Chapter 14

Chapter 14
Chapter 14: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“W-shall we? Our shop is also well-known for crafting wonderful bread!”

“Rikschel, wouldn’t it feel far more fulfilling if we lent a hand ourselves?”

“……That sounds like a solid plan.”

Rikschel had an epiphany upon hearing Lion’s words.

‘I was only fixated on my older brother and completely neglected the reality facing the children at the orphanage.’

My older brother, despite suffering from illness, puts others first before himself…

My own gesture was nothing more than superficial kindness.

Reflecting on it now, wasn’t it entirely a hollow donation?

‘This is an orphanage where sheer survival is an uphill battle.’

Would a place like that truly have an abundance of baking supplies?

They likely ration not just butter and milk, but even simple salt and inexpensive oil.

‘My older brother must have figured that out.’

Simply incredible.

The corners of Rikschel’s mouth drifted upward in a soft smile.

He couldn’t quite explain why the realization that Lion had already grasped what he missed felt so deeply gratifying and impressive.

‘Alright then.’

Of course, Lion wasn’t actually mulling things over nearly as deeply as Rikschel assumed.

Great-tasting bread requires both top-tier ingredients and a baker’s technique, so wouldn’t a skilled approach yield wonderful food?

Naturally, it would turn out delicious, leaving whoever ate it completely content.

Besides, if happiness is the goal, shouldn’t we aim to make as many people happy as possible?

“I’ll get right on the preparations.”

Nicholas vanished into the kitchen hurriedly before the two brothers could alter their decision.

Meanwhile, Lion and Rikschel inspected the complimentary items they had been handed at the shop.

“There probably isn’t much here. They aren’t the type of establishment to give out lavish freebies.”

“Care to take a look?”

True to Rikschel’s prediction, the bag contained mostly odds and ends, though one particular item immediately caught his eye.

‘Could this be…….’

『Artisan’s Repair Kit』
-Capable of mending anything, from a frayed name tag to a worn shoe insert!
-This tool belongs to a craftsman who reached the boundary of their own potential. Items of Artisan tier and lower can be repaired, though Master tier pieces are beyond its scope.

‘Not bad at all, are we?’

Scuffed needles alongside discolored thread.

It appeared entirely ordinary at first glance, but through an expert lens, it held genuine value.

In terms of monetary worth, it actually surpassed the hairpin he had purchased earlier, yet it seemed to have been tossed in unnoticed due to its weathered state.

“I have no use for these, so you can keep the whole lot, Older Brother.”

“Are you certain? An item of this quality?”

“Indeed. Though I doubt you’ll find much use for it either, Older Brother.”

Rikschel gazed at the repair kit resting in Lion’s grip.

Labeled as a repair kit, it looked more like useless scrap that made one question if it could even manage a single sturdy stitch.

‘There is simply no way he would ever utilize something like that.’

Eccentric as he might be, sewing served no purpose in his life.

“My thanks. I shall handle it with care, seeing as it is a present from you.”

Lion answered promptly, slipping the kit into his pouch.

“You aren’t viewing this as a Coming-of-Age Ceremony present, are you?”

“Weren’t you? Where else would you pull the funds from?”

“…….”

“…….”

Naturally, he came from a wealthy household.

Even if my younger brother had just covered the cost of the goods moments prior.

Regardless.

The brief awkwardness faded quickly as Nicholas emerged from the back, now dressed in an apron and finished with his preparations.

“Right this way, please.”

Stepping inside revealed a spotless kitchen space.

『Whole Wheat Flour (★)』

Flour was already on hand, and since it was a functioning bakery to begin with, the core essentials were fully stocked.

Most notably…….

Lion’s gaze drifted toward a green-tinted glass bottle.

『High-Quality Olive Oil (★★)』

A two-star grade olive oil.

With such a rich oil at their disposal, the flavor profile was practically guaranteed.

“Now then, the style we will be baking today is a universally loved staple loaf. It remains simple to prepare yet tastes wonderful, and children adore it.”

