Toward evening, in their newly rented room, Tris and Rin sat around a large pot of water, with many different ingredients and foods placed nearby.
The pot was set on a magical stove powered by a magic crystal that Tris had bought back in Dorn.
With this stove, one could easily cook without needing to light a fire. If compared, it was somewhat similar to an electric stove.
Thanks to it, the two could cook inside the room without worrying too much about smoke or other issues.
Rin: "Master, are you planning to make a stew or soup?"
Tris: "No, I'm going to make hot pot."
Rin: "Hot pot?"
It was the first time she had heard of such a dish.
Tris: "Help me wash those, peel them, then cut them into bite‑sized pieces."
Hearing this, Rin immediately ran off to do it.
After both had finished preparing the ingredients, Tris began to cook a clear, sweet broth from vegetables and roots.
At the same time, he taught Rin what to pay attention to when cooking and seasoning, so that she could do it herself later.
Soon, the fragrance spread throughout the room.
The weather was turning to winter, the air outside cold and biting, so the warm steam rising from the boiling pot brought a particularly pleasant and comforting feeling. This was one of the reasons Tris chose hot pot for dinner.
Rin: "It smells so good."
She could already sense the sweetness from the steam rising out of the broth.
Tris: "Corn and these roots release a lot of sweetness when boiled. That way, you can easily get a sweet broth without needing long hours of simmering bones. Then, by adding these fruits, the broth gains sourness and spiciness, as well as a more beautiful color."
Rin: "And what about all these raw ingredients?"
She wondered, seeing so many foods still uncooked—green vegetables, mushrooms, and various meats cut into small pieces.
Tris: "These will cook very quickly once put into the boiling broth. You just add whatever you want to eat. For example, these slices of meat only need a few seconds to cook."
Serving himself a bowl of broth and picking out the cooked ingredients, Tris happily began his meal.
'When the weather turns cold like this, hot pot really is one of the best choices,' he thought.
Watching Tris eat, Rin followed his example.
Eating a piece of freshly cooked meat, the natural sweetness filled her mouth. The meat was tender, cooked just right, giving a pleasant feeling when chewed.
Sipping some hot broth, she immediately tasted the natural sweetness, followed by sourness and spiciness that excited her palate, making it irresistible.
The more she ate, the more Rin enjoyed this new way of dining, and she understood why her Master had chosen it.
The cozy feeling of sitting beside the steaming pot, warm and fragrant, contrasted with the cold weather outside.
The freedom of choosing what she wanted to eat and cooking it right before her eyes truly turned each meal into an experience.
Finally, eating food as hot as possible, right after it was cooked, made the flavor even better, with no trace of chill.
The two happily enjoyed their first dinner in their new place.
. . .
After finishing the delicious meal and washing the pot, bowls, and plates, Rin sat down to rest, reading a book while rubbing her full stomach.
Since they had cooked and cleaned instead of buying food outside, it had become quite late, later than her usual study time. So tonight, Rin only read as a light form of study.
The book she was reading these days taught important points to keep in mind during real combat.
It was chosen by her Master, who had also added many notes inside. The knowledge was truly useful—it had even helped Rin succeed more smoothly in her revenge earlier.
"Right after finishing the book and closing it, Rin heard her Master announce:
"Theory must go hand in hand with practice. Tomorrow, your assignment will be to train in real combat, one‑on‑one."
* * * * * * * * * *
The next morning, Tris and Rin went to a training ground that Tris had rented from Aldor's guild the previous afternoon.
Rin: "But why do we need to spend money to rent a training ground, Master?"
She couldn't hide her curiosity.
The last time she had gone to a training ground in Dorn, she hadn't found anything special there. The weapons and tools available hadn't been used, and she had simply spent the day running. Clearly, such things could be done in many other places without paying for a training field.
Tris: "Training outside the city could attract too many eyes. Going deep into the forest to avoid people risks running into Magical Beasts. It's best to spend a little money to rent a private and safe training ground. Besides, these grounds are rarely rented, so they're not expensive."
Rin: "I see."
She remembered that her Master always warned her not to carelessly reveal the skills he and she possessed, since intelligence in battle could decide victory or defeat, life or death.
Coming from poverty, Rin often thought first about saving money. Meanwhile, Tris always prioritized safety above all else and didn't hesitate to spend more if it truly helped.
After a short walk, they arrived at the training ground. Waiting for them was a guild staff member, who explained some notes to Tris and then opened the gate for them.
The training ground was spacious, suitable even for practicing long‑range attacks with bows, throwing weapons, or magic.
The number of weapons and training tools was no different from Dorn's, suggesting this was a standard setup of the adventurers' guild.
As always, Tris used his magic to check the grounds, ensuring training could proceed safely without outsiders secretly watching.
Rin: "So, how exactly will I train in real combat?"
Since Tris hadn't explained clearly the day before, she was curious about how the exercise would be carried out.
Hearing this, Tris took out the puppet "Servant" from his ring and said:
"You'll spar one‑on‑one with it."
Rin: "?? But isn't it directly controlled by you?"
Tris: "Exactly."
Rin: "Then how is it different from fighting Master head‑on?"
Tris: "Of course, there's a difference. Physically, especially in the length of its limbs. By using the puppet, I can give you an opponent as close to yourself as possible. Besides, I'm busy with my own training, so I don't have time to spar with you in person."
Hearing this, Rin nodded and looked at her opponent, thinking to herself:
'So this is the true meaning of what Master said when he first introduced the puppet as my training partner.'