Cooking Swordmaster

Chapter 2: The Worst Underachiever of Stanis Knight Training Academy (1)

Köinzell returned to training immediately after being discharged.

Eating Chicken Soup had helped him regain his motivation to challenge the promotion exam again.

With the determination that this would be the last time, he planned to do everything he could.

‘But what training do we have today…’

Köinzell’s expression darkened after checking the schedule.

Of all days, it had to be today.

It was the content he disliked the most among the numerous training sessions.

Köinzell made a strange expression, neither crying nor laughing.

As if to contrast with him, the other trainees’ faces were full of anticipation.

“Finally, it’s that day.”

“I thought I was going to die holding back my curiosity.”

“Right. It feels like finding an oasis after wandering in a desert without any signposts.”

“Damn. Look at you using literary expressions after reading Professor Wolfgang’s poetry lately.”

The kids of the were chatting nonstop while waiting for a moment.

But that didn’t last very long.

As the auditorium door opened and an instructor with a solemn face entered, it became as quiet as if cold water had been poured on them.

“Silence! Today’s Status Update will be conducted by me. Squad members, line up in rows and columns.”

With a loud salute, about a hundred Training Knights moved in perfect order.

The instructor called the first Training Knight in the front.

“You.”

“Training Knight number 47, Arel!”

“Do you know why we have a Status Update under the instructor’s supervision once a month?”

“Yes, I do, sir.”

“Why is that?”

“To look at our abilities objectively, recognize what we lack, and use that as a stepping stone to become knights.”

The instructor, seemingly pleased with the answer, patted Training Knight Arel on the shoulder.

“Very good. I have something to say to you all. It has been half a year since you became Training Knights.”

– There are people who have been rotting here for three years.

At that, the Rookies, who had been maintaining solemn expressions, burst into laughter.

It was obvious who they were talking about.

At that moment, Köinzell, who was standing at the very back, made eye contact with Instructor Ian.

The instructor’s eyes were filled with a myriad of emotions.

“Silence!”

The instructor shouted angrily, quieting the Training Knights before continuing.

“I assume you have gotten used to life here by now. You must be very busy preparing for the upcoming promotion exam. To raise your motivation, today’s Status Update will be conducted together with the seniors.”

As the instructor’s explanation ended, men dressed in neat formal uniforms entered the auditorium.

They all had faces full of confidence.

After all, they were the ones closest to being knights among everyone present.

“It’s said even the Senior promotion is tough, can we really become Chevaliers…”

“We’re not Köinzell, we won’t fail the Senior promotion exam. Let’s just get our Status Update.”

“Haha! You’re right.”

“But how high do you think the Chevalier seniors’ levels are?”

“I’m more curious about their Swordsmanship level. It must be incredible.”

The Status Update is conducted in front of other Training Knights.

In other words, levels and abilities are revealed publicly.

As the instructor gestured to the Sorcerer in charge of the magical tools, the actual update began.

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“Then, Arel. Your Shoumakyou.”

“Yes!”

Around the necks of the Training Knights hung a magical device called ‘Shoumakyou.’

At a glance, it looked like an ordinary Pocket Watch.

But when infused with mana, it displayed the owner’s abilities and level in numerical values.

However, because the amount of mana consumed was considerable, at the Stanis Training Academy, the abilities of the Training Knights were checked only once a month.

That was the Status Update.

“Level 7 with a basic Swordsmanship level of 3 stars. Besides that, all your abilities have improved evenly. You’ve worked hard.”

“Th-Thank you.”

Soon after, the Status Update of the Rookie Class ended.

And then, it was time for the much-anticipated Chevaliers.

The instructor’s demeanor became even more solemn. The ones whose abilities were to be measured now were closer to knights than anyone else.

“Vincent. We will now proceed with your Status Update.”

“Yes, please take care of it.”

The Sorcerer, dressed in a pure white robe, caressed Vincent’s Shoumakyou. Then, he slowly began to infuse it with mana.

Soon, Vincent’s status started to appear on the Shoumakyou.

Everyone watching forgot to even swallow their saliva as they stared at the sight.

Instructor Ian let out a gasp of admiration.

“What, Level 57? And intermediate Swordsmanship at 7 stars!?”

That alone was an astonishing status.

