I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 19

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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 19. Burning Thirst (3)
Feeding bread and coffee to the unconscious Sky proved far easier than I anticipated.
Whether her body moved instinctively to survive or not, the moment I tore off pieces of bread and let cooled coffee dribble into her mouth, she swallowed them down smoothly without resistance.
Only after she finished an entire piece of bread and a full cup of coffee did she regain consciousness.
“Noir?”
“Ah. You’ve come to.”
She looked bewildered, still savoring the lingering taste in her mouth.
Then she glanced around hastily before turning her gaze toward me and opening her mouth.
“Bread? Coffee?”
“It seems to suit your palate—you ate quite well even while unconscious.”
If that hadn’t been the case, things could have turned truly dangerous.
Whatever abnormal condition this was, her left hand had begun withering like a mummy’s within mere minutes of losing consciousness.
“Then help me feed the others now.”
“Ah… yes… understood.”
Her response was clipped, yet she seemed perceptive enough.
After checking her own condition, she immediately helped feed the set menu to her colleagues.
Honestly, I’d been worried about wasting time if she reacted with questions like “What is this?” or “How is this possible?” So her cooperation was a blessing.
With both of us working frantically to feed everyone the set menu.
“Ugh….”
The mummy-like appearance from moments before vanished quickly.
The “Dehydration Abnormality Negation” effect attached to my Salt Bread was doing its job perfectly.
Just as a withered plant’s leaves plump up with moisture, the people who’d regained their vitality began regaining consciousness one by one, accompanied by groans.
“Where… where is this… ugh….”
“Are you awake?”
“Ugh… Guild Leader….”
“1 Team Leader! Everyone!”
Sky, who had herself teetered on death’s edge before returning, showed relief as the others regained consciousness.
Society had branded her as a cold-blooded person without mercy or tears, but it seemed to be a misunderstanding.
There was no way someone who cared for others like this could be such a person.
“Should I step back for a moment?”
“Why would you do that? Owner?”
“Because it’s an emotionally moving situation, right? We and this place will look like Black Mist to them. No need to steal the spotlight.”
“Just be honest and say you want to get away from danger, Owner. Meow.”
I quietly stepped back and decided to check the notifications I’d recalled earlier.
[Elixir Americano.]
▷ A “Potion Americano” infused with Elixir. I’m not sure what possessed me to add expensive Elixir to such crude coffee sticks, but it tastes better than expected.
▷ Effect: Complete Restoration
“This is really too much.”
“There’s nothing excessive about it, Owner. Honestly, who puts Elixir in coffee sticks? Why, meow.”
“It was the only method available.”
I was somewhat displeased by the comment questioning what I was thinking when I created it, but since it held some truth, I decided to let it pass.
Besides, there was something else that had captured my attention.
“A set menu, you say.”
“I keep saying this, but the Witch’s Cottage exists for its Owner. Wouldn’t a set menu be the same thing?”
Indeed, there was no way the previous Witches would have conceived of a “set menu.”
That was something only someone running a business would think of.
And there was no way other Witches would have used the Konglish term “set.”
“It’s truly remarkable that an additional effect gets attached.”
“That’s not all. Look more carefully, Owner.”
Upon hearing Noir’s words, I discovered a status window while checking the notifications.
[Set Menu Development Reward Granted.]
[Apothecary, Garden Unlocked]
“An Apothecary? A Garden?”
I vaguely recalled hearing about the Garden from Noir before, but an Apothecary?
What was I supposed to do with something like that in a Bakery?
“Did you just think the Apothecary was useless for baking bread, Owner?”
“You… can you read my mind now?”
“How could I! Meow!”
Noir rapidly threw a quick cat punch before continuing the explanation.
“I explained that a Witch’s act of baking bread is akin to rebirth through nature’s life. Do you remember, Owner?”
“Let’s say you did.”
“Meow… I want to be upset, but I’ll let it slide… Anyway, but there’s one more thing a Witch does.”
If bread symbolizes life being born from nature, then brewing medicine for a Witch is the work of maintaining that balance.
She explained it as regulating how the born life flows along the grain of its destiny, and thus building order.
In conclusion, it would be something like this.
“So my work just increased?”
“It didn’t increase—it was always work you were supposed to do! You’ve just been too weak to perform it until now!”
I decided to ignore Noir’s meowing complaints.
Honestly, my summary wasn’t wrong.
The status window’s explanation would be far more intuitive than listening to such vague talk.
[Apothecary: This is the Witch’s Apothecary. Try making special medicines using various materials!]
[Garden: This is the Witch’s Garden. Good materials grow from good soil!]
[….]
“It really only has the bare essentials written.”
It seemed like there was no way around it but to check directly.
“Do I have time to take a quick look?”
“The Garden is outside, so I’ll have to check it later, but the Apothecary is inside. Want to take a look around, Owner?”
“Let’s just take a quick look.”
“This way.”
There were a total of two doors connected to the Kitchen.
One was a warehouse where witches had procured and stored ingredients for generations.
I was curious about what the remaining one was, and it turned out to be the Apothecary.
Upon opening the door and stepping inside, the space that greeted me was…
“This is the Apothecary?”
“What were you expecting, Owner?”
When one hears “Apothecary,” what scene comes to mind?
Especially if it’s a witch’s Apothecary?
I had imagined a massive cauldron in the center, with some mysterious green or purple potion bubbling away inside it.
