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

Krassu put the spoon down softly. Not one single grain of rice was left. He chewed on the last mouthful of fried rice, feeling the pleasant taste spreading in his mouth.

After he swallowed, the fried rice became a warm current, nourishing his almost dried-up body. He felt revived, and didn’t care if it was only a lightning before death. Life was beautiful to him now.

“Owner, I’d like one more plate,” Krassu said as he looked up at Mag. He couldn’t remember the last time he wanted seconds. He felt he could eat some more today.

Mag shook his head slightly. “Sorry, sir. Our morning opening hours are over. Actually, we have been open for an extra three minutes now. Please come eat another time.” It was already three past nine. Mag had his non-negotiable face on.

Krassu looked at Mag. “I only want one more plate. I’ll pay double.” He pulled out three dragon coins and put them on the table gently.

Again Mag shook his head. “Sorry, but that’s our rule here.” If he were just a regular old man, Mag might have made an exception. But he was Krassu. He wanted nothing more than to make him leave right now—he looked dangerous to him.

“Father…” Amy looked up at Mag, hesitating. The white-bearded grandpa is so pitiful, and he offered to pay double. Then she saw Mag’s face and bit back her words.

Krassu gave Mag a long stare to make sure that he wasn’t expecting him to raise his offer. “I see. Then I’ll come back for lunch.” He put two coins away. He wanted to ask about the Spring of Life, but thought better of it. He decided to bring it up later.

Krassu tidied his robe and straightened himself up a bit. “Owner, I have a favor to ask of you,” he said as he looked at Mag. “I’m Krassu, a 10th-tier magic caster from the Roth Empire. I’m old now, so I’m trying to find a disciple to inherit my magic skills. I just sensed a strange magic wave from her. Could you allow me to check her talent? Maybe it’s fate that I met her today.”

Mag narrowed his eyes. A 10th-tier magic caster. There are no more than 15 on the whole continent. They are the most powerful.

Even the Roth Empire has only four or five of them. But I didn’t see his name on the list back then. He doesn’t seem to be lying, though, because he just said it like it was nothing.

“If you made Amy your disciple, would you take her back to Rodu?” Mag asked quietly, looking at Krassu.

The old man nodded. “I would. There is proper equipment and perfect magic rooms for beginners in the Magus Tower. They can learn faster there. As my disciple, she is entitled to enter the Magus Tower. That’s the holy tower for magic casters.”

The Magus Tower was held in high regard by most magic casters on the Norland Continent, and it was an important reason why a large number of magic casters was staying in Rodu. Even common people knew what it meant to enter the Tower, so he didn’t worry that Mag would reject his offer.

“Sorry, I don’t like the idea of Amy leaving my side, and I will never let her go to Rodu on her own. So thank you, but I have to politely decline your offer,” Mag said as he shook his head without hesitating.

Amy nodded. “I’ll never leave you, Father.” Sitting on the chair, she reached out her little hand to grab Mag’s finger.

Krassu froze for an instant. As a 10th-tier magic caster serving the Roth Empire, he wanted to test Amy; if she was qualified, he would make her his disciple and take her back to Rodu to learn magic in the Magus Tower.

Even nobles in the capital would have gone crazy about this offer. Never had he thought that he would be turned down by a small restaurateur in Chaos City.

During his long journey, Krassu had checked many children who wanted to be his disciple. Parents had rushed to send their kids to him even before he showed who he was. They didn’t care even if he took them as an intern.

Yet Mag didn’t even plan to give him a chance to test his daughter. His indifference caught him by surprise, but he didn’t make any gaffe. He quickly resumed his smile. “Owner, you live in Chaos City, so maybe you don’t know much about magic casters. The Magus Tower—”

“I won’t let Amy leave my side, period,” Mag interrupted. “And I’m not interested in the Magus Tower.” Then he took a look at the time. “Sorry, sir, we have to buy sheep milk for this little thing. If you don’t mind, please come back later,” he said with a courtesy smile.

Amy nodded as she stroked the kitten’s head. “Yes. Ugly Duckling is starving.” She pulled four gold coins from her pocket, put them on the table, and took the dragon coin away. “White-bearded grandpa, you’re so small and don’t need much food. You won’t grow anymore, so save the money for your next meal. Here, your change.”

“…” Krassu was feeling a mixture of emotions. I have told them who I am, sincerely offered to test her magic talent, and tried to make her my disciple, but apparently I got turned down because a kitten wanted to drink some sheep milk. I guess no one would believe that.

Even if he didn’t find any disciple during his journey, almost everybody had shown him a lot of respect and admiration. They had been willing to pay to make him test their children.

But, sadly, it’s the truth. Their gestures and looks are in sync. They don’t want me to stay here.

“All right. Then I’ll come back again.” Krassu, who was rejected for the very first time when taking in a disciple, picked up the coins and walked towards the door with his staff.

“Be careful, white-bearded grandpa. If you fell, you might not be able to get up,” Amy said as Krassu was opening the door.

Krassu’s hand stopped suddenly. He turned his head sharply and saw Amy’s worried face. He saw the elf girl from before.

He had been at the end of his life, coughing badly at the window of the 32nd floor of the Magus Tower. Suddenly, a crisp, worried voice sounded from behind him. “Be careful, white-bearded grandpa. If you fell down, you might kill others.”

He turned back. It was a young elf lady around 16. He was meeting her for the first time. Her words were both surprising and amusing, and she had a leaping mind and a vicious tongue just like the little girl before him.