I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 27

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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 27. Dragon’s Claws and Cheese (1)
It had certainly been a small garden.
But after the light burst forth from my decision to upgrade and faded away, what appeared was a size too grand to even call a garden anymore.
“At this point, it’s practically a weekend farm.”
First, the field had expanded at least fourfold.
In one corner, as if to accommodate planting trees, there were brick-laid sections dividing the space.
Of course, even those were made of pastries and bread.
“And the soil seems to have improved too.”
Though I’d never farmed before and couldn’t speak to the details, even at a glance I could tell the soil had become more fertile.
Moreover, in one corner sat various farming tools, all crafted from confectionery as well.
“So the status window description changed from the beginning.”
[Kitchen Garden: A garden for the Witch’s research. Let’s grow good crops in good soil!]
A Kitchen Garden meant a garden of sufficient scale to be self-sufficient in ingredients needed for the kitchen.
So what the Witch’s Cottage wanted from me was clear.
“I’m supposed to cultivate special crops here and dedicate myself to making bread and beverages.”
“Meow. Precisely correct, Owner.”
“Then, let me check the seeds first.”
A structure placed at one edge of the expanded Kitchen Garden.
Upon entering, seed packets neatly arranged on shelves came into view.
As I focused carefully, a status window appeared.
[Dreamlike Wildflower Seed: An herb capable of inducing deep, dreamlike sleep. However, overuse might result in insomnia instead?]
[Whistle Balloon Seed: A balloon fruit that produces a loud sound when wind is blown through its opening. Please cover your ears before use!]
“There’s nothing here I can make sense of.”
“I can explain those much. But what’s truly important is something else. Shouldn’t you be thinking about what bread and beverages to make?”
Noir hopped onto the shelf and tapped the seed packets with her paw as she spoke.
She was right.
Ultimately, which seeds I cultivated depended on what bread I would bake.
But this was a meaningless concern.
“I’ll plant a variety for now.”
“Meow?”
“Since I don’t know what effects each one has, I should use as many as possible.”
“Hmm… that’s true. It’s been a while since my Owner has been wise. I’m at a loss for words.”
“You’re too much. Really.”
With the garden upgraded and the land expanded, there was no need to deliberate.
After gathering several seeds, planting them, and pouring water, a sense of satisfaction bloomed within me.
Ding~
[Seeds have been planted!]
[Time remaining: 23:59:59]
Whether the Witch’s power was involved or not, the crops grew at an accelerated pace, and despite my lacking farming skills, corrections seemed to be applied.
So if I simply waited, I would be able to obtain a variety of ingredients.
“I’m already looking forward to it.”
“You mustn’t forget that the Cottage wants you to obtain what it desires. Owner.”
“I know. There’s a Quest for it.”
A Quest telling me to mobilize all the Witch’s techniques I’d learned so far.
Quests granted massive RP upon completion, and I could even receive special recipes, so they were something I absolutely had to claim.
“Still, it’s always thrown at me so haphazardly like this that it’s really difficult.”
“Meow. It’s difficult, which is why the reward is substantial. And haven’t you managed well until now? The Witch’s Cottage ensures you obtain what you desire. You simply need to follow your heart always.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
I stretched languidly while responding to Noir’s vague words.
There had been so many things.
Like meeting Haeryang, who suddenly appeared and resolved my worries before becoming my part-timer, or even matters concerning the Kitchen Garden.
The most bothersome among them was that dark, unidentifiable object, but I tried not to show it.
From Noir’s attitude, it seemed there was nothing I could understand right now.
And I couldn’t very well distrust Noir either.
“Then shall we clock out now?”
“What are you saying?”
“Huh?”
“Can’t you see outside? Owner? The sun is rising.”
Noir lifted her soft, gel-like paw and pointed out the window.
Beyond it, between the Building Forest, a red sun was peeking its head out.
Right, morning had come again.
That thing called morning.
And what that meant was….
“Aren’t you going to prepare for opening?”
“No… what time is it already….”
The life of a self-employed business owner was always this exhausting.
* * *
“Owner! I’m here!”
“Ah. Welcome? Haeryang?”
After finally finishing opening preparations by staying up all night and greeting a few early customers, Haeryang arrived.
This shop, which was originally mine alone, was gradually gaining people I could call family.
First Noir, and now Haeryang.
“But Owner, are you alright?”
“Yes? Me?”
“Your complexion looks quite poor….”
“Ah. I ended up staying up all night somehow. Haha. But you came quite early?”
“Oh. Yes… there’s nothing to do being alone at home….”
I tried to change the subject out of embarrassment, but a darker story came out instead.
Noir, who had been listening quietly beside me, let out a noticeably heavy sigh, so I glared at her once before continuing.
“Here, take this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s our bakery uniform. I’m not sure if it’ll fit, but you’re an employee now, after all.”
What I handed to Haeryang was the uniform I’d designed for our bakery back when I was burning with passion during the opening phase.
A white shirt, brown pants, and a matching checkered beret—I’d prepared the whole set.
Of course, that enthusiasm didn’t last long.
What employees would wear a uniform when we didn’t even have customers coming in?
“But now we actually have a use for it. Ha ha.”
“Wow. It’s so pretty….”
Given that I had questionable fashion sense, the uniform I’d designed couldn’t possibly be truly beautiful.
Yet there was genuine sincerity in Haeryang’s words.
Feeling oddly embarrassed, I cleared my throat a few times before making my request.
“From now on, we’ll be selling beverages alongside our bread. I’ll handle the production, so I’d like to ask you to manage customer service overall.”
This was unavoidable.
No matter how vaguely Haeryang knew about my true nature, I couldn’t reveal the Witch’s Cottage.
