Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 280

It listed the name of a giant monster that attacked ships sailing off the coast of Auckland.

“Kraken subjugation, of all things…”

Sometimes, without any unusual weather like storms, ships would suddenly be wrecked or inexplicably go missing.

Most of it was the work of that thing.

It uses its massive tentacles to wrap around and crush ships, and some even emit electricity to electrocute their prey.

The receptionist narrowed her eyes, looking at the Orc, unsure of what he was thinking.

“The branch manager told me to give the Cowboy any request they wanted… but this seems a bit much.”

“Hmm.”

“Ah, it’s not that I’m ignoring Gray at all. The risk level written on the request form is B-class. It has to be that high for a giant sea monster over several dozen meters long.”

The problem is that Krakens basically only appear in the deep sea.

At sea, even the strongest knight has most of their power restricted.

You can’t even fight properly without an Aura Blade capable of long-range attacks.

The receptionist, with narrowed eyes, approached Cainchel.

“…That’s not all. A Sea God has been appearing off the coast of Auckland recently.”

“Sea God? Orc never heard of that.”

“I’m talking about the A-class monster, Sea Serpent.”

It was as if she was telling a secret, confidential story. The Sea Serpent is called the god of the sea and is a figure of terror among sailors.

“Orc, catch monster. Get money. Gray strong. Green more strong. No problem.”

“…Haa. That’s not what I mean.”

The receptionist looked at Cainchel with a pitiful expression.

She thought they finally had a decent Cowboy, but he doesn’t know anything.

Cainchel shrugged. In fact, it was the receptionist who didn’t understand the situation.

Now, there’s no chance that thing will show up near Auckland.

That’s because Cainchel had neatly butchered the Sea Serpent and was keeping it in storage, by sections.

Even if a necromancer contracted with a high-ranking demon appeared, it would be impossible to revive it.

Cainchel looked at the two pouches he was wearing on his waist.

‘Even after putting in all the remaining Sea Serpent meat, it doesn’t even fill half the capacity. It was worth spending 2,000 gold to expand it.’

According to Bishop, an entire castle could fit inside. So, what’s a few large monsters?

The receptionist looked at the two Orcs, unsure of what they were thinking, and bowed her head.

“I can’t help it then. I’ll wish you good luck. Hmm?”

When she looked up, no one was there. They had disappeared in just a few seconds.

“…They’re really impatient people, or Orcs. Anyway, don’t die.”

For some reason, she felt like she would see them often in the future. With a strange certainty.

* * *

Gawain narrowed his eyes as he left the Cowboy branch.

“Someone is secretly following us. What should we do? It seems like that guy Marcus put a tail on us to check Gray and Green’s skills.”

“Let’s shake them off appropriately.”

“Really? Well, that’s easy enough. If we use Swift Lightning, it will look like we suddenly vanished from right in front of them.”

Deliberately showing them defeating a monster is also a good way to show off their skills.

But this time, they couldn’t do that.

“You said that the Monster Lord’s range of application is one-way, right?”

“Yes.”

Andras exercises absolute control over monsters.

However, according to Citri, he can’t know the state of the monsters.

That’s why they were able to kill the Sea Serpent and leisurely wander around Argon.

“Still, it’s about time the agents noticed the Sea Serpent’s absence.”

“Hmm… So that’s why you applied to subjugate the Kraken.”

The monster they had set as a gatekeeper had disappeared. So, of course, they would try to find out the reason.

If they’re not careful, they might get caught for secretly infiltrating Argon.

To prevent that, they need to create a clear reason why the Sea Serpent disappeared.

“For example, ‘The Sea Serpent, weakened from fighting over territory with suddenly over-breeding Krakens, was subjugated by Orc Cowboys,’ something like that.”

“Would that excuse work?”

“I looked into the Auckland branch manager, and he’s quite an ambitious man. He’s aiming to be a sheriff, not just a Cowboy branch manager. That kind of person was thoroughly defeated by seemingly clueless Orcs. And one of them can’t even speak the common language.”

