12 Let's Star

"She's interested!" Rose doesn't hesitate even for a second to affirm this.

"..." Thorn opens his mouth slightly wanting to say something, but finally, remains silent.

"I'm glad to hear that! Normally our guild doesn't have many proficient rookies, so we need all the help that there is." Vei Dal says this as he begins to write Thorn's name on a paper he has in his hands. "All right, all is settled. Now all you have to do is to be, at the seventh hour, in four days, at The Zelu Mansion in Lurep Village. I'll be waiting for you there." Having said that, he retires to look for more participants.

Thorn looks at Rose, somewhat confused, and asks: "Why do you want me to participate in that tournament? Right now we are busy trying to get gold coins, we should not waste time on something as banal as a tournament."

Giggling, she responds to him: "If we talk about tournaments, of course, we also talk about prizes! Maybe it's a very good prize that could save us several days of work!"

"So, in these times, they give prizes in the tournaments... Okay, leave it in my hands, with my strength there is no doubt that I will be the winner of this tournament with ease, hahaha..." Thorn laughs confidently, with pride in himself.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Four days later. The richest area of Lurep Village.

The Zelu Mansion in Lurep Village stands arrogantly surrounded by a large garden full of beautiful plants and vegetable monsters. The sweet-smelling whiff of flowers fills the atmosphere with glamour, and the exquisite sculptures of the greatest blacksmiths of the Zelu family adorn both sides of the road from the entrance to the mansion. The mansion itself is only six stories high, but it is immensely spacious, 2 km x 3 km wide. And its design is, of course, related to the smithy. Some of its towers are shaped like large blacksmith's hammers, and others are shaped like towering swords. As for the main building, it has the shape of a sophisticated silver-smith anvil.

At this moment the main road of the mansion is filled with beings of all Civilized Races, Thorn and Rose are among them.

Right now, Rose is wearing her red hair as a mask because she has learned that the governor of Lurep Village will attend this event. For the reason that every so often every village governor and city governor has to go to the Cloud Cutter Castle, on one of these occasions the governor of Lurep Village saw Rose's face. So she has decided to hide her face to cause no unnecessary troubles. Although, due to her current appearance, having her face covered with her red hair and only showing her green eyes, she is receiving a lot of curious glances from every direction.

Looking at the impressive statues, Thorn says: "Surely, they have done a great job. These statues almost look alive!"

"Yes, for some reason those of the Zelu family have always been very good at manufacturing things." Rose responds completely depressed.

Thorn sighs, seeing Rose in that state: "*Sigh*... come on, do not tell me you're still in a bad mood because of what happened in our last job."

"Of course I'm still in a bad mood because of what happened in our last job! Do you know what the odds are of bump into a giant golden beetle type monster!? *Grrr* If we had caught it alive, right now we could have been drowning ourselves in gold coins! But that will not happen because you killed it straightway the moment it showed up!" Rose says, scolding.

"You can't blame me for doing that. Certainly, I killed it the moment it appeared, but it was because I had felt it before it appeared and it was clear that it planned to ambush us. So it wasn´t my fault." This is the third time that Thorn explains this, but it seems that Rose can't get rid of the thought of losing all those gold coins.

They continue walking and soon enter the mansion.

The main hall of the mansion is ready to be used for the Lurep Village Mercenary vs. Adventurer Novices Tournament. In the center, there is a platform with the shape of a circular shield with a diameter of 100 m, it seems like a giant shield stuck on the floor. To the east and west sides of this platform are the majority of the seats, there are almost fifty thousand of them, and several of these seats are already being occupied by enthusiastic spectators. In the northern part is a large platform with only four flamboyant seats on it. And in the southern part, there are exactly one hundred seats reserved for the most important guests.

Thorn and Rose sit on the east side and wait there for the tournament organizers to explain the rules.

Before long, the seats of the east and west wings are filled up completely. Most of the occupants of these seats are wearing casual clothes, and there are a few wearing armor and weapons. Obviously, the latter ones will participate in the tournament.

Suddenly, a female dullahan with a very seductive body slowly climbs to the shield-shaped platform. Her light jet black smoke cloud has the shape of an 'S', and she is wearing a brown leather-looking S-class zenanium battle armor. She also carries on her back two dangerous-looking black S-class zenanium swords, which are showing off their sharpness. Somehow, her ready-for-battle appearance is igniting the fighting spirit of everybody.

At that moment all the audience turns silent.

The female dullahan then says with a vigorous voice: "Welcome to the twenty-first Lurep Village Mercenary vs. Adventurer Novices Tournament! My name is Lenna Zelu and today I'll be your master of ceremonies!"

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

The loud and vibrant applauses sound in the great hall.

"Hehehe... I see that today everyone is very excited to witness this show of combat skills. Since that is the case, let's start quickly with the presentations of our important guests who will be playing the role of our secondary judges in this tournament!" Lenna Zelu then points her finger towards the southern part and says: "I present to you Crok Alch head of the medical center of Lurep Village and his most capable doctors."

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

As soon as her voice falls, from a large door that is behind of the one hundred seats, fifteen individuals of different races come out, obviously, they are led by Crok Alch a middle-aged human, solemn look, black and disheveled hair. They silently wave to the audience and then sit on their designated chairs.

"Now it's time to introduce to you the best blacksmiths of the Zelu family in Lurep Village." Lenna Zelu continues.

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

This time the fifteen individuals that come out are just dullahan race, they all wear casual clothes.

"Look there is Resh Zelu, the son of the best blacksmith of Lurep Village Ramph Zelu, rumors say that very soon he will surpass his father's abilities." Someone in the audience comments to his friend while pointing at certain dullahan who has his light jet black smoke cloud shaped like a chain link.

