by SOW
“My scar... it would be hard to hide a scar this big...”
“To be honest, I should be used to it by now but if I don’t properly brace myself before coming in, it can sometimes be bad for my heart.”
“I-I’m trying. I try to have on a bright smiling face...”
“Okay, smile.”
Lud gave a big grin. But instead of a smile, it looked like Lud was distorting and straining the muscles of his face.
“You know... A smile like that says, ‘Shall I teach you a lesson, fool? Watch out!’”
Lud had given the smile his all. Maybe he was truly beyond help.
“Lud, as long as you are the one standing behind the counter, this bakery will have no customers. It’s sad, but that’s the truth.”
“Th-That can’t be...” Lud held his head in his heads and slumped low. He resembled a demonic beast trembling in fear at the word of God.
“I’m saying this for your own good. Why don’t you hire a part-time helper? Then, you can stay in the back baking the bread. I think that’s the best idea.”
“But...”
If Lud could save the bakery, he would do anything. And actually, between baking the bread, cleaning up, and doing all the other chores, it was a lot for one person to handle. He worked without a break, but there was a limit to how much he could do on his own.
“Hmm... in that case, Jacob, could you—?”
“No way! That isn’t happening!” Jacob shook his head.
“Our repair shop is in trouble, too. We’re so understaffed, I would hire our watchdog, Marjes, to help out if I could. Sorry, but it’s impossible.”
The war was over and with it, an end to special procurements for the war effort. The repair shop that Jacob’s family ran had to cut staff, and now the whole family had to fill in.
“Besides, if a man is kneading the dough and baking the bread, and a man is the one stuffing the bread into the customer’s bag—that’s way too many men! It’s nothing but men!”
“So what do you want me to do?”
“Hire a waitress!” Jacob brought his face close and shoved his pointer finger in Lud’s face. He looked like a detective that had found the critical clue needed to solve a murder case.
“You understand, Lud? This town is small, and it’s a mining town. There is a mountain of dirty men here. There is a ton of them. But, if you put a beautiful waitress in front of them with your delicious bread in her hands? That’s the way you will draw in customers!”
It was true that Organbaelz was a mining town, and there was little other industry, including restaurants. The only restaurants that served food tasted so bad, it made you wonder if they were even trying.
“You have to hire a girl, and if possible, make her wear a frilly outfit or something. I’m getting excited just thinking about it!”
Lud started to think that Jacob was getting carried away with his own good idea.
“I’ve thought this for a while but... could you actually be Sparian?”
Sparia was a peninsular nation south of Wiltia. This country had a long history but its citizens were known to be lively and many of their men were womanizers. They had a reputation for being overly passionate and theatrical. Lud didn’t dislike Sparians, but from his experience, he didn’t want to join any military campaigns with them if he didn’t have to.
“What are you saying? You already know that both my parents are Wiltian.”
Jacob had blonde hair and blue eyes, the characteristics of a model Wiltian citizen. Still, Lud couldn’t help wondering if maybe he had a little Sparian blood.
“A waitress, huh...”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“Not exactly.”
Jacob’s suggestion wasn’t wrong, but...
“I’m... not real good with women.”
Lud was raised in the military since childhood. He spent most of his youth on the battlefield. The only woman around him was like a substitute older sister.
“Well, you gotta decide, Lud.”
“Hmm...”
He was Lud Langart, a former Hunter Unit pilot for the Principality, known as the Silver Wolf, who made enemy soldiers tremble in fear. But now he was the owner of the Tockerbrot Bakery. He couldn’t just obey the orders of his superiors. He had to think for himself, decide for himself, and take responsibility for everything himself.
“... Alright.”
This might have been the first or second most important decision of Lud’s life, and even he didn’t know if he was preparing to fight or just readying himself for defeat.
Several hours later, with help from Jacob, Lud had created a ‘Help Wanted’ poster and tacked it up in front of the bakery, on the notice board in town, on the wall of Jacob’s family factory, and on the church’s message board.
“Now hiring a waitress! Looking for someone with a fantastic smile! For details, please see Lud Langart, owner of Tockerbrot.”
The people of the town just thought the serious-faced baker was behaving strangely again and laughed it off. For the first few days, Lud was nervous, thinking that someone would knock on his door at any moment. However, the people of the village were sure that no young girl would want to work for that bakery. Even if there was such a girl, her family would stop her. No one responded to the poster and soon Lud forgot all about it.
And then one day a young girl was seen staring at the poster on the town notice board.
“... Lud Langart!” The girl whispered the name on the poster, great emotion echoing in her voice and the loveliest of smiles spreading across her face.
“I found you.”
Tearing the poster off the message board, without any hesitation, as if she were charging off to battle, she walked down the main street of Organbaelz.
Tockerbrot seemed under the spell of the god of tranquility and, resting his chin on his hands at the counter, Lud let out a sigh. He had prepared freshly-baked bread, homemade jam, and delicious coffee and tea, but no one opened the door to his bakery. There was a small bell attached to the door so Lud would hear customers enter, even if he was working at his bread kiln.
