I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 124

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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 124. A Deeper Faith (4)
“I never expected something like this to happen so suddenly.”
Seon-woong had arrived just before the bakery closed for the day, scratching his head as he spoke.
“I hoped he would move toward the right path and change… but not to this extent…”
Seon-woong’s words were accurate.
I hadn’t expected it either.
After eating a Madeleine, Rohan—whom I’d met inside the Gate—had walked out of the pastry shop with an expression of relief on his face.
Even this alone was quite extraordinary.
Normally, there would have been a process of receiving compensation afterward, but the Quest Complete window appeared immediately.
‘Huh? I didn’t even receive compensation?’
‘The Witch’s Cottage has already determined that compensation was received. Master.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘You’ll understand if you wait and see. Meow.’
Only after several days had passed and I saw the news did I understand what Noir meant.
[Following a major statement from the Church, shock continues to ripple across the nation, with experts predicting that this trend will impact the entire Hunter industry.]
[With the decision made that all Holy Knights will be dispatched based on official danger rankings, some high-ranking Church officials continue to express opposition.]
It was Elder Kim Ro-han, who held the position of Inquisitor, who had made the statement.
South Korea was turned upside down by his announcement to completely overhaul the dispatch and support methods of the Holy Knight Order that had existed until now.
He declared that decisions would be made based on the actual danger level and urgency of Gates, regardless of the amount of donations.
And following that, Rohan’s statement turned the world upside down in yet another way.
“I have seen an angel. There was no command to fear, but he—a lamb like myself—guided me toward the light.”
The Church responded with opposition.
They questioned how someone who interrogates heretics could have seen something that led to such an unfaithful judgment.
One elder in particular reacted vehemently, calling him “one possessed by Satan.”
But this was quickly resolved by different news.
[Elder Lee Doo-bong, who had been expressing strong opposition to Elder Kim Ro-han’s decision, has been arrested on charges of bribery. This elder is also suspected of spiritually exploiting minor believers…]
The Holy Knight Order—an organization composed of Hunters with a faith bordering on madness that transcended ordinary belief.
Following Rohan’s orders as their commander, they investigated every move of Elder Lee Doo-bong.
Thus, the ugly old man’s sins were revealed to the world.
Not only had he embezzled believers’ donations to indulge in luxury, drinking, and entertainment, but evidence also emerged that he had attempted to lay hands on minors among the congregation.
In contrast, Rohan—aside from the issue of discriminatorily dispatching Holy Knights based on donation amounts—maintained a life of almost compulsive frugality.
Moreover, it became known that he had even donated from his own pocket during this time, and the tide completely turned.
– So the Church has been completely rotten this whole time?
– Sexual harassment of minors lol what kind of bastard is this?
– Everyone except Elder Kim Ro-han should be nailed down and hanged
– Doesn’t that guy also have controversy over discriminatory Holy Knight dispatch?
– He changed it himself. An apology for his own mistakes. No excuses. Future countermeasures. Even compensation plans for victims. It was a textbook example of a proper apology. Way better than those bastards who did nothing but whine.
After three of the twelve elders were dismissed and arrested, the Church found stability.
It was possible because there were no longer any power holders who could oppose Rohan’s will.
“What I wanted to happen did happen, but somehow I feel dumbfounded. Ha.”
“I’m glad things worked out well.”
“I’ve decided to think of it that way. Haha!”
Seon-woong, who had returned, bore an expression entirely transformed from before.
The darkness that had weighed heavily on his eyes and the corners of his mouth had given way to peace.
The forehead, rigid with wrinkles from tension, had become serene.
And the sharp, thorny karmic burdens that had clung to his entire body had vanished as if washed away.
“By the way, there was a favor I’d asked of you, and I’m sorry things turned out this way.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“Still, you must have given it considerable thought….”
This was a continuation of the conversation we’d had when Seon-woong came to me after hearing Tae-woong’s words before.
I’d said I would bake bread for him, but that I’d think about what kind would suit him best.
But I never expected things would unfold like this.
Meeting Rohan at the Gate where the Witch’s Cottage had disappeared.
Since everything he desired had already been achieved, there was no real need to give Seon-woong bread anymore….
“I’ve already baked some, so please take it with you.”
“I hope this isn’t too much of an imposition….”
“I baked it and it turned out delicious. Just think of it as helping me test a new product.”
“Hehe. If you put it that way, I can accept it without reservation.”
What I handed over, carefully wrapped, was none other than madeleines.
I’d felt it while baking the madeleines I’d made for Rohan before—they really were delicious.
Moreover, I was pleased with their effect.
So I infused them with a bit more sincerity, crafting them to evoke “happy and cherished memories.”
To launch them as a new menu item at our bakery next season.
“If possible, I’d like you to share them with your son.”
“He’s been busy lately, so I’m not sure if that will be possible. Haha.”
“But if you tell him, he’ll come.”
“Hehe. Then I’ll give him a call. Thank you for the treat.”
With those words, Seon-woong’s footsteps as he left the shop were remarkably light.
All the troubles that had plagued him had vanished.
After the door closed and the chime’s sound faded, Noir asked me a question.
“But is it okay to just hand over those madeleines like that?”
“Why?”
“Wouldn’t he be able to figure out that the owner is a witch?”
“I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t think he’ll make that connection.”
If Rohan were to see the madeleines I’d eaten when I was in Yeon-gi’s form as the Witch, he would certainly think that “Bakery Owner Han Seung-hyun” was connected to the Witch.
But that doesn’t mean he would consider the two to be the same person.
“He already seems to think of me as something like the Witch’s minion.”
