78.

After giving Irene a light kiss, Noctis went to help the chipmunks take a bath. The kids started throwing water at Noctis with their little cups which Noctis avoided easily as she tickled the chipmunks.

"Are you done taking a bath?" Asked Noctis.

"Yes, father." Erza said as the trio came out with water still dripping from their hairs. Noctis then came up with a towel and covered them one by one as he took some clothes from their wardrobe.

After dressing the kids, he started tying Kagura and Erza's hair. They are starting to get longer and longer. Pitou's hair on the other hand, was always being kept short with Pitou using her nails to cut it.

While Noctis was tying the kids' hair, Irene came in and sat down beside Pitou. She then picked up Pitou and let her sit on her lap.

"Why do you want to keep your hair short, Pitou? Don't you like your hair long?" Asked Irene.

"No. Annoying." Pitou said which made Irene chuckle as she pat Pitou which made her squirm and soften at the same time.

"Why? You don't want your hair to be tied just like them by me or your father?" Asked Irene and Pitou entered a deep thinking state. She thought that maybe she could make her hair long but she shook her head. She preferred keeping her hair short than long, but the temptation of her mother was strong as she couldn't decide.

"Haha, don't worry about it, Pitou. Whether your hair is long or short, your father can still arrange it for you." Noctis laughed seeing Pitou's predicament.

Pitou was happy that she could keep her hair short and can be arranged at the same time. Her hair is curly which could be transformed into many hair arrangements and Noctis had the knowledge to do it.

Irene smiled seeing that Pitou has made her mind. After Noctis styled the hair of the chipmunks, he finally went down and opened the tavern with August and Brandish at the front.

"Hello, Uncle Noct." Greeted Brandish.

"Hello, Brandish. Did you wait long?" Asked Noctis.

"Uhhh... I don't know... I'm on top of Gwanpa August's head the whole time." She said while Noctis chuckled as he invited the customers inside.

When they entered, the chipmunks just got down and saw Brandish as their eyes lit up.

"Hello, Brandish. Would you like to play wit us again?" Asked Kagura.

"Kids, Brandish hasn't eaten yet. Wait for Brandish to have some breakfast before you play, 'kay?" Noctis said to the chipmunks as they nodded their heads and waited.

Noctis then started making food for the first batch of customers and after they ate their food, another batch would come in. Brandish left to play with the chipmunks while August left to do his duties.

During the morning service, Arcadios came in with a hooded-figure accompanying him. The hooded figure was small. Noctis thought that the King of Fiore visited him because he remembered that Toma E. Fiore's figure was small as well. What surprised him was that when the hooded figure spoke to Arcadios, her voice was small and girly. Noctis already had a clue on who she is.

"Boss, do you have something for a little girl? You know appropriate for a child?" Arcadios asked and Noctis looked at him weirdly.

'Dude, I'm a father of three. Daughters at that, and you're going to ask me whether I have something to make for a kid? Are you dumb?' Noctis thought and Arcadios noticed the weird gaze that Noctis sent and finally remembered that Noctis is a father of three chipmunks as he laughed in embarrassment.

"Why awe you waffing? Uncwle Awcawdios?" Asked the hooded figure.

"Hehe, I forgot that the boss has daughters too. He can make food delicious than the food made by the ro- chefs back at your home." Arcadios was afraid that if someone hears their background, they would be targeted. He is not afraid that someone would cause trouble inside because he had seen first-hand how Noctis tortured a prince, who was causing trouble to his tavern saying that it was his fortune for him to marry his daughter to him, a royalty.

Hearing it, he pulled the Prince outside and bashed his head on the ground and destroyed his manhood before he threw him out like a ragdoll and he even beat up the guards of that prince black and blue. He also asked the system to provide him a carolina reaper and he shoved it to their mouth and made them bite it.

The onlookers were frightened of the cruelty that Noctis showed and made an unspoken rule to never, as in ever, mention of harming or taking any members of the family of the owner. Noctis was being nice at that time because if his loving wife was the one who heard that? Noctis would only say one sentence.

'May the Goddess of Luck be with you.'

Since then no one caused anymore trouble to the tavern, inside and just outside the tavern.

Noctis quickly whipped up food for the little kid sitting in front of him and the hooded figure was also staring at him. The hooded figure can't help but be mesmerized and blush seeing Noctis' face.

In the modern times, they said that a man who could cook is attractive in a woman's eyes. Of course that only works if you truly love each other, not just because of your looks. Because normally, the sayings works like this:

'A man who could cook and is handsome with 6 pack abs is attractive in front of a woman's eyes.' (Though I'm not generalizing, I've seen lots and I mean lots of example of this in real life society.)

Noctis noticing the hooded figure's intense gaze at him, it could be said that the hooded figure has fallen. Before the hooded figure could speak, Noctis served the food in front of them leaving no chance for the hooded-figure to speak as they were entranced by the aroma of the food.

Noctis of course knew what that gaze was. It was the same gaze Irene had when they were formally engaged. It was the gaze of love. And for the love of God, he's not a lollicon. He doesn't want to be rammed by truck-sama again. Also, he doesn't want or need another wife. Although he is desperate, he can understand. He had the patience. Patience that was trained for years.

After eating, Arcadios and the hooded-figure immediately left much to the disappointment of the hooded figure. Arcadios ran away very fast and the hood was removed by the wind revealing a cute little kid with green hair as it fluttered with the wind.

"Why did we weave, eawly?" Asked the kid.

"Princess Hisui, we left the palace without your father's permission and your father would be anxious if he didn't find you after a few hours. Also it's dangerous if we stayed there any longer." Arcadios said and Hisui just pouted her mouth. She thought she just met the prince that her father has always told him about.

Back at the tavern, Noctis quickly cleaned up and another batch of customers came in. When Hera and Regis went down, they were dressed and carrying their luggage indicating that they were leaving. Noctis quickly amped up the speed of cooking and served the food to the customer. After serving, he helped his mother and father with their luggage.

"Son, we have decided to go back since we found nothing wrong in your dwelling." Regis said to Noctis as he tapped his shoulder.

"Do come and visit us when you have the time." Hera said with a smile. The chipmunks went inside after seeing their grandpa and grandma were going to leave and they were reluctant to see them leave, specially, Hera. Their grandmother spoiled them a lot so they became more attached to her than with their grandfather.

"Don't cry, little chipmunks. We will visit when we have time or your father will take you to visit us, okay?" Hera consoled the children. After a few more bits of coaxing, the kids finally let go of Hera and let them leave. Noctis offered to take them to Fiore with the carriage but they declined. Left with no choice, he called Fenrir to take his mother and father to Fiore. He won't take no for an answer.

Noctis didn't leave the front of the door until he saw them leave his eyes. He sighed as he went inside and consoled the children.

After that, nothing special happened anymore as Brandish was picked up by August and Noctis closed up the tavern as he stared at the amount of points he amassed today.