Cooking Swordmaster

Chapter 9: How to Cook an Amazing Steak (2)

Sizzle!

“Coming through!”

“How long until it’s ready? There are only 30 minutes left until meal time!”

“Sir Köinzell! Please get the large pot from the dishwashing station!”

“Right away!”

The kitchen was scorching hot.

There were too few people and too much food to prepare.

Still, all the food had to be ready by the designated time.

Köinzell fiddled with the Shoumakyou hanging on his chest. He had recharged it using all his mana. It should last for three or four days.

In front of him, used cooking tools were piled up like a mountain.

He had to wash all of this.

While doing so, Köinzell’s eyes followed the movements of the two chefs cooking.

As if he was engraving every movement into his mind.

‘So that’s how you should hold the pot. Ah, the reason the chef’s sleeves are long is to protect their hands from the heat. Salt and pepper…’

Little by little, Köinzell’s knowledge of the kitchen accumulated in his mind.

The significant increase in his cooking level and the discernment he had developed by observing the training of other Training Knights combined to produce results.

According to the original plan, this level of progress would have been sufficient.

‘I was planning to slowly build trust and progress… But now I have a reason to cook right away.’

The one managing the chefs was Gordon Rambolton.

Anyone in the kitchen needed his permission to cook.

How could he move Gordon’s heart?

‘Wait. Ainkel definitely said he would tell me about Gordon. I completely forgot because of the duel. Maybe there’s a hint in there. Let’s listen to that first.’

Once all the dishes were finished and placed on the serving counter, the kitchen staff finally had a moment to catch their breath.

“Good job, everyone!”

“We still have serving left, but let’s take a short break. Sir Köinzell, don’t just stand there, come and rest. Hmm? What’s that?”

Köinzell placed a steaming mug in front of the two chefs.

It was a fragrant herb tea.

“I heard it’s good for recovery, so I brewed a cup.”

“Oh, is this jasmine tea? It smells wonderful.”

“You must still be getting used to the kitchen work… Thank you very much.”

Köinzell smiled kindly.

‘Actually, I made it to increase my poison resistance. Surprisingly, they like it. Let’s see. I think I’ve brewed about 20 cups over the past few days; my resistance should increase soon.’

The story of a Swordmaster with immense strength meeting a miserable end due to poison was common.

To prepare for that time, he was gradually building up resistance.

“You brewed this really well. You even added lime. The fresh scent and taste are excellent. Sir Köinzell, it seems you have a talent for tea ceremony as well.”

“Haha, just a hobby.”

In truth, it was a matter of survival.

Köinzell’s family had gone completely bankrupt, leaving him with nothing but his body.

In the end, he had to roam the forest, gathering and selling herbs to cover living expenses.

[You have completed a dish using herbs!]

[Poison resistance has slightly increased (+0.1%)]

‘Yes! Now it’s 0.2%!’

But what kind of sense of smell do these chefs have?

Köinzell had added just a tiny bit of lime to the jasmine. Yet, they could detect it.

Admiring Ainkel Chef’s ability once more, Köinzell subtly struck up a conversation.

“By the way, Ainkel Chef.”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t you say you would tell me about Chief Gordon last time? I was just curious.”

“Haha! Did I? I’ve been so busy I completely forgot. We have about 5 minutes, so I’ll tell you briefly. I usually don’t share such stories, but somehow, Sir Köinzell doesn’t feel like a stranger. It’s amazing, considering you’ve only been in the kitchen for a week.”

Ainkel seemed to like Köinzell, who, unlike a noble, didn’t shy away from dirty work.

Moreover, he even brewed them fragrant herb tea after work.

He hoped Köinzell would continue to stay in the kitchen.

Because of that, even the difficult-to-talk-about stories came out easily.

“Chief Gordon is an amazing person who was even an imperial chef. He cooked for Emperor Aslan.”

“……!”

“You’re surprised, right? You’re probably wondering why such a great person is frying potatoes in a place like this.”

Köinzell nodded silently. He was so shocked that he almost jumped out of his seat.

Who would have thought Gordon was an imperial chef?

Joffrey’s experience running a famous cake shop in the capital was already impressive.

But Gordon was definitely a cut above.

‘In short, he’s a Swordmaster in the culinary world!’

Ainkel continued with a wistful smile.

“It’s because he made food that was too delicious.”

“……Isn’t it usually the opposite?”

“Where should I start explaining? You know that Emperor Aslan is a hero who saved the continent, right?”

“I am a noble, after all. Aslan Pendragon, the 16th Emperor of the Britannia Holy Empire. He’s the one who led humanity to victory in the Seven Deadly Sins war.”

The Seven Deadly Sins.

The war against the demons, commonly known as the Seven Deadly Sins, had plunged the continent into chaos for nearly ten years.

It was Emperor Aslan and his seven Swordmasters who led humanity to victory.

After the war, they were revered as the Holy King and the Seven Great Virtues.

“The ten-year-long war was arduous. Additionally, the Great Famine caused by Lucifer, the King of Pride, led to a severe food shortage. And the presence of Beelzebub, the King of Gluttony, who tormented His Majesty till the end, instilled in Emperor Aslan the belief that delicious food was a sin.”

“That means…….”

“Yes. Other chefs began to deliberately make the most tasteless food for the Emperor. Bland oatmeal porridge without any seasoning, undercooked fish pies, half-burnt bread. His Majesty’s popularity actually increased because of this. The citizens, who were starving, pitied themselves and believed the Emperor was enduring the same suffering.”

“……I thought the same. But to think it was merely hostility toward the King of Gluttony…….”

Ainkel put his finger to his lips.

