Of course, I’d been borrowing her aid so far with that in mind, but I was glad that she’d brought it up first. Even so, apparently I was too cranky at the moment to wholeheartedly accept. “Not all the time. Only if I want to have a civilized lifestyle in human settlements. If it comes down to it, I’ll literally run for the hills. I can survive.”
This was also true. For better or worse, I’d become able to live without relying on the help of others. In the worst-case scenario, I could live out the rest of my life in the Purgatory Forest. Sure, that carried a higher risk of getting killed by monsters, but if I kept training, raised my skill levels, and gathered more allies with my <Follower Contract> skill...I could practically build an army.
The only reason why I hadn’t yet was because I was still experimenting. If I increased my allies by too much, I’d limit the range of what I could do. Right now, there were more than ten of us, and moving as a group was incredibly conspicuous. Figuring out what to do about that was an immediate issue. The obvious solution would be to disband, but I couldn’t do that. I’d decided to stick together with them.
I wouldn’t betray them. Even if it meant we had to go back to the Purgatory Forest.
“I’d rather you didn’t, if at all possible...but what I’m saying is reasonable, don’t you think?” Katarina had sensed that I was serious, and tried to dissuade me from it.
I acquiesced for the moment. “I guess so. I do want to live an easy life in a sturdy house, with a comfortable bed and well-seasoned food. I’m sick of spending my days in a monster-infested forest, jumping at every howl.” These were my genuine, true feelings. Anyone would hate living in a forest full of monsters and bugs all the time.
“It seems you’ve had quite a rough time.”
“But I’m still alive. That’s what matters.”
I just didn’t want to die. That was my goal in life.
Katarina smiled with admiration and said, “Then you’ve been living ignobly...in a positive sense, I mean.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Are you making fun of me?”
“I’m complimenting you. It’s rare for nobles to put so much effort into something. So...I have a proposal for you. Would you give it a listen?” she asked with upturned eyes.
Is this something she feels guilty about requesting? I wondered, but gave her the go-ahead. “I’ll listen to what you have to say, but if push comes to shove, I’m heading for the hills.”
“That’s enough of that. We’re both fourteen, right?”
The sudden change of subject made me even more puzzled. But she was correct, so I told her so. “Huh? Well, yes, but what does that have to do with anything? Do you want to have a joint birthday party once we get back to your manor?”
It made me feel nostalgic. Back at the Duke’s residence, we would hold birthday parties for me, my younger brother, and my parents. I wouldn’t mind doing one, but at the same time, part of me felt like it was tremendously inane.
Katarina replied with dismay, “My birthday was two months ago already.”
“Congrats. Mine was three months ago.”
Apparently it was past time for both of us.
“Congratulations to you too. Then that means you’re slightly older than me.” Katarina seemed a little surprised.
“A month hardly makes a difference. So, what else did you want to say?”
“Right. Since we’re the same age, I thought it might be interesting to go to school together.”
This was an abrupt proposal. School?
“Huh? What are you even saying? You’re nobility, I’m a commoner...and I don’t even have a permanent address. There’s no way I can go to school with you.” Those were the first words out of my mouth.
But Katarina replied, “There is a way. What do you know about the Urizen Federation’s top educational institution?”
“It’s the Arcgal Magic Academy, right? If I remember right, it accepts new students regardless of social status. But it’s a bit late now...” It wasn’t entirely impossible, but there was no reason for me to enter.
Katarina wasn’t concerned about that and kept talking. “It’s an institute of higher learning which teaches advanced disciplines and techniques. There’s no ordained enrollment age, but the average is fifteen. The average time it takes to graduate is...well, if you get out in three years, it means you have talent.”
“And you want me to go there? Like I said, no way, no how. I’m...a fugitive. I can’t go to a conspicuous place like that in my situation.”
Yes, that was the biggest problem. The old me might not have cared, but right now, there was a lot I wanted to learn about. I was a little interested in the prospect of studying and researching what I could at a school, but it was just impossible.
Even so, Katarina was persistent. “I’ll devise a name and social position for you.”
I snorted. “Your influence can’t even keep Midrogue under control, and that’s just one city.”
Katarina firmly retorted, “It’ll be fine. This job you just performed should resolve most of the problems. I can borrow my father’s influence for this.”
Is this really that big of an achievement? At the moment, we couldn’t gauge how well this job would be received. She might’ve just said it with confidence in order to encourage herself. Everyone did that sometimes, when they were chasing after their hopes.
“It sounds like you really want this. But what’s in it for me?”
“Power, plain and simple. You can’t put your full faith in me, right? Then why not make more connections with other people?”
“At the academy?”
“Precisely. The children of many powerful figures come from all over the Urizen Federation to study there. I believe that’s very expedient for what you’re trying to do. Besides, you do seem like you’d be interested in the subject matter itself.”
“I...”
Well, she’s right about that. Making connections with influential people in Urizen is exactly what I wanted. Katarina is just the first one. There’d be no harm in meeting more of them... I started to mull it over, Katarina’s hopes rising all the while.
“Then be optimistic. You don’t have to think that hard about it. If it gets to be too annoying, you can just run away to the forest or hills, right?”
“You’ve got a point there. I guess I’ll consider it.”
“Good. With that said, I think it’ll take a full year until I have Midrogue completely under my control, so enrollment will have to wait until after that. It’s something to look forward to.”
“In other words, it’ll be off the table if you lose your standing by then. This could be interesting.”
“Don’t even joke about that. Besides, you might be able to live the way you want by then,” Katarina said with puffed cheeks. She looked a bit cute that way.