It was a number that wouldn’t be strange even if he became a knight right away.

But that wasn’t all.

Instructor Ian had seen the statuses of countless Training Knights, but this was the first time he had encountered such a case.

“…Oh, my. An Aura Sword at 1 star…”

At that moment, cheers erupted from among the Rookie Class.

“Aura Sword? Could he be already a Swordmaster?”

“Idiot. If it’s Aura Sword, he’s a ‘Sword Knight’! But to have a Sword Knight emerge among the Training Knights! My gosh. To see something like this in person. I’m so lucky!”

The instructor was just as astonished.

What stood before them was no longer just a Training Knight. Being able to wield Aura meant he should already be called a knight.

“Vincent. I will report this to the head instructor. You will soon be heading to the capital.”

Being able to handle aura was that big of a deal.

Vincent smiled broadly and said,

“It’s all thanks to Instructor Ian’s excellent guidance.”

Of course, it would have been impossible without the Mana Cultivation Method passed down in his family.

But he decided not to mention that.

After all, it had to appear fair on the outside for the other trainee knights to be motivated, right?

Though overshadowed by the emergence of a new Sword Knight, the statuses of the other Chevalier Class were also quite impressive.

Instructor Ian, watching the abilities appear on the Shoumakyou, continued to be amazed.

This was almost the best performance ever.

He began to eagerly anticipate the promotion exam that would take place in half a year.

Thus, the Status Update of the Training Knights was coming to an end.

Vincent smirked, lifting one corner of his mouth.

It couldn’t end like this. The biggest event of the day had yet to happen.

With a genuinely curious expression, he asked Instructor Ian,

“Instructor, it seems there is still one person whose status hasn’t been updated.”

“The status update for all trainee knights is complete.”

“No. There is still one person left. Isn’t that right, Köinzell?”

In an instant, hundreds of eyes turned to one person.

The worst underachiever of the Stanis Knight Training Academy, Köinzell Van Gstaad.

He was the only one who hadn’t received the Status Update yet.

Köinzell, trying to calm his trembling hands, responded,

“…I’m sorry, but I was supposed to receive mine separately later.”

It was a consideration on Instructor Ian’s part.

“How can there be such a thing. As long as you’re a trainee knight, everyone should update their status together, right?”

“…”

In the end, Köinzell’s status was updated in front of hundreds of onlookers.

Instructor Ian, who checked Köinzell’s Shoumakyou, couldn’t say anything for a while.

Then Vincent urged him.

“Instructor, please tell us Köinzell’s status.”

“…Level is 1… and Swordsmanship is basic Swordsmanship 1 star.”

At that, Vincent started laughing, holding his stomach.

“Everyone, did you hear that? Level 1. My goodness! How can someone train at the academy for three years and still be Level 1? This goes beyond lacking talent, doesn’t it? Moreover, it seems you recently went on a goblin extermination mission. Even catching one or two goblins would have gained you enough experience points to level up a few times. Hmm? Oh, don’t tell me you couldn’t even catch a goblin? Wow! I’m sorry. You have greater talent than I thought.”

“…”

There was nothing to say.

Everything Vincent said was true.

Countless gazes filled with various emotions were fixed on Köinzell.

Contempt. Mockery. Sneers.

Among them, there were a few with pity, but their number was very small.

Thus, the Status Update ended with Köinzell becoming the laughingstock of the Training Knights.

‘Damn it… I thought I would at least level up once…’

He had swung his sword so diligently. Why didn’t his level rise even a little?

This was something that simply didn’t make sense.

Köinzell extended his hand to Instructor Ian, who was holding his Shoumakyou.

“I understand my status well. Could you please return it to me now, Instructor?”

“Wait a moment, Köinzell. There’s an unfamiliar text in the corner…”

“That can’t be. My status hasn’t changed at all in three years. You know that well. I’ll take my leave now.”

“…Get some rest today and attend training starting tomorrow.”

Instructor Ian knew that Köinzell trained harder than anyone else.

Therefore, he felt a deep sense of pity.

If only… If only Köinzell had a single ounce of talent…

@

Vincent Von Sven.

He was the eldest son of the Empire’s top powerhouse, Marquis Sven, who had produced three generations of Swordmasters.

He and Köinzell had become Training Knights on the same day.

