( 1 - 200) A Stay-at-home Dad's Restaurant In An Alternate World

Chapter 3: I"ll Show You A Magic Trick

"System will only decorate the restaurant, and other parts will not be included," answered the system.

Mag stroked his chin with his right hand as he used to, took a look at the dilapidated stairs and the dark second floor, and remembered the straw-covered bed he had just left. This is no place for my baby girl to sleep. I shall change it by tonight, he thought.

Besides, I didn't feel too much malice from the system. The said punishment must be just something to make me study hard and become the God of Cookery sooner.

If that is the case… Mag came up with an idea, and casually said in his mind, "System, I think you've got it wrong. I have provided this whole building for the restaurant, so you have to decorate the whole thing. I will not accept a restaurant under such a shabby house. Besides, if the second floor stayed unrepaired, someday a brick might fall down and kill a customer, which would be very bad, and if he was not killed by it, that would be even worse—I might get killed by the guy who can't be killed by a brick. If that happened, how could I learn to cook and become the God of Cookery? It's your choice."

The system became silent, as if lost in thought. After a while, it spoke again, "Because the house is very dangerous, after analyzing, system has decided to reconstruct the whole building and then decorate it. Please choose the decoration style."

Mag smiled secretly. As I've expected, these things can be reasoned with. Being led around by the nose would be so not fun. Still, he seemed pretty calm on the outside.

The style of the restaurant had been decided, and he chose a style quite like his previous house for the second floor—inconspicuous yet grand and comfortable. There were three rooms, one lavatory, and one bathroom, all on the second floor. Amy's room's main color was pink. So, everything was decided.

"The reconstruction and decoration will cost 30 seconds. Please leave this house. The countdown begins now from 60 seconds …" said the system.

Just 30 seconds?! Mag froze for an instant, but then he heard the countdown, so he dragged himself towards the door in a hurry. It took him much effort to step across the threshold, and then he turned around and closed the door. It was already dark.

"Father, are you here to meet me?" Amy's cute little voice sounded behind his back.

Mag turned around. Amy was looking up at him, one brown pancake in each hand—too big in her little hands, her long eyelashes fluttering, happiness and joy all over her little face. Father has never come out to meet me before, but today it seems he has come downstairs to meet me, Amy thought happily.

"Yes, Amy, and Father will show you a magic trick." Mag smiled as he went down, took Amy in his arms, and hugged her gently.

"A magic trick?" Amy looked up at Mag, a little confused, but soon her eyes brightened. "Is it magic? Can you conjure up a lot of good food, Father?"

"Yes. Father will conjure up a big beautiful house for you and a pretty restaurant and will cook a lot of good things for you every day," Mag answered in a soft voice. A little chowhound all right, Mag thought.

"Really?" Amy seemed unconvinced, her mouth slightly open in surprise.

Mag nodded, smiling. "Close your eyes and count down from 30."

"30, 29 …" Amy closed her eyes obediently, counting down the number.

Mag looked at Amy gently, listening to her cute little voice. The ground started shaking slightly, and he could hear the sound of things hitting the ground now and then, but he didn't look back once.

The count of 30 was over in a short while.

Amy opened her eyes, expectation all over her little face.