Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 302

“See? I told you he was my guardian… no, my bodyguard. How does he make garlic smell so good when he fries it?”

Wang Jeok-sam’s eyes widened at the sudden, sweet voice.

Someone had appeared next to him without a sound.

They were wearing a black robe, and even with just a glimpse of their outline, he could tell they were a great beauty.

“Excuse me, miss, but may I ask what your relationship is to the esteemed guest?”

“You mean Ben룡 [a term of endearment or respect]? I’m Maia. For now, I’m the acting head of the Edelweiss Merchant Guild.”

Maia explained her relationship with Cainchel as they had agreed beforehand.

Wang Jeok-sam scratched the back of his head, looking embarrassed.

“The Edelweiss Merchant Guild… I’m sorry, but I’ve never heard of it. But if you go over the mountain here, you’ll find Hanseong, a large security agency. If you go that far, you’ll be able to meet other merchants from the Western Continent.”

He seemed to think that Maia’s strange way of speaking was due to cultural differences.

“By the way, human.”

“Yes?”

“You said you were a peddler, right?”

“Yes, but… is there a problem?”

“No, I just realized that you have to be physically fit to be a merchant. Gistard seems too busy cooking to notice, but I can’t be fooled.”

A bead of cold sweat ran down Wang Jeok-sam’s cheek.

“…Are you perhaps a master who has undergone Reversal of Age [a technique to regain youth and power]?”

“Heehee. Well, something like that. Let’s eat first and talk more later.”

A strange tension hung between the two.

Meanwhile, the various vegetables in the pot in front of Cainchel were wilting just enough.

Cainchel turned around and began to finely chop the red flesh. It was the last tomato he had brought from Argon.

He had quite a bit of monster meat stored up.

But now he would have to source fresh vegetables and such locally.

Even the same potatoes would taste different if the environment changed.

From now on, he would need new recipes to suit them.

‘I learned the basics from Master Jeok-un, but it’s still not enough. I need to eat a lot of dishes made by skilled chefs.’

But first, he decided to focus on the dish in front of him.

Sizzle-!

Stir-frying with the minced tomatoes would prevent the other vegetables from sticking.

While the vegetables were softening in the pot, Cainchel began to prepare the Gorgon chorizo.

Maia, who had been in a war of nerves with Wang Jeok-sam, approached with shining eyes.

“Oh, that’s sausage made from Gorgon. Sniff sniff… The smoky scent with spicy chili peppers is very appealing, isn’t it?”

Maia had been forced to eat only mild mille-feuille nabe [a layered hot pot dish] for a while.

But now, most of her lost sense of taste had recovered, and she could enjoy somewhat spicy dishes.

She was experiencing the joy of gastronomy for the first time in hundreds of years.

And she hadn’t eaten anything for days.

“Right now, I could eat even those boiling vegetables.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to eat properly made food? If you wait a little longer, you can eat your fill.”

“…Hmph, it sounds like Ben룡 is begging.”

Cainchel shrugged and began to cook the stew in earnest.

“The chorizo should be cut into bite-sized pieces and then drained of oil for about 5 minutes. Otherwise, it will get tough.”

Simmering the vegetables and chorizo slowly over low heat would allow the flavors to infuse.

Now it was time to add the spices that would enhance the flavor.

“Originally, it’s best to grind smoked paprika and add it, but since I don’t have any, I’ll just grill it over the fire to bring out the flavor. Now it’s time for the most important ingredient, the potatoes.”

Cainchel began to score the potatoes, which he had peeled and soaked in cold water for a while.

Then, he broke them off one chunk at a time.

The sizes and shapes were uneven and irregular. It was something Cainchel would never normally do.

“This makes the stew thicker.”

Once the potatoes were prepared, he added chili and bay leaves to the pot.

Then, he piled the potatoes on top so that the other ingredients couldn’t be seen, and plucked thyme while lightly stir-frying.

