I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 141

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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 141. Bamboo and Ginger (3)
“A celestial pill?”
“Indeed! If this isn’t a celestial pill, then what could it possibly be!”
“What exactly is that?”
“Ugh… So we must begin from the very foundation… Very well, listen carefully. A celestial pill, you see, has since ancient times….”
Yong-jin’s ensuing explanation was lengthy and intricate, yet when distilled, it could be stated quite simply.
A celestial pill.
I’d heard the term frequently mentioned in martial arts novels, though I’d never truly grasped its meaning.
After all, I’d spent my entire life consumed by the art of baking bread—I’d hardly had occasion to take interest in or read about such matters.
However, combining Yong-jin’s explanation with the fragmentary knowledge I possessed, I arrived at a conclusion….
“So what you’re saying is that this produces an effect similar to an awakening elixir? In that sense, I understand.”
“Gah! An awakening elixir, you say! How utterly preposterous! How could such a precious treasure be encompassed by something as vulgar as the word ‘elixir’!”
Of course, Yong-jin refused to accept my understanding.
But wasn’t I right?
A celestial pill is a legendary medicine that immortals consume to cultivate their power.
Through it, one refines the strength one possesses and gains transcendent abilities—so what else would you call it but an awakening elixir?
And indeed, the bamboo dew croissant I’d just created could produce the very same effect.
Though this was something only I could discern from the status window—I wondered how Yong-jin had recognized it and reacted accordingly….
“One can perceive much merely from the aura it emanates. It is one of the few talents I possess.”
“Very well then. Would you care to try it?”
“I… Such a precious thing?”
He who had just lavished praise upon the bread now took a step backward when offered to eat it.
It wasn’t that he disliked it.
Rather, one could plainly see saliva pooling at the corners of his mouth.
“According to the philosophy of the Way… nay, considering the proprieties of all creation beneath heaven, there exists no custom permitting one to simply accept something of such value. Your offer exceeds what I deserve….”
“This isn’t a simple gift, after all.”
“True. Human. This constitutes a proper transaction. You must consume this and recover your strength to obtain what I seek.”
“Hmm… If you insist upon framing it thus….”
Perhaps thanks to Noir’s supporting fire.
After a moment’s deliberation, he seemed to reach some understanding, rummaged through his pocket, and produced something wrapped elegantly in mulberry paper, extending it toward me.
“If you will not accept this, I shall become a discourteous commoner. I beseech you, please accept it.”
“What is this?”
“You shall know once you examine it. This too is one of my few talents. Come now, unfold it.”
Unable to resist Yong-jin’s insistence, as I peeled away one layer of mulberry paper, then another, what revealed itself was none other than a pill.
“Medicine?”
“If one receives medicine, is it not only natural to offer medicine in return? Since the heavens and earth were remade and land appeared beneath the sky, allowing humans to endure between them, no method has ever been so elegantly simple.”
I listened to Yong-jin’s incomprehensible words with half an ear while examining the pill I’d received.
It was larger than I’d anticipated.
Too large to swallow in a single gulp—roughly the size of a child’s fist.
Moreover, its bright golden hue and lustrous surface suggested it was something one ought not consume carelessly.
Even….
“This… the smell….”
“Ahem… I apologize. I am not unaware that fragrance holds importance, yet my learning remains incomplete, and I have not mastered its resolution. However, let us recall the wisdom of our ancestors who said that even medicine beneficial to the body tastes bitter upon the tongue.”
“Ah… yes….”
For various such reasons, I hadn’t held great expectations.
After all, the premium potions of every grade that Miracle regularly crafted and sent were often left gathering dust in the cupboard when unused.
While I gazed intently, thinking how wonderful it would be if the medicine were truly effective, it was only then that I was startled by the status window that materialized before me.
Ding
[Golden Radiance Secret Pill]
▷ A spiritual elixir that gleams with golden light yet emanates a foul stench. It boasts a smell so terrible that there exists a legend claiming the immortals deliberately disguised it with such a repugnant odor to prevent the leakage of heavenly secrets.
Brimming with the essence of the earth, it grants the consumer a vast quantity of mana for a set duration.
▷ Effects
① Golden Light Protection: For 1 hour after consumption, a golden barrier manifests within a 15-meter radius centered on the consumer.
All beings within that barrier are spatially isolated from the world beyond it.
② Spring Light Restoration: By stabilizing the mana flow within the barrier, it restores all manner of damage.
“What?”
The effects were nothing short of astonishing.
In other words, consuming this alone meant that no matter what attack came, I could defend against it, ensure the safety of my nearby allies, and even perfectly heal all the wounds I had accumulated thus far.
Even I, possessing the power of the Witch, would need to pour quite complex sincerity into bread to achieve effects of this caliber—how did he come to possess such a thing?
“Ahem… compared to what I have received, this pill is far too modest, yet if my heart can be conveyed through it, would that not be fortune enough?”
“It is far from insufficient.”
“Hehe! I am grateful for your words! Thank you. The heart of this humble one who crafted the pill feels considerably eased.”
Moreover, from what I heard, he had even crafted the pill himself.
Since he had only spoken of being S-rank thus far, I had harbored some anxiety, but seeing something like this changed the matter entirely.
“Then I shall partake with gratitude. Mm!”
And so Yong-jin took a large bite of the croissant he held in his hand.
And in that moment….
“Ahhh!”
It felt as though a warm breeze had suddenly blown forth.
No, it was not merely a sensation.
Warm wind was literally beginning to emanate from Yong-jin’s body as he consumed the croissant.
