I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 120

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 120. Twisted Faith (4)
“How is this possible…?”
Without even attempting to straighten the white cloth draped around his body, the man froze upon seeing me.
He kept muttering that this couldn’t be happening.
Perhaps it was because the encounter had been so sudden.
I was staring blankly at him when—
“Grrrraaahhh!”
“What! A heretic!”
In an instant, a zombie that had been lurking and watching for an opportunity even as its companions fell came rushing at me.
Sharp teeth clinging to rotted, sagging gums were hurtling toward my throat.
“Whoosh.”
“Craaaaaackle!”
The creature, struck by salt and engulfed in flames, thrashed about before quickly becoming nothing but dry ash.
I had nearly died.
Fortunately, salt grains still remained in my hand from what I’d just scattered.
“This… again!”
The man’s eyes widened as he watched the undead crumble to ash.
He was exactly as I’d seen him in the article.
Hair swept back neatly, and thin-framed glasses that seemed to emphasize cleanliness and frugality.
And beyond them, intelligent eyes.
Though right now they were filled with shock and astonishment.
“Who… who are you? Could you be… Yeon-gi, the one who introduced herself as the Witch?”
“…”
I was genuinely surprised here.
This was my first time being called the Witch or Yeon-gi by someone I’d never met before.
But after a moment’s thought, I could understand it.
I had appeared before Hunters in this form more than once.
Whether it was the Princess Research Facility incident, Dayeon’s situation, or recently Soo-min’s affair, my information had likely spread far more than I realized.
I didn’t know the full extent of what was known, but given that nothing about me had appeared in the news, it seemed only the leadership of each organization was sharing this information.
So then, what action should I take here?
Should I continue to act as though I’m meeting him for the first time?
I had already made my decision.
“I’ll take your silence as understanding how I know. I apologize for the late introduction. I am—”
“I have no interest in that, Kim Ro-han.”
Since I’m incapable of lying, there was no way I could pull off an act, so I decided to simply be direct instead.
That said, I had no intention of revealing everything, so I could simply stay silent when important questions arose.
“You… you know my name? Then you must also know well about the place where the lambs frolic.”
“I have no interest in such things.”
“Then… what do you—”
“It would be difficult to continue this conversation in a place reeking of such foul odors. Would you mind coming inside?”
After offering an appropriately polite response, I stepped into the Witch’s Cottage.
To be honest, I couldn’t even grasp what he was saying.
What in the world was this place where lambs frolicked?
It certainly wasn’t some sheep ranch.
“I think I handled that reasonably well, don’t you?”
“Owner. I think it would be best if you spoke as little as possible. Meow.”
“Why?”
“It just seems like it would be better that way….”
For some reason, it felt like Noir had given me a failing grade.
In any case, I led Rohan into the living room on the first floor of the Witch’s Cottage, which was furnished like a reception area, and showed him to a seat.
When Rohan sat down, muttering “as expected…” while glancing around the surroundings, I spoke first.
“What brings you to a place like this?”
“A pilgrimage.”
“A pilgrimage?”
“As you likely already know, would you permit me to speak?”
Rohan’s attitude of lowering himself excessively seemed suspicious, but I nodded anyway.
At the same time, I called for Chohong.
The creature fluttered over and perched on my head, fidgeting as if asking what was going on.
With Chohong’s power alone, I could defend against most attacks, so I felt reassured when Rohan opened his mouth.
“This place, Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, holds profound significance for those of us who follow the Lord and Jesus.”
Wait, what did he just say?
Galicia? Santiago?
I’d heard those names before somewhere.
Though I had no idea what they actually were.
But one thing was certain.
This place wasn’t Korea.
Until now, every Gate where the Witch’s Cottage had arrived had been located within Korea, but this time it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Since I couldn’t respond to something I didn’t understand, I stayed silent—but it was Noir beside me who answered instead.
“Those humans are still playing their little game of stealing bells, are they? That was quite an amusing affair.”
“C… cough….”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ah. You might not know, Owner. Since we’re already here, let me tell you an amusing story.”
Noir said it was something from when serving the previous Witch, generations ago.
In 997, Al-Hajib Al-Mansur, the vizier of the Umayyad Dynasty, invaded Galicia and captured Santiago de Compostela.
He then destroyed the cathedral, stole the doors and bells, and used them to decorate a mosque.
Later, in 1236, King Ferdinand III of Castile removed the doors and bells from the mosque and used them to decorate the Toledo Cathedral.
“You can’t remember anything else, but how do you remember something like this so well?”
“Isn’t it amusing? Only humans would ascribe meaning to mere scraps of metal—doors and bells.”
“Ahem….”
“My apologies. This creature doesn’t understand much about how humans live.”
“No… that’s not it.”
I offered an apology to Rohan, who was visibly uncomfortable and struggling to hold back his words.
Regardless of what kind of person he was, Noir had committed a breach of etiquette in front of a devout believer, after all.
