Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 311

Hwangdo Nammyeong (南明) [Southern Brightness].

The capital of the Great Myeong Empire, a nation that once held hegemony over the Eastern Continent, was now completely under the control of the Gumiho [nine-tailed fox spirit].

From this moment forward, an operation to recapture the capital would begin.

Grand Master Tae-eul surveyed the assembled personnel at the Kunlun Sect and nodded.

They were all masters representing the great sects of the Jianghu Murim [martial arts world].

“I sincerely thank you for gathering here, regardless of your righteous or evil affiliations, to aid this old man.”

The Dark Demon Emperor Dokgocheon snorted.

“Hmph, you speak as if I’ve become your subordinate. Don’t be mistaken! I am only cooperating for a short time. If things don’t go my way, I will stab you in the back at any moment.”

“Hahaha. As expected of a man who bears the title of Dark Demon Emperor, you possess great spirit. I trust you to watch my back.”

Keinzel chuckled at their exchange.

The two factions, which had long divided the Jianghu Murim and engaged in countless battles, were now gathered under the banner of the Anti-Heaven Alliance.

He had only contributed a small amount of strength to this alliance.

Yes, just like a can of Mapo Tofu [spicy and flavorful tofu dish in chili and bean-based sauce].

“But, Great Hero Keinzel. You must have been pressed for time. Is everything truly prepared?”

Only three days had passed since Taebaek joined the alliance. The number of masters bewitched by the Princess and turned into her loyal servants was estimated to be around three thousand.

Moreover, some of them were super-masters who had been affiliated with the Anti-Heaven Alliance until recently.

A direct confrontation would only lead to self-destruction. Ultimately, the curse of lust had to be lifted before retaking the capital.

For that, Keinzel’s canned Mapo Tofu was essential, but Tae-eul wondered how much he could have possibly made in three days.

Even with help from other chefs in preparing the tofu, Keinzel had to handle the cooking and canning alone.

At best, 300 servings a day would be the limit.

Moreover, the process didn’t end with cooking. He had to individually pack and seal each serving in a can.

Thus, Grand Master Tae-eul estimated the total production to be around a thousand cans.

He planned to capture as many bewitched masters as possible, but if that proved impossible, they would have to be eliminated.

However, that calculation was based solely on the bewitched martial artists.

“Of course.”

“Hoo… I apologize for placing such a heavy burden on you, Great Hero. …Huh?! W, what did you just say?”

“Fortunately, the preparation of the canned goods is complete. I had some time to spare, so I made plenty. We won’t be lacking.”

“Is that truly the case? Heo, heh heh…”

Keinzel smiled and began pulling the finished canned goods from his interdimensional pocket.

In an instant, over a thousand cans were piled up in front of Grand Master Tae-eul. And they kept coming.

“There should be about five thousand. Wouldn’t this be enough to undo the curses of everyone we encounter on our way to the Princess?”

“…This old man has been outsmarted. You are right, Great Hero. It wasn’t just the Murim people who became the Princess’s slaves… I kept saying that we should act for the people, but I momentarily forgot.”

Of course, even with 5,000 cans, it was impossible to undo the curses of all those enslaved by the Princess.

At least half of the hundreds of thousands of people living in Hwangdo Nammyeong were bewitched by her.

That was why they had to directly confront the Gumiho Daji, the source of the lust.

Wang Jeok-sam, standing behind Grand Master Tae-eul, stepped forward and began to speak.

“Then, I, who have been appointed as the military advisor of the Anti-Heaven Alliance, will explain the outline of the operation.”

Wang Jeok-sam was skilled in magic and had worked as a tracker for the Geumuiwi [imperial secret police] for a long time.

He naturally became the general manager of the Hwangdo Nammyeong recapture operation.

“First of all, we must avoid a head-on fight as much as possible. Hwangdo Nammyeong is under the protection of the Big Dipper, making the sorcerers’ barrier the strongest there. Not even a rat can sneak inside without being noticed. The only time that barrier weakens is on the first day of the lunar month when the new moon rises. That’s today.”

Of course, waiting until next month for perfect preparation was an option.

However, no one knew what would happen if Princess Daji was given another month.

If they made a mistake, the Anti-Heaven Alliance might fall apart without even engaging in a proper fight.

“To prevent that, we must move today. The Righteous-Evil Alliance… At first, I thought it was impossible. But in the end, so many masters of the Demonic Cult have gathered, led by the Dark Demon Emperor Dokgocheon.”

“Hmm.”

“The Demonic Cult is strong. The leaders of the Nine Great Sects, who have been at war with them, know that best. That’s why I want them to play the most important role in this operation. Strike the northern part of Hwangdo Nammyeong. You don’t have to break through. Just draw the attention of the sorcerers.”