Besides, making bread and beverages was something only I could do.
“Yes! Then I’ll go change into the uniform first!”
“The restroom is over there.”
Haeryang hadn’t come here to learn the trade in the first place.
She simply wanted to receive a regular supply of bread on the condition that she’d be helpful here.
“Hmm. Maybe I should upgrade the Salt Bread a bit more. Something that clears the mind.”
“Your abilities aren’t nearly ready for that yet. Develop your power first.”
“I know, I know.”
I brushed off another blunt reality check and was filling the empty space left by the sold-out pumpernickel when it happened.
Ding~
“Welcome… Oh? You’re back again?”
“I’m here! Owner!”
Ye-seul, whose YouTube channel name was Roro, had arrived.
She’d become such a regular that anyone could tell, and she began browsing the display case with familiar ease, examining the breads.
“Seriously, they all look so delicious, don’t they?”
“Ha ha. I’m happy to hear you say that.”
“I’m not just saying it! The Salt Bread! I almost cried eating it, I’m telling you!”
Ye-seul answered while placing both hands on her slender waist—the kind that could burn through 2 million won in a single meal without breaking a sweat.
Her cheeks were puffed out adorably, showing that she’d grown quite comfortable in this space and with me.
Perhaps that’s why.
“Ugh. I’ve been having a lot on my mind lately.”
“Hmm? On your mind? Isn’t your YouTube channel doing well these days?”
“My YouTube is doing really well. Not just well—it’s doing incredibly well. But that’s exactly why I’m worried.”
She began sharing her concerns so easily.
The atmosphere made it seem like I had to ask, so I carefully opened my mouth.
“If it’s not too intrusive, may I ask what’s troubling you?”
“It’s not really a big deal. Have you heard of the Red Queen Effect?”
“Ah. The Red Queen from Alice in Wonderland?”
“To be precise, it’s from Through the Looking-Glass.”
The Red Queen, a character from Through the Looking-Glass.
In the story, she said this:
‘You have to keep running to stay in the same place.’
Just like that quote, when someone stagnates in one position while competitors advance, it becomes effectively the same as being left behind. I recall that this phenomenon was named after that character.
“YouTube is exactly like that. No matter how well things are going now, fresh ideas keep popping up somewhere. The strengths I have now might not remain strengths anymore.”
“Hmm. That does sound difficult….”
I understood.
Roro—or rather, Ye-seul’s advantage was her clean, hearty eating style.
Until now, many people had come to watch because of that unique charm, but there was no guarantee it would last forever.
So she was in a position where she had to discover new strengths.
“So you’re thinking about new content, then?”
“Exactly! It’s still about eating, but how I eat has become the important part.”
“Hmm… that does sound difficult….”
From my perspective, someone who’d only baked bread her whole life, it was far too difficult.
And it wasn’t easy to offer advice carelessly either.
As I sat there stroking my chin for a while, it was Ye-seul who first lightened the mood.
“Well! I should think about it! But first, let me eat something delicious!”
“What would you like?”
“From here to here!”
“Understood.”
True to her reputation as a big eater, her ordering method was quite intuitive.
I was busily packing bread for her, who had ordered one of each type of bread displayed on one side of the counter.
“Owner! I changed and came back…. Huh?”
“Ah. Haeryang, you’re here?”
“Haeryang? Who’s that? Owner?”
Ye-seul, who had just encountered Haeryang as she returned to the bakery after changing clothes.
Just as I thought I should clarify things, Haeryang reacted first.
“I’m a huge fan!”
“Huh?”
“You’re Roro! I’ve been subscribed since the early days! I even found out about this bakery job from watching your videos!”
“Wait, that… hold on….”
“Can you sign something for me?”
She thrust out a piece of paper from who knows where, her eyes sparkling with an enthusiasm I’d never seen before.
Perhaps it was thanks to the forceful energy that even made Ye-seul, who had some MBTI extrovert tendencies, hesitate.
“Ehehe….”
After receiving the autograph she wanted, Haeryang went to the counter and giggled to herself.
“You work here, don’t you?”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s your first day at work.”
“Not only is your YouTube channel doing well, but the Owner’s bakery is thriving too? And you’ve even hired staff.”
“Of course. I need things to go well for me too.”
To achieve my goal of spreading happiness through bread, I first need to be able to support myself.
“In that sense, I might be wrestling with the same concerns as you, Ye-seul.”
“You are, Owner?”
“Yes. Just as you’re thinking about new content, I’m pondering new menu items. Here, take this first. Everything’s all wrapped up.”
Of course, in my case, it’s to fulfill what the Quest demands.
Perhaps sensing a kinship in my words, Ye-seul nodded as she accepted the bread.
“It’s difficult.”
“It is. Oh, we’re selling coffee now too. Would you like to try some if you don’t mind?”
“Oh! That sounds great. Would it be okay if I ate here for a bit before leaving?”
“Of course. Haeryang will show you to that table over there.”
Success.
I’d naturally managed to sell coffee.
Now I need to think about what comes next.
Which potion I should use to help ease the worries Ye-seul currently carries.
It was right then that I was deliberating which of the various potions Miracle had given me to choose.
“Um… excuse me…”
“Yes?”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you mentioned having content concerns, so…”
“Oh. Yes. That’s right. Phew. My head’s been so cluttered with that lately. Hehe.”
Haeryang casually broached the subject as she guided her to the table.
Ye-seul, who was making light conversation in response, couldn’t have predicted it.
That Haeryang’s eyes were sparkling right now.
And that she was mobilizing all her abilities for the YouTuber she adored.
“I have a good idea… would it be alright if I shared it with you?”

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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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