The Art of Healing Baking (2)
After the Yustia Banquet.
Soi Spoon was spending her days as usual, living the peaceful and ordinary life of a commoner.
She glanced around her bakery, a slightly melancholic feeling washing over her.
Hillaise Bakery. Shabby, but emanating a warm and cozy atmosphere.
A comfortable space filled with the aroma of freshly baked bread.
‘This is where I belong.’
There was a time when she yearned for the aristocratic banquets, even though they were beyond her reach.
However, after actually attending the Yustia Banquet, her longing had been shattered into a million pieces.
‘I wonder if Iriel is alright?’
The moment Iriel fell from the terrace flashed before her eyes.
And the moment Instructor used his power to save her.
Like a scene from a play, the image of Instructor holding Iriel in his arms remained vivid in her memory.
‘Well, Instructor saved her, so she must be fine.’
Anyway, the banquet had been more boring than she expected, nothing special at all.
Well, except for the sparkling jewels, beautiful clothes, and the people she could never even dream of making eye contact with…
Hmm? Soi, lost in thought, furrowed her brows.
‘Come to think of it, isn’t swordsmanship class more amazing…?’
During class, she could even talk openly and comfortably with those people.
Thinking about it that way made the banquet seem even more insignificant.
Ah, there was one thing she remembered.
‘Selena and Instructor's dance was truly beautiful…’
That dance was the embodiment of the banquet she had always dreamed of.
Moving as one, their bodies intertwined to the music.
As serene as a tranquil lake, yet flowing like a raging river…
What if it had been her, not Selena, by Instructor’s side?
Soi closed her eyes.
She extended one hand and gently placed the other on an imaginary partner's waist, swaying to the rhythm.
“Hmm hmm~ Mm hmm~♬”
She twirled and swayed, lost in her solitary dance. Reaching the climax, she ended with a resounding thump of her foot.
Fuu—
‘Yes, this is it.’
As she reveled in the lingering feeling with her eyes closed…
“One more time! One more time! Woohoo!”
Soi froze and turned around.
There stood her older sister, Silia, with a bright, cheerful smile.
“Did, did you see…?”
Silia nodded vigorously.
“S-Since when?”
“Hmm hmm~ Mm hmm~♬?”
“……”
Soi wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. But Silia, seemingly oblivious to her sister’s shame, continued.
“Hmm, hmm. That was some splendid wriggling. Very, very flexible, like a… frog?”
“……”
“Hmm, or maybe closer to the movements of an earthworm burrowing into the ground?”
“……”
Silia scratched her head, feigning innocence.
Soi's face flushed crimson.
The best course of action in this situation was a swift escape!
“I, I! I'm going out! To, to buy ingredients!”
“My apologies, esteemed 1st Class Dancer of the Empire, Soi Spoon, but our pantry is fully stocked.”
“Then, then I'll go drum up some customers!”
“We haven't finished setting up for the evening rush. More customers would only pose a problem, so I implore you to stay and help carry the bread.”
It seemed Silia was planning to tease her about this for weeks.
In the end, Soi had no choice but to start setting up the bread, enduring her sister's relentless giggles from behind.
“By any chance, did you dance like that at the banquet? What did Instructor say?”
“I didn’t dance!”
“Aw, why not? You were great! With those moves, Instructor would have been so surprised, he'd freeze up!”
“Enough!”
“Hmm. Truly unpredictable movements.”
Just then, a deep voice chimed in, overlapping with Soi's last word.
“Huh?”
“Elise.”
“I-Instructor!?”
Zeke stood at the bakery entrance, arms crossed.
Judging by her sister's barely suppressed snickers, she must have alerted Soi to his arrival.
Soi Spoon's face contorted in despair.
She shot Silia a death glare before turning to Zeke.
“D-Did you see?”
“Hmm.”
“I quit swordsmanship class.”
“Very well, you may do so. However, be aware that your scholarship will also be revoked.”
“That’s so low!”
He always used her weaknesses against her!
Zeke, ignoring Soi's sputtering protest, cut straight to the point.
“Anyway, more importantly, can you come with me now? It’s urgent, that’s why I came personally.”
