Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 95

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29. The Elf’s First Sword (1)

A message popped up in Cainchel’s Joma Mirror [a magical communication device], indicating that a slot for the Brilliant Road had been added.

He had created a flavor that couldn’t be found in ordinary bean dishes by using various spices and smoked salt.

It seemed to have given her a more amazing experience than he had thought.

Cainchel could easily understand why.

The name of the menu displayed in the Joma Mirror was ‘Sausage-Flavored Bean Dish That Even Elves Will Fall For’.

‘So, that’s why she said she couldn’t eat meat and fish…’

Elves live in communion with the forest from the moment they are born.

As a result, their tastes naturally change to match it.

They would even describe the finest steak as tasting like burning rotten shoes.

The tendency to be closer to spirits than humans also made them avoid meat.

‘She certainly looked quite hungry. Even if she’s confident in her swordsmanship, traveling in human society must be difficult…’

There are many people who desire elves with their beautiful appearance and mysterious aura.

Even now, there are those who are burning with desire to get their hands on an elf, even if they have to pay a fortune.

For such an elf to appear in a human village is as rare as meeting a dragon playing around.

“Could it be…”

Perhaps her visit to Citizen has something to do with Abel?

Abel had recently rescued an elf who was being held as a slave, he said.

The existence of the half-elf Abel has spread among them.

Cainchel quickly left the kitchen and looked for Bruno. The elf had been continuously ordering and eating the bean dish until just a moment ago.

She might still be at Epicure [Cainchel’s restaurant].

“Chef Bruno, is the guest who came in a moment ago still here?”

“She just left. She seemed very satisfied.”

He looked outside, but there was no trace of the elf left. It seemed like he had to inform Abel of this fact.

After asking for Bruno’s understanding, Cainchel rushed to Count Well-Ride’s mansion where Abel was staying.

Then, there was a guest who had arrived there one step ahead.

@

Count Well-Ride’s mansion is located on the outskirts of Citizen. If something goes wrong, it would take quite a while for the city guards to be dispatched.

As such, the Count did not neglect security. He always took Sword Knight Taimu as his escort and mobilized well-trained soldiers to guard the mansion.

The intensity of their training was no less than that of the regular army.

All of those soldiers were standing and unconscious.

‘They were all hit in their vital points and lost consciousness. How could they fall so quickly…’

A frighteningly sharp blow. Cainchel hurriedly ran into the mansion.

Then, Nimue, wearing a cloak, was fighting the soldiers inside the mansion.

“I just want to meet the owner of this mansion. I have no intention of harming him. I’ll talk for a moment and leave right away.”

It’s hard to feel persuasive when you say that while drawing your sword.

“The opponent is one person! Capture her without injuring her as much as possible!”

“Yes, Commander!”

“I don’t want to stain the bouquet of roses given by the Queen with human blood.”

Whether it sounded like a provocation, the soldiers charged.

Cainchel felt an enormous hostility emanating from Nimue’s body.

Nimue’s sword was not imbued with Aura [magical energy], as if she had no intention of killing.

Then he can stop her!

Cainchel took out all the meringue he could make and threw it at the soldiers.

Tiiiiing!

The meringue that wrapped around the soldiers’ bodies deflected Nimue’s sword as it was.

Nimue turned around when her sword, which she had swung with the determination to blow away an arm, was blocked.

“You use interesting techniques. Oh my, are you the chef who made the bean dish? I certainly paid for the food properly.”

“Conversation is done with the mouth. Please put down your sword for a moment.”

“I’m sorry, but even if you’re a human who makes delicious food, I don’t want to talk with anything other than a sword.”

It was a chilling remark, like a frozen lake. However, there was a fact that even Nimue didn’t realize.

If it had been someone else in front of her, she would have swung her sword without even making such a retort.

It seemed that she was more captivated by the bean dish Cainchel made than he had thought.

However, if he dragged on any longer, he didn’t know how the situation would change.

Cainchel was half certain of Nimue’s purpose in coming here.

“Could it be that you’ve come to find Abel Carter?”

“…”

A strange groan was heard through the thick cloak.

Cainchel looked at the twin swords Nimue was holding. Roses were engraved on the hilts with elaborate skill.

The thorns extending from there formed the blade.

A weapon that was so fitting for the name bouquet of roses.

“You’re coming to meet a friend, but aren’t you bringing too flashy a bouquet of flowers?”

Nimue slowly put away her sword. She realized that friend meant someone of the same race.