“Kuh-huh….”

And those guys are subjugating not only the Kraken but even the Sea Serpent.

They would be achieving a feat that would be unbelievable for just two Orcs to accomplish.

“Indeed, I would attribute it to the entire Auckland branch’s achievement. Saying that they were able to subjugate an A-class monster thanks to thorough support and perfect command.”

“That’s right.”

Having skilled Cowboys means that the branch’s status increases.

Surely, if they just report the subjugation of the Sea Serpent, Marcus will package it very plausibly.

“Besides, the Kraken is a huge squid. Of course, the meat is tough, but if you marinate it to make it tender, it will be very delicious.”

Marinade refers to soaking meat or fish in a liquid before cooking to flavor or tenderize it.

Usually, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, alcohol, and spices are used. The meat in the honey butter sandwich also uses marinade to create its unique flavor.

“Oh, now that I think about it? Squid… I’ve had it in Galia, and it was really chewy and delicious. Hiyah, just thinking about it makes my mouth water.”

Until a few hundred years ago, they didn’t eat fish without fins and scales. They treated it as the devil’s food because it looked unpleasant.

But sailors who lacked food started eating it one by one, and it became known that it was very delicious.

Now, it has become such a popular seafood that there are even specialized restaurants in Galia.

That’s how Cainchel and Gawain headed to the place where Krakens frequently appear.

Of course, it’s located quite a distance from the port, requiring them to rent a boat.

But when they arrived at the pier, they realized there was no need for that.

“Uwaaa! A, a huge squid is attacking the port! So, someone, get a Cowboy or a sheriff…!”

“…O, it’s not a squid, it’s a Kraken!”

“Damn it! Even though the number of ships going out to sea has decreased recently, to think it would come all the way to the port!”

Two Orcs brushed past them. They were so fast that they just thought the wind was blowing a little harder.

Gawain, excited, drew his sword and muttered.

“Oh, thankfully, it came to us directly. It’s good that we don’t have to row all day to find it.”

When Krakens are in their spawning season, they move their habitat near land. They lay their eggs there and return to their original location.

It was to protect the remaining eggs from other sea creatures.

People screamed as they saw the Orcs stepping on buildings and moving almost as if they were flying. They had finally realized their presence.

“What?! An Orc is flying! F, Flying Orc…!”

“Are they trying to fight the Kraken? Still, I can’t trust Orcs and entrust my precious life! Wait a minute. I’ll go get Sheriff Douglas!”

“I’ll go request support from the Cowboy Auckland branch!”

‘Fortunately, there seems to be little to no casualties.’

The Kraken came into view in Cainchel’s sight as he leaped dozens of meters into the air with a few jumps.

The creature was wrapping its ten legs around a large cargo ship, trying to sink it.

‘I’ve eaten squid a few times, but that thing is seriously disgusting.’

It had simply increased in size tens of thousands of times, but it had transformed into such a different form.

But what does it matter if the appearance is hideous? The most important thing for Cainchel is how delicious it is.

Cainchel thought that as he drew up the Aura of his entire body.

As a monster living in the deep sea, the Kraken stores an enormous amount of electricity in its body. If you get caught in those tentacles, you’ll turn into well-cooked electric skewers.

‘But if I don’t get caught, that’s it!’

Koo-oooong-!

He kicked the ship as he fell downwards. The large ship cracked in half, and the Kraken’s body, which was attached to it, staggered.

Cainchel didn’t miss that small gap.

The Kraken’s entire body is covered in mucous membranes and has no bones. It absorbs even a considerable impact as is.

But it is weak against blades.

“Onion Swordsmanship…!”

At the same time as the shout, the seven blades that had multiplied began to slash the Kraken’s body.

It is quite difficult to cleanly cut the squishy Kraken.

But in front of a sword imbued with Aura, it was no different from a potato.

