The next day I am brought into a meeting with a peculiar make-up. It is in the room I used to share with Asger, but now is mine alone. There are only two other people, that being Bosir and Atna.

"First off" Atna starts "I want you talk about exactly why you want influence with the noble society."

I know what I want, but how do I spin this.

"Ever since I was a young kid, I loved to move my body, especially running. I would go outside and run for the entire day. I would beg my mother for shoes so that I could run easier. I would neglect to spend time with the other kids because I liked running". This part is technically correct, if you ignore I was a grown ass man on the inside.

"But, something always nagged me. Am I getting faster? Am I the fastest? Is there a better way to run? Stuff like that, and I realized what I wanted in life was a community built around running. But no one cared, everyone was understandably occupied with the tasks of daily life. So what I want to create is games. Games, where people come and compete to be the fastest. Money to promise the best so more fast people will come to compete. Land where we can build even tracks and perhaps even training facilities. People would possibly find it entertaining to watch, so I want the permission to share this with as many as people as possible, preferably through public channels."

After I have held my little speech, both of them look confused. "I mean, isn't that just like the amphitheater in Roxburg, only sounding much, much more boring?" Bosir suggests.

"Nono. The amphitheater is for fights, yeah? So many factors go into it, but this... This will be a pure competition for who has the best form, technique, will etc. only to force one ability of human, their run, to the outmost limits of what is possible" It is hard to communicate this feeling, but I have it experienced it, dammit. Pushing your body to the limit in the pursuit of one single task is hard, punishing and incredibly rewarding and satisfying.

"You do realize WHY nobles want powerful hunters right?" Atna asks.

"Actually, not really. They're great people?" I admit.

A sigh is heard and Atna starts explaining "Nobles constantly have qualms with each other. Who presides over what land, who has the right this toll or tax and which person is going to succeed this or that title. However, they almost never end up in fighting, since that only ever happens when two or more sides are relatively equally matched. Now, how do nobles bolster their strength?"

"Powerful hunters, I am guessing"

"Correct, but how do other people know you have powerful hunters under you, and that you aren't simply propping up some random stooge on a pedestal?"

"They do powerful things?"

"Yes, each and every noble house wants to show their might by having their hunters lead great hunting parties, taking down large monster that happen to escape, clear difficult dungeons and bring home rare and difficult-to-procure materials. The rumors of their strength and the materials from their hunts is what is actually measured, regardless of actual strength."

"Your point being?" I understood now why they wanted me, but why was that a problem?

"Do you think you can just relax and use the influence they lend you and give nothing in return? NO! You must still go out and show you are worth something."

Ah, so I can't spend all day running.

"In addition, how much influence do you think a count has? Nowhere enough to spend frivolously on one of his affiliated hunter's endeavors."

"But, isn't it a rare opportunity? I doubt everyone just gets offers of marriage all willy-nilly. I might as well take it, when the opportunity presents itself right?"

Atna's pale skin reddens and her mouth frowns. Oh no, she is lashing out again.

"LISTEN!" She shouts "DO! NOT! MARRY! ANY! DAUGHTER! OF! THE! COUNT!" Each word is said slowly, harshly and loudly.

I usually just leave the room as soon as possible, when she gets like this, but it feels impossible right now.

"If you can do that!" It becomes a more normal level of shouting. "I will arrange something that can grant you more influence" She says. Hn?

"Do you have noble connections, sister Atna?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. And I will share them with you if you can reject the count nicely."

"And they have more influence than a count?"

"Much more" sounds the reply.

"Well, fine, I will try my best. Meeting adjourned?"

"Meeting adjourned!" She replies immediately and storms out.

Bosir also starts to walk towards the door, but he turns and asks me:

"I am curious; why do you think she is doing this?"

I had not really thought about. All I got out of that conversation was that I would get more influence if I could avoid getting tied to the count tomorrow.

"Does her house and the count's house have some rivalry or something?" Seems the most logical explanation.

"You really are stupid." Bosir says. I feel like I have received that insult quite a lot lately.

"Oh wait, Bosir, I meant to ask you something." I quickly remembered. "Did anything ever happen over that dragon incident?"

"Well, I haven't heard anything, but they do say that no news is good news" Huh, they have that expression in this world too?