“You mustn’t talk about this outside. You could be charged with treason.”

“Of course. But why was Chief Gordon expelled from the imperial kitchen?”

“Chief Gordon refused to follow the Emperor’s order to deliberately make tasteless food. Naturally, the other chefs didn’t just sit back and let the food Gordon made reach the Emperor’s table. Eventually, the food he made ended up in the trash.”

“…….”

“Then an incident occurred. The chefs collectively got food poisoning. It seems the ingredients they ate for lunch were bad. Only Chief Gordon, who said he would rather eat goat droppings than such food, was unharmed. Ultimately, Gordon was given the chance to cook for the Emperor again after several years. Everyone thought this time he would yield. But he didn’t.”

“He must have made delicious food.”

“Yes. He made a perfect ‘Estofado de Ternera’ and served it to the Emperor.”

And the result was this.

“Phew…….”

Köinzell let out a deep sigh.

Just hearing the story made him feel Gordon’s despair.

‘He spent years making food no one would eat. That’s……. Absolutely…….’

Gordon was Köinzell.

And Köinzell was Gordon.

Two people in entirely different situations.

But Köinzell knew the despair that had consumed Gordon’s heart.

Because that was exactly how he felt just a week ago.

‘……I’ve finally found it. With this method, I can move Gordon’s heart and be allowed to cook.’

Köinzell stood up and walked to the break room where Gordon was.

A startled Ainkel stood up as well.

“Sir Köinzell! Where are you going? What you just heard is a secret from the Chief!”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just suddenly felt the urge to cook. I’m going to ask Chief Gordon for permission.”

“Wh-what!?”

Bang!

Inside the room, Gordon Rambolton was lying on a sofa.

He frowned and spoke.

“What do you want, kid?”

Despite the early hour, the room reeked of strong rum.

Without any hesitation, Köinzell spoke.

“Chef. I want to cook too.”

A startled Joffrey and Ainkel, who had followed Köinzell, stood with their mouths agape, unable to say anything.

@

“What nonsense. Köinzell, you’re just a kitchen assistant. Your job is to prepare ingredients, wash used cooking tools, and help with serving. And now you want to cook? Ha! Are you joking with me?”

The reaction was understandable. Köinzell had only been working in the kitchen for a week, making him the newest of the newbies.

And now he wanted to cook? He was at least ten years too early for that.

“Of course, I’m not asking to do it without any conditions. By tomorrow evening, I will prepare my best dish. After tasting it, please judge if I am qualified to cook.”

At that moment, the two chefs, who had finally regained their composure, each spoke up.

“Haha! Sir Köinzell, you’re really something! I apologize, Chief… It seems the Sir is a bit tired. Come on, let’s go peel the potatoes for tomorrow.”

“Hem! Quite a bold fellow. Chief Gordon, why don’t we let him try?”

Interestingly, Joffrey and Ainkel’s reactions were completely opposite.

Gordon waved his hand as if telling the two chefs to stay out of it.

“Hmm. Lately, the kid has been handling all the ingredient prep, right?”

“Yes, Chief.”

“His knife skills are decent. But cooking?”

“If it’s not delicious, I’ll give up immediately. The ingredients left over from today will be enough.”

But Gordon was resolute.

“No. If you cook, what will these two chefs become?”

The kitchen was a strictly hierarchical place.

There was work for chefs and work for kitchen assistants.

“Then, if I get permission from the two chefs, can I do it?”

Gordon looked at Köinzell with deep-set eyes and spoke.

“Hmm. If you can get permission from the two chefs, I’ll allow it once.”

Joffrey nodded.

“I don’t mind. If it’s terribly made, we can just laugh it off.”

Contrary to his usually favorable attitude, Ainkel opposed.

“I agree with the Chief. There has to be a clear division of roles in the kitchen.”

Köinzell grinned and approached Ainkel.

“But Chef Ainkel. Didn’t you promise to return the favor for helping you last time? You said your daughter was very happy.”

“Uh, ugh…”

In the end, Köinzell obtained permission from both chefs and gained the right to prepare a single dish.

If Gordon approved after tasting it, Köinzell would be allowed to cook in the kitchen from then on.

Ainkel shrugged his shoulders.

“Of course, the possibility of that happening is zero.”

Gordon was the most particular chef when it came to taste, having even defied the Emperor’s orders.

Satisfying his palate was something Joffrey and Ainkel managed about once in ten attempts.

However, Köinzell had a secret weapon he could use only once.

@

The challenge issued to Gordon was accepted.

Köinzell would cook, and Gordon would taste it.

If Gordon said it was delicious, Köinzell would win.

The odds were low. The opponent he had to defeat would be the judge of the match.

If Gordon wasn’t even slightly impressed, it would be Köinzell’s defeat.

Three weeks before the duel that all the Training Knights were anticipating against Julius.

Köinzell was preparing for a culinary showdown in the kitchen, aiming to satisfy the palate of former imperial chef Gordon.

First, he meticulously prepared the necessary ingredients one by one. Then, he placed them on the cutting board.

On the table were brisket and olive oil, finely chopped onions, salt, pepper, and flour.

There were also carrots, a bottle of red wine, and wine vinegar.

Additionally, bay leaves, cloves, and small peppers unique to the kingdom were laid out.

The cooking duel between the newcomer who had been in the kitchen for only a week and Chief Gordon.

Watching with interest, Ainkel screamed when he saw the ingredients.

“Sir Köinzell… Y-you’re not thinking of making that dish, are you!?”

Instead of answering, Köinzell grinned.

He had only been wielding a kitchen knife for a week.

As the greenest of the green newcomers, there was only one dish he could make to win against Gordon.