Akane left not long after she dropped the puddings, telling Ludwig she had an important thing to do around lunch. It really intrigued him when he heard about it. After all, Akane had once told them about having no responsibility in the kingdom where she and her little sister currently stayed. She even told them that her daily life was quite boring.
So, what kind of important thing did she have to do?
I hope it was not some journey to accompany her sister. Ludwig said to himself. Even though he believed she would be well protected if that was indeed what the business she needed to attend, battlefield was a place where 1 + 1 often didn't equal 2.
It might be overreaching on his part to think about her. But, the restaurant just got their dessert supplier, so it was only natural he didn't want anything to happen to her. Unfortunately, he couldn't do anything now since Akane had left the restaurant.
Ludwig returned to his seat, back into a book to make the time fly faster. Funny, he knew. It really didn't make any sense that someone who could control time still sometimes found the flow of time was too slow.
But sometimes, what didn't make sense was the cold hard truth.
The kitchen finally settled into silence, a sign that the preparation was done. The usual attendant of the hall was also already at their station, cleaning what could be cleaned. Though in case of one particularly bright demoness, she was trying to reassemble a chair with anything she could find.
The routine ticked by, and finally the restaurant whispered to him. Five figures were standing just across the closed doors. Three humans and two beings on mana or chakra.
Just as the bell sent its usual chime into the restaurant, Ludwig already stood, book stored with another million things he had.
When the door pushed open, a smile appeared on Ludwig's face. It hadn't even been a day since the last time he saw both Kushina and Cless, but they returning to the restaurant made it felt like everything finally went back to normal.
On the other hand, Claire felt tamer than the night before. Her edge and the cold calculation behind her eyes was nowhere to be seen. She almost looked like the previous her, before Tempest, before the evolution. Almost.
Even though she looked calm and collected with an undertone of mischief, her mana was far more potent than before, and that was as good as a tell to his concern.
If the previous Claire felt like someone who would fight with thoughts rather than instinct, this one was like a fighter who still fought with plans in mind but would have no qualms to abandon it and duke it out using brute force.
And from what she got after evolving, Ludwig thought if she decided to duke it out in the middle of a fight, it was because she thought the winning percentage was higher. Which was scary in and of itself.
"Lud, we are bac–" Kushina's words stopped dead before she could finish it as her eyes roamed through the dining hall.
Yes, even though he was happy to see them again, what would happen after this was something he didn't really want to deal with. But after thinking about it last night, he at least had to send Kushina back with some information regarding the attack. He couldn't just tell her to ask her Hokage about what happened, right?
"Something happened when you were in Tempest. Sit first, I'll explain it to you."
Kushina just stood still even after hearing his words. Thankfully, Claire put one of her hands on Kushina's waist before pushing her towards the bar. In the meantime, Cless was already beside Valerie, talking animatedly with her as she pointed towards Hedwig.
"You guys have breakfast already?" Ludwig asked.
Claire nodded, followed by Kushina.
Because of the answer, Ludwig summoned two glasses of tea to his hands before putting it in front of them. Then, he started.
"Yesterday, your Hokage and some shinobis came here. They came with a demand for you. Long story short, fights broke out between them and the people from Claire's world. But it's fine now. We have signed an accord."
Kushina's eyes went wider and wider the more his explanation landed. It seemed like she never considered the probability that they would attack the second time. But another emotion could be felt through her face. Shame. Yes, shame.
"L-lud… I-I'm sorry–" Before she could finish, tears started to run down from her eyes.
Ludwig lifted a hand, gentle but firm. "Kushina. Stop."
That alone was enough to make her choke on the apology. Her shoulders trembled as she bit down on her lip, eyes glossy, refusing to look at him.
"You didn't orchestrate it." He continued calmly. "You didn't even know. Responsibility doesn't work like that."
"But they came for me." She shot back, voice cracking. "They broke your restaurant. They fought here, breaking your rules. If I hadn't left…"
"That line of thinking ends nowhere good." Claire said flatly, cutting in without raising her voice.
Kushina flinched, finally looking at her.
Claire leaned against the bar, arms crossed, expression unreadable but steady. "By that logic, every strong person should walk carefully around people. Asking permission, apologizing, and bending to the will of others. Why bother becoming strong if it's like that?"
Kushina swallowed hard.
Ludwig nodded once and tapped a finger lightly against the counter. "Claire's right. And besides… I just don't want a fight to break. Not because I'm not confident in handling it."
He paused, then added, softer, "And it was handled."
He watched the tension slowly ease from her posture, like someone releasing a breath they'd been holding for far too long.
