Baek Arang Goes to Work!
The next day, a text came in from Kim Hyunah.
I checked the text from Kim Hyunah and immediately left the house, hopping into a taxi.
Ugh... Baek Arang's really made it big. Riding taxis like it's nothing now.
Thinking about the 10 billion won about to hit my account and the 100 million already there, a silly grin spread across my face.
When I got out of the taxi, the sight before me made my tail curl up tight inside my pants.
Calm down... I'm the client here. And these hunters aren't wild beasts—they're not gonna just beat up a frail 15-year-old girl out of nowhere.
I pulled up my bank account on my phone to stare at that 100 million again, forcing some courage into myself.
"Don't chicken out. If you do, that chicken cooling in the fridge is gonna cry."
I tugged the strings of my black hoodie tight one more time.
I made sure my twitching ears wouldn't poke out and strode confidently through the revolving door.
The first-floor lobby was paved with gleaming marble. And right in the center stood someone.
A woman in a crisp black suit, her ponytail neatly tied. She was a sharp, sophisticated beauty.
Whoa... but man, she looks kinda pitiful...
The closer I got, the more her weary state became apparent.
That's the face of an adult ground down by society and work. Eyes that have given up on optimistic hopes like "the future's bright."
I approached hesitantly.
Her vacant gaze, fixed on empty space, landed on me.
"Um, are you Team Leader Kim Hyunah by any chance?"
My childish voice made her shoulders twitch.
Instead of answering, Kim Hyunah just looked down at me silently.
My height only came up to her waist.
A little kid drowning in an oversized black hoodie.
Her pupils trembled faintly.
She opened her mouth cautiously.
"No way... are you Baek Arang yourself...?"
"Yeah, that's me, Baek Arang."
Kim Hyunah swallowed dryly. Her eyes shook mercilessly.
She's got such an expressive face.
She'd probably imagined her baker as someone totally different.
Like a imposing artisan with presence or a veteran hunter.
Sorry, but it's a 15-year-old beauty.
Confusion was plain on Kim Hyunah's face. But she quickly composed herself, flashing a professional smile.
"It's an honor to meet you. I'm Kim Hyunah, supply team leader for Baekya Guild. Please, follow me."
Following her lead, we descended to a special underground area of the guild building.
A massive iron door slid open as we went inside.
"Whoa..."
It was a gigantic bakery, easily spanning dozens of pyeong.
It smelled brand new, like the construction had just wrapped up last night.
Dazzling top-grade stainless steel counters.
The walls were lined with professional-grade giant smart ovens and massive mixers.
This setup could slap around any average bakery twice over.
Am I getting locked up in here?
A reasonable suspicion crossed my mind.
"We rushed to prepare this last night, so it's quite lacking. Please forgive us."
"You... prepared this last night on short notice?"
"Yes, please use it comfortably without any burden."
It is a burden...
Kim Hyunah apologized as I looked around without a word.
Doesn't seem like they're planning to lock me up right now.
As I shot her a suspicious glance, Kim Hyunah handed me documents stamped with the Hunter Association seal.
"Let's get the paperwork sorted before starting. Is this your first time with a contract like this?"
"Yeah, first time."
"Then I'll explain it lightly."
It was an official contract form from the Association.
Stripping away the formalities: 200 units of fatigue-reducing Morning Bread.
500 million won per unit. Total: 10 billion won. Payment on delivery.
Baekya Guild covers all material and facility costs.
Exactly as discussed. No shady clauses.
I hopped up onto a counter stool.
The stool's a bit high. Is it 'cause I've gotten shorter...?
Taking the documents, I checked them over meticulously once more.
"You're quite skilled at this..."
"Doesn't seem like anything tricky."
Confirming no tricks, I cheerfully grabbed the pen and signed with a flourish.
Kim Hyunah watched me with a strange look before stamping the guild seal.
"Contract's done, so let's get started."
I handed the papers back to Kim Hyunah and hopped down, immediately bustling around the workshop to check the equipment.
I confirmed the oven preheat and checked the humidity gauge on the giant proofer.
Honestly, with just my Kneading, I don't need anything but the oven. But when else am I gonna touch gear this high-end?
