It wasn't long before he returned, bringing with him something quite extraordinary.
It was an animal that resembled an ox but wasn't quite an ox, at least three or four times his size, and the crucial thing was that it was still alive, munching on grass.
It was clear he had caught it while it was grazing.
Besides this animal, there were also a few vegetables, which he intended to use as side dishes.
Eating only meat would be too greasy; it wouldn't do without some vegetables.
"How about we eat this today?" he asked Frieren, patting the ox's head.
Frieren glanced at the ox-like creature still nonchalantly chewing grass and asked curiously, "Where did you catch it?"
"Just over in the forest."
"This guy is so big, how can we finish it all?"
"It's fine, if we can't finish it, we can eat it slowly. We can store it for now and make meat soup tomorrow morning."
"Whatever you say, it's not like I'm doing the cooking anyway."
"Alright, then I'll go slaughter it."
"Stay far away, don't let the blood splash around. I don't like the smell of blood."
"Okay."
He left with the ox-like animal, and by the time he returned, nearly half an hour had passed.
However, the animal had already been dismembered, divided into several pieces—limbs, head, and five equally portioned body parts—and it had also been roasted, the meat a tempting reddish-brown, emitting a faint aroma.
He himself was very clean, not even a speck of blood on him.
It wasn't that he drank it; he wouldn't drink animal blood, had no desire to at all, unless it was a beast-eared girl, then he might be a little interested.
Frieren had no mind for cultivation; in fact, ever since he returned, she hadn't been able to get into the right state.
"How are you going to cook it?" Frieren came up to him, her nose twitching, and asked, trying to suppress the urge to drool.
"How about roasting it? These legs and ribs can be roasted directly; just sprinkle some seasoning on them."
"Roasted meat again? Me, an elf, eating roasted meat every day... and can we even finish it all?" Frieren sighed, her cute, thick eyebrows furrowing.
"There's no other way; we can only roast it. There are no other cooking methods, and the seasonings are so simple."
"Fine, just do whatever you want," Frieren gave up.
"I also want to cook something delicious for you in other ways, but unfortunately, I forgot to bring some seasonings. I'll let you taste real gourmet food if I get the chance in the future."
"What are you talking about?" Frieren was a bit confused.
"Don't worry about it, I'll start roasting the meat now."
He didn't explain, putting most of the meat into the kitchen and then starting to roast it nearby.
He didn't even use firewood to make a fire; he just controlled the meat to float in the air, then threw a golden flame to attach to the meat.
What was amazing was that the golden flame seemed to have a consciousness, completely enveloping the meat, and the flame didn't flicker.
Frieren watched this scene curiously, slowly came to his side, and asked, "Is this flame also your magic?"
"This is not."
This was the ability of his Familiar, and he could borrow its power.
"Why is the flame golden?"
"Because it is the Holy Fire."
"I don't understand."
"It's okay if you don't understand; you just need to know that you'll be able to eat meat very soon."
Using the Holy Fire to roast meat was a bit extravagant, after all, this was no ordinary flame; it carried life energy and could burn away filth and evil.
But abilities are meant for convenience; normal roasting would take who knows how long, but with the Holy Fire, ten minutes was enough.
The aroma of meat began to spread, and the meat also emitted a golden luster.
Frieren sniffed the aroma, finally unable to resist the movement in her throat, and began to drool.
Gulp~
The sound was clearly audible, and he looked at her with amusement.
"What are you looking at?" Frieren gave him a sidelong glance, uncharacteristically embarrassed.
He smiled and shook his head, "Nothing."
"Roast it faster!"
"Alright~"
The two stopped talking, watching the roasting meat in the air gradually cook.
Ten minutes passed quickly, but just then, a mature, slightly teasing voice came.
"Oh~ What's this aroma? Frieren, have you finally learned to cook for yourself?"
He looked towards the source of the voice and saw Flamme, who hadn't changed much from when he first met her; she excitedly waved her hand.
"Master!"
"You're back," Flamme slowly walked over to him, looking at him with a gentle smile.
"Yes, I'm back!"
"It's good that you're back, and your magic... it's amazing," Flamme couldn't help but exclaim, "I actually feel Master's aura from you."
"Master's master?" he asked, knowing the answer.
"Yes, she's a very powerful existence, it's not an exaggeration to say she's the strongest, and she's an elf just like Frieren," Flamme said with a smile.
"Oh." Frieren wasn't interested; her eyes were only on the roasted meat in the air.
"Hehe~" Flamme didn't mind; she followed the aroma and looked at the roasted meat in the air, "This flame?"
"His ability," Frieren helped explain.
"Is that so? Very good." Flamme praised him, patting his shoulder; she could naturally feel the terrifying power contained within the flame.
"Master, you flatter me," he replied, a little embarrassed.
Flamme gazed at the golden flame in the sky, her eyes reflecting the golden light, and she said, unblinking, "I knew you were unusual, but I didn't expect you to have such an ability."
"Master, don't praise me anymore; I'm going to get arrogant."
"Haha, alright, no more praise. Let's eat first; I'm hungry too."
"Okay, let Master taste my cooking." He retracted the golden flame and controlled the food to move towards the cottage first.
Frieren and Flamme followed him, one on his left, one on his right.
"By the way, isn't this a bit too much?" Upon sitting down at the dining table, Flamme looked at the table full of roasted meat, realizing it belatedly.
"It's fine, Frieren can definitely finish it," he said with a smile, sitting across from her.
"What do you take me for?" Frieren sat between the two, pouting playfully.
"Hmm… a lazy, gluttonous elf?"
"You are!"
"We both know who's who. I heard very clearly just now that Master said you've never cooked for yourself."
7
Frieren had no words to retort.
"Seriously, how can you be so lazy?"
"It's all your fault!" Frieren blamed him.
"How is it my fault? Don't accuse me wrongly."
"Isn't it because you insisted on cooking every day before? You've gotten me into the habit."
"You can blame me for this too..." He chuckled, shaking his head.
"Alright, alright, Frieren is beyond help. Let's eat first before it gets cold," Flamme interjected with a smile, trying to mediate.
"Okay."
After a roasted meat feast, the three of them felt quite satisfied. He was full, Frieren had oil all over her mouth, and even Flamme ate a lot.
It was still the ox-like meat that was too delicious. Indeed, high-end delicacies only need the simplest cooking methods.
However, a lot of roasted meat was still left.
He put away the remaining roasted meat, preparing to ask Flamme for more magic lessons, but she instead suggested they have a spar.
He had no reason to refuse.
He followed Flamme out of the cottage and went to an open space not far away.
Frieren also followed, watching the battle from the side.
"Master, you don't have to go easy on me," he reminded her arrogantly, standing a distance away from her.
"I have no such intention," Flamme shook her head.
"That's good, I'm ready."
"Should I make the first move? Alright."
Flamme nodded without hesitation, slowly raising her hand. Magic gathered in her palm, light bloomed, and then, like a cannonball, it flew towards him.
The power contained in that ball of magic was visible to the naked eye. He watched calmly, and when it was less than a meter away from him, he directly disappeared from his spot.
"What?!" Flamme couldn't help but exclaim in surprise when she saw this scene.
"Master, didn't expect that, did you?" And just then, his triumphant voice sounded behind her.
Flamme sharply turned around and saw him less than a meter away from her, facing her.
At this distance, there was nothing more to say.
"Is this your magic?"