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.
And on top of this, he added a new item to his daily regimen.
Smiling practice.
And 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 Lud’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.
✦ ✦ ✦
