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

Habeng’s story was short and plain, but made the listeners feel sympathy.

“It’s a sad story,” Mag said softly after a while.

Habeng nodded. “Yes. I haven’t seen Marcus in the Stone tribe for many years. I never thought he would attack our gold mines. This time, my brother and he might settle it once and for all,” he said with a mixture of feelings. He had always followed his brother and Marcus around when he was young. Marcus had been like a big brother to him. Now, because of the conflicts and Grace’s death, they had become enemies.

“Anyway, they’ll settle it sooner or later. I knew one of them would die when Grace was killed.” Habeng picked up his spoon again and ate some fried rice. Then, he said not a single word more.

“Mag, may I have the check?” Conti asked as he smiled at Mag.

Mag nodded, smiling. “Sure. You’ve eaten three roujiamos. That is nine gold coins. I’ll take it out of your receipt.”

“Thank you.” Conti rose from the table, took his longsword, and patted Habeng on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. He’ll win.”

“Thank you,” Habeng replied. Then, he went back to eating.

Conti took a look in the direction of the counter. Seeing that Amy didn’t intend to come out and say “goodbye”, he turned around and walked out, a little disappointed.

Habeng finished his fried rice and left with his club. Mag could feel his depression.

After a while, more customers came; some wanted to try the new dish when they were told of it. Its price was much lower than Yangzhou fried rice’s, but it was still very expensive.

Mag had grown used to their weird sound and embarrassed look when they took the first bite. They carried on eating regardless—they couldn’t resist it.

The breakfast time of one and a half hours passed swiftly. Mag walked to the door and turned over the sign. Then he cleared the plates, washed them with the dishwasher, and went to wipe tables.

“Father, come here! Is the ugly duckling going to hatch out?” Amy cried out suddenly, her voice excited and surprised.

“Really?” Mag was also a little surprised. He walked to the back of the counter and crouched down beside Amy. He heard rustling from the blanket-covered egg, only that the sound was much clearer and quicker this time, just as if the little creature was trying to get out.

“Amy, did you say something to it?” Mag asked curiously. It seems the poor creature is very terrified. It is trying to get out.

Amy nodded solemnly. “Yes. I encouraged it.”

Mag’s face became a little odd. “Then how did you encourage it?”

“Be good and come out, ugly duckling, or I’ll set you on fire. I’m serious!” Amy said seriously as she clenched her little fist.

Mag couldn’t help but chuckle. What kind of encouragement was that? It was totally a threat. No wonder the little thing is clawing at the shell strenuously. It must be horror-struck.

“Father, does it think I’m lying? Maybe that’s why it doesn’t come out after I said it so many times. Can I use my fire on it?” Amy asked as she looked at Mag, not knowing what to do.

It would be cooked if you set it on fire, Mag thought. Then, while Mag was thinking about how to tell Amy to be patient, the egg cracked.

They froze for an instant, and then widened their eyes to look at the egg that had a small crack in it.

“Come out quickly, ugly duckling. I know you’re ugly, but I’m pretty.” She stared at the big egg, full of expectation.

She is just like the old me. Maybe she has inherited that from me. Mag looked at his little girl. She has a vicious tongue, and she has figured out how to do that all by herself. She is really talented.

She was like a high-quality piece of uncut jade. He only needed to teach her a little bit. Between her cute appearance and her soft little voice, her vicious tongue would definitely choke others’ words, but they couldn’t get angry. He would feel wickedly cool.

Mag had been brought here because of his vicious tongue, so he was restraining himself now. He only criticized the system at best, and looked at this world with forgiveness and love.

Otherwise, he might be transferred to another world soon because this world and those different species offered so many things for him to criticize. He didn’t want to leave Amy’s side.

Amy was different, though. She might have a vicious tongue, but people didn’t hate her very much. They would forgive her in no time, so he didn’t have to worry about that.

Mag nodded slightly as he looked at Amy. Looks like it’s time I taught her how to use her vicious tongue. She had completely remembered the 9×9 table and was learning addition, subtraction, and easy multiplication of two-digit numbers under the decimal system. She should be able to master the common calculations in everyday life soon. Amy was a quick learner.

The crack in the shell extended, and one became many. It started from the top, and covered the whole egg in a short while.

Mag was also gazing at it in excitement. What will come out? It’s an egg, and the nest was on a cliff, so it’s most likely a bird. But it’s so big, so it must be no ordinary bird. It might be some kind of monstrous bird.

“Ugly duckling, I’ll count to three. Then I’ll set you on fire if you don’t come out,” Amy said with her big blue eyes. Her patience had worn out quickly. She held out her hand.

“Crack …”

With a soft sound, a fluffy little head with a piece of eggshell on it stuck out from the big egg. It looked around with its half-open eyes, confused and alarmed. At last, it looked at Amy. “Meow,” it said softly.

“An orange… orange cat!!!” Mag’s eyes widened. The little creature which had a piece of eggshell on its little head was clearly an orange and white cat. Its eyes were not fully open, and there was some liquid on its fur. It studied Amy with its half-open eyes. Such a cute little creature!

“Wow, it’s so adorable!” Amy blinked in surprise. She reached out her hand to touch it, but drew it back halfway. “Father, you said the ugly duckling would become a swan when it grew up. But why does it look nothing like a roast goose?”