Chapter 145

In the end, the referee decided that it was a draw. Both of them seem to be unconscious after the last attack. The recording ended after the referee took both of them into the first aid room. 

Watching this match makes Ludger feel something strange. For some reason, Ceres that he saw lately is different from how she acted when the first time they met. It was as if he saw a multiple personality disorder patient. As if there were two different persons with similar faces and bodies. 

'It was strange. The first time I saw her and the last time I saw her in the Adventurer Guild and this match, why do I feel like looking at two different person? Is there some secret in the Magic Tower?' Ludger feels something bugging him.

He shook his head to clear his mind. But something unpleasant seems to be creeping into his mind. 

'Not only Ceres who was the Vice Tower Master, but even the Tower Master also acting suspiciously. How could no one in this city be able to remember what he looks like? As crazy as it can be, no one ever doubts this unnaturally strange and creepy occurrence.' Ludger remembers some strange things about the Magic Tower. 

Throbs. 

"Ugh!" Suddenly Ludger feel an extremely painful sensation on his whole body. 

Ludger's face turned pale and cold sweat started to feel a familiar feeling. 'This feeling...!'

"Are you all right? You look really pale..." Darius looked at Ludger and stopped talking as he saw him looking at an empty corner in his room.

"I'm all right...Don't worry about my condition. Just continue with the recording." Ludger seems to trying his best to endure his pain.

"Is it because of what happened before? I will let you rest after I show you the thing that I have to let you see." Darius's expression was so complicated that Ludger seemed in pain.

Ludger didn't say anything. He still looking at the empty corner of his room

Darius took out another recording magic item and played it.

Bzzzttt...

As the recording magic item was turned on, it caused a buzzing sound and nothing showing from it as it was being shrouded by darkness. 

Buzz. 

Bang!

Suddenly the recording magic item exploded and broke into a piece. 

Ludger feels freezing on his back. As if something horrible will happen. 

"Who...Who's fighting in that, in that recording magic item!" Ludger panicky asked. 

"Strangely, no one knows anything about this person except that he was one of the participants of the Winter Tournament. It was quite strange but strong power to even make me unable to remember about him. I will tell my subordinates to look at that person's identity." Darius shook his head as he didn't have any clue about that person.

"You don't need to do that. I think I will have a guess about that mysterious person's real identity but it is only seventy percent..." Ludger answers while looking at the same place as before. 

"What do you mean?! How do you know that person's identity?!" Darius seems really surprised by Ludger's words.

"Well, you also know about this person. No, you should know him better than me because you must have met with the Tower Master of the Magic Tower a few times before, right?" Ludger gives him his conclusions. 

"W-What! How could the Tower Master of the Magic Tower is participating in the Winter Tournament?! If his real identity is what you're telling me, then he will be disqualified for the next match." Darius seems to be unable to accept what Ludger said. 

"I know, right? I also don't want to believe it but everything points to his identity. Try to remember the face and appearance of the Tower Master of the Magic Tower and you will realize their similarities. Right, can I borrow that letter again later? Don't glare at me. I just want to see the first Duke Kadaklan letter again." Ludger realizes something bad will happen when Darius glares at him.

"!" Darius realized something from their conversation and frowned.

'It's getting closer.' Ludger frowns at the same empty corner of his room.

Thump.

Ludger suddenly feels excruciating pain in his chest and clutches it. It was a similar feeling he had experienced few times before. Even though he thought that he had got used to it, but this painful sensation is much worse than what he felt before. 

"Ugh...this feeling, stop hiding! I know you seem to use some kind of magic before. Show yourself!" Ludger shouts at the empty corner of his room glaring at that place menacingly. 

At the empty corner of his room, a magic power fluctuating and something appeared. 

"Hmm, this is quite unexpected and it was the first time someone was able to find my whereabouts when I tried to hide it. Is it because you're still living while normally a person will die if they are in the same condition as your current condition? Hehe, you're really an interesting person." A person wearing a black robe suddenly appeared on that empty corner. 

They are able to see his face and Darius seems to be surprised because his face seems to be blurry and making the person who saw his face unable to remember what he looks like. The only thing they know is the fact that he is male and his current smiling expression. 

'Is this your magic? It seems to interfere with other's recognition abilities to remember his looks. It was special mental interference magic I think. And I think he was able to use a space magic to suddenly appear in my room. But what I was interested with his words.' Ludger glared at him.

"What kind of lie you are talking about?! How could someone as energetic as he would die? What are you trying to do to him?!" Darius moves to hide Ludger from the man in black robe. 

"Look, who is here with him! It has been a long time since the last time we met, the famous Lord of this city, Duke Kadaklan. Hmm, it seems your power unable to see how his soul half leaving his body. Hey, little boy, how about you join us because your condition is much closer to our group. Our lord must be welcoming such an interesting person like you." He greets Darius then the man in black robe keeps talking to Ludger. 

'My soul is half leaving my body?!! No, it must be his trick to deceive me. How dare he say that I am similar to them!' Ludger didn't believe him.

"You seem to not believe my words." The Tower Master seems to be amused. 

Ludger frowns after hearing his words. But there's strange pressure from that the black robe man.

"It was unexpected that the Tower Master of the Magic Tower is actually a member of the black robe group. But what are you trying to do to me by making such a lie? As you can see that I'm still alive and different from undead like your group. So what do you mean by making such unbelievable stories?" Ludger asks while holding the pain in his body. 

"Ho! You know about my identity but that's not the truth. But I will let you know that your condition is really interesting and piqued my interest. Hey, have you experienced near-death experience before? Or maybe you have come back from your death before? Oh, or maybe you always feel death even though you are still alive? If not then how could your soul half leave your body like that?" The Tower Master asked with curiosity. 

'He will never think that I was reincarnated into a crazy game that I only know about because someone told me about it. But could it be he's telling the truth? No, no! I couldn't believe him because he was the follower of the God of Chaos who might be trying to trick me so they could kill me. Shia said they would try to take the fragments in my soul. But why does he act like this?' Ludger felt that he was in danger but also wanted to get as much information from him.

"I don't know what you are currently thinking about me but I have to warn you that you need to stop talking bullshit like that because I will get angry if you keep saying such nonsense. Just tell me what are you trying to do! I won't believe such nonsense because I am always glad and proud of my health and great life." Ludger wants to attack him and prepare his spell in his mind while diverting his attention to the conversation. 

"Your existence is really unexpected but your actions are much more interesting than what I thought before. So who are you?" The Tower Master asked with madness in his eyes. 

"You seem to forget about my existence, right? Water Arrows." Darius sends his attack at the Tower Master. 

But he easily blocked his attack with a black barrier. But a silver light was hidden in the water arrow destroying the barrier. 

"Got you! Divine Arrow!" Ludger was also attacking with holy magic. 

"Nice try. Dark Arrow." The Tower Master blocks his attack with another magic attack.

BOOM!

"You are actually hiding your true talent for so long without making anyone doubt you! Haha! As I thought, you might be someone he was looking for. Just come quietly with me and I won't your precious people in this place." The Tower Master warns.

"Yes, let's go to another place." Ludger said as suddenly the room became bright and they were enveloped by the light and disappeared leaving the messy empty room.