Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 265

“My lord. Fortunately, Master Goethe seems to know the identity of that power. I will now convey his words exactly as he said them.”

Kainchel’s eyes turned coldly serious. It was definitely the right decision to have secured Goethe’s cooperation in advance.

Lehmann cleared his throat a few times and began to imitate Goethe’s tone.

“Listen carefully, Duke Kainchel. The only demon who can grant the power of ‘absolute obedience’ to an agent is the great nobleman Orobas.”

“Agent, you say?”

“Ah, unlike witches, I’m referring to a contractor who can directly exercise the demon’s power. I thought it would be necessary to distinguish them, so I just gave them a name.”

It was certainly a very fitting title. Kainchel nodded, and Goethe continued his explanation.

“Orobas is more famous by his nickname, the Equestrian Noble, than by his name. His own martial prowess is terrible, but his strategic skills and the power of absolute obedience are so great that he ranks in the mid-to-upper tier among the demon dukes.”

To exercise a demon’s power, one must fundamentally have a similar disposition.

In that respect, Gottfried was the perfect sacrifice to become an agent.

A prince who was defeated in the battle for the throne and confined, and who fundamentally possesses the ability to create his own faction.

With the addition of the power of absolute obedience, he instantly came to possess thousands of slaves.

“The scary thing about Orobas’s power is that even the person affected doesn’t realize they’ve been ensnared. They think they are offering their loyalty to that person of their own free will. So, on the surface, you can’t tell the difference at all.”

Indeed, Goethe’s knowledge of demons is immense.

At that moment, Siana, who had been listening to their conversation, interjected.

“But where did Goethe find out about all this? No matter how knowledgeable he is about demons, this seems a bit excessive.”

“Well, are you the head of El Acard’s intelligence department? I never imagined you’d be so young and beautiful. How about we have a cup of tea sometime, if we get the chance?”

Thanks to Lehmann’s ability, they were able to communicate almost in real-time.

So, it felt as if Goethe was right next to them.

“…Even so, shouldn’t you refrain from saying such things in a child’s body?”

“Anyway, the source of the information is top-secret documents and various forbidden books kept by the Deus Church’s Inquisitors [religious police]. You can trust it because it’s accurate.”

“Those are things that haven’t even been disclosed to the heads of each country! How on earth did you see them…!”

“They just showed them to me because I said I needed them for writing a novel?”

“……”

“Turns out His Holiness the Pope is a fan of mine. When I said my next work was a novel about demons, he brought them over for me to reference. I only realized they were forbidden books after reading them. I was so grateful that I signed a first edition of ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’ [a famous novel] and gave it to him, and he even got up and hugged me.”

From the emperor of a nation to the Pope of the Deus Church.

As expected of a great writer with so many fans.

It was a bit much, to be honest.

But no matter how much he thought about it, there was something bothering him about Goethe’s explanation.

“But Master Goethe, even if they are top-secret documents, the fact that the data remains means that Orobas’s contractors have existed before, right?”

“Hmm, you’re sharp as always. That’s right. The Great Empire of Macedonia declined dramatically due to successive civil wars, right? There’s talk that he was involved in that.”

The ultimate goal of a demon is to gather as many human souls as possible.

In that sense, war was the best means.

“Then, is there no way to resist the ability?”

“Basically, it’s an ability that’s activated through the medium of voice, so it should be fine if you completely block your hearing. However, just plugging your ears won’t do; you have to be in a state where you can’t hear anything at all.”

And the power of absolute obedience basically only applies to members of the same race.

It doesn’t work on demi-humans like elves or dwarves.

“I think I know why Orobas chose Gottfried.”

He is steeped in human supremacism.

If his rebellion succeeds, a massacre of the elves living in El Acard will begin.

Siana, who had been listening to the two men’s story in silence, stood up. She seemed to have made up her mind about something.

“If things continue like this, a race war will definitely break out. We have to stop Gottfried no matter what before that happens.”

If they borrowed the power of the elves, who are not affected by his ability, they might be able to deal with him easily.

However, many powerful individuals are already standing by Gottfried’s side.

To deal with them, they would have to mobilize thousands of Elven Knights.

They would have to wage a race war to prevent a race war.

“So, I’ll do it. If it’s me, I can break through even the strictest security and get to where he is.”

“…If you get close, you’ll be subjected to the power of absolute obedience again and become a slave.”

Siana looked at Kainchel with a strangely resolute face.

And she took out a small skewer that she used as a throwing weapon and activated the aura of fire.

The metal heated up and turned red. And she brought it to her ear and said.

“It’s okay. I’m going to destroy my eardrums now. It’ll hurt a bit, but I won’t die if I protect myself with aura.”

An enemy that a Sword Master must defeat even at the cost of their hearing.

That’s how great the power bestowed by the Crossroads Demon was, enough to sway the fate of a nation.

“…I understand how much Siana values El Acard. But I think you’re forgetting something important.”

“What do you mean…”

Kainchel looked at the Sky Knights, who had all regained their senses, and continued.

“It means there’s no need to confront Gottfried head-on at all.”

* * *

Gottfried looked at the people lined up in front of him with a satisfied expression.

The number was nearly five hundred.

Most of them had been made into loyal servants who would follow any order using ‘absolute obedience’.

