My Food Stall Serves SSS-Grade Delicacies!

Inspiration struck, and Marron reached out with both hands.

"We're about to run out of cheese, but there's always time to improvise."

Quickly, she consulted her system and purchased some ube jam for 200 gold, and a slightly better mozzarella cheese for 300 gold.

[Current currency count: 1,000 gold.]

That's exactly what I want. We're going to make something a little different.

Now she had more ingredients for beignets and cheese, and she was going to add another sweet option.

Instead of cutting the dough for full beignets, she pinched off smaller pieces, rolling them quickly before dropping them into the fryer. Round little puffs bubbled in the oil, crisping faster than their larger cousins.

Just like the beignets, Marron removed them from the oil to dry, and then poked a little hole in the middle. Instead of cheese, she filled it with ube jam and some more powdered sugar.

Ding!

[Recipe stored: Ube Donut Holes]

Perfect, thank you! Marron mentally thanked her system for cataloging her recipe. It was still based on a blog she'd read, so she wasn't quite making things up as she went along. But it was a nice way to personalize a recipe from someplace else.

By the time the last order for cheese-filled beignets came up, Marron handed the customer their prize pastry with a smile—then slid in a little bonus box of the new bite-sized treats. "We're trying something new," she explained softly.

The customer's eyes lit up. "Two for one? I'll brag about this to everyone!"

Good. That gives me more time to make beignets, since they're a little more detailed than donut holes.

The line didn't slow down at all--instead, it just sped up. People craned their necks and pointed to the little sugar-dusted donut holes. Shouting rang through the square:

"She's debuting a new recipe today?!""Cute little holes! And they have jam!""I want six, please! How much?"

Marron exhaled shakily, her nerves dissolving into relief.

She was adapting.

"Mokko, please write 5 gold for the donut holes."

She heard the scratch of charcoal on wood.

"Got it, chef."

+

"Marron!"

She turned at the sound of an all-too-familiar cheerful voice. Charity stood at the edge of the stall, hands on her hips, grinning like she owned the place. "Look at you! A super long crowd on your second day! You're setting a high bar for our newbies, that's for sure!"

Heat crept to Marron's cheeks, but she couldn't help smiling back as she slid another box across the counter.

"Thanks, Charity. It's great to see you again."

Even more chatter surrounded her food stall.

"It's the cute guild merchant!"

"She might be named Charity, but her prices are anything but."

She turned to look at whoever said that, and said proudly, "Charity's my name, but we don't undercut just to sell."

Marron had never thought about her as a chef, but Charity didn't just spend the day lingering at her food cart. She rolled up her sleeves and slipped seamlessly into the rhythm of the stall.

She was pleased to have another pair of hands at the stall, especially one as dedicated to customer service as Charity.

Whenever Marron was too focused on frying food to chat, it was Charity who leaned forward with an easy smile. She happily handed out boxed orders and slipped in questions like they were a natural part of the transaction.

"Did the balance of sweet and savory please you?"

"Would you say it traveled well?"

"Anything you'd like to see tomorrow?"

Some customers lit up, eager to talk between bites.

"The ube filling is amazing! Not too sweet, just right."

"These little ones are perfect to share at the tavern—less messy, too!"

"The rice balls kept me full for hours. Best traveling food I've had since leaving home."

Others were more matter-of-fact, shrugging as they accepted their change.

"Cheese ran out too fast. Maybe stock more?"

"The beignets are good, but I like the rice balls better. More filling for the price."

"Packaging's nice, but I don't need the ribbon. Just the food's fine for me."

"I really liked the little dough balls! I think they travel even better than the beignets."

And then one customer, a gentle-looking blonde elf with soil still under her fingernails, cleared her throat shyly.

"Um—would you ever consider a vegetarian rice ball? Something with mushrooms or beans? I'd love to buy some, but I can't eat meat."

Charity nodded briskly, jotting down the note on a scrap of parchment. "That's very helpful, thank you."

By the time the rush finally thinned, Marron was trembling with exhaustion but glowing with satisfaction. Mokko closed the cash box with a low whistle. "Not gonna lie… wouldn't be surprised if we doubled yesterday's fifteen hundred."

Marron gaped. "Doubled—? That's—"

Charity cut her off with a delighted laugh, clapping her hands together.

"They loved my packaging too. You're worth more than gold, Chef. Your customers had plenty to say about what they want tomorrow, so you relax tonight and consider their feedback when buying ingredients."

Marron sank onto the nearest stool, sweat-dampened bangs sticking to her forehead, and let Lucy gently nudge a cool towel against her cheek. She'd survived day two. No—she'd thrived.

And tomorrow, she'd have even more to prove.

She quickly looked at the feedback list Charity handed her.

"Hmm...a vegetarian rice ball? I think we can do one better, and make a different dish just for her."

There was a small part of her that begged, "Please don't complicate things, Marron."

But a larger part (the one that was responsible for Marron getting promotions because of her ambitious suggestions) declared, "We can try to add the new savory egg custard recipe! It'll work out somehow."

And if it didn't, she'd just make the vegetarian rice balls and call it a day.

+

Her legs felt shaky when she tried to stand, so Mokko, Lucy, and Charity packed up the food stall back into its mobile cart form.

"Rest!" Mokko said firmly, putting his paw down.

As Marron sat back, wiping her brow, the familiar ding of her system shimmered in the air like a bell only she could hear.

[Customer expectations exceeded.][Food quality increased: Rank D. System enhancement active. Current flavor equivalent: A+.]

Marron's breath caught.

My rank increased already? That means it looks and tastes like it was made by a talented chef!

She pressed a hand to her chest, dizzy with relief and pride.

It was working.

All of it.

Lucy burbled happily in her jar, the ribbon on her head bouncing as though she sensed Marron's joy. Mokko peered at her quizzically, but didn't press. Charity, on the other hand, gave her a sharp grin. "That's the look of someone who just realized tomorrow's going to be even busier."

Marron laughed weakly. "I don't know if I should be excited or terrified."

"Both," Charity said breezily, tugging the cart's latch closed. "That's the life of a vendor."

+

But as they left the marketplace and the sun dipped below Whetvale's rooftops, Marron didn't feel quite so afraid. For the first time since she'd stumbled into this new world, she felt like she was standing on the edge of something bright.

…Until, unseen in the thinning crowd, a pair of golden eyes lingered on her stall's empty space. A chameleon-kin woman flicked her tongue over her lips, savoring the faint trace of flavor still on it.

"Not bad," she murmured. "But that taste… artificial. Like a trick. Legendary Tool or not, she's got a long way before she reaches the big leagues."

"Chef Zehra!" someone called from across the square.

The woman turned, her smile sharp as a knife as she headed back toward the towering silhouette of the Silver Spoon.