This House Has A Delicious Restaurant - Chapter 24 - Epilogue

24. Epilogue

“Sis… Honestly, tell me. You can control space, can’t you?”

Luke said with a somewhat disgruntled face as he looked at the ideal scenes I had created.

It was good that those who caused chaos in the store and tormented his mother were being punished, but it seemed that some compassion had stirred within him as a human. To Luke’s question, I replied with a clueless look, saying, ‘Well, I don’t know.’

We had come to find the man who was supposedly still alive based on the information from Luke. It turned out that this man was causing a commotion at Luke’s mother’s store. We brought him to a more secluded area, but we had no intention of killing him.

However, the man was running around, screaming that his whole body felt like it was burning. Seeing the man act like he was insane might have led Luke to think that way.

Since we didn’t touch him and he was suffering without any significant damage, it might have seemed like it was due to spatial control abilities.

One of the man’s companions, who appeared to be part of his group, was sitting beside him, trembling. Even though there was no actual heat, the man’s reaction, as if in a state of panic, must have been frightening.

Seeing their shocked reactions, it seemed that they were unfamiliar with such abilities. After all, there are still people who don’t know about these powers.

“There were rumors that the leader was dead, right? I didn’t expect that she’d be alive… and a woman at that!”

The man was mumbling while shaking. The leader he referred to must be Zerdan, the head of the criminal organization.

Information about Zerdan was rare and very limited. Since no one knew Zerdan’s name or face, it seemed he thought I was the leader of the criminal organization because I had unusually incapacitated him.

I had adjusted the sensory perception to make my visibility as vague as possible, so he probably only saw my hair color as silver and a vague figure.

As Luke watched me, looking as if he was questioning whether he should let the misunderstanding continue, I found it amusing in my own way, so I decided to leave it as is.

“Let’s go.”

“Isn’t it okay not to clear up the misunderstanding?”

“It’s fine. It’s better if rumors spread that I’m alive, as it might make people more cautious.”

At my nonchalant words, Luke made a disgusted face. Despite that, I was pleased that he was following me, so I patted him on the head.

Ignoring the man behind us who was screaming in vain, Luke spoke to me.

“Do you know that your notoriety is increasing? It seems the incident from when we went out briefly the other day has spread.”

The incident he referred to must be when we ran into a group of men attempting to sexually assault a young woman, and I had dealt with them quite roughly.

But those men didn’t seem to be in a condition to spread rumors.

Noticing my puzzled expression, Luke sighed and said.

“The victim seems to be talking about it. She saw both your face and mine. Although she hasn’t been spreading detailed descriptions, rumors are spreading that a young woman saved her. Out of gratitude, she’s been telling people, and now it’s turning into a rumor that it was a silver-haired woman who helped her. Which is true, but…”

“There’s nothing wrong with her talking about it out of gratitude.”

“Still, the rumors are growing. Some people are oddly scared, while others are happy and consider you a guardian deity of this neighborhood. Thanks to you, more people are becoming aware of these abilities.”

“Well, it’s better if people are aware and can respond a little rather than being caught off guard and not knowing what’s happening.”

Luke pouted slightly, probably worried.

“Don’t worry too much. I’m not someone who can be easily taken down, and we have plenty of reliable allies around us. Plus, you’re using your abilities quite well now, which is reassuring.”

“I’m still not as skilled as you.”

Luke grumbled, but his cheeks were flushed, indicating he was a bit embarrassed.

We continued walking and chatting casually. Oddly, there were many small incidents whenever I was with Luke. However, they weren’t serious enough to be a major concern, at least by our standards.

A few days later, I was lounging on the sofa, reading a newspaper when Terisier and Luke suddenly appeared through teleportation.

Their faces were unusually pale, and as soon as Terisier saw me in the living room, he shouted.

“You! What on earth have you been doing outside?”

“Huh?”

Why the sudden fuss?

I tilted my head in confusion as Terisier’s frustration became evident.

“Do you have any idea how terrifying it was to step outside for a moment? What on earth have you been doing that people are rushing towards me as soon as they see my hair color?!”

“Hair color?”

I glanced at Luke, asking him for an explanation. Luke sighed and, looking as pale as Terisier, said.

“…It seems the rumors about you have spread a lot. Some people tried to attack, but Terisier’s abilities handled them easily. However, strangely, some people are approaching with a positive attitude… quite a few. Although the rumor says it’s a woman, many people are asking if it’s him because of the silver hair. It’s been hard to deny, so we had to run away.”

Furthermore, Luke added with a pained expression.

“Somehow, the rumor started with Moa being the head of a criminal organization, and now it’s turned into a false rumor that she’s a great person who protects people from those with evil abilities. And somehow, I’m now being treated as the right-hand man of the criminal organization’s leader…”

“Since Zerdan’s face and name were unknown before, it’s understandable that people would be confused.”

“Are you not taking this seriously, big sis?! What about my life? Suddenly being thought of as a criminal organization member!”

Luke whined, sounding as if the situation was a major disaster for him. To someone like Luke, who dreams of figures like Obella, this must feel like a thunderbolt.

He asked if I wasn’t concerned, and after thinking it over, I smiled warmly.

“Why? Even villains have their charm. Some people like them, after all.”

“…With you smiling like that, you do seem like a villain.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Luke seemed at a loss for words at my lighthearted response and sulked, closing his mouth tightly. The only one smiling at this reaction was Zerdan, who was also in the living room. Obella looked somewhat flustered by my reaction.

“Well, it looks like I’ve inadvertently passed my position to Miss Moa Ablon.”

“Still, I’m gaining more fame, aren’t I? I guess we’re a good match.”

“You do suit it.”

Zerdan said with a sly smile. I thanked him and tried to return to my newspaper, but Terisier came over and grabbed my wrist.

“Seriously, be careful. People were trying to ambush you again today.”

His hand, now noticeably larger than mine, completely encircled my wrist. I’m contemplating how to respond to his worried tone when I hear a dull thud as Terisier’s arm slaps down on my wrist.

Both Terisier’s and my gaze turned in the same direction, where Zerdan was grinning shamelessly.

“What is this supposed to be?”

Terisier, looking incredulous, gritted his teeth. Zerdan responded casually without hesitation.

“I’m just being a nuisance.”

“What?”

“I said that I find it bothersome that you’re holding the hand of a woman I’m interested in. Did you have trouble understanding?”

Wow. Should I call Zerdan brazen or say he’s living life with no regrets?

Terisier, who had moved close to me, stared at Zerdan with his mouth agape. His expression was one of being completely at a loss for words due to Zerdan’s bold attitude. Obella, who had been observing the situation, also looked stunned.

It’s rare to see a man express his interest so openly. Zerdan is bold, even when jealous.

As I was thinking how both novel and Zerdan-like this was, someone’s arm wrapped around my waist.

Zerdan’s incredulous gaze turned to my back.

“Sidon?”

Brown, curly hair was resting on my shoulder. It looked like Sidon, who had been lying next to me, had woken up from the commotion.

As I called his name, Sidon, still half-asleep with droopy eyes, lifted his head to look at me.

His drowsy eyes met mine and then softened into a gentle smile.

“I’m interested too.”

Huh.

Seeing Sidon smile for the first time, I held my breath and blushed, which drew the attention of the three men.

I’m sorry, but I’d be a fool if I didn’t flinch at that smile.