I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 50

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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 50. A Taste of Hell (2)
The incident at the Gongju Research Complex sent shockwaves throughout the entire nation.
The complete annihilation of one of the country’s premier Gate research centers.
That alone was enough to capture everyone’s attention.
And there were plenty of other reasons to be interested as well.
“The casualties… are almost nonexistent?”
“Yes, given the scale of destruction, the number is certainly minimal.”
The key point was that the death toll was extraordinarily low.
Of course, there were victims, but compared to the complete destruction of such a massive research complex, the number was remarkably small.
“And the reason for that is precisely this…”
“That’s correct, Chairman.”
Geomseong and Sim Gyu-hwan spoke while reviewing the footage, a cigarette dangling from his lips.
Body camera footage from the Special Investigation Team 1, led by Ria, his trusted subordinate.
What was captured in that footage was something utterly beyond belief.
“To manipulate creatures from within a Gate so freely like that. I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”
“It was limited to plants, though.”
“Regardless, it’s still an extraordinary ability.”
The plants covering the truck were all creatures native to the Gate.
Something unknown that wielded them as freely as one’s own limbs, even controlling their growth and transformation at will.
Gyu-hwan opened his mouth as he watched the Black Mist sitting upon what resembled a throne woven from vines.
“With that level of ability, it’s at least S-rank. And they say it even scattered Elixir?”
“Yes. Thanks to that, the casualties were kept to an absolute minimum.”
“Heh… this is giving me a headache…”
Another S-rank Hunter appearing after the Flame Saint Joo Gyu-ri.
And seeing how they used Elixir like water, it was reasonable to predict a connection to the Maestro of Miracle Guild.
But that wasn’t the only thing troubling Gyu-hwan.
“They’re not a registered Hunter?”
“No. There is no Hunter with those abilities registered in our database.”
“So they’re an unregistered Hunter, then. Hmm…”
Registering as a Hunter did come with the obligation to close Gates, but the rights that came with it were invaluable.
Beyond the profits, it served as proof of dedication to the nation, and came with additional monthly government subsidies.
“Yet they chose not to register. That means one of two things. Either they’re committing crimes with those abilities…”
“Or they could be an eccentric who has no interest in money. Isn’t that true of you as well, Chairman?”
“Either way, they’re difficult to deal with. That’s why the President keeps pestering me. Ha!”
“That doesn’t sound like bragging.”
Ria answered with her eyes tightly shut at Gyu-hwan’s laughter.
Gyu-hwan stared at her expression for a moment, then crushed out his cigarette between his fingers and spoke.
“So this mysterious Hunter has a connection to Yu Ha-neul.”
“Yes. According to the note we received, that appears to be the case.”
The note had been handed over by a citizen who had acted alongside the mysterious Hunter.
‘We will provide additional compensation to the Ice Hunter of the Gangneung Gate for the purification salt,’ they said.
“Something definitely happened at the Gangneung Gate.”
“Should we investigate?”
“Discreetly. Conduct the investigation with utmost caution.”
“Is there a particular reason we must do so?”
No matter how exceptional Yu Ha-neul was as a Hunter, she couldn’t compare to Geomseong in his prime.
If Yu Ha-neul’s blade could tear through the earth, Geomseong’s blade could slice through the day sky itself and reveal the night beneath.
Besides, wasn’t it the Association’s responsibility to oversee and authorize all guild actions?
However, Gyu-hwan’s thoughts were different.
“If it were just a matter involving that friend Yu Ha-neul alone, that would be one thing.”
“Pardon?”
“The assault on the Gangneung Gate was conducted jointly by two guilds—Blue Dragon and Miracle. There’s no way Maestro wouldn’t know what happened inside.”
Moreover, let’s think carefully about the names of the people mentioned just now.
Yu Ha-neul, Maestro, Joo Gyu-ri.
Aren’t these names somehow familiar?
“Excluding Hunter Park Jun-hyeong, they’re all members of the H&G Guild.”
