A heavy black-and-red coat draped over his broad frame. His face was stern, a thick beard covering his jaw down to his chest.
He gave off the aura of a grizzled writer from a cold northern country.
His gaze settled on Yuto, carrying a clear sense of scrutiny.
Yuto noticed it immediately.
'This guy isn't simple.'
"Tohru, aren't you going to introduce our new guest?" Yuto asked.
Tohru forced an awkward smile. "...This is my father."
Yuto paused, surprised. He already knew Tohru's background. She was a dragon of the Chaos Faction from another world.
That meant her father was the one at the very pinnacle of their kind.
"I see. I apologize for the lack of formality. Please, have a seat," Yuto said.
His tone was steady and polite.
Tohru's father surveyed the restaurant. His gaze paused on Hestia and a flicker of surprise appear in his eyes before fading.
Then he looked at Saitama, Ainz, Rimuru, and Gilgamesh.
The more he looked, the more his expression shifted.
Without a word, he accepted Yuto's invitation and sat down.
"How should I address you?" Yuto asked.
"I am known as the Emperor of Demise," Damocles replied. His voice was deep and steady, carrying an imposing weight.
'The Emperor of Demise... that's quite a title,' Yuto thought, though his expression remained calm.
"So, Emperor, did you come today to check on your daughter's workplace?"
After all, he had essentially hired someone else's daughter.
It was natural for a father to be concerned.
Behind him, Tohru stood stiffly.
Kanna and the other dragons looked just as tense, waiting for something to go wrong.
The Emperor of Demise fell silent for a moment, then gave a small nod.
That simple response made Tohru and the others relax.
Saitama withdrew his gaze and took a sip of water, while Ainz slowly lowered his hand.
"You can rest assured," Yuto said. "Tohru is doing well here. I won't mistreat her or force her to do anything she doesn't want to do."
He glanced at Tohru.
She looked back at him, her eyes filled with guilt and unease.
Yuto gave a slight shake of his head.
'It's fine.'
"In that case, I will leave her in your care," Damocles said. "Tohru is still immature in many ways. I hope you can be patient with her."
The moment he said that, Tohru, Kanna, and the others froze.
They stared at him as if they had just witnessed a miracle!
"Of course," Yuto replied.
The Emperor of Demise looked at Tohru. "You may continue working here."
Tohru's eyes lit up with joy.
Damocles stood up. "I will take my leave."
"You're not staying for something to eat?" Yuto asked.
"I have matters to attend to. I will return another time to try your cooking."
With a slight nod, he turned to leave.
As he passed Tohru, he glanced at her briefly but said nothing, exiting the restaurant in silence.
The moment he was gone, the dragons let out a collective breath.
"Are you always this nervous around your father?" Yuto asked.
Tohru let out a long breath and nodded. "That's the Emperor of Demise we're talking about... I thought he was going to be furious. I didn't expect him to be this calm."
Lucoa sighed. "Yeah... that was unexpected."
As a former goddess and the oldest among them, she knew better than anyone how terrifying he could be.
"Is he really that strong?" Saitama asked.
"He's terrifying," Kanna said quietly.
"I see," Saitama replied, taking another sip of water. "Then he must be pretty strong."
Yuto thought for a moment. "I don't know. I didn't feel anything like that. He just seemed... dignified."
....
In the dragon realm, Damocles sat alone in a grand hall.
This was the sanctum of the Chaos Faction's ruler.
However, his calm facade had vanished, replaced by inner turmoil.
"So it wasn't my imagination." He raised his hand.
It was trembling.
Back in the restaurant, he had felt several gazes that put him on edge.
One of them had felt like a direct threat to his life!
At first, he had wanted to act, but under the weight of those stares, he chose silence.
He had lived for countless years and knew when to hold back.
When he first learned his daughter was working for a human, he had been furious.
Now, he could accept it.
'Human?'
He recalled the moment he looked at Yuto.
'Was that really a human? If it were... why would I feel fear towards him?'
A dragon's eyes could see far more than most.
Yet, when he tried to see through Yuto, he saw nothing.
Or rather, he saw something he couldn't comprehend.
His instincts told him one thing: letting Tohru stay there was the right choice!
...
"Honestly, I thought he came here to cause trouble for you," Ainz said.
"Same here," Saitama added.
"Well, it worked out," Rimuru said.
They were still discussing the Emperor of Demise's visit.
Yuto, meanwhile, turned his attention to a certain dragon who was trying to act cute and avoid the topic.
"Tohru."
"Y-Yes! I'm here!"
Yuto smiled. "What's with that reaction?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Tohru... don't play dumb." He put on a serious expression.
Tohru stiffened.
Her golden eyes grew watery as she looked at him. "Boss, please don't deduct two dishes from my meals! Please! I couldn't help being late this time!"
Yuto blinked, almost laughing.
'So that's what she was worried about.'
Yesterday, he had told her that if she was late again, he would deduct two free dishes.
She clearly hadn't forgotten it.
"This time doesn't count. Special circumstances," he said.
Tohru had already explained what happened.
She and her friends would have arrived earlier, but they had been stopped by the Emperor of Demise.
That delay wasn't her fault, and Yuto wasn't a heartless boss.
"Ohhh! Boss, you're the best!" Tohru cheered, throwing her hands up.
Her tail wagged behind her like an excited dog.
"Alright, enough. Go do your job."
"Yes, sir!" She grabbed a cloth and started wiping the tables.
Yuto shook his head with a smile, then turned toward Kanna, Lucoa, and Fafnir at the counter.
After taking their orders, he headed into the kitchen.
Lucoa and Fafnir both ordered grilled meat and beer. Fafnir requested his in such a stiff, reluctant tone that it sounded like a chore.
Tohru laughed at him for it.
Kanna, as usual, asked for tamagoyaki.
Yuto prepared hers first and brought it out before returning to grill the meat. Since the grilling would take some time, he stepped back into the dining area.
"Boss, Shouko didn't come today?" Kanna asked after finishing her food.
Yuto shook his head.
She hadn't come tonight.
He missed her, but it wasn't strange.
She probably had other plans.
"...I see." Kanna looked disappointed.
Yuto smiled. "Do you want to see her that much?"
"Mm. I brought her a gift."
Yuto raised an eyebrow. "What kind of gift?"
"My feather." Kanna produced a small, glowing white feather. It shimmered softly in the air.
Even Yuto could tell it wasn't ordinary.
"Boss, can you give it to her for me?" She held it out with a hopeful look.
"Why not give it to her yourself tomorrow?"
"I can't. I'll be with my parents tomorrow, so I won't be able to come."
Yuto looked at her, then smiled and nodded.
"Alright. I'll make sure she gets it." He took the feather, planning to stop by Nishimiya's place tomorrow.
"Yuto, Sakura and I are heading back," Hestia said.
"Leaving already?"
"Yeah. She's getting sleepy."
Yuto glanced at Sakura.
She looked tired, though she smiled when she noticed his gaze. It was past two in the morning.
Even with Hestia's blessing, she was still just a child in the end.
"Alright. Take care." Yuto gently patted her head. Hestia grinned.
Before leaving, Sakura asked if she could bring her friend, Syr and Ryuu next time.
Yuto agreed without hesitation.
More customers were coming through connections like this.
After they left, Lord El-Melloi II stood up. He had classes to teach early in the morning at the Clock Tower.
"Oh, right. There is something I need to tell you," Waver said before leaving.
Yuto looked at him curiously.
"Last night, I checked the records of the Matou and Tohsaka families in Fuyuki..." He paused.
"...The past has changed."