Chapter 13: Chapter 12: Billionaire At The Store
The day carried on, the bakery buzzing with life as more customers poured in.
Rimuru had just finished decorating a tray of cupcakes when a group of teenagers burst through the door, their chatter filling the air.
"Oh my gosh, she's here!" one of the girls whispered loudly, her phone already out to snap a picture.
"I told you, this is the bakery I was talking about! Her bread is, like, legendary," another added, practically bouncing in excitement.
Rimuru gave them a polite smile, though internally he sighed.
It was always the same—someone new mistaking him for a "cute lady baker." At this point, he just rolled with it.
"Welcome," he said, setting a tray on the counter. "What can I get for you?"
"Can we get a selfie with you first?" one of them asked, holding up her phone with a hopeful grin.
Before Rimuru could respond, Anna popped up from the side, her hands on her hips. "Hey, no free photos unless you buy something!" she teased, earning a round of laughter.
"We were going to anyway!" the girl retorted, grinning as she ordered a dozen cupcakes and two loaves of sourdough.
As Rimuru handed over the goods and reluctantly posed for a quick picture, Lucas, ever the quiet observer, muttered from the back, "They're going to call this place a tourist spot at this rate."
Rimuru chuckled. "As long as they buy something.. I don't mind"
By the afternoon, the crowd had thinned, giving Rimuru a moment to breathe.
He stood by the counter, sipping a cup of tea, when Mrs. Avery, one of the oldest customers, hobbled in with her cane.
"Miss Rimuru!" she called out, her voice trembling but cheerful. "I was worried sick after I heard you went to Metropolis. I told everyone, 'She's too sweet to be in a dangerous place like that!"
Rimuru set down his tea and quickly walked over to help her to a chair. "Mrs. Avery, you should be more worried about yourself! How's your leg feeling today?"
"Oh, don't you fuss over me," she said with a wave of her hand. "You're the one running off to places with aliens and whatnot!"
"I'm fine, really," Rimuru reassured her as he packed her usual order—a loaf of rye bread and a box of cookies. "But I promise I'll stay out of trouble from now on."
"You better," she said, shaking her cane for emphasis before chuckling. "We'd be lost without you, dear. I mean there's no one in the world can make bake godly buns like you, if you die im going to follow you in heaven"
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, signaling the end of the day, the bakery finally quieted down.
Anna stretched dramatically, her smile as bright as ever. "Another day of Tempest Legendary Bakery' is in the books!"
Lucas stacked the last of the chairs, his expression calm as always. "You need to close earlier if you're going to keep up with this pace."
Rimuru smirked, flipping the sign on the door to Closed. "You're both forgetting—I don't get tired like you two."
"Yeah, yeah, you have some crazy stamina" Anna said, waving him off. "But we do, so we're heading out! See you tomorrow, Rimuru!"
Lucas gave a nod and followed her out, leaving Rimuru alone in the quiet bakery.
He stood behind the counter for a moment, staring out the window as the streetlights flickered on.
The peaceful evening felt almost surreal, considering everything that loomed in the background—the Firmament's expansion, the unknown forces at play, and the multiverse teetering on the edge.
But for now, this little corner of the world was calm, and Rimuru intended to keep it that way.
He sighed, smiling softly as he started tidying up. "One day at a time," he muttered to himself.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but tonight, the bakery was his sanctuary.
The sun rose on another peaceful day in Central City, and Rimuru was already deep into his routine.
By 2:00 a.m., the bakery was alive with the comforting aroma of freshly baked breads.
By the time he opened the doors, the usual early morning crowd had started forming.
Barry Allen, of course, was among them, arriving even earlier than the day before.
"Morning, Rimuru!" Barry greeted, jogging in with a grin.
Rimuru raised an eyebrow, wiping flour from his hands. "You're early again. Did you camp outside this time?"
Barry laughed nervously. "If I don't come early, I'm left with crumbs." He scanned the display, his eyes lighting up. "I'll take three of those cinnamon rolls, two croissants, a loaf of sourdough... oh, and throw in some of those blueberry muffins!"
Rimuru packed the order efficiently, muttering to himself, "Does this guy even have a job?"
Barry, pretending not to hear, smiled sheepishly. "Uh, by the way, you're doing an amazing job here. You know, as always." He grabbed his bag and zipped out before Rimuru could comment further.
By noon, the bakery was bustling.
Anna fluttered around, chatting cheerfully with customers, while Lucas worked quietly in the background, organizing shelves and clearing tables.
Rimuru stood behind the counter, enjoying the rhythm of the day, when the door suddenly swung open, and the room fell into an immediate hush.
In walked Bruce Wayne, the Bruce Wayne—the billionaire playboy of Gotham City.
Rimuru blinked in surprise as the atmosphere in the bakery shifted. Conversations stopped, eyes widened, and a few girls in the crowd squealed softly.
One even fainted right on the spot, caught by her startled friend.
"Is that... Bruce Wayne?" one woman whispered loudly, clutching her phone like it was a lifeline.
"Why is he here? In Central City?" another gasped.
Bruce, ever the picture of composed charm, offered a polite smile as he approached the counter.
His piercing gaze scanned the display.
"Good afternoon," Bruce said smoothly, his voice as rich as his bank account.
Rimuru tilted his head, not entirely sure how to respond. "Uh... welcome? What can I get for you?"
Bruce studied the menu board briefly before replying, "A baguette, a loaf of sourdough, and two of those apple turnovers, please."
"Coming right up," Rimuru said, quickly assembling the order. As he worked, he couldn't help but feel the weight of Bruce's intense gaze.
Bruce looked around the bakery, taking in the cozy décor and the steady stream of customers. "You've built quite the reputation here, did you do this all by yourself?" he commented. "I've heard the bakery here has quite the godly hand of a chief"
Rimuru snorted, tying the bag neatly. "It's just bread. Not sure what's so extraordinary about it."
Bruce smirked, clearly amused. "Modesty. I like that."
Before Rimuru could retort, Anna leaned in, practically bouncing with excitement. "Oh my gosh, Mr. Wayne! It's such an honor to have you here! I mean, I've read all about you, and you're even more handsome in person!"
Bruce chuckled politely. "Thank you. That's very kind of you."
Meanwhile, Lucas stood in the corner, muttering, "This is ridiculous," as another woman fainted dramatically near the door.
Rimuru sighed, placing the neatly packed bag on the counter. "Here's your order. That'll be—"
Bruce waved a hand, pulling out a crisp hundred-dollar bill."Keep the change."
Rimuru stared at the bill, unimpressed. "This isn't a tip jar, you know. Don't flaunt your wealth in a bakery."
Bruce raised an eyebrow but said nothing, sliding the bill across the counter with a smirk. "Consider it a token of appreciation."
As he turned to leave, the entire bakery erupted into hushed whispers and camera flashes.
Rimuru sighed, rubbing his temple.
After the door closed behind Bruce, Anna spun around, her cheeks flushed. "Can you believe that? Bruce Wayne, right here in our bakery! Rimuru, do you know how huge this is?"
Rimuru deadpanned, "Yeah, great. Maybe next time he'll bring in a limo and really give people a show."
Anna gasped, her eyes sparkling. "Do you think he would? That would be so cool!"
Lucas rolled his eyes as he wiped down the counter. "This place is turning into a circus."
Rimuru chuckled, returning to his station. "As long as they keep buying bread, they can faint all they want."
The rest of the day carried on with the same energy, customers coming in with stars in their eyes and excitement in their voices, all talking about Bruce Wayne's mysterious visit.
Rimuru, meanwhile, just focused on keeping the bread stocked, muttering to himself about how complicated "normal life" could be.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone