Cooking Swordmaster [EN]: Chapter 98

The Path to Radiant Glory

“Haa…”

Nimue sighed unconsciously.

The taste of the meat, which she was having for the first time, was more surprising than she had imagined.

The perfectly cooked meat released a rich juice with every chew.

Kainchel’s mock meat steak recreated it almost perfectly.

And that’s not all.

He succeeded in expressing the savory taste unique to animal fat by combining dried mushrooms and nuts.

Nimue had eaten countless vegetarian dishes for decades. Soybeans, mushrooms, nuts, olive oil—all were familiar ingredients to elves.

“How could he create such a taste with them…”

Without even realizing that her face was flushed with excitement, Nimue continued to eat.

The spicy bean dish with smoked sausage flavor was also delicious. However, it still retained the form of beans, and the texture was undeniably that of beans.

But the mock meat was on a different level.

The rich, savory taste of the juice spreading throughout her mouth couldn’t be created with beans alone.

After the second bite, she could identify the source of the juice.

“He added flavor by stir-frying cooked onions with mushrooms and nuts. I’ve never tasted anything like this before.”

Moreover, the chewy texture resembled the crust of well-baked bread. She couldn’t figure out how he’d achieved that alone.

Familiar ingredients, when taken apart.

However, the idea of combining them to create a new taste was something an elf wouldn’t have conceived.

How much effort must have gone into perfecting the dish before her?

Nimue had been constantly hungry while traveling with humans.

To make such a wonderful dish just for her…

— If you’re hungry, shall I make you the bean dish you had last time?

She’d thought it was just a joke to tease her, but it turned out to be exactly what he meant.

Nimue’s long ears turned as red as ripe apples.

Moreover, the mock meat steak wasn’t just about making meat out of beans.

The completeness of the dish was also amazing.

“It feels like the numerous flavors contained in the mock meat are calmly organized by the refreshing sauce sprinkled on top.”

A strong-flavored sauce would have been overwhelming.

The simply grilled mushrooms that came as a garnish were also delicious enough to eat on their own.

It was almost a shame that they were just side dishes.

The seemingly large mock meat steak had vanished from before her eyes.

Nimue said shyly.

“C-Could you grill one more plate…”

“You must have been very hungry. Then I’ll grill you another one right away, so please wait a moment.”

The mercenaries, who were watching the elf eat meat from a distance, rubbed their mouths.

Unconsciously, their chins were wet with saliva.

“What kind of elf eats meat so deliciously?”

“They say it’s made of beans. But what kind of magic do you have to use to make it look so real with beans?”

“I can’t take it anymore. I’m going to go finish what I was eating.”

“Damn it, how can mock meat look more delicious than real meat?”

If it were the usual Nimue, she would have immediately drawn her sword and sent chills down the mercenaries’ spines.

But now, she was just looking at Kainchel’s back as he grilled the steak with a happy face.

It was the gaze of a girl in love, not a noble elf knight.

@

Nimue ate three large mock meat steaks, a stark contrast to the sparing portions elves usually consumed.

With a satisfied expression, she lightly bowed her head to Kainchel and said thank you.

“It was really delicious. I don’t know how to repay you…”

“Then how about Nimue making me an Elven dish next time? I’ve heard that elves are masters of vegetarian cuisine. I would love to try it if I have the chance.”

Eating food from other races would definitely help him grow his gourmet skills.

That’s what he was expecting when he said that, but it seemed like the elf heard it differently.

“Yes? My cooking? Don’t tell me you want to eat vegetables that I grew myself…”

“Vegetables grown by Nimue? That sounds really delicious. I would love to try it if I have the chance.”

Then Nimue’s face turned bright red.

Among the elves, there’s a custom of making food with vegetables grown by themselves and serving it to trusted companions or lifelong partners.

This is because they believe that when they grow plants with care, a part of themselves dwells within them.

In other words, wanting to eat vegetables grown directly is almost like a proposal.

Of course, she knew that the human in front of her didn’t mean it that way.

Because he is a human, not an elf.

But why was she feeling strangely excited?

“Then I’ll look forward to it.”

“…Ah.”

Nimue disappeared into the carriage as if fleeing.

Kainchel, unaware of how significant his words were, scratched his head.

“Hmm. Is she not confident in her cooking skills?”

Anyway, it seemed clear that Nimue liked the mock meat steak.

Kainchel grabbed the Joma Mirror, which had been shaking violently since earlier.

This was a reaction beyond even when he obtained the Aura Sword.

[5-star dish ‘Mock Meat Steak that Perfectly Recreates the Taste of Meat’ has been completed.]

[The guest has fallen head over heels for you.]

‘Hmm? Something seems a little different?’

However, the next notification appeared so quickly that he couldn’t dwell on what had changed.

[You have created a dish that did not exist before.]

[The sense of coming up with new menus has been incorporated into the ‘Brilliant Road’ skill.]

[‘Brilliant Road’ has been created.]

“Finally, a new cooking skill!”

Kainchel grabbed the Joma Mirror with trembling hands.

The countless guests who had eaten Honey Butter Sandwiches, Wild Duck, and Jewel Ice Cream.

The memories of them came to mind so vividly that he could almost touch them.

The miraculous things that one dish had created.

They gathered together to create a brilliantly shining star.

Kainchel reached out to it.

Then the name of the newly acquired cooking skill appeared on the Joma Mirror.

[Brilliant Road: ★]

Unlike the other skills he had acquired so far, it was a simple display with no explanation written on it.

It was difficult to guess its ability from the name alone.

“…Let’s go to the cooking table and experiment.”

Kainchel looked at the ingredients left over from making the mock meat steak and activated the Brilliant Road skill.

Then, an image of himself cooking appeared before his eyes.