“That may be true, but…”
“Without knowing what their purpose is, openly digging for information would be dangerous. So, what are they all doing?”
“Hunter Yu Ha-neul is clearing gates as usual, Maestro is organizing the guild internally, and Hunter Joo Gyu-ri has gone out to clear a gate.”
“Ah, that shipwreck gate you mentioned.”
I don’t know what H&G’s true purpose is, but the stated reason for their formation was to resolve small-scale gates with high danger ratings.
For that purpose, it seemed Hunter Joo Gyu-ri was heading to the B+ rank ‘Shipwreck Gate.’
“The only monsters that appear are skeletons, but the terrain is unfavorable. Miasma continuously pours out.”
“It’s a place that would be difficult to clear without Hunter Joo Gyu-ri.”
A gate where monsters pour out infinitely, and as time passes, the increasingly thick miasma drains one’s strength.
Having entered such a place alone, it would likely take some time before she returns.
“What else are you investigating?”
“Ah… that… you mean the bread?”
“Yes. That.”
“No… well… we are investigating it, but…”
Ria’s expression, which had been serious until moments ago, visibly crumpled.
Gyu-hwan didn’t miss that look.
“What. Do you think it’s a waste of time?”
“Ah… no, that’s not it!”
“Don’t lie. It’s obvious that’s what you think.”
“May I speak honestly?”
“You were already planning to. Go ahead and speak.”
“I simply don’t understand the intention behind ordering us to collect bread. And why the Special Investigation Team 1 was tasked with such a matter…”
The Association’s Special Investigation Team 1 was a group responsible for various crimes committed by Hunters and matters related to high-risk gates.
Yet the order that came directly from the Association Director to such a unit was merely to collect and investigate bread from across the nation.
“Of course, I’m carrying out the order. I’m acquiring and analyzing everything from large corporations to neighborhood bakeries without discrimination. However…”
“It’s to monitor the H&G Guild’s movements.”
“Pardon?”
“They’re acting strange. Let’s be honest about it.”
The movements of the H&G Guild, which gathered Korea’s representative powerhouses, were undeniably suspicious to anyone observing them.
Why would such capable individuals be buying up bread?
“There’s definitely something going on. I suspect it’s because of the Gates. Even if it’s not that, they must have some plan in mind, right? Maestro isn’t a fool or an idiot.”
“Then…”
“Keep proceeding. Who knows?”
Gyu-hwan pulled another cigarette from his pocket and lit it with nothing but the friction of his fingers as he continued speaking.
“That unregistered Hunter from the Gongju Research Complex might be connected to this too.”
* * *
“Achoo!”
“Is something the matter, Owner?”
“No… I think I’m catching a cold.”
I rubbed my itchy nose and rolled my stiff shoulders.
Then I naturally turned my attention to the TV playing in the background.
– The mysterious fire that occurred at the Gongju Research Complex last week has caused major problems in Hunter equipment research, hasn’t it?
– Yes, that’s correct. At this research complex located in Gongju, various studies were being conducted to help Hunters conquer Gates…
Beep
– The authorities are doing their best to investigate the cause of the fire, and the estimated damage is approximately…
Beep
– The entire nation is in an uproar over what happened at the Gongju Research Complex, right? Our team is specially! heading to Gongju to verify it directly…
Whirrrr.
I finally turned off the TV.
Every channel was repeating the same story regardless of which one I switched to.
Even though it had been a week, the news that the Gongju Research Complex had suffered near-total destruction was quite shocking.
So it made sense that every channel, from news broadcasts to tabloid-style information outlets, was covering this story.
“No wonder people are saying news viewership ratings are higher than entertainment show ratings.”
“Isn’t that understandable? It seems humans consider it a very important facility, Owner.”
“How did you know that?”
“YouTube has been talking about nothing but that lately. Meow.”
So that’s why I haven’t been watching YouTube on my phone recently, Noir.
