This House Has A Delicious Restaurant - Chapter 6 - The Hunters (3) - Part 5

Well, what does it matter, whether it’s this or that?

 

I decided to act shamelessly.

 

“What’s that? It looks like a woman’s underwear……. So, it seems like Terisier has a girlfriend too.”

 

“What are you talking about? No matter how much I smell it, it smells like you!”

 

“I don’t smell anything unusual. I don’t have a keen sense of smell like Terisier.”

 

“Don’t lie! The fact that it was in my room is suspicious enough. What exactly did you do in my room?”

 

Terisier, unable to grip firmly, struggled to lift the underwear with two fingers and held it out in front of me.

 

It’s a familiar panty. Anyone can see it’s mine.

 

“Terisier, really. I told you earlier, I was just curious and came in. I didn’t do anything.”

 

But I kept smiling without changing my expression. Crimes should be committed boldly.

 

Terisier seemed astonished by my confident attitude, and after almost shouting in disbelief, he merely glared at me.

 

“Suspicious……. There’s no one else in the room except for you. So if this isn’t your underwear, whose is it? Don’t try to play dumb.”

 

“There’s no proof that it’s my underwear.”

 

Terisier grabbed the underwear with one hand, visibly flinching and taking a step back.

 

I erased my smiling face and put on a look that would seem quite pitiful to anyone else.

 

“I’m upset, Terisier……. Even if you don’t like me, to torment me like this……”

 

“No, I mean… no matter how I think about it, you’re the only one……”

 

“If you’re so suspicious, why don’t you check?”

 

My face is reflected in Terisier’s eyes. With lowered eyelids and a face that looked like it was about to cry.

 

Making a sad face, I guided Terisier’s opposite arm to wrap around my waist. I felt his small body stiffen. It was clear that he had no experience with women.

 

Embarrassed by the innocent reaction and unable to even refuse, I moved his arm a little lower.

 

“If you check now, you’ll immediately know whether I’m lying or not. If you’re still doubtful, it’s fine to smell it. You can verify if the smell coming from the underwear is mine.”

 

Whispering in his ear and giving a light kiss on the cheek, Terisier hurriedly withdrew his arm from mine. In an instant, he transformed into a cat and pressed himself against the wall.

 

A silver-furred baby kitten.

 

So the cat back then was Terisier.

 

Was he startled and transformed, or did he feel a threat to his purity if he remained in human form?

 

I smiled at the sight of him as a cat.

 

Terisier looked up at the window, the only escape route, but unfortunately, it was closed. To open the window, he would have to return to his human form.

 

I held the bewildered Terisier in my arms and gently stroked his tensed body.

 

“Terisier seems to enjoy being teased; it might become a habit.”

 

“…I dislike you……”

 

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Bella prepared some food, so why don’t you go downstairs and have a meal? You must be tired from roaming around gathering information.”

 

Leaving Terisier’s room, I headed to the first floor and set up the food Bella had prepared. However, Terisier, still in his cat form and comfortably nestled in my arms, showed no signs of wanting to return to human form.

 

“If you’re going to stay in your cat form, would you like some milk? Though I’m not sure if we have any.”

 

“Promise you won’t do anything weird like earlier.”

 

“It wasn’t anything weird……. But if you don’t like it, I won’t do it.”

 

At my words, Terisier finally moved away from my embrace and headed toward the opposite chair. In an instant, he transformed back into a human and started eating the food I had set up.

 

I watched him, resting my chin on my hand. He glanced at me warily from time to time, but I pretended not to notice and asked a question.

 

“How was it outside? Did you find anything?”

 

“Not at all. That place is specialized in hiding. We hadn’t found it until now, so it’s impossible that I would have found it in just one day. I went out just in case.”

 

“I see……. Still, seeing as you used your abilities, I thought it might be nearby.”

 

“The other side has many ability users, so it’s hard to tell if they’re hiding their base underground or simply in hiding. Plus, if they knew we were there, they would have moved immediately.”

 

Hmm. He was just in your room, wasn’t he?

 

It seems that, despite not knowing exactly what Zerdan’s abilities were, Terisier’s sense of smell couldn’t pick up on his presence.

