My Food Stall Sells SSS-Grade Delicacies!

Back at her stall, Marron sat on the steps and fed Lucy scraps of herbs. The slime digested them happily and bounced like a jelly bean.

She scratched Lucy's soft, round head and sighed. "He's good, Mokko. That croquette? Balanced. Bold. That first bite? Satisfying crunch!"

"Mhm."

"But I'm not copying him. I'll find my own way."

Lucy burbled. Her gelatinous body shimmered under the late afternoon sunlight—and something clicked.

"Mmm...jelly..."

A memory returned to her, about summers on Earth.

+

The intense summer heat meant people loved ice cream and other frozen treats. Marron, 17 and eager to impress her boss, created a fruit jelly parfait for their summer pop-up. It had been layered with whipped cream and served in a crystal cup.

It was a light dessert that was satisfying without feeling too rich or heavy. 

Her boss had been delighted. Everyone took photos talking about their cart online.

"It looks so pretty when the sun hits just right!"

It wasn't her best recipe, but it had been unforgettable.

And now I've got the skills to make it even better.

She stood up and nodded.

"I could even call it a jellybloom..."

It was a potential dish for the competition.

Lucy looked up at her and burbled. 

Marron grinned. "Yes Lucy! You've been very helpful."

[System Notification]

Tiny Cup Match – 2 Days Remaining

New Bonus Objective: Defeat Local Rival Chef – Balen Rizzlet

Reward: Travel Pass (Whetvale → Frostfall)

ALERT: Hidden Judge Assigned – Rank B+

Identity: Classified

Marron's breath caught.

I'm not just cooking for upgrades anymore.

Mokko looked up from polishing a pan. "Nope. You're cooking for your future. And someone's already watching."

Marron stared at her battered cutting board.

Then at Lucy's glittering, jiggly head.

And finally, toward the sunlit hills of Whetvale, where flags fluttered and the town pulsed with culinary magic.

She grinned.

"Then I'd better make sure my dish sparkles."

+

The next morning, Marron wandered through the sugar petal district and watched how vendors used enchanted petals in...everything. She passed by perfume shops, cafes, and pastry boutiques all boasting "the best floral treat you've yet to experience!"

Marron stopped by a vendor selling crystallized violets and moonbell nectar. She marveled at how soft and translucent the colors were.

An idea began to form.

What about a layered jelly? I can use some chilled blossom tea...

I can add some thinly sliced fruit for a stained glass effect. And to top it all off, some crushed ice and herb milk foam, with a light drizzle of moonbell syrup.

She could already taste it: light, dreamy, refreshing. A final course that would linger in a judge's mind long after the meal ended.

Jellybloom Parfait.

A story in every spoonful. Memory, magic… and just a bit of sparkle.

Marron returned to her stall that night, arms full of ingredients.

Mokko raised a brow. "That's a lot of flowers."

She grinned. "Good. Because we're about to make a dessert that'll make Whetvale remember my name."

+

The morning air was crisp with spice and sunlight. Marron stood behind her food cart with her sleeves rolled up, eyes bright, and a glint of pure resolve in her pink eyes.

One day left til the Tiny Cup. 

She wasn't going in unprepared--she wanted to beat Balen Rizzlet!

Marron arranged her prep station for the hundredth time. She lined up measuring cups of blossom teas, moonbell syrup, fresh strawberries, and leaf-shaped jelly molds.

Lucy peeked over the counter, bubbling excitedly.

Marron smiled.

"Okay, let's do this."

+

[Taste Test #4: JellyBloom Parfait]

Her cart was surrounded by curious townsfolk by midday. They were drawn by the sparkling parfaits in crystal jars.

When she opened one and topped it with whipped cream and edible petals, they gasped.

To complete her dessert, Marron tied a wooden spoon to each jar with ribbon.

She handed them to the townsfolk.

"Free taste! Honest feedback, please," she said. "Be brutal. I can take it."

The first taster was a burly man with soot-stained gloves. He sniffed it suspiciously before taking a bite. His eyes widened.

"…Tastes like my favorite vacation," he whispered.

Next, an old woman dabbed delicately at the cream with her spoon. "I can feel my knees again. And I haven't felt my knees in twenty years."

A trio of giggling kids slurped theirs too fast and burped fruity bubbles.

A teen with dyed mint-green hair raised a brow. "It's good, but the texture between layers is… like, too smooth. Maybe add crunch?"

"Good point," Marron said, already scribbling in her notebook. "Something with contrast…"

One of the kids piped up again. "Can you put fizzy stuff in it? I want it to sparkle in my mouth!"

Lucy danced happily in her pouch like a cheerleader.

As the taste-testers wandered off, a smiling Marron slumped onto the cart's bench.

"Whew."

Mokko handed her a cup of chilled herbal soda.

"You're getting there," he said, "but you're overthinking it. Your flavor sense is instinctual. You don't need to fight it."

+

She sipped slowly, then looked over.

"Mokko… can I ask something?"

He turned, one brow raised.

"Why are you still a cart guardian?"

Mokko paused.

"That's not a question I get every day."

"I mean… the guild lady said most guardians now are tiny creatures. But you—you're rare. Why stick with a run-down food stall and a human nobody like me?"

The bear chuckled, low and warm.

"Guardians aren't just summoned helpers, Chef. We're memories. Bonds. We don't pick stalls—we pick chefs."

Marron blinked.

"There used to be dozens of us—boars, hounds, dragons, even a sugar golem once. But over time, chefs stopped caring about the soul of the dish. Too many started cooking for show, or power, or politics. The guardians faded."

He looked down at his claws, flexing them thoughtfully.

"But your food… it reminds me of why we existed in the first place. It's warm. It connects."

Marron swallowed hard, her chest warm.

"You really think I can win tomorrow?"

"I think you already started winning the moment you made that slime cry with duck fries."

Lucy burbled proudly.

As the sun began to dip below Whetvale's skyline, Marron stood once more behind her cart.

The flavors were ready. The parfait was near-perfect. She'd adjusted the texture with freeze-dried berry shards for crunch and added a faint hint of enchanted citrus to the foam.

The sign-up bell for the Tiny Cup rang in the town square. Magic flags burst into the sky like streamers, signaling that competition had officially opened.

Marron wiped her hands on her apron and grinned.

"Let's sparkle."