I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 13

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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 13. Delicious Diet (1)
Without any warning, the dough began to swell and rise on its own.
From the dough that quivered as if breathing with life, a subtle green light was flowing out.
“That’s the power of the Starlight Moss Fairy. It uses the forest’s mana it absorbed to decompose everything around it.”
The Starlight Moss Fairy, which lived flat against the ground and grew by consuming starlight and the forest’s mana.
And then it released the power to rot the corpses around it.
Decay and fermentation are only one step apart.
Both are processes caused by microorganisms, but the former is simply rotting, while the latter transforms into something useful to us.
“No fermentation process needed—that’s incredible.”
“It would be even better if you praised the achievements of the Previous Witches more, Owner. Meow.”
I continued working quickly before the dough could rise further.
Since it was dough made from rye with low gluten content, it felt sticky rather than elastic.
I gently scooped it up, placed it in a mold to shape it, and then it was just a matter of baking.
“Now you just put it in the Oven, Owner.”
“I know that.”
Since the Oven operated without requiring sincerity when the recipe was standardized, I placed the dough in with a more relaxed mind.
[The ‘Oven’ has detected bread entering inside.]
[Beginning operation.]
“But how are you planning to sell this bread, Owner? Since the exercise effect increases, are you selling it for warriors?”
“Diet bread.”
“Meow? What are you talking about?”
Unlike Noir, who blurted out her speech habit in confusion, I was confident.
After all, what was my reason for researching pumpernickel, a grain that most people didn’t even know the name of?
It was health bread!
The current trend in health is diet!
“If it’s a wellness whole grain bread pursuing health, it should have at least some diet effect.”
“Humans are truly strange. If they lose weight, they die.”
“That was only true in the old days.”
For Noir, who had lived for such a very long time, it would be difficult to understand.
After all, even our country had times just a hundred years ago when there was nothing to eat.
“Now it’s an era where problems arise from eating too much.”
More precisely, it’s a modern problem caused by consuming foods full of unhealthy components with irregular eating habits and without exercise.
But I couldn’t tell hardworking people to eat three healthy meals a day and exercise too.
“That’s why this bread is necessary.”
The bread, which had finished baking before I knew it.
The status window was also celebrating my success.
[Special Pumpernickel]
▷ A pumpernickel infused with the heart of a Bakery Owner who hopes to provide both taste and health.
▷ Effect: Increased exercise effectiveness for 24 hours
“Perfect.”
After removing the pumpernickel from the mold, I let it cool slightly, then sliced through it smoothly with a bread knife.
The molasses had darkened the crust to a crisp finish, but the interior remained chewy and tender—a texture I could feel even through the blade.
“That smells wonderful.”
“It really does. Absolutely delicious.”
Perhaps it was thanks to the Starlight Moss Fairy’s wing powder, which I’d used in place of a starter culture.
A subtle floral fragrance drifted mysteriously from the bread.
Though I hadn’t added any essence whatsoever.
“I’m really looking forward to tasting this.”
“Meow! Owner, don’t forget about me! My role as your Familier was crucial to making this bread possible!”
“Of course it was. Here, this is for you.”
“Meooow!”
The moment I set a slice on a plate and placed it down, Noir came rushing over and dove face-first into it.
The constant smacking and chewing sounds suggested the taste was truly exceptional.
“Then I suppose I should have a bite myself.”
As I bit into it, my teeth registered the crisp yet moist sensation.
A subtle sweetness lingered on my tongue, complemented by the nutty, wholesome flavor of grains and nuts that added another layer of enjoyment.
But that wasn’t all.
“Mmm! What is this?”
With each chew, the aroma of the forest bloomed across my palate.
Like walking through the mountains after rain, the crisp mountain air swept cleanly from my mouth down my throat.
“Normally, such a unique flavor profile would clash—it shouldn’t work—but this doesn’t.”
Even the finest tastes and aromas become unpleasant if they conflict with existing flavors.
But this pumpernickel was different.
As if it were meant to be this way all along, the flavors harmonized and burst forth in perfect ensemble.
“This is genuinely delicious.”
“Exactly. Owner, I want another slice.”
“Sorry, but we’ve already finished it.”
“Meow?”
The freshly baked pumpernickel had already disappeared into our bellies.
“Owner! You pig! How could you eat more of it yourself!”
“Calm down. I can just bake another batch. It doesn’t take that long.”
“What are you talking about! We need to start preparing to open the bakery soon!”
“Already?”
Lost in the frenzy of baking, I hadn’t noticed the time.
By the time I returned from the Witch’s Cottage to the Bakery, the sun was already rising.
“I need to get ready.”
“What about my pumpernickel?”
“We’re selling it starting today, so let’s make some more.”
“Meow! Perfect!”
There was much to prepare before opening for business today.
Perhaps a customer seeking the perfect Pumpernickel will eventually walk through that door.
* * *
*Ding*
“Thank you so much! Please come again!”
“Of course! Oh my! How adorable!”
“Meow…”
Noir, now being petted for the sixth time, let out a deep sigh.
Of course, even that sigh had to come out sounding like a cat’s cry.
“Ye-seul has been such an enormous help to me.”
“Meow?”
“Without her, I’d still just be dreaming of a situation like this.”
Ever since appearing once on Ye-seul’s YouTube channel, the bakery’s circumstances had been improving steadily.
I hadn’t yet escaped the red, but at least customers weren’t just flies passing by anymore.
“Now I even have regular patrons.”
