I took a deep breath and layered divine power over my fist.

Just like the training in the mental world the night before, the heated divine energy gathered around my hand.

It was as if I was wearing a gauntlet of divine power, and once I confirmed that, I assumed the stance Grandpa had taught me.

He had said that when delivering a full-force strike, you don’t just use one part of your body’s strength.

A powerful attack means channeling strength through your entire body.

Starting from the feet, the force travels through the waist, up to the arms, and then finally explodes in the last moment.

Following the advice that had become second nature to me, I aimed my punch at the training dummy.

As my fist connected, cracks started spreading from the point of impact, and the dummy shattered, collapsing onto the ground.

The only thing left to prove it had once stood was the wooden stake embedded in the ground.

<So the training from the mental world applies to reality as well.> "It seems that way."

Sure, I had destroyed training dummies before.

The power of my mace, when swung with all my might, was enough to crumple steel easily.

But to break a dummy with just one punch? That was a first.

This is the power of Divine Close-Combat Technique.

Incredible strength.

<Feeling more motivated now?>
"Definitely!"

Motivated? Is that even a question, Grandpa?

I’ve barely even begun, and already I’m pulling off something this powerful. How could I not be motivated?

Of course, I’m not ready to use this in real combat just yet. The amount of divine energy it took to create that one strike was enormous.

Even though I have a considerable amount of divine power as Aramadi’s Apostle, it still took more than half of it for a single punch.

This is where practice mode comes in handy. No need to worry about running out of divine energy in there.

<Still, you’ve got a long way to go. Your control is so lacking that all you can do is unleash one massive blow.>
"I’ll just have to keep practicing."

It’s not like I have much of a choice anyway. I’ll be grinding away every night, right? If I keep training to the brink of death, eventually, I’ll get the hang of it.

"Miss, that was truly impressive!"

Just as I was recovering from the exhaustion of throwing that punch, I heard Karl’s voice from behind me.

No, he hadn’t been stalking me like some lovesick fool. I had ordered him to stand by, after all.

For a sparring match later.

When it comes to Karl, I can go all out without holding back.

Right now, there’s no one among the first-year students at the academy who can match me in a one-on-one duel if I go all out.

Frey can push me a little, but even she is a step or two below me. She’s not someone I can really give my all against.

But Karl is different. He’s still much stronger than I am.

I’ve always known how strong he is. Even when we first met, I couldn’t land a single hit on him, and that was when he was holding back.

But here’s the thing—since I first took over this body, I’ve gotten a lot stronger.

And yet, I still don’t have the confidence to catch up to Karl.

The more my skills improved and the stronger I got, the more I realized just how monstrous he truly was.

To think someone like him is just a common knight in House Alrn... No wonder Grandpa was shocked when he found out.

It also makes sense why the professors keep commenting on my talents, saying it must be because I’m from the Alrn family.

"It’s been a while since we last sparred, hasn’t it?"

Karl stepped in front of me, holding his favorite wooden sword.

He wasn’t wearing any armor, just simple cloth, but that didn’t matter.

A skilled knight like him knew how to protect his body with his own mana.

Even if I swung my mace with full force, it probably wouldn’t leave a scratch on him.

Unless... if I used Divine Close-Combat Technique, maybe it’d be a different story.

"Since you’ve exerted yourself quite a bit, do you need more time to rest?"
"Aww, how sweet of you to worry about your master, you useless mutt♡ Should I give you a little pat on the head for your dedication, you disgusting dog?♡"

Before the sparring even began, I provoked Karl. Going all out meant doing everything necessary.

I’m still overwhelmingly weaker than Karl. I can’t afford to hold anything back.

"While I’d love to receive that reward, let’s save it for another time."

Despite the intensity of my taunt, the buff I received was minimal. Karl had learned to keep his emotions in check.

After hearing my banter every day, I guess he’s become somewhat immune to it.

But I wasn’t too surprised. I knew it wouldn’t be long before Karl lost his composure.

I raised my shield, crafted by a dwarf, in my left hand, while holding Grandpa—the mace—in my right.

After taking a deep breath, I silently cast a series of divine spells in my mind.

Enhancing my physical abilities. Boosting my vitality. Increasing my luck.

Anything that could help me, I cast it.

Then I let the remaining divine power flow throughout my entire body.

Just like how you use mana to enhance your physical abilities, I was using divine power to boost mine.

