I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 70

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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 70. The Capable Cookie Man (2)
Teaching Gora—the Mandrake Man—how to bake bread didn’t take long at all.
As if he’d been born already accustomed to baking from the start, he absorbed everything I taught him into his own abilities almost instantly.
“You’re really good at this. Impressive.”
“Gora gora!”
“Hmm… if this continues, my standing among the junior staff might be in jeopardy…”
“Kyuuuu…”
“See! You think so too!”
There was some banter between Noir, who muttered incomprehensible things, and Chohong, who’d just regained consciousness, but I’ll skip over that.
What mattered now was that my Gora had developed skills that satisfied me.
“Good. This is more than enough.”
“Gora gora?”
“I can launch a new product at Witch Food.”
Nuri, whose decibels of joyful screams were rising day by day.
And beside her, Han Yul and Pil-seong, who’d somehow developed a sense of camaraderie and were singing along in happiness.
Witch Food was currently producing insane results.
But this would be nothing more than a temporary phenomenon.
After all, the current whirlwind was thanks to Subunseo Cheong.
Of course, I couldn’t pinpoint the exact composition, but the world was filled with major corporations.
If they somehow developed the technology, they’d create products with effects comparable to, if not quite matching, the Subunseo Cheong I make.
“So I needed a new product anyway.”
“Is that what you call a monopoly? Owner?”
“A monopoly? No, it’s about first-mover advantage. And the more products that help Hunters, the better.”
This conviction only solidified as I watched the Hunters I encountered inside Gates.
Thanks to Hunters struggling against the unprecedented threat of Gates and monsters, this world remains peaceful.
For my dream of baking bread and bringing happiness to everyone, Hunters need to become stronger.
“Tell me honestly, Owner.”
“I’m short on BP…”
“Isn’t honesty wonderful, Owner?”
“Ugh…”
Damn capitalism.
* * *
– Didn’t I tell you this before?
“I’m sorry…”
– Why do I have to keep repeating myself?
“I’m really sorry…”
This was what I heard when I came back outside after Gora and the Cookies learned to bake delicious castella, and I immediately called Nuri.
– I’m really grateful that working with the Witch has turned my life around, but even so, this is a bit much, isn’t it? It’s not easy to shoulder someone else’s life on top of your own.
“I didn’t realize so much time had passed.”
It felt like barely any time had elapsed since I’d resolved Siwoo’s situation, but more than a day had already gone by.
There was certainly a lot to deal with.
I had no shortage of matters to handle outside the bakery either.
And who could have predicted that Gora would stir up something like this?
“I should have told you about Siwoo right away, but things were so hectic.”
– This is a hundred thousand times more important than a new recipe!
– Ah! N-Nuri! I’m really fine…
– You keep quiet, kid. We adults are talking here.
“W-Well, Siwoo is still an adult over twenty…”
– Anyway, since we’ve decided to look after Siwoo here, understand that. His original home isn’t far from here either, so he decided to stay here. I told him his younger sister can live with him too.
It seems everything worked out well.
Judging by the fact that even Siwoo, who was about to interject thinking we were arguing, said nothing.
– So. What else? Is someone else coming?
“No. It’s the castella I mentioned earlier.”
– Ah. When did you mention the recipe, and you’ve already made it? Then it’ll take a while before we can release the sample product.
“It’s done. We can launch it right away.”
– What?
A brief silence came from Nuri’s end of the line.
It was understandable to be surprised.
I’d called not long ago saying I had a recipe and would make it soon to show her.
But hearing suddenly that it’s ready for release would confuse anyone.
– … Is this also the Witch’s power or something?
“That’s right.”
The Familier also stems from the Witch’s power, after all.
Nuri let out a deep sigh, paused for a moment, then continued.
– Got it. I need to handle this quickly. I’ll need to prepare a separate workspace for Siwoo too. I’ll head over!
“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”
Click.
After hanging up, I sat in the chair and exhaled deeply.
With this, all my tasks were complete.
The shop undergoing expansion would be finished soon, and I’d moved out of the rented single room and relocated to the fifth floor of this building.
The new menu development for Wise Food had been handled to a reasonable extent, and other issues were largely resolved.
“Ah. I need to share the reopening date.”
“Are you thinking of using Byeolsuta? Owner?”
“There’s no other way.”
Byeolsuta.
It could be said to be the most frequently used SNS these days.
Anyone running their own business had their own business SNS page.
I was no exception.
As soon as I logged in, I took a photo of the shop’s exterior, which was mostly completed, wrote a caption, and uploaded it.
[March 14th, Happiness visits us once again~*^^*]
“This should do.”
“Isn’t it too common? Or rather… it’s not so much common as it is… too much like an old man…”
“Still, I’m only in my twenties…”
Just now, when Nuri called me and the other guy “old men,” it honestly stung a little.
I’d always known I lacked talent in naming things or creating slogans, but I never expected Noir to point it out too.
“Then what were you thinking of calling it?”
“Hehe! This one always has very good ideas, meow! ‘A noble and beautiful cat that shocked and astonished the entire world—a bakery with such a cat!’ How’s that!”
“That makes you the main attraction, not the bread.”
So now you’re admitting you’re a cat, self-proclaimed Familier Noir.
“Besides, the response is good even with how we’re uploading it now.”
The view count and likes climbing with every refresh.
And the comments too.
Some of them were clearly from people I recognized.
-roro_nyam: Wow! Finally! Wow!