The dullahan of the Zelu family also greet the public and take a seat.

"Captain Fou Tre of the kingdom's military forces, and the best knights of Lurep Village." Lenna Zelu says, respect in her voice.

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

The leader of this group of fifteen is a middle-aged, blue-skinned gargoyle, wearing the armor of the kingdom like the other fourteen who come with him.

"Now, let's welcome the veterans of one of the guilds participating in this tournament, the veterans of the Adventurer's Guild!" Lenna Zelu exclaims with excitement.

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

The fifteen veterans of the Adventurer's Guild are of all kinds of races, and all wear sophisticated costumes. It should be known that usually, in the Adventurer's Guild, only creatures with great economic resources can join in their ranks.

"From the other group participating in this tournament, let's welcome the veterans of the Mercenary's Guild!" Lenna Zelu's voice sounds once again.

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

The beings that come out this time are also of all kinds of races but their clothes are completely varied in sophistication. And among the fifteen veterans of the Mercenary Guild, Vei Dal is also there.

"Finally, welcome the members of the house of the Governor of Lurep Village, the gentlemen, and ladies of the Alch family!" Lenna Zelu shouts with a very faint hint of fear in her voice.

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

Fifteen humans, of different sexes, sizes and ages appear. Most of them have blond hair and blue eyes, the rest have black hair and black eyes. All white skinned. Among them stands out a young man who seems to be fifteen years old, he is blond and has blue eyes, his face is perfect like of those young singer idols that can turn intelligent ladies into crazy lunatic fans. And he dresses as a king. But he doesn't stand out because of his clothes or appearance, but because despite being so young, his aura is already in the Six Level Advanced Awaken stage!

"It's Arnold Alch! The greatest genius of Lurep Village!" Some girls exclaim excitedly.

The Alch members are not the exception and also they greet the present public, and they then just sit down.

"Very good! They are all the secondary judges. And as you can see, there are left ten seats empty. You don't need to worry about them because these seats are reserved for later." Lenna Zelu explains cheerfully.

"And now, it's time to present the four main judges of this tournament! The first one is who lent us his house to do this event: the best blacksmith in Lurep Village, the great Ramph Zelu!" Lenna Zelu applauds and directs her gaze to the north side of the enormous hall.

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

The door behind the platform with four seats opens at this moment, and from the inside comes out a dullahan in white armor, and his light jet black smoke cloud has the shape of a pentagon.

He sits on one of the four ostentatious seats and calmly says: "It is an honor for me to receive you all at my house, I hope you enjoy this special occasion. And I wish good luck to all the participants of this tournament!"

*Clap!* *clap!* *clap!* *clap!*...!!

"You're great Ramph Zelu!" Someone in the audience exclaims spiritedly.

"The second main judge is the highest authority of the Adventurer's Guild in Lurep Village, our beloved idol Delia Adver!" Lenna Zelu says without hiding her tone of admiration.

*Clap!!!* *clap!!!* *clap!!!* *clap!!!*...!!!!

Immediately after, she appears, a 25-year-old-looking beauty, an elemental elf with a very strong heroic aura. She is wearing a priceless-looking golden armor. And as proof that she is a Fire Type Awakened Skill user, she has long bright red hair, which is in a ponytail.

"Aahh…!!"

"Ohh...!!!"

"Wowowow! The Fire Goddess of Lurep Village!"

The reaction of the public is truly passionate and fervent. This was to be expected since Delia Adver is not only the strongest person in Lurep Village but also a princess candidate for Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild!

She takes her seat and calmly says: "Well, precious folks, try to surprise me."

*Clap!!!* *clap!!!* *clap!!!* *clap!!!*...!!!!

"You're great Delia Adver!" Someone in the audience screams, his eyes full of passion.

"We have to give all of us to make a great show worth the time of The Fire Goddess of Lurep Village!" Some participants cry out excitedly.

After a few moments of waiting for the masses to calm down.

"The next main judge is Arger Dal, the highest authority of the Mercenary's Guild in Lurep Village!" Lenna Zelu continues the presentations.

*Clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*...!

The person that appears this time from inside the north door is a middle-aged shadow human, wearing casual clothes that have drawn on them several times the symbol of the Mercenary's Guild flag which has the form of two arms crossed and with hands forming fists. In addition he has brown eyes and black hair, really like Vei Dal, only he is somewhat older, of course, this is because Arger Dal and Vei Dal are brothers.

He sits next to Ramph Zelu and says: "Thank you for your presence, esteemed public. And participants, do your utmost, and give more than what you have! Why!? Because the prize this time is more plentiful than ever before!"

*Clap!!* *clap!!* *clap!!* *clap!!*...!!!

"Yes! That's what we wanted to hear! You're great Arger Dal!" Someone in the au—not, wait, this time Rose is who speaks.

Arger Dal gives Rose a forced smile and thinks: (Why is this weird woman so excited? With her cultivation she doesn't even have the necessary qualifications to participate, right!?)

"The last main judge, the governor of Lurep Village, Cley Alch!" Lenna Zelu says this time with the loudest voice since she began with her presentations.

*Clap!* *clap!* *clap!* *clap!*...!!

Obviously, for being an Alch, he is a human. He looks old, and have blue eyes, white mustache, and white hair. Cley Alch wears simple pants, a t-shirt, and a cape, all dark blue and with gold lines. Regarding his aura, he gives off the impression of being kindhearted, however, he actually is quite a cruel character.

He sits on the last empty seat of the north platform, and says with a slight smile: "What are we waiting for!? I'm already here, let's start the Lurep Village Mercenary vs. Adventurer Novices Tournament!"