My Food Stall Sells SSS-Grade Delicacies!

The next morning, Marron blinked in surprise when she saw a soft golden glow near the base of the cart. The previously empty corner now shimmered faintly. A translucent message hovered in front of it:

[Storage Upgrade Complete: Refrigerated Shelf Unlocked!]

Mokko padded over, yawning and adjusting his glasses. "Looks like your critic friend gave us just enough buzz to push through the upgrade."

Marron crouched beside the glowing shelf, her eyes widening as she took inventory. Inside were glass jars of fresh milk, wheels of creamy cheese, and neatly sealed pots of jewel-toned jam. Her fingers trembled as she picked up a glass bottle of milk.

"We have dairy," she whispered.

"Expensive stuff, too," Mokko said, peering over her shoulder. "Even in Whetvale, cheese and milk are luxury goods."

Marron stared at the Dreambutter's empty container and sighed. "Well, we're out of that. Time to improvise."

She stood and stretched, her mind already racing. "Let's try something savory today. Maybe...eggs benedict?"

Mokko tilted his head. "Eggs what now?"

Marron smiled faintly. "Poached eggs served over bread, sometimes ham or greens, and covered in a sauce made of butter, egg yolk, and lemon. It's called hollandaise."

"Never heard of that sauce. Sounds made-up."

"Well, it's real where I'm from," she replied with a grin. "You wouldn't happen to have a whisk, would you? Or... a blender?"

Mokko rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a hand-whisk shaped like a spiraled wand. "No blender, but this old thing survived."

Marron clapped. "It'll do!"

She got to work.

First, she sliced thick slabs of soft bread and toasted them over the griddle. The eggs she selected had warm golden yolks, and she handled them with care, cracking them into softly boiling water for the poach.

For the sauce, she whisked together yolks, a spoonful of pale vinegar, and melted butter from the cheese-wheel's rind. As she stirred, she focused, letting her hopes and intentions seep into the motion.

I want this meal to give people courage.

A golden shimmer burst through the mixture. The sauce thickened with a perfect gloss.

Ding!

[You have created: Courageous Morning Eggs Benedict!]

[Buff: +15 Attack for 1 hour | +5 Resolve]

Marron plated the toast, laid the eggs gently on top, and drizzled the magical hollandaise. A sprinkle of chopped herbs, and it was done.

"Smells bold," Mokko admitted, taking a cautious sniff. "What's that tingle?"

"That's the resolve, probably. It's infused with hope and protein."

She placed a sign in front of the cart: New Dish: Courageous Eggs Benedict! For Early Risers and Brave Adventurers.

Soon, customers began to trickle in, drawn by the smell and yesterday's buzz. One by one, adventurers ordered her strange new breakfast. Swords clanged against stools as they sat, dug in, and blinked in surprise at the buff message that bloomed in the air after the first bite.

A small group of spearmen who had planned to eat rations on the road stopped in their tracks when they saw the food cart. One of them sniffed the air and swore. "That smells better than our commander's cooking."

"Let's try it," another said, stepping closer. "We need the buff anyway."

Marron handed them the plates, and watched as their expressions changed.

"This...this is better than meat skewers."

"Feels like it gave my arms a jolt."

Mokko raised a brow. "You just might survive here after all, Chef."

Marron looked down at the sauce-slicked pan, then toward the forest path ahead.

"One day at a time."

+

A tall man in worn farming clothes approached the cart. His beard was peppered with flour, and his boots still had bits of hay clinging to them. He squinted at the chalkboard menu and nodded approvingly.

"You've got a fine hand, miss. Your food's got a bold yet homey flavor. Reminds me of something a cowardly paladin might eat before facing the truth."

Marron blinked. "A cowardly paladin?"

"Comfort food for a man with regrets," the farmer said with a grin. "Take it as a compliment."

He set down a cloth sack. "I run a vegetable farm not too far from here. If you ever need fresh produce, stop by. Here's today's harvest as a free sample." 

Marron accepted it with both hands. "Thank you. I'll put it to good use."

Later in the day, a small customer walked up to the cart. Marron leaned down and bit her lips to avoid squealing. Mokko, on the other hand, was more useful. He found a box for the customer to stand on so she could actually put her little hooves on the cart.

That made Marron's cute aggression peak. 

The little customer had round brown eyes, short horns, and cow ears peeking beneath her pink bonnet. She held a small pink purse in her hooves.

"Hi miss," she said shyly. "I saved up. Do you have something warm and filling, but without meat?"

Mokko frowned. "No dairy either, I'd bet."

The girl nodded.

Marron glanced at the fresh vegetable basket. Her eyes widened. Nestled among the greens was a tiny, blinking blue blob.

"Um, Mokko?"

He looked over her shoulder and his eyes widened behind his glasses. "That's a kitchen slime. Lucky find. They're harmless. Drink oil, clean dishes."

"That's perfect. We just got our first helper."

She turned to the girl and smiled. "Give me just a moment. I've got something special just for you."

Marron sorted the vegetables and began planning. She chopped bell roots, moon-carrots, and vine tomatoes for a stir-fry. As she cut, she noticed the slime nibbling at the discarded peels and stems.

The System chirped softly.

[Creature Scanned: Lesser Kitchen Slime]

Core: 1

Rank: E

Function: Cleanup, basic culinary assistance

Intelligence: Low (Upgradeable with additional cores)

Would you like to name this slime?

Mokko nodded. "If she ranks up, she might even help you cook someday."

Marron smiled at the blob. "Okay. You're Lucy now."

[New Companion Registered: Lucy the Kitchen Slime!]

She returned to cooking. The vegetables sizzled with sunflower oil, and she added merrymint leaves for freshness. The result was a vibrant stir-fry.

[You have created: Glimmer Garden Stir-Fry]

Buff: +5 Energy | +10 Mood | Regeneration Over Time (Light)

The little girl took one bite, paused, then smiled brightly. "It tastes like the first spring after a long winter."

She handed over her pouch.

Daily Goal Complete: 100/100 Coins Earned!

Ingredient Unlocked: Dreambutter (Tier I, Purchase Available)

Mokko grunted. "You're really making a name for yourself, Chef."

Lucy burped in the corner, happily licking a pan.

Marron smiled. "Let's keep going. We've got a long road ahead."