A strange light flashed in Dokgocheon’s eyes as he grasped Wang Jeok-sam’s intention.

“You want us to be bait. Are you planning to have the main force infiltrate from the opposite side?”

“…Yes. If possible, please call it a diversionary tactic. If you have any complaints, I will change it.”

“No. That’s what our kids do very well. Hehe, it’s been a while since I’ve had a good rampage.”

Wang Jeok-sam was prepared to lose at least one arm in the negotiation. But Dokgocheon accepted it readily.

However, insubordination was only the beginning. Wang Jeok-sam continued with a firm face.

“And if possible, I would like you to feed them canned goods as much as possible rather than killing them.”

“Hmph…! You really ask for a lot. I’ll take care of that. Guardian Sword.”

The man lined up behind Dokgocheon raised his head.

“Yes, sir.”

“You must have practiced warming up the canned goods properly.”

“Of course.”

The Guardian Sword took out one of the many canned goods and held it in his hand. He then activated Samadhi Fire [a martial art that uses Qi to burn objects].

It was a martial art that used Qi to burn objects, and it was proof that he had reached the realm of super-master.

“Keuooooooo…!”

The Guardian Sword focused his mind on the canned goods for a full three minutes.

When he opened the lid, Mapo Tofu with steaming steam popped out.

“…Heok… Heuek… H, here it is.”

“Yes, it’s warmed up perfectly. Good job.”

“Thank you. Hoo, I apologize for showing such an unreliable appearance just by warming up a can.”

“No. I only tested you because your Samadhi Fire is much stronger than the other guys. I can rest assured if I leave it to you.”

To properly heat the canned goods, the firepower had to be adjusted very carefully.

If you unleashed flames without restraint, it would quickly turn into a black lump of charcoal.

Wang Jeok-sam smiled bitterly, blaming himself for doubting Dokgocheon even for a moment.

At that time, Keinzel, who was handing out canned goods to the masters of the Demonic Cult, spoke up.

“Oh, I almost forgot.”

“What is it now?”

“It would be better to attach a means of communication to at least the commanders, even if it’s impossible for everyone.”

“Hmm. You don’t mean you can even use Telepathic Transmission.”

“It’s similar.”

Keinzel smiled and stretched out his hand.

Sticky mucus popped out and stuck to the bodies of Wang Jeok-sam, Cheongun, and Dokgocheon.

“…I didn’t avoid it because it didn’t contain any killing intent. But it’s not a pleasant feeling.”

“This is called Entree, and it’s a technique that connects each other’s neural networks. If you think about it in your mind, it will be transmitted to the other person.”

Cheongun, the First Sword of Wudang, stroked his beard and exclaimed.

“Hehe… Great Hero Keinzel, you can use such amazing techniques.”

“Hmph, I have to share my mind with that old man. It’s very unpleasant. But I’ll put up with it this time only.”

Wang Jeok-sam said in a much lighter voice.

“Haha. Don’t fight and let’s all work together nicely. I’ll start first. Yeong!”

Of course, no answer came from anyone.

Wang Jeok-sam had to lower his head with a sullen expression.

“…Anyway, I would like Great Hero Keinzel to face the Princess together with Cheongun.”

“Can I take on such an important role?”

“There’s no need to be so humble. Do you think my eyes are as small as a needle? You turned all the elixirs you ate a few days ago into your own internal energy. At that level, even Great Hero Dokgocheon would have to give way…”

“Keu, keuhem. I can hear you, you bastard.”

“Eek! I’m sorry! I mistook it for telepathy!”

Dokgocheon was also subtly aware of how strong Keinzel had become.

That’s why he readily took on the role of bait.

Keinzel nodded at Wang Jeok-sam’s suggestion.

“I understand. I’m sorry for just putting a spoon on the table that’s already been set, but I have no choice but to try.”

“Thank you.”

Having finished all the preparations, Keinzel quietly looked up at the western sky.

The Anti-Heaven Alliance’s first and last battle to recapture Hwangdo Nammyeong was about to begin.

* * *

While the Dark Demon Emperor Dokgocheon and most of the Anti-Heaven Alliance masters were striking the northern part of Nammyeong,

Keinzel was flying towards the direct route leading to Princess Daji, who was hiding deep within the Imperial Palace.

Rather than traversing Hwangdo, where enemies might be lurking anywhere, it would be better to descend from directly above.

Wang Jeok-sam stuck out his tongue at the sight of Maia’s main body, which was so huge that it resembled a flying fortress.

