Back to Work! Baguettes and Donuts for the Climb
Work resumes! Ding-a-ling.
The phone rang noisily from the morning. Who the hell is calling this early...
I lifted my heavy eyelids and checked the screen.
...Hyunah?
What's up this early...?
I rubbed my eyes and answered.
"Hello..."
"Arang, I'm sorry to call so early. Were you sleeping?"
"No... I just woke up. What's going on?"
"The guild's maintenance is complete. Our members are heading back into the Tower in earnest now."
Heading back into the Tower...?
Ah... they'll need Morning Bread again for fatigue reduction.
"Can you make more bread for us?"
Hyunah's words snapped my foggy mind awake, pulling me back to reality.
Time to make some money again.
If I earn big this time, maybe I should move?
The sweet lure of capitalism chased away my morning drowsiness in an instant.
Who wouldn't want to work when it's fun and pays well?
"Yeah, I'll head to the guild right now."
"Take your time. I'll see you soon."
I jumped out of bed, washed up roughly, and threw on some clothes.
My steps toward the guild felt incredibly light.
When I arrived, Kim Hyunah was waiting in the lobby, dressed in her neat suit.
"You're early. You could've taken it slow."
"Hehe, gotta get here quick. Baking's fun, you know. How many Morning Breads this time?"
At my question, Hyunah took a tablet from a lobby staffer and checked.
"Same as last time—about 200 Morning Breads, please."
"Hmm, same group going up?"
"Yes, our new recruits."
I tilted my head at Hyunah's words.
...Weren't they newbies last time too? Where are the veterans?
I've been coming to Baekya Guild for a while now, but I've never seen any high-rank hunters.
I should ask about that soon.
"And this time, we'd like to add some other breads."
"Other breads? Like what?"
"The Strawberry Cream Donuts and baguettes from last time."
Hmm... yeah, both give great buffs for Tower raids. With those plus Morning Bread, they'd be berserkers.
"How many of each?"
"Fifty each, if possible?"
"Hmm... it'll take time since it's just me, but I'll manage."
"Please don't push yourself to match our pace, Arang. Your health comes first."
Hyunah smiled warmly at me. I could clearly hear the passing guild members whispering.
She looks way prettier when she smiles. She should do it more often.
"Don't worry."
I nodded and headed straight to the bakery room.
The moment I opened the door to the bakery room, I went right to the counter.
"Baguette first, I guess."
Donuts need frying, Morning Bread's quick, so knock out the baguette while it's in between.
I measured flour, water, salt, and yeast into a large mixing bowl.
The tangled mess of water and flour in the big bowl made me chuckle.
Someone might mistake this for a crime scene.
I washed my hands thoroughly again and plunged them deep into the dough.
Active Skill: Kneading Lv. 3 activated.
Slap, slap. Knead, knead.
A faint magical energy flowed from my fingertips, wrapping the tough dough softly.
"Grrr..."
The cool touch of the dough made a purring sound escape me without thinking.
Kneading dough really is the best feeling.
I slyly pulled my tail out from inside my pants.
No one's here but me, so it's fine.
Now with my tail out, I could focus properly.
For long, chewy baguettes, I needed to trap lots of air in the dough.
I stretched it long with my hands, folded it, slammed it hard against the counter to aerate it.
I caressed it until it gained perfect elasticity.
Once the gluten network was ideal, I divided it into portions, shaped them long and slender.
Slashed the tops lightly and lined them neatly on a large oven tray.
"Nice, looks good."
Perfect U-shaped cuts—I slid them into the preheated oven.
"Phew... and we're off."
This is nothing compared to my old job. Back then, no breaks even when my wrists ached and blood filled my mouth. Compared to that hell, this is paradise.
I quickly prepped another large bowl for Morning Bread dough.
"Hoo... measuring's the worst part."
After measuring, I caught my breath, then dove back in with Kneading.
Slap, slap. Knead, knead.
The fun Kneading started draining my stamina after a while.
"Seriously... I should work out or something."
...Should've eaten the baguette first? It reduces stamina consumption.
I shaped the last Morning Bread, placed it on the tray, dragged a chair over, and slumped face-down on the counter.
"...I'm beat."
As I whined with my cheek on the cold counter, the oven timer for the baguettes beeped.
Damn... just sat down.
I dragged my heavy body up, slipped on thick oven mitts.
Whoosh.
Hot air rushed out with the oven door, filling the room with the nutty, floury scent of roasted baguette crust.
No butter—these smell hearty and clean.
Tap, tap.
Flicking the well-baked crust gave a clear, light sound.
Can't punch it or the crust'll shatter.
"Shape's perfect. Cracks too."
As I cooled them on the rack, slumped and catching my breath, the bakery door opened quietly.
"Arang, good work."
Kim Hyunah entered, holding a fancy little box.
"Oh, hey."
"Have some of this. You look low on sugar."
She offered premium chocolates, individually wrapped in gold foil.
"Oh... thanks."
I peeled one and popped it in, still slumped.
Munch, munch.
"...!"
My drowsy eyes snapped open.
Rich, smooth cacao butter melted on my tongue.
A luxurious sweetness tingled to my scalp.
Nothing like cheap junk chocolate—deep and profound.
"Whoa... this is really good."
Feels like all my fatigue washed away.
Flutter, flutter.
Happy from the chocolate, my white tiger ears perked up, showing pink skin between the fur and fuzz.
Hyunah gritted her teeth, desperately fighting the urge to reach out.
...Just once, can I pet them just once?
She wanted to stroke them right then, but that'd shatter Arang's trust.
Plus, if she started petting now... she might not stop and delay everything.
Her throat burned with the urge to hug and pet, but she endured for the future.
"Haa, that hit the spot. Alright, Strawberry Cream Donuts to finish!"
Sugar rush—feeling alive now.
Tower 30th floor safe zone.
Before advancing, Baekya Guild members collapsed on the floor, panting.
"Haa... knowing the strategy doesn't make it easy."
"...Obviously. Knowing it and mastering it are different."
"Resupply's here! Eat up! Guild leader's special order!"
Members casually pulled bread from the box.
"Huh? Not just Morning Bread today?"
"Baguette and... donuts?"
Next to the round fatigue-busting Morning Breads were sliced baguettes and sweet-scented donuts.
"Baguette... tough and chewy, scrapes your palate? Not wartime rations."
He grumbled, slathered strawberry jam on, and took a cautious bite.
Crunch.
"...!"
His eyes flew wide.
Not tough at all—unbelievably crisp outside, moist and chewy inside, with nutty wheat flavor blooming on every chew, filling his mouth.
"What the—why's this so good?!"
Shock short-lived, a status window popped up.
Stamina consumption for all physical activities reduced by 50%.
"...Huh?"
He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. The text stayed clear.
"Insane... Hey! Try the donut! Donut!!"
The mage beside him yelled urgently, holding a half-eaten Strawberry Cream Donut.
"What, why? What's with the donut?"
"Skill cast speed up 40%!! Lasts a full 2 hours!!"
"What?!"
"Stamina halved and 40% cast speed...?"
"This is nuts..."
Members stared in shock.
"Who the hell did our guild leader recruit?!"
"Some hidden S-rank she background-checked and kidnapped?"
"Idiot, she'd brag if she kidnapped 'em. She'd never keep it secret."
"True..."