I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 127

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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 127. Beneath the Surface (3)
-The Association has reached out to us. This too must be a blessing of light.
Not long after my conversation with Ria, Rohan called me.
It seemed that after receiving my contact, Ria had been working diligently to move things forward.
The Association’s position was straightforward.
They would cooperate in stopping those who sought to cause a Gate Break.
-I am merely grateful for this connection with such a worthy person.
“They said they would help considerably?”
-It is far more than mere help. What was to be a simple inauguration has now become a venue for proclaiming symbiosis.
Originally, the inauguration was meant to conclude with the new Elder taking office.
But with the Association’s support joining in, it has transformed into a place where the Church and Association—who had been at odds until now—join hands.
“What of the other Elders?”
-It is divided. Those brothers and sisters who follow the true path welcome this, but those harboring corruption do not. However, none have made their positions entirely clear.
“I see.”
The Association, after all, clashes with the Government over numerous practical matters.
And some of the Church’s Elders had conspired with those Government officials.
Naturally, they would have no reason to welcome improved relations with the Association.
“So what is my role in all this?”
-Simply preparing the Eucharist would suffice… but I suspect you understand there is more to discuss. Allow me to explain.
The inauguration ceremony will proceed in three major stages.
The first is the opening ceremony, including the service.
Though it is called an opening ceremony and service, it is truly a gathering where people from various places share light conversation.
-At this time, we will precisely identify who has aligned themselves with us.
“Hadn’t some of that already been confirmed?”
-True. But it is better to verify directly.
Speaking of the necessity of exercising caution, Rohan continued to the next stage.
-Then comes the inauguration proper. It is a moment for prayer and a demonstration of the granted abilities.
“When will the Eucharist be used?”
-The final stage. A banquet will be prepared.
A banquet arranged to celebrate the inauguration.
And before this banquet begins, all participants will partake of the Eucharist.
Rohan had his sights set on this moment.
-Everyone will share in the Eucharist in order.
“Will all participants consume it?”
-Yes.
This information was necessary.
Only by knowing which bread should produce which effect could I determine what sincerity to imbue within it.
“Understood. When will this take place?”
-Ah. This is the most crucial detail, and I failed to mention it. One week from now.
“Pardon?”
Did I hear that correctly?
You’re saying this major event is happening just a week from now?
– Well… there are circumstances. I hadn’t originally planned to hold the inauguration this quickly, but….
After the previous Elder’s retirement, the selection of a new Elder proceeded remarkably fast.
While there was significant opinion that the Elder’s position shouldn’t remain vacant, there was no better way to demonstrate the Church’s solid standing even after being caught up in an unfortunate incident.
However, there was another reason why Rohan pushed things forward so quickly.
– A problem has arisen with the selection of the Eucharist supplier.
“A problem with the Eucharist supplier? What do you mean….”
– Until now, the Eucharist has been continuously supplied by the Oseong Group. There was likely an implicit arrangement involved.
The subsidiary of Oseong was solely responsible for the Eucharist used in all Church events.
But knowing all this, Rohan couldn’t possibly accept their assistance, could he.
So I tried changing vendors to another company, but….
– As expected, they all opposed it.
“So that’s why you’re moving so quickly….”
– Yes. If we proceed without giving them time to prepare, they won’t be able to stop us.
Making the first move before their ties could grow even stronger.
Of course, this left me with an equally rushed schedule, but I could understand the reasoning.
Rohan was simply doing his best within the scope of what he could manage.
– Will it be possible? No, even such doubts would be irreverent, wouldn’t they.
“….”
I needed to stop this baseless and boundless mindless praise.
“I’ll proceed quickly. How much quantity do you need?”
– While it’s called an inauguration, not that many people will attend. So roughly calculating….
Even if not that many people attend, it’s still an Elder’s inauguration.
Various dignitaries will be present, and moreover, it will be a historic moment where the Association and Church join hands, so we’ll definitely exceed the hundred mark.
I was preparing myself mentally with that thought.
– We’re anticipating around 500 people.
“500… people?”
– It could be even more.
It seemed I had underestimated the power the Church held in South Korea.
* * *
“This has turned into quite the massive event.”
“Didn’t you expect as much? Owner?”
“Even so, it’s too big.”
A gathering of at least 500 people.
Looking at the caliber of those assembled, they would be the very people leading South Korea.
Not only business and political figures, but renowned Hunters with religious faith would gather as well.
Beyond that, high-ranking officials from the Association would also be present.
Probably anyone whose name I’d heard through news or newspapers would be attending.
As I rubbed my throbbing head, Noir yawned and asked.
“So you’re nervous about this?”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”
“Meow! This is shocking! I thought my Owner only cared about baking, but you actually care about what others think of you!”
“Why are you making me out to be socially inept?”
I said that, but truthfully, I didn’t really care about people’s gazes the way Noir suggested.
More precisely, I didn’t care about the situation where people with power and status were evaluating my bread.
They were all just people, after all.
Simply people eating my bread.
