Chapter 117

Winter Tournament is the main attraction of the Labyrinth City every year. It was something that the adventurer guild made on the Winter Festival to cheer the people in the city in the cold winter. Lacking of entertainment, the people in this world always felt bored in winter. The previous Duke created the festival to cheer the citizens and make it together with the help of the great guild.

In the Winter Festival, a lot of tournaments are created by all of the guilds in this city. Of course, they need to report about their activities and wait for the Duke to approve their guild activities in the Winter Festival except for the Winter Tournament. Because it was the only activity that everyone could participate and the winner always got their fame and glory for the whole year.

But Ludger never needed something like that because he was never interested in becoming famous. Ludger want to act low profile and hide his strength but the knowledge from his previous life will always make him become the centre of the attention. Besides, Ludger's beauty always makes him get a lot of fans (females or males) and people always unconsciously keep looking at him for some reason. 

"Mr. Hudson, do you know how much I want to stop myself from getting more attention than what I currently have? I have told you before that I just want to watch it but not participate in any tournament for any reason. I need to give other people some chances to get some fame because I'm not a thoughtless person that greedy for fame." Ludger said with a scolding tone.

"Haaa, while part of it was true and you are famous in this city. But when you said it like that, I really wanted to retort your words when you made that cheeky face." Hudson sighed as he felt tired as what Ludger said was the truth but the way he said it was too annoying. 

"So, what are you going to do with this year's tournament? Why are you telling me to participate in the tournament? Tell me the reason and I might able to help you to find some solution." Ludger looked at Hudson's face and decided to help him.

"I think you will understand if you wait for about an hour. This is something that relates to you. I have told the Duke about it but because it was something related to your freedom, he told me to let you decide what you are going to do about it." Hudson told him the problem.

"Wait! Did you say it relates to my freedom?! What do you mean? Explain it to me!" Ludger glares at Hudson who has a hard time explaining the detail.

"I don't know why they are doing that but do you know how many guilds want you to join their guild? That's the cause of the current problem." Hudson started to explain about the problem.

"I know about it but why has it turned into a problem? Didn't I have politely declined their invitation to join their guild? Then what is the problem?" Ludger asked with a confused expression.

He remembered that he had politely refused it all except for the magic tower that had tried to kidnap him before but Ludger was saved by the twins, Alvera and Elviira. At that time Ludger tried to hide his ability from the mage from the magic tower. They are persistent people who will do anything to get anything that related to the magic they feel interest in. And Ludger had a lot of new and lost magic in his head.

"...Did the magic tower the first one to cause this trouble?" Ludger asks with a bitter expression.

"They are one of them but the one that starting this problem is the Guild Master of the mercenary guild...He asks if this year's winner will be able to get one wish or make you join their guild. His question makes the other eyes burn with greed and desire and it causes the other guild master to demand such a prize for the winner. But I told them that I can't decide it without getting your permission first so they told me to get you for today's meeting." Hudson said while holding his head as if he had a terrible headache. 

"How could they do that!!! Will they keep doing that every year until I join their guild? That smiley muscle gorilla! I will make him pay for the trouble that he caused me later! Just you wait. Hehehe." Ludger said with an angry tone before he started to laugh ominously.

"Hey, Boy. What kind of evil plan that you are going to do to them?" Hudson asks with fear on his face.

"Hehehe, it was nothing but I just thought that it might be more interesting if we added my fans club to it." Ludger smiled but Hudson was able to see that his eyes were still full of anger.

"...A-Are you serious about it?" Hudson asked as his face turned pale.

"Finally we are able to find you, Ludy!" Someone calls him and gets closer to his direction. 

"Huh, Ludy?! I never thought that you would let them to call you like that." Hudson said with a surprised tone.

"I won't refuse the person who wants to be my friend. Is there something wrong with it?" Ludger asks with a displeased tone because he knows Hudson wants to tease him.

"Hello, Guild Master. Did we disturb you? Should we meet later, Ludger?" Edgar greets Hudson and asks Ludger because he thinks that Hudson has something to discuss with Ludger.

"Hahaha, don't worry about it. I just finished talking about our business so the three of you could play with this Boy. I will let you young people to spend your time together. Oh and I accept the three of you to be the adventurer apprentices as our promise and you could start your training with the trainer that you wish to learn from." Hudson said and left them.

The three of them were stunned and realized what Hudson meant. Their expression changed into happiness because they realized that they had become an adventurer apprentice that they had hoped for. But their happiness turned into a surprise when Ludger suddenly opened his mouth and said.

"Hey wait what about the meeting with those crazy guild masters?" Ludger reminds him.

"Don't worry about it. Like what I told you before I will call you when they arrive. Just have fun with your new friends before facing those greedy guild masters." Hudson said before he left the room.

"Did something happen to you, 'Lord Ludger'? Are you angry? That angry face also looks good on you." Leona timidly asked with a red face while muttering something in the end.

"You don't have to worry about it, Lady Leona. Some guilds are trying to make me as the prize of this year's Winter Tournament and told me to join their guild or something else, maybe they will be told me to spend my time (as a worker) with them if they become the winner." Ludger vaguely explains about his current situation. 

"What?!! They want you to spend your time with them (date) if they win the tournament!!! I want to join the tournament too!" Leona said with a burning desire in her eyes.

"Can they do something like that? Did they ask you for permission when they talked about it?" Edgar asks with a serious expression. 

"Haa, Do you think I would be like this if they got my permission beforehand?" Ludger sighed and asked with a tired face.

"How could they do something like that?! Should we report it to the Duke?" Rainold felt angry when he heard about the unreasonable thing that happened to his new friend.

"Don't worry about it. I think I found a solution to this matter. But it might be cause more trouble for them later. If I give only one day, it might allow me to have some rest if I could also to enter the tournament and win or someone who will help me if they become the winner." Ludger said with a wry smile on his face.

"Uwaa! Such expression is more wonderful than my imagination...should I ask someone to draw if so I could keep gazing at that wonderful and handsome face." Leona said while admiring Ludger's face.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Ludger ignores Leona and asks the other two.

"We want to ask you to let us learn about the technique that you used yesterday when fighting with the thugs. Will you teach us?" Edgar politely asks with a serious expression.

"Then how about learning the basics of adventurer in a normal class that everyone who wants to be an adventurer apprentice could attend? It will teach you about the basics and let you know the important things we need to do when we act as adventurers. They also will tell you the facility that we could use in the guild as an apprentice." Ludger suggests them.

"Then, what you will do right now?" Rainold asks as he looks straight into Ludger's eyes.

"I will also attend that class while waiting for them to call me to that damn meeting. So do you want to go with me to the class?" Ludger said as he reached out his hand.

"Let's us go together." Edgar grabs Ludger's hand.

Babump.

Ludger's heart suddenly beating so fast and he feel like crying for some unexplainable reason.