“This… this is… the acupoints of the Governing and Conception Vessels resonating as they meet the torrential surge of true qi!”
“Yes?”
“The pure yang inner force blooming from the dantian flows gracefully through the entire skeleton, as though lifting the body into the void!”
“Oh….”
A flush of crimson began to return to Yong-jin’s complexion, which had been nearly pallid.
Heat spreading throughout his entire body.
Had this alone been present, it would surely have been dangerous.
But what had been woven into this croissant was not merely ginger brimming with yang energy….
“Ah… the fragrance of mugwort wafts before me… all attachments and afflictions dissolve, is this not the harmony of water ascending and fire descending?”
The yin energy possessed by the Eternal Green Bamboo gently enveloped the rising heat, maintaining perfect balance.
In that process, a blue-golden radiance began flowing around Yong-jin.
“The Owner will be able to see it too.”
“Yeah. It’s shimmering brightly.”
“The scattered and blocked energy is merging into one, revealing the man’s original power. It seems what he said earlier wasn’t mere boasting.”
The mana flow that had filled the Pastry Shop transformed into a massive river, flowing smoothly into Yong-jin and settling within him.
Soon, he opened his eyes that had been closed.
Feeling the change in his condition compared to before, he spoke to me.
“Truly… I am grateful. I shall never forget this kindness.”
Though his manner of speech remained the same, unlike before when it carried exaggerated overtones, his voice now came through plainly yet with profound weight.
From that alone, I could tell the preparations were complete.
“Then shall we depart immediately? Once preparations are finished, I shall show you what it means for me to cover a thousand leagues in a single step.”
“Right now?”
“Of course! There is not a single obstacle in our way!”
“Then give me a moment.”
Speaking with such confidence, I decided to gather everything necessary first.
The most important thing to secure was everyone’s safety.
“In that sense, Jaha is already equipped…”
Jaha, the self-propelled hard armor, was already wrapped around me like a suit of armor.
If that was the case, what I needed to bring was essentially predetermined.
“There are many shadows wandering outside, so I need to bring this.”
“Meow? What is this, Owner?”
“I received it once before, but since I had no use for it, I’ve been storing it away.”
Miracle’s potions that I regularly receive through Noir.
Among them were occasionally some quite unusual ones, and this was one of them.
“It’s a luminous potion.”
“Is that the kind of luminescence I know of? Do you drink it and glow to enter combat?”
“Huh?”
“I’ve seen it before. Long ago, northern tribes heading into battle would chew strange plants and mushrooms, then charge into combat shouting ‘Valhalla.'”
“That’s not it…”
No matter how sturdy the hard armor is, it’s still not a good idea for me to engage in direct combat.
Besides, what Noir understood as ‘luminescence’ was completely different from what this potion meant by ‘luminous.’
“This is literally a luminous potion.”
“So…”
“Yeah… when you drink it, it glows.”
“…What is that used for?”
“That’s why I haven’t used it until now.”
Miracle’s potions are usually added to beverages like Potion Americano or Potion Latte when selling them.
When I add potions that enhance stamina or keep one awake, I can see the customers’ expressions noticeably brighten.
However, there’s no way I could add a potion that makes the body emit light to those drinks.
Yet I couldn’t very well bake it into bread, could I?
That’s why I’d been leaving it alone until now.
“If shadows are what’s attacking us, that changes things.”
Shadows are a physical phenomenon that occurs when light cannot pass through an object.
So if I myself emit light, I should be able to reliably prevent the shadows from approaching, shouldn’t I?
Of course, unless those creatures are something other than ordinary shadows, I can’t place complete trust in it.
“Still, better to be safe.”
“Gora gora?”
“Right. That’s necessary too.”
Since I couldn’t engage in direct combat, I also needed to gather items for Gora, who would handle most of the fighting.
First, I grabbed the adamantium hammer as a weapon, and I’d need to bring gingerbread man dough for activating Gora’s skills.
“Kyuuu!”
“Hm? This too? Well… understood.”
Following Chohong’s suggestion, I also packed the Golden Radiance Silver Ring Pill I’d received from Yong-jin earlier.
Since it was said to be a pill specialized in defense and healing, it would surely prove invaluable in an emergency.
“With the elixir packed securely, and since the Witch’s fragments might be involved somehow, if I also bring Pondan O Chocolat…”
Perfect preparation complete.
After packing my belongings and slinging them over my shoulder, I stepped out to find Yong-jin, already prepared, adjusting his hat as he asked.
“Shall we depart now?”
“Yes. Everything’s ready. Right?”
“This humble one has been prepared since earlier.”
“Kyuuu!”
“Gora gora!”
Each creature answered my question, burning with determination.
After hearing everyone’s responses, Yong-jin nodded and began moving his mana with an outstretched hand.
“Heaven and Earth Contraction Lines. Folding the lines of sky and earth into one…”
Yong-jin lightly lifted his left foot and extended it forward.
Simultaneously, both his hands performed movements as though crumpling and folding space itself.
“Affliction’s Single Step. Transcending all suffering in but one stride.”
Soon, the extended foot touched the pastry shop’s floor, and at that very moment…
“Great earth, lie beneath my feet. [Spatial Contraction].”
Space folded in upon itself.
“This… this place…”
“Welcome! Of course, since this humble one visits this space for the first time as well, I cannot offer much introduction…”
Yong-jin turned around, his robe billowing, his lips curling into a broad grin as he continued.
“This is the place we’ve yearned for—the interior of the Castle.”
We had arrived at the Castle’s interior in the blink of an eye.

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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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