But, the bell never rang. Occasionally on a windy day, Lud would rush from the back at the sound of the bell, only to be disappointed to find no one there. Even he thought this was sad.
“..................”
Lud took out a mirror just large enough to fit neatly in his hand. He tried smiling.
Grin...
But his smile seemed to say, “If this is the level of strength that you dare to oppose me with, then your foolishness is actually extremely impressive. I shall express my respect for your grandiose foolishness by giving you a choice—in what way would you prefer to die?”
Lud was a diligent and serious man. At the end of each long day when the bakery closed, he cleaned the store and the bread kiln, and experimented baking new types of bread. On top of this, he had added a new item to his daily regimen: smiling practice. The result of a month of training was this frightening smile.
Sigh...
Lud had forgotten how to smile. He was sure that he must have smiled when he was a child. He couldn’t remember smiling since then. Thinking back on his childhood, Lud’s face become more warped, and his expression was even less like a smile.
Cling cling...
The bell rang. Expecting Jacob, Lud stood up to prepare tea with milk. Jacob always stopped by the bakery on his way home from school to buy a piece of bread and enjoy some small talk with Lud. All that awaited him at home was work for his family, so a snack at the bakery was Jacob’s small escape.
Jacob’s allowance money was not much. Lud often told him that he didn’t need to pay. Lud thought of Jacob as a friend and was just happy that he came, so he felt awkward taking his money. But Jacob just said, “I’m not so bad off that I need to accept charity, especially from a bakery that looks like it’s going out of business.”
Usually, Jacob was easily flattered, but his Wiltian pride far surpassed Lu
d’s, despite being a native-born Wiltian himself. At the very least, Lud would treat him to his favorite milk tea, free of charge.
“You’re early today, Jacob.”
He was about to ask Jacob if he was skipping school, when Lud’s words caught in his throat.
...Huh?
It wasn’t Jacob standing there, but a young girl. She had lovely, long silver hair, and was wearing a white dress and a wide-brimmed hat. The bright red pupils in her eyes stood out from the rest of her. She was beautiful.
...Smile.
The girl smiled. It was a smile that was not just attractive, but captured the heart of anyone who saw it. The smiling women Lud had seen over the last ten years were either smiling to get at the silver coins in his wallet, or from their devotion to God. So when he saw the friendly smile of this young girl, it was as if he was seeing the beautiful wings of a bird from a legend or fairytale.
“Ah... Ah?! W-Welcome!”
If it wasn’t Jacob, then this must be a customer. In a fluster, Lud greeted the girl.
A smile might be dangerous, thought Lud, in fact it was probably better to be expressionless. His face was stiff and strained.
“Excuse me... I saw this poster, so I came here...”
In the girl’s hand was the ‘Help Wanted’ poster he had put up a month ago.
“Has the position already been filled?”
“Huh? Oh, that...” Lud was surprised. He had already half-forgotten about hiring a waitress for the bakery.
“No, not... yet...”
When human beings encounter something unexpected, or when they are in a situation they can’t understand, they unconsciously behave as they did in a similar situation.
Regardless of what Lud was actually thinking, he looked like a soldier who had fallen into an enemy trap and was caught in a pincer attack.
“Really? That’s great!”
A giant smile spread across the girl’s face, like that of an angel. In an instant, the lonely bakery was enveloped in light and cheer.
“Oh, um, y-yeah, great...”
Lud didn’t know what to say but the girl didn’t hesitate.
“My name is Sven. Would you allow me to work here starting today? I am fine with whatever wage you can provide. Or you can pay me in kind.”
“O-Oka—”
Sven stepped closer to Lud and rattled on, almost begging Lud.
“I don’t have anywhere to go... That’s why if possible, I... Would it be possible for me to live here in the bakery?”
“Eh? O-Okay...”
“Really? Thank you, that’s great!”
The inside of Lud’s head was still in chaos. But Lud had said okay. Not only had he hired her, he had agreed to let her live in the bakery.
“Huh? Live here? Wait a second, that’s a bit much...”
Over half of Lud’s house was taken up by the bakery. His actual living space was a single room used as an office-parlor-bedroom-study, and an attic that was a storeroom. But, before he could explain, Sven jumped up in glee, flew over the counter and wrapped her arms around Lud’s neck and embraced him.
“Hey, wai... hold on... ah?!”
“I will do my best, with the utmost dedication and selflessness. I’m looking forward to working with you, Master!”
It was a passionate embrace, as if they were two lovers reunited by the strings of fate.
Here in the small mining town of Organbaelz a small tale—unknown to history—began in a small bakery on the verge of collapse.
That same evening, there was small uproar in Organbaelz—a dull town without a shred of excitement.
It wasn’t because someone had died, nor was it because someone had come back to life. However, a crowd of people had formed and there was a great commotion.
“Attention everyone! At Tockerbrot, we have a wide selection of tasty croissants, bagels, and baguette sandwiches for you to try. Please stop by!”
Wearing a black and white waitress uniform and a lace headband, Sven generously showered everyone with her smile.