“Thanks to you, we can attempt such an absurd infiltration. Thank you, Elder.”

― Ahaha. Don’t forget that the boarding fee will be paid in spirit pills later. I was able to fly this far because I ate the Taeheo Muryeongdan [Supreme Mysterious Spirit Pill]… Ugh, sorry. Is the transformation about to be undone?

Keinzel, gazing at the sight of Nammyeong, which stretched beyond the horizon even from thousands of meters above the ground, exclaimed.

“What did you say!? We still have a long way to go before we reach the Imperial Palace! Please hold on a little longer!”

― Sorry, this is truly the limit…

With a pop, Maia transformed back into her human form.

Keinzel provided her with all the elixirs that he couldn’t incorporate into his dishes, as she was running low on mana.

Even so, it seemed that maintaining her main body for about half a day was her limit.

Perhaps the fatigue from using Yong-eon [Dragon Speech] twice had caught up with her.

Keinzel suddenly plummeted from thousands of meters above the ground.

If he fell like this, there was no telling where he would land.

Moreover, Wang Jeok-sam’s lightness skill was not particularly impressive, unlike Cheongun, the First Sword of Wudang, who could even use Airborne Steps.

‘Tsk, Lasagna…!’

Activating the Noodle Making skill, Keinzel created a massive aura barrier around himself.

He should be able to use this to reduce his descent speed and land in the desired location.

Although it consumed an enormous amount of aura, it wasn’t a significant burden at this point.

Wang Jeok-sam, wrapped in lasagna, sighed in relief and said.

“Hoo… Thank you, benefactor. You saved my life.”

Among the group, only Maia, who had consumed elixirs, or Wang Jeok-sam could deal with magic or formations.

That’s why he had to ensure his safety at all costs.

Keinzel smiled and said.

“If you ride within this, you will be able to reach the Imperial Palace. I’ll go down first, as I don’t have time.”

“Ugh…”

Keinzel’s body began to fall towards the ground at an incredible speed.

It was like a streak of lightning.

Kurururung…!

Suddenly, something surrounded by brilliant light fell from the sky, and screams erupted from the Geumuiwi soldiers guarding the Imperial Palace.

“W, what!? I’m already in a mess because the northern gate was attacked by night raiders!”

The identity was Keinzel, who had descended from thousands of meters above the ground.

The masters who realized that the barrier had been breached would soon flock here.

He had to infiltrate the Imperial Palace before that happened.

‘But the people here are not easy to deal with either.’

Keinzel smiled bitterly as he looked at the bewildered Geumuiwi soldiers.

Judging from the faint aura emanating from the swords they held, all of them were Sword Knights or higher.

Moreover, there were over a hundred of them.

Using such strong individuals as gatekeepers was unheard of anywhere else.

‘…So I’ll subdue them even faster.’

Kiiiiiiiiing…!

As if reading Keinzel’s thoughts, Fragrach, which he wore on his back, floated into the air.

Someone who recognized its identity shouted in a horrified voice.

“Is that Sword Control Technique?! Could it be a super-master…!”

“It’s close enough. Then it’s your turn, Fragrach. Show me the majesty of the newly acquired skill.”

In accordance with Keinzel’s will, Fragrach was launched at the Geumuiwi at an incredible speed.

It contained the power to make the surrounding space scream.

Even a graze would tear their bodies to shreds, turning them into a bloody mess.

It was a speed that was impossible to react to.

The Geumuiwi, sensing their impending doom, closed their eyes tightly. But nothing happened.

“…Huh? I, I’m alive? W, what the hell happened!?”

“M, my sword!”

“Uaaaaaak! The armor…!”

The seven Fragrachs that had multiplied had only swept through the area once.

Before they knew it, not only the armor the Geumuiwi were wearing, but also the weapons they were holding, were shattered.

Cheongun, who arrived a beat late, shuddered.

“…Hehe, to perfectly disarm so many people… It’s an amazing feat. It’s worth living a long life to see it.”

Keinzel shrugged his shoulders and gestured to Fragrach, which had been launched.

It returned to Keinzel’s left hand with ease.

“Hmm, as expected, I can add disarming to Sword Control Technique because I have plenty of aura. I can combine other skills at this level, right?”

Without realizing it, he licked his lips as he looked at the status window floating in one corner of his vision.

There, the stats that had risen to an unimaginable level even a week ago were displayed.

[Keinzel Van Zistad – Lv130]

― Stamina (132), Agility (130), Strength (130), Dexterity (130), Intelligence (134), Magic Power (129), Holy Power (129)

― Aura (39,573/45,573)

This is proof that he has crossed the limits of human beings and stepped on the threshold of a transcendent.