I Only Baked Bread, but I Was Mistaken for the Best - Chapter 81

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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 81. A Successful Reopening (2)
– School violence again?
– So it’s all because of those bastards in the end, right?
– No, let’s be clear about this. Yeom Da-yeon is the one who directly caused it.
– That’s exactly the point—if they’d just left her alone, none of this would have happened.
Public opinion began to shift.
But it seemed the Association had anticipated this as well.
They didn’t stop there—they drove the final nail in with absolute clarity.
[According to the joint investigation team of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the Hunter Association, the 4 perpetrator students engaged in habitual assault, extortion, and verbal abuse against their classmate Yeom Da-yeon over several years.]
[Notably, at 3 AM on the day of the incident, the perpetrators coerced Yeom into becoming a “bread shuttle” and running errands, luring her to a secluded area. The investigation’s core finding is that the physical and psychological threats she experienced during this process became the decisive factor triggering Yeom’s mana rampage.]
This wasn’t an internal Hunter Association investigation, but rather a collaborative effort with credible government agencies.
The remarkably swift response and clearly directed accountability successfully shifted public opinion.
– She’s the victim after all.
– It doesn’t seem like she wanted any of this. We support her.
– The Hunter Association actually did something right.
– From the briefing that came out, I heard the Gongju Research Complex gate break was due to government mismanagement?
– Lol they got greedy and look what happened. Every hunter official knows this.
Moreover, this incident exposed the government’s incompetence that had been hidden all along.
The delayed product development from harassing various hunter-related companies was nothing compared to this.
The fact that the government tried to manage gates by assigning each one a number and ended up with deaths was more than enough to enrage the public.
In the midst of all this, the Association’s response was textbook perfect.
Not only did the investigating authorities state they would “ensure appropriate consequences within the bounds of law,” but Team Leader Kim Ri-a herself declared she would “support Da-yeon all the way as she overcomes her trauma and becomes the nation’s shield.”
Even Da-yeon herself publicly apologized, bringing this matter to a close.
“They’re not letting this slide.”
Perhaps because Da-yeon, who had been swayed by the fallen Witch’s power, had deliberately spared them at the gate break to kill them herself.
The perpetrators who had assaulted and tormented her faced severe punishment.
Beyond the existing school violence charges, they were also charged with Hunter Endangerment—a special crime applied when unawakened potential hunters are threatened, endangering public safety, under the Gate Special Act.
Gate labor sentences seemed inevitable.
“That’s a relief.”
Watching Da-yeon’s serious expression through the news footage as she focused intently on her training, I could finally feel at ease.
“Then shall I prepare for tomorrow’s business?”
There was still much to prepare for tomorrow’s operations.
* * *
“Owner! We need the bill here!”
“Coming right up!”
“What kind of bread is this?”
“One moment!”
The bakery’s reopening was a success.
There’s always something special about feeling the reward of careful preparation.
Though the shop had expanded significantly, it was now packed with customers from wall to wall.
On one side, there was a family happily selecting bread and filling their baskets.
On the other side, a couple deliberated over which bread to choose.
Friends came in boasting that their bread was more delicious than anyone else’s.
“Wow! This is a Noir-shaped cookie!”
“There’s even a photo inside! How cute!”
The new menu item born from my determination, “Jinjeonyang & Noir Photo,” flew off the shelves.
Each time, the status window chimed.
[You have acquired 5BP.]
[You have acquired 5BP.]
[You have acquired 5BP.]
Haeryang was frantically brewing coffee, while Noir guided customers outside and was taking photos with them at the prepared photo zone.
“Owner! Do we have any more baguettes?”
“Yes! Just a moment! I’ll restock! Noir!”
“Meow!”
Whenever the bread ran out, I’d dash to the Witch’s house, load a tray full of bread that Gora and Cookie had baked, and bring it back.
How frantically must I have worked.
“Phew! I’m exhausted!”
Only when break time came did Haeryang finally sit down in a chair, wiping the sweat from her forehead as she muttered.
Her face was flushed red from how hard she’d worked, and even her breathing was ragged.
It was understandable.
I’d glimpsed it earlier—she was making drinks almost like a vending machine.
“Meow… meow….”
Noir was equally exhausted.
The creature staggered, drawing a crooked line as it walked, then bonked its head against the wall with a thud.
Having collapsed, the creature no longer had the strength to get up, so it sprawled on the floor and began snoring loudly.
“Honestly… I didn’t expect it to be this busy.”
I mean it sincerely.
I’d roughly anticipated it through the flood of comments on Byeolsuta, but this was far more than I’d expected.
“I anticipated it roughly.”
“Is that so? Does extreme analysis tell you things like that too?”
“You don’t even need that. It’s easy enough to predict when so many people love this place.”
Haeryang counted off our regular customers on her fingers one by one.
Roro, a mega-YouTuber who recently achieved one million subscribers.
Sky, Haeryang’s older sister, guild master of Korea’s representative Blue Dragon Guild, and an S-rank Hunter.
Just those two would have considerable ripple effects.
“Plus, the entire H&G Guild commented on Byeolsuta. For some reason, Favor members also said they were looking forward to it.”
“I roughly understand the connections.”
The H&G Guild members, famous for taking on and solving gates that other guilds struggle with.
Their commenting on my post was likely due to their connection with Hunter Yu Ha-neul, who belongs to the same guild.
The Favor members sharing the post was probably because of their connection with Roro.
From what I heard, Roro’s rise to fame was thanks to a member named Hani.
“And honestly, with so many wreaths lined up in front of the shop like that, anyone would naturally take notice, wouldn’t they?”