Judging that both young masters had likely never baked a loaf in their lives, Nicholas opted for an approachable recipe.

“Allow me to demonstrate with a smaller portion first.”

Nicholas immediately set to work.

‘Straightforward.’

Rikschel smiled with an easygoing air as he observed the uncomplicated process.

Combine a precise measure of flour with measured amounts of salt, yeast, and milk, knead the mixture thoroughly, transfer it to a greased vessel, and leave it to rise.

Following that, press down the fermented dough to expel air pockets, fold in crushed sunflower seeds, and blend evenly.

Compared to mastering magic, this felt like an effortless chore, didn’t it?

“Ideally, one would allow a second round of fermentation here, but time escapes us, so we shall conclude this step.”

Nicholas ignited the oven to begin preheating before clapping his hands lightly.

“Would either of you care to try reaching this point yourselves?”

Rikschel immediately moved to replicate what he had just witnessed.

He worked the dough through its kneading phase, guided it past fermentation, and pressed in his chosen toppings.

Finally, dropping the prepared mixture into a loaf pan wrapped up the procedure.

It proved to be a remarkably swift endeavor.

Yet…….-

‘Is my older brother still not finished yet?’

Rikschel glanced over at Lion.

He wore an expression of intense concentration, as though deep in contemplation over some complex puzzle.

‘Ah, well, I suppose it can be quite demanding.’

Just as people possess different natural talents, this particular chore might simply not be his forte.

“I believe I require a bit more time.”

“Understood completely. In that case, I shall bake mine and your brother’s loaves first.”

The pair slid their respective dough pans into the hot oven.

After a short while passed, Lion seemed to have finally found his rhythm and belatedly commenced kneading his own batch.

A faint, pleasant tang mingled with a savory aroma that instantly stirred the appetite began to drift through the air.

Their batches emerged from the oven first.

“Let us inspect whether they baked through properly.”

As Nicholas pulled the pans out…….

“……Pardon?”

A stark contrast existed between the two finished loaves.

The crown of Rikschel’s loaf was charred at the edges.

“When too much dough fills the pan, this tends to happen.”

Noting it as a common mishap, Nicholas trimmed away the burnt top using a bread knife.

“Shall we sample the results?”

Quite right. The flavor ought to remain unaffected.

Rikschel bit into a slice without displaying any outward panic.

The whole wheat creation baked by Nicholas lacked the refinement of the pastries served at their estate, yet it possessed a rustic charm of its own.

The outer crust offered a pleasant chew, while the interior remained soft and moist.

Furthermore, the salt seemed to draw out a deep savory depth, keeping the flavor satisfying even when eaten entirely plain.

By contrast…… the loaf he had crafted himself.

“Hmm. It certainly has… a distinct profile!”

“I can verify that it possesses flavor, but……”

It was remarkably dense.

To the point where the mere act of chewing felt like a chore.

That harsh texture dominated the experience, pushing any subtle notes of taste entirely into the background.

Edible, certainly, if no alternative existed…

Yet why on earth would anyone choose to?

“How can this be? The measurements from the recipe were exact.”

As Rikschel muttered in utter confusion, Nicholas let out a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha. It appears the yeast and salt managed to blend together a bit too intimately during your kneading phase.”

He added that such a mistake naturally results in a rigid, stubborn loaf.

“Unavoidable for a first attempt, I suppose. Even so, this is more than acceptable. Ah, it appears the young master’s loaf has finished baking as well. Let us see… hmm? Oh, my word, it turned out remarkably well, didn’t it?”

Unlike Rikschel’s mishap, Lion’s loaf had baked to absolute perfection.

Free of any scorched spots, it boasted an even, golden-brown hue matching Nicholas’s own work.

“Let us take a closer look……”

Nicholas sliced into the loaf with a look of eager anticipation.

Swish, swish, swish.

