A few days had passed since the trial opening. Kamado-bi-tei——the dining hall born from the renovation of the abandoned inn "Traveler's Light"——had somehow developed a line of customers from morning onward. Kazarina Shion recalled last night. During dinner hours, every seat filled, and people still waited outside the door. He'd jotted notes in his memo pad while working the kitchen alone: "Not enough seats... should consider expansion." It was busy, but somehow pleasant. Each time he served a dish, the air at the tables changed. He loved that sensation. This morning too, he'd lit the fire before dawn. The aroma of broth drifted up through the stove's chimney and out into the street. As he roughly chopped Valm turnips, Shion found himself vaguely aware of when Bruct Reset would arrive. Not that he was waiting. It was just that she'd started coming to help every morning, and that routine had settled into his life so naturally. The door opened with a click. "Good morning," Reset said. Silver hair swayed. The straight locks reaching her waist moved smoothly in the morning chill. Bruct Reset entered the kitchen, white apron in hand. Her mismatched gold and purple eyes gleamed as they caught the stove's firelight. The crystal earring on her left ear trembled faintly. "Turnips again?" Reset asked. "Valm turnips have deep sweetness. Especially this season. ...Reset, could you cut the ingredients for the miso soup? I want to focus on adjusting the broth," Shion said. "Yes," Reset replied. Reset tied her apron and took her place at the counter. Between them, only the sounds of cooking filled the space. The knife's rhythm, the broth coming to a boil, the low hum of the stove's flames. Cold morning air seeped through the window gaps, mixing with the kitchen's heat. Shion scooped some broth and took a small sip. The umami of kelp came first, followed by the depth of dried sardines. Not bad. But perhaps a little more—— "Reset," Shion said. "Yes?" she replied. "Does your father not come eat at the dining hall? If the town mayor came, it would be good publicity. More than that, I'd like him to taste the food," Shion said. Reset's hands stopped for just a moment. Just a moment. The knife lifted slightly, then fell again. Since Shion had been focused on the broth, he hadn't exactly "seen" it so much as "felt" it. "...He's a busy person," Reset said quietly. "I see. That's a shame. Today's turnip soup is especially good," Shion said. Shion didn't ask further. He returned to talking about cooking. Reset began moving her knife again. But that brief pause lingered in the corner of Shion's mind. --- Midday rush reached its peak. Orders flew across the counter like a torrent. "One turnip soup and lunch set!" "Oh, I'll change mine to grilled trout." "Can I add the Valm vegetable stew?" Shion juggled three dishes simultaneously while mentally tracking the plates Reset carried. Twenty-four seats. Twenty-two were occupied today. Quite good numbers. He didn't have time to write in his memo pad, but he planned to later. That's when the dining hall door opened just slightly. A man in his late fifties peeked in. Salt-and-pepper short hair, meticulously arranged clothing. Sharp eyes, though fatigue seeped through the details. Gold eyes like Reset's——though both were gold, not mismatched——swept across the dining hall. Highness Bruct. Shion immediately identified him as Valm's town mayor. "Reset," Highness said. His voice was low. Reset stopped carrying dishes and turned around. "Father," she said. "I only came to confirm you're not causing trouble," Highness said. "You're not. Shion is——" Reset began, then swallowed something. She'd started to say something but stopped. Perhaps she'd meant to say "Shion welcomes me," but the words didn't come. Highness held the door open and took one deep breath of the dining hall's aroma. Kelp and sardine broth. The herbal scent of grilled trout. The sweet steam of simmering vegetables. Shion saw his nose move slightly. "I'm busy," Highness said. Just those words, then he closed the door. Shion leaned out from the kitchen, order ticket in hand. "Wait, aren't you going to eat!?" he called out loudly toward the street. Several customers inside turned to look. A farmer walking past gave a questioning glance. Highness's back seemed to tremble slightly as he moved down the street, but he didn't turn around. "Shion!!" Reset hissed sharply, her voice low. Her face was slightly flushed. "But he came all this way," Shion said. "It's fine, really," Reset said. "Today's lunch set turned out especially well. The way the turnips cooked——" Shion began. "Shion!!" Reset said, this time a bit louder. Shion closed his mouth. He realized something was off now. But he didn't know what. Reset picked up a plate and walked back to a customer's table. Her back was straight, her smile in place. Her voice was normal as she handed a regular customer his bowl: "Here's your turnip soup." Only from the angle Shion could see from the kitchen——the edge of that smile was slightly strained. It was the exact boundary between a forced smile and a natural one. Shion returned to the kitchen. He began preparing the next dish. (What was that about?) No answer came to mind. So he picked up his knife. When cooking, he didn't have to think about unnecessary things. That was Shion's long-standing habit. --- Afternoon restocking time arrived. "Pola's Shelf," a five-minute walk from Kamado-bi-tei, was Valm's only general store and food supplier. The owner, Pola Meze——fifty-two, small but with a loud, cheerful voice——was arranging vegetables outside as usual. "Shion! Perfect timing, carrots just came in!" Pola called. "Thank you. These carrots......" Shion said, picking one up. It was heavy. Imagining the cross-section, his face brightened. These were nearly one and a half times the normal size. Thanks to Vita——the life-essence magic that had seeped into Valm's soil when