Now, there was an enormous gap between the Rookie Class and the Chevalier Class, but once, they had lived in the same dormitory.

Innate talent, the Mana Cultivation Method passed down in his family, and personal training by an exclusive professor.

Vincent had it all.

Once, Köinzell had gritted his teeth and swung his sword, determined to beat him.

But now, realizing that it was an impossible goal, only deep despair remained.

Even though he had hoped, the unchanged status window was nothing but a source of resentment.

“Come to think of it, I’m hungry.”

Suddenly, he remembered the Chicken Soup he had eaten when he was admitted to the infirmary.

He had been curious about who made it and had inquired around, but couldn’t find out in the end.

Apparently, someone had made it while Chef Gordon, who was in charge of the Training Knights’ meals, was briefly away.

‘Feeding an unknown dish to a patient, those nursing officers sure are something.’

But in that moment of eating it, he was incredibly happy. It was literally Chicken Soup for the soul.

Training for the day was over anyway.

In that case…

‘Shall I try making something similar? I might get a sense of it.’

He had never cooked before. But he had looked up the recipe for Chicken Soup in the library.

‘Coincidentally, Chef Gordon is off today as well, so if I avoid other people’s eyes, I should be able to make it.’

He thought he might as well do some chores to cover the cost of the ingredients.

With that, Köinzell started moving to make ‘Chicken Soup for the soul.’

@

“A whole chicken, half an onion, two stalks of celery, two carrots, one potato, three basil leaves, and one sprig of rosemary. Alright, I have everything.”

When he gathered all the ingredients, it was quite a lot.

Additionally, salt, garlic, and ginger couldn’t be left out either.

Köinzell recalled the recipe for Chicken Soup.

“First, I need to wash the chicken thoroughly, then add water, onion, garlic, ginger, herbs, and salt, and boil it for about an hour. The spices should be strained out to leave clear broth, right?”

Then, the suitably tender chicken meat should be shredded and added to the pre-made broth along with the diced potatoes, carrots, and celery, and cooked for another 30 minutes.

You could also add noodles or rice cakes to it if desired.

The process seemed simpler than expected. It took quite some time to make the broth, but he could wait that long.

He could do some ab exercises in his spare time, couldn’t he?

“Alright, let’s get started.”

First, he had to prepare the ingredients. The potato needed to be peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces. Using both the stalk and leaves of the celery was said to enhance the flavor.

As for the onion…

To prepare the ingredients, he needed a kitchen knife.

He had wielded swords to the point of getting blisters on his hands.

Köinzell murmured as he grasped the kitchen knife with unfamiliar movements.

“Come to think of it, this is my first time.”

Holding the handle with three fingers, he placed his index finger on the blade and positioned his thumb against the side to keep the knife steady.

“First, I need to prepare the potatoes.”

It was noted that soaking the peeled potatoes in cold water would improve their texture.

Köinzell began moving the knife around the potato in his hand.

As a result, the potato, which was the size of a fist, shrunk to the size of a small chestnut.

Not only the peel but also part of the flesh was cut away, causing it to shrink so much.

It was a more challenging task than expected.

However, as the pile of prepared potatoes grew, his skill in handling the knife gradually improved.

It was surprising.

His swordsmanship skills hadn’t improved no matter how much he practiced.

At that moment.

Ding-

The Shoumakyou hanging around his neck made a vibrating notification sound. It seemed the remaining mana from the Status Update was still left.

“Why is it suddenly doing this? Could it be broken? If it’s damaged, I’ll have to pay for it since it’s academy property…”

Setting the knife on the cutting board, Köinzell removed the Shoumakyou to check it.

[The level of basic Swordsmanship has increased.]

“Huh?”

For a moment, he couldn’t understand what he was seeing.

Increased? What did? Swordsmanship?

Why?

How?

Despite swinging the sword so much for three years, not a single letter had changed.

Drip-

Tears suddenly started to flow from Köinzell’s eyes.

“Wh-what? why… only now… Damn it. I… my level went up… it went up…”

Wiping his eyes with his sleeve, Köinzell read the words on the Shoumakyou again.

He wasn’t seeing it wrong.

[Basic Swordsmanship: ★★]

Although only one star had increased, the Shoumakyou felt full.