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

“Well, you’ve remembered everything accurately, and in a short while.” Mag nodded with a smile, surprised but satisfied. He had found himself a good waitress.

Amy clapped her hands. “You’re amazing, Sister Miya!” she exclaimed, looking at her with admiring eyes.

Yabemiya waved her hands immediately. “No… I mean, thank you.” Her face reddened with joy.

She had a good memory, but her co-workers had considered this ability of hers useless. She had never tasted the feeling of being praised, so Amy’s admiration and Mag’s approval helped build up her confidence.

“Clearly your memory is not a problem, but the workload here is pretty heavy. Do you think you can handle it?” Mag asked, looking at this skinny girl. Maybe she’s less than 90 pounds.

“Yes!” Yabemiya stood up straight. Her breasts were surprisingly big for a small girl. Then she realized what she had done, and relaxed her body. She blushed and nodded. “I’m skinny, but I’m strong. I could lift a side of pork when I was working in the kitchen. I worked from early morning to late at night. I’m even stronger than men.”

“I see. Then can you lift this up?” Mag said, pointing at the table before him. This table weighs at least 200 pounds. I can barely move it in this condition.

Yabemiya walked up to the table, grabbed one end of it with two hands, and lifted it whole clearly off the ground with ease, about 20 centimeters high. “Like this?”

Mag lifted an eyebrow. She has extraordinary strength for a rather small build. She only needs to grab one end of a table to lift it up! Then he nodded. “Yes. Good. You can put it down now.”

It seems her skinny body is because of lack of food. She’ll fill out as long as she has enough to eat.

“Wow! Sister Miya, you have incredible strength,” Amy said as Yabemiya put the table down.

Yabemiya gave an abashed smile. She had been called “Strong Gal” by her coworkers, and she didn’t like that nickname. She was happy that Amy liked her strength.

Mag looked at Yabemiya contentedly. She had a good memory and a strong body—she was almost perfect for him. But she was a little stiff. Mag smiled, and said, “I want our customers to feel comfortable eating here. Our business philosophy is: kindness, distance, equality. You don’t have to bow and scrape to them, but a smile will make them feel at home while we keep our distance. And we should treat every customer equally and show them the respect they deserve. Now, can you give me an earnest smile?”

Kindness, distance, equality. Yabemiya got lost in thought and forgot to be nervous.

Equality, what an unfamiliar word! She had been living in inequality from birth. The restaurant she had worked in catered to elves first, then demons and trolls, and then humans. Hybrids were not even allowed to eat there, no equality left to speak of.

He said he would treat every customer equally. That means hybrids like me could eat here. And I would be their waitress. That would be great! The thought brought a smile to Yabemiya’s face.

Her smile was like a small white flower blooming in dry soil in winter, not very charming, but extra innocent, seeming to have the ability to purify souls.

“If you like, you can come work tomorrow,” Mag said earnestly, looking at Yabemiya.

Her smile was very lovely and, more importantly, very contagious, revealing two sharp canine teeth ¹ . She can cheer people up with that smile. It’s a special gift. Maybe she doesn’t have to keep her distance from customers deliberately. I think it’s better this way.

“Really?” Yabemiya was taken by surprise. She couldn’t believe her ears.

Mag nodded. “Yes. As to your salary, the first month is a probation month, and I’ll give you 4,500 copper coins. Your lunch is free, but breakfast and dinner are not. And we don’t provide accommodation here. I know you’re short on money right now. I will give you a half month’s salary in advance so you have money to rent a house and eat.” Then he looked at her greasy, patched clothes and thought for a moment before he added, “And I’ll give you two sets of working clothes.”

“I…” Yabemiya’s mouth went wide. She stood there, frozen with surprise. She felt faint from happiness. I just recited some words, lifted a table, and gave a smile. And he hired me! 4,500 copper coins a month! I only made 800 a month in that kitchen, and they didn’t provide food or shelter.

“System, show me the womenswear catalogue. I need to buy working clothes for my new employee,” Mag said in his mind.

“I’m a respectable system. I don’t provide womenswear,” the system said seriously.

“I want two sets of clothes and two matching shoes. I’ll pay cash,” Mag said.

The system paused a moment before it asked tentatively, “Well, are you going to buy that window shade at a little higher price?”

“Normally you’ll get a discount when you buy more, no? What about 5 gold coins?” Mag asked.

A line of words appeared in Mag’s head. “The transaction is done. Six gold coins has been deducted. Manufacturing the window shade. It will be ready in 10 minutes. Spend 10 gold coins or more on anything else, and the window shade will be installed for free.”

Mag wanted to criticize the system for making the deal without his consent, but then he thought, 10 gold coins for two sets of clothes and two shoes isn’t too much.

This way, the system would save him the trouble of installing the window shade himself.

The system had clearly grown more enthusiastic after the transaction went through. “What kind of womenswear do you need? I have suits, office lady suits, dresses, slip dresses, sheath dresses… sailor uniforms, maid dresses, school swimsuits…”

“Wait! What?! You’re selling sailor uniforms and school swimsuits?! Have a little decency!” Mag twisted his mouth. Then, he said, “I’d like two maid dresses.”