Rin: "An auction?"
Tris: "Yes. Today, the city is holding an auction for magical items and materials. There are a few things in the catalog that caught my interest."
Tris put on a cloak and high‑heeled boots, then donned a mask to cover his face in disguise.
Tris: "Alright, I'm off. Stay here and continue your training as usual. Take care of lunch yourself—I won't be back until evening."
Rin: "Which combat techniques should Rin practice today?"
Tris: "Up to you. Work on whichever techniques you still feel uncertain about. I'm going now."
After completing his disguise and concealment, Tris slipped away in secret.
Left alone in the room, Rin began thinking about what to practice.
Unable to decide, she chose to review everything once more.
She stripped off her clothes, set them neatly aside, and picked up her familiar warpick and buckler.
Strengthening both her body and weapons, Rin swung them at imagined foes.
First came the thugs from the slums, then the Big Mouth Rabbit and Gray Wolf she had fought days earlier.
Combining movement techniques, she attacked with weapons and strikes she had learned.
Thanks to long practice and real combat experience, Rin could now perform them smoothly without worrying about accidentally damaging the floor as before.
Still, Tris had carefully warded the room with protective magics before leaving, so Rin could train freely without concern.
As she rotated through attacks, Rin considered the best ways to face different opponents.
Fighting humans and fighting Magical Beasts are completely different.
The differences lie not only in physique and body structure, but even in thought and instinct.
That's why, when facing different opponents, one cannot be bound by a rigid combat style but must rely on flexibility.
Fortunately, the techniques Rin had been taught were highly adaptable, suitable for many kinds of foes.
She hadn't been taught flashy attacks that humans could easily predict and dodge, which were only useful against Magical Beasts. Nor had she been trained extensively in grappling techniques, which worked only against humans and were useless against beasts—Master had only given her a brief introduction.
As he explained, with the existence of countless combat techniques and strange magics, closing in to grapple or lock an opponent was too reckless and dangerous, while the effectiveness was limited.
She trained tirelessly until drenched in sweat, and her muscles ached.
Then Rin sat down to practice 'Fast Heal', the newest technique she had learned.
'Fast Heal' was versatile: by repairing tiny muscle fibers, improving blood flow, and soothing inflammation, it erased the strain of long training.
It required surplus spiritual energy, but surprisingly consumed very little. To Rin, it felt as miraculous as magic itself.
With it, she no longer collapsed after training, nor crawled to the bath like a slug.
Since Tris wasn't there to clean the floor with magic, Rin had to wipe away sweat and footprints herself.
After tidying up, she relaxed in the bath, thinking about lunch.
Unlike last time she was alone, when she only had the money Tris left her, now Rin had her own earnings from hunting.
Spending her own money, she no longer felt hesitant. She decided to treat herself to a sweet dessert for lunch. Just imagining it made her mouth water.
Though meals with Tris were always plentiful, buying something she wanted with her own hard‑earned money made it taste even better.
After bathing, Rin dressed and cheerfully headed downstairs to the restaurant, humming happily.
. . .
"Here's your food." The waiter set the dishes before Rin and left.
She immediately dug in, her face glowing with happiness.
Fast Heal could ease fatigue, but not hunger. Only now did Rin truly feel restored after the morning's training.
As she ate eagerly, a clear voice suddenly asked:
"May I sit with you?"
Instinctively, Rin nodded—her table had empty seats, and crowded restaurants often left people searching for space.
With Tris absent, she didn't worry about saving a seat for him.
But then she recognized the voice. Startled, Rin looked up from her plate.
Rose was sitting there, elegantly cutting a small piece of food and eating with grace—so different from Rin's ravenous style.
Rin: "Why are you here?"
She nearly spat out her food as she spoke.
Rose: "I was looking for a place to have lunch and happened to see you here, so I came over."
She answered calmly, a gentle smile on her lips.
Rin: "Haha… I see."
Her laugh was awkward. She didn't believe the explanation at all.
Now Rin understood the discomfort Tris had felt the day before.
Another "coincidental" meeting after just one day? Impossible.
Neither Tris nor Rin was naïve enough to believe that. And Rose clearly didn't care how unbelievable her words sounded.
Still smiling, Rose asked:
"Where's Tris? Didn't he join you for lunch?"
Rin hesitated, then replied:
"He had some personal matters, so he isn't eating with me today."
Rose: "Is that so? Then I'll just have to enjoy spending lunchtime with the adorable girl sitting right in front of me."
Rin blushed slightly. She wasn't used to Rose's teasing—it was hard to tell how serious she was.
Especially coming from such a beautiful woman.
At that moment, Rin felt countless curious gazes from other diners.
Of course, they were all directed at Rose.
If it weren't rude to interrupt someone's meal, many would have already rushed over.
'No… judging by the atmosphere, some might ignore manners and approach her anyway.' Rin thought.