My baker's blood was boiling.
Kim Hyunah watched intently, arms crossed.
She looked like a middle schooler, but handling those massive machines was no joke.
Every move screamed veteran expertise.
Her awkward vibe vanished in an instant, replaced by a true professional. Kim Hyunah saw her anew.
Not just a cute girl whose cheeks she wanted to pinch and suck, but maybe a heaven-sent precious connection.
Though she still wanted to tug those cheeks.
"Um, Baek Arang. If it's okay, may I watch you work here?"
Kim Hyunah asked carefully.
10 billion was pocket change for her solo Tower run, but she was dying to know how.
"Sure, no problem. Nothing special anyway."
I nodded coolly.
The ingredient ratios were standard; without my skill, no one could replicate it.
I dragged a massive flour sack onto the counter with a grunt.
I dumped it into the enormous stainless steel bowl.
Then boldly measured out butter, milk, and yeast, tossing them in.
"Whoa..."
When's the last time I handled a mountain of dough like this?
Kim Hyunah, who'd been watching quietly, panicked at the insane volume and stepped forward.
"B-Baek Arang, that's a huge amount—even the mixer couldn't handle it, right?"
"Mixer? Oh, I don't use those."
My casual reply left Kim Hyunah's mouth agape.
"You don't use the mixer? Kneading that by hand alone would be impossible even for an adult man!"
"It's fine. It's my skill."
Kim Hyunah stared in disbelief.
But "skill" shut down any further protests.
In a world overflowing with weird skills, a dough-kneading one wasn't outlandish.
"Ah..."
About to take off my hoodie for the real start, I froze.
No way. If I take off the hood, my ears are fully exposed.
In a pinch, I grabbed the white chef's hat Kim Hyunah had prepared and jammed it over the hood.
I pressed down on my ears to keep the hat from slipping.
I tied on a big apron, rolled up my sleeves to my elbows.
Ready.
I carefully mixed the mountain of ingredients in the giant bowl.
As the sticky liquid met the flour and thickened, the moment the dough started clumping...
"Hng... ha!"
My small white hands plunged fiercely into the dough.
Squish squish-!
My hands softly kneaded it.
Active Skill: Kneading Lv. 1 activated!
The moment Kneading kicked in, my body moved on autopilot.
Like a cat, I pressed and kneaded the dough, pushing, folding, poking.
Hand movements impossible for any normal person.
"Wha—what in the world..."
A deflating gasp escaped Kim Hyunah, who'd been holding her breath watching.
Her eyes were glued to the giant stainless bowl.
With every press of Baek Arang's hands, the sticky dough swelled perfectly, kneading just right.
It writhed like a living thing, fermenting in real time.
"How is this..."
Even by Kim Hyunah's basic baking knowledge, fermentation took ages.
At least an hour, sometimes several.
But the dough through Baek Arang's hands fermented instantly, releasing aroma with each knead, swelling with a smooth sheen.
"Hng, hnng... hng... hehe..."
Ignoring Kim Hyunah's gaze, Baek Arang hummed a tune with a bright smile.
Her innocent grin every time she pressed the dough made even Kim Hyunah feel healed.
A pure smile untouched by society's grime—Kim Hyunah stared, mesmerized.
Is this what true happiness looks like?
In just minutes, the massive dough had perfectly fermented.
Kim Hyunah gawked at the cloud-like rise and Baek Arang's tiny hands in awe.
"Haa, perfect. Did great."
Poking it, the ideal chewy texture confirmed top-tier dough.
"The kneading's... already done?"
"Yeah, fermentation too. Just bake now."
"...Incredible."
Kim Hyunah watched Baek Arang shape the loaves, humming away—until her gaze fixed on top of Baek Arang's head.
Twitch.
Twitch, flap.
Something alive seemed trapped under the hat, twitching and flapping wildly up and down.
What's... in that hat?
All other thoughts vanished; only the hat mattered now.
"Um, Baek Arang. Would it be okay to ask... what's inside that hat?"
"Huh...? Th-the hat...?"
In that instant, my body, buzzing with excitement over shaping the dough, went rigid.
My 10-billion-won high crashed cold.
Wh-what do I do?