Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 27

————– 27/203 ————–

“He’s a Savior.”

He said it so casually that it took me a while to understand what he meant.

Abel, who had somewhat expected it, nodded with a matter-of-fact expression.

However, clear astonishment appeared in the eyes of the other trainee knights.

“Excuse me? D-Did I hear you correctly?”

“A-Are you talking about that rank above Platinum?”

“Everyone agreed to give him that rank. Cainchel’s evaluation rank is Savior.”

Then, the trainee knights began to chatter excitedly.

“…Isn’t this the first time a Rookie Class has received a Savior rank? Doesn’t that mean it’s an all-time record-breaking evaluation rank?”

“That’s right. Cainchel did do amazing things in this training. I thought he would definitely get Platinum. I never imagined it would be Savior…”

Bugs, feeling the completely changed atmosphere, crossed his arms and said,

“Until the duel, you all said it was impossible, but now you’re somewhat acknowledging it. Before explaining why Cainchel received the Savior rank, there’s one thing we need to address.”

Bugs took out a mask with a crow’s beak from his waist.

“This is a magic tool called Observer. Its ability allows you to see even distant places very well, as long as there’s a little light.”

Only then was the last remaining mystery solved.

The reason why the instructors, who were quite far away, were able to grasp the situation as if they were right next to us.

It was thanks to the magic tool, Observer.

“Waigon.”

“Yes.”

Waigon was the member who had particularly ridiculed Cainchel earlier today.

“You don’t seem to know. Cainchel blocked attacks aimed at you twice during the goblin extermination.”

Then, Waigon shouted with an unbelievable expression.

“C-Cainchel did?”

“Yes. One was aiming for a rather dangerous area.”

In addition, more than half of the others received Cainchel’s help without even knowing it.

Bugs looked at Cainchel with a profound gaze.

“If you had focused on catching goblins instead of helping others, you could have defeated five more. Why did you help the other trainee knights when you were short on points?”

Cainchel answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“I thought that’s what a knight should do.”

“…After hearing your answer, I became convinced. In this goblin extermination, you were more of a savior on the battlefield than anyone else.”

Bowing his head, Cainchel licked his lips.

‘You have to wet your lips to lie well.’

“Thank you.”

‘I think I spoke quite knightly, right? You said my cooking was delicious, so if you get hurt here, the experience points I get in the future will decrease. Thanks to that, I got a good evaluation too.’

A dish only has meaning as a dish when someone eats it.

The man who became the first ‘Savior of the Battlefield’ in the Rookie Class.

He had the mindset of a trainee knight and a chef at the same time.

“Next, we will begin the evaluation of Weaver.”

“Ugh…”

After that, the evaluations of the trainee knights continued.

Most received lower grades than expected.

Except for one person.

@

The instructors took the three most seriously injured back to the training center first.

The remaining Yellow Knights members had to spend the night in the mountains.

It hadn’t been long since the heatwave ended, so the weather was still hot.

However, the nights in the Red Mountains are cold.

Since there was no proper bedding, all they had was the cloaks they were wearing.

They could barely avoid the night dew.

However, they had to get used to this kind of bivouac [temporary camp without tents or buildings].

Captain Abel said.

“Outdoor meals and sleep are also training. Do it properly as described in the manual.”

“Yes, Captain!”

“Since there are seven of us in total, each person can stand guard for one hour. We will depart as soon as the morning mist rises. I’ll take the last watch, so the rest of you decide among yourselves.”

That’s how the guard duty order was determined.

Using the tools they had, they lit a bonfire, and the preparations for the bivouac were complete.

“We need to burn a lot of thorny branches to create a lot of smoke and repel insects. You two go and gather more firewood.”

“Yes, Captain!”

Now, all that was left was dinner. They could endure the cold and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.

However, it was hard to bear the hunger after running around all day.

But all they had to eat were raw potatoes.

Sighs escaped from the mouths of the Yellow Knights members.

“I should have eaten more breakfast…”

“If you had, you would have thrown it all up during the march.”

“Alright, everyone, take two each.”

That’s how the potatoes, with the dirt still on their skins, were given to the members.

Fortunately, they were about the size of a fist, so if they ate them all, it would be enough to fill their stomachs.

“…But they don’t expect us to eat these raw, do they?”

“Shouldn’t we peel them and roast them over the bonfire?”

“Then they’ll be completely covered in ash, won’t they? And how long do we have to roast them before we can eat them?”

“…”

The Yellow Knights members, who had never cooked in their lives, began to panic.

Eating in the field was more difficult than they had imagined. There were no proper ingredients, and even fewer tools.

It was Cainchel’s turn to step up.

“I’ll try roasting them.”

Abel’s eyes widened.

“You know how to do this too?”

“I’ve been going out for cooking support recently. Didn’t you see me when I was serving food?”

“Then you probably know how to roast potatoes.”

“Of course.”

Then, the members’ expressions changed as if they had met a savior.

Cainchel became the savior of the evening meal, following the savior of the battlefield.

“First, can you bring me a lot of fallen leaves and mud, if possible?”

“I will. Someone who feels like it, go and prepare it.”

At the thought of being able to have a slightly better meal, several Yellow Knights members got up from their seats.

That’s how Cainchel started roasting the potatoes.

It would be nice to have an oven, but you can’t expect that in the field.

Cainchel made the most of what he could use outside.

‘First, cover the bonfire with a lot of fallen leaves to prevent heat from escaping, and then put the mud-covered potatoes inside. If you raise the surface temperature of the potatoes like that…’

The potatoes placed in the bonfire slowly began to cook.

“We need more fallen leaves. This level of fire won’t cook them properly.”

“Okay, I got it.”

