Marron had always been good in a crisis.
Fixing the small, immediate problems that needed a solution had been part of her job for seven years, after all.
A hungry customer wasn't a magical quest or a life-changing moment.
It was just someone who needed food, and she had ingredients.
She could work with that.
"Have a seat," she called to the man, gesturing to a small wooden stool that had appeared beside the cart. "I'll have something ready in just a few minutes."
The man collapsed onto the stool gratefully.
His relief made her chest ache.
When was the last time he had a bite to eat? Oh, wait. Focus Marron. Cook first, worry later.
She turned back to the cart's interior and took stock of what she had to work with. According to the system, she could make Golden Fries and Sparkling Soda. Things she'd never heard of, but the names gave her some idea of what to expect.
She pulled out the two golden potatoes, weighing them in her hands. They were warm to the touch, like they'd been grown in soil made of sunshine. When she held them up to the light, they seemed to glow from within.
Magic potatoes. Sure. Why not?
The knife set the system had provided was basic but sharp, and as soon as she picked up the largest knife, something clicked into place. Her hands remembered the rhythm –rock-chop, rock-chop– even though she hadn't seriously cooked in years.
Muscle memory. Thanks, Mom.
She started cutting the potatoes into thick fries, and immediately noticed something different. Instead of the usual white flesh she expected, these potatoes had a golden interior that seemed to sparkle as she cut.
Each slice revealed more of that light, and the smell that rose from the cutting board was rich and earthy. Much better than Earth potatoes.
Definitely magic potatoes.
As she worked, she became aware of something else – a subtle humming in the air around her, like the cart itself was purring with contentment.
The knife felt perfectly balanced in her hand, the cutting board was exactly the right height, and even the light streaming through the service window seemed positioned to illuminate her workspace perfectly.
The system isn't just giving me ingredients. It's making everything easier.
She finished cutting the first potato and moved to the second, her movements becoming more confident with each slice. The repetitive motion was soothing in a way she'd forgotten food prep could be.
No phone calls, no emails, no meetings.
Right now it was just her, the knife, and the satisfaction of turning raw ingredients into something better.
"Looking good in there, Chef," Mokko called from outside. "Your customer's perking up just from the smell."
Marron glanced through the service window and saw that he was right. The traveler was sitting straighter, his nose raised slightly as the scent of fresh-cut potatoes drifted from the cart. There was hope in his expression now, replacing some of the desperate exhaustion.
Right. He's depending on me. Don't mess this up.
She found a small container of what looked like duck fat in the coldbox.
Another ingredient she definitely hadn't put there...but it was free, so she didn't mind too much.
She heated it in the copper pan. While it warmed, she seasoned the cut potatoes with salt from a shaker that had appeared on the counter.
The oil reached the right temperature with a satisfying sizzle when she dropped in a test piece.
Perfect.
She added the rest of the fries to the pan and immediately heard the aggressive bubbling. That meant the oil was hot enough to create a proper crust.
Steam rose from the pan, carrying with it the smell of frying potatoes that was more savory than anything she could have made back in her apartment.
Everything's magical, from the ingredients to the appliances.
Huh.
While the fries cooked, she turned her attention to the drink. The seasonal berries were small and deep purple, like tiny jewels.
When she crushed them with a spoon, they released juice that was almost luminescent – not quite glowing, but definitely more vibrant than any berry juice she'd ever seen.
She mixed the berry juice with spring water from a pitcher that had appeared beside the coldbox, added a pinch of sugar, and stirred.
To her amazement, the mixture began to bubble lightly on its own, creating a natural carbonation that made the surface dance with tiny sparkles.
Okay, that's definitely magic.
The fries were starting to turn golden-brown, and she could tell from the sound – a lighter, crispier bubbling – that they were almost done.
She lifted them from the oil with a slotted spoon and immediately saw what made them "Golden" fries.
They were actually golden-brown. The smell that rose from them was incredible – crispy and savory, with an underlying richness that made her mouth water despite the fact that she'd eaten recently.
She plated the fries on a simple ceramic dish, poured the sparkling berry soda into a clear glass, and carried the meal to the service window.
"Order up," she called, trying to sound more confident than she felt.
The traveler approached the counter, and she could see his hands trembling slightly as he reached for his money pouch.
"How much?" he asked.
Marron glanced at the price display that had appeared above the window. "Just 15 gold."
She had no idea if that was expensive or cheap in this world, but the man nodded and counted out coins without complaint.
The gold pieces were warm in her palm and heavier than she'd expected.
Huh. So this is real money, not just tokens from the arcade.
"Thank you," he said, taking the plate with both hands like it was something precious.
He took a bite of the fries – and froze.
His eyes went wide, then soft, and for a moment Marron thought something was wrong. Then she saw the tears starting to form at the corners of his eyes.
More floating text appeared:
[Dish Created: Golden Memory Fries & Sparkling Joy Soda – Grade: C+]+20 HP, +15 Stamina, Removes Hunger Debuff
Active Buff: Comforting Memory
Bonus: Emotional Resonance Triggered
"I can taste... home," the man whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "My grandmother's kitchen. The way she used to make potatoes when I was small..."
He looked up at Marron, wonder replacing the exhaustion in his eyes. "How did you do that?"
