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

It was huge—as tall as a meter and a half, with flaming red feathers and a scarlet comb. It flapped its wings, and flames arose on them. The black beady eyes were staring at Mag, glinting with hostility.

Mag thought it was some kind of ridiculously giant rooster when he first caught sight of it. This must be a fire chicken. I thought I had to look for it elsewhere. Lucky me!

He could feel the heat of its flames. He rose swiftly to his feet, stepped in front of Amy, and took several steps back.

Amy’s eyes were glittering with excitement, swallowing saliva. “Such a big rooster! I like roast chicken; a steamed one is good too!”

The chicken smelt danger. It cast a terrified glance at the little girl.

Such a little foodie! Mag smiled. “I like braised chicken.”

Mag handed the kitten to Amy. “Stay behind me, and let me take care of it.”

“Yes, Father. Go get it, Father! I want to eat braised chicken!” Amy said, excited.

Ugly Duckling took a lazy look at the chicken, and went back to sleep in Amy’s arms.

The fire chicken crowed again, staring at Mag with contempt. It flapped its wings, and the flames were starting to turn into fireballs.

Many adventurers were checking their game at the mouth of the valley. “Someone found a fire chicken on the west slope?” a man asked, surprised.

“I saw a man and a little girl go there earlier,” said a second voice.

“A little girl? The flames of the fire chicken will burn them alive!” a third voice said.

“Did he take her there to swim in that hot spring? A stupid father!” said a fourth man.

A fire chicken was barely a threat to a veteran adventurer, but it could be deadly to a rookie.

But these adventurers had seen too many deaths to care much about two strangers’ safety.

Guy was just riding past them. His level allowed him to do more than one quest at a time, and he could finish all of them in one day if he got lucky. “A man and a girl in a cape went that way?” he asked them, pointing.

One of the adventurers nodded. “Yes, and we heard a fire chicken just now. I think they are in danger.”

“A fire chicken?!” Guy frowned, and hurriedly swung off his horse. He tied it to a tree quickly and ran up the slope with a black spear and a bow.

He liked the half-elf girl. He had a granddaughter who was of the same age and constantly badgered him to play with her.

His son was an adventurer too, but they would never dream of taking his granddaughter here. He could still hear the rooster’s crow, and hoped he wouldn’t be too late. He quickened his pace.

…

Mag watched the fire chicken and moved forward with his sword. He had never faced such a deadly beast before, but he felt more excited than fear.

His heart was thumping; he felt pumped up.

He craved a fight, a long overdue fight.

Mag took a look at his hands. You have been neglected for three years, but now it’s your time to shine again!

He gripped harder.

He felt a strange yet somehow familiar bloodlust.

The fire chicken gave a shrill cry, and with a flap of its wings, six fireballs as big as basketballs flew towards Mag.

They were hot enough to burn through armor plate, which was why fire chickens were pretty powerful among the 1st-tier magical beasts.

Mag smiled with disdain, jumped, and landed three meters away. “Is that all you got?”

The six fireballs landed where Mag had previously stood and blew a hole in the ground, melting dirt and rock.

Amy clapped her hands merrily. “You can do it, Father!”

The fire chicken became very irritated, and dived towards Mag like a hawk—its fireballs were limited.

Mag narrowed his eyes. Its wingspan was over two meters, its legs strong and claws sharp.

Mag knew well enough how hard its bones were.

He stood his ground and swung his sword upwards.