Cainchel activated Fallen Star to check the temperature of the potatoes.

That’s how he adjusted the intensity of the bonfire so that the external temperature rose to 250 degrees.

If he roasted them like this for about 30 minutes, they would be in the most ideal state to eat.

‘To cook them faster, you have to boil them in advance or cut them into small pieces and roast them. But you can’t do that in the field. This is the best I can do.’

The eyes of the Yellow Knights members watching the potatoes cook sparkled.

“What’s the reason for roasting them with mud?”

“If you don’t do this, the outside will burn and the inside will be undercooked.”

“Ah! You know how to roast potatoes too, Cainchel is amazing!”

A sigh escaped from Cainchel’s mouth.

Soon, they will be doing a survival training where they have to survive in the field for three days with just one knife.

The reason why the instructors only threw raw potatoes at them during today’s training was because of that.

They have to feel the need to learn harder.

‘They’re about 90% cooked! Should I take them out now?’

Cainchel put his hand into the red-hot bonfire.

Then, Abel, who was surprised, asked.

“C-Cainchel, are you okay?”

“Chefs always do this much.”

“…I should never look down on chefs again.”

When he peeled off the mud, the golden-brown potatoes were emitting white steam.

The members who were watching swallowed their saliva.

“They’re really well cooked…”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen potatoes look so delicious.”

Well-roasted potatoes are delicious even if you eat them plain.

But that’s not cooking.

Cainchel took out a container of butter from his pocket. Only then did everyone realize what dish he was making.

“Butter potatoes!”

Abel’s eyes widened. He never thought he would bring butter after the antidote.

“How did you think of bringing something like that? Is it from the experience of the last training?”

“Yes, if we have to eat potatoes anyway, shouldn’t we eat them as deliciously as possible?”

“Hmm, eating butter will help withstand the cold. I’ll keep it a secret from the instructor. Wait a minute…”

Abel’s eyes twinkled strangely as he stopped talking.

An expression that had found the answer to an important question.

Abel looked at Cainchel, who was roasting the potatoes, and muttered.

“…Maybe I’ve found the best Meister [master chef].”

@

The butter potatoes were nearing completion.

‘Then it’s time for the butter to shine!’

Cainchel cut the almost cooked potatoes into a cross shape. Then, the pure white flesh appeared.

He puts a little butter on top of it. And put it on the bonfire to cook a little more.

Then, the butter placed on top of the hot potatoes melted and flowed down thickly.

The scent of butter spreading over the potatoes.

The stomachs of the knight members who were watching rumbled.

Finally, he finished by putting a lot of butter on the white flesh of the potatoes.

“Okay, it’s done.”

Cainchel put the butter potatoes on a makeshift plate made of large leaves and handed them out.

It was salted butter, so there was no need to add salt separately.

“Hooa…”

Butter potatoes of a very high standard for something made in the field.

They look softer and more appetizing because they are roasted whole.

[4-star dish ‘Field Butter Potatoes’ has been completed.]

‘Oh, 4 stars!’

I thought it would be 3 stars at best, but it seems to be better cooked than I thought.

Abel, who received the butter potatoes, swallowed his saliva.

“Oh my god… Is this the potato that looked so unappetizing earlier…”

Abel said a short prayer and took out a small dagger from his pocket. It was a substitute for a fork because there wasn’t one.

First, he cut the butter potatoes in half with the end of the knife.

Then, the scent of butter is added to the white flesh of the potatoes, making the appetizing smell even stronger.

He cut it into small pieces and took it into his mouth.

“D-Delicious!”

It’s so hot that it’s hard to chew. But it’s delicious.

The unique sweetness of well-cooked potatoes and the salty butter go so well together.

“Hooa…!”

Instead of exclamation, a breath escaped. The potatoes that went into his mouth melted away.

When he put a lot of butter on the yellow flesh of the potatoes that were emitting steam and put it in his mouth, the savory taste became even stronger.

When he blew on it and put it in his mouth, an exclamation naturally came out.

Abel, who had eaten one butter potato in an instant, raised his head.

As expected, the other members were also eating butter potatoes deliciously.

“…How can food that is just roasted and topped with butter be so delicious?”

“Captain Abel. There’s still more. Would you like another one?”

“I’ll take it gratefully. I didn’t know you had this talent. My body is getting warmer, so I’ll be able to sleep well tonight.”

Some people even burned their mouths because they ate too quickly because it was so delicious.

Thanks to the butter potatoes made by Cainchel, the Yellow Knights members were able to have a pleasant meal.

It was time to gather around the bonfire and rest.

Gather leaves and spread them on the floor, then cover them with a cloak. Then you have an uncomfortable but decent space to sleep.

“Cainchel.”

Cainchel turned around at the sudden voice.

Then Waigon was standing there.

“What’s wrong?”

Waigon hesitated for a while and then suddenly bowed.

“…I’m sorry for what happened during the day. I will make sure this never happens again.”

Cainchel was flustered and couldn’t say anything for a moment.

That proud Waigon would apologize first.

Waigon bowed his head even further.

“I only made fun of you for being a poor student… But I was honestly surprised to hear that you saved me from the goblin’s attack several times. I’m really sorry. And thank you. If you’re angry, you can hit me until you feel better.”

A pleasant smile appeared on Cainchel’s lips.

It wasn’t just the level and stats that were changing.

Little by little, the eyes around him were changing. The treatment was changing.

He was so happy about that fact.

“I won’t hit you. Then there’s no point in saving you. But.”

“Yes?”

“How was the butter potato I made?”

“Yes, it was the best ever.”

[The guest is satisfied with the dish you made.]

I think I know the meaning of the words that appeared in the Joma Mirror.

Best ever #3