Chapter 9: The Red Eyed Waitress
A month after the curtain had closed on an incident lost to history - the incident at the mine - Tockerbrot had grown busy in many ways.
With the large contract with the mine as proof of the bakery's success, Lud and Sven received financing from the bank and cleared the debt from the shady loan shark.
The official story about the incident at the mine was that Lud happened to be passing by and stopped a raid by some bandits who had earlier attacked the church. The townspeople were grateful to Lud, which led to lots of new customers in the bakery.
Tockerbrot's reputation grew day by day, and soon customers came from neighboring towns to buy Lud's bread.
"Oooohh, busy, busy, busy."
Thirty minutes before the store was set to open, Sven ran from left to right.
"Sven? Where does this go?"
Jacob had come to help out.
"That goes in the third box there. If you put it in the fourth box, the shape won't match, so be careful."
Lud was delivering bread to the mine.
With the large contracts and the increase in daily customers, the personnel and equipment in the bakery were working at one hundred percent.
"Phew... This is completely different from a month ago! Sven, I'm demanding a paycheck."
"Ohohoho, don't worry, Jacob. We will abide by Wiltia's labor laws and pay your wage. But, I should be asking you - can you continue to work here?"
"That might be a good idea... Our shop isn't getting much work right now, so I could use a little extra cash."
Since Jacob's grandfather had collaborated with the terrorists, he was a person of interest in the investigation. Lud had appealed to government and since Jacob's grandfather had cooperated under duress, the matter was soon settled.
However, because he had been shown mercy by the Wiltian soldier who had been the target of all of his hatred, he had aged noticeable, and became unable to work.
"Jacob... That's... I'm sorry..."
It had been his grandfather's own fault, and Sven and Lud had done everything they could, but the fact that his grandfather's misdeeds burdened Jacob made them both feel extremely unhappy.
"Don't worry about it. It's a miracle the workshop was able to get by this long."
Jacob smiled to tell Sven that she didn't need to remain so gloomy.
It was a smile that made one think that perhaps he was someone of some importance.
"Don't you think it's time you guys hired another person?"
"Yes, we put up a help wanted poster, but--"
Ratlle, roll.
Although there was still time before the bakery opened for the day, the door to the shop opened.
"Oh, please excuse us, we aren't open yet-- Tch!"
Standing in the doorway was the sister from the church and former terrorist, Marlene.
"Good morning. Is Lud here?"
"Master is out on business. We're busy and have no time to talk, so please leave as soon as possible ♪."
A beaming smile came to Sven's face but her response to Marlene dripped poison.
"That's fine, I didn't come to see you anyway. Where did Lud go? I have something to talk to him about."
Marlene didn't back down and replied with a beaming smile of her own.
"I beg your pardon, Master has come down with an illness that does not allow him within fifty meters of any ill-natured nuns, so I'll ask you to be on your way."
"Hehehe, I'm not really sure you're one to be calling someone else ill-natured, are you?"
Marlene's smile began to twitch in anger.
Since the events at the mine, Marlene's attitude towards Lud had changed.
The change was small and Lud didn't notice it, but when he brought his alms to the Church, Marlene seemed closer to him.
Sven observed that somewhere along the line Marlene had stopped calling him "Mister Lud".
What are you doing forcing yourself on him like that, Sven had thought to herself.
"Nyeh! Master isn't here, not that I'd let you see him you old witch! You're way too slow!"
The two glared at each other, and looked like they were on the verge of clawing one another.
Jacob muttered in exasperation. "Hey... Let's get back to work. Um... Marlene? Do you have business here?"
"Oh, yes... Where did that child run off to, I wonder..."
Marlene looked behind her, but the young girl she had come with was gone.
The young girl was hiding behind the shop.
She was scared. Not only was that waitress terrifying, but she didn't know what to say to Lud.
"Milly... Is that you?"
Lud had just come back in his new and slightly less rusted truck.
"Ah, ah uh..."
Looking at Lud's face, Milly trembled.
She wasn't frightened. She was bewildered and had lost her nerve.
"Um...?"
Looking perplexed, Lud approached her.
"So, how was it?"
The other day, Lud brought the apple danish to the church for Milly.
It was a masterpiece, with Lud paying close attention to everything from the type of apple to the liqueur he added for more flavor.
Milly accepted it, but had disappeared into the church without saying a word.