The Kraken’s legs began to pile up like logs on the sinking ship.

‘I could flambé it and grill it nicely, but to eat it deliciously, I have to catch it as fresh as possible.’

The Kraken, which had lost four legs in an instant, twitched its body as if it was flustered.

At the same time, an enormous electric shock covered Cainchel.

But it couldn’t penetrate the wall of Aura that had risen in front of Cainchel.

There are fewer and fewer places to set foot on. Cainchel activated Lasagna. It was a pasta specialized in wrapping something [referring to the Aura technique’s effect of wrapping around the feet].

Then, a subtle Aura membrane formed on both of Cainchel’s feet.

‘Now I can run on water for a while.’

The duration is less than a minute, but that’s enough.

Gawain, who was fighting the Kraken’s head in a slightly distant place, whistled.

“His Aura handling technique is really amazing. When did he even learn to fly on water? It’s a technique that I only managed to use in my later years.”

People couldn’t even move as they watched the amazing swordsmanship displayed by the two Orcs.

The tavern owner asked a sailor.

“Hey, what the hell is going on right now?”

“The Orc who flew over the building a little while ago…”

“Don’t beat around the bush and tell me.”

“…He’s cutting off the Kraken’s legs with tremendous momentum! Oh, he just cut off another one!”

“I, is that true? An Orc is overwhelming the Kraken?”

The Orc and the Kraken were fighting in a place quite far away. But people who live by the sea have incredibly good eyesight.

In the end, people who weren’t sailors had to wait for them to explain, with expressions that they were dying of curiosity.

“Th, that’s definitely an Aura Sword, right? I’ve never seen anything so clear except for Sheriff Douglas…”

“…So, do you think the Orc can catch the Kraken?”

“Catching it isn’t the problem, that’s almost cooking the monster!”

At that time, Sheriff Douglas, who had run over after hearing the news that a monster had attacked the port, asked.

“Hey. Where is the Kraken?”

Then, the sailor next to him answered, sweating.

“Well, Sheriff…”

“Haha, don’t worry too much. First, while I buy time, Cowboys from the Auckland branch will come for additional support.”

“…It seems like they’ve already arrived.”

“What does that mean? Who the hell arrived before me, the sheriff?”

“I think it would be better to see for yourself.”

Sheriff Douglas ran to the place the sailor was pointing at, forgetting to even draw the sword he was wearing on his waist.

Then, he saw the figures of two Orcs fighting the Kraken.

“Wh, what the hell is that…?”

One of the Orcs freely moves over the sea as if it were flat ground, cutting the Kraken’s legs.

Each time, legs as big as houses fell like rotten trees.

It was an impossible swordsmanship. Douglas was the best swordsman among the nearby sheriffs. Surely, if he continued to improve his skills for a few more years, he would soon become a Sword Master.

But the swordsmanship emanating from the Orc’s hand was at a level that even Douglas couldn’t achieve.

The technique of blocking the Kraken’s electric shocks and sweeping the surroundings at the same time is by no means inferior in firepower compared to an Aura Blade.

Douglas wondered who the hell was fighting the Kraken. So, he took out a cylindrical object from his pocket.

“If I check with this, I can find out who the hell is fighting.”

It was an Argonian magic tool that could see the beard of a person hundreds of meters away.

When he brought it to his eyes, the face of the Orc fighting the Kraken became clear.

At the same time, Douglas’s eyes widened.

It is difficult for humans to distinguish Orcs. But how could he not know the symbol of the Cowboy hanging around his neck?

“Why the hell is such a strong warrior a Cowboy….”

But unfortunately, he couldn’t hear the answer. The Orc Cowboy chased after the Kraken, which had lost most of its legs and was running away, and disappeared somewhere. It was too fast to chase the shadow even with the magic tool.

Douglas swallowed hard.

A very strong Cowboy had appeared in Auckland. Thinking about the repercussions that would bring, Douglas’s body began to tremble with excitement.