I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 35

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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 35. An Unexpected Turn of Events (2)
“Oh my. My grandson has grown so much.”
“Of course I have. Where else would you find a child this tall?”
“Still, to this grandmother, you’ll always be a little runt.”
Her words rang true, and the way my Grandmother gazed at me was as if she were watching a young man who had just turned twenty, standing in his first suit for the very first time.
With a warmth that knew no bounds, my Grandmother spoke.
“It’s been so long since I’ve tasted truly delicious bread.”
“Well, of course. Who made it, after all?”
“Tsk tsk. That’s right. My grandson baked this bread with such skill. Indeed.”
At my words, my Grandmother broke into a broad smile and nodded her head.
Then, with eyes full of anticipation, she asked.
“But speaking of which, that young woman is quite something.”
“Pardon? Young woman?”
“That one, the young woman employee.”
“Oh? You mean Haeryang?”
“Yes. She really is beautifully made. Just like I was when I was young. Hehe. So how long have the two of you been together?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Objectively speaking, it was true that Haeryang was a beautiful person.
Regardless of gender, one could say she possessed an aesthetic beauty in her form.
Perhaps my Grandmother was concerned about my romantic cells, which had died from constantly baking bread, and that’s why she brought this up.
But unfortunately for her.
“No, she just enjoys bread, so we spend time together.”
“Couldn’t she like the person who makes the bread instead of the bread itself?”
“She really does come just for the bread, Grandmother.”
After all, she only needed Salt Bread that could solve her problem.
But how could I explain that?
As a result, my Grandmother’s project to marry off her grandson went into overdrive.
“So when are you setting the date?”
“Well…”
“How many children will you have? Oh my, I wonder if this grandmother can raise children again. I hear these days people aren’t having them anyway, which is good.”
“Grandmother!”
That’s not what this is.
Really.
* * *
The Hunter Association.
Even those who aren’t Hunters have heard of this place, which was established to support Hunters and resolve Gate-related issues.
And this support operates in multiple ways.
One could train their abilities here, and the trading of various byproducts obtained from within Gates also took place through the Hunter Association.
Furthermore, this was the very place that handled the arrest and investigation of some criminal Hunters who committed wrongdoings with their power.
That said, it wasn’t as if they only handled such large-scale operations.
The Hunter Association also operated various minor management services alongside their primary operations.
And the hunter who utilized these services the most was Park Jun-hyeong, an A-rank hunter known by the alias “Druid.”
“No matter what, this is just too large…”
Jun-hyeong’s assigned staff member and actual blood sister, Joon-hee, was currently wearing an expression of distress.
“I understand that he captures monsters due to his combat style…”
“It’s resonance, sister. Resonance. And from that moment on, they’re no longer monsters but friends.”
“Right. I understand that these ‘resonant’ ‘friends’ need a place to stay.”
Joon-hee, a Hunter Association staff member, adjusted her glasses as she spoke to Jun-hyeong.
Having followed an elite career path and accumulated impressive academic credentials and qualifications, why was she handling this kind of work?
The answer was simple.
“Remember when you brought a B-rank danger level snow leopard as a friend before and caused trouble?”
“I did bring it from the snowy field gate, but I didn’t know it would be so sensitive to heat.”
“You haven’t forgotten that the Association built a cold-maintenance facility for you because of that, right? So what do you think about now?”
The staff member pointed her finger backward as she spoke, and ultimately…
“A Death Worm?! I had to find out about such a critical matter from the news?! I was eating chicken and draft beer at home when that news came on! No, I was just about to take my first bite when the emergency call came in!”
【Kieeeeeeeeeek!】
She let out a scream of despair along with the Death Worm that Jun-hyeong had brought.
Of course, the Death Worm’s cry was one of contentment.
Because the Hunter Association had built a special facility to manage this creature, whose body length exceeded 10 meters.
“You could have at least told me before going to catch it! You just had to open the door to your room and say something! And how did you even catch it in the first place!”
“It’s a long story, but let’s just say luck and fortune were on my side. Haha!”
“Is this funny? Is it funny?! Even if the Association doesn’t say anything to you, they keep complaining to me about it! You know that!”
