I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 122

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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 122. Deepening Faith (2)
‘I simply cannot fathom their true nature.’
Rohan pondered as he gazed at the small creature boring holes through him with its stare.
About the entity called Yeon-gi, with whom he had just been conversing.
‘When I first received the report, I thought it was something absurd… but now.’
A house inside the Gate, smoke that obscured perception.
An entity with many suspicious characteristics.
Of course, anything could happen inside a Gate, so Rohan could accept this much.
‘But if it shows interest in the world beyond the Gate, that changes everything.’
Until now, entities from within the Gate taking interest in the outside world—the reality where the lambs lived—had never been a good sign.
They brought despair to all through sweet lies, oppressive violence, and cruel power.
But this creature’s actions were different.
‘Rather, it easily overcame situations that should have been hopeless.’
It resolved incidents that could have caused countless casualties, then vanished without a trace.
Because of this, some within the Church had even claimed that it might be an apostle sent by God.
But such a claim was absurd.
How could something born from the Gate—which defiles the world He created—possibly be such an entity?
‘There must be some hidden agenda at work.’
Rohan held this belief firmly.
That is why he had been diligently pursuing its trail all this time.
He conducted various investigations with the help of faithful Hunters, and he did not hesitate to go through considerable effort to extract classified information from within the Hunter Association.
As a result, he had learned much.
‘I never imagined Wichi Food belonged to that creature.’
Wichi Food—a company that had garnered attention by producing remarkable items for Hunters, showing impressive growth in the public eye.
Not only had it brought innovation allowing Hunters to replenish water inside Gates, but now it had apparently created castella that increased defense as well.
‘I had already been watching it closely.’
Wichi Food had rubbed the Church the wrong way from its very inception.
What power had been granted to the shepherds for the sake of the lambs they guided and protected?
It was the strength to endure against the evil darkness of the Gate.
To wield light in the darkness, to create water, and to defend against the settling of wickedness.
Was this not what the Church’s Hunters and Holy Knights had been doing all this time?
‘Of course, some lambs who failed to understand lack faith…’
Like Chi-ho, the Guild Leader of the Death God Guild.
To wield such intense power of light yet possess no faith.
But that was acceptable.
As long as he received God’s love, it would not take long before he came to believe in the truth.
But Wichi Food was different.
‘An unbeliever who received no love whatsoever, acting in such a manner…’
How it pained my heart to see it directly deny His love.
How it infuriated me to hear the sighs of the Holy Knights under my command.
The founder of Wichi Food was until now merely a lamb who had only touched plants or baked bread.
The co-investor was one who baked bread.
Such creatures could never possibly commit such acts.
‘So when I investigated those who recently took it upon themselves to guard Wichi Food….’
While the Dragon Hill Guild, which operated as a relatively small fellowship, might not have believers, the Azure Dragon Guild, a major organization, certainly did.
The information I gathered through that believer was nothing short of shocking.
The entity actually establishing and managing Wichi Food was Yeon-gi, or something from within the Gate that introduced itself as the Witch.
‘It’s heresy. It must be heresy.’
From that point on, Rohan continuously monitored and investigated those involved.
There were no personal feelings involved.
Rather, this was fulfilling my mission to protect the world.
Though no significant problems had occurred until now, if the entity called Yeon-gi were to suddenly reveal its true nature, there would certainly be cause for concern.
‘Then I embarked on the Pilgrimage Path for a time, but I never expected to encounter the target directly here.’
It bore the appearance worthy of being called Yeon-gi.
A grotesque form, as if Black Smoke were compressed together and forcibly maintaining a human shape.
Without mouth, eyes, or nose, yet somehow that formless visage felt like a face, and the voice emanating from it belonged to a realm where one could not discern whether it was old or young.
For Rohan, who had long held the position of heresy inquisitor and had exterminated countless heretics—that is, Gates and monsters—Yeon-gi was something utterly alien.
‘That one without even sanctity could annihilate fallen beings all at once….’
Could it be that it had received God’s blessing?
No, but monsters are heresy.
How could such a being receive God’s blessing?
Was God regarding monsters as His creations as well?
Then what has the Church been doing all this time?
No, no.
This is an illusion.
Merely conjecture born from illusion or anxiety.
‘Believe and follow.’
All a lamb need do is believe in and follow the shepherd.
Before such arrogant thoughts could continue further, Rohan clenched his teeth firmly.
This place was a den of heresy.
I must maintain a firm grip on my mind.
‘Therefore, I must discover what sorcery that creature employed to accomplish such things.’
Even if I were to meet death in that process, it would become a holy martyrdom.
Gazing at the green Fairy standing before me with a solemn expression, Rohan steeled his resolve.
‘Truly a formidable being.’
“Kyuuuu!”
The Fairy, its round eyes gleaming, stared directly at me.
With each flutter of its wings, particles scattered forth, wrapping around the surroundings like a single strand of wind.
‘To command the space with merely a single wingbeat.’
The seasoned heresy inquisitor Rohan had already discerned what the creature was doing.
I was controlling the range by dispersing the powder that had fallen from the wings throughout the space.
If necessary, I could gather all that powder in one place and cut off my own breath.
“I have no such intention, Fairy. You too are a creature born according to that person’s will.”