Men, after all, are stupid. The sight of a beautiful young girl—lovelier than even the actresses on stage at the Grand Theater in Berun, the capital of Wiltia—attracted the men of the town going home from work in the evening as if they were mice led by the flute of a piper.
“Come try the newest item on our menu! The mystery of the Far East, sweet and delicious, our highly-praised, freshly-baked ‘anpan’ is now available!”
Sven not only looked beautiful, but her voice was sweet, like a melody from heaven. She had completely captured the men’s eyes and ears. To close the deal, she gave a smile that would make even an angel run for the hills in defeat.
Her smile was enough to capture the men’s hearts. Not just enough, it was more than enough. No, it was one hundred times more than enough.
That day, Tockerbrot recorded the greatest number of customers since the bakery opened. The men knew that the owner of this bakery was a foreigner with an unpleasant look in his eyes and a frightening face. But, Sven’s smile had the power to overcome even that fear.
“Th-This one, please!”
Holding out his bread, the customer’s nervous voice became high-pitched and excited.
“Thank you very much! So, you have two here, that will be two sigs and three krants, please.”
Sven took the customer’s money and gently placed the bread in a bag, as if it was her beloved child, before passing it to the customer. Her fingertips briefly touched the fingers of the customer.
“Thank you very much for your patronage. You’ll come again, won’t you?” She placed her hand over the customer’s as she spoke.
“Y-Yes! Certainly! Definitely!”
The men left the shop with bright red faces, as if they were drunk. Everyone pushed and shoved in line, waiting impatiently for their turn to see Sven up close. The gluttonous and fat Laurel reached the counter holding a tray overflowing with bread to buy.
“Oh my, so much! Gentlemen who eat so much are very powerful and strong, they are truly splendid.”
And with the other men in line watching, she held Laurel’s greasy hands for a moment.
“Hold on a second! I’m buying five weizenbrots and three kipfels!”
“Crap, I’ve only got three rolls!”
“I won’t lose! I’ve got zopfs, pretzels and roggenbrots, ten of each!”
Men, after all, are stupid.
More bread per customer was sold that day than ever before. In a shadow by the kiln, Lud watched the scene unfold with a complicated look on his face.
“What’s with that strange face?”
“Jacob! I’ve told you not to come back here, haven’t I? This is where I handle the food!”
“It’s fine, I’m already here,” Jacob reassured him. “More importantly, that girl is amazing. She’s got all the men wrapped around her finger. Where did you manage to find that waitress outfit, anyway?”
Sven had found a broken sewing machine left in the storeroom by the previous owners and asked Lud if he had any cloth she could use. Unfortunately, the only thing Lud had was an ancient black felt carpet. Nevertheless, Sven took it and after several hours in the storeroom fiddling with the sewing machine, she emerged in a beautiful waitress outfit.
Even the seamstresses at the Thieves Market in Neopolis would grow pale at the speed and brilliance of her work.
She also added lovely embroidery to the headband and apron. Lud knew that the black cloth had come from his old carpet, but he didn’t recognize the white silk of the embroidery.
“You don’t mean to tell me... Did you use the clothes that you were wearing too?”
“Yes! My underwear is enough for sleeping in, and once I’m awake, I’m ready to work.”
Lud wondered if she had been sewing her outfit almost naked? Imagining the scene in his head, Lud blushed slightly.
“Master?”
“Ah, hahahaha! N-Nothing! But what are you going to do without a spare set of clothes?�
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Lud wanted to provide that for her but he didn’t have any way to do so.
“Hehehe... You don’t need to worry about that. I will be able to take care of ten thousand customers before this clothing wears out.”
As Sven said this, she chuckled to herself like an elite soldier boasting about a new weapon.
Over fifty customers had visited the shop just that day. If business continued like this, it wouldn’t take a year for Sven’s prediction to come true. But Lud’s thoughts were in turmoil.
“I don’t know.”
“What?” Jacob asked.
“Does this mean that as long as there’s a cute girl here, anything will sell?”
Lud had believed that as long as he made good products seriously and with all his effort, people would come to the shop to buy them. However, he was now told that Sven’s smile was more important than the many days he had persevered. He was thrilled that customers had come, but it made him sad too.
“How naïve!” Jacob shook his finger and admonished the troubled Lud.
“You’re naïve Lud! If you could sell something just by having a cute girl smile, then everyone would be doing it! But that’s not true, is it?”
“What does that mean? Ow!”
Lud was depressed and stooping lower than usual, so Jacob’s finger stabbed him in the nose.
“I’m saying that customers aren’t that stupid. I’ll tell you something. You’re going to get even busier from here on.”
“Huh?”
Jacob chuckled to himself. The next day, his prediction came true.
“What the heck...”
The next day, men drawn by the stories of Sven’s beauty visited Tockerbrot again, and—in numbers surpassing the men—women and children came too.
“Heh, heh, heh. Just as I expected.” Barging once again into the kiln area, Jacob smiled, but Lud just stared in awe at all his customers, too dumbfounded to scold Jacob.
The wives of the men who had come home from the bakery the day before, laden with all the fresh bread, at first were furious at the unnecessary expense.
