Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 253

“Surely, you can’t mean Cainchel van Jistard?!”

“I’m, I’m alive…!”

Cheers erupted from the knights who were struggling against the Wyvern Riders.

A Sword Master was like a wild card who could change the entire course of the war on their own.

Surely, they would instantly butcher those flying barbarians.

However, Cainchel’s movements were cautious.

‘He’s gained altitude. At that height, it’ll be hard for them to hit me, but he’s clearly wary of my noodle-making.’

The Orcs weren’t flustered by the sudden attack and were moving fluidly.

Unlike what others said, they weren’t barbarians. They clearly understood strategy and chose the best possible moves.

Kundam, who was breathing heavily, approached Cainchel.

And he briefly explained how the situation was unfolding.

“…That’s what happened. Anyway, be careful, Duke Jistard. The Orc in the rear is using some strange magic.”

“But even if it’s been a while since we met, aren’t you being too formal? Just call me like you used to.”

“Understood. Cainchel.”

A faint smile appeared on Kundam’s lips.

He was still the same friend, from the training camp days to becoming a Sword Master.

“Anyway, I never expected to see Master Ian here too. I should move as quickly as possible to ease the burden.”

Even with Jjolmyeon [Korean cold noodles] capable of long-range suppression, it was difficult to completely block the movements of the Wyvern Riders soaring through the sky.

‘Then I need to make it even harder for them to move? Time for ultra-fine noodles…!’

Cainchel grabbed the mass of Aura that had materialized before him. And as he pulled it apart with force, it stretched out.

After repeating that 10 times, 1,024 strands of ultra-fine noodles were completed.

As Cainchel’s fingers moved, a thin, long bridge was created between the Tower of Non and the ground.

‘As expected, ultra-fine noodles are the best for catching sparrows that fly around as they please!’

Unaware that an invisible trap had been set, the Wyvern Riders prepared to counterattack as Cainchel’s attacks subsided.

“Germa!”

“Germa! Krwash, Germa!”

‘What on earth are they saying? Bishop, can you translate Orcish?’

Then, a sticky tentacle popped out from Cainchel’s left shoulder.

― Who do you think I am, partner? That much is really simple.

The tentacle seemed to wrap around Cainchel’s head, then mercilessly burrowed into his ear.

“In the name of the warrior’s honor, victory in this battle!”

“Victory!”

‘Oh, it’s translating! Bishop is the best!’

― If you need to talk, make lips out of jelly. I’ll provide simultaneous interpretation.

“A, a strange tentacle popped out and is trying to eat Duke Cainchel!”

“Damn it, Argonian barbarians, you’re being cowardly! Using such sorcery!”

It seemed the knights fighting beside him had misunderstood.

Cainchel shook his head and looked at the Wyvern Riders flying in the sky.

“Brave comrades! Focus your attacks on that black-haired knight! We must reclaim the warrior’s sanctuary! All for the independence of our clan!”

The aura emanating from him was several times stronger than that of the other Orcs.

And being able to understand Orcish, he was certain.

‘That guy’s the leader.’

The Orc leader still mistakenly believed that Cainchel couldn’t understand their conversation.

He had to exploit that gap.

Cainchel listened to their conversation and gripped Durandal [likely a reference to the legendary sword Durandal].

‘If I’ve set the net, I should start scattering bait.’

“Jjolmyeon…!”

He deliberately shot Jjolmyeon towards the feet of the Wyvern Rider flying the lowest.

Then the Orc leader shouted excitedly.

“The opponent’s attack range is approximately 55 meters! If you fly higher than that, it won’t reach! Go, brave warriors!”

“A glorious death to the warrior!”

Having assessed Cainchel’s strength, the Wyvern Riders showed much more aggressive movements.

However, their speed became a noose that tightened around their own necks.

“Kueeeeek!”

The ultra-fine noodles were so thin that you had to strain your eyes to see them. But their strength was by no means weak.

As the Wyvern Rider caught in the ultra-fine noodles fell to the ground, Cainchel didn’t miss the opportunity and shouted.