Anyway, whether out of boredom or not, I sighed while stroking the back of the creature sitting beside me, toasting bread.
As I mentioned earlier, a week had passed since what happened in Gongju.
Many things had occurred during that time.
First, let me start with when people in black suits came to the bakery.
“I was really startled back then.”
“Why? In the end, it’s just the same human wearing black clothes, isn’t it?”
“If I explain it from your perspective, imagine three noblemen suddenly standing at the entrance of the village, wearing frilly silk clothes and white wigs.”
“Owner… just how far do you intend to push me….”
Was it not supposed to go this far?
In any case.
The people who came looking were none other than employees from the Hunter Association.
It seems they confirmed through records that I had also been present at that location.
However, since my alibi was solid, no real problems arose.
“To others, I’m simply someone who entered a room and never came back out.”
Even if they investigated through the botanical garden’s CCTV, I never left the room Nuri guided me to until the crisis subsided.
Well, in reality, after experiencing all sorts of things, I rode the gate back to the Witch’s house, opened the door, and came out.
“I just told the investigators that I heard frightening sounds from outside, so I stayed put and didn’t come out.”
“But isn’t the Owner also that… a Hunter? Something like that?”
“E-rank doesn’t count as combat power.”
Especially since it was a large-scale incident that resulted in the complete disappearance of an entire research complex.
And their attention would be focused elsewhere anyway.
Ding~
“Owner! Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Ah. Haeryang. You’ve come?”
Haeryang bursts through the door the moment she arrives.
Though I had said there was nothing wrong, she couldn’t put her worries aside until she saw it with her own eyes.
Judging by how she stares at me for a long while before finally releasing a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness….”
“I told you I was fine.”
“I expected you to be fine, but seeing and hearing things for myself is different.”
“Seeing and hearing things?”
“Yes. My sister has been very busy because of this incident lately.”
“Ah… yes… I see….”
This was it.
The part that had the higher-ups concerned.
Whether the note I left with Nuri was properly delivered—Sky must be quite busy with one thing and another.
I’ll have to apologize for this later.
Of course, not as ‘Han Seung-hyun’, but as ‘Black Smoke’.
“If such an opportunity comes.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Shall we start work?”
Whether such things happened or not, work must be done.
Even if yesterday’s incident occurred, today’s sun still rises, and today’s customers still arrive.
In fact, they’re already beginning to line up in front of the door.
“Noir. Come here. The Owner needs to work too.”
“Meow.”
At Haeryang’s words, Noir hops down from my lap and walks toward the door with a dignified gait.
Perhaps it was simply because the door handle was positioned too high.
Unable to speak, Noir scratched at the glass door with her claws, so I opened it for her.
At the same moment, she darted outside and received unwanted affection, while customers approached me with their orders.
“Are you opening for business today?”
“Yes, of course. Please come in. I’ll seat the first five of you for now.”
Customers streamed inside the moment I finished speaking.
Even as I distributed waiting tickets and seated customers in order, the line showed no signs of diminishing.
The reason was simple.
“Is it really that spicy?”
“I’ve tried bread from other bakeries, but this place is the best.”
“I’m telling you it’s true. Eat it and you’ll lose weight. Seriously. Trust me on this.”
I was selling bread baked with the Witch’s power combined with my own skill—a flavor impossible to find anywhere else.
Thanks to this, I had completely escaped those days of worrying about monthly rent.
But if there was a problem….
“It’s way too cramped….”
“It really is, isn’t it? Oh! Let me help with the register! Customer!”
The shop interior, which had felt empty and peaceful until now, was uncomfortably packed.
And it truly was packed.
With customers.
Looking over, I could see customers on the other side tensing their stomachs and creating space to pass by each other.
Because it was winter, some wore thick clothing and squeezed through narrow gaps to select their bread.
“It’s really too cramped now.”
The space hadn’t changed, but the situation had.
Though I’d grown attached to this place through all the hardship, this space alone would now give customers frustration rather than happiness.
“I need to think about expanding.”

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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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