I’d never lacked confidence in my bread from the start.
It was simply that the bakery’s location was so remote that people never discovered it.
“I should express my gratitude properly when she visits next time.”
“Meow.”
“And I’ll make sure to give her generous service too.”
She was essentially my benefactor for allowing me to keep my dream alive—surely I could do at least this much.
Of course, Noir would probably say something like “A Witch’s fundamental principle is receiving payment in return, Owner!”
But for now, I needed to repay the debt of her kindness.
“The only concern is that baguettes seem to be selling far too quickly.”
There was nothing I could do about that.
Most of the people coming here were those who’d watched Roro—Ye-seul’s—mukbang video and sought us out.
Since she’d eaten the baguette most deliciously in that video, it was only natural.
Besides, it was also the “special baguette” officially recognized by the Previous Witches.
“Still, there’s nothing I can do about the regret.”
“Meow.”
“There are no customers now anyway. You can speak freely, Noir.”
“Then the solution is simple—obtain more special recipes.”
“And I do that by baking bread, right?”
“Naturally, Owner. Meow.”
The solution was straightforward.
And it was the way I preferred.
All I needed to do was continue baking bread with sincerity going forward.
“But the Pumpernickel isn’t selling well.”
Unlike the baguette, which was thriving and driving the bakery’s sales despite its cheap price of 3,000 won, the Pumpernickel hadn’t found its owner yet.
It had the same perfect recipe, an even more distinctive aroma, and even diet benefits.
“Did I do the market research wrong?”
“Have you promoted it, Owner?”
“Of course. Look over there.”
At the end of where I pointed my finger was a memo with an explanation about the Pumpernickel.
“A wellness bread that cares for both health and taste? Owner, you clearly have no talent for business.”
“Why not? It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Aeyoong. That will never sell. When you say it’s healthy, doesn’t it sound like it won’t taste good?”
Noir’s words had a strangely persuasive quality.
After all, there’s a saying that medicine good for the body tastes bitter.
It’s common knowledge that taste and health in food are inversely proportional.
Even if it were true, writing it that way might make consumers lose confidence.
“Then what should I do?”
“France, the nation of gastronomy, trembles in shock at this healthy bread. It tastes delicious but makes you lose weight! The world is astonished by Korea’s shocking bread. How about this, Owner?”
Noir’s eyes sparkled brightly as she thrust her chest forward, asking what I thought.
What did I think?
“You’re banned from YouTube starting today.”
“Why! What for!”
“Consider it my way of preventing your mind from deteriorating further.”
I’d often wondered why she kept disappearing with my phone, but I never imagined she was watching videos like that.
I couldn’t let Noir, who wasn’t even human or a Korean citizen, develop such biased thinking.
“Why! This is tyranny! You watch YouTube too, so why can’t I!”
“Either way, you can’t.”
Well, most of the YouTube videos I watched were related to bread anyway.
Except for recently subscribing to and watching Ye-seul’s channel, “What’s Roro Eating Today?”
Ah, by the way, Ye-seul’s channel was literally walking a path of flowers.
Or rather, I should say she’d created a whole mountain made of flowers.
After cleanly capturing the people who came from her bread mukbang videos, the channel now had over 100,000 subscribers.
“Meow… I’ve lost the joy of life…”
“If that was your only joy, it’s better you lost it.”
“I’m helpless. Help… meow.”
Noir stopped mid-sentence and immediately mimicked a cat’s cry.
This meant a customer was coming from outside.
As proof, I could even see something that looked like a red thread in my vision.
Ding
“Welcome.”
“Hello! Owner!”
“It’s been a while since you filmed that video? Roro.”
“Just call me by my name… It’s embarrassing outside…”
Ye-seul waved her hand with a bright smile.
She had come to the Bakery.
“Ah. How was the video?”
“That’s wonderful. Thanks to you, we’ve had so many more customers, and I wanted to express my gratitude.”
“There haven’t been any strange people causing trouble, have there?”
“Not at all.”
“That’s a relief!”
Only then did Ye-seul exhale with visible relief.
It seemed that after gaining popularity, whenever a video was posted, some overzealous fans would swarm the bakery and negatively impact the business.
“And I should be the one thanking you! Ever since that video, everything has been going so well for me!”
“Congratulations. I saw you’ve reached 100,000 subscribers now. Anyway, did you come to buy bread today?”
“Yes, of course. Since then, I’ve visited other bakeries, but I haven’t found bread as delicious as yours anywhere.”
From the local bakery to bakery chains and even premium bakery cafes, none of them could match the quality of bread from our store.
The more I heard, the more my shoulders seemed to rise with pride.
It was recognition for the bread I’d baked with all my effort—how could I not feel good about that?
“That’s part of it, but I also had something I wanted to ask you about.”
“What is it?”
“Well… I know it sounds foolish, but…”
Ye-seul, who had been speaking smoothly, began to hesitate.
After fidgeting with her fingers for a while, she looked at me and asked.
“Owner, do you happen to have any bread that helps with dieting when you eat it?”
Even as she spoke, she seemed to realize how impossible the request was, and she quickly lowered her head and mumbled.
“I’m sorry. The thing is, this content is about dieting. Since you make bread that’s almost magical in how delicious it is, I thought I’d ask just in case. Hehe. You don’t need to worry about it!”
“I have something like that.”
“Really?”
Of course I do. Why wouldn’t I?
A perfect Pumpernickel awaits, one that no one has tasted yet.

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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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