“Guide me to him. I don’t want to talk to humans.”

“Then please follow me, guest.”

The soldier who had been watching the conversation between Cainchel and Nimue bowed his head.

“Thank you, Sir Cainchel. You saved us.”

However, the soldiers did not disarm.

Even though she had put away her sword, the fact that Nimue had forcibly invaded this place did not disappear.

They had to be on guard until the Count’s permission was given.

“Abel will be waiting inside.”

“Just because I followed you doesn’t mean I trust you. If I see even the slightest suspicious movement, I’ll use the bouquet of roses…”

When he opened the door and went inside, Abel, wearing a uniform, was waiting.

Seeing someone of the same race, the murderous intent that Nimue had been emitting disappeared by half.

“I’m sorry, but could you please leave? I don’t want to talk in a place where there are humans.”

At the word human, Abel realized that the person in front of him was not human.

Above all, the energy he felt from her was similar to that of his mother.

Abel carefully opened his mouth.

“Are you perhaps an elf?”

“Yes.”

“I will vouch for his identity. He is someone who has remained my friend even after hearing that I am a half-elf.”

“…You’ve become friends with a human?”

“I have been living as a human ever since my mother, Maia, died.”

“Ah, poor child…”

Nimue took off the cloak she was wearing. Then, dazzling blonde hair appeared.

And she stroked Abel’s head and said.

“Maia’s child, Abelin. Don’t worry about anything anymore. You risked your life to save Iphani, who was captured by humans. The Queen has heard of it and has decided to appoint you as an Elven Knight to protect the sacred World Tree.”

“Elven Knight? Could it be that you are…”

“I am Nimue, the First Sword of the Wind Tree Clan. I am a blood-related sibling of Maia.”

‘I thought they looked strangely alike, but she was Abel’s family.’

The First Sword was an honorary title given to the Queen’s Royal Guard. It also meant that she was the strongest in the clan.

Abel, who had accepted the bloodline of the elves, had become frighteningly strong.

Cainchel could finally understand the reason.

Abel knelt down in front of Nimue.

Although elves were not very bound by hierarchical relationships, Nimue was his aunt and the strongest swordsman in the elven race.

“Maia’s child, Abel, greets the great sword.”

“Get up, Abelin. And would you please prepare to leave with me? You must carry out the sacred duty given by the Queen. If you complete it, you will be blessed by the World Tree.”

Nimue smiled brightly and held out her hand to Abel.

Abel stared at it for a while. The ears hidden in his hair were trembling as if uneasy.

Then Nimue’s ears fluttered quickly. Her facial expression remained the same, but she seemed quite embarrassed.

“If you receive the blessing of the World Tree, you can strengthen the blood of the elves even more.”

“Can I become an elf?”

“Not to that extent, but at least you’ll be able to get a gender. Don’t you hate your incomplete body like a mule?”

“…”

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll become a body that suits Abelin’s beloved partner.”

“…”

For some reason, Abel looked at Cainchel’s face, who was standing next to him.

Cainchel nodded as if to say that the decision was up to him.

That grabbed Abel’s wavering heart.

“…I am Abel, a knight of Frelia. I am Abelin, but at the same time, I am Abel. I’m sorry, Nimue-nim [formal title], I cannot take that hand.”

Being able to become a knight of Frelia was the result of Cainchel’s help and his efforts so far.

He didn’t want to abandon that and simply move according to his bloodline.

“Is that so?”

Nimue slowly got up from her seat.

‘Wait a minute, isn’t this dangerous?’

Nimue had knocked down the soldiers guarding the mansion and invaded it just to have a conversation.

Now that she hadn’t gotten what she wanted, there was no telling how she would act.

“I respect your decision, Abelin. I’m sure Maia would want that too.”

“…Thank you, Great First Sword.”

Fortunately, the conversation ended without bloodshed.

Cainchel looked at Nimue, who was putting on her robe again.

She was just clumsy at conversation, but she didn’t seem like a bad elf after all.

“Please tell the soldiers that I’m sorry. I would be grateful if Abelin could help, but as it is, I will carry out my duty alone.”

Cainchel intervened in the conversation between the two elves.

“By the way, what exactly is this duty that you’ve been talking about since earlier?”

Nimue replied in a still cold voice.

“It’s none of your business as a human.”

“It’s not a human’s problem, it’s a friend’s problem. Abel rode a horse all the way to the north for weeks to help me. Now it’s my turn to help him.”