The wreaths standing in rows before the shop entrance.
I wasn’t sure where or how they all came from, but I recognized some of the names.
First, there was one sent by the officials from the care hospital where my Grandmother was admitted.
I was already grateful for how well they looked after her, so I’d need to bake some bread and visit them soon.
Next to that was a wreath sent by the elderly woman who sold me the building, along with her son.
Each and every one of these represented a connection.
“That’s true.”
“I really need to do my best. Seeing everyone so happy makes me feel good too.”
“Me too.”
I had been a bit worried.
What if all my hard work ended up disappointing them?
Those kinds of thoughts kept popping into my head dozens of times a day—what if I couldn’t live up to their expectations?
But after seeing the customers’ happy faces today, all those worries vanished without a trace.
What filled that empty space instead was a sense of accomplishment.
And a renewed determination to do even better.
“Let’s give it our all. Haeryang.”
“Of course!”
“Noir, you hang in there too.”
“Meow…”
The moment Noir, who had just regained consciousness, let out a desperate cry while trembling his left front paw.
Ding~
The door opened despite the sign that read “Break Time.”
“Um… the teacher told me to come now…”
The one hesitantly looking around was none other than Dayeon.
Though she was still a high school student, she could be here at 3 PM because she now belonged to the Hunter Association’s Special Investigation Team 1.
“Ah, Haeryang. I know it’s break time, but this person is someone I asked to come by right now.”
“Yes, I know. I thought you’d be coming around this time.”
“Really? How did you know?”
“Well, the Owner left the door open, and since opening today, you’ve been checking the time constantly. Though I had no idea you were the hottest S-rank Hunter these days.”
“Ah… ugh…”
As I rattled off the analysis I’d deduced through extreme observation, Dayeon covered her face with both hands.
I couldn’t blame her.
Just days ago, Dayeon was an ordinary high school girl.
Then suddenly she became an S-rank Hunter, and joined the Hunter Association.
With all that happening, it must have been exhausting for her.
The media probably hadn’t left her alone either.
“You must have been busy with training, so I’m glad you could make it.”
“Oh! No! It’s fine! I got permission! But what did you need to see me about?”
“Ah… well… since it just opened today! Haha. I thought it would be nice if you could stop by….”
I dodged the question as she tilted her head curiously.
The truth was, I’d called Dayeon to verify whether the Witch’s power might still linger in her body.
But I certainly couldn’t ask her about that directly.
“Ah! I was planning to stop by anyway! Of course I remembered what you mentioned!”
“You did?”
“Oh. I suppose you wouldn’t know. I used to give lectures at an elementary school. She’s a student I met back then.”
“Hmm….”
“Ah… hello?”
Dayeon greeted Haeryang awkwardly as she stared at her intently.
After observing Dayeon for a moment longer, Haeryang nodded.
Perhaps she’d seen something through her detailed analysis.
She looked far more at ease than before.
“Hmm… it’s just admiration.”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind. You’re Dayeon, right? It’s nice to meet you.”
“Ah! Yes! I’m happy to meet you too! Sister! You can speak casually to me!”
“Is that so?”
That’s a relief.
Just moments ago it seemed like something was wrong, but now they’re getting along well.
It’s always good when the people around you get along, isn’t it?
In any case, I couldn’t see any dark karma, and there were no traces of red threads staining her, so Dayeon should be safe.
“Oh, I set this aside for you. I noticed you seemed to like it before.”
“Wow! That’s right! Those cream buns are delicious!”
Just in case, I’d separated some mugwort butter cream buns that could dispel any lingering negativity.
Dayeon accepted them happily and placed the packaged cream buns into the bag she’d brought.
Then, as if something had occurred to her, she asked me a question.
“Oh. By the way, teacher. Do you happen to know Ria?”
“Ria? Ah… do you mean Team Leader Ria?”
“Yes!”
“She did come by to buy bread before. Why?”
“No, that’s not it. After I came to my senses, I was counseling with Ria, and she asked who my teacher was.”
Ah, this was a mistake.
I never expected that the words I’d spoken out of a desire for the Hunters Association, including Ria, to take good care of Dayeon, would come back like this.
When I’d said it to create a connection with Dayeon, how could I have forgotten my days as an instructor?
“My teacher? Well, it’s awkward to say it that way, but the only person I’d call a teacher is Teacher Seung-hyun. He taught me baking in elementary school.”
“What did you… tell her?”
“I said Teacher Seung-hyun. That he was the one who taught me baking in elementary school.”
“Ah.”
This is bad.
I felt cold sweat trickling down my back and forehead.
Things had gotten so tangled up.
I needed to think fast.
How should I handle this situation?
It seemed best not to invite unnecessary suspicion.
That’s when it happened.
A status window that remained incomplete and had been waiting on the side suddenly came to mind.
That was probably….
[The Sorrow of the Innocent]
▷ One who should not have carried sin and karma harbors resentment. The Witch’s role is to resolve the sorrow of such people and return them to their true nature.
▷ Deliver ‘Witch’s Fondant au Chocolat’ to ‘Yeom Da-yeon’ 1/1
▷ Reward: 10,000 BP
A Quest that remained incomplete because I hadn’t received the reward from Da-yeon, even though all conditions were fulfilled.
If it was this, wouldn’t there be a way?
“Um… Da-yeon. I have a favor to ask….”
“Yes?”
I spoke to Da-yeon, who was asking me while still wearing her backpack.
“Could you tell Team Leader Ria this for me?”
And hearing my words, Da-yeon’s eyes widened in surprise as she asked back.
“Is that… really true?”

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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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