Upstart Pastry Chef ~Territory Management of a Genius Pâtisserie~ - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Cabbage, Sword, and Training

“I’m going to show you my true determination now, Tina.”

My voice echoed in the kitchen.

In my hand is a knife, and in front of me, on the cutting board, sits a cabbage.

To acquire skills, you need to increase proficiency.

But what exactly is proficiency?

Proficiency is the experience gained when performing actions corresponding to a skill.

My aptitudes are Sword Aptitude and Magic Aptitude, both at S level. As secondary skills, I have Archery, Cooking, and Smithing at A level. There’s nothing particularly noteworthy beyond that. Most skills for an average person are at D level or below, with maybe one or two at C level. Considering this, I’m quite fortunate.

I was surprised to learn that cooking also has a skill. And I possess Cooking Skill II.

Having a cooking skill doesn’t automatically make the food delicious; it only enhances dexterity and the ability to discern the state and taste of ingredients. It’s simply a skill to assist in cooking, but I find that reassuring.

I wouldn’t be pleased if cooking suddenly became unnaturally good because of a skill.

“I’m going to master the sword now. I can’t defeat Jorg with a spear.”

“A sword, you say?”

I’ve chosen to hone my skills with the versatile sword. It’s useful in various situations.

“Um, Kurt-sama, you’re going to train with a sword from now on?”

“Of course.”

As I say this, Tina gazes at the knife I’m holding, tilting her head in confusion.

To increase proficiency with the sword, I have to wield it.

And thanks to the secondary effect of my Heal, my all-seeing eye has provided me with detailed conditions for improvement.
The increase in proficiency varies depending on the target being cut, assuming that the person is equipped with what they believe to be a sword. Proficiency increases with each action taken, with a stronger emotional response resulting in a higher proficiency gain. Strong emotions can also provide a positive modifier.

For example, even if someone practices swinging a wooden sword, if they don’t perceive it as a sword but rather as a stick, proficiency won’t increase at all.

Moreover, actually cutting something yields a significantly higher increase in proficiency compared to mere practice swings. Additionally, cutting organic material results in almost double the proficiency gain compared to inorganic material. However, if emotional value is below a certain threshold, there’s no effect, while higher emotional states enhance effectiveness.

“Tina, the quickest way to get stronger with a sword is through serious sparring.”

Serious sparring is ideal for increasing proficiency.

With a real sword, there’s no choice but to recognize it as such, and the target to be cut is undoubtedly organic. Furthermore, exchanges of life and death evoke strong emotions.

“But, Kurt-sama, the thing you’re holding in the kitchen right now is a knife, isn’t it? Can you really engage in serious sparring with that?”

“Serious sparring is for conventional situations. In my case, engaging in serious sparring is out of the question, so I’ll take a different approach.”

“A different approach? Without even a sword?”

“I do have a sword. For a cook, a knife is a sword, and a pot is a shield.”

I firmly convince myself that the knife I’m holding is indeed a sword.

My all-seeing eye guides me. I have firmly recognized the knife as a sword.

And there’s a reason I’ve chosen cabbage as the target.

“Watch closely as I perform my sword dance. Hyaaaah!”

The rhythmic sound of chopping continues.

In my past life, I was a pastry chef at a high-end restaurant, responsible for the dessert course finale.

The restaurant I worked at placed great emphasis on desserts.
The pastry chef responsible for presenting the dessert at the end of the course, which leaves the most lasting impression on the customers. To become such a pastry chef, one must be the most skilled in the restaurant.

Furthermore, without understanding the restaurant’s cuisine, one cannot create the perfect dessert to complement it. Therefore, there was a rule that pastry chefs had to be able to perfectly prepare all the dishes in the restaurant.

That’s why I’ve mastered not only sweets but also regular dishes.

Even after reincarnation, my skills haven’t changed. I repeatedly etched the movements engraved in my soul into this body through practice.

“Wow, Kurt-sama, you’re so fast. I can’t even see the knife.”

Tina’s eyes widened in amazement.

When it comes to shredding cabbage, I can swing the knife three times in one second.

Furthermore, my culinary skill refines and accelerates my movements, speeding them up to five times per second.

“This is my power.”

Let’s review the proficiency system. Cutting something yields more proficiency than mere practice swings, especially if the target is organic.

I’m repeating the overwhelmingly efficient process of cutting organic matter at a rate of five times per second. That’s a hundred times in twenty seconds, or eighteen thousand times in an hour.

I can keep this up for two hours, meaning I can do it thirty-six thousand times.

