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

Amy was teasing Ugly Duckling with a strip of cloth. She turned to look at Mag, confused. “Skip school?”

Mag nodded. “Yes. You’re not going to school today. Let’s go out hunting a chicken!” He didn’t want to die again; 99% chance of survival wasn’t good enough for him. He wouldn’t take any chances. If he died, Amy would be left alone.

Amy’s face lit up. “We can eat chicken tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go, Father!” She jumped off the chair.

“Hold your horses. I have to write two excuse letters first—one for Krassu, and one for the customers.” He took out pen and paper and started writing.

He told Krassu that Amy had got sick.

“Can Ugly Duckling go with us?” Amy asked. The kitten looked at him with pitiful eyes.

“Will taking the cat lower my chance of survival?” Mag asked in his head.

“It will increase it,” answered the system.

Mag smiled at Amy. “Yes, why not?” But what can it do? he wondered.

“Okay, let’s go.” Mag put a bottle of water, four loaves of baiji bread, and a small bag of sauce in his bag.

He pushed the bike out. No one was waiting outside, since it was still very early. He stuck an excuse letter on the door, which said, “Out for new ingredients. We’ll have a new dish on offer when we open tomorrow!”

Then he rode to the Chaos School. He gave the other excuse letter to the old guard at the gate and asked him to give it to Krassu.

“Bye, Mr. Turnip and Mr. Turtle Shield!” Amy said in her seat, waving her hand.

Anthoine and Arnold waved back. They looked at the letter when they were gone. She is… sick?

“Are we going outside of the city, Father?” Amy asked curiously. “I’ve never been outside of the city before. What’s out there? Daphne said there were many scary magical beasts. Her father is a strong adventurer. She said he always brought back many kills…”

“We’ll go to the Chaos Guild first. We have to find out where we can find fire chickens.” Seeing that she was quite excited, Mag smiled. This might turn out to be a good trip.

The Chaos Guild was the only adventurers’ guild in Chaos City, but it was also the largest one on the whole continent, providing different levels of quests. Every day, a lot of adventurers came here looking for jobs.

“Are we going to become adventurers?” Amy asked, excited.

Mag nodded with a smile. “Yes. Let’s see if we can find a quest for hunting fire chickens.” The system had said specifically that he had to capture one by himself. Otherwise, he would have hired someone to do it for him. I could buy a map of habitats of fire chickens, but it might be too expensive. I think a map will come with the quest.

The Chaos Guild was just outside of the Aden Square.

Mag stopped in front of the gate. “Ugly Duckling, you stay here and watch over the bike.”

“Meow,” it said. The bike sickness was killing it.

Mag looked up at the Chaos Guild. It was a massive structure made of rough black stones, grand and about 20 meters high.

Eight white pillars stood in a straight line outside, as high as the guild and so thick that it would take three men with outstretched arms to reach around each one.

It was said that the eight pillars symbolized the eight species. They had been weathered and eroded over the years.

In the middle of the façade was the main entrance to the guild, and above the entrance was a round emblem—a dove bearing an olive branch.

It was the emblem of Chaos City. After the peace treaty was signed, everyone had wanted to use their own species’ emblem as the city emblem, and their argument had almost led to war again.

Then, a dove with an olive branch flew over the meeting. The elven representatives suggested using it as the emblem, and it got accepted by all species.

Mag smiled. History does have a way of repeating itself. He took Amy by the hand and walked towards the gate.

The gate was around 10 meters high—even higher than the gate of Chaos City. A forest troll walked past them. He was about eight meters tall, with creepers all over his back. The ground shook with every step he took.

A band of goblins with bows and magic staves was just walking out of the gate. They were all wearing red hats. “Hey, watch it, big guy!” shouted the old goblin leading the band.

Amy’s eyes widened. A big troll and many goblins in red hats…

Mag was a little startled. They are only as big as his foot! But, they are fully equipped and look pretty confident…

“Boss, he might not be able to hear us,” a young goblin said, worried.

“Should we get into combat position, Boss?” asked another goblin, pulling his sword from its scabbard.