MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 903: Simmerium

"We should probably put him out of our minds and keep moving with the tour," Kingsley suggested, shaking his head slightly. A memory of his most recent spar with Anthony flickered through his mind—vivid, sharp, and deeply humbling. A soft chuckle escaped him before he consciously pushed the thought aside and let it dissolve.

"I agree, let's move on. Brother-ben, where is our next stop?" Veronica chimed in, expertly shifting the Brothkin’s focus back to their excursion.

Prompted by the tourist’s question, Broth-ben paused to reflect, his eyes narrowing as he weighed their options. Finally, he spoke, "How would you all feel about visiting a Simmerium?"

His suggestion caused several members of the group to raise their eyebrows in confusion, silently waiting for him to explain. With a quick snap of Broth-ben’s fingers, the same open vessel forged from his Savor energy appeared beside them, its surface glowing with a soft light. As the flooring beneath them shifted and became steady, Broth-ben began his explanation.

"To put it simply, a Simmerium is a kitchen," he stated in a calm tone. "However, that definition is only for outsiders. To those of us native to the Nodara Planet and the Ramen Singularity Timeline, a Simmerium represents much more than a place for cooking. It is a site where individuals are judged."

The group fell into a respectful silence, letting the Brothkin speak without interruption.

"Throughout the Nodara Planet," Broth-ben continued, "four distinct types of Simmerium can be found. The first is the Public Simmerium. This location is the most accessible to travelers and foreigners like yourselves. It is frequently utilized for trade cooking, public demonstrations, and street mastery. It is a place of noise, intense aromas, and occasional chaos, yet it is vibrantly alive." He took a brief moment to let them visualize the scene.

"The second type is the Lineage Simmerium. As the name suggests, it is tied to specific chef bloodlines and has extremely restricted access. Foreigners are strictly forbidden from entering. The third is the Duel Simmerium, which I assume needs no further explanation." A small smile played on his lips. "Lastly, there is the Silent Simmerium. No spectators are allowed inside for any reason. It is a sanctuary for forbidden or experimental techniques. One must submit a formal application to use it, and trespassing is treated as a major offense."

He paused once more, allowing the group to digest the information.

"These four Simmeriums are also known as The Pot, The Bowl, The Heat Circle, and The Listening Floor, respectively," he added. "Though, we don't often use those titles in our daily lives."

The group nodded, signaling their understanding.

"So, it looks like we're heading to the Pot," Lucian teased, prompting a light ripple of laughter from the others.

Broth-ben shared in the laughter. "Indeed," he confirmed, "our destination is a Public Simmerium."

Countless Public Simmeriums were scattered across the face of the Nodara Planet. In Broth-ben's eyes, they were largely identical—crowded, loud, and filled with scents, yet undeniably full of life. He picked one at random and led the group toward its entrance.

The second they crossed the threshold, they felt as though they had entered a different realm entirely.

Dense, aromatic steam billowed through the Public Simmerium, swirling around massive stone pillars carved with ancient flavor seals. This mist hovered over long, circular cooking stations that were laid out like rings inside a giant bowl. Brothkin chefs worked with a quiet intensity, their ladles rising and falling in rhythmic, ceremonial motions. Their simmer robes changed colors subtly, shifting between deep browns and soft golds as Savor energy surged through the fabric.

Nearby, Spice-Touched cooks breathed out visible waves of heat, their tattered garments glowing as volatile scents leaked into the atmosphere. Oil Ascendants floated in reflective, silent observation, their mirrored bodies capturing warped images of the bustling activity below.

Foreigners moved through the area in small groups; some appeared hesitant, while others were completely captivated. They traded exotic spices, analyzed techniques they couldn't quite grasp, and jumped whenever the floor pulsed beneath them—as if the Simmerium itself were monitoring every breath and choice made within its bowl-shaped core.

The group stood still for a moment, simply soaking in the incredible sight.

"Wow...!!!" Aura Nova whispered. The air was thick with a staggering array of colors and layered scents, so intense that anyone lacking sensory discipline would likely have been overwhelmed by the experience.

Broth-ben smirked, clearly having anticipated their awe. Without slowing down, he continued his explanation as he walked at a measured pace, as if moving too fast would be an insult to the Simmerium. He gestured toward the surroundings as Anthony and the others followed behind him.

First, he pointed to the stone under their feet. "This is the Listening Floor," he told them. "It is grown from condensed Broth Memory. If you remain still, it will signal to you whether a dish is nearly finished or if it is already ruined."

Anthony could feel a faint vibration in the ground sharpen whenever a chef nearby committed even a slight error.

Next, Broth-ben indicated a group of shallow basins linked by narrow channels of flowing liquid. "These are Minor Broth Springs," he noted. "They are diluted branches of the Endless Seas, made safe for the public. A full spring would be far too powerful for a place like this."

He then gestured toward the air, where faint, shimmering lines drifted like ghostly threads. "Those are Aroma Currents. They are natural paths that transport scent and Savor, preventing flavors from clashing. A master chef always cooks with the flow, never against it."

Finally, Broth-ben lowered his voice and pointed to a sealed, steam-free platform at the edge of the area. "That," he whispered, "is a Dormant Station. When it wakes up, it means a duel is about to begin." The ground under them seemed to catch every word he spoke.

"I have a question," Aura Nova interrupted. "Why does a Public Simmerium have a Dormant Station for dueling? Doesn't the Duel Simmerium already serve that purpose?"

Broth-ben replied immediately. "While Duel Simmeriums exist, Public Simmeriums can host temporary duels, provided they are small in scale and involve chefs who are already cooking here at the time."

"And what about the Listening Floor?" she asked further. "You have one here, but you also called the Silent Simmerium the 'Listening Floor'."

Broth-ben nodded, as if he had been expecting the query. "The Listening Floor is a feature, not just a place. It can be found in all Simmeriums—public, lineage, and duel alike. It is constructed from stone infused with Broth Memory and reacts to timing, excess, and completion. It senses intent rather than sound. That vibration Anthony noticed earlier? That is perfectly normal."

He paused for a second before concluding, "The Silent Simmerium earned its name because absolute silence is required to listen properly during experiments or the use of forbidden arts. That is why they share the title."

He spoke with the effortless confidence of a man who had traveled through every Simmerium the planet had to offer.

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