I was still clumsy and inefficient, but that didn’t matter.

My only goal right now was simple.

To land a hit on Karl.

"Are you ready?"
"And what about you, mutt?♡ Are you ready to be beaten and cry like a little puppy?♡"

"I’m sorry, but I don’t intend to lose to you, Miss."

Karl remained calm, but I could tell the taunt had gotten to him this time.

The buff I received was palpable.

With the preliminary work done, it was time.

<Alright, give it a try.>
"Shall we begin, mutt?♡"
"Whenever you’re ready."

I held my breath for a moment and took a step forward.

The distance between us was short.

Even with my short legs, it would only take one step to close the gap.

But Karl wasn’t going to let me get that close.

He struck my shield, deliberately keeping the distance between us.

My first charge had been completely neutralized.

Damn, he’s fast.

Looks like he really wasn’t kidding when he said he didn’t plan on losing. Damn mutt.

His sword speed was different from the last time we sparred!

I bit my lip as I fended off the relentless strikes.

"Desperate to beat your master, huh? You’re pathetic♡ So dirty, so weak, you worthless mutt♡"

"Haha! Better to be dirty than to lose!"

Is he nervous because he saw me use Divine Close-Combat Technique?

If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have used it in the first place!

It was nearly impossible to take a step forward between Karl’s flurry of sword strikes.

And to make things worse, the bastard kept maintaining the distance.

When I moved forward, he retreated.

When I tried to create some space, he closed the gap again.

He’s really fighting dirty!

<Stay calm, child.>
'I’m trying!'
<If he’s maintaining distance, that means you always have an opportunity to attack.>

Grandpa had told me to stay behind my shield and observe the opponent’s attacks.

Easier said than done! But I did as Grandpa instructed.

After being forced to roll around under his training all night, I’d come to realize just how wise Grandpa was.

If he was offering advice, it must have some merit.

"How long do you plan on just watching, Miss?"

"Playing with you, you dumb mutt♡ How dumb are you?♡ Did you swap your brain with a dog’s?♡"

Karl’s sword was much faster than before, and at first, it was hard to even keep up with it, but as the exchanges continued, I started to get the hang of it.

At first, I had relied purely on my Iron Wall skill’s instincts to block his attacks, but as I grew more accustomed to it, I began to make my own judgments in between.

The instincts I had developed over years of wielding a shield. My high shield mastery. And the advice from Iron Wall.

When those three things merged perfectly—

"Hm?"

—my first parry succeeded.

The moment Karl’s sword hit my shield, its power sharply diminished, and his sword bounced back, giving me an opening.

However, that opening didn’t last long.

Karl, with his vast combat experience, quickly adjusted to the change.

As soon as I took a step forward, he countered with three swift strikes, forcing me back.

This is intense!

Can a knight really be this desperate to beat their master?! Shouldn’t he take a hint, read the room, and let me win? Isn’t that what society is all about?

Then again, if I were in his shoes, I’d be gritting my teeth too.

I mean, I can imagine what Lucy would say if Karl lost to me.

But Karl, you like being insulted and treated like a dog, right?

So just give in already!

As the fight continued, I began to successfully parry more often.

At first, I’d only manage to parry a strike by chance in the middle of his combo.

But soon enough, I was regularly deflecting his blows, throwing him off balance.

Eventually, I reached the point where I could consciously time my parries.

"You think you’re hot stuff now?♡ Can’t even break through a little girl’s shield, you weakling♡ Worthless swordsmanship, you pathetic excuse for a knight♡"

Of course, I didn’t forget to keep up the taunts.

In games, status effects like rage were no big deal, but in real life, it’s a different story! Forcing your opponent to lose their composure is a huge advantage!

Sure, there was the downside that Karl’s attacks grew more intense as he got angrier, but with the buffs from my Mesugaki skill, I could handle it!

<It seems the time has come to counterattack.>

By now, Karl’s one-sided offensive had turned into a fierce exchange of attacks between us.

‘Time to bare my fangs, huh?’
<Do you have a plan in mind?>
‘Of course I do!’

While blocking the heavy swings from Karl’s wooden sword, I had been thinking about one thing:

How can I land a hit on this smug mutt, who’s pretending to stay calm despite being furious?

<Very well. Go ahead and show me what you’ve got.>
‘Watch closely, Grandpa!’

Watch how the girl you trained drives her mace into this mutt’s face!