After gaining his new ability, the first thing he did was test how far the other person would follow his orders.

So, he said this to a slave.

“Commit suicide.”

The soldier who heard Gottfried’s order smiled.

“Understood, Your Highness.”

And with a face that said it was too much of an honor, he stabbed himself in the heart.

The soldier was the gatekeeper of the mansion where Gottfried had been imprisoned.

He could handle aura, but he wasn’t skilled. There was no reason to regret his death at all.

“A useful ability, more or less.”

After that, it was as easy as flipping his palm.

Those who heard his orders all became loyal slaves. Anyone with a hole in their eardrum, even a Sword Master, could not resist it.

He had already lost the battle for the throne once. Although he was born to rule other humans, he had tasted all sorts of humiliation.

Gottfried looked at Heinrich, who was kneeling before him.

He had been captured as a prisoner in Britannia and recently repatriated to his home country.

Until then, Heinrich had been a subordinate of Adolf, but now he was his loyal servant.

“Heinrich. Consider it an honor to have been chosen by me. No matter how great the power, it is not infinite. Only 666 people can be within the range of absolute command. That’s why I have chosen only very special people.”

A Sword Master who has mastered the ultimate in swordsmanship. A great lord with many soldiers.

And even a guild leader with enormous funds. Only the top 0.1% selected in this way can become Gottfried’s direct slaves.

“Your benevolence is boundless, Your Majesty.”

666 people.

At first glance, it is a small number to rule the entire continent. But the slaves of slaves are also his.

Before he knew it, the forces following Gottfried exceeded 100,000. It will continue to grow in the future.

He had no intention of being satisfied with El Acard alone. Within the next five years, the entire continent will kneel at his feet.

But there was one thing that bothered him.

“But Kainchel… What happened to that guy I wouldn’t be satisfied with even if I chewed him up bone by bone? I clearly ordered Schleicher to bring him in alive.”

That was already a week ago.

Siana von Schleicher was a skilled person whom even Adolf would give way to. An upstart Sword Master should have been easily subdued.

“We haven’t been able to reach her. I’m afraid she may have failed.”

“Tch, what a useless bitch. Then what happened to the Sky Knights who went with her?”

“…I’m afraid they may have been annihilated.”

Thump!

In the end, Gottfried couldn’t stand it and slammed his fist on the armrest of the chair he was sitting on.

“Damn it, I’m so pissed off. Hey, you.”

Gottfried waved his hand at a servant who was kneeling and waiting in the corner of the audience chamber.

And he chuckled to himself.

“I should test what happens if a direct subordinate disappears. I’m so smart. Die right now.”

“Yes? What do you mean all of a sudden…”

“It’s an order. Commit suicide.”

Then the servant’s eyes turned dull. And he took out the dagger he was wearing on his waist and slit his own throat.

Splash!

Bright red blood spurted out like a fountain.

The servants standing next to the door silently rushed over and began cleaning the blood-stained carpet.

Gottfried stroked his chin with a satisfied face.

“It seems that I can create new slaves when there is a vacancy. With this, I can replace the trashy bastards I had to accept with something better. Hahaha!”

Then the knights lined up bowed their heads even further.

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

“Congratulations, Your Majesty.”

Gottfried’s lips twisted grotesquely. If he could find a more useful knight, he would dispose of those guys right away.

The map of the continent hanging on the wall came into his eyes.

Now, all he needs to get from El Acard is Erich. After that, he plans to advance into a wider world.

“Well, at least the Seven Virtues or the Janissaries [elite soldiers] would be worthy of serving me. But don’t worry, Heinrich. I am generous. I will be with you until the end.”

Soon, the entire continent will shout the name of Emperor Gottfried. Thinking about it made the corners of his mouth rise involuntarily.

“I should eat something before that.”

Gottfried was managing the diet of his direct slaves very specially.

According to that person, well-made dishes have the power to offset the demon’s abilities.

It was a great pity that he couldn’t taste delicious food.

But if it was necessary to conquer the continent, he could eat even rotten food with a smile.

He couldn’t let his grand ambition end in failure again because of food.

“Bring me the food.”

“Yes, I will prepare it right away.”

Then the servants, holding their noses, began to place plates of food on the table.

“Hehe. I can’t eat delicious things? Then I’ll eat rotten food.”

Of course, he had to take a specially made medicine before meals to prepare for an upset stomach.

What was on the plate was rotten fish. The smell was so foul that flies were buzzing around it.

“The chef seems to have put a lot of effort into it today. It looks really unappetizing. Now, hurry up and eat. I’d like to starve you all, but then you’d all die. You can’t move without eating something like this.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Those who were not Gottfried’s direct slaves began to gag at the smell of the rotten fish.

It was food that even a starving beggar wouldn’t want to eat.

Moldy bread topped with rotten fish, wilted tomatoes, onions, and potatoes. Then it turned into something that was barely edible.

“Even rotten food looks edible like this. The new chef is very skilled.”

Gottfried held his nose and brought the rotten fish sandwich to his mouth.

And he chewed.

At that moment, an amazing thing happened. This was definitely a sandwich made with rotten ingredients.

It shouldn’t just be unappetizing, it should be a garbage-level dish that would cause an upset stomach if you didn’t take the medicine.

But…

…It’s delicious.