My Food Stall Sells SSS-Grade Delicacies!

Marron Louvel dipped the back of her spoon into the glossy red wine sauce and dragged it across the plate with practiced precision. Her duck breast gleamed, skin crisped to golden perfection, nestled beside creamy polenta and a touch of braised chard.

She'd wiped away any stray sauce droplets and made sure the plating was clean.

Marron tucked a dark curl back into place and exhaled slowly. She looked up at the ceiling and smiled. "It's now or never mom," she whispered.

This was it. The final dish of The Gastronomic Masters.

No mistakes. No second chances. 

If I snag this win, I can finally renovate mom's diner. Please. I've been practicing this dish for months. I just need one chance. 

She was halfway to the judging table when the gas line burst.

Everything was thrown into chaos. People were yelling:

"SAVE THE JUDGES!"

"WHAT ABOUT THE CONTESTANTS?"

"IS THIS PART OF THE SCRIPT?!"

There was a roar of heat.

Screaming steel.

The bitter taste of ash.

Then—a lot of nothing.

+

She woke up choking on the scent of butter, cinnamon, and… grass?

The ground was soft beneath her cheek. The sky above her shimmered cream and coral, like a sunrise spun from candy. Wind rustled through glittering trees that smelled faintly of marzipan.

Marron sat up, groaning.

I died. I actually died before I could serve the judges. WHAT KIND OF BS ENDING IS THAT? I was going to rebuild mom's diner...

"It smells like a kid's dream out here. So sweet..."

She looked around—and froze.

There, parked in the middle of the meadow like a mirage, was a food cart.

A glowing sign hovered overhead in flourished script:

Comfort & Crunch – SSS-Grade Food for the Soul

It looked like a divine chef's dream: polished redwood, ornate carvings, enchanted racks of spices, a phoenix-shaped fryer, and cast-iron tools that practically hummed with magic.

Her heart skipped. This... this is beautiful.

She reached out—fingers brushing a spice jar.

FZZZT.

The world glitched.

The polished wood dulled. The fryer coughed black smoke. The canopy sagged into canvas. One of the wheels snapped clean off.

Even the glowing sign wheezed... and dropped to the ground with a thunk.

What the hell? Did I break it? I barely touched it--oh god. The last thing I need is even more debt.

DING!

A screen blinked to life in the air.

[Welcome, Marron Louvel!][You have activated the Legendary SSS-Grade Food Stall — Comfort & Crunch][Current Status: A Real Struggle][Daily Quest: Serve 1 Customer][Bonus Objective: Begin Restoration][Good luck, Chef.]

A loud snort sounded behind her.

She turned—and screamed.

A bear stood there. Massive. Apron-clad. Soot on his fur. Glasses perched on his snout. One paw gripped a dinosaur-shaped ladle. The other, a tattered scroll.

"You're late," the bear rumbled.

"I—I died and woke up in a cooking sim run by a bear."

"You're not dead," he said flatly. "You've been isekai'd. Happens a lot."

Before she could reply, he pointed at the ruined cart.

"This stall once fed kings, dungeon bosses, and hot-blooded adventurers. Now it's an embarrassment. Solidified spices. One-star mana infusions. Ugh."

She stared. "Are… are you the manager?"

"Nah. I'm Mokko. I pull the cart, critique your seasoning, and crack skulls if someone steals salt."

"Right," Marron whispered. "That clears things up."

Rustling.

A figure stumbled into the clearing—torn cloak, dirt-caked skin, eyes wide.

"Food," he gasped. "Please… anything…"

DING!

[Quest Activated: Serve 1 Hungry Soul][Success will restore +1 Functionality Tier][Status: Beginner Chef • Level 0 • Reputation: 0]

She froze.

Back on Earth, she'd worked herself to the bone. Ever since her mom died, the diner struggled, and it barely paid the bills.

The Gastronomic Masters was her last shot. Either winning or getting her name out there would have helped.

And now? A busted cart, a talking bear, and a bleeding man begging for food.

Her pulse kicked into overdrive.

This… this could be my second chance.

Marron scanned the kitchen. A cold box hummed under the shelf, rune-marked with an ice glyph. Inside: eggs, glowing root vegetables, rainbow fruit, something like ginger… and a gold-dusted potato the size of her fist.

"Guess you'll do."

She grabbed the potato and a carving knife. Her hands moved without thinking—training and obsession taking over.

"Mokko," she called, "any duck fat back here?"

"Bottom drawer. We render it ourselves or trade with the goosefolk."

She grinned. That'll work.

Peeling and slicing, she dropped the fries into a bubbling cauldron of golden fat. The smell—savory, nutty, rich—wrapped around her like a hug.

While they fried, she crushed a few translucent berries into syrup, mixing it with enchanted sparkling water. It shimmered pink and blue like liquid nostalgia.

A few minutes later, she plated the meal.

"Duck fat fries and sparkling soda," she said, handing the tray over. "Eat before you pass out."

The adventurer took a bite—then burst into tears.

"By the goddess," he choked. "It tastes like home…"

DING!

[You have created: Mana-Refreshing Duck Fries & Memory Sparkle Soda][Stat Boost: +10 Energy | +5 Clarity][Skill Unlocked: Flavor Resonance I][Stall Functionality +1 → Heat Retention Restored]

Marron stared at the window.

Then another popped up.

[Quest Unlocked: Feed 100 Hungry Souls to Access Your First Legendary Recipe][WARNING: Culinary Signal Broadcasted — Entities with Detection Rank B or higher have marked your presence.]

"Marked by what now?" she whispered.

Mokko sighed. "Culinary Radar. You've entered the game, chef. No turning back."

"Can I—can I hide? Build a gingerbread bunker or something?"

"Nope," the bear said cheerfully. "Welcome to the job."

She glanced at the adventurer curled up in the grass, cradling his soda like treasure.

For the first time in years, she felt... full. Alive.

Maybe this really was her second chance.

Until—

Rustle.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The cart's canopy swayed.

A tall figure emerged from the woods, robed in bone-white silk. Shadow cloaked their face. The air hummed.

They stepped up to the counter.

A forked tongue flicked from beneath the hood.

"I smelled duck fat," they purred. "Tell me… do you serve meat?"

Mokko raised his ladle. "Careful. That one's not normal."

Marron swallowed.

Time to learn what happens when the wrong customer shows up hungry.