Marron felt something warm bloom in her chest. It was pride, but also something deeper.
Recognition, maybe?
This was what food was supposed to do.
Not just fill stomachs, but connect people to memories, to feelings, to the parts of themselves they'd forgotten.
"I just... cooked them," she said, though even as she said it, she knew it wasn't entirely true. There had been something else happening while she worked.
Like she'd intentionally put more than just seasoning into the dish.
The man took another bite, closing his eyes to savor it. When he opened them, some color had returned to his face.
"I've been traveling for three days," he said between bites. "Haven't had a proper meal since I left home. But this..."
He gestured at the plate. "This tastes like love."
More text appeared:
[Quest Complete!]
Chef Level Up: Level 2
Skill Unlocked: Ingredient Analysis
Experience Gained: 50 XP
1/10 C-Rank Dishes Served
9 More to Unlock Cart Expansion & Recipe Upgrade!
Marron blinked at the notifications, then focused back on her customer. He was already halfway through the fries, eating with the focused intensity of someone who'd been truly hungry.
"What brings you out here?" she asked, wiping down the counter with a cloth that had appeared in her hand.
"Merchant route," he said around a mouthful of fries. "I trade between the villages in this region. Heard there might be food stalls starting up again in Meadowbrook Commons."
He gestured around the clearing. "This used to be a thriving market, you know. Before the..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Well, before things changed."
"Changed how?"
The man drained his glass of sparkling soda.
Marron noticed he looked surprised at how refreshing it was, and set it down carefully.
"Monster attacks, mostly. Started about two years ago. Nothing too dangerous, but enough to scare off the regular merchants. The trade routes shifted away from here."
He looked around the empty meadow. "Used to be fifteen, twenty stalls here every day. Farmers, bakers, craftsmen. Was the heart of the region's commerce."
So that's why the cart was abandoned. And why there are posts and foundations scattered around.
"But you're here now," Mokko observed, speaking up from where he'd been quietly standing guard. "That suggests things are improving."
The traveler startled slightly at hearing the bear talk.
Apparently, this world could have magic food and system notifications, but the adventurer draws the line at a talking bear.
He recovered quickly, though.
"Getting better, yes. The Adventurer's Guild has been clearing out the monster nests, making the roads safer."
He finished the last of his fries and sighed contentedly. "Still, it'll take time for word to spread that it's safe to set up shop here again."
"So I might be the only stall for a while?"
"For now, probably. But if you can cook like this?" He gestured at his empty plate. "Word will spread fast. People will come just for the food, regardless of what else is here."
He stood, looking steadier than he had when he'd arrived. The magical properties of the meal were clearly working.
His skin had better color, his posture was straighter, and the desperate edge to his movements was gone.
"Thank you," he said, pressing an additional coin into her hand. "Not just for the food. For the reminder."
"Reminder of what?"
"That there's still magic in the world. The good kind."
He shouldered his pack and headed toward the path that led to the distant town, moving with purpose instead of the exhausted stumble he'd arrived with.
Marron watched him go, then looked down at the coins in her hand. 20 gold now, instead of just 15.
My first tip!
Marron got the same thrill she used to get when her salary arrived.
[Update]
Marron Louvel, Chef-class, Level 2
Gold: 120g
Reputation: Unknown (+1)
Next Level: 450/500 XP
"Not bad for your first customer," Mokko said, settling down beside the cart with a satisfied grunt. "That was a solid C+ dish. Most new chefs struggle to hit C-rank their first week."
"Is that because of the 'Culinary Magic' thing the system mentioned?"
"Partially. But mostly because you actually understand what cooking is supposed to do." The bear adjusted his glasses. "You didn't just follow a recipe. You cooked with intention. Made food that meant something."
Marron looked back at her cart – her cart, she realized, not just some random stall she'd woken up in. The sign above it read "Comfort & Crunch," and somehow that felt exactly right.
"So what happens now?" she asked. "Do I just... wait for more customers?"
"You could. Or you could explore a bit, get a feel for the area. The nearest town is Brookhaven – about an hour's walk down that path. Market day is tomorrow, so there might be people interested in knowing there's food available out here again."
Marron nodded, but she was already thinking ahead. One customer down, nine more to unlock the next tier of recipes. And somewhere past that, presumably, lay the answer to what she was supposed to do with this strange new life.
For now, though, she had a food stall, a talking bear sous chef, and the knowledge that she could still make people happy with something as simple as fried potatoes.
It wasn't the life she'd planned, but then again, the life she'd planned had been slowly killing her.
This... this felt like living.
"Mokko?"
"Yes, Chef?"
"I think I'm going to like it here."
The bear's grin was visible even behind his glasses. "I had a feeling you might."
As the sun climbed higher over Meadowbrook Commons, Marron Louvel
(Level 2 Chef, owner of Comfort and Crunch)
Began planning what to cook next.
[Status Update]
Marron Louvel
Level: 2
Class: Chef
Specialization: Comfort Food
Available Recipes: Golden Fries, Sparkling Soda
Locked Recipes: 3
Cart Status: Basic (9/10 dishes to evolution)
Current Funds: 120 gold
Location: Meadowbrook
CommonsCompanion: Mokko (Guardian Bear)
Next Goal: Serve 9 more customers to unlock cart evolution.