"…They didn't hurt anyone badly?" Kushina asked quietly.
"No fatalities. Some injuries. Some egos were bruised worse than bodies." Ludwig replied. "Your Hokage was… cautious. Calculating. He tested the boundaries, realized what he was dealing with, then agreed to terms."
Kushina's brows knitted together. "Terms?"
"Yeah…" Ludwig sighed. "But I prefer you ask your Hokage about it. Just know, I tried my best."
Kushina looked at him pointedly, probably demanding an answer.
"Yeah, you should ask your Hokage first, Kushina." Claire added. "If someone tried to do anything to you, just run here, okay?"
Kushina swiped her head towards Claire. "You knew about it?"
"I was the one who signed the terms." Claire shrugged. "If not, Ludwig might cause more problems for himself rather than solving them."
"B-but, you were with me last night…" Kushina said. "Didn't you say you just woke up before meeting me last night?"
Claire smiled at her. "That's the truth. But before meeting you, I went here first because someone left me a note."
"Why don't you call me?" Kushina asked, heads went back and forth between Ludwig and Claire.
Claire's voice became low at that question. "Because then, you will be our tools. The Hokage will do everything we want just because you are there. I don't want that. Ludwig didn't want that either, I believe."
Silence followed her words.
Kushina's hands clenched around her tea glass. The steam fogged her vision, or maybe that was just her eyes again. "…Tools."
Ludwig didn't interrupt. This was one of those moments where words from him would only weigh more than they helped.
Claire straightened, uncrossing her arms. "You're important. Not just powerful. If your Hokage thought he could pressure you into compliance by placing you in the middle of this, he would have. We removed that option."
"That doesn't mean I wouldn't choose to help." Kushina said, quieter now. "You know that, right?"
"I do." Claire replied instantly. No hesitation. "But that's exactly why we exclude you."
Kushina laughed weakly, pressing her forehead against the rim of the glass. "You're all terrible, you know that?"
"That's not a denial." Cless chimed in from the side, earning a sharp look from her.
Ludwig finally spoke. "Kushina… whatever happens outside this place, you're always welcome here. That hasn't changed. And it won't."
She looked up at him, eyes red but steady now. "…Thank you. For protecting me even when I wasn't here."
Ludwig smiled, small and genuine. "You don't need to earn that."
For a moment, it almost felt like the conversation could drift into something lighter—normal even. But the restaurant shifted subtly, that familiar, wordless nudge.
Claire felt it too.
She glanced toward the door, then at Cless. "We should go."
Cless blinked. "Already?"
"Yes." She turned back to Ludwig. "Ravenhall will burn if I go away for much more. And I've already stayed longer than I should."
Cless gave Valerie a quick wave and muttered something about next time bring snacks, then followed Claire toward the exit.
Kushina slid off her stool, hesitating just a second before calling out. "Claire."
Claire paused, one hand on the doorframe.
"…Thank you." Kushina said. "For choosing not to use me."
Claire looked at her over her shoulder, eyes unreadable, but softened. "Try to live somewhere you're never useful as leverage." She said. "It's rare."
Then the bell chimed, and they were gone.
The quiet that followed was gentler than before.
Kushina lingered, staring at the door for a long moment, then exhaled slowly. "Looks like I should go too."
"You should."
A wry smile appeared on her face at that point. "I'm not looking forward to asking the old man."
Ludwig answered with a chuckle first. "My thoughts exactly when I heard Ilea beat him."
With one last look around the hall, the rune-lights, the warmth, the impossible peace, Kushina headed for the door.
The bell rang once more.
And Ludwig was left with the quiet hum of the restaurant, a settled morning, and the incoming routine of serving and cooking.
Just before Ludwig sat down on his usual station, the restaurant whispered into him again. A few people were crowding in front of his door. But rather than a new customer, one particular guy in the crowd was someone who Ludwig hadn't seen for a few days now.
When the door opened, a boy half his height with calm and polite demeanour stepped in first. Meanwhile, the people behind her warily looked around. Some who had weapons on them even put their hands on the hilt.
A few steps later, Ryouma smiled at Ludwig. "I hope I'm not too early for lunch?"
Ludwig offered him a nod. "You are just on time. Though, the restaurant's state is a little bit messy right now. Hope it will not offend your guests?"
By the end of his words, Ludwig's eyes landed on the golden-haired man and the grey haired elder standing behind Ryouma.
Ryouma chuckled before answering. "I already heard about what happened yesterday. Please don't worry, it will not offend my guests."
"Then, please enjoy your time here." Ludwig answered before waving to Vilera.
An hour before noon, the guest that signalled the start of lunch rush finally arrived.