 

If it were possible, Terisier would have noticed when he entered my room even if the spaces were separated.

 

“Bella said he’s going to Lazis. That means there probably wasn’t much gain from there either.”

 

“Lazis? Is he the guy with the gray eyes who’s a bit of a nuisance?”

 

“Yes, it seems so.”

 

The annoying guy who was suddenly moved to the street when I was asked to bring back Anise’s sign. I wonder if the handkerchief I used to wipe my nose is still on display.

 

“If he went to that annoying guy, there might be some gain if things go well. Of course, that’s assuming he cooperates.”

 

“Is Lazis known for having good information?”

 

Though he seems to be aware of Zerdan, he generally maintains a neutral position, so he shouldn’t be particularly relevant.

 

Terisier easily agreed to my question. From his tone, it seemed like he wasn’t particularly fond of Lazis, but his easy acceptance suggested that there was something significant about Lazis.

 

He only nodded and didn’t provide further details, but that much was useful information. I could ask more when Obella returns.

 

“What do you plan to do after achieving your goal?”

 

“After rescuing Diswen? I don’t have any specific plans yet. As I mentioned to Bella, I don’t have any family, so I don’t have a place to go back to. I guess I’ll need to find a job to make a living, like ordinary people.”

 

Although my goal is to seduce someone and return after witnessing the ending.

 

In that sense, delaying Diswen’s rescue might not be a bad idea. It would allow me to stay here a bit longer with the target, Obella, and Terisier.

 

“Don’t you have anyone to go back to?”

 

“…Are you talking about Zerdan? I see you still think I’m Zerdan’s spy.”

 

“You approached at a suspicious time, after all.”

 

Even though Terisier has a naive side, it seems he’s quite capable of suspecting people and situations.

 

Well, in a situation like this, I would be suspicious too.

 

“How can I make you believe me?”

 

“I’m not planning to believe you. So you don’t need to do anything.”

 

Having finished his meal, Terisier stood up. His tone was cold, quite different from the flustered demeanor he had earlier when I teased him.

 

As I sat still and watched Terisier, he approached and looked at me.

 

“I’ll believe you when you walk out of this house with no excuse, no explanation.”

 

“So you’re telling me to leave. I don’t even have money.”

 

“That’s not our concern. I think letting you stay one night is a sufficient concession.”

 

“That’s true. I must have been quite shameless in making myself at home. But I still wanted to help rescue Diswen.”

 

“That’s our business.”

 

The line drawn between Terisier and me was visible.

 

Feeling it was futile to resist further, I stood up.

 

It’s getting close to evening; I wonder if it’s a bit chilly outside.

 

Regretting not having brought a coat, I headed toward the front door. I could feel Terisier’s gaze following me from behind.

 

“You didn’t call me by my name because you didn’t trust me, right?”

 

“……”

 

“My name is Moa Ablon, Terisier. I hope you’ll call me by my name next time we meet.”

 

Without looking back, I opened the front door and stepped out. I couldn’t tell if Terisier was watching me through the closing door. I just hoped that he would be an adult the next time we met.

 

* * *

 

I walked along the path I had taken with Obella in the morning.

 

As I retraced my steps and adjusted my direction, I placed my hand against an alleyway as he had done, and my view instantly changed. It seemed like the space had shifted. It was fascinating to see, and observing what Obella had done proved to be a good decision.

 

Soon, I saw a rather familiar street. Perhaps because it was evening, the surroundings felt even more lively.

 

There were people shopping, couples on dates, and a variety of people everywhere. I saw a large fountain in the center and sat down on the edge.

 

The weather was a bit chilly. With nowhere to go, I would likely fall victim to unsavory characters if I slept outdoors in this woman’s body.

 

As I contemplated what to do, a person passing in front of me stopped in their tracks. They then turned back around.

 

The person, whose face was hidden by a hat, looked surprised and slightly opened their mouth upon seeing me. The black cloak and flowing bright blonde hair were familiar.

 

Was it good luck, or was it destiny that I smoothly progressed through the game?

 

“How are you, Anise?”

 

“Ms. Moa Ablon……?”

 

It was a delightful encounter with the Queen of Opera.