That way, the strong Gorgon chorizo would blend with the other ingredients.

He also added a little sweet and sour red wine vinegar.

It wasn’t too acidic and was used in various dishes, and its sweet aroma stimulated the appetite.

“Turn up the heat to evaporate the sourness, then add enough water to cover all the ingredients. Finally, season with coarse salt and simmer without a lid.”

The rich aroma created by the combination of various vegetables and spices made Maia’s mouth water.

“Hmph, the mille-feuille nabe was good, but this is even better… How much longer do I have to wait?”

“It’s almost done. Stew is delicious when it’s simmered until the broth thickens and all the flavors of the ingredients are extracted. It’ll be ready in about 40 minutes.”

Cainchel explained to Maia and began to cook stew in another pot.

He had to make at least 200 servings because the captured government soldiers had to eat too.

As the smell of the stew began to spread, the soldiers who had fainted opened their eyes.

“Ugh, ugh… Where is that savory smell coming from…?”

“Huh? Why am I tied up here?”

“…Damn it, what the hell happened?!”

Wang Jeok-sam’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.

“E-Esteemed guest! The government soldiers have really come to their senses! Ah, this can only be described as a miracle…”

Cainchel smiled and shook his head.

“It’s not over yet. They’ll go back to the way they were if they don’t taste the finished dish.”

“Haa… But I wonder if I can eat such a great dish…”

“That’s why I’m making so much of it. Instead, will you help me feed the government soldiers after you finish your meal?”

“Of course, I’ll do that much.”

“Ah, the stew is just about ready to eat. Please wait a moment.”

At Cainchel’s gesture, Fragarach, with a ladle attached to its handle, began to fly toward the pot.

“S-Sword Art of Flying Objects?!”

To think he would use Sword Art of Flying Objects to scoop up the finished stew. It was such a shocking sight that warriors who had not reached that level would have fallen backward.

Wang Jeok-sam picked up a wooden spoon with a nervous expression. It was something he always carried with him so he could eat anywhere.

And as he scooped up the stew and brought it to his mouth,

He realized that using Sword Art of Flying Objects with a ladle was nothing compared to the taste of this stew.

* * *

The vivid red stew had a spicy and sweet aroma that combined meat, vegetables, and various spices.

Wang Jeok-sam was a peddler. He had traveled around various regions and had been to most of the famous inns.

In particular, this area was famous for its soup dishes. They enjoyed the original taste of the broth by boiling, steaming, and simmering it for a long time.

But what on earth was the dish in front of him? He could understand the rich smell created by the combination of various seasonings. But the condition of the sausage was unusual.

“Then, I’ll start by eating this thing called chorizo.”

He scooped up the chorizo with the thick broth, which had a spicy and subtle umami flavor, and brought it to his mouth.

Pop-

The moment he chewed, the rich juice inside burst out at once.

The firm elasticity was felt as it was properly drained of oil before being blanched. Usually, chorizo tends to become dry as it is smoked and dried.

To compensate for this, Cainchel used the tough intestines of the Gorgon to make the chorizo. That’s why it was so elastic.

Moreover, the unique fishy smell of monster meat was not felt at all, perhaps because it was filled with dried and smoked chili peppers.

That was why he chose chorizo from among the many sausages.

“Haa, haa… Hoo…”

Sweat poured down Wang Jeok-sam’s face as he ate the spicy stew.

“…It’s not as tongue-numbing as Sichuan cuisine, but it’s just spicy enough to feel good.”

People in the Ming Dynasty especially enjoyed spicy food.

Layu (辣油) [chili oil], which was made by mixing coarsely ground chili powder with spices and extracting it in hot oil, was one of the most popular seasonings.

Cainchel made the stew a little spicier than the original Laotian style.

Perhaps that’s why Wang Jeok-sam liked the spicy and rich taste of the Gorgon chorizo so much.