Practicing sword swings usually amounts to about a hundred times a day. Doing thirty-six thousand cuts of organic matter at nearly ten times the efficiency means that in just one day, I can accomplish the equivalent of a year’s worth of training for an ordinary person.

Moreover, my sword proficiency is S. Furthermore, with the determination of a fool, my aptitude has been pushed up a rank, surpassing even S.

It’s only natural that I gain skills, too.

On top of that, I have Heal. If I get tired, I just need to use it. I can repeat this year’s worth of training as many times as I want.

“Um, Kurt-sama, it’s amazing. Really amazing. But can you get stronger with this?”

“Of course. I’m currently honing my sword skills… but.”

“But?”

“I’m lacking a bit of emotion. There’s no passion.”

“But you’re just cutting cabbage…”

A problem arose. My emotional value is low, fluctuating between the lines where proficiency increases and where it doesn’t. This inefficiency is unacceptable. I need to do something about it.

Upon calm reflection, if getting stronger were as simple as this, then housewives and chefs would be rapidly increasing their sword skills. One reason this isn’t happening is because they don’t consider their knives as swords, but also because their emotional values may not be reaching the line where proficiency increases.

Cutting cabbage requires intense, burning emotions.

I came up with an idea.

“Caaaabbage! Dieeeee!”

I put murderous intent into shredding the cabbage. Instead of cutting the cabbage, I’m killing it. I approach the task with that mindset.

“Huh, Kurt-sama?”

Tina looks at me with a terribly puzzled expression. I’ve never seen her like this before.

“Perhaps it’s still not working…”

My emotional value increased slightly, but the murderous intent doesn’t sustain.

After all, I’m a chef. I have reservations about directing murderous intent towards ingredients.

Think, I have to think.

Yes, it doesn’t matter what kind of strong emotion it is. It doesn’t have to be murderous intent towards the ingredients. It should be love.

I envision Tina’s smile in my mind.

My emotional value rises. I cook delicious food for Tina. There’s no way I wouldn’t be passionate about that.

…But still, my emotional value isn’t enough. While I’ve reached the line where proficiency increases, I’m far from receiving the positive modifier.

The idea of infusing murderous intent earlier was futile, but vocalizing seems to work. With love, let’s vocalize.

“Become delicious! Become delicious!”

Yes, vocalizing further heightens my emotions.

For Tina. Let’s pour even more love into it.

The rising emotions aid in the increase of proficiency.

“Uh, um, Kurt-sama, can you hear me? Kurt-sama? Today you seem a bit stra…”

“Become delicious! Become delicious!”

Unwaveringly, I shout and wield the knife! Tina is saying something beside me, but I’m so focused that I can’t hear her anymore.

But it’s still not enough. Just one more step to maximum efficiency.

More, get more excited. Is this all my love for Tina amounts to?

Ah, just smiling isn’t enough.

Vague emotions won’t cut it. I need to clarify my feelings. Only then can my emotions take shape.

Tina, what do I feel about you?

“Become delicious! Become delicious!”

I adore her delicate appearance, her face that exudes kindness despite its perfection, her fluffy tail, her beautifully pointed fox ears. I’m enamored with her looks.

She acts tough, pretends to be mature, but deep down, she’s a bit of a spoiled child. Her inner self is endearing.

She loves me more than anyone else, always ready to support me. I’m always saved by Tina’s gestures, showing me her best smile.

Yes, it’s because of her that I love Tina so much!

“Become delicious! Become delicious!”

My feelings for Tina swell to their limits, and my emotional value finally reaches its peak. Maximum efficiency. Engaging in a real sword fight. With emotions hotter than that, I slice the cabbage.

“Become delicious! Become delicious!”

And then, two hours later. My arms finally stop moving.

I’ve reached my limit.

Sweat pours out. It’s been an intense two hours.

I quickly skip the performance and use Heal. Let’s do another set.

“Now, is this enough… Tina?”

I suddenly look at Tina beside me.

She looks at me, tears streaming down her face as she covers her mouth with both hands.

“Kurt-sama, your heart is broken… I’m sorry. I couldn’t notice until it got to this point… I’ll stay by your side until you return to normal, so please don’t worry. Kurt-sama.”

What on earth is Tina talking about?

She speaks as if I’ve become a vegetable.

Despite gaining proficiency in swordsmanship through this special training… I had obtained Sword Skill Level 1 in just two hours.

The power of love truly is great.

However, there was one problem.

What to do with this pile of cabbage.

…I came up with a good idea. After this training session, I’ll go and bring it as a gift to everyone in the settlement.

I’ll use this cabbage to make a special treat.

My arms ache. Surely, everyone will be delighted.