Warm Rye Bread and Shadowy Strangers
Cheon Yura stared at the rye bread—which had been squished flat but had bounced back perfectly—with slightly surprised eyes.
Well-baked bread always turns out like this.
"This is... really amazing."
Like she was entranced, she reached out and tore off a small piece from the edge of the crusty-looking rye bread.
With a crisp crunch, a rich, deep rye aroma wafted out.
She carefully placed the piece in her mouth and began chewing slowly.
The rough, crackly texture.
The more she chewed, the more the nutty, savory rye flavor and clean taste filled her mouth.
There was no flashy or stimulating sweetness, but it was a warm flavor that cozied right into the depths of her heart.
"Ah..."
A languid sigh escaped Cheon Yura's lips.
It spread the same fluffy sensation she'd felt when Baek Arang first massaged her and her headache vanished.
A softer, more peaceful smile than ever before bloomed on Cheon Yura's face.
Watching her savor the rye bread with such delight, I tore off a piece for myself and popped it in my mouth.
The more I chewed, the nuttier and cleaner the taste lingered on my tongue.
Oh, this is seriously good... Rye bread was never my thing before, but this hits different.
◈ [Warm Heart]
Calms and stabilizes the consumer's mind for 1 hour.
Pretty humble effect, huh. Fits rye bread perfectly, though.
My tail, hidden in my pants, swished happily. My ears perked up straight.
Bet it'd sell like hotcakes to kids taking interviews or college entrance exams.
"Don't you want more bread? We've got plenty of ingredients—should I bake some extra?"
At my voice, Cheon Yura snapped out of her half-closed-eyes savoring trance.
She smacked her lips regretfully but lightly shook her head.
"Nah, this is enough for today. You worked hard. Oh, right. How much per loaf?"
"Five million won each for the morning bread."
"Five mil. Got it. I'll process it clean through the corp for taxes and wire it straight to your account."
"Oh, and this rye bread's on the house."
"Huh? Service? You sure?"
Cheon Yura's eyes went wide.
"Yeah. You scored the slashes on it yourself, Guild Leader. Just take it."
At my words, she blanked out for a second, then grinned like a kid.
"Thanks. I'll enjoy it for real."
After Baek Arang left, Cheon Yura alone gazed intently at the rye bread on the counter.
The clumsy coupe marks she'd slashed while trembling. And that warm, cozy taste lingering in her mouth.
Remembering it, she let out a small chuckle.
'Best thing I've ever tasted.'
She began carefully and meticulously wrapping the rye bread from the cooling rack in paper bags.
She focused every nerve in her fingertips to avoid damaging the bread's shape even a little.
Creeeak.
Then, the firmly shut bakery door slowly opened.
"Guild Leader."
The vice guild master entered with a stiff, rigid face.
Cheon Yura's hand, on the wrapping paper, froze. Her head slowly turned toward the door.
The soft expression from moments ago was gone. Cold, sharp eyes pierced the vice guild master's face.
"I don't remember inviting you in here."
At her low, growling tone, the vice felt a chill down her spine and hurriedly bowed.
"Sorry. But Guild Leader, we need an explanation about that kid—who the hell is she?"
"Explanation? I bought this building with my own money. What do you need explained for?"
"...That's—"
Her brow furrowed menacingly.
Woooong—!
Fierce mana rippled from Cheon Yura's body, as if it might explode any second.
'Ugh... Did I go too easy on them? Why do they keep crawling up...'
The moment she was about to unleash her rage, she remembered where they were.
This was Arang's bakery.
Where Arang used her top-grade machines and precious ingredients.
I could fix it quick, but... I don't want to leave a single scratch in that kid's space.
I swallowed the rising killing intent and casually picked up a morning bread from the counter.
Whoosh.
"Catch."
"Ack..."
The vice guild master caught the flying bread with both hands and stared at me in bewilderment.
"Guild Leader, what is this..."
"Eat it."
"Pardon? Why bread all of a sudden..."
As she tried to question again, she flinched at Cheon Yura's glare and shut her mouth.
"If that mouth opens one more time before you eat, I'll kill you for real."
With her flat, dead-serious killing intent devoid of any joke, the vice gulped dryly and tremblingly brought the morning bread to her lips.
She took a cautious bite.
Crunch.
"......!"
Her eyes bulged wide.
For a moment, stunned by the meltingly fantastic butter flavor in her mouth. Then, as she swallowed, a warm energy wrapped around her body.
The chronic fatigue that had clung to her since awakening as a hunter felt a bit lighter.
Her body felt feather-light, her vision cleared.
"Wh-what the hell is..."
She gaped at the bread piece in her hand in shock.
"That bread. The kid who just left made it."
Cheon Yura stated flatly to the frozen vice guild master.
"Pardon...? You mean that kid made this...?"
She alternated disbelieving glances between the bread she'd eaten and Cheon Yura.
She knew bone-deep how invaluable this insane fatigue-reduction buff was for Tower-climbing hunters.
And this cheat-level buff... from that kid?
This wasn't just about a higher price tag.
"Get it now? So don't mess with that kid anymore. If you do anything that pisses me off, you're done."
At Cheon Yura's warning, the vice gritted her teeth and bowed deeply.
"I'll... keep it in mind. I was ignorant."
'...So there was a reason.'
That one kid was worth an entire major production guild.
Not just keeping her around 'cause she's cute... Yeah, that's not my guild leader's style.
As she bowed, the vice's eyes fell on the large rye bread carefully placed on the counter behind Cheon Yura.
If this tiny morning bread had this effect, what insane buff was on that rye bread?
Unable to contain her curiosity, she asked cautiously.
"Guild Leader... what's the buff on that rye bread over there?"
Cheon Yura flinched and twisted her body to completely shield the rye bread with herself.
'Why's she acting like that?'
"Don't worry about it."
"But for data collection purposes..."
"I said don't worry about it."
Cheon Yura's eyes flashed dangerously. That's the service Arang gave me. My personal bread. No way I'm letting it get taken.
The vice could only nod frantically, clueless.
"People really need to work to live."
Doing work I enjoy, raking in big bucks—this is the life.
Thinking of the money piling up in my account made me hum a tune.
Gotta do some kneading when I get home.
My tail swished excitedly in my pants. Hurry home, knead, and demolish some spicy pork stir-fry.
Thud!
Suddenly, a shadow blocked my view. I looked up, startled, to see a burly man in a sharp suit and a tall blonde woman barring my path.
...What? NIS agents?
The subtle pressure emanating from them screamed they weren't civilians.
Yup... Definitely gangsters or NIS.
Instinctual fear prickled my spine. My ears flattened, my tail curled in.
"I-I don't have any money!"
I frantically pulled out my phone. My fingers shook wildly.
1, 1, 2.
As I punched in the police number and hit call—
"W-wait a sec!"
The woman freaked, lunging to grab my phone hand. Her eyes shook.
"Why call the cops?!"
Gripped tight, I trembled and yelled.
"Let go! Who the hell are you, blocking my way?!"
At my shout, the blonde exchanged awkward glances with the man, then forced a smile and released my hand.
"Sorry if we scared you. We're from the States."
"...Not NIS, right?"
"Something like that."
...Did I forget to pay taxes?