I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 29

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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 29. Dragon’s Claw and Cheese (3)
Halapino cheese bread.
A literal translation would be pepper cheese bread.
This is a common bread found in supermarkets and bakeries throughout America and Mexico.
As such, there are numerous and diverse variations of this bread.
“First of all, the characteristics of Taegohua align perfectly with Halapino.”
Although Halapino tends toward a sharp, piquant heat rather than a mouth-searing burn, it’s a pepper known for its clean aftertaste.
It’s a situation where the flavor perfectly matches what I originally wanted.
“Now we use a cheese that can appropriately temper this spiciness.”
Typically, variations are made using either Cheddar or Jack cheese at this stage.
Cheddar cheese, produced in Somerset, develops an increasingly sharp and piquant umami flavor as it ages, which brings out the overall richness.
Jack cheese, on the other hand, handles texture and elasticity through its softness and melting properties.
“Here, I’m thinking of blending these two appropriately.”
“I see. So what about the beverage?”
“I’ll make a latte. Milk is the answer to spiciness.”
For that purpose, I’ll use an appropriate potion to achieve the latte’s intended effect.
“First, I’ll need to make the bread.”
“Hmm… truthfully, I can’t quite picture it yet. I think I’ll understand once I see it.”
“That’s only natural. Let’s make it right away then.”
Since I already knew the original recipe, attempting it wasn’t difficult.
First, I knead strong flour, yeast, and salt together with lukewarm water and olive oil.
“And I’ll add a bit of Rosemary here…”
“You’re adding herbs as well?”
“Just having spiciness and the savory richness of cheese doesn’t make the bread perfect. I’ll be adding other things later too.”
This is the process of infusing the dough with Rosemary’s fragrance from the start.
After letting the dough proof for about an hour until it roughly doubles in size…
“Now I’ll release the gas once and then stretch it out flat.”
“This is where the Taegohua and cheese go in.”
“Right.”
I dice the Cheddar and Jack cheese in the appropriate ratio, then scatter them generously but seemingly effortlessly over the proofed dough.
There’s a need for this much to go in, after all.
“This stuff is incredibly spicy.”
I muttered while looking at the Taegohua, now fully mature and displaying a blood-red hue.
“It wasn’t meant to be eaten in the first place.”
“Then why can it be cultivated in the Kitchen Garden?”
“The Previous Witches used that pepper for dealing with enemies.”
“Dealing with enemies? How exactly… ah…”
Before I could finish asking, I could infer what method they’d used.
They must have utilized its incredibly spicy properties.
Perhaps they used it to incapacitate enemies in a manner similar to tear gas.
“Of course, if it were just the raw spiciness, it would be difficult to handle, so I went through several processing steps. I dried it thoroughly under the scorching heat of the burning earth, crushed it, and then extracted only the pain using the Witch’s Cauldron.”
“Uh, um….”
“And when you sprinkle or inject it into an enemy, the creature can’t endure the terrible pain and….”
“No. That’s enough. I don’t need to hear any more.”
“Meow. But the really amazing Achievement comes next. You don’t understand, Owner.”
Noir casually licked his front paw while recounting a tale of utter cruelty.
Was this really the same creature who had jumped in shock when I first mentioned making spicy bread?
“Anyway, I slice it like this….”
Regardless, the cooking had to continue.
I grabbed a few freshly harvested and thoroughly washed Taegohua peppers, then sliced them thinly.
Then I added them to the dough from before.
“You’re really putting that in…. Owner. You really are a cruel witch….”
“You’re one to talk.”
Leaving the grimacing Noir behind, I proceeded to the next step.
With cheese and peppers already in the spread dough, there was only one thing left to do.
Splat
“Meow! What are you doing!”
Noir let out a shriek as I roughly gathered up the dough that had been so neatly spread out and kneaded it mercilessly.
“This bread needs to have a rustic quality to it.”
Halapino cheese bread is a classic common people’s bread.
To give such humble bread elegance and aesthetic refinement would only diminish its true value.
“And if you’re really concerned about the shape, you can always change it later.”
“Is that so?”
“You can roll it up from the spread state to make it that way too.”
Though my personal preference is this roughly kneaded form, of course.
Next, I’d brush olive oil on top and generously sprinkle the herbs thyme and oregano.
This way, I could capture both a fresh, vibrant aroma and an exotic feel.