“Kyuu? Kyuu! Kyuu-kyuu!”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
The Fairy flailed about with its adorably small limbs, fluttering indignantly—though I couldn’t fathom what had offended it so.
Even as I regretted not having searched through ancient texts for the Fairy’s language, my mind—Rohan’s mind—continued spinning rapidly.
‘Setting that aside, what exactly is happening right now?’
The Creature had vanished into the inner space, leaving only the instruction to wait a moment.
Given that this entity had conducted countless affairs in the shadows until now, it was surely devising some wicked scheme even at this very moment.
As I contemplated this and began to gather the power of light within me, that was when it happened.
“Have you been waiting long?”
A chilling voice suddenly pierced my ears.
The Creature now stood before me.
Accompanied by Black Smoke in the form of a four-legged beast.
A bead of sweat born from tension and fear rolled down along my jaw, but I kept my composure and opened my mouth.
“With Chohong keeping me company, I waited quite comfortably.”
“Chohong is rather cute, isn’t she?”
With those words, the Creature set a plate down on the table.
What lay upon it was….
“A shell?”
“Bread. Or more precisely, a pastry. Have you heard of a madeleine?”
There was no way I hadn’t heard of it.
You could see them readily enough just by visiting the Cafe in front of my house.
But could this truly be called a madeleine?
‘It doesn’t possess the refinement of ordinary bread or pastry.’
It gleamed with a radiant golden light.
With a subtle luster flowing like moonlight, the golden-baked exterior resembled a finely crafted work of art.
‘And the aroma—what of that?’
The scent was nutty yet distinctly tangy.
From within the nuttiness of wheat, the fragrance of lemon zest rose so vividly that it felt like encountering the fruit of a tree growing in the middle of a vast wheat field.
‘Even its shape differs from those sold in shops. They must have used a mold made directly here….’
I stopped my thoughts.
I was grateful that I could stop now.
When had I lowered my guard?
It was merely a single plate of bread placed before me.
Yet it had stimulated my flesh and twisted my thoughts, despite my steadfast faith.
‘A demon… surely Satan itself….’
Evil things approach so casually, seducing innocent lambs with honeyed words.
I would not fall for such a crude trick, so I straightened my posture.
“What is your reason for bringing this? Didn’t you promise to explain the method of purification after the waiting period?”
“I thought it would be better to show you once than to explain a hundred times.”
“This is… a method, you say?”
Even as Rohan’s composure threatened to shatter at such an absurd statement, Yeon-gi continued as though speaking the obvious.
“I have no religion. Or rather, to be precise, religion has nothing to do with my life. Yet I do know that this scallop shell, shaped like a madeleine, is the symbol of Saint James.”
Yes, the creature spoke truly.
The scallop shell was the symbol of Saint James.
Rohan had heard that this Pilgrimage Path, dedicated to honoring him, used scallop shell markers as signposts before the Gates appeared.
But what did that have to do with anything?
“And one can also bake madeleines modeled after that very shape.”
“If all you intend to do is spout sophistry….”
“Are all actions of those who do not believe in God inherently evil?”
A meaningless question.
Designating the acts of unbelievers as heresy was one of the Church’s ancient transgressions.
A shepherd takes upon himself the role of guiding lost sheep, but he possesses no authority to judge and instruct their actions.
Therefore, this was sophistry.
Just as Rohan was about to refute this….
“Your question lacked precision. Between one who acts yet does not believe, and one who believes yet does not act and merely urges—which is more evil?”
“That is sophistry….”
“What is the object of that faith? The God you speak of? Or the words of those who claim to have believed in Him before all else?”
“If you blaspheme against the sacred any further, I will not stand idle….”
“I have seen your father directly. Quite recently, in fact.”
At that moment, Rohan’s movements ceased.
He had been about to draw forth the Spear of God and strike, but the mention of his family had stopped him.
He had brought up his father like that before too.
It was surely a lie.
This too was certainly a cunning ploy to lure him in….
“Kim Sun-woong is a believer. You are also a believer. Yet why do you clash? Is your father a heretic who does not walk the righteous path?”
“That is….”
That too was sophistry.
Rohan’s father, Seon-woong, was a devout believer.
His family had inherited faith across generations, long before the world came to this state.
If one were to speak of greater faith, his father would be the more fitting example.
He had always praised, always prayed, and genuinely wished for his son to advance without hesitation.
Yet what Yeon-gi said was also true.
Recently—ever since he had taken on the role of Inquisitor—the two had been in constant conflict.
“Rohan. God commanded us to love all. Yet why do you make someone suffer in agony to gather such offerings?”
“Father. Money is necessary to reclaim the holy lands. And money is necessary to eliminate the Gates from this world. I am fulfilling my calling.”
“There is no reason to do this while killing people!”
“Father. I have never killed a person.”
‘You’re no different from having killed them yourself!’
Roiling thoughts.
Memories that followed.
Who was right and who was wrong.
Who remained more faithful to their faith.
No—whose faith was that faith directed toward.
The moment Rohan’s mind grew distant.
“The answer lies there. Both about purification and about what you’ve come to wonder about now.”
“….”
“I would appreciate it if you would taste it and share your thoughts.”
Yeon-gi’s hand extended toward the madeleine.
At that invitation, Rohan picked up the madeleine before him as if entranced.
When he opened his mouth and bit into it.
“Aah!”
Brilliant radiance shone before his eyes.

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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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