After the Meal

Facility Event: A Dash of Disaster

Episode 6

After the Meal

Previous Quest

A Plate of Resolve

Next Quest

Nature's Bounty - À La Carte: Beginner

Summary

Once Nimis devours Valerio's sandwiches, the situation shifts in his favor, and Valerio emerges from the fierce competition victorious. After the contest, he and Mitsuba treat the prince and friends to a lunch made with all of their gratitude.

Dialogue

Picaro and Nimis are here! Is Picaro trying to use Nimis to make a mess of the entire competition?! No, that's not it! He's going to— Oho ho ho, Nimis! Try THIS, if you would! Sample the amazing wares of Picaro! Want Nimis eat this? Look tasty. I knew it! He's planning to have Nimis eat all his food and end this in one fell gulp! Victory is mine! So THIS is why he's been feeding that dragon night after night! Predicting and preparing for any and all hardships is the essence of a first-rate chef! Oho! Ohooo ho ho ho ho! And what part of you is supposed to be a "first-rate chef," exactly? Quiet, you! This has assured my victory! Now go stick your thumb in a humble pie while you behold my great triumph! Damn it. We're SO close! Now, Nimis! Eat hearty! Nimis eat! Nimis eat EVERYTHING! Aaaaagh! I can't bear to watch! *CHOMP* ...What? He...he ate them! Nimis ate YOUR sandwiches! NOOOOOOOO! But wait... No! This is not yet over! The plates are not returned! And you will never get them back from the gut of that fool dragon! *spitooie* *spitooie* He's spitting the plates out like watermelon seeds! Which means... Yes! One thousand! The first contestant to gather up one thousand plates is...VALEEEEERIO! It's a miraculous turnabout for Valerio! He is the new Orichalcum Chef! No... No! Picaro cannot lose! Maybe you'll understand how this happened if you try one of Valerio's leftover sandwiches. Do you mistake me for a coarse laborer? Would you ask Picaro to dig a ditch next? Scrub a pot? WASH MY OWN APRON?! Ugh, just shut up and pick one already. We've got plenty of kinds to choose from. Pick...one...? By my exalted cheese grater! Do you mean to say that each sandwich IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?! Yep. Every plate has a different sandwich with different ingredients and flavors. We made a thousand unique tastes. You were driven into the proverbial corner and STILL managed such feats?! I kept saying it was too much work and it couldn't possibly be done... But Valerio stuck it out. He had a plan, and he stuck to it no matter what. He thought about how to please each and every one of his thousand eaters. THAT is his resolve. And that's also how you know this one right here is gonna be good. Now open up and try it already! N-no! Picaro would never lower himse— SHUT UP AND EAT THE DAMN SANDWICH! *nibble* I-impossible... To think one could get this flavor from a lowly hoagie! Such taste! Such texture! Such skill! I experience your resolve in every bite!

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Well, it looks like we've finally reached the end of this story. Great job, everyone! And likewise to you! I put you to untold amounts of trouble from start to finish. Yes, but at least we got a few amazing meals out of it! So what's next for the two of you? Is it back to Hinomoto, Mitsuba? No. Nothing would change if I went home as I am now. I need to train a bit more here in Alberia so I can be the world's best next time. No! The world's best will be PICARO! *sigh* You're still here? I had something I wanted to say before I leave... Valerio! From this day forth, you and Picaro are BITTER RIVALS! Come again? No ordinary chef can be your nemesis. The only one fit to go toe-to-toe with you is Picaro, the cheatiest of cheats! I will master my underhanded techniques to become the perfect dastard! And when next we meet in the field of kitchen battle, I will SLAY YOU! Oho ho ho ho! For I can hardly let my dear boy see his father in a state of such weakness, no? Wait, you're serious? You don't see any problem with letting him see you compete as a total cheat? Leave it be, Mitsuba. He listens about as well as a sack of sprouted potatoes. Until the day we meet again... Farewell, my rival! Well, he's clearly learned his lesson. So what's on your agenda, eh, Valerio? Gonna go on a journey to different places and open up a buncha franchises? I am indeed in a position where such a thing is possible now. But I thought it also might be nice to remain here and run a single, simple establishment all my own. There are many unusual ingredients to be found here, but more importantly, it is home to people of all races. It is an ideal place for seeing what kinds of food various people like. Hey, if it means I get to eat more of yer chow, I hope ya stay put forever! Then perhaps you can start with this. Me and Valerio made you all lunch as our way of saying thanks. Did I die and go to meet the Goddess? Two Orichalcum Chef competitors went and made ol' Ranzal LUNCH?! Heck yeah, food! Time to meet my belly! Pipple-luu! ♪ By all means, please eat your fill. We'd be glad to. I'm grateful for the bounty Alberia has provided us, as well as for how thoughtful you chefs are. Let's eat!

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...Hmm. There is one mystery remaining. Why is it you passed over Picaro's food and ate only Valerio's, Nimis? You got food for Nimis? I do, indeed: pea soup and bream meunière. Blech. What's wrong? That's no way to act when offered food. If you're going to be like that, you don't get to have this fruit compote I brought for dessert. Nimis like sweet treats! *CHOMP* Ack! You ate the whole thing in one gulp! Hmm... You used to eat anything and everything, so is it possible my desserts have given you a sweet tooth? The only sweets left during the tournament were those dessert-like sandwiches. So that means the reason you ate all Valerio's food was because... Hee hee! Nimis love treats! *burp*