"Ah, there's something troublesome I accidentally did" Bosir says on the way back from getting my plate. It feels great, like I could make it anywhere now.

"What did you do, old Bosir?" I ask, but not really caring.

"Well, the count here meets with various clan leaders a few times a year." He chews on his words, slowly bringing them forth. "And I kind of ended up bragging a little. So there is a problem."

Did he get settled with an unreasonable task? I have a bad feeling.

"You see, I bragged about... how my apprentice survived a dragon attack."

"So?"

"Well, I kind of made it sound like he valiantly challenged the dragon to protect his friend and survived the encounter due to his skill and toughness"

"What?" I blink a little. Who is this mysterious apprentice Bosir has had while no one noticed?

"Are you kidding me? Why would you do that?"

"Shut up, drink makes fools of us all" he says dismissively. "anyway, I promised to introduce you, once you became a proper hunter, so we will have to go visit. And that means getting some proper clothes. Ah, and if you could just lie and retell the story like I did, that would be great"

"Are you completely shameless!?" I am shocked. He wants me to go to the count and lie my ass off, what the hell?

"I am also in trouble! What do you think the count would say if he figured out I lied to him?"

Well, yeah I don't want harm to come to Bosir. "Can I at least make it sound like you just embellished it a little?" I asked.

"Ah, that should be fine" Bosir says while scratching his stubble. I wonder if he purposefully keeps it like that instead of growing a beard or going clean-shaven?

"And shouldn't you also be a little grateful? Did you not speak of how you would gain some influence and make some weird thing or other happen?"

Ah, that is right, but the timescale is a little wrong. It is something I would start working on once I became a "proper" adult in my mind. Still, I have grown even stronger during this past half year. I can now go almost toe-to-toe with Kamas at sparring sessions and have even come out on top once or twice.

As we prepare various clothes and accessories, Bosir gives me some hints.

"Never speak unless spoken to." "Always call him and his kin with "Lord" or "Honored" "If you go somewhere, always walk behind him, never besides him" and so on, but one comes out a little weird.

"If he introduces one of his daughters to you, be careful what you say, or you may end up getting engaged to her". Hn?

"Would he really randomly engage his daughter like that?" I ask.

"It is customary for nobility to keep a few unwed daughters on hand to snatch up talented hunters that show themselves. But I figured you'd want to avoid it, since, you know..."

"Know what? Wouldn't it just help me get the influence I want faster?" This world is almost devoid of the idea of love. Most women end up getting married the moment they come of age to a man 5-10 years older than them through a deal with their parents. Some hunters are known to chase love, but I have never really cared about those kinds of relationships.

"You mean to say there's no one you feel you have any prior obligations to?" He asks.

"What do you mean, come on out and say it so that I can understand." Seriously, did someone engage me without my knowledge or something?

"You have no idea what I am talking about, do you?" He once again comes up with something like that.

"No, I do not. Please tell me" I collect myself from getting pissed off by his attitude and answer.

"Ah, I am not sure I am allowed to. I'll check sometime first."

"Well, that's fine but what about the count? When exactly am I scheduled for?"

"You will join him at lunch the day after tomorrow, I'll sort the matter before then, hopefully.

I look over all the random things that have been bought for me. First, some kind of fancy shirt. It is colored red with lines running along the arms and looks very frail, like one could easily tear it. It is very long, and ends in a looser fabric, that resembles a skirt. There are also so kind of stockings, which is going to challenge my masculinity, but apparently that is common practice to wear for males of high societal status here. The shoes are impractical. They are somewhat high-heeled with a large flap, that dangles everywhere when I walk in them and they are quite uncomfortable.

I am starting not to look forward to this. It really feels way too early to talk about marriage and such arrangements. It feels like I am still a kid in this world learning things and it feels like I am not ready to bring what I want to life. But I have decided I am going to create sports, racing, running in this world, so I steel myself and prepare as best I can for the situation.