And all around, various extraordinary ingredients hanging about—that sort of atmosphere.
“This is just a second version of the Kitchen.”
To be precise, it resembled a kitchen focused on beverage production.
Coffee machines lined one entire wall, and in the corner sat sacks brimming with coffee beans.
“This isn’t the Apothecary I imagined.”
“That may be true, but it’s undoubtedly the Apothecary you need, Owner. It’s a space created by the Witch’s Cottage, after all.”
Noir’s words, delivered while licking her front paw, were correct.
How could I possibly concoct medicines or potions right now?
“I had been considering the necessity of beverages.”
Personally, I believe bread is a delicious food that achieves perfection on its own.
But does everyone think that way?
Of course not.
So to witness the sight I desired—customers savoring my bread and finding happiness—I felt beverages were necessary.
I had been planning to add beverage options to my Bakery for that very reason.
“But why haven’t you mentioned this until now, Owner?”
“Because my skills were too embarrassing to present.”
Though I hadn’t lived long, from the moment I gained consciousness, I had devoted myself entirely to my interest in bread and the craft of baking.
Now, attempting to develop a coffee menu meant I couldn’t create a coffee worthy of pairing with my bread.
“And it would be shameful to simply mix commercial syrups and serve them carelessly.”
“So it’s stubbornness.”
“It is stubbornness.”
“How very witch-like and admirable. Meow. We should explore this later, Owner. It’s getting noisy outside.”
Hearing the commotion from outside, I left the Apothecary.
I could examine this place again later.
For now, I needed to focus on sending them away.
“I should receive compensation too.”
“I’d prefer if you’d just send them away quickly… Ow! Fine. I understand.”
“Meow.”
After taking several of Noir’s cat punches, I emerged from the Kitchen to find not the defeated soldiers from before, but elite Hunters of South Korea.
Each dressed appropriately for their profession, they looked around curiously.
“Everything really is pastries…”
“I’ve heard this story somewhere before. So that means…”
“Hansel and Gretel?”
“Ah! That’s exactly it!”
The Hunters whispered among themselves with fascination, examining the Pastry Shop.
If they had just been brought back from the brink of death, they should be trembling with anxiety, yet somehow these people seemed perfectly composed.
I let out a deliberate cough toward them.
“Ahem.”
In an instant, all eyes turned toward me.
True to their status as elite members of the Top Guild of South Korea, it was Sky who stopped these individuals from reacting immediately to even the slightest sound.
“Stand down.”
“But Guild Leader….”
“I understand. However, such action is meaningless. Exercise caution.”
“Understood.”
The man lowered his head and thrust his hand back into his pocket.
Wait, I could have sworn I saw something glinting in his hand just now.
Was he planning to throw it at me if things went south?
“Thank you for your assistance, but may I ask one thing?”
“Is there something you wish to know?”
“Why did you help me?”
I expected them to probe into my identity, but this question caught me off guard.
I studied their expression, wondering if they were testing me, but they seemed genuinely curious.
So I decided to deflect appropriately.
“Isn’t it strange not to extend a hand when someone is dying?”
“This is the Gate Interior. It’s a place where kindness can be repaid with malice.”
I had heard of this before.
Since only those who have entered the Gate Interior can verify what happens there, all sorts of incidents and accidents occur.
And there are malicious Hunters who exploit this fact.
“There have been many cases where Hunters disguised as injured ones murdered those trying to help them.”
“That doesn’t concern me.”
No, that’s actually a lie.
If it weren’t for the Bread Maker of Life I received like a gift, my corpse would be rolling on the ground right now.
But if I said I was saved purely out of goodwill, it might actually raise suspicion.
From what I’ve observed of Sky’s personality so far, they seem to be wary of unconditional kindness.
“And I didn’t save you purely out of goodwill.”
“Then….”
“I will receive compensation.”
Noir, who had been listening from behind me, suddenly appeared and opened her mouth.
Just as I expected, she rushed in eagerly when talk of payment came up.
Of course, I knew this would happen and brought it up for exactly this reason.
“Compensation, you say?”
“Yes. I believe you understand the effects of the food you just consumed.”
“That’s correct. In fact, I’m relieved. The fact that you brought up compensation means I can trust you. What is it that you desire?”
Sky seemed more comfortable with this kind of conversation.
She was asking what the compensation would be.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak of what I wanted.
“If I may be so bold, we cannot offer our guild members as payment.”
“Our guild members?”
“If you were thinking of requesting hands, feet, or organs….”
“… I don’t need those.”
What on earth did she think I was?
Why would I possibly need human organs?
And she was even saying it with such grave resolve.
“If there’s no other way, then perhaps I myself….”
“Guild Leader! No!”
“The Guild Leader must survive!”
“Ugh! Let me do it instead!”
With just one word spoken, the Hunters rushed forward, clamoring that they would die in her place.
“Do you know what those people are saying? Owner?”
“How would I know?”
“Well, you never know anything anyway.”
“Hey.”
The incomprehensible situation didn’t last long.
Sky grabbed hold of herself and, ultimately, shouted as she blocked a subordinate who was drawing a sword to cut off her own arm.
“Everyone stop! It’s my duty as commander to make sacrifices. So this is something I….”
“No, I told you I don’t need that. All I need is salt.”
“Pardon? Salt… you say?”
I extended my hand toward Sky, who was staring blankly at me.
“Yes. The salt scattered over there.”
Give me the salt.
Not organs.

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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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