report the existence of poison goblins, all that came back were sneers and the perception that he had made a false report.

The misery he felt at that time.

In this training, the Yellow Knight Order will engage in a annihilation battle with the goblin village in the designated area.

Depending on their performance there, they will receive one of five grades.

Those who receive the highest grade in all the training sessions in the Second Season will be given the special privilege of a double class-up.

Cainchel was planning to move with that in mind for the next six months.

However, there was one more thing Cainchel had to do in this annihilation battle.

‘Find the hidden poison goblins. And…’

Cainchel had a level and stats that had grown tremendously compared to three months ago.

In addition, he can sense the enemy’s hostility by activating Fallen Star.

With those, he can do it.

“…I’ll prove that I wasn’t wrong.”

The Second Season #2