I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 39

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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 39. Intertwined Fate (1)
“Really? Truly? Thank you so much! Thank you!”
“Meow?”
I hung up the phone after repeatedly expressing my gratitude for the call that came in while I had the bakery on break.
“What’s the matter, Owner?”
“Grandmother’s condition has improved significantly!”
The good news arrived about a week after I delivered the bread to Grandmother.
The nursing home where she was admitted informed me that her condition had improved considerably.
Until now, she had only been lying in her hospital room, but now with the help of assistive devices, she was even taking short walks.
“That’s wonderful. Owner. Now do you understand the Witch’s power?”
“I already knew.”
“Meow. Good that you knew.”
Noir wagged his tail proudly as if he had done it himself.
Though he looked quite amusing, I nodded in agreement since I felt the same way.
After all, it was thanks to the Witch’s power that Grandmother’s health had improved.
“And the bakery doing this well right now too.”
The bakery continued its upward trajectory.
Now I couldn’t imagine a day without customers.
If anything, there were so many that it was becoming a concern.
The line that once stretched outside the shop now overflowed, so I eventually bought a ticket machine for the waiting list.
And that wasn’t all.
“Pre-orders have increased significantly too.”
Perhaps because customers who came in person witnessed so many people, inquiries for reservations have been pouring in lately.
Unable to bear watching bread sell out right in front of them while waiting in line, customers began competing fiercely to secure their bread in advance.
“The quantity is just too much.”
The problem was that this volume was difficult to handle at normal capacity.
Since all the bread was made at the Witch’s Cottage, I had to make everything myself.
But when I added up the pre-orders, the bread for the bakery display, and the backup stock, it easily exceeded 250 pieces.
“I probably couldn’t have managed this without the Witch’s power.”
“Right. It was an impossible amount to handle. Without the oven, I really couldn’t have done anything.”
The magical oven where I could adjust baking time as I pleased.
Without it, the insane bottleneck would have made it impossible to manage.
Moreover, I could dramatically shorten the dough fermentation time using fairy wing dust.
“And the new menu is getting a good response. I think we made a good move.”
Noir offered quite logical analysis while licking his front paw.
Launching the new menu while the craze for the cheese bread called “Dragon Claw” continued was indeed a masterstroke.
I had researched the chestnut butter cream bread I originally made for Grandmother and developed it into a new menu item.
“Adding more fuel before the fire dies down is important business.”
“When I see things like this, I see your businessman side again, Owner.”
“I am a businessman. I even have a business registration certificate.”
No matter how much I decided to bake bread for everyone’s happiness, I still need to eat and survive to share that happiness in the first place.
“Anyway, thanks to all this, I’ll be able to upgrade the Witch’s Cottage smoothly.”
“The overall quality has improved.”
“I didn’t expect it to get this good all at once, though.”
After resolving various Quests and securing BP from the increased number of customers, every bit of it went into upgrading the structures within the Witch’s Cottage.
“The cauldron has really improved. It finally has the function I wanted.”
The most remarkable advancement was the Witch’s Cauldron, which had risen to Lv. 2.
With the level increase, a new function called ‘Remote Creation’ had been added.
“A function that lets me create additional items from a distance and manifest them exactly where I want them.”
“I heard Hae-rang mention it’s been a huge help for beverage sales.”
“She told me about it too.”
The person who benefited most from this change was Hae-rang, who worked part-time at the bakery.
After this transformation occurred, she said something to me like this.
‘Is this also one of your abilities, Owner?’
‘Well… yes, I suppose so?’
‘That’s amazing! Of course, now I won’t be able to use the skills I learned, but…’
I felt uncomfortable using her, someone who even had a barista certification, as if she were merely a worker in a beverage production process.
“Anyway, today was still an exhausting and grueling day.”
After finishing grooming himself, Noir yawned so wide his mouth nearly split in two as he spoke.
He seemed incredibly tired.
It couldn’t be helped.
Today was the ‘day off’ that Hae-rang had mentioned.
By now, she was probably having some deep conversation with her older sister.
In any case, because of that, today Noir and I had to work like madmen.
I handled customer service, baked bread, took it out, arranged displays, and so on, while Noir controlled the pace outside so that waiting customers could be comfortable.
And now, after working so hard, we were finally taking a break.
“Don’t talk like the day is over. There’s still a second round coming.”
“Meow! Don’t hit me with such harsh facts! Owner! I was already doing my best to avoid thinking about it!”
Noir waved his paws dismissively, his expression turning gloomy.
But contrary to his wishes, people were already beginning to gather in front of the bakery door, forming a line.
All of them wore happy expressions, their faces full of anticipation about which bread they would get to eat.
I couldn’t let them down.
Today feels like it’s going to be a long day too.
Beep beep beep beep beep!
Soon the alarm sounded.
It was time to work.