“Focus your attacks on the ones who have fallen off… no, the ones who have fallen off the dragon!”

“Uwaaaaaaa! Die, you Argonian barbarians…!”

Thus, the Orc who was unlucky enough to get caught in the ultra-fine noodles became skewered by the knights’ Aura Swords.

Cainchel decided to press on with this momentum.

He took out his hidden weapon, Fragarach [a sword in Irish mythology], and activated the Sword Control Technique.

And he flew towards the Wyvern Riders who couldn’t move properly because they were wary of the invisible trap.

Peeeeeeeng――!

Before the sword dance that adorned the sky, they couldn’t do anything and fell to the ground.

‘First one down!’

If the Wyvern Riders had sensed the existence of the ultra-fine noodles like Morgana, they wouldn’t have been caught like this.

‘Hmm. Ultra-fine noodles alone have their limits.’

Cainchel had been researching ways to use ultra-fine noodles in more diverse ways for some time.

Thin thread.

There was a limit to how much it could be used if it could be easily cut by an Aura Sword.

He needed an innovative technique like making thousands of strands into Jjolmyeon, which he had used against Chaos.

‘…Unfortunately, I can’t use that anymore because Dracula’s blood has run out.’

For now, he tried weaving them into a spiderweb shape.

But a clear image didn’t come to mind, so it wasn’t easily completed.

‘I’ll practice that slowly later, and for now, I need to use the weapons I have to deal with the remaining Orcs.’

As Cainchel shot down another Wyvern Rider, the Orc leader shouted in a clearly flustered voice.

“Retreat for now! It’s a trap!”

“Where do you think you’re going? Sorry, but don’t you know the saying, ‘You’re free to enter, but not to leave’? Then, Onion Swordsmanship…!”

The seven Fragarachs, now multiplied, tore through the air and shot out at tremendous speed.

The swords imbued with Aura could easily cut through even steel.

No matter how thick the scales of the Wyvern, it was like minced meat before them.

Cainchel, who had cut off the Wyvern’s neck and the Orc’s arm, flew towards his next prey.

However, the Orc leader wasn’t just sitting on the Wyvern watching.

“I won’t stand by and watch my comrades fall any longer! Rising Strike!”

Then, a blue Aura, reminiscent of the sea, began to blaze.

At the same time, the huge axe held by the Orc warrior created a tidal wave.

It was already too late to dodge.

The shockwave alone was powerful enough to tear apart space. It wasn’t an attack you could block or anything.

‘Damn it, Jelly…!’

Then, a tentacle popped out from Cainchel’s shoulder and stuck to one side of the Tower of Non.

Cainchel used the elasticity of it shrinking to take a giant leap in an instant.

The speed was so fast that it felt like his body had disappeared in an instant.

It was a movement close to teleportation.

Kugugugung――!

At the same time, the axe thrown by the Orc leader struck the ground, and a huge cloud of dust rose.

Cainchel clicked his tongue as he saw the place where he had been standing just a moment ago completely destroyed.

‘Crazy…’

The shockwave that erupted when it hit the ground was enough to crumple the armor worn by the knights like paper.

If he had been even 0.1 seconds late in dodging, he would have turned into a bloody mess without any defense.

Someone let out a scream mixed with horror.

“T, that’s an Aura Blade?! Could it be a Sword Master Orc…?!”

“No way! Damn it, wake me up from this dream right now!”

Kooong-!

The Orc leader jumped off the Wyvern and stood on the ground. He was even more absurdly huge up close.

A giant nearly 3 meters tall, with muscles bulging as if the armor he was wearing would burst.

Even more terrifying was the tremendous Aura emanating from his body.

The Orc leader smiled at Cainchel.

“I never expected you to dodge this body’s Mystic Arts ‘Rising Strike.’ Although you are human, you are a truly strong warrior. Before we begin our serious duel, how about a brief introduction? I am Gran Karak, the successor of the Great Thunder Axe.”