After a moment to collect himself, Rohan continued.
“In any case, this place was also known by the name of the Three Major Pilgrimage Routes… but that’s ancient history now.”
As Gates and monsters flooded into the world, countless historical sites came under attack as well.
One of them was the cathedral at the terminus of the Santiago pilgrimage route.
“Because of this, all devout believers who follow God—whether Protestant or Catholic—united their strength. However….”
“You failed.”
“We acknowledge that He has tested us.”
He had a gift for making things difficult to understand, but to summarize, it was like this.
Though divided into various denominations and sects, they all shared the same faith in Jesus Christ.
Because of this, they set aside their religious conflicts and joined together in unity.
Thus they made efforts to reclaim the holy site, but it ended in failure.
“The number of expedition members who entered to reclaim the holy site exceeded one hundred thousand.”
“One hundred thousand….”
“But they were all annihilated. The test of this place can only be proven through faith. Numbers alone could not overcome it.”
There were often Gates like that.
Gates where unconventional rules applied, and if you failed to recognize those rules, you would die without even knowing why—irrational Gates.
This place seemed to fall into that category as well.
Through devastating casualties and painstaking research and sacrifice, the condition they discovered was faith.
“Thus, every year, those selected for their faith come here to conduct purification ceremonies.”
“What do you mean by faith?”
“It is this. [Light of Martyrdom].”
Whoooosh!
As he activated the skill, a glimmering cluster of light materialized in his hand.
Gradually taking form, it transformed into the shape of a spear.
“The devout can each wield the power granted to them by the Lord. In my case, it is this. Those pierced by this spear may be healed according to the weight of their sins, or they may meet death.”
Rohan gazed at the spear of light he had created with an enraptured expression.
But my expression, as I looked at him, had grown cold.
It seemed he was under some profound misunderstanding.
There are various theories about why Hunters awaken and realize their skills, but it has already been established what most strongly influences the skill they discover.
According to facts already revealed by researchers with the cooperation and assistance of numerous Hunters, skills are influenced by the strongest desire possessed by the individual.
So, for example, if someone wields flame, it means they possessed some desire connected to flame among their deepest longings.
Of course, there could be differences here.
They might both use the same fire, but one person’s desire to “warm people” and another’s destructive desire to “burn this world down” could never be the same.
“So that too is surely….”
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“No. So, are you saying that you, Rohan, were recognized for that faith and dispatched here to conduct purification activities?”
“That’s correct. Today marks the fourth day. It is arduous and difficult, but I will persevere, for this too is a test.”
According to the Church’s judgment, the Gate that had appeared in Santiago was safest when infiltrated by a small number of the faithful.
Thus, every year such individuals were selected regardless of sect or faction, underwent purification activities, and this time it appeared Rohan had taken on that role.
“But… might I ask a few questions, Yeon-gi?”
“Please, feel free to speak. What would you like to know?”
“How exactly did you dispose of those cursed creatures just now?”
“Cursed creatures, you mean… ah.”
Rohan turned to me with a grave expression, quite different from before.
A peculiar tension settled over the room.
Chohong couldn’t possibly have missed the unease I felt.
“Kyuuuuu.”
Perched atop my head, the creature fixed Rohan with an unwavering glare, standing guard.
It was prepared to defend at any moment.
How long did this standoff persist?
Surprisingly, it was Rohan who broke the tension first.
“There’s no need to be wary. I’ve simply come to inquire. In a world overflowing with magical Hunters, I have no intention of committing the ancient sin of witch hunts again.”
“Then what is it you wish to know?”
“Precisely what I said. The beings within this Gate are only purified by attacks from the faithful—and only by quite powerful attacks at that. How did you purify them with merely a gesture?”
I’m not entirely oblivious to such things.
Having spent my life dealing with people, it would be absurd to claim I lack perception.
His curiosity about the purification method was certainly valid.
But was that all there was to it?
Absolutely not.
He was suspicious of something.
But of what?
It didn’t matter.
I couldn’t afford to appear as though I were following his conversational lead.
To do so would be to let him hold my leash and drag me where he wished.
“The method is unimportant, but wouldn’t that make things more interesting?”
“I’m not sure what you mean…”
“You said the beings here are purified only by powerful attacks from the faithful, didn’t you, Rohan?”
Am I faithful?
No—I have no religion, and I’ve even received the Witch’s power. How could I be?
Am I powerful?
How strong could a mere baker be?
Without Chohong, I’d be dead the moment Rohan swung that spear of light he holds.
“So either I am faithful and strong, or…”
That leaves only one possibility.
“Perhaps there was no need to be faithful and strong in the first place.”
“Are you suggesting the Church’s judgment was wrong?”
“No. The Church’s judgment is irrelevant.”
And so the die was cast.
“What matters is whether you believe in it or not.”
Rohan’s eyes grew cold and distant.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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