This time, Wang Jeok-sam scooped up a generous portion of the vegetables that had been simmered until soft and brought them to his mouth.

Then, the taste of the thick soup, in which the flavors of various ingredients were condensed, spread in his mouth.

In particular, the steaming potatoes crumbled softly without the need to chew.

It was also great to eat the soft potatoes with the spicy and savory broth.

In particular, the pungent onions had been cooked for a long time, making them sweeter. The crispness was gone as they had wilted, but their unique flavor remained.

Maia was also eating the stew without a care in the world. However, it seemed a little too stimulating for her tongue as it was made to suit the taste of the Ming Dynasty.

“Ugh… This is too spicy…”

Maia gulped down the stew in one go and ran around looking for water.

Cainchel smiled and shrugged.

“Spicy taste is originally a type of pain felt by the skin, not the tongue. That’s why spicy food is the best when you have no appetite.”

“…That’s true. It’s definitely very spicy, but it’s so delicious that I keep eating it. Ugh, my tongue, my tongue…”

In the end, Maia stuck out her tongue and panted, but she kept eating the stew.

After enjoying a proper spicy taste, she wouldn’t be able to eat mild mille-feuille nabe for a while.

“Hoo, haa…”

In the end, Wang Jeok-sam ate two bowls of stew filled to the brim.

Maia was next to him, holding the pot and eating it. It was that delicious.

Then, as the bottom of the pot was revealed, she collapsed backward.

“…Ugh, I feel like I’m going to die… But a lot of mana has been restored? At this rate, I can barely cast a mini breath. As expected, the food made by Gistard is the best.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Cainchel gestured to Wang Jeok-sam, who was enjoying the aftertaste.

The pot was already filled with the finished chorizo potato stew.

“You have to feed this to the tied-up government soldiers. Well, judging from the situation, I don’t think you’ll have to force it into their mouths.”

As Cainchel said, the government soldiers also had faces that said they wanted to eat the stew right away.

The government soldier who was tied up at the very front muttered.

“I don’t know why I’m tied up here, but I should eat that incredibly delicious-looking dish first and then think about it.”

Cainchel released their upper bodies, leaving only their legs tied.

The government soldiers, who had already become prisoners of the chorizo potato stew, did not think of running away, but simply received the plates and ate.

“Uwoooo! W-What is this?! It’s so delicious!?”

“Personally, I prefer it a little spicier, but it’s still amazing?! Damn it, give me another bowl!”

It was a feeding time that reminded him of his days at the Knights Training Center after a long time.

In the end, the government soldiers finished their meal much faster than expected. They ate it so quickly that they didn’t care if the roofs of their mouths were burned.

The madness that had been in the eyes of the soldiers who had finished their meal had completely disappeared.

But they seemed to remember clearly what they had done.

“…To massacre innocent people because the princess wanted it… That doesn’t make sense…”

“What have I done…?”

“…Ugh, ugh! I, I…!”

It was a clearly different reaction from those who had rioted under the curse of Asmodeus.

Asmodeus’s ability was simply to make them lose their reason and obey any order.

Even if they didn’t act purely according to their own will,

The memory of committing the massacre would not leave their minds until they died.

Wang Jeok-sam, who was watching the government soldiers, bit his lip so hard that blood came out for some reason.

“Damn it… Even though the curse is lifted, the tragedy is not over. After all, the only way to save the Great Ming Empire is to get rid of the princess…”

Wang Jeok-sam suddenly knelt down in front of Cainchel and bowed his head. And he opened his mouth as if he had made a decision.

“…Esteemed guest. Before I tell you the rest of the story, there is something I must first ask for forgiveness. I am not actually a peddler.”

Maia, who had been standing behind with her arms crossed, sneered.

“I knew it. To hide that much aura in your body and call yourself a peddler.”

These two are the heroes who will save the Great Ming Empire. Wang Jeok-sam, who was so sure of it, finally revealed everything he had been hiding.