When Jun-hyeong first set out for the gate saying he would bring a new friend, Joon-hee hadn’t thought much of it.
No matter how often he brought various monsters from here and there, she never imagined the target would be a Death Worm.
But who could have known this would actually happen?
“I’m seriously going to die! Every time you bring a monster, I feel like my lifespan is cut short by five years!”
“You’re thirty now, and if it’s shortened by five years each time, you’ll be gone soon, won’t you?”
“Exactly! I feel like I’m already dead! You damn creature!”
The number of monsters Jun-hyeong had brought already exceeded fifty.
Of course, the Hunter Association wasn’t foolish enough to provide such preferential services to all hunters.
However, Jun-hyeong was an exception—first, because his rank was A-rank, and second, because the monsters he brought were all exceptionally rare and special creatures.
Therefore, even if it meant incurring expenses, the Association had no choice but to manage Jun-hyeong’s self-proclaimed friends for their ultimate goal of humanity’s peace.
And the only one being ground down in the process was Joon-hee, shackled by the bonds of blood relation.
“I wish you’d leave our parents’ house, you mama’s boy… Please, can’t you leave the Association’s cradle and go to another guild? At this point, I feel like I’ve done my part as your sister…”
“I have no intention of going anywhere except the Blue Dragon. Besides, it’s better that I stay with the Association where you are.”
“Just please disappear! Really, please!”
With Jun-hyeong’s level of ability, it was strange that other major guilds hadn’t scouted him.
Of course, there would be various losses incurred by bringing him in.
Just preparing a place for this Death Worm had cost the Association over a billion won.
But he was an A-rank hunter, after all.
One billion won was a bargain compared to its name and rank.
The problem was that Seung-hyun stubbornly insisted on joining only the Blue Dragon Guild.
And the Blue Dragon Guild had a structure where it exclusively recruited talent through direct scouting by the Guild Leader.
“I’m really sorry, but if I were Yu Ha-neul, the Blue Dragon Guild Leader, I’d never recruit a reckless hothead like you.”
“But I’m A-rank, though? You work for the Hunter Association, so you know. I’m super promising, right?”
“What good is being promising? You’re an attention-seeker and a troublemaker.”
“Still….”
“Park Jun-hyeong. I’ve been looking for you.”
A coldly sharp voice felt from behind my back.
I didn’t turn around, but anyone would have sensed this overwhelming presence.
A chill that cut through flesh and piercing sharpness.
“Y-Yu Ha-neul, Hunter?”
“I came to speak with Hunter Park Jun-hyeong and was guided here. And I unintentionally overheard your entire conversation, but fortunately that works out well.”
With the click-clack of her heels, Sky approached Seung-hyun and looked up at him, who was a head taller than her.
“To be honest, if I had only considered your abilities, I would have wanted to recruit you, but until now, I judged that you would have difficulty adapting to our guild.”
“Hmm….”
Even Seung-hyun hadn’t expected the Blue Dragon—the unshakeable number one guild with the largest scale among combat guilds—to speak of his personality in this way.
But the situation was different now.
“However, that has changed. Do you still have the intention to join our guild?”
“Yes? O-of course!”
“Then that’s fortunate. You’ll handle the contract with our legal team, and prepare yourself—we have somewhere to go right away.”
“Somewhere to go?”
“Um… I’m sorry, but….”
Left behind by the rapid-fire proceedings, a dazed Seung-hyun watched as Joon-hee hesitantly raised her hand and asked.
“Then how will managing those creatures work?”
【Kiiiiiiieeeeeek!】
The Death Worm still shrieked, seeming to be in excellent spirits.
Sky glanced at the creature briefly, then casually pulled a card from her pocket and handed it over as if it were nothing.
A pure white card filled entirely with white.
Joon-hee, who received it, could only read the text written on it as if mesmerized.
“H&G… Guild?”
“As of this moment, all expenses necessary for managing the monsters owned by Hunter Park Jun-hyeong will be covered by the H&G Guild. This is an agreement made with Maestro as well, and an official notice will be sent soon, so prepare yourselves.”
“What?”
“Then Hunter Seung-hyun, follow me.”
The moment he expressed his intention to join the Blue Dragon Guild, Sky spoke to him informally and left the room.
