Chapter 102

Two years have passed after Ludger arrived in the Labyrinth City. The city seems to change a lot if compared with the first time Ludger arrived, especially when he compares the number of people that come to this city. Even in the winter season, people still come to this city and there are a lot of job offers for the people who want to earn money. 

But Ludger didn't have to think about it because he had a lot of money from his investment and other income as the mysterious merchant and writer, 'Nero'. It was another name that he used when he took the merchant guild test. He uses light magic to change his appearance and become a mysterious and genius merchant in a short time. But only a few people are able to meet with 'Nero' and only Hugo knows his real identity. 

Actually, Favian should also know about 'Nero's' identity but he doesn't care about it as he only cares about what Ludger told him to do. In the last two years, they successfully created a lot of new things. Different kinds of fermented foods, alcohols, magic items and potions. With the collaboration with Hugo 'Green Sea' merchant to decide the market distribution of the items, they quickly earn a lot of money and Favian is satisfied because he is able to have more money for his research. 

"Good morning, Master Ludger! I'm here to pick you up at the Alchemy Guild." Hugo greeted him with his business smile in the early morning. 

"Could you wait for a moment? I need to eat my breakfast if I don't want them to get angry at me again." Ludger said while finishing his breakfast as he saw someone looking at him with a scary smile.

Hugo turned his head and saw the person that Ludger was glancing at. He was a handsome man in his twenties with blue hair and eyes and he was known as a genius chef. In just a few weeks after he arrived in this city with his friends and family he became popular with his own fans because of his close relationship with Ludger. The females often gasped or squealed when they saw how close they were as he acted like Ludger's older brother. 

"I have finished my breakfast. Brother Winslow, I will go with Mr. Hugo now to the alchemy guild. I won't miss my meal again, so please stop that!" Ludger pleaded.

"Hmm? What do you mean, Lord Saviour? Did I do something that you dislike?" Winslow asked while making a confused expression as he tried to hold his laughter.

"Could you stop calling me with that kind of nickname?" Ludger was frustrated and said as he saw Winslow smiling because of his reaction. 

"Then do you want me to call you as 'Milord', 'Lord Ludger' or 'Master'? Oh right, how about I call you 'Teacher' like how Mr. Favian calls you? You have taught me how to cook before too, right?" Winslow said with a teasing smile on his face.

"If you do that, I think I will never talk to you again. Why can't you call me 'Ludger' like everyone else? Even Sister Ancelina and your siblings called my name easily." Ludger grumbled as Winslow never called him by his current name, 'Ludger' after they met again in this city.

"I can't do that because it will make you more miserable later. You know that I'm always grateful for your help before so I will do what I think the best for you. I just don't want you to lose yourself." Winslow said with a worried expression.

"I know that you are thinking about my well-being but I don't want to go back to that time. I think you should understand that." Ludger said while looking at his eyes.

"I also think that it will be better if you stay in this city and live happily like what you are doing right now. But is it alright with you?" Winslow pats his head with a worried expression.

As the person who knows Ludger's real identity, Winslow worries that Ludger will get hurt in the future when his secret might become known by other people. Winslow also worries that Ludger has to keep lying to himself and lose his real self in the future. Even now, he still feels that 'Ludger' in front of him was forcing himself to act like that and pushing himself more than before.

Winslow remembers the first time they met in this city. 

***

"Long time no see both of you, Brother Winslow and Sister Ancelina."

At that time, Winslow and Ancelina who just arrived in this city with their family were greeted by an unknown beautiful boy with red hair and brown eyes. The boy smiled happily when he saw both of them and they felt nostalgic when they saw him. They tried to remember if they ever met him before but it only made them feel confused because they never met him before.

The boy comes closer and makes a sign to make them come closer to him and whisper. "Please follow me. I know where the lady who is waiting for you staying."

Both of them realized that the boy knew the person that they looking for and followed him to Red Dawn restaurant. When they arrived at the restaurant, the boy took them to the kitchen and they saw someone with a familiar face although she had brown hair and eyes right now.

""It has been a long time, Madam."" Both Winslow and Ancelina bowed and greeted her.

"Oh my! You don't need to do this. Even in the past, no one would treat me with respect like that. I would be grateful if you treat me like a normal person or colleague if you want to work in this place." Katarina gently said with a gentle smile mixed with nostalgic feeling. 

""But..."" Both of them feel a bit troubled to follow her request. 

"That child will also ask you a similar thing because that child also wants to forget the horrible past that happened in that place. Hmm, haven't that child had explained about what happened to us?" Katarina was surprised and looked at the boy who giggled from behind both of them.

Both of them were surprised by Katarina's words and turned their head to look at the boy who giggled happily behind them. His giggle became laughter when he saw their dumbfounded expression like a boy who succeeded with his prank.

"He is..." Ancelina was surprised but she stopped her words.

"That boy is..." Winslow was also surprised and stopped his words when he saw the boy gesture.

The boy put his index finger in front of his lips. It was a familiar gesture that they often saw before. Although currently, the person in front of them was a mysterious boy who was able to show all kinds of different expressions rather than the expressionless face that they were familiar with. A boy who was able to show how happy he was as he saw their surprised expression.

"Hahaha... Are you surprised because I have grown a lot? Or because I get more handsome than the last time we saw each other?" Ludger laughed and proudly said.

"Haa, how can you act like this my la...should I call you my lord? Oh! How about if I call you 'Lord' or 'Sir'? Winslow sighed and almost called him like how he usually calls him but then he changed it and gave him other options with a teasing smile as he saw his frowning face.

"Stop it! Just call me Ludger or Boy like how the others often call me here." Ludger said with a tired tone as he felt horrible when he heard the options from Winslow.

"Pfft, why don't we call him Milord? But I think young master also fits his current appearance. What do you think, Mr. Winslow?" Ancelina asks with a wide smile.

"Haa. Both of you started to tease me when you knew about my identity. This is the reason I don't want to tell you when I pick you up." Ludger sighed and said.

Both of them feel happy as they see how happy his face is right now but also worried because he needs to hide his real identity, they are afraid that one day he will be hurt because of his lie. They did not tell him about it but they decided to do whatever they were able to do to help him to hide it from the others and remember who he really was. And they decided to start working in the Red Dawn restaurant together with the boy to protect him.

***

"Brother Winslow, don't worry about it. I feel happy that you care about me but I don't want to go back to the past and I only want to live simply as 'Ludger' in this city." Ludger said with a serious face.

"Haa, alright. I will call you Ludger when we are in front of the other." Winslow sighed and decided to surrender at Ludger's continued plea.

"Thank you, Brother Winslow! Then see you later." Ludger smiled happily and went with Hugo.

"Thank you for always thinking about that child, Winslow. Both you and Ancelina's existence are that child's only support and reminder of that child's real identity. I was worried when that child decided to dress like that after we were attacked by a monster and fake our death." Katarina said with a sad expression as she saw in the direction where Ludger went with Hugo.

"Don't worry because that child is a strong person, Mam. I feel glad that person is able to smile happily right now." Winslow said with a genre smile on his face.

Both of them are looking in the direction where Ludger went with Hugo with an expression as if they are parents who are looking at their grown-up child.