Then Abel looked at Cainchel with moved eyes.

“You’re going to help with what even someone of the same race has rejected?”

“Let’s listen first and then decide.”

@

Eventually, even Count Well-Ride, the owner of the mansion, came to hear about the crisis that had come to the elven race.

“Heo [exclamation of surprise], Abel-gyeong [formal title] even gave up the chance to escape being a eunuch and decided to remain a knight of Frelia?”

Count Well-Ride’s eyes looking at Abel became even more affectionate.

Abel, embarrassed, coughed without realizing it.

That was because he had not decided to stay here because of Frelia.

Nimue was still looking at the Count with suspicious eyes.

The Count slowly bowed his head towards Nimue.

“First of all, I would like to thank the First Sword of the Elves. It was thanks to you that humans were able to win the Seven Deadly Sins War. And I would like to apologize on behalf of the many people who have not repaid the support of the elven race with goodwill.”

The Count handed Nimue a piece of parchment.

“What is this, human.”

“It’s a contract. It states that the Edelweiss Merchant Guild will help the elves of the Wind Tree Clan in every way possible in the future. I know that this does not erase all the sins that all humans have committed against the elves. But I want to help you as a comrade who has won the war together.”

“Are you trying to buy my trust with this piece of paper?”

“I’m not asking you to trust me right away. I know how difficult it is to regain lost trust.”

Nimue looked into Count Well-Ride’s eyes.

To think that she would hear these words from a mere merchant, not a lord or a hero.

She could see why Abel trusted and followed this man.

Nimue said in a much more relaxed voice. However, the content was by no means comfortable.

“Most of the trees that made up the Green Mountains were burned to ashes in the great fire that occurred ten years ago. The Tree of Life, Yggdrasil [a sacred tree in elven lore], poured all its power into saving the forest.”

Even the power of Yggdrasil, which was known to have infinite power, had its limits.

In the end, the Yggdrasil, which the Wind Tree Clan had been protecting, was almost withered and was only waiting for the time of destruction.

“…What happens when the Tree of Life withers?”

“The reason why the forests of Britannia are so green is because of the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil. The lakes will dry up and the forests will wither.”

“That’s not just an elven problem!”

“The forest has been constantly sending warnings to humans. Wasn’t there an unusually severe drought a few years ago?”

“Heo, could it be that the great drought was a sign that Yggdrasil was withering?”

“We have been constantly trying to communicate. It was humans who ignored it.”

A groan flowed from the Count’s mouth.

“…Is there no way to revive Yggdrasil?”

“There are seven Yggdrasils in the world. They started from one seedling and were divided and planted to maintain the balance of the world. We must receive the power they have.”

To do that, they have to go to Deutschland, which is still in conflict with Britannia.

It was humans who set the borders, but it is not easy to cross them with the power of elves.

“Besides, the person who burned the forest is aiming for the seedlings of Yggdrasil. I thought it would be difficult for me alone to receive the seedlings while avoiding him.”

“Heoheo, the Seven Deadly Sins Church has extended its reach to this extent…”

No matter how strong Nimue was, she could not fight Antaras while holding the seedling.

If she did, she wouldn’t be able to withstand the ultra-high heat flame magic for even 10 minutes.

So, she asked Abel for help to protect the seedling.

“Fortunately, the Edelweiss Merchant Guild is also doing business with Deutschland. If we use that route, we can easily get there.”

But the problem was the Seven Deadly Sins Church. The Count looked at Abel.

“Abel-gyeong. You must want to help your aunt too. How about I give you a month’s vacation?”

“R-Really, would that be okay?”

“This is not just an elven problem. I will also attach Taimu-gyeong to the mission.”

He felt a will to make this mission a success at all costs.

Cainchel, who had been listening to their story, opened his mouth.

“Can I go with you too?”

“Heo, Cainchel-gyeong?”

“I have fought the Seven Deadly Sins Church several times. I’m sure it will be helpful if you take me with you.”

Cainchel looked at Nimue. The reason he decided to follow this mission was because of her.

Nimue, who has a completely different diet from humans.

If he made a dish that would surprise her, he would surely be able to obtain the last piece of the Brilliant Road.

He was worried about the confrontation with Gordon, but it could be postponed to the last day of the festival.

What kind of skill is it that is so difficult to obtain?

Of course, he also wanted to hear the word delicious from Nimue’s mouth.

The Elf’s First Sword (2)