Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 295

James Van Jackson suddenly transformed into a monster right before Cainchel’s eyes.

If he wasn’t modified into a Chimera, what on earth happened to his body?

Bishop defined the phenomenon in one word.

― Do you happen to know the term ‘factor’?

‘Hmm… Doesn’t it mean the cause of something?’

― Half right, half wrong. To be precise, it’s a word that refers to the cause or condition that triggers a biological phenomenon. The rising of bread dough is also the result of various factors.

‘So, everything from adding yeast to kneading is a factor?’

― Perfect.

‘So, what does that have to do with a person turning into a monster?’

― Well, just now, the genes of several monsters were found in James Van Jackson’s body. To put it simply, you can think of it as a kind of seed. It sprouted forcibly thanks to a drastic change in emotions.

A groan escaped Cainchel’s lips.

‘…So, if you plant that seed, anyone can become a monster?’

― Not quite. At least, it doesn’t work on humans born and raised in Britannia.

The New World, where the United States of Argon is located, is mostly unexplored territory where monsters roam freely.

It’s to the point where there’s even a profession called cowboys who hunt them.

Cainchel also spent some time as a cowboy, hunting down numerous monsters.

‘…Right. When you fight monsters, their blood often splatters on you.’

Not only that, but in Argon, monsters are used in a wide variety of ways in everyday life.

Instead of scarce iron ore, they grind monster bones to make weapons and wear clothes made of their leather.

― Moreover, everything is passed down from parent to child and has been repeated for hundreds of years. The humans of Argon are in the optimal state for planting monster seeds.

In the end, all the humans living in the New World are at risk of turning into monsters.

Cainchel recalled how strong James had become after turning into a monster.

‘If all the numerous people living in Argon turn into monsters…’

Moreover, the problem didn’t end there. If he turned into a monster because of a seed, who on earth planted it?

At that moment, something flashed through Cainchel’s mind like lightning.

There is someone in Argon who has the ability to control monsters at will.

‘Maybe it’s the Monster Lord’s doing.’

― That’s highly likely. In the first place, even alchemists can’t create something like a monster seed. It’s true that a demon is involved.

It was still just a hypothesis. But if it were true, it wouldn’t end as just an Argon problem.

‘…Not only the Central Continent, but perhaps even the Eastern Continent could be in danger.’

Fortunately, the seed is not yet complete. Among the monsters, there are many with high intelligence.

There are even those who dig traps and wait for prey, or those who spread pheromones to lure their opponents.

If such characteristics were added, unbelievably dangerous monsters would be born.

Moreover, the number would be at least tens of thousands… no, hundreds of thousands.

He had to prevent the situation from escalating to that point at all costs.

To do that, he had to find out who planted the monster seed in his body.

The best way is to ask the person directly.

‘…I’m glad I didn’t cut off his breath.’

Just in case, Cainchel decided to feed James a dish he had prepared in advance.

Maybe there would be some kind of reaction.

First, he grilled a flash-frozen hot dog with Flambe’s flames.

Then, it was completed as a 5-star dish, just like when it was freshly baked.

Cainchel put it in James’s mouth. If the instinct to live remained, he would eat it.

Crunch, crunch-

As expected, James began to devour the meat sauce hot dog.

It was when he was eating his second hot dog.

Whoosh, James’s body suddenly swelled up.

‘What? Don’t tell me he’s going to get even bigger?’

Fortunately, it was an unnecessary worry.

It seemed to grow bigger, but then it began to shrink like a deflated balloon.

And as if shedding its skin, the troll’s skin cracked, revealing the flesh inside.

‘…Hmm, it’s pink.’

But the change stopped there. As if the effect of the dish had worn off, James became a half-human, half-monster.

‘Ugh… Don’t tell me this isn’t enough?!’

Cainchel shoved all the remaining hot dogs into James’s mouth. But the same reaction as before did not occur.

It seemed that this was the limit with frozen hot dogs.

‘At least 6-star… To be sure, it has to be 7-star.’

To do that, you need to put your heart into the dish.

But Cainchel had no connection with James. He had only fought against him as an enemy to liberate the Orc slaves.

Cainchel’s eyes lit up. Not far away was a man who had a long and bitter relationship with James more than anyone else.

* * *

Seeing James’s half-human, half-monster form, Avihim lowered his head with an expression of great shock.

“…Is that James?”

Mystic Arts Cheese Fondue that seals the aura.

James was such a strong man that even that could only hold him for a short time.

But to change into a form that is hard to even call a monster like this.

“Apparently, a monster seed was planted in James without him knowing. I need your help to solve it.”

“Me, you say? My skills in cooking and swordsmanship are like a child’s play compared to Gran Gray.”

“It’s a dish that I can’t make alone. I just need you to help me with the dough. But you need to put your heart into it for James. So, decide now.”

“Yes? What are you talking about?”

“If the dish I’m about to make is completed, James will definitely return to his original form. If not, he will have to live like that forever. So, I’m telling you to choose what you want to do with James Van Jackson.”

Avihim knelt before Cainchel with a touched expression.

“T, thank you, Gran Gray… You taught me how to cook, allowed me to save my fellow tribesmen, and even gave me Mystic Arts… Again… How can I ever repay this grace…”

Surely, even if he pledged his loyalty for the rest of his life, he would not be able to repay even half of what he had received.

