This House Has A Delicious Restaurant - Chapter 19 - Parched Land - Part 1

19. Parched Land

After letting Ding go, Khan, who had been silent for a moment, slowly rose from his seat. Then he handed me my outer garment.

Although his eyes were wet, his face looked noticeably better than before.

“…Thank you.”

He quietly said as he handed over the outer garment.

It was something anyone could say, but no one had. They probably just left him alone, knowing he was in shock. If they had left him as he was, Khan would have stayed that way for hours.

It was better for him to quickly accept and let go of Ding’s death. Khan, not being young anymore, would have known that as well. That’s likely why he was so willingly expressing his gratitude.

I shook my head to signal that it wasn’t necessary and draped the garment over myself.

“No, it wouldn’t have been right to leave you like that. I knew Ding was important to you.”

“Yes… you did ramble a bit last time.”

“About wanting to be your person? I wasn’t just saying that—I’m a little hurt you think so.”

Khan smiled weakly at my words. He stood up fully and looked around. It seemed he was finally noticing his surroundings.

“Do you need my ability?”

“Yes. Khan’s shadow is still implanted in Liffree’s shadow, correct?”

“Yes. I expected you to deny it out of courtesy or to be flustered, but you’re quite straightforward.”

“Khan’s ability is the most necessary here. I was just being honest since it’s true.”

I smiled. Khan seemed to appreciate my forthrightness.

Had I pretended otherwise or been flustered, he might have been offended, knowing that his ability was indeed the purpose. He would have disliked the pretense.

It seemed he either didn’t feel as bad about my honesty, or he had already grown accustomed to my behavior. He looked as if he had anticipated it.

“I’ll transport you. But it’s impossible to take that many people at once. Even if we go, we’ll need to do it in shifts.”

“Then I’ll go first.”

Khan nodded. Just as he was about to use his ability, his gaze shifted behind me.

Curious, I turned around to find that Zerdan had approached and was standing right behind me.

“I’ll ask for your help as well.”

“You’re not planning to join forces with Liffree to attack me, are you?”

“Of course not. You’re quite suspicious of me. It’s not a bad thing, though.”

Given the current situation, the suspicion was reasonable, so I asked directly, and Zerdan shook his head with a smile.

Khan looked back and forth between me and Zerdan before saying that he could manage two people at once.

“Captain.”

Zerdan turned his gaze toward Khan, who called him “Captain” out of habit. With a stern expression, Khan asked.

“I have just one question—was Ding’s death Liffree’s independent decision, or was it a decision that included the Captain’s input?”

I had already heard that it was Liffree’s independent action, but it was understandable for Khan to be confused.

I thought it would be impolite for me to answer in his place, so I kept silent and looked at Zerdan.

Zerdan neither confirmed nor denied it. He just smiled as usual.

“I can’t say it’s not true. I had considered using Ding myself. After all, I was in a position to use you. You probably didn’t have high expectations of me, did you?”

His words were somewhat harsh. However, given Zerdan’s position and the situation of Khan being betrayed by someone close to him, it was understandable that the words would not be kind.

Even though he didn’t show it much, he had expressed pity for Khan after hearing the situation from Sidon. I thought to myself that he was quite insincere.

Did he really not care if Khan genuinely hated him?

Khan was silent at Zerdan’s response. After a moment, he let out a deflated laugh.

Shadows began to stretch out from under Khan’s feet.

“It seems you two have some similarities.”

“It doesn’t sound much like a compliment.”

“If you respond so sharply, even I would get hurt.”

“You’re good at lying with a smile, Zerdan.”

When I answered Khan’s remark with a bit of seriousness, Zerdan looked at me with amusement. Contrary to his words, he didn’t look hurt at all.

Given his sly nature, it was unlikely that such words would truly wound him.

The shadows climbed up from the tips of our and Zerdan’s feet. Soon, we would be moving to Liffree’s side.

As the shadows reached up to my waist, I asked Khan.

“Is there a limit to the number of people who can be transported at once by the shadows?”

“Well, it seems three people would be possible. Since one is already connected to Liffree, currently, it would be possible to transport two people.”

“I see. …Then please include Lazis among the next people you send.”

“Lazis, you mean… the spatial ability user?”

Khan’s gaze shifted to Lazis.

I nodded while looking at the man who was standing next to Anise, protecting her unknowingly.

“It seems that his ability can only be used accurately when he knows the exact destination. So, if he arrives at the destination first, more people could be transported at once, saving time.”

Understanding the explanation, Khan nodded in agreement.

The shadows had now risen to chest level. I was thinking we would soon move to Terisier’s side when I heard a presence behind me.

Obella placed a hand on my shoulder. His expression was one of concern, which I could tell was due to worry for me.

“Don’t worry, Bella. I’ll wait for you to catch up soon. For the others… tell them it’s not mandatory, so they shouldn’t push themselves too hard. Especially Anise and Luke, as they might find it emotionally taxing.”

“Alright, I’ll let them know.”

Obella’s hand touched my cheek, gently caressing it.