“Oh, I almost forgot. This is really important.”
Using the grinder I’d set beside me, I casually sprinkled coarsely ground black pepper over the top.
This added a sharp, peppery taste that complemented the volatile spiciness of the Taegohua.
“Normally you’d bake this at 200 degrees for about 30 minutes, but I don’t need to do that, do I.”
Let me say it once more.
Every chance I get, I should say it.
The Witch’s Oven—long may it reign.
Ding
[Taegohua Cheese Bread.]
▷ Bread baked with generous amounts of Taegohua peppers and cheese along with herbs. Recommended for pilgrims in need of pain. However, what comes after is not guaranteed, so be warned!
▷ Effect: Pain Sensitivity Maximized
[A Person Must Use Their Head]
▷ You, who are learning the Witch’s techniques! Someone awaits your true capabilities. Unfold the Witch’s nature to your heart’s content!
▷ Deliver Taegohua Cheese Bread to ???, ??? 0/1
▷ Reward: 700 BP
“That turned out well.”
Pouring genuine care into my work had become effortless by now.
Especially since this time I had a clear purpose—creating content for Ye-seul’s YouTube channel—which made it even easier.
Thanks to that, the bread emerging from the properly functioning Oven possessed an almost ethereal beauty.
The cheese that had flowed through the cracks during baking had formed a crust that clung like scorched rice, creating a delightfully crispy appearance.
And when I cracked it open, wisps of steam rose from within.
“It’s strange—there’s no spicy aroma at all.”
Though the Taegohua was clearly visible, embedded throughout the bread, no pungent heat wafted from it.
Instead, I detected only the savory warmth of wheat, the rich and creamy fragrance of cheese, and the fresh, herbaceous notes of various seasonings.
“But be warned, Owner. That will be pure agony!”
“Wipe the drool from your mouth before you speak, Noir.”
“Slurp… slurrrp!”
If even Noir was drooling uncontrollably while saying such things, that spoke volumes.
But he was right.
There was absolutely no way I was eating this plain.
“I might actually die if I did.”
“Isn’t that why you’re making a beverage too?”
“Right. If I only sold this, I’d definitely get sued.”
Recalling the intense heat I’d experienced from the Taegohua earlier, the lawsuits would probably be numerous.
Swallowing those thoughts, I headed toward the Apothecary.
With Haeryang’s assistance, I proceeded through the process of brewing the Witch’s espresso exactly as before.
“You said it was a new beverage, but it looks identical to the last one.”
“That’s where it gets different. I’m using this.”
My secret weapon for neutralizing the spiciness was milk—the first ingredient.
After warming the milk, I used a frother to whip it to just the right consistency, creating a delicate layer of fine foam.
Though I had to be careful not to overdo it, or it would become a cappuccino.
“The ratio is 1:4.”
This ratio was something Haeryang had taught me.
When I mentioned wanting to make a latte, she’d explained that given the concentration and flavor profile of the Witch’s espresso I could currently produce, this ratio would be ideal.
“Pour the espresso into a warmed cup, then do this…”
I tilted the cup slightly and slowly poured the warmed milk I’d prepared earlier.
First, I created a height differential to pour the milk beneath the espresso, then I floated it across the surface to create a soft layer of white foam.
“And finally, with this!”
The second secret weapon to neutralize the spiciness.
It was honey.
Using its distinctive rich sweetness to suppress the heat, I drizzled a thin layer of honey across the foam.
This drizzle technique allowed the honey’s flavor to shine from the very first sip, and the presentation looked beautiful too.
“Is that your idea, Owner?”
“That’s not possible. I’m a complete novice when it comes to coffee. Haeryang helped me with it.”
Still, the skilled handiwork I’d developed baking bread hadn’t gone anywhere.
[Pain Relief Honey Latte.]
▷ A ‘Potion Latte’ infused with Pain Relief Potion. With milk and honey, it can nullify pain sensations in the mouth alone.
▷ Effect: Pain Relief
[You have devised a new set menu.]
[Give the Poison, Give the Cure]
▷ (Taegohua Cheese Bread + Pain Relief Honey Latte)
▷ Additional Effect: Nullifies digestive system damage
▷ Deliver Taegohua Cheese Bread and Pain Relief Honey Latte to ??? 0/1
“So the name follows the potion that’s been used.”