Cainchel smiled bitterly at the overwhelming gratitude Avihim was sending. He was just using the Orcs to deal with the demon duke Andras.

He had no memory of doing anything worthy of gratitude.

‘Well, I guess it was beneficial to each other after all.’

Avihim pondered. The Heart Crusher tribe, which had been deceived by James, had suffered near-total annihilation.

But if he couldn’t find out the source of the ‘seed’ from him, the entire remaining tribe would be in danger.

Not only the United States of Argon, but even the Orc tribe would be destroyed by the hands of a human turned monster.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh…”

James was groveling, making incomprehensible moans.

He didn’t know if his reason remained in his body.

But Avihim thought that James was begging for his life to be spared.

“I have decided.”

Avihim approached James and continued to speak. His eyes were blazing with anger.

It seemed that he had no intention of hiding his hostility.

“Germa Krash… You humans wouldn’t know what it means. It means one for all, and all for one. Even if we liberate all the tribes, we won’t be able to live properly if Argon becomes a monster den. So…”

And he put his hand on James’s scarred shoulder.

“…I have decided to forgive you. But don’t you ever forget. Remember what wounds you have inflicted on our tribe! It will surely become a shackle that binds your body in the future!”

“Wooer… Ugh…”

In the end, James was saved by the decision of the Orc he had so despised.

Perhaps sensing that fact instinctively, hot tears flowed from his bloodshot eyes.

Avihim rose from his seat with a determined expression. And he looked at James’s distorted face for the last time.

“Wait a little longer. I’m going to make the best dough I learned from Gran Gray. Now, let’s start cooking, Chef.”

Cainchel nodded.

In the end, Avihim had forgiven James.

For the sake of his tribe, the United States of Argon, no, the entire New World.

It was the Orc-like appearance of lightly throwing away even his life for the sake of his tribe.

‘Germa Krash, huh.’

For some reason, Cainchel didn’t dislike such Orcs.

The Orc chefs had been practicing kneading flour to make bread for some time.

When you put water and yeast in flour and knead it, it becomes sticky.

And if you let it mature at the right temperature, air is created inside and it swells up.

‘In the end, bread is the most suitable dish for the wind.’

Cainchel illegally occupied the kitchen in Hampshire Castle and began cooking in earnest.

When he showed the soldiers the aura blade, they even kindly brought him water.

“Heo-eop! Heu-eop! Hiooo-eop!”

The muscles of Avihim, who was moving his hands in front of the cooking table, were twitching.

The stronger the force used, the more elastic the dough becomes, and the chewier the finished bread becomes.

When combined with a body temperature that is basically higher than that of humans, the dough swelled up in an instant.

Avihim wiped the sweat from his forehead and handed over the finished dough. When he touched it, it was strangely warm.

Surely, it was because it contained Avihim’s heart, who had forgiven his enemy James.

“Hoo. How is it, Chef? I made it very rich, thinking that James bastard would eat it, using all my strength.”

“With this, you can make the best Savarin.”

“Ha, haha… Thank you.”

What Cainchel was trying to make was Savarin, a type of dessert enjoyed in Galia [an ancient region roughly corresponding to modern-day France].

It is a type of pound cake with plenty of syrup soaked into the brioche dough and then added with a strong-flavored rum.

James seemed to enjoy desserts, and there were many cookie-baking molds in the kitchen. Seeing that, he decided what to make.

Cainchel put the flour dough in a cookie mold and started baking.

And he recalled the Savarin recipe that Joffrey had taught him and said.

“Do you know what’s most important when baking Savarin? It’s to deliberately evaporate the moisture to make it as hard as possible. Savarin is soaked in syrup made with rum to make it sweet, so the shape shouldn’t collapse at that time.”

Avihim watched the dough he had made turn into bread and his eyes lit up.

To think that such a wonderful change could occur with the power of air. It was like magic.

Next, Cainchel began to make the syrup to soak the dough. It is common to melt sugar in water, add plenty of rum, and simmer until it becomes thick.

But Chef Joffrey adds orange peel to add a fragrant flavor, and even adds some spices as a hidden flavor.

It was literally Joffrey’s special Savarin.

The dessert that had captivated countless nobles of Britain was being recreated by the rough hands of an Orc.

When he applied the effect amplification, the rum syrup began to soak into the hard dough in an instant.

The sweet scent of rum was so strong that it made him dizzy.

“Joffrey’s special Savarin is complete with this, but shall we make a slight change to it?”

A soft custard cream goes well with a strong-flavored Savarin. And sprinkle plenty of rum-soaked raisins, rum raisins.

“Ugh, hmm…”

Even Avihim, who rarely eats sweets, was drooling. The Savarin being made in front of him was transforming so beautifully that he couldn’t see it as bread.

“And finally, if you apply plenty of apricot jam, it’s complete. If you eat this, even the monster lurking deep in your heart will retreat.”

From Joffrey to Cainchel. And now, Savarin made with a recipe that will be passed down to Avihim.

There, a strange scent that was so sweet but slightly bitter was emanating.

Cainchel was sure. This is definitely a 7-star dish.

Now, all that was left was to feed it to James.

“Well then, thank you for waiting. This is a special Savarin with plenty of rum raisins. Please enjoy it.”

Cainchel took the completed Savarin to the table.

What was there was James, who had changed so much that it was hard to call him a monster anymore.