Becoming a Swordmaster by Reading Chapter 61

Chapter 61. What's Good for the Body Tastes Bitter(3) Roden began to move in earnest to improve the taste of the elixir. ‘The ingredients listed in the . Using these ingredients, the effect of the elixir was almost the same.’ In other words, it meant that even if he mixed the ingredients in here, the effect was likely to be maintained. For that reason, Roden decided to mix these ingredients to improve the taste of the elixir. But unfortunately, no matter what combination he made the elixir with, the taste did not improve much. It was still tasteless. Roden, who had finished another meal with the tasteless elixir, pondered. ‘Already the tenth failure. The taste hasn't improved at all. What's the reason?’ As he pondered, Roden judged that it was meaningless to try to solve the problem alone. While Roden was not unacquainted with gourmet food, it didn't mean he was skilled in cooking either. There was a big difference between eating food and making food. For that reason, Roden went to Terne, the 2nd Squad Leader, who was the most knowledgeable about cooking in the 3rd Infantry Platoon. Then he listed the ingredients of the elixir to Terne. "Do I have to use only the ingredients you mentioned to make the food? Without using any seasoning at all?" "Yes. Is it possible?" "Hmm... To improve the taste itself by combining these ingredients, it would be best to mix in sweet potatoes or bananas." "Ah." Roden felt troubled after hearing Terne's answer. This was because both sweet potatoes and bananas were difficult food ingredients to obtain on the battlefield. Both food ingredients were mainly grown in the southern part of the continent, where the temperature was high and the precipitation was high throughout the year. For that reason, these two food ingredients were not often supplied to the Aequor Plains, where the 3rd Corps mainly operated. Even if they were supplied, they were classified separately as food for officers of battalion commander level or higher. So Roden had not been able to make an elixir using sweet potatoes and bananas either. But to be told that he could only improve the taste of the elixir by using these two food ingredients. Roden couldn't help but be troubled. Terne, who had confirmed Roden's expression, thought for a moment and then opened his mouth. "The taste itself won't improve, but if you mix a little egg white with the un-dried red meat, the texture will be much softer." "...Really?" "Yes. But you shouldn't add too much egg white. It will make the meat less chewy." Roden tried making the elixir as Terne explained. However, a problem arose when he made the elixir in this way. "...I can't just eat this, can I?" "No. This is just raw meat. You'll probably get sick if you eat it." Unlike grinding jerky and just kneading it, making the elixir in this way required a cooking process. "The nutrients shouldn't be lost during the cooking process." "Nutrients?" "Yes. The reason I'm making this is to consume the nutrients contained in it." "Ah. In that case, how about steaming the food?" "Steaming the food?" "Yes. It's a cooking method I also learned by chance, and I heard that the nutrients in the food are well preserved when cooked this way." "Alright. Then let's make the food that way." A few minutes later. The elixir was steamed deliciously, and Roden tasted it. The texture was certainly much softer. It felt like eating a different food altogether. ‘It tastes similar to the meatballs I usually eat. Even more savory.’ At this point, the taste was sufficient even without adding other seasonings. However, it was uncertain whether the elixir made in this way would be as effective as the elixir made by grinding jerky. But the next day. ‘Huh? It’s more effective than I thought?’ It was actually more effective than the elixir he usually made and ate. The proof was that his aura absorption rate, which had been 28%, had increased to 31%. In other words, if he ate the meatball elixir he had made with Terne yesterday for both meals, his aura absorption rate would increase to 34%. ‘The aura absorption rate increased from 4% per elixir to 7% per elixir... What's the reason?’ Roden sat still and tried to recall the reason. And he was able to find one difference. ‘Salt!’ That was right. Salt was inevitably added to jerky. This was because if salt was not added, the moisture would not be drawn out quickly, and the meat could spoil before it was completely dried. ‘But this time, I didn't use any salt when I made the meatball elixir.’ Come to think of it, the did not mention using salt. It seemed that the original way to make the elixir was to dry the meat without salt. ‘I used jerky for convenience because drying the meat took too much time, but I made an unexpected mistake.’ In any case, it was a relief. To have learned now that excessive salt intake does not help with muscle recovery and aura absorption rate increase. At the same time, it was also a great gain to confirm that it was better to make the elixir with raw meat without salt than with jerky. Because it was impossible for Roden to dry meat without salt now. This took too long, and it required skills and know-how to succeed in drying meat without salt. But Roden lacked time, skills, and know-how, so it was best to just make the elixir with raw meat. ‘It would be nice to season it with a little salt so I can eat it deliciously.’ Considering the amount of salt in jerky, it seemed okay to season it a little like this. If he did that, the taste of the meatball elixir would be incomparably better. ‘At this point, it seems I've solved the problem of improving the taste of the elixir.’ Now the problem of increasing the effect of the elixir remained. But even this could be said to have been solved by not using salt. ‘If my aura absorption rate increases by 14% a day by eating two elixirs, there's nothing more to research. Even if I do, I don't think there will be a clear solution.’ In fact, while researching to improve the taste of the elixir, Roden was also looking for a way to increase the effect of the elixir. But he couldn't think of a suitable way to do this, so he was able to come to a conclusion quickly. To be satisfied with the effect of the elixir at about 14%. ‘Considering that my aura efficiency increased by 16% after learning the Aurasong, 14% is not a particularly low figure.’ Now, if only the enchantment of the shields was finished, Roden's aura absorption rate would be 40%. Considering that Roden's original aura absorption rate was 3%, it was a remarkable achievement. *** It was when Roden had finally finished all his research related to the elixir and had also finished all the enchantments of the shields. In the battalion's meeting barracks, officers of deputy company commander level or higher were gathered and having a serious conversation. "For such an operation proposal to come down to the Transport Battalion! Isn't this too much?" "It's even worse than when they told us to disrupt the rear! We can't just stand by!" "The supply operations have just stabilized, and now they want to draw out our forces! What on earth does the high command think of the Transport Battalion!" It was certainly something to be angry about. The operation proposal sent from the high command said to have some of the Transport Battalion's personnel join the vanguard. What's more, it wasn't just to send a single platoon-sized unit. It was to send one platoon each from the Infantry Company, Archery Company, and Light Cavalry Company, for a total of about 100 soldiers. In other words, they had to send one-third of the Transport Battalion's personnel to the vanguard. For the Transport Battalion, it was a huge loss. So it was not strange that some of the personnel gathered here were protesting. But there were not only opposing opinions. "It is originally the duty of the Transport Battalion to dispatch troops in this way. Therefore, it is natural to follow the operation proposal." "I agree. What's more, they said they would send us new recruits to match the number of personnel we are dispatching, so the Transport Battalion will stabilize again after some time." "It is the duty of the Transport Battalion to supply not only food and weapons but also troops.... That makes sense. I also think it is right to follow the operation proposal." There were also opinions like this that they should follow the command of the high command. "......" Adriel remained silent as he watched the two opinions clash sharply. It wasn't just Adriel. Havier also seemed to have a complicated mind and kept his mouth shut. In the end, it was Adriel who couldn't stand the frustration and spoke first. "I'm curious about the Infantry Company Commander's thoughts. What should we do about this?" Havier thought for a moment as if choosing his answer, then replied. "I also think we should dispatch the troops." "......Is that so?" "Yes. If the war continues with the front lines stagnant like this, it is our side, where several countries have united to fight against the Imperial Army, that will be at a disadvantage." "You mean we have to throw a gamble like this." "That's right." At Havier's words, the people who had been expressing opposing opinions fell silent. They had only focused on the unreasonableness of the sudden personnel dispatch and had not thought that they could look at this operation from such a grand perspective. More than anything, Havier's opinion was more important than anyone else's here. There was no one who didn't know that Adriel trusted Havier. What's more, Deputy Battalion Commander Lucas, who could exert as much influence in the Transport Battalion as Havier, had already expressed his opinion in favor of dispatching the troops, so there was nothing more to say. And so, the story gradually began to be settled in the direction of dispatching the troops. However, that did not mean that the discussion was over. One of the officers of deputy company commander level or higher asked. "So, which platoons would be best to send to the vanguard?" *** The next day. After discussing all night, the Transport Battalion decided to send the following platoons to the vanguard. 1st Light Cavalry Platoon, 2nd Archery Platoon, and... 3rd Infantry Platoon.