Even as Seung-hyun hurried after her, his mind was spinning wildly.
Why was the Blue Dragon, South Korea’s number one combat guild, suddenly recruiting him?
And what was this H&G Guild he’d never heard of before?
Moreover, Maestro was involved in this too?
Adrift in an endless stream of questions, the two were already speeding away in Sky’s car to somewhere unknown.
It was Sky who broke the silence that followed.
“Hunter Park Jun-hyeong.”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”
“I suspect you don’t fully understand the situation, but I have one question for you.”
“Please, ask me anything!”
Hadn’t the very thing I’d only dreamed about happened in just thirty minutes?
And now a part of that dream was asking me a question—how could I possibly refuse?
I resolved to answer whatever came my way.
Even if she’d asked about my lifelong status as a hopeless romantic who’d never held a woman’s hand, I would have answered—but the question she posed was something I never expected.
“The Death Worm. Did you truly accomplish that alone?”
“Hm!”
The car came to a stop at a red light.
I had said this at the press conference.
That though it took longer than expected, I had ultimately succeeded.
It was my way of being considerate.
A consideration toward my unknown benefactor, who was now in hiding inside the Gate, away from the world’s gaze.
I hadn’t lied.
People simply misunderstood on their own, praising me and thinking ‘How impressive that he captured the Death Worm alone!’
But Sky had seen through it.
“It would be impossible for someone of your skill to capture a Death Worm alone.”
“That is…”
“The Blue Dragon Guild has stages that must be passed to recruit talent. One of them is investigation—not just combat ability, but an investigation into your entire daily life. Combat requires comrades you can entrust your life to, after all. Through that process, I learned something: you’re more loose-lipped than you realize.”
Sky didn’t mince words, openly revealing that she’d investigated me.
But hearing this, I couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.
I wondered if she’d heard the things I’d blurted out while drunk with friends.
No, surely not.
There’s no way she could have heard that.
That’s what I thought at the time.
“You used bread?”
“Gasp!”
“Then I’d guess the Candy House was simply placed inside the Gate. A being made of smoke must have given you the bread.”
“H-how did you…?”
There was no hiding it.
As if she were pulling out memories and reading them, Sky was recounting everything I’d experienced with ease.
Seeing my reaction, Sky chuckled softly and murmured.
“So Maestro was right after all…”
“How… how did you know?”
“Because I experienced it too.”
“Eh?”
The moment the light changed, Sky’s car shot forward with a roar.
Soon after pulling up in front of the Miracle Guild, my destination, I turned off the engine and spoke.
“I can’t share any further details. If you want them, I’ll need to set one condition.”
“What condition is that?”
“That you never breathe a word about this matter. And everything you experience from here on out as well.”
“Ah… I understand.”
“Then let’s go.”
Pushing through the main entrance of the Miracle Guild and ascending to the top floor by elevator, the Guild Leader’s Office came into view.
I opened the door without hesitation and stepped inside, with Seung-hyun following behind me, his large frame moving with unexpected timidity.
The people seated before him were beyond his expectations.
“Oh. You’ve arrived earlier than I thought.”
“Fortunately, they were receptive to the guild membership.”
The figure in a pure white suit, matching the white mask, was none other than Maestro.
“So… did you experience it directly as well…?”
Her manner of speech and behavior seemed remarkably timid, yet her firepower was overwhelming—Gyu-ri, now the Guild Leader of the guild known as ‘Dragon Hill,’ the ‘Flame Saint.’
And Yu Ha-neul, the Guild Leader of the Blue Dragon Guild, who had solidified her position as the strongest by clearing the Gangneung Gate of South Korea at this very moment.
Three powerhouses gathered in one place.
And all their attention was focused on Seung-hyun.
“So what kind of bread was it?”
“Pardon?”
“What kind of bread it was. You must have received or eaten some bread, didn’t you?”
Specifically, what kind of bread he had received.
Faced with the overwhelming presence of three S-rank Hunters, all Seung-hyun, an A-rank Hunter, could do was give one answer.
“S-spicy bread….”
“Spicy bread?”
“Yes… incredibly spicy bread… *smack*….”
Even Seung-hyun himself couldn’t explain why he’d licked his lips mid-sentence as the taste came back to him.

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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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