"Hmph!"
With a look of determination on her face, Milly took something from her pocket and thrust it towards Lud.
"I want some apple bread..."
She was holding coins. It was the pocket money she earned from helping Marlene at the church.
"You came here... to buy some of my bread?"
Lud looked at Milly as if he couldn't believe what she was saying.
"Y-You're a baker, right?! Sell me some!"
This wasn't what Milly wanted to say, and she felt like tearing her head off.
"I'm sorry... for being mean."
Milly said this as if the words were being wrung out of her.
She hated Wiltians. She hated soldiers. And she still hated this baker too.
But, he had saved her and Marlene. He had protected everyone at the church.
She thought she should give him a proper thank you.
But she couldn't admit this to Lud, and had come as a customer.
"But you said you'd never eat my bread..."
She had always said this. That she would never eat any bread that he made.
"The apple danish... was good..."
Milly scowled to hide her embarrassment.
She hated Wiltians. She hated soldiers. And she still hated this baker after all.
But his bread looked so appetizing.
She ate it in hiding. It was incredibly delicious.
"Hurry up and sell me some... Gwah?!"
Lud suddenly hugged her.
Surprised, Milly struggled a little, but she couldn't bring herself to pull free.
Lud had the same smell that he had that night in the mine when he risked his life to protect Milly, and hugged her, telling her to live for herself.
It was a warm embrace and a nice smell.
It was the same smell of wheat and a baking oven that she remembered her beloved Father had.
"Tha... Thank you..."
Lud was crying. Tears of joy.
Is this guy crazy? His place is so unpopular that someone coming in to buy bread makes him cry?
In her head, Milly mercilessly hurled abuse at Lud.
"Are you dense...?"
She hated Wiltians. She hated soldiers. This baker was an idiot, but right now she didn't hate him as much as he she had.
"... J-Jerk..."
As she spoke, she grabbed Lud's clothes with her small hands.
She reached out as if she was trying to return Lud's embrace.
Her face grew hot. But it wasn't an unpleasant feeling.
Lud was an adult, but somehow Milly even found herself thinking that he was cute.
"Master, are you back from the mi... huh?!"
Having heard the truck, Sven came out and saw Lud's crying face as he hugged the young girl.
"M-M-M-M-M-Master!"
Rushing over to them with enough force to break the sound barrier, Sven tore Milly away from Lud.
"How dare you! You've got some nerve making a pass at him!"
Milly was the person being hugged, so it was unreasonable for Sven to blame it on her.
But that wasn't what Sven was thinking about.
Milly's face was aglow, much like Marlene's when she looked at Lud lately.
She had the eyes of a young girl in love.
"Y-You're wrong! It's not like that!"
Milly tried to protest but she couldn't hide her red cheeks.
"What do you mean 'that'?!"
Sven was right after all.
The color showed in her eyes. Sven was convinced that Milly's strategy was to show Lud a little bit of gentleness and kindness and snare him for herself.
"Listen to me, Sven! Milly--"
"Maasssttteeerrr!"
Lud seemed agitated as he tried to explain what had happened.
Sven cut him off and brought her reproachful face close to his.
"Y-Yes?"
Under the pressure of Sven's gaze, Lud instinctively cowered.
"Listen, my heart and body are for you and you alone!"
"Eh?"
Sven had asked herself why she desired to make Lud happy.
Why did she want Lud to treat her as someone dear to him?
At last, she had found the answer.
His smile. She loved it.
She wanted to see him smile much more.
The smile in his heart was for her even though she was nothing more than a weapon.
Nevertheless, there were too many rivals around him.
And the number of rivals had grown while she wasn't looking. This time it was a young girl!
At this rate, Sven would feel more at ease in the middle of a crossfire.
Sven was beside herself with worry and anxiety.
She had to make this one thing clear.
"Master, is mine and mine alone!"
Before Lud could reply, Sven put her lips on Lud's.
This person is precious to me.
I'm not going to let anyone else have him!
Sven vowed in her heart to keep this promise.In the mining town of Organbaelz, there is a small bakery named Tockerbrot, with a frightening but earnest baker, and his cute smiling waitress.
If you ever visit this town, I highly recommend stopping by the bakery.
If you do, and if you happen to be especially lovely, please don't be surprised and don't be disturbed if the red eyes of the waitress shoot sparks in your direction.
END OF VOLUME 1
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