Even though we would soon meet again thanks to Khan or Lazis’ abilities, his expression remained troubled, whether because of his concern for me or because of Zerdan and me going ahead first. His face didn’t brighten up.

“Don’t push yourself too hard until we get there. If a dangerous situation arises, use Zerdan as a shield if necessary.”

“I didn’t expect Bella to say something like that…”

Zerdan muttered in slight shock from the side. I found it amusing and gave a light laugh, saying I understood.

Soon, the shadows enveloped my entire body.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw a large empty lot.

“It seems there was a commotion here too.”

To be precise, it was a piece of land that had turned into an empty lot. There were traces of buildings and trees, but they seemed to have been destroyed or blown away by some force.

Was it the result of Terisier’s rampage? I looked around but couldn’t see Liffree or Terisier.

Although Khan’s ability should have transported us close to Liffree, why couldn’t I see them?

As I frowned, Zerdan quickly pulled me away. At the same time, a column of fire started to rise from the spot where I had been standing.

I could feel the intense heat. Zerdan pushed me back a little further and sighed.

“At this point, I wonder if that guy is some kind of god.”

“Indeed. Just how many abilities can he use?”

It seemed Zerdan had spotted where the danger was coming from. He looked in a certain direction and spoke, so I followed his gaze and responded. I had vaguely thought Liffree might be there, but instead, a man was standing who I didn’t recognize.

He had a tall stature and long silver hair that reached down to his waist. It was a far cry from the Terisier I had known, who had just begun to show signs of adulthood.

He looked like a full-grown man, much taller and with a different physique. His vacant gaze looked familiar, but he had changed from the Terisier I knew.

Could it be that his abilities had caused him to regain his original age and body, as well as his memories?

If Zerdan’s words were true, then what we were seeing was Terisier’s true form.

Terisier, who looked like he was around the same age as Zerdan, had always had the appearance of a pretty young man but was now more mature.

The long silver hair gave him a mystical aura, and his face was still beautiful but had become more masculine.

The long silver hair felt oddly familiar, but I couldn’t recall any clear memory, so I frowned for a moment.

“You came faster than I expected, Zerdan. I was surprised when you suddenly jumped in earlier.”

Liffree revealed himself behind Terisier.

Seeing his once blurry form slowly become clearer explained why I couldn’t see him earlier.

That too must be Terisier’s ability.

I glared at Liffree and spoke.

“What are you planning to do with Terisier? I don’t know what you want, but you’re not going to easily get what you want from Terisier. He’s still human, after all.”

“You’re only saying that because you don’t fully understand this guy’s abilities. What do you think his abilities are? Aren’t you surprised that he can use so many?”

Liffree bared his teeth and smiled brightly. His eyes, full of unrestrained desire, looked dangerous.

“Do you know what Zerdan’s mother wanted to achieve with this guy? To control every ability user in the world at will. And to brand them so they couldn’t defy her. She was preparing a rebellion to get back at those who had ignored her in the higher organization. But isn’t that a bit trivial? We could do something far greater.”

“It seems Liffree knows well what Terisier’s ability is.”

“Yes, I heard it directly. This guy’s ability can control the climate, manipulate air currents, and even control people. It’s not about being a king; it’s about becoming a god!”

An ability to control everything and make things happen as one wishes.

Liffree spoke proudly as if it were his own power.

“Spatial domination. This absurd ability is his strength.”

Spatial domination.

I encountered many users with absurdly powerful abilities like Obella, Anise, and Sidon.

But to think there was someone with an even more incredible ability.

Certainly, with such an ability, anything would seem possible. I could understand why Zerdan’s mother and Liffree were so driven by desire.

I had vaguely guessed that Terisier’s ability was extraordinary, but…

“And right now, while controlling him like this, it’s not him but me who becomes the god within that space.”

Liffree, who did not hide his desire, looked at me and Zerdan.

Becoming a god.

Yes, if the world could turn according to one’s will, it would indeed feel like becoming a god.

I glanced at Terisier. The man with such a mature and mysterious aura looked unfamiliar. It was not just his appearance but his emotionless eyes that made him seem even more so.

I didn’t see any special adornments on his limbs at a cursory glance. So, how was Liffree controlling Terisier?

“Zerdan, you can make corpses move like puppets. The same goes for this guy!”

As Liffree spoke, Terisier raised his hand. From the ground, something began to rise as if emerging.

Muddy forms gathered together and soon took on human shapes. Not just one or two, but several.

Seeing some familiar faces among them, it seemed they were members of the organization under Zerdan.

To create such a large number of people with a single gesture.

According to Liffree, those must be all deceased members of the organization. They began to rush toward us, filling the empty lot as if they had been waiting.

“This is a problem. I should have brought the ones with strong offensive capabilities first.”

As the approaching figures neared, Zerdan stepped in front of me and kicked them away. Though I thought he was more of a strategist, it seemed he was quite skilled in combat as well.

“Well, it can’t be helped. Others will join us soon. By the way, are these people here indeed the ones who were dead, Zerdan?”

“I don’t remember all of them, but from the faces I recognize, it seems so.”