Dozens of Kainchels cooking with potatoes.

He couldn’t help but widen his eyes at the amazing sight.

‘…To think you can make so many dishes with just one potato…’

This time, he added cooking oil and salt to the ingredients and used Brilliant Road.

Then the number of Kainchels that appeared in front of him was reduced by half.

Kainchel sweated profusely and reached out to one of the Kainchels, the one who was frying potatoes.

It was Kainchel who had been frying potatoes for decades.

Kainchel was able to obtain his optimized french fry recipe.

‘To make the crispiest french fries possible, you need to remove the moisture a total of three times. First, boil them once in boiling water. This will allow the moisture inside the potatoes to escape. And when frying, you have to fry them twice.’

It was definitely something he knew.

However, a vivid sensation, as if he had been frying potatoes for decades, was felt at his fingertips.

Kainchel unconsciously peeled the potatoes piled up in front of him.

And he skillfully began to fry them.

Cheeeeeek!

There was no need to check the oil temperature; he had been doing this for decades.

“….”

The one moving his hands now was not Kainchel, who had been making mock meat steak until just now.

It was Kainchel who had been frying potatoes all his life.

Before he knew it, golden-brown french fries were placed in front of Kainchel.

Saliva gathered in his mouth without him realizing it.

“…Did I make this?”

A very simple dish that only required frying potatoes and sprinkling salt.

But the outside was crispy, and the inside was soft.

Only then did he realize what Brilliant Road had shown him.

“This is the best french fry recipe I can make.”

In countless possibilities, there is a Kainchel who has been frying only potatoes all his life.

By using Brilliant Road, you can obtain the recipe he possesses.

It was like seeing the future.

Kainchel’s hands trembled with excitement. Right now, he can only get the recipe.

But what if the proficiency of Brilliant Road increases?

Maybe he will be able to get even the experiences that his future self will have?

“…The path to radiant glory.”

He felt like he knew what the name meant.

If you use Brilliant Road on ingredients, you can get the optimized recipe.

But what on earth would happen if you used this on swordsmanship?

@

Abel’s help was needed to find out.

Kainchel used to spar with Abel whenever he had time. Abel, who freely wielded seven blades, was a difficult opponent to deal with.

He attacks and defends with one sword at the same time.

By adjusting the balance of attack and defense, it sometimes becomes the strongest spear, and sometimes the strongest shield.

To break through it, you have to press down with overwhelming force.

“Seven Blades!”

Abel began to pressure Kainchel with tremendous force, mobilizing all the blades for attack.

Normally, the only way to deal with it was to create distance and move away from the opponent’s gap.

However, there was definitely a way to defeat the opponent.

Jiiiiing-!

When Brilliant Road was activated, a clearly shining path of light was visible.

The only sword path that allows you to avoid the opponent’s attack by a hair’s breadth and land a hit.

‘If you deflect the outermost blade, the blade next to it will move to fill the empty space. That fleeting moment is the only way to break through Abel’s defense.’

Abel’s sword is so fast and sharp that even keen eyes cannot follow it.

But there was definitely a way to beat the opponent.

Kainchel quietly swung his sword along the sword path shining in front of him.

Clang!

Abel widened his eyes as he watched the sword he had been holding until just now fly far away.

And after letting out a loud sigh, he said.

“It’s only been half a year since I started sparring with you for the first time, but you’ve already found the weakness of Enatos Xiphos [Seven Swords Style].”

Abel massaged his slightly swollen wrist and continued.

“Enatos Xiphos is an absurd swordsmanship that increases the number of swords you swing. But there is only one hand swinging it. There is a central axis. The Carters family has prevented weaknesses from being exposed by constantly changing it. But to think that even that would be seen through. If I want to fight you in the future, I’ll need a faster attack so you can’t aim for the axis, even if you know it. Like an eighth blade.”

Saying that, Abel smiled.

Although he lost in the sparring, he was not at all displeased.

“The eighth blade… that’s scary. Are you going to be using Enatos Xiphos up to 10 stars before you turn thirty?”

“I wish.”

Using Brilliant Road was more tiring than he thought. It must consume a lot of mental power.

‘Twice a day… no, maybe three times if I push myself.’

Optimized recipes and optimized sword paths.

From now on, Kainchel will be able to see them.

Of course, a little more testing will be needed to see how far he can see.

But even with what he has confirmed so far, this was a scam.

A huge one at that.

Abel, who had finished sparring and was wiping away sweat, put his finger to his mouth.

“Kainchel, can you hear the sound of hooves?”

Before they knew it, a thick darkness had descended around the two of them. The only light source was the bonfire that the mercenaries had lit.

“The sound of hooves?”

“Yes. At least ten. And it’s very heavy, as if they’re riding warhorses. It would be good to tell the head merchant.”

Kainchel quietly nodded his head.

The sound of hooves was now close enough to be felt even by those who were not elves.

Who on earth would be a guest coming at this late hour?

The head merchant Alfredo widened his eyes when he heard that armed men were approaching.

“Are you saying that people on warhorses are approaching here? Come to think of it, I’ve been feeling a slight vibration in the ground since earlier… I’m glad that they don’t seem to be bandits at least.”

The mercenaries looked at the space covered in thick darkness with tense expressions.

The sound of hooves was now close enough to be felt even by those who were not elves.

Then a man who appeared to be a messenger shouted.

“I’ve finally caught up. Merchants of Britannia, listen up! Prince Friedlich wants to meet you. Everyone, prepare to pay your respects and meet His Highness!”

“Friedlich?”

The group that had gathered widened their eyes.

Friedlich was the third prince of Deutschland [Germany] and a tremendously ambitious man.

Why would such a man want to meet them, who were just mere merchants?

The Path to Radiant Glory #2