It was fluent Common Tongue.

Using Orcish must have been to prevent their strategies from being revealed.

Cainchel nodded, not letting go of his tension.

“I am Cainchel, the lord of the Jistard territory.”

“I see. I will never forget your bravery in single-handedly defeating three great warriors. Then let’s settle this. Come, Toniturus [Latin for ‘thunderous’].”

Then, the axe buried deep in the ground returned to Gran Karak’s hand.

‘Could it be a weapon with unique skills attached like Fragarach?’

Cainchel’s eyes sank coldly. He had no time to be surprised by the Orc Sword Master.

In the first place, Aura wasn’t exclusive to humans.

Gran Karak’s Aura Blade showed tremendous power, reminiscent of Abdullah’s Sultan Garlic.

An attack specialized in destructive power, befitting the tyrannical nature of the Orcs.

An enemy with physical abilities far superior to humans, and who even used Aura Blades.

‘To think I’d be facing such a monster in a place I came to get stronger.’

Cainchel swallowed dryly without realizing it.

* * *

The Orc shaman, still flying in the sky on a Wyvern, began to chant a spell.

“Spirit of rock, grant Gran Karak the same hardness as you…!”

Then, a bluish energy was added to Gran Karak’s body. It seemed to be the same magic that had blocked the crossbow.

However, Gran Karak didn’t like it, and shouted while holding the man-sized axe in one hand.

“Sluf…! How dare you insult the sacred duel! Stop the body enhancement magic immediately! This body will fight with its own power!”

“…Understood. Great warrior Karak.”

It seemed that Gran was just a title similar to a title attached before the name.

Karak nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Then I’ll go first.”

As he swung Toniturus with both hands, the space split in half and a tremendous shockwave erupted.

Keugeugeugegak-!

‘Then Double Booster…!’

Aura exploded from Cainchel’s entire body. A battle of strength against strength, with no need for petty tricks.

Karak’s lips twisted grotesquely as he easily blocked the opponent’s desperate attack.

“I never expected there to be someone capable of fighting me in a contest of strength.”

However, unlike Karak, who was speaking leisurely, Cainchel’s entire body was screaming.

‘What’s with this strength!?’

As his level rose to 99, Cainchel gained the stamina and strength to never lose an arm wrestle against anyone.

But Karak’s strength was beyond that.

‘Is this the difference in race that can’t be overcome?’

Cainchel answered, pretending to be as relaxed as possible.

“Well, you know. I’ve been eating well without being picky, so I’ve gotten stronger.”

“Khahah! The more I see you, the more I like you as a warrior. It’s just a pity that we met as enemies.”

Cainchel, who had been in a standoff while holding his sword against the axe, didn’t miss Karak’s opening.

“I’ve never met such a talkative Orc like you either. Then let’s go properly. Sword Control Technique…!”

“Reside in this body, the power of the Thunder Axe! Rising Strike…!”

The moment the seven Fragarachs were fired from Cainchel’s waist, lightning struck in the clear sky.

No, Karak’s body was moving at a speed that felt like that.

He swung the axe to the left, destroying one Fragarach. The diagonal slash that followed erased another sword.

Karak was perfectly dealing with the Sword Control Technique.

‘…Could it be that he saw me using the Sword Control Technique against the Wyvern Riders and figured out how to break it?!’

Several Sword Control Techniques grazed his body, but they weren’t enough to inflict fatal wounds.

Even while spewing blood from his entire body, his momentum didn’t decrease at all. No, it actually got stronger.

A brutally tyrannical fighting style.

As the distance between Karak and Cainchel widened slightly, he began to prepare to use the Aura Blade again.

‘Good, then…’

A fight against a strong opponent always makes the blood boil. The strongest strike he could use now came to Cainchel’s mind.

‘…I’ll go with that.’

“Thunder Axe! Become a hammer that crushes the enemy before my eyes! Rising Strike…!”

“Fish and Chips…!”

The moment the two Aura Blades collided, an unbelievably tremendous flash swept through.