In the past, before I was possessed by the mid-boss of the game world—Regif Habsderk…
-…What do you do on your days off?
-I play games.
-You play games? Hmm, what kind of games?
-Otaku dating simulation games.
-Oh, I see. So, do you have to buy expensive gaming consoles for that? Or do you study the recipes that appear in the game?
While working in the pastry and bakery field, I enjoyed playing “Esdinas of Heaven”.
The game itself was just a hobby.
I liked RPGs and also enjoyed dating sims with cute girls.
But “Esdinas of Heaven” offered me a different kind of enjoyment.
-This is the [Maple Mont Blanc] from the game.
-This is the [Three-tier Wedding Cake] from the ending cutscene.
Recreating the desserts from the game.
I uploaded the desserts featured in the game on social media, and they gained quite a bit of popularity.
-Excuse me, sir, is this… [Bread Academy]?
At first, I uploaded the photos just for fun.
But after it became a big hit among players, my shop became incredibly popular.
-Sir, do you sell ‘Seia-chan’s Melon Bread’?
-We don’t sell that here.
Of course, I didn’t actually sell the bread from the game.
Not due to intellectual property concerns, but because after doing some research, I found that the recipes belonged to overseas companies, so I hesitated to sell them directly.
-Lately, isn’t it a bit risky to go there?
-My little bakery shrine… has turned into an otaku haven…
What became more of a challenge was that increasingly suspiciously wealthy male customers would visit the shop alone frequently.
So, I decided to run a dual-track business.
I kept the original menu recipes as much as possible while creating a photo zone for those who were particularly interested. I divided the store into different areas.
The first floor remained as the original shop, while I newly rented the previously vacant second floor as a space for those interested in the Bread Academy.
For those specifically interested in the Bread Academy, I also began online sales, making sure the designs and recipes were different enough that the game’s producers couldn’t complain.
There were many trials and errors along the way, but as things started to work out, the business thrived.
-Sir, with your skills, shouldn’t you challenge for a Master title instead of doing this…?
-It’s fun.
-Oh, fun.
-And this, it’s making some good money. I’ll tell you this because it’s you, ever since starting the Bread Academy, the sales have…
-…If you open a second shop, will you give me a position?
Though I wouldn’t call them apprentices, more and more people came to learn, and I diligently taught them. As word spread in subculture circles, the Bread Academy space became a place where cosplayers, streamers, and influencers started to visit.
Of course, the secret to success was skill.
-You punk, you’re really dropping out of college and going to France?! Do you think I saved up that tuition for you to do this?! I didn’t give you a single penny… Wait, where do you think you’re going-?
Indeed, I had gone through a lot, but I eventually went to France, learned, and came back.
I secured all the money I needed by myself, living with determination.
-Sergeant, the company commander is calling for you.
-Oh, you’re here? Sit down. The battalion commander is visiting soon, and his daughter has an exam in a few days. Can you make something for him before he leaves? I’ll give you double the cost, aside from the ingredients. Please, I’m counting on you.
I could have written a story titled “Surviving the Military Through Pastry and Baking” because I did my best.
As sales for the Bread Academy steadily doubled those of the first-floor main store…
-I’m off to play games. See ya.
-Boss!!
-I’m going in to research recipes, so don’t misunderstand.
I focused on character research and a deep analysis of the desserts.
That’s why, when I was reincarnated into this world and enrolled in the Academy, I confidently declared my specialty as “pastry and baking”.
I’m not sure how amazing the talents of the characters in this world are in comparison to the in-game abilities.
But based on the skills I’ve honed throughout my life, I wanted to see if I could be recognized by those who possess the “world’s top-tier” talents in the game.
It wasn’t Regif’s ability as a hypnotist.
Not as the power I gained through countless deaths under Changyeom’s domain for the salvation of this world.
It was a contest of pride and confidence in the skills I had acquired before I was possessed.
And after exploring the desserts in various restaurants with Yunia around the Terminal, and sampling the food here and there…
-It’s worth a shot.
I saw potential. The confectionery and baking skills in this world weren’t so terrible that bread would resurrect into a wheat field on the plains—but they weren’t excellent either.
There were plenty of things to learn, things to reference, and I even yelled at Yunia out of frustration once because I couldn’t hold back my tips.
In short, this world provided an environment where I could grow my personal skills.
When I returned to reality, I didn’t just want to secure 200 billion won; I wanted to develop abilities from this world that would help me in the real world.
Thus…
“The Academy’s cafeteria desserts are certainly delicious, but I’m pretty good at making desserts too. Since meals aren’t served once a week, I’d like to make bread and desserts during that time.”
Since I’d already enrolled in the Academy, I wanted to dedicate at least one day a week—or at least 3-4 hours—for the “me who will return to Earth”.