“Noir. Let’s go.”
“Meow… I think I’ve ended up with the wrong owner this time… This is harder than my previous, previous, previous owner…”
“What kind of work did that person do?”
“He was a hero who saved his homeland in a war that lasted 100 years. Back then, I thought there couldn’t be anything harder than that, but…”
I briefly thought of the female hero who had saved France, but decided to keep my mouth shut.
Anyway, now you understand, Noir.
Surviving as a self-employed business owner in South Korea is harder than waging war.
“Let’s get ready.”
“Uuugghhh….”
Noir let out a sound of complete exhaustion as she got up and headed out the door.
The moment she stepped outside, she was engulfed in affectionate hands from customers, yet she naturally managed the waiting line—and I switched the sign to Open.
“For now, the next six customers can come in!”
“It’s open!”
“Ugh. It’s cold.”
“This looks delicious! Right, oppa?”
“Yeah. I heard this place is the real deal?”
Customers stepped into the bakery, each sharing their impressions.
Some grabbed baguettes, while others continued the still-trending Noir Latte Challenge.
There was a woman picking up pumpernickel for her health, and a couple choosing the new chestnut butter cream bread.
“Thank you! Have a good day! I’ll help the next customer!”
But the person who caught my eye most was a woman with a blunt bob haircut.
She was short, and with that hairstyle and appearance, she looked like she might be underage.
Yet she wore a perfectly tailored suit that didn’t quite fit her like a true professional.
“Hmm… this one is… um….”
She kept hesitating about which bread to pick, repeatedly letting out deep sighs.
I occasionally saw customers like this.
They wanted to take everything, but for some reason, they could only afford a specific quantity of bread.
In such cases, they’d linger in front of the display like her, eyes wandering from one bread to another.
“Is there something you need?”
“Why am I doing this… Ah! No… um… that is….”
She startled at my words and trailed off.
My prediction seemed to be right, so I continued.
“This section here is hard bread varieties, and that section over there is good for meal replacements. If you’re looking for snacks, that corner over there….”
“Ah… no, that’s not it… um… forgive me, but….”
“No need to apologize. What can I help you with?”
She seemed to have some complicated situation she was struggling to explain.
After fidgeting with the hem of her suit in front of me for a while, she finally spoke.
“I’d like to buy ten of each type of bread you have here….”
“Pardon?”
“Ah… is that not possible?”
My prediction had been completely off.
It wasn’t that there was a limit on quantity—it was that the quantity she wanted was insanely large.
For me, a customer like this was absolutely….
“Welcome.”
“Pardon?”
“Oh. No, it’s certainly possible. The issue is just the quantity—it would be difficult to prepare everything right away. If you could leave me your name and contact information, I can prepare them in advance. Would that work for you?”
“Ah! Yes! Thank you so much! Then this…”
Only then did the woman break into a bright smile and bow her head respectfully.
She rummaged through her inner pocket and produced a business card, which I accepted.
[Hunter Association Special Investigation Team 1 – Team Leader Kim Ri-a]
How on earth could someone with that appearance be a team leader?
That was my first thought.
What came next was the phrase “Hunter Association Special Investigation.”
“The Hunter Association?”
“Ah… well… that! It’s nothing suspicious at all! It’s just… yes! The bread! Word got around that the bread is delicious, so I wanted to distribute it to all my team members…”
“Ah, yes. I understand.”
If that’s the case, I can understand it.
I’d heard that Hunters consume a lot of energy and eat large quantities as a result.
And if she truly handles special investigations, she’d use her body even more, so it made perfect sense.
As I pocketed the business card and was about to inform her of the bread’s production schedule.
“Owner! I’m here!”
The voice of Haeryang coming through the back door.
I could have sworn she said today was her day off.
Did she come to play with her older sister or something?
Sure enough, Haeryang appeared waving her hand slightly, dressed in casual clothes unlike her usual attire.
However, her expression was not bright.
Not that she looked sad, either.
She wore an expression of deep apology mixed with discomfort.
When I saw the woman appearing behind her, I couldn’t help but freeze.
“Is this it? The place where you work?”
“Uh… sister! But you shouldn’t just come in like this…”
“I need to confirm it myself.”
A familiar voice.
A familiar presence.
And the familiar undulation of mana as well.
“You, who wouldn’t even leave the house, got a job. I had to see it for myself.”
“No! I explained everything back then… I knew it would come to this, but…”
“And you said she helped you in many ways. If that’s the case, it’s only proper etiquette to express your gratitude. Are you the owner here?”
Click. Click.
Sharp and piercing footsteps, like thin ice cracking beneath weight.
An unfaltering gait without a moment’s hesitation.
She approached me in one stride, extended her hand for a handshake, and spoke.
“Hello. I’m Yu Ha-neul, older sister to Yu Hae-rang.”

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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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