10 – 3. Heading South
I did ask Sister Pippin a few questions, but ultimately, the answer boiled down to this:
“There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“Excuse me?”
“He’s not the type to get into accidents, not the kind to cry over a scratch, and he’ll manage just fine if left alone.”
Parenting… might not be such a big deal after all?
I had some concerns, but if that’s the case, well.
“He’s the type who can handle things on his own.”
“Yeah, and I actually think it’s fortunate as long as he doesn’t get too influenced by you and go off the rails.”
That’s a bit hurtful.
Of course, the concern was not entirely unfounded.
So, discovering the secret of my birth and arriving at this church happened roughly ten years ago.
I dug up a few memories from my boyhood that I had deeply buried in my mind, the ones with the priest. Perhaps it was the memorable first birthday celebrated in the church.
“Raven! I heard it’s your birthday today. So, are you ten now?”
“Age.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t raise my age.”
“….”
Let’s just say, the sharp-tongued side from my childhood is… unavoidable.
Honestly, considering the unlucky childhood, it can be seen as a triumph of the human spirit not ending up as a jobless recluse. And even though I had such a miserable past, the current me doesn’t seem to pose a threat to Lycia’s mental health.
If that were really the case, Father Phippin wouldn’t have allowed it, knowing that I turned out to be quite a palatable person. Just imagining it makes my morality overflow.
Anyway, I concluded that there’s not much to fuss over for Lycia.
Rather than focusing on the preparations needed to leave, it seemed more worthwhile to pay attention to the essentials for departure.
Since enduring a lifetime of brick-like bread or rubbery jerky for meals was out of the question, I packed only a suitable amount.
Besides, passing through villages along the way would provide opportunities to replenish supplies. It wouldn’t hurt to enjoy some delicious meals at inns along the journey.
Although the day had turned into spring, the early morning still felt chilly. I should bring an extra layer of leather for Lycia to cover herself.
As for the girl’s shoes, they didn’t seem suitable for covering long distances. I might need to visit a tailor. I can cover the expenses for that; it’s not a significant amount, and I’m not exactly impoverished.
Any significant expenses would likely go towards basic necessities like food and lodging. Continuous expenditures like these were unavoidable, so there was no need to be stingy about it.
Still, this wasn’t the 21st century, and education fees or the like weren’t necessary…
Wait.
Education fees?
“Ah.”
“Huh? Why are you like that, Raven?”
Isn’t that necessary?
*****
Of course, universities are not charitable organizations.
Professors need to make a living too. While some may prioritize honor and research over money, they are not working for non-profit organizations.
There were, of course, scholarship-like funds under the guise of support from the Empire, but who knows what the Empire is up to with the Papal States… Everyone is aware of that, right?
“The Emperor acknowledges the appointment of the Papal See and requests a pardon. If you do, the repercussions will surely be mitigated. We do not wish for innocent followers to shed blood.”
“This right has been held by our ancestors for generations. Why do you greedily try to take authority that has never been yours?”
“Is it appropriate to seize something from the owner with just a word? Can you truly stand tall before God?”
“It was never yours to begin with! Why do secular rulers interfere with the clergy?”
Actually, they were both highly esteemed individuals, expressing it in a dignified manner. However, when you looked closely, it wasn’t much different from saying this:
“Fear?”
“Fear?!”
While the Papal Office and the Emperor were still exchanging spam emails, engaging in a war of words, it wouldn’t be long before what was a mere tug of war over a handful of hair turned into a full-blown fistfight. The heavens, the earth, and the girl by my side were well aware of this.
By loudly proclaiming the righteousness of one’s cause to the world, diligently building a case, the answer becomes clear.
Money would undoubtedly flow generously in a place like this. It would be fortunate if they didn’t increase taxes any further.
“Lycia.”
“Yes.”
“Come to think of it, how do you plan to cover your tuition?”
Lycia, who had anticipated such a situation, must have naturally considered the aftermath. I believe in her cleverness.