“…So, that’s why you ordered an apron, right?”
“Yes, Instructor Esta.”
“…It’s definitely not for a naked apron stunt, right?”
“Are you suggesting that I should wear something like that?”
“…I thought you were going to make someone else wear it.”
That could be fun too, but…
“That’s not something you do while holding a knife and cooking, Instructor Esta.”
The most important thing is securing a practice room for baking.
“So, will you allow it?”
“Since you’re not leaving the old school building and are even willing to tidy up a classroom yourself, there’s no reason not to allow it. Alright. You can manage that practice room.”
Permission was granted.
“…You are planning to use it as a practice room, right?”
This kind of misunderstanding was, in many ways, a blessing.
* * *
[Saturday, Week 1 of March, Afternoon.]
Aside from my decision to clean up the practice room, students at the old school building each spent their weekends in their own way.
There are almost no people who rest on the weekends.
Almost no one uses the weekend to rest.
Most of the Academy’s students work hard not to fall behind others, striving to improve their skills or secure resources for a better learning environment, even during the weekends.
Some take part-time jobs.
Some collect magic stones to store mana. And others arrange duels with skilled dorm mates.
The students of the Old School Academy were no different.
– Ah, really…? Sorry, I need to research something urgently today…!
In Yunia’s case, she had shut herself in her room, claiming she needed to conduct magic research.
I understood she was avoiding me, but I didn’t bother asking why she cast a Silence spell on top of that.
– Hyaaahm…. What am I going to do? I’ll sleep…. I need to sleep… and grow taller….
Evangeline, on the other hand, was fully dedicated to her ‘growth’.
She wasn’t just lazing around in bed until the sun was high in the sky out of laziness; she had determined that stimulating her growth plates during sleep would contribute to her future as a proper Empress.
As a result…
“Should I move this here?”
“Thank you, Miss Ludmila.”
Ludmila, who usually had nothing to do on weekends or during her leisure time except for personal upkeep, heard my story and decided to help.
Wearing casual clothes for the cleaning, she quickly dismantled and organized the old equipment.
“I didn’t expect Miss Ludmila to help.”
“If it’s something that requires physical effort, you can leave it to me.”
Without hesitation, Ludmila tossed the remains of an old practice table out of an open window as if throwing a boomerang.
Whoooosh—
You might say that throwing a table from such a high building was dangerous.
Ugh, aaahhh!!
But not as much as the Academy student who was secretly trying to sneak into the old school building.
Ludmila had perfectly aimed and taken out the sneaky student attempting to infiltrate through the forest.
“That was like hitting a marked target. Quite precise.”
“If it’s something detectable by a magic radar, I just need to send out a warning shot.”
Ludmila pointed to the magic pad on her wrist.
It looked somewhat like a smartwatch but was actually a finely crafted magic stone device.
By simply channeling a bit of mana, it instantly displayed multiple hologram monitors, representing a fusion of fantasy medieval and high-tech technology that doesn’t exist in the real world.
“It seems different from the ones regular students use?”
“It’s a special model. I’m a special admission student.”
“What about me?”
“In my case, let’s say it’s more for a ‘weekend special security guard’ kind of situation at the Academy.”
“Why?”
“Faculty members need to rest on weekends too, and the pay is pretty decent.”
“That’s fair.”
Though the Academy staff work hard, expecting them to work 24/7 would be absurd.
The reason Ludmila entered as a special admission student was to give the staff more time to rest.
Swoosh.
As the wreckage was cleared, individuals in combat suits arrived to retrieve the student.
“I thought it was a male student from the scream, but it’s a girl.”
“It’s good we handled it before she turned into an angel. By the way, Phoenix?”
“Yeah?”
“You seem interested in the staff’s combat suits. You’ve been staring at them for a while.”
“Oh, those.”
The uniforms worn by the staff hauling away the student were exactly what you’d expect from a “Special Forces” team, exuding tactical military vibes.
“It’s every guy’s dream.”
“…Are you saying you want to wear one of those?”
“Not necessarily that I want to wear it, more like I enjoy seeing people in those kinds of outfits.”
“Hmm. I see. Got it.”
Ludmila checked her watch.
“I’ll be back in 10 minutes.”
She promptly left the room.
“…?”
And then, not 10 minutes, but 5 minutes later…
“Student Phoenix.”
Ludmila had returned.
“Is this the kind of military suit you like?”
Ludmila appeared in her uniform.
She was wearing the same battle suit she wore during combat.
“Why did you suddenly change into that?”
“Well…”
She tugged on a strap that clung tightly to her uniform.
“H-Hey, is it possible to do that mana massage thing… while still wearing clothes?”