“In that sense, I am concerned about it.”
“Isn’t that just thinking about bread?”
“…Anyway, it’s not just that.”
This task required a rather delicate sincerity on my part.
I had to ensure the five main people who would eat the bread received the proper effect, while minimizing harm to everyone else.
“Frankly speaking, even if I made bread that causes stomach pain proportional to one’s sins, it would still be problematic.”
“True. Owner. There isn’t a human alive who hasn’t committed sin.”
Even something like saying, “You know that perfume you bought yesterday? Honestly, it smells like rotten cucumber and I hate it”—wouldn’t that constitute the sin of hurting someone’s feelings?
Besides, the standard for sin is vague to begin with.
That wasn’t the only difficult part.
“Eucharistic bread, that is…”
The Church was a fusion of what was commonly called Protestantism and Catholicism, but the understanding of the Eucharist remained largely unchanged.
Unleavened bread.
Following the tradition of Passover bread that the Jewish people ate during the Last Supper, the Eucharist used bread made with only flour and water.
Of course, in some cases, places used castella or ordinary store-bought bread to deepen its meaning, but strictly speaking, using this unleavened bread was the correct approach.
The problem, however, was…
“This stuff genuinely tastes terrible.”
“I’ve eaten it before, but it’s something I never want to taste again, Owner.”
If Noir was making such a fuss about it, there was nothing more to say.
It was a problem with an obvious answer if you thought about it logically.
It used no fermentation, no salt, no sugar.
Bread made only from flour and water.
You simply poured an appropriate amount of water into clean flour, mixed it thinly, spread the dough thin, and baked it in a short time.
How good could such a taste possibly be?
“It just tastes like baked flour, really.”
Dry, hard, and flavorless.
In other words, it literally has no taste whatsoever.
If I baked and served such bread, who would be satisfied?
“But I also can’t ask people of faith to act against their beliefs.”
“Why worry about it? It’s only natural that any human wants to eat something delicious, Owner.”
“That’s not the issue here.”
So the problem I faced now could be summarized like this.
1) Make tasteless bread taste delicious.
2) While doing so, create bread whose effects work precisely on only certain people.
“This is genuinely difficult work. I need to make at least 500 of these in just one week.”
“Gora, gora!”
“Right, with Gora around, production shouldn’t be a problem.”
At least I had Gora and the Ginger Man Legion to handle the quantities.
“First, let me think about a recipe that tastes good. Chohong, want to come with me to the Kitchen Garden?”
“Kyuu!”
The creature was so delighted at the mention of visiting the Kitchen Garden that I carefully maintained that it darted outside like an arrow.
The creature that had been fluttering above my head and circling around shot straight outside.
I suppose I had been neglecting to check on how the Kitchen Garden had changed lately.
So much had happened, after all.
“Let’s take a look.”
When I opened the door and stepped out, what I saw was….
“Where is this place….”
A dim space greeted me.
Quiet, and somehow ominous.
No, that sense of foreboding was probably just my imagination.
This place was simply unnaturally silent and dark.
It felt as though every sense a human could perceive had been suppressed in this space.
“This is unsettling….”
“Meow. Owner, it would be best to confirm what you came here to check first.”
“You’re right. Let’s see.”
Thinking that, I turned my attention to the Kitchen Garden, my original reason for coming here.
“Wow… it’s changed so much.”
That single phrase explained everything.
The Kitchen Garden, which could have been thought of as a somewhat large garden plot, had now developed to a size worthy of being called an actual garden.
On one side, plants displayed their elegant forms as they grew, boasting vibrant natural colors.
And on the other side, plants that appeared to possess fangs or toxins were planted with appropriate spacing between them.
“Did Chohong do all of this?”
“Kyuu! Kyuu kyuu!”
“You did an amazing job. That’s incredible.”
“Kyuu!”
Pleased by the praise, the creature grabbed my finger and tried to show me more.
My praise was sincere.
Each crop was being cultivated in the most efficient way possible, with careful judgment of its particular characteristics.
Perhaps Chohong was even more skilled with Gate plants than Nuri, the most knowledgeable person I’d ever met.
“Kyuu! Kyuu kyuu!”
“Yes, yes. I’m coming.”
“Yeah, yeah. Got it. I’ll go there.”
And so, led by Chohong’s hand, I arrived at a place.
In the very center of it, Chohong pointed to a single plant growing lonely and solitary.
“Kyuuuu!”
To be honest, it was more of a boast than actual speech.
But I had no time to dwell on such things.
There, growing vibrantly before me, was a single crop that could solve every problem I’d been agonizing over.
“This will do.”
[Rosemary of Bonds]
▷ An herb far more verdant than ordinary Rosemary, with pure white thorns sprouting from its surface.
Leaves grown from a single root exchange information with one another even after they fall away.
▷ Effects
① Proof of Bonds: Those who possess its leaves share each other’s emotions faintly through tactile sensation.
In that moment, the perfect recipe for Mugyobyeong—ideal for an inauguration ceremony—crystallized vividly in my mind.

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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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