The girl looked up at me, blinked a few times, then scratched her head charmingly before saying,
“… Well, I have to think about it now, right?”
Today, my trust crumbled.
“When I asked Father Phephin, I heard that even poor students go to university. They usually find work nearby to earn their tuition.”
“Isn’t it a bit early for you to start working?”
“Even someone like me can find something to do, right? I know how to read, so I can do things like copying texts.”
It was still in the realm of speculation. Well, no one around here had stepped over the threshold of university, so details were inevitably unknown.
To work.
Upon reconsideration, the option of making this child work to earn tuition troubled my heart. Is this also too much of a modern sensibility?
The conscience triangle, which had been idle for a while, the self that had recovered, started to find tasks and began to spin around after a long time.
“And it’s something you never know, right? If the professors like you, they don’t care about the tuition.”
“That’s… true.”
Here’s another piece of trivia.
This medieval-university organization isn’t as systematic as its modern counterpart. There’s no bright, wholesome, and refreshing campus life for the youth.
Rather, it’s more like a market where education is sold, haphazardly housed in big buildings.
Entrance exams aren’t a system where applicants are tossed into a space crawling with monsters, catching a few to determine their fate, or a system where students duel, and the tournament winner gets accepted.
In this world, there’s no such thing as the blonde, evil, scheming heroine. And in a world without such a character, academies wouldn’t exist, or even if they did… they wouldn’t be worth existing.
So, spectacular entrance exams like these don’t really happen.
Students had to twist themselves in different ways for admission.
“I’ve heard about the professor’s esteemed reputation and remarkable research. Impressed by your theological achievements, I humbly request your guidance!”
“I’m a busy person. Moreover, I already have many students to teach. Well then…”
“Even if you reject me, please grant me this opportunity!”
The only way for admission. It was simply what pleased the professors.
The method didn’t matter. Whether bowing in homage or licking their toes, as long as it pleased them, it was enough.
The professors who received requests would either assess the student’s level through an exam or a conversation and then decide whether to take them as disciples. Of course, the exam doesn’t involve catching monsters; that’s not a thing here. There might be medieval-monster treatment by the heretics who don’t treat people like people, but that’s about it.
Anyway, if you pass, you just have to attend classes starting the next day. If not, a predictable outcome awaited.
“Please, just once more… just one more chance!”
“Disappointing. It’s over, you incompetent fool.”
Pack your bags, take the long road back home.
At this point, the tuition is at the discretion of the individual professors.
It’s an unusual occurrence, but there’s a story that if a student is talented enough to bring in momentum, even rare as it may be, they might be able to receive classes for free. This is probably what Lycia has in mind.
But still, it’s an uncommon event.
Knowing that the girl is intelligent, aiming for it is not an easy goal.
“Who are you taking classes from?”
“Well, from the Holy Maiden.”
“Holy Maiden.”
Moreover, if it’s the idol of the theology department, the Holy Maiden. It might be challenging.
There were many subjects taught at the university, but among them, theology was always considered the best.
In the current world, it was the foundation of various theories such as magic and philosophy, and graduating after learning it was a shortcut to a successful career, leading to a high-ranking profession.
And, of course, the one considered the highest among the professors teaching theology was the Holy Maiden.
One of the three adults existing at the moment. Naturally, the most popular professor in the most popular subject would be challenging to even register for.
“But I believe in myself.”
Nevertheless, it was a subtly confident tone. Lycia had an expression as if there was a corner of her that believed in what she saw last time.
Did she say she wanted to learn from the Holy Maiden?
And Lycia mentioned that she was going to the university to find answers to salvation. Indeed, to unravel the questions about it, seeking the Holy Maiden was the best choice.
And Lycia was smarter than any of the peers I had seen. So, it might not be entirely impossible. I nodded my head and said,
“Yes, maybe it could work out. I think it’s entirely possible.”
“Indeed, right? I’m confident it will happen. Because it’s the Holy Maiden.”
The girl smiled knowingly, yet mysteriously.