Chapter 97

Because of everyone had known about Ludger's birthday, that night a lot of people came to Red Dawn restaurant to congratulate him and give him his present. The present was being piled up because of the number that kept rising and they did not know how long it would keep coming. It was the first time he felt like this in this world.

Ludger feel warm from their kindness and this is also the first time so many people have done something like this for him. He was only able to celebrate it alone or sometimes only with Brother Winslow and Sister Ancelina when he was still being Renneshia in that hell-like mansion. But because of everyone's opinion, Ludger feels incredibly happy and guilty at the same time.

Ludger was happy that he met with the people who cared about him. But it also makes him guilty and afraid because he hides his true identity and thinks that they might hate him if they find out his true identity later. It makes him terrified as he has gotten used to this peaceful life and doesn't want to lose it. 

'To lose the happiness that I am just able to obtain in this life is much scarier than losing other things. Will they hate us like how are the people in the East? Will they be disappointed and hate me when they know 'Ludger' was 'Renneshia' fake identity?' Ludger feels uneasy as he watches the people who come and celebrate his birthday with a smile that might change their attitude later if they find out the truth. 

"What are you thinking, Boy? Why don't you enjoy the party and join us? You are the main character for today's party!" Hudson who saw Ludger's sad expression came and dragged him to the boisterous party area. 

"Hey! Stop it. I just feel a bit tired. So let me take some rest." Ludger made an excuse to run away from Hudson but it was useless. 

"I bring the main character for today's party." Hudson said with a loud voice. 

"Ludger, happy birthday! I hope you will grow quickly." One of the female fans said.

"Happy birthday Ludger!" Other members also said to Ludger.

"I hope you will grow up and become as wonderful as Sir Louheithi in 'The Emperor and Five Guardians'. But I will still love you more even if you are different from him." One of the fans enthusiastically said.

"Although Ludger is similar to Sir Louheithi, but I think our Ludger will grow to be a more wonderful person than Sir Louheithi." Another fan said in a scolding tone.

The female adventurers, merchants and other members of the fan club came and gave him their presents and wished him a good future. It makes Ludger feel dumbfounded when their conversation becomes an argument about comparing him with the character that he write. But he just silently listened to their words and unconsciously a wide smile appeared on his face.

"Oh my gosh!" one of the fans is surprised by Ludger's expression and mesmerized by it as she dazedly watches him as if it stole her soul.

Gasp! 

The others were also surprised and gasping because of the rare smile from Ludger. It was the first time he truly smiled happily like this in this world. But the happier it was, the more Ludger felt afraid for the future that might or might not happen to him when they Know the truth.

But like how the saying from Ludger's previous life said: 'Happiness is short life and grief is always around the corner.' It was what currently happening in front of Ludger. Ludger's mother, Katarina suddenly collapses.

"Mom!" Ludger panicked and shouted and ran in her direction.

Darius who stands beside her quickly catches Katarina's body to prevent her from falling to the floor. Darius also has a panicked expression as if he saw something terrible. The other people also felt surprised and quickly turned their heads in Katarina's direction. Some people come closer to her and check her condition.

"Can you take her to a place where I can check her condition?" The doctor, Mehri, one of the Red Dawn restaurant old customers asked.

"I will show you to her room. Please follow me." Caron answers and shows them the way.

"Can you help me carry her?" Doctor Mehri ask Darius who holds Katarina's body.

"Huh?! Oh, right. I will carry her." Darius snapped out from his shocks and carried Katarina following Caron and Doctor Mehri.

Ludger also follows them silently with a grave expression. Ludger was thinking about the possibility related to the game plots. Ludger's grave expression was because he remembers about Katarina's death that happened when Renneshia was nine to ten years old. But Ludger didn't understand the reason for Katarina's current condition because the plague should have not spread in this country. 

'How could this happened??! The plague should have not appeared in this world...then what happened to Mom? Why??? Shia said my fate has not been fixed but does that mean my Mom's fate is different? Is there anything that can break those death flags? What should I do?' Ludger's mind is in chaos.

When they reach their room, Darius lays Katarina's body carefully on the bed as if she might break if he didn't do it carefully. Doctor Mehri quickly did some simple check-ups and checked her condition. His face becomes grave as he is unable to find anything strange in Katarina's body condition.

"I-I can not find anything strange about her body condition. Should we try to use healing magic or healing potion first?" Doctor Mehri suggest. 

"Here. I always bring a healing potion and an antidote with me to prevent any possible things that might happen to me. I will bring someone who is able to use healing magic right now if you need them. I will do anything as long as you can help her." Darius said with a desperate tone.

"Let me try it first. I don't know if it will be able to help her or not. Let me try the healing potion fist." Doctor Mehri said as he fed the healing potion to Katarina.

When everyone focuses on Katarina's condition, Caron is looking at Ludger's condition. From the time Katarina collapsed, Caron seemed to be worried about Ludger who acting strange. The Ludger that always acts calm and always has no idea of the way out of most problems that happen after he arrives in this city.

"Lil Ludger, are you alright?" Caron asked with a worried expression.

"It was because of me...If I didn't do that. But...it should be impossible...that the plague hasn't appeared right now. What should I do if it was something related to fate?" Ludger mutters in a small voice.

"Lil Ludger?! Lil Ludger, what are you saying? Hey, Ludger, are you alright? Hey, you need to get yourself together and do what you are able to do right now." Caron shook Ludger's body to snap him out of his daze.

"Huh, owner...my Mom Is...I don't know how to help her. What should I do? What if it was related to the fate? How could I change my mom's fate? I..." Ludger said with incomprehensible words that Caron was unable to understand.

"Did you know something about it, Ludger?" Darius asked as he looked in Ludger's direction.

"I-I don't know... But maybe it was something that related to her fate..." Ludger hesitantly said.

At that time Ludger did not know how to explain about what he knew about what happened to his mother. Ludger was not sure if what currently happening was related to the game plots that Ludger knew from his previous life. But if he told them about it, they might thoughts that he was weird or even hate him.

Ludger was too afraid that they would hate him and change how they treated him later. As he have know how happy he is when they like him. And he also prefers to be loved by the people that he loves too and does not hope that other to hate him.

'Is it a sin for me to hope myself to get happiness and be loved by other people? I don't want to feel the terrible experience like when I'm in the East. And I couldn't tell them about my previous life. Why it is so hard?' Ludger feels sad and a bit despair because his mind is in chaos. 

"Doctor Mehri, how is her condition?" Darius asks the doctor as he wants to calm Ludger down.

Most people in this room were surprised by how panicked Ludger was. They suddenly realized that even though Ludger often acted like an adult, he was still a ten-year-old boy who would panic if something happened to his one and only parent and family member. But they still could not believe that Ludger would be acting strangely like this. Ludger only said something that no one was able to understand and for some reason, he couldn't explain it to them because of how panicked and chaotic his mind was.

"The healing potion was not effective. Should we try another method? Do you know someone who is able to use healing magic? If possible,  could you find them as quickly as possible?" Doctor Mehri said with a serious expression.

"Umm, then how about let me do it?" Ludger moved closer as he decided to do whatever he could do to help his mother.

The people in that room feel surprised and turn their head to look at his direction.