A Stay-at-home Dad’s Restaurant In An Alternate World

“Why haven’t Sister Xixi and Big Bear come?” Amy was sitting in the long-legged chair with Ugly Duckling, looking to the door with her chin on the counter. It was already dark outside.

She really likes them, Mag thought. Maybe Xixi reminded her of her mother. He sighed. He might be a great father, but there was one thing he could never give her: maternal love.

I can’t go look for her mother until I’m strong enough. And to get stronger, I need to work harder to make more money so that I can buy strength from the system. It’s the fastest way. But, I also need to work out at night.

“I’ll have two bowls of braised chicken, one sweet tofu pudding, and one Yangzhou fried rice tonight!” Xixi said excitedly as she walked backwards, facing Lulu.

Lulu nodded, smiling. “Okay.” He was not carrying the basket this time. He pushed aside the slender willow branches behind her, and looked around warily.

“We have to eat faster. If they have followed us here, it’s very likely they are looking for us right now,” Lulu whispered.

Xixi nodded. “I know.”

It was almost 8 PM when they arrived at the restaurant. Some patrons were still waiting for their seats.

“You’re finally here, Sister Xixi,” Amy said the moment they pushed the door open. She climbed down the chair and walked over to them happily.

“Good evening, Amy. We have come to eat your gourmet food,” Xixi said, stroking Amy’s hair with a smile.

“Come on in. Father’s cooking is the best in the world.” She frolicked around her with the kitten.

The patrons hadn’t thought Amy could be so adorable. After all, they had seen her set a lava demon on fire.

…

“It’s settled, then. I’ll ask Urien to come here, and we’ll work together to make a super magic staff for my disciple,” Krassu said, putting the diagram away, and looked at Novan who was sitting behind the desk in his office.

“No problem. Just don’t forget your promise: half an hour every month for the students here.”

“You really want me to teach them? I may lead them astray.”

“You’re the Lord of Fire. Nobody is more qualified to teach them magic than you.”

Krassu looked Novan in the eye and didn’t reply.

“Melee magic is important to magic casters,” Novan said. “You have shown the world that a melee magic caster can be as strong as a ranged magic caster, if not stronger. That’s reason enough for to learn it. I’m leaving it to the children to decide which kind of magic they want to learn. Maybe magic casters will not have to fear hand-to-hand combat one day.”

“If someone else had said that to me, I would have thought he was out of his mind, but I trust you.” Krassu smiled. “I have to make one thing clear, though. There’re some things I’ll only teach my disciple. They can learn from me, but I only have one disciple.”

Novan smiled. “All right. Amy is also one of our students here.”

“Oh, one more thing. I need a place to build a magic room.”

“How large is it?”

“Larger than the one I’m using now.”

“10 times larger?”

“No. I’m not moving the whole Magus Tower here.”

Novan laughed. “But if anyone can move it here, it’s you. You can use the buildings just outside the magic school. They’re our school’s property.”

Krassu nodded. “Thank you. Come on, let me treat you to dinner. I’ll show you some divine food.”

“There’s no food I haven’t tried in this city.” Novan sounded uninterested, but he rose to his feet anyway.

“Don’t be so confident. I can promise you you never tried it.” Krassu walked out.

Novan looked at his back incredulously, and followed him out.

…

The band of hunters belched, their bellies swollen. They had come to the western corner of the square.

“According those restaurateurs’ accounts, they are here, Boss,” said the youngest man. “But we have eaten in all the restaurants on this paper, and still haven’t found them. What do we do now?”

“Smells good! And it’s nothing like anything we have eaten,” Blacky said, sniffing. He looked around, and then fixed his eyes on Mamy Restaurant. “I found them! Over there!” he shouted, pointing, his eyes red from bloodlust.