countless magical beasts were slain long ago——such special vegetables grew here. "Even larger than last week. The density is increasing... the sugar concentration," Shion murmured. He pulled out his memo pad. "Carrots: Vita density increase expected compared to last week. Turnips showing similar trend......" Shion wrote. "Hey, wait a minute," Pola said, stopping. "Actually, before talking about vegetables, there's something I should mention," Pola said. "What is it?" Shion asked. "Lately, up north at the mines, the ground's been shaking at night. The blacksmith Gertz mentioned it. Everyone figures the bedrock's just loosening or something, but," Pola said. "Ground tremors?" Shion asked, his pen moving across the pad. "When did it start?" he asked. "About a week ago, maybe. But I don't think it's a big deal. I've lived here for decades and never had any problems. It's probably just the ground shifting a bit," Pola said. "I see... but," Shion paused slightly. "The timing coincides with the increase in Vita density in Valm's vegetables. If Vita is moving underground in the northern mine region, it could affect the soil. I can't say there's definitely a connection, but," Shion said. "You say complicated things, don't you," Pola laughed. "Well, it should be fine! Valm's been safe for thirty years straight. Anyway, you're buying these carrots, right?" Pola asked. "Yes, I'll take them all. And today's turnips too," Shion said. Pola energetically began bagging vegetables. Shion continued his notes. *Vita density increase——Carrots estimated +15-20% vs. last week. Turnips show similar trend. Ground tremor reports from north, approximately one week ago. Requires continued observation.* "Isn't that scarier?" Pola asked, peering at Shion's memo pad. "Food ingredient change records?" she asked. "That's it. When vegetable Vita density changes suddenly, I have to adjust the broth's intensity. If I don't track the changes, before I know it things get too salty......" Shion explained. "No, I'm asking if the ground tremors aren't scarier!!" Pola said. "Those concern me too. But for now, we can only wait and see," Shion said. Pola's eyes widened and she laughed loudly. "I give up with you," she said, placing the turnips in a separate bag. Shion accepted the vegetables and closed his memo pad. (Ground tremors. The northern mines......) He couldn't dismiss it as coincidence. --- The shop closed as evening shadows fell. The last customer left, and Reset was putting away chairs. One by one, flipping them upside down onto the tables. Shion watched from the kitchen's depths without quite knowing why. "Reset, thank you for your hard work today," Shion said. "Yes. Thank you," Reset replied. "I'll make something as thanks. You've been helping so much, and I haven't properly thanked you yet," Shion said. "That's not necessary, really. Please don't worry about it," Reset said, shaking her head with a troubled expression. She seemed unaccustomed to receiving things. That bothered Shion slightly. "Don't be shy. Is there a dish you used to eat? Something from childhood?" Shion asked. Reset's hands stopped holding the chair. She thought for a moment. Really thought about it. "...When my mother was alive," Reset said quietly. Her voice was small. "She used to make nikujaga often," she said. Shion didn't respond. He simply began moving. He entered the kitchen and checked his ingredients. Potatoes——Valm-grown, large ones. Onions——fresh ones he'd restocked from Pola today. Some sliced pork remained. Soy sauce, mirin, sugar. He had broth made from kelp steeped since morning. He drew his crane-blade knife. The blade quietly reflected the kitchen's firelight. The blade of this special ore-forged knife minimized Vita loss with each cut. That's why Shion's cooking had depth even with the same ingredients. He began slicing the onions. "Shion, really——" Reset started. "Could you finish tidying up? I need to concentrate," Shion said. "Yes," Reset replied quietly, returning to the chairs. He cut the potatoes into rough chunks. The pork into bite-sized pieces. The onions thinly and uniformly along the grain. He poured broth into a pot and set it over the fire. Sugar first, then mirin, then soy sauce. Getting the sweetness into the broth before adding the ingredients——that order mattered. The aroma began rising. Sweet, soy sauce, the slow-cooked scent of meat. Home cooking. Nothing complicated. No special ingredients. Just careful, patient time. Reset noticed the aroma while tidying. Her movements slowed slightly. Shion didn't notice. He adjusted the heat under the pot, watching the potatoes so they wouldn't fall apart. Kamado-bi-tei's broth changed subtly each day. Today's kelp broth was slightly sweeter, so he used a touch less sugar—— "Done," Shion said. Fifteen minutes later, he placed a bowl on the counter. Nikujaga. No garnish. On a white plate, potatoes and onions and meat stained brown, quietly arranged. Steam rose thinly. "Please," Shion said. Reset came to the counter. She sat on a stool and picked up chopsticks. She brought a piece of potato to her mouth. She went still. Chewing. Swallowing. Another bite——this time an onion. She put it in her mouth. Shion started to begin washing dishes, then stopped. Reset's shoulders trembled slightly. Her face was down, hidden by silver hair. But her crystal earring swayed——proof her body was shaking. (Is she... crying?) Shion thought so. He didn't know why. Was the food bad? No, she kept eating, so that wasn't it. But—— "Reset, perhaps——" Shion began. Reset looked up. Her eyes were red. A tear traced her cheek. "The onion's volatile compounds might still be in the air. I'll open a window," Shion said, moving toward the kitchen window. "That's not it!!" Reset cried out. Her voice was tearful. But she was smiling. A crying-laughing expression——that phrase fit perfectly. "It's not the onion——" Reset said. "But your eyes are red