Dancing with the Suit (2)
In the past—before I possessed the mid-boss Regiph Hapsderk in the game world.
"...What do you do on your days off?"
"Play games."
"Games? Hmm, what kind?"
"Otaku eroge visual novels."
"...Oh. Right. ...Is that the thing where you gotta buy expensive consoles? Or study recipes from the game?"
I worked in pastry and baking while enjoying Esdinas of the Blue Sky. Gaming was just a hobby. I liked RPGs and played my share of beautiful girl dating sims too. But Esdinas of the Blue Sky hooked me in a whole different way.
In-game dessert
Ending cutscene dessert
The game's desserts were so perfectly recreated. I uploaded pics of them to SNS and gained a huge following.
"Boss, is this... the Bakery Academy?"
It started as a fun side thing, uploading photos. But it blew up with players, and soon customers lined up out the door.
"Boss, do you sell 'Seya-chan's Melon Bread' by any chance?"
"Nah, we don't sell that."
Of course, I didn't sell actual in-game breads. Not because of copyrights on the data, but after researching, I found the recipes were from overseas companies, and I didn't want the hassle of direct sales.
"Lately, it's kinda awkward going there, right?"
"My little bakery... turned into an otaku den..."
Especially suspicious when rich guys started showing up alone way too often. Business got tricky. So I split tracks: kept the original menu as-is on the first floor, but for die-hards, I partitioned off a photo zone. Rented the empty second floor for Bakery Academy fans. And for them, I started online sales with recipes and designs the devs couldn't complain about.
Trial and error galore, but it worked. Business boomed.
"Boss, with your skills, why not go for master pastry chef?"
"More than that..."
"It's fun."
"Ah, fun."
"And it makes bank. Hey, you're trustworthy, so I'll tell ya—sales exploded after starting Bakery Academy."
"...If you open a second branch, what about my spot?"
They weren't quite apprentices, but folks came to learn, and I taught 'em hard. Word spread in subculture circles, drawing cosplayers and streamers/influencers.
The secret? Skill.
"You punk! Dropping out to go to France?! Think I saved up Seoul tuition for that?!"
I barely gave him a dime... Uh, where are you—
Stuff like that happened, but I went to France, learned, came back. Funded it all myself. Lived ruthlessly.
"Snake. Battalion commander wants you."
"Coming."
Sit. Battalion commander's visiting soon. His daughter's college entrance exam in a few days. Wants a favor before heading out. Two trays minus ingredients. Please.
I pushed so hard, I could've posted "Surviving the Army with Pastry."
And as Bakery Academy sales doubled the main shop...
"Gonna game. G2G."
"Boss!!"
"Researching recipes, no misunderstanding."
I dove deep into character studies and dessert analysis. That's why, possessing this world and entering the academy, I could proudly claim my specialty: pastry and baking.
I dunno how OP the game's talents are here. But based on my real skills, could I stand up to the "world's top" in-game? Not Regiph's hypnosis. Not battle power from dying under Chang Yeom for salvation. This was pride in my pre-possession skills.
Falling here, touring desserts with Unia at terminals and eateries. Sampling academy old school cafeteria fare.
Worth mixing it up.
They had an edge. This world's pastry tech wasn't trash—bread wouldn't revive wheat fields or anything. Much to learn, reference. I even cursed in front of Unia, couldn't hold back pointers.
Perfect for growth. When I return home, beyond 200 billion, I wanted real-world-useful skills from here.
Thus.
"Academy cafeteria desserts are good, sure. But I do one too. Weekends have no meals anyway, so I'll make bread and desserts."
Now in academy, one day a week—even 3-4 hours—for "returning to Earth me."
"...That's why you ordered the apron?"
"Yes, Instructor Esta."
"Not for naked apron?"
"You want me in that?"
"...Thought you wanted others in it."
That'd be nice too.
"Not in a kitchen with knives, Instructor Esta."
Key: secure baking lab.
"So, permission?"
"Not leaving old school, cleaning a classroom yourself? No reason to deny. Fine. You manage that lab."
Approved.
"...For lab use, right?"
Such misunderstandings? Grateful, really.
[Week 1 of March, Saturday afternoon.]
Separate from my cleanup pledge, old school kids spend weekends their way. Few slack. Most grind to not fall behind—boost skills, secure resources.
Some part-time. Some mana stones for mana buildup. Some sparring with dorm elites.
Old school academy kids too.
"Ah, really...? S-Sorry. I have research today...!"
Unia holed up for mana studies. Avoiding me, fine. Silence spell? Didn't pry.
"Yaaawn... What? Sleep... Grow tall..."
Evangeline maxing "growth"—not lazing till noon, but stimulating growth plates in sleep for future empress reign.
Result.
"Move this here?"
"Thanks, Rydmila."
Weekend-free Rydmila heard me, offered help. Casual clothes for cleaning, she ripped out junk tables effortlessly.
"Didn't expect Rydmila's help."
"Leave physical work to me."
She hurled old lab table debris out the window like a boomerang.
Whiiiish—
High-rise flying table dangerous? Nah.
Compared to that academy freshman sneaking toward old school.
She nailed the intruder through the woods, pinpoint.
"Like marking coordinates. Dead accurate."
"Magic radar picks 'em up, just launch warning shots."
She tapped her wrist magic pad. Smartwatch-like, but mana-triggered hologram panels—fantasy medieval with unreal tech.
"Different from student gear?"
"Special spec. Special admit."
"Me?"
"Mine's extra special. Academy-wise... think 'weekend special security part-time gear.'"
"Why?"
"Staff needs weekends off. Pays well."
"Fair."
Staff work's brutal, but 24/7? Insane. Rydmila's special entry freed staff rest time.
Rustle.
Battle-suited crew retrieves the screaming student.
"Thought male from the yell. Girl."
"Good we cleared before angel awakening. Anyway, Phoenix?"
"Yeah?"
"Into staff suits? Staring since."
"Ah, those."
Their tactical military gear screamed Special Forces.
"Man's dream."
"...You want me in it?"
"Not me wearing—seeing others in it."
"Hm. Got it. Understood."
Rydmila checked watch.
"Back in 10."
Out she went.
"...?"
10—no, 5 minutes later.
"Phoenix."
Rydmila returned.
"This the military suit you like?"
Rydmila in full uniform. Her battle suit, exact.
"Why the sudden outfit change?"
"This."
She tugged a strap tight against her body.
"Mana massage... possible clothed?"