Since the purpose was clear, the potion I used had to be determined accordingly.
That was precisely the Pain Relief Potion.
From what I’d heard, it displayed superior effects compared to ordinary painkillers and had no side effects whatsoever.
For instance, a Hunter who had suffered a severe wound with their arm severed took this potion and managed to escape on their own after completing the battle, even receiving reattachment surgery afterward.
Of course, this approach was only possible because Miracle had provided potions of various types.
“I’ve received quite a bit of help.”
“Meow. That may be true, but focus on the fact that the Quest hasn’t been completed yet. Owner.”
“You’re right. I’m puzzled by this too.”
From the start, I’d created this combination for Ye-seul.
The Oven and the pot, recognizing my sincere intention, had completed both the bread and the beverage.
“But why isn’t Ye-seul’s name appearing?”
The status window had acknowledged the combination I’d made, but it refused to acknowledge the recipient.
As a result, all the other question marks had been filled in, but the target remained blank.
“Does this mean she hasn’t appeared yet?”
“Wouldn’t that probability be quite high?”
“Hmm…”
“She’ll appear eventually if you wait. So why not try testing it first?”
“Testing it?”
“Why are you playing dumb? Don’t you know that tasting the baked bread is also a Witch’s duty?”
Noir, no longer hiding her intentions, whined about me tasting the bread.
Of course, I’d been planning to do that anyway.
No matter what the status window said about completion, if it didn’t meet my standards, I was prepared to remake it.
“I’m a bit nervous about this ‘pain sensation maximization’ thing…”
“You have the latte, so what’s there to worry about? And no matter how much you agonize, it’s meaningless. You were going to taste it anyway, weren’t you?”
“That’s true enough.”
I steeled my resolve and took a bite of the bread I’d sliced earlier.
The first sensation I felt was the crispy texture.
Along with the savory richness of the cheese that had crisped up as it melted, the aroma of herbs embroidered across my entire mouth.
What followed next was the moist, tender crumb of the bread, saturated with moisture.
It was truly well-baked bread.
Even though I baked it myself, it was delicious enough to earn that praise.
But that was only until now.
“Ugh… ugh….”
“I knew this would happen.”
“Aaaaaaahhhhh!”
It was the same extreme pain I’d experienced once before, but I couldn’t suppress my screams.
There was no way to endure it otherwise.
But unlike last time, this time I had an escape route….
“Ugh… gulp, gulp!”
I desperately grabbed the latte and poured it into my mouth.
It still retained some warmth, but there was no reason to hesitate.
It was the moment the first sip coated my mouth.
“Ah… phew… oh, this is amazing?”
What I felt immediately after drinking was a warm sweetness.
At the same time, the raging flames vanished, and the pain washed away as if it had never existed.
“This works. I’m certain. You should eat some too, right? Noir?”
“That… uh… no…. I don’t think I need to eat it. Master….”
“Why? You looked like you wanted to eat it earlier?”
“Thanks to you, Master, the desire to eat it has completely vanished….”
“Noir, do you know what?”
I held up the remaining half piece of bread and looked at Noir while asking.
Noir’s tail fur bristled as he looked at me, and I declared to him:
“Changing your mind is bad behavior.”
“You can change it though… oof!”
I’m sorry, Noir.
You’re right—changing your mind isn’t actually bad.
I just wanted you to experience this terrible… no, revolutionary taste too.
That’s why I personally fed you the bread, isn’t it?
“Ugh… munch munch… it seems okay actually….”
“Right? It’s delicious, isn’t it?”
“… it’s not! Master! Meowwww!”
Sure enough, even after just one bite, Noir was bouncing around and causing a ruckus.
The latte that could soothe the pain was right in front of his eyes, but he couldn’t regain his senses from the spiciness that had arrived.
I was rushing about trying to hand him the latte when it happened.
Ding~
“That sound definitely came from here! I heard the cry of a powerful monster… wait… what?”
One person entered through the door.
Only Hunters with access to the Gate could enter through the Witch’s Cottage’s Main Gate.
Then this person must be the owner of this bread.
“Welcome. Please, have a seat….”
“Kyaaaaaahhhhh! Owner!”
“… and I ask that you wait a moment.”
“Ah… yes… okay….”
First, I needed to calm down the rampaging Noir.

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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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