Chapter 111

"Curry? Is that a rare dish from other countries?" Rainold asked with an interest expression.

For Rainold who has been dreaming of being an adventurer, he was really glad that they secretly came to this city together. In this Labyrinth City, he has seen a lot of new things even from inside of the carriage. The people in this city were living happily as almost everyone in this city didn't have any trouble at all. The three of them become curious about how the people in this city live.

When they were asking about Ludger, most of them were looking at them with a suspicious gaze and it turned into a smile when they told them that they wanted to thank him. From their reactions, they could feel that the person named Ludger was a person who was loved by almost all of the citizens in this city. They conclude that they might treat him as a hero because he seems to be a good person who will help anyone in trouble. 

"You are right. It was a dish from a faraway place...Have you had your lunch? If you haven't eaten, how about trying it?" Ludger nodded his head and suggested.

"Oh, that was quite a good suggestion, Ludy!" Rainold happily said.

"HUH?!" His two best friends feel surprised by the sudden friendly attitude from their muscle brain friend as they turn their faces looking alternately at Rainold and Ludger. 

"...Ludy...?! Is that my nickname?" Ludger asked while feeling a bit surprised.

It was the first time someone made a nickname from his name. When he thought about his current life and situation, he realized that he was currently missing something. Ludger was able to live abundantly and happily in this city with his family and precious person. But he was never able to make any friends as he unconsciously avoided the others so no one ever called him by a nickname.

"Of course! What do you think about it? Although you are a bit older than us, but we still can become friends who call each other with a nickname, right?" Rainold nodded his head. 

"Haha, you are right. As long as you do not feel uncomfortable with me to treat you as my friend." Ludger laughed happily as he saw Rainold really mean what he was saying.

"Oh my goodness! T-That happy expression is too much...ughh!" Leona said with a red face and her hand trying to stop her nosebleed.

"Hahaha, what a great man! But could you stop acting politely like that?" Rainold laughed as he heard Ludger reply, but he disliked the polite manner that made him look like a servant.

"I couldn't help about it because I always act like this for my customers. You might know that I'm working in this place, right? That's why I can't do anything about it as I have got used to it and become my habit." Ludger said with his usual behaviour. 

Everyone who knows his past might believe his words because Ludger keeps acting polite in front of those who acted unreasonably toward him before. But Ludger just did it because he was actually afraid that other people would hate him if he acted arrogant and made others feel he was looking down on them. That's why he tries to act humble and low-profile but it still makes some people feel he was showing off his talent and looking down at them. Although it was the minority in this city.

"Didn't you usually say that you are helping in this place? When did you decide to work here?" Suddenly someone said with a playful tone.

"Ufufu, my child seems to feel embarrassed because they are the first friends around my child's age. Hmm, thinking about it, they are really the first friends my child ever made." Katarina said with a gentle smile before she remembered her child's relationship with others and frowned.

"W-What are you saying, Mom!?! How could you say that?! I have a lot of friends in this city, right?" Ludger feels panic because of the sudden bomb from his mother but later he starts to feel unsure about it.

"You can say your fans are your friends because it was different types of relation." Katarina quickly refuted Ludger's words.

"Then..." Ludger turned his face to look at Darius and wanted to say something.

But...

"Mr. Darius, Mr. Hudson and Mr. Hugo are more like your business partners rather than your friends. And Mr Favian is your student, right?!" Katarina stops Ludger from continuing his words.

"How about Sister Alvera, Sister Elviira, Sister Aqila and Sister Stella (Einar's girlfriend)?" Ludger tried another group of people who he could think of. 

"They are someone you often talk to but they are more like your elder sister rather than your friends." Katarina shook her head and said.

"Then how about Bensen, Idana, Shanida, Hespero, Amelia and Andrew? They are around my age, right? Ludger desperately asks.

"Haa...You know that you are always treating them like your younger siblings, right?" Katarina sighed as she felt sorry for her child.

Katarina knew that her child was unconsciously distancing himself from the other. She didn't try to say anything about it because she thought that her child was too smart so Ludger might do it intentionally. But after seeing Ludger feel happy when Rainold says they are friends, she realises that her child is actually feeling lonely as he unconsciously keeps distancing himself from other people around him.

"Hmm? Why you didn't ask your mother about Winslow and Ancelina?" Darius suddenly realized something and asked.

Ludger shook his head and opened his mouth. "Brother Winslow and Sister Ancelina are different because they are more like my family." 

It was what Ludger truly felt about the two of them who knew his true identity. The person who always helps and cares about Ludger (Renneshia) from the time they met in that hell-like place. Not only for Ludger but the two of them also think something similar. That's why they even moved to this city with their families even when they were having a good life in that place.

"That was quite unexpected from a person like you." Darius said with a surprise tone.

"Do you see his expression when he said that they are his family?!" Someone squealing.

"Sooo cute!!! I suddenly want 'Lord Ludger' to say it to me too!!!" Another person said.

"Did he say he thinks of 'Sir Winslow' as his family member because of his love for him?" Another female customer who just entered the restaurant and accidentally heard their conversation said.

"Haaa...What a wonderful brotherly love!" Another female customer sighed with a dazed look.

Ludger finally realized that the restaurant started to become more crowded as the lunchtime arrived. He started to feel embarrassed as he knew that his previous conversation with his mother was quite embarrassing. And he just realized that he never had someone he could treat as a friend in his current life.

"I-I will go to the kitchen to tell them about your order and help them." Ludger makes an excuse as he runs away from the restaurant.

"Ufufu, please take care of my cute child." Katarina happily said to the three people in front of her.

"Of course, I also want to talk a lot with Ludy later." Rainold declared with a serious face.

"T-To taking care of 'Lord Ludger'...Oh my gosh! It was more like an impossible dream that came true, right Ed?" Leona excitedly said and looked at Edgar who had been silent for quite a while. 

"Huh?!! W-What???" As if he was snapping out of his dazed, Edgar confusedly asked.

"Huh! Gasp! Don't tell me that you are...!?!" Leona suddenly makes a conclusion about Edgar's expression with a surprised expression.

"What are you thinking about? It was not like what you were thinking!" Looking at Leona's expression and red face, Edgar felt that she was thinking something weird.

"But you must also feel that 'Lord Ludger' was too cute when he embarrassed too, right?" Leona said with a proud expression as if she was sure that her guess was right. 

"Oh my goodness, you must be a cultured person like us who understands 'Lord Ludger' loneliness! Do you want to join the 'Lord Ludger' fan club too? We will gladly accept someone like you to join us. And we accept almost anyone who has the same thoughts without differentiating their gender." One of the female customers said with an excited expression.

"Is there something like that in this city?" Rainold asks with a surprised tone.

"Ufufu. Welcome to Red Dawn restaurant! I will help you with the seat and take your order, dear customers." Katarina started to work as the customers started to arrive.

As more customers come, the three of them are able to see what kind of place the Red Dawn restaurant is. They also started to understand the words that Ludger said to them before when they saw Ludger help the employees in Red Dawn restaurant. Ludger always treated everyone equally and never discriminated against others based on their appearance. 

When their food arrives, Ludger explains about the dishes and tells them about the taste. The aroma of the dishes makes them feel hungry and unconsciously droll. As they try the dishes, they get addicted to the dish's new and unique taste. It was something that they never tasted before even in the Palace. They also try it with what Ludger recommended to eat with the curry such as rice and naan.