“Yes…? What’s wrong?”
“Yes, I need your help.”
“My help? But all I can do is bake bread…?”
“Yes, that’s the talent I need.”
Both Soi Spoon and Silia tilted their heads, their faces etched with confusion.
“Ah, Elise, it seems the bakery will struggle without you. Consider this a temporary loaning fee.”
Zeke pulled out a gold coin from his pocket and handed it to Silia.
‘As if Soi’s some item he can just borrow?’
Silia shot Soi a look, her expression a mixture of amusement and disapproval.
“Elise.”
“B-But sis, I was the one who…”
“Hurry along and help him. It sounds urgent.”
Soi Spoon glared at her sister.
* * *
On their way to the Yohaiden Residence.
The matter was urgent, but Zeke felt a proper explanation was in order, so he had opted for a carriage.
Inside the carriage, Soi listened to the situation and gasped.
“Iriel!?”
“Yes. She’s not doing well.”
“B-But then shouldn’t you take her to a doctor? Why me…?”
“Hmm, have I ever told you about a certain talent you possess?”
“…You haven’t really mentioned anything like that.”
He had made her endure all sorts of grueling training, even forcing her to attend swordsmanship class, but he had never actually told her she had any particular talent.
Of course, he must have had some expectations for her to make her attend his class, but hearing it directly was completely different from simply feeling it!
“What kind of talent do I have…? D-Don’t tell me, a doctor…!?”
Soi asked cautiously, her heart pounding with a sliver of hope.
If she were to become a doctor, her life would change drastically.
If she could blossom as a doctor, even as a commoner, she would be treated like a low-ranking noble.
In other words, a dream job that earned respect and wealth!
Zeke nodded.
“Hmm, to be precise, an apothecary rather than a doctor.”
“An apothecary!”
Soi exclaimed in admiration.
Well, it wasn’t a doctor, but an apothecary wasn’t bad either.
She could purchase herbs, blend them, and even develop miracle cures for specific illnesses, potentially swimming in money.
Then, a sudden thought struck her.
‘But why is a swordsmanship instructor telling me about this talent…? And even if I have talent, I haven’t learned anything about it yet…?’
“But you called me to treat Iriel?”
“Hmm.”
“But I don't know anything about medicine!”
Zeke patted her head reassuringly.
“You’ve been making medicine all along.”
“Me? What kind of medicine!?”
No way. Was she already unknowingly blossoming with the talent of medicine creation?
And Instructor had noticed this early on!
However, Zeke's next words left Soi utterly speechless.
“Narcotics.”
“…..?”
“You have a talent for making narcotics.”
“….Yes?”
Seeing her confused expression, Zeke kindly elaborated.
“Hmm, you have a knack for creating narcotics that bring happiness, make people forget pain, or even inflict severe mental attacks.”
“…..”
That’s my talent?
Narcotics? The kind that would have the Empire's security forces swarming the bakery to arrest me?
Soi glared at Zeke.
“Have you noticed any fluctuations in the bakery's sales recently, depending on your mood?”
“Uh….”
His words hit a nerve, her expression stiffening.
There had been.
Recently, Hillaise Bakery had been gaining recognition, but the sales fluctuated wildly.
Sales were strangely high on days she felt good, and strangely low on days she didn’t.
She had always thought the opposite was true.
She felt good because sales were good, and felt bad because sales were bad.
But thinking about it, feeling good in the morning happened before any sales were even made!
“H-How is that related to narcotics…? Are you saying I’ve been putting drugs in my bread?”
“Hmm, something like that.”
“I’ve never put anything like that in my bread!”
Soi shouted indignantly.
She had always prioritized hygiene and strived to create delicious bread.
She had never used any harmful or dangerous ingredients in her baking… except for that one time she made that black bread to get back at Instructor.
“I know. It’s a power you’re not yet conscious of.”
The more they talked, the more it felt like a cryptic riddle.
“It’s difficult to explain now, so I’ll tell you after you see Iriel. We’re here. Let’s go.”
And then.
As soon as Soi laid eyes on Iriel, she stumbled backward in shock.
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