This House Has A Delicious Restaurant - Chapter 4 - The Hunters (1) - Part 5

I approached the meowing cat and crouched down. Prodding it with my fingers, I felt the warmth of the cat’s body.

Wow, it’s chubby and warm!

Come to think of it, people say a cat’s touch feels soft and nice, should I pet it?

“Meow!”

But it seemed the cat didn’t like my touch, jumping up and darting towards the window. Our eyes met. The black pupils twitched at my crouched form before turning away and leaving the room.

It seemed puzzled, perhaps my imagination? Or did it feel embarrassed seeing me naked?

“Surely, people don’t turn into animals… I’m just being overly imaginative.”

I got up again and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

For now, I should wash up and then go see Bella’s handsome face.

* * *

“Good morning.”

I came out into the living room wearing casual clothes from the closet and saw Obella reading a newspaper. Unlike yesterday, he looked comfortable in casual attire, still handsome as ever.

Hmm, fitting the main lead role.

If Anise embodies the typical glamorous female protagonist, Obella is the kind of male lead that would drive female fans wild.

Great start to the morning.

“Did you find everything comfortable?”

He nodded lightly in response to my morning greeting and asked me. He even folded the newspaper upon my arrival.

Smiling brightly at his courtesy, I replied.

“Yes! The room and bed were comfortable, thanks for your consideration.”

“Well, that’s good to hear.”

He gestured towards the chair opposite him.

I guess he meant for me to sit.

I took the indicated seat and subtly adjusted my skirt length as I sat down.

Smooth, that was natural.

“Well then, Moa Ablon. I’m curious to hear about your situation and also about Diswen.”

“I… was kidnapped on an alleyway. When I woke up, I was alone and tied up in a room. I overheard Zerdan talking with someone. That’s when I learned Zerdan’s name. Unable to escape on my own, I was worried, but then I saw Diswen being dragged into the same room.”

At first, I thought she was dead.

“The man who brought Diswen tried to interrogate me, but suddenly his expression changed, and he left. It was a strange situation. I could guess from her calm expression that she used her ability. Diswen reassured me, saying she was a spy brought there to ease my worries and that she would help.”

“How did you know about me?”

“Zerdan mistakenly thinks I’m Bella’s spy. In that process, I accidentally learned Bella’s name. Diswen informed me that Zerdan has allies who share his intentions and that her necklace was a distress signal.”

“…”

Obella silently rubbed his forehead.

Yeah, did he send a sloppy spy? A spy who spills information so easily.

“…Diswen wasn’t always with you?”

“I was in the room, and Diswen brainwashed the man who came to see us, pretending to go to the bathroom. But somehow we were found out, and after that, Zerdan detained me.”

“With Diswen’s ability, it wouldn’t have been that easy.”

“Well, I didn’t see it happen firsthand, so I don’t know… Maybe there were multiple opponents? Or maybe they attacked from behind.”

“…”

“Don’t get me wrong, this is from Diswen herself, and I can’t read minds.”

Obella’s complexion seemed a bit worse.

Sending Diswen might have been a mistake after all. Should have sent someone more cunning as a spy… Yeah, she might have been suitable as a spy in terms of ability.

“Anyway, the last time I saw her, she looked strange. There was a golden flower bud near her chest, and she seemed unconscious.”

It’s probably Zerdan’s ability.

Obella seemed to have similar thoughts to mine. I looked at his quietly listening curls.

Yeah, he was as dazzling as that hair color.

“He must have been affected by Zerdan’s ability.”

“…I vaguely suspected it… Yes, Diswen’s actions seemed doll-like.”

I shouldn’t pretend to know Zerdan’s ability here.

As I answered with a serious expression mirroring Obella’s serious face, a voice unfamiliar to me sounded from somewhere.

“Did you secretly tell Zerdan about Diswen’s ability?”

Seeing Obella’s lack of reaction, it seemed this person was familiar… A boy I didn’t recognize was staring at me.

He had a beautiful face. He seemed like a man but had delicate features that could be mistaken for a woman’s. Moreover, his rare silver hair added to his mysterious aura.

Oh, truly fitting for a fantasy world. Blonde hair is one thing, but silver? Fascinating. Of course, my hair was silver too.

“…Is he with your group?”

I cautiously asked Obella with a hesitant voice, and he nodded. He introduced the boy with a somewhat uneasy expression.

“He’s one of the residents here. Since you might see each other frequently, it’s best to exchange names.”

“Oh, I see. Hello, I’m Moa Ablon.”

“We won’t be seeing each other enough to bother with names.”

“Terisier.”

Huh? Quite curt, isn’t he?

He gave me a sharp reaction as if he had some sort of resentment toward me. He bristled like a cat.

Obella warned him about his rude behavior, but he didn’t seem to listen.

His name is Terisier, huh? It was a pretty name like his face. He seemed a bit prickly in personality, though.

“There seems to be a misunderstanding. I didn’t tell Zerdan about Diswen, nor am I Zerdan’s spy. I was being threatened.”

“Threatened? You don’t look like you have a scratch on you for something like that.”

His mocking tone was starting to get on my nerves.

Is this some kind of patience test? Revealing my character in front of Obella…

I shook my head slightly with a troubled expression and pulled my skirt down to hide my legs more.

“Well… I wasn’t physically hurt, but I was pressured in other ways… You might not understand yet, being young…”

“In other ways…”

The boy frowned, seemingly not understanding my words, but soon his face flushed red with realization.

Oh, what? So even at his young age, he’s a boy after all?

His gaze darted to my legs briefly before quickly averting elsewhere, but I didn’t miss that moment.

“I-I know everything too! About girls and stuff!”

“Terisier!”

The boy shouted and quickly turned and ran away.

Normally, shouldn’t he be flustered or comforting me after hearing my lines? Why did I have to hear that?

Obella called out to the boy, but he didn’t stop and disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared. His fleeing reminded me of the cat I saw earlier.

First Diswen, now this boy Terisier…

Obella apologized to me. It felt like the behavior of parents dealing with a child prone to incidents and accidents.

I thought they were perfect companions to capture Zerdan, but unexpectedly, they seemed quite lively.