The crisp, satisfying sound of a properly baked crust filled the kitchen air…

『Asteri Whole Wheat Bread (★)』
-A masterfully baked loaf of whole wheat. Crispy and chewy on the outside, dense yet tender on the inside.
-Pairs wonderfully with fruit preserves or served as the foundation for a hearty sandwich!
『Usage- Food』
『☞To comprehend this recipe, one must attain Apprentice Lv.3.』
『Cooking Proficiency has advanced to Apprentice Lv.2.』

‘Just as expected.’

Armed with quality ingredients, careful observation naturally yielded superior results.

Nicholas had omitted two subtle details during his spoken instructions.

Keeping the salt and yeast strictly separated until the right moment, and filling the baking tin to just beneath the rim.

Lion had incorporated one additional touch of his own.

Prior to baking, he had lightly dusted the surface with whole wheat flour and scored a clean slash across the top.

This simple step created a striking visual contrast between the inner crumb and the toasted crust, making the final presentation infinitely more appetizing.

“Naturally, food that appeals to the eye tastes all the better for it. Thus, I thought I would give it a try.”

Even if the orphans were desperately hungry and in urgent need of nourishment, wouldn’t it bring a bit more joy if the food looked inviting to begin with?

『Bread Bud (1) Achievement Progress: 1/100』

In any case, by weaving in those minor details, he had successfully produced a one-star creation.

That precise effort was what triggered the system reward.

It implied that repeating this process ninety-nine more times would complete the overall milestone.

‘I may need to pay a covert visit to the estate’s pantry later.’

While Lion remained quietly pleased with the outcome…

“Good heavens above!”

Nicholas stood paralyzed in pure astonishment.

Not only was it staggering that a novice had produced such exceptional bread on his very first try, but…

Wasn’t this young master’s inner character remarkably compassionate?

Having remained silent throughout the process, Nicholas had initially assumed the boy had simply been dragged along against his will, but reality proved entirely different.

‘When he first proposed the idea of baking, I harbored lingering doubts…….’

I suspected the donation might merely serve as a convenient pretext for an aristocrat eager to dabble in commoner life.

In truth, that skepticism had lingered right up until the mixing phase.

Even so, he had prioritized the welfare of the starving children above all else, deciding that securing provisions outweighed his personal misgivings.

Thus, he had willingly joined in the cooperative effort of baking.

Yet.

‘To harbor such genuine consideration for those who would actually consume the food…!’

It was a depth of empathy that even Nicholas had missed, entirely consumed by the mechanics of supervising the two brothers.

If the divine powers happened to be watching this exact scene, Nicholas felt he would surely drown in a sea of personal shame.

Determined to make amends, he resolved to offer his absolute best assistance moving forward, even at this late stage.

‘What represents the highest form of goodwill I can possibly offer here?’

Without a doubt, executing that specific course of action was the correct path.

Having reached a firm resolution, Nicholas opened his mouth.

“Young Masters. Might I ask you to continue tending to the baking for a brief moment? I find myself… in urgent need of attending to a matter elsewhere.”

“Hmm? Ah, of course. You must have your own affairs to manage; we have already kept you quite long enough.”

“My deepest thanks. I shall return at the absolute fastest pace possible!”

Declaring this with an air of fierce determination, Nicholas bolted out the door without even bothering to slip off his apron.

“He seems rather preoccupied? Perhaps I overstepped by asking him to instruct me in the art of baking?”

“……Not at all, Older Brother.”

Rikschel, feeling a sudden surge of shared kinship with the departed baker, muttered as he returned to his kneading trough.

“He gave every impression of returning shortly, so our best course is simply to keep at the work.”

“Hmm, if you say so, then I suppose we shall.”

Having ample leisure time to dedicate to baking wasn’t necessarily a bad state of affairs.

“I shall redouble my own efforts as well.”

Rikschel declared with renewed vigor, diving back into the task with his entire heart.

And so, while Nicholas remained absent, Rikschel persistently worked large quantities of dough before sliding them steadily into the oven…

『Bread Bud (1) Achievement Progress: 60/100』

Right around the moment when the accumulated stock of loaves would guarantee two full portions for every single child at the orphanage…

Nicholas finally reappeared.

“I have returned at last, Young Masters!”

Yet he was far from alone.