Although Tris could control puppets without using his hands, that didn't mean he always avoided the traditional method of control.
The traditional method still had its advantages. Yesterday's battle with the cultists was an example.
Now, with Magic Hand, he could both control the black sword and keep his hands free for other tasks. That truly brought many benefits.
Since everything that needed to be discussed had already been said, and knowing that Erik was busy with many matters, Tris said his farewell and left.
Not long after Tris departed, the female receptionist from before returned to Erik's office. As soon as she entered, she asked:
"What do you think?"
Erik: "Didn't you already eavesdrop on everything, Guild Master?"
The receptionist who had guided Tris earlier turned out to be the guild master of Dorn.
Guild Master: "Oh, but I want to hear your impression, as the one who directly faced that kid."
Erik: "It didn't feel at all like talking to a child. His intellect, his responses, even the aura he gave off. If his ears weren't round, I'd think I was speaking to a long-lived Elf."
Guild Master: "And that boy's eyes are sharp. When he arrived and when he left, he looked at me with probing eyes. He must have guessed I wasn't just an ordinary receptionist."
Erik: "Impossible, even with your concealment ability?"
He was surprised to hear that.
The guild master of Dorn was someone with strong stealth and concealment skills, including the ability to make others misjudge her true strength.
For someone like her to be noticed at the first meeting, it was no wonder she was impressed by Tris's sharpness.
Guild Master: "Tsk tsk, live long enough, and you'll see everything. Didn't expect such an unusual brat to exist."
Her voice was full of amusement.
Erik: "You're only thirty, don't talk like you've lived hundreds of years."
Immediately, Erik was sent flying across half the room.
Guild Master: "For women, after 20—no, after 18—we're already old. And besides, don't mention my real age."
'Weren't you the one who brought it up first?'
Thinking silently, Erik chose not to say it aloud.
Struggling a bit to stand, he simply returned to his desk and continued with paperwork. The incident with the cultists had left a huge impact, greatly increasing the workload.
Erik: "If possible, I hope you'll help me with some of this paperwork."
Guild Master: "You know I'm no good with paperwork, so I'll stick to what I do best."
She said this while leaving.
Erik: "You're going hunting again?"
Guild Master: "I don't believe last night's rats were the only ones in town. There must be more. Ah, and I'll help you talk to the Priests about Tris's rank promotion. You just prepare the paperwork."
Erik: "Understood."
Watching her cheerful back as she left, Erik couldn't hide his sigh as he buried himself in the pile of documents again.
'This town really is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.'
On his way back to the inn, Tris thought to himself.
First, the descent of the evil god, then the one in the red cloak, and today the "female receptionist"—all powerful beings appearing one after another before him.
From Tris's perspective, that "receptionist" was even stronger than Erik, the guild vice master. That made him think about the guild master he hadn't met yet.
Of course, compared to the red-cloaked man he had fought, she was still far weaker. Even so, she was strong enough to make him cautious.
Tris wasn't confident he could win if he had to face her.
'Just one step out of the village, and it's already like this. This journey is truly worrying.'
He couldn't help but feel pessimistic and anxious about his luck.
"Master, you've returned."
As soon as he opened the inn room door, Rin's greeting rang out.
Tris quickly stepped inside and closed the door. After all, Rin's training wasn't something outsiders should see.
Recently, Rin had begun formal training, which was exhausting and demanding. Each time she trained, sweat poured down like rain.
To avoid dirtying her nice clothes and to feel lighter, Rin decided to train without wearing them.
The first time she trained, she wore full clothes. The second time, only underwear. Now, even her panties seemed too troublesome to wash afterward.
'Where did she pick up this lazy habit… Ah, probably from me. It's fine then. (￣▽￣)╭'
In daily life, Tris himself valued practicality over appearance. Anything unnecessary or too troublesome, he skipped, focusing his energy on what mattered more.
Unknowingly, Rin had absorbed his habits.
Tris: "How proficient are you with those two moves? What's the current success rate?"
Rin: "The low kick now succeeds every time it's performed. As for the punch from yesterday, it still sometimes fails. Perhaps out of ten attempts, one or two don't succeed."
'Strange, the kick should be harder to master than the punch, yet Rin learned it faster. Maybe she has a special talent with leg techniques.'
Tris decided to adjust her training plan.
Tris: "Rin, stop for a moment."
Hearing him, Rin paused her punch practice.
Tris: "That punch—just practice occasionally. Today, try this new move."
Rin: "Master, what are you doing?"
She saw Tris crouch down, touching the floor with one hand.
Tris: "Using magic to protect the floor, otherwise you might damage it."
Rin: "??"
She was surprised. Her small feet didn't seem strong enough to harm the sturdy floor.
Tris: "Done."
After protecting the floor, Tris took out the puppet "Servant" to serve as a model, just like the previous night.
Tris: "Watch closely."
The puppet began hopping sideways, left and right, one meter each time, repeating. At first, it was slow, but soon it sped up until it looked like teleportation. Despite the speed, its footsteps were quiet, almost silent.
Then, as if bored with hopping sideways for a while, the puppet switched to jumping forward, and after that kept hopping backward again, repeating just like before.
Rin: "Master, is this the 'Flash Steps' you used before?"
Tris: "Not yet. This is a weaker version; you must learn first. Even so, it's very useful for dodging or chasing. Its principle is similar to the low kick, relying on explosive leg power, specifically like this..."
Tris began explaining the theory in detail.