The Attendant in the Horror Game C65

Chapter 65

“Baang? A bakery?”

From a short distance away, Den planted one leg and gave Jade a slow once-over, then waved his hand dismissively as if the idea made no sense.

“That doesn’t suit you at all. You should just go be a face-model somewhere.”

“A… face-model?”

Jade didn’t love the sound of that word. As he raised a brow, Den pointed toward something nearby as if to clarify.

Following his finger, Jade saw a shop employee standing out front, calling customers in. The man had a friendly, affable look—a naturally likable face.

“You’re the same type. Good-looking and all.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You seriously don’t know? Really?”

As Jade recoiled in distaste and shook his head, Den rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

To him, Jade’s appearance was striking. From the first encounter, he had found him neat and refined. Perhaps it was the black hair and well-balanced features—nothing flashy or excessive, just clean. His looks and demeanor both were like that.

Strangely likable—so much so that Den had once deliberately studied Jade’s features one by one. Up close, he realized Jade had no sharp or overly defined parts. His high nose had a rounded tip, and though his eyes were clear and expressive, they curved softly into a crescent shape when he smiled, giving him a warm look.

And yet his mouth, shaped in a naturally confident line, kept him from looking too gentle. He possessed something masculine, yet a certain delicacy softened it—almost giving him the air of a beauty.

In short: not the flashy type who stands out in a crowd on first glance, but the kind of person you’d remember for a long time after seeing them once.

His physique matched that impression. Not overly muscular, not scrawny—just balanced. But still firm and upright enough to project masculine strength. A naturally attractive build.

And Jade’s personality fit perfectly. No hidden schemes, no petty tricks—straightforward. He wasn’t calculating in social matters despite being excellent with numbers. A strange one: business-minded in commerce but not in relationships. Honest, comfortable to be around.

Perfect, Den thought.

He would make an excellent husband for Den’s little sister. A pity he seemed entirely uninterested in romance.

“You must’ve been popular, right? Never heard anyone say that?”

“Hm.”

Jade thought back.

Truthfully, he hadn’t lacked attention. On Valentine’s Day and other occasions, he had received chocolates and small gifts. He had been confessed to more than once—even by a younger male student.

He had never dated simply because he lacked the time and means—not because no one wanted him.

And this body looked nearly the same as in his previous life, aside from lighter eyes and the loss of the part-time-job muscles.

Actually, maybe it’s not so different.

He had regained some of that muscle while tending the villa, so the difference was minimal.

After a moment of thought, Jade nodded, accepting Den’s assessment without much protest.

“Yeah, I guess. A lot.”

“You’re insufferable, you know that?”

“Anyway, I want to work in a bakery.”

Even if the pay was good, he didn’t want a face-model job. It didn’t suit his personality—and it made him publicly visible. A terrible idea for someone on the run.

“You said the port town is down that way, right?”

“Yeah.”

Jade pointed beyond the olive groves. The south bordered the sea, and that was precisely why Jade had wanted to come here. Where there was a sea, there was traffic—and where there was traffic, there were escape routes.

This world had simple modes of transport: horses, carriages, and ships.

There were no passenger vessels for travelers. Only small fishing boats or commercial cargo ships. To cross national borders for personal reasons, one had to stow away on a cargo ship—and even then, the fare was steep.

If only I could leave the empire entirely.

He had considered fleeing the country. That would be the easiest way to stay hidden.

But he had learned from Den that crossing borders required identification papers and a travel permit.

Having woken in the snow wearing only thin clothes, Jade had neither. And such documents were expensive. Thus, fleeing the empire was impossible for now.

There were illegal ways—bribes, smugglers, and paying five times the normal fare—but that required money. A lot of it. Money Jade did not have. He would need at least six months of work to gather enough.

“How long to the port?”

“About thirty minutes on horseback.”

“That’s close.”

The village where Den lived sat at the southernmost edge. Just beyond lay the port town—practically the end of the empire.

“You’re planning to work there?”

“Yeah, if possible. Find a bakery near the port and—”

“There are no bakeries in Ardel.”

“…What?”

“None.”

Den spoke firmly as he picked at his ear. Jade blinked in disbelief. No bakeries? He hadn’t even considered it.

“Not a single one? Seriously?”

“None. And it’s far from my house anyway.”

“I was planning to move later.”

“Doesn’t matter. No bakeries there. Sailors prefer meat and alcohol.”

How absurd. People ate bread constantly, yet a port town had no bakery. Even now, someone passing by carried a baguette in hand.

“Wait—no bakeries…?”

Jade stopped walking and muttered. If crisis bred opportunity, then this was one. His mind sparked.

A town with no bakery was a land waiting for one. No place went without bread. Even sailors couldn’t live on meat and alcohol alone.

And in this world, open-air stalls were common. Starting a bakery might not even require a full shop.

Perhaps… perhaps he could realize his dream here—the dream from his past life he had never reached.

Alright. I’m heading to Ardel before the year ends.

Jade’s eyes hardened with determination. He had a goal now. After a few months of working and saving here, he would move to the port town and start selling bread.

“So you really want to work at a bakery, huh?”

“Mm-hm. I’ll start looking tomorrow.”

“I know one bakery. I can ask if they need help.”

After a moment of thought, Den planted a hand on his hip and snapped his fingers. Jade’s eyes widened instantly. A job referral? In this economy, in this situation? Den’s shiny bald head practically glowed like the sun.

“R-really?! That would be amazing!”

“Don’t get your hopes too high.”

But it did seem likely. Den appeared well-connected in this village.

From the moment they arrived, people greeted him left and right. Den waved like a politician campaigning. And Jade had even seen him greet a bakery owner earlier.

“Thank you. Really.”

“Ugh, stop. Too much.”

Jade grabbed Den’s hands in gratitude, making him recoil—but Den rubbed his bald head sheepishly, clearly pleased.

“…Huh?!”

Then Jade suddenly froze, staring past Den. He raised a trembling finger, pointing at something behind him.

“What? What is it?”

Jade reacted as if spotting a long-lost first love in the street. Curious, Den turned to look.

“A—broom!”

There it was. A broom. The broom Jade had searched for and longed for.

On the day he had gone down to the northern village, Jade had wanted to buy a broom first. But none had met the requirements. Too many were made for snow-clearing rather than indoor sweeping—and none triggered his status window.

He had held broom after broom, yet the window never appeared. No skill activation. He had stared into empty air, heartbroken.

“A broom!”

“Yeah, it’s a broom. Have you never seen one in your life?”

Den stared as if Jade had lost his mind. But Jade hardly heard him.

“My broom!”

“Hey! Where are you going?! There are brooms at my house too!”

Jade sprinted toward the shop displaying the broom. Den scrambled after him.

“My goodness! What’s the rush, young man?”

“S-sorry!”

The shopkeeper flinched as Jade practically lunged toward the brooms, dropping a duster. Den picked it up and apologized on his behalf.

The shop sold household items—everything from hangers to shoe polish. Naturally, cleaning tools were among them.

“There are brooms at home, you know?”

“Yeah, I know. But I need my broom.”

“What nonsense is that? What are you, a witch? You planning to fly on one?”

Den tried to drag him away, but Jade ignored him completely—eyes fixed, serious, examining the broom with full focus.