Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 3

Boil, bubble-

“Ah! The broth!”

It was the overflowing chicken broth that snapped Kainchel out of his reverie as he peeled potatoes.

“I was so focused on peeling potatoes that I didn’t realize how much time had passed.”

Kainchel looked down at his handiwork with a satisfied expression.

A mountain of pristine, peeled potatoes was piled on the counter.

It was the result of an hour of diligent work after sneaking them out of the storage.

The first ones he peeled were lumpy and oddly shaped.

But the ones that had just passed through Kainchel’s hands were smoothly peeled.

It was a skillful feat that didn’t seem possible for a beginner who had started holding a kitchen knife less than an hour ago.

“At this point, I’m starting to wonder if what I’ve been swinging all this time was actually a kitchen knife.”

Kainchel had been swinging a sword like crazy for three years.

Even though his swordsmanship level hadn’t increased at all.

As if to prove his efforts, there were thick calluses on his palm.

“When I moved the knife using my whole arm without moving my wrist, the potatoes peeled really well.”

Moreover, using the knife’s center of gravity allowed for even more delicate movements.

“It felt like I became one with the kitchen knife.”

Perhaps that was why.

Kainchel’s swordsmanship level had risen to Beginner 3-Star.

He had become so engrossed in trimming potatoes that he had gained another level.

It was a rate of growth that even Vincent von Sven, who was said to have been born with extraordinary talent, couldn’t achieve.

It was as if he was being compensated for the three years he had been stagnant.

Just by holding a kitchen knife.

However, it was necessary to find out what was causing this sudden growth.

Cooking and kitchen knives.

Clearly, one of the two was the cause.

The most certain way to do that was to finish making the chicken soup.

“The broth seems to be well extracted. Now, let’s finish it up.”

Kainchel took out the chicken, shredded it, and strained the remaining broth.

Then, he added the prepared vegetables and simmered it over low heat for about 30 minutes to complete it.

While he had some time left, there was one more thing he wanted to check.

Whether the swordsmanship level he had gained with the kitchen knife could be applied to other swords as well.

Kainchel took out a practice wooden sword that was placed in the corner of the kitchen.

It was made to be identical to a regular longsword, except that it had no blade.

He held it and performed the diagonal slash that he had done thousands of times a day.

Whoosh-

The sword cleanly cut through the spot Kainchel had aimed for.

Although it wasn’t perfect, it was a tremendous improvement compared to how he used to stagger around as if he were drunk.

Just raising his swordsmanship level by two stages could change things this much.

“Hoo…”

Kainchel took a slow, deep breath and placed the sword back where it had been.

This confirmed that the swordsmanship level could be applied to other swords as well.

“Then, I’ll know the rest when the cooking is done.”

If his level had increased because he used a kitchen knife, then he could just train with a kitchen knife in the future.

However, if his level had increased because of the cooking, then things would get complicated.

While he was thinking about various things, the chicken soup was completed.

Kainchel took off his Joma Kyung [a magical device that displays stats] and checked to see if anything had changed.

…

…

“Nothing changes even after I finish cooking.”

He said those words and unknowingly gave a bitter smile.

His swordsmanship level became 3-Star when he peeled potatoes with a kitchen knife.

However, his basic abilities, which were worse than a child’s, remained the same.

Kainchel smacked his lips.

Was the answer really the kitchen knife?

If so, he had to go to Instructor Ian and ask for permission to use a kitchen knife when training in the future.

It would be a bit of a ridiculous sight, but he was used to being ridiculed.

“But now I can level up too. And at an incredible rate.”

How much more could he level up by the next status update in a month?

Just then, he heard someone’s footsteps walking into the kitchen.

“Oh, is someone in the kitchen?”

It was a middle-aged man’s voice. And there was a strong smell of alcohol.

From Kainchel’s perspective, who was secretly cooking, it was a situation he couldn’t get caught in. Kainchel grabbed his practice sword and decided to hide in the food storage.

A moment later, a man with a stern demeanor walked into the kitchen.

‘Isn’t that Chef Gordon? I’m sure today was supposed to be his day off.’

He didn’t seem to be here to cook. He was holding a cheap bottle of rum in his hand.

He must have come to find some food to go with his drink.

Gordon discovered the chicken soup on the counter and grinned.

“Who the hell makes soup with chicken? Let’s see. Potatoes, onions, carrots… Surprisingly, they used the right ingredients. And this scent. Rosemary and basil?”

Kainchel almost screamed at that moment.

Just by smelling the food, he was able to identify all the spices that were used.

It was an amazing ability.

Chef Gordon Lambolton, who was in charge of the kitchen at the training center.

He had seen him passed out drunk more often than cooking.

He never knew that Gordon was hiding such abilities.

Gordon opened the pot and began to examine the chicken soup that Kainchel had made.

Then, he shouted.

“What kind of crazy idiot peels potatoes like this! There’s more waste than edible parts! Oh? But this one is cut pretty well. What is this, did different people make this?”

It seemed that the level of the potatoes varied because his swordsmanship level had been rising in real time.

“I want to see the face of whoever made this. Hmm… Still, it’ll be good enough to sober me up.”

Gordon said those words and began to eat the soup straight from the pot.

As if he were a judge at a cooking competition, he began to make comments.

“The broth is well extracted. It’s a bit salty, but the flavor of the herbs is good because of it. It’s definitely a dish made according to the recipe without trying to be clever. It looks clumsy, but the taste is decent. I’ll give it a cooking score of 4… no, 5.”