┗Roro’s excited. lol
Every time there’s a live stream, you sing, so cool.
The first comment to appear was from Roro.
I’d often watched those live streams myself.
It was nice to have on in the background when eating alone felt a bit lonely.
Every time, she’d keep mentioning my bakery and say she hoped I’d reopen soon.
A truly precious connection.
Of course, it wasn’t just her…
-gyuri_dragonhillⓥ: I heard this place is delicious—I definitely have to go try it!
┗??? Real deal?
┗Seems real. There’s an official mark.
┗maestro_miracleⓥ: Could I request one as well,,,^^
┗It really is legit…
Gyu-ri, who’d introduced herself as a bread enthusiast, had jumped into the comments too.
Even Maestro from the Miracle Guild, whom I’d heard had organized H&G together with them, had left a comment.
Scrolling down a bit more, I saw that Sky, Haeryang’s older sister, had also commented.
-yousky_bluedragon: I hope to visit again someday.
┗Is this where the H&G Guild holds meetings?
┗Why is the Blue Dragon Guild Master at some neighborhood bakery like this…
┗That just means the taste is that good.
Beyond this, many regular customers who’d maintained long connections with the bakery, including Nuri whom I’d called earlier, had left comments.
As a sense of pride began to swell within me.
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong, Owner?”
“Something seems odd about this…”
While refreshing to enjoy the stream of comments, I spotted one that caught my attention.
-mt.found: Not very tasty.
Apart from the fact that I made it, I took pride in my bread being delicious.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t have accumulated so many regular customers.
Customers are honest.
They don’t spend money, time, and affection on something that tastes bad.
“If you think that way, why are you letting it bother you?”
“Because I’m annoyed.”
“It’s more likely just someone seeking attention, Owner.”
“That’s true.”
So this is a form of deception.
They probably wrote this without even tasting my bread.
They’re just enjoying the reactions it generates.
Isn’t that how all baseless malicious comments are written?
“So don’t let it bother you, Owner.”
“I’m not letting it bother me. I’m just irritated.”
“The world calls that being bothered. Meow.”
Noir was right.
Judging by how I’m thinking like this despite claiming to be composed.
I took a deep breath in, then let it out.
I felt my mood settle a little.
“Yeah, what’s one thing like this. It’s not like I haven’t dealt with difficult customers before.”
“A good attitude. Moving forward is all that matters. Didn’t Hani from Faber move forward the same way, Owner?”
“Why are you suddenly bringing up celebrities here… Don’t tell me…”
“I… I absolutely didn’t secretly watch YouTube on your phone!”
As if I could believe that.
When I checked YouTube, sure enough, the algorithm was now composed mainly of gossip channels focused on various celebrities.
I sentenced Noir, who was turning away and avoiding my gaze.
“Setting phone lock with fingerprint recognition.”
“Meooooow! Cruel! Absolutely merciless! Owner! To so ruthlessly take away this worn-out body’s only sanctuary from serving you! This is too much!”
“What’s too much is my YouTube algorithm! How does this look like a baker’s algorithm at all!”
“Meooooow!”
Noir collapsed dramatically, tears filling those large, round eyes.
Yeah, it won’t work anyway. Get up.
“This isn’t even like raising a child…”
I was in the middle of cleaning up YouTube, which had become completely corrupted and was spewing useless information.
Ding!
I thought it was the sound of a status window appearing, but the sound was coming from my phone.
A direct message notification from Byeolsuta appearing at the top.
It was a moment when a connection I hadn’t even anticipated was being restored.
-dayeon4410: Teacher Han Seung-hyun. Do you remember me? I’m Dayeon, who attended the after-school classes at Jaun Elementary School.
I remember her.
A child who seemed reluctant at first, but by the end participated in the activity with the brightest smile.
A little girl who later shed small tears after eating the bread she’d made herself.
I was about to reply with eager fingers when I came to an abrupt halt.
-dayeon4410: Please help me.
The small child from my memory was crying out for help with five powerless words.
* * *
‘There’s no way she’d remember me….’
A female student sat in a bathroom stall, staring blankly at her phone screen.
Her hair was cut short and jagged, and despite wearing no makeup, people naturally called her ‘pretty.’
But it would be difficult to approach her.
Her skin was pale as porcelain, and beneath it, bruises in shades of blue hid here and there.
Her eyes were clouded, as if she’d lost all meaning in life.
‘It’s been five years since then. How could she possibly remember….’
Taking the after-school class from Seung-hyun had been five years ago.
She’d never even reached out to contact him.
She’d only discovered his familiar face in a post the algorithm had guided her to.
Moreover, it was from when she was in fourth grade of elementary school, while she was now in her first year of high school.
There was no way she’d remember.
‘I thought things would get better once I entered high school….’
The bullying with no clear reason had started in middle school.
She’d endured three years after that.
It was because there was no adult she could ask for help.
She’d persevered until now, thinking it would end once she entered high school.
‘The same class again….’
Such was the tragedy of the equalization policy.
Part of the group that had ostracized her had gone to the same school, and as if that weren’t enough, ended up in the same class.
From the first day of school, the bullying she thought had ended started again.
As if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Hic… ugh….”
She forced back her tears.
If they discovered her hiding here, there was no telling what they might do to her.
They might suddenly pour water on her again, just like yesterday.
As she stood there, biting her lip until it bled, enduring it all.
Ding!
-trefle_bonheur: Where are you?
With just those unconditional words, Dayeon’s held-back tears finally spilled over.

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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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