If he were concerned about the Witch’s existence, there’s no way he wouldn’t know about the connection to Wichi Food.
And there’s no way he wouldn’t have confirmed me as the investor in Wichi Food.
And in his mind, Yeon-gi, who lives inside the Gate, would be closer to a monster than anything else.
Even if they try to draw a connection, they’ll have no choice but to think I’m following Yeon-gi’s orders.
Actually, that works better for me.
“When you think about it, I’m just following my own orders anyway, so what’s the problem?”
“That’s a strange thing to say. Meow. Still, there was no need to make it so obvious. Master.”
“No… it was necessary. Look at this.”
I scrolled down on my phone and pulled up an article to show him.
“See this, Noir? Do you see this?”
“Meow. I can see it clearly. ‘Regarding the mysterious entity inside the Gate, the Church and Association have significant differences of opinion.'”
“Exactly. That’s the problem.”
Regardless of what they thought about me inside the Gate or what orders they issued, the Holy Knight Order suddenly began investigating the anomalous phenomena existing within the Gate.
While the surface reason was research into anomalies, Hunter testimonies kept coming in steadily enough.
– The Holy Knights are exploring the Gate again.
– Don’t they only have water supply and recovery abilities? How do they even fight?
– Meat shields.
– ?
– Basically, whoever has attack skills deploys maximum firepower while the rest tank damage. They get beaten to a pulp taking all the hits head-on, then recover and endure.
– ㄷㄷ meat shield ㄷㄷ
– So what are they doing? Those guys?
Have you ever seen anything like Yeon-gi or a pastry shop before?
– Isn’t that from the interview when the Flame Saint had her reawakening? There must be something there.
As Hunter interest grew regarding this, the Association dismissed it as baseless speculation.
Having directly witnessed my form as a Witch, they probably didn’t want to cause trouble.
And so, unintentionally, the Church and Association came to show a difference of opinion.
“This has nothing to do with the Master, does it? Meow.”
“Of course it has everything to do with me. If good things were being said, fine, but rumors are never good.”
Building a good image of myself in preparation for what would be revealed later was fine, but the rumor currently circulating was growing to the size of ‘There’s a demon in the Gate that even the Association’s S-rank Hunter can’t handle.’
“It’s absurd talk, but later on, it could actually become true. That’s how rumors work.”
“Meow. True enough—when the plague spread, the rumor that it was the Jews’ fault caused humans to kill each other. I understand what you’re saying, Master.”
…I wasn’t sure if such a serious example was necessary to understand.
In any case, this problem needed to be resolved.
But I couldn’t exactly visit the Association while in my Witch form.
Approaching Rohan, who was at least a point of contact, was the most reasonable option.
“He’ll come looking.”
“You’re certain of that?”
“Of course I am.”
Perhaps he’d come just from tasting the bread, or maybe even just from hearing about it and seeing what it looked like.
It was right at that moment.
Click!
As the closed door was being opened, I turned my head at the sound.
What came into view was a man and woman, both breathing heavily while dressed in neat priest and nun robes.
He had rushed over with such urgency that his face had gone pale, and his trembling hands looked genuinely pitiful.
And behind those two, another man emerged into view.
“Please, both of you, be at peace.”
“I… I apologize, Elder.”
“Please refrain from using the title ‘Elder.’ Before our Father, we are all equally nothing more than lambs. Please call me by my name. Brother Young-jin. Sister Se-hee.”
“Oh… Yes, Brother Rohan.”
Whether his declaration of discarding hierarchy was genuine or not, the way he rejected the title of Elder was indistinguishable from that of a devout believer.
Since I couldn’t keep them standing outside indefinitely, I opened the door, and the two who had arrived first entered with exhaled breaths, followed by Rohan.
The first to greet me were the two who had entered first.
“Greetings. I am Jung Young-jin, Vice Commander of the Holy Knight Order.”
“I am An Se-hee, Third Seat.”
“Hello. But what brings you all here?”
“Well… I had hoped to come alone and quietly, but circumstances have unfolded this way, and I apologize. I am Kim Ro-han, Commander of the Holy Knight Order.”
Rohan said this while bowing in greeting.
This must be the title he uses when introducing himself publicly.
I had heard that the Elder who oversees the position of heresy inquisitor also serves concurrently as Commander of the Holy Knight Order, and it seemed that was indeed the case.
“I heard that your father visited this place.”
“Ah, yes. He was just here.”
“And he looked after Madeline, I understand…”
“Yes, that’s right. Have you already tried it?”
“No… that’s not quite it…”
Had Seon-woong contacted him immediately upon leaving?
No, even if that were the case, to arrive here would require him to have rushed like a madman the moment he received the call.
Yet he showed no signs of exhaustion—it seemed A-rank Hunters were simply different in every way.
“Is there something you wished to discuss?”
“Ahem… well…”
Rohan seemed unable to broach the subject directly, perhaps because his subordinates were present.
That was understandable, of course.
It wouldn’t be easy to speak of what he had experienced inside the Gate in front of his subordinates.
Moreover, if I were to reveal that there was a human connected to the entity within the Gate standing right before him, there was no telling what kind of reaction they might have.
In the moment I felt Noir’s gaze upon me, his fur bristling with alertness, Rohan finally spoke.
“I have much I wish to say, but first, I thought I would share the Church’s official position. Could you spare some time later for a more personal conversation?”
“That’s fine with me. But if it’s an official matter…”
“It’s quite simple. There will soon be an inauguration ceremony for a new Elder, during which a Eucharist will be held. We would like you to prepare the Eucharist for that occasion.”
“I beg your pardon?”
This was anything but a simple request.

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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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