Gordon must have been hungry because he emptied the entire pot of soup.

Not leaving a single vegetable behind.

Kainchel unknowingly raised one corner of his mouth. He felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

To have someone eat the food he made so deliciously.

‘Cooking is surprisingly doable. It might be nice to do it occasionally when I’m bored…’

Ding-

At that moment, the Joma Kyung, which had been silent for a while, began to ring again.

It meant that something had changed in the status window.

‘N-no way!’

[The guest is satisfied with your cooking.]

[Cooking Level has been created!]

[Experience has greatly increased after receiving a cooking evaluation from a chef with a high gourmet level.]

[Cooking Level has increased!]

“… !”

Kainchel had to cover his mouth to stop himself from screaming.

In the first place, what you can see through Joma Kyung is only the owner’s power.

But a cooking level…

He had never heard of such a thing existing.

The surprise didn’t end there. The Joma Kyung kept announcing something as if it was broken.

[Completed a dish using fire!]

[Fire resistance slightly increased (+0.1%)]

…

…

[Completed a dish using herbs!]

[Poison resistance slightly increased (+0.1%)]

“Wait, resistance!?”

This time, it was a word Kainchel knew.

Resistance literally meant immunity to something.

However, it was also an ability that could not be obtained through ordinary methods.

A very special ability that could only be acquired by being born with a bloodline or by obtaining the protection of a spirit.

As Kainchel remembered, Vincent was the only one among the 100 or so knight candidates who had immunity to something.

He was so proud of having ‘cutting resistance’ as befitting a family that had wielded swords for generations.

But he acquired it by cooking?

Moreover, fire resistance and poison resistance were usually the exclusive property of dwarves or elves, who were different races.

Although it only increased by 0.1%, if it increased and stacked every time he cooked…

Kainchel felt goosebumps.

He would have a body that would never be hurt by attacks using fire and poison.

“But why didn’t my status change when I made the dish until now…”

He had only listened to Chef Gordon’s evaluation after eating the food he made.

“… Ah!”

Kainchel nodded with an expression that he had realized something.

Cooking is not something that ends with making it.

It only has meaning as a ‘dish’ when someone eats it.

[Realized the mindset of a chef.]

[Cooking Level has increased!]

That’s how Kainchel gained the mindset of a chef.

The 3-Star cooking level was a bonus.

@

“But in the end, I couldn’t even take a bite of the chicken soup I made.”

How close did it come to being ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’?

According to Chef Gordon’s evaluation, it seemed to be far from enough.

Inevitably, Kainchel had to eat dinner at the dormitory cafeteria.

The menu was fish and chips and salad, which came out once every two days.

It was an instant dish made by frying sliced potatoes and battered fish.

It was a dish that he would normally have enjoyed.

But after eating ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’, Kainchel’s body could no longer be satisfied with such food.

Kainchel glared at the fish and chips with bleary eyes.

Was it because his cooking level had increased?

The problems with this dish began to appear.

“The batter is so carelessly applied and fried that the meat is all coming out. And how can this part not be cooked at all? Have I been eating this kind of food all this time?”

When he thought about it that way, it was definitely strange.

Chef Gordon’s skill in evaluating the food he made was amazing.

Is this the level of cooking that is made in the kitchen he leads?

“If you mix some ale into the batter, the flavor would be better. And how long have they been using this oil? The color of the fries is pitch black.”

There were several problems that Kainchel, who had only made one dish, could see.

“Hmm…”

A very plausible idea came to Kainchel’s mind.

He could raise his swordsmanship level and resistance by cooking.

And he also wanted to know more about Chef Gordon.

He knew one way to solve all of that.

“… Kitchen duty.”

@

“You want to do kitchen duty?”

“Yes.”

Instructor Ian frowned at Kainchel’s words.

Kitchen duty was literally going to the kitchen and doing chores. A few chefs alone couldn’t make all the meals for hundreds of people.

Inevitably, soldiers were in charge of simple tasks such as preparing ingredients and boiling soup.

“I’ve never heard of a knight candidate going to kitchen duty.”

“Shouldn’t you treat us the same as regular soldiers before we become knights?”

It was a kind of privilege for the candidates to be exempt from kitchen duty.

He never thought there would be someone who would refuse it himself.

Instructor Ian sighed deeply.

“Hoo… Kyung, you’ve been in the Rookie Class for too long. Sometimes you seem to know more about this place than I do. I don’t know what’s making you do this, but if you’re just going to ignore it because you’re just cooking, I hope you’ll reconsider. It’s harder than you think.”

“I know.”

“You have to wake up early and work in the kitchen and take the same classes as the other trainees. Are you still okay with that?”

“I’m okay with it.”

Anyway, he used to wake up early and do physical training alone. It’s just that it’s changing to chores in the kitchen.

And if he worked in the kitchen, he would be able to raise the level that hadn’t changed at all for three years.

Instructor Ian, who discovered a strong will in Kainchel’s eyes, eventually allowed kitchen duty.

“Thank you. I’ll work hard.”

“Okay. I hope this will be an opportunity for you to grow even a little.”

“It will be.”

“What did you just say?”

Kainchel replaced his answer with a grin.

One month left until the next status update.

Looking forward to the upheaval that will happen then.

The inferior student of Stanice Knight Training Center, Kainchel, saluted Instructor Ian vigorously.

Don’t ignore me just because I’m cooking #1