Taking the seemingly ordinary dagger, Yukino examined the sharp blade before asking,
"We're starting training with a sharpened weapon?"
Luo Yu nodded firmly.
"I already told you—I'm a practical fighter. I don't waste time lecturing about theory."
"The only way to truly understand a weapon is to hold it in your own hands. Your body has to remember how it moves."
"And don't worry. With your current strength, you won't be able to hurt me."
"…You sound very confident."
Luo Yu shrugged. He pulled out a small dagger of his own and stepped back several paces to create distance.
"I'm just being honest."
"Right now you're someone who has gained power but doesn't know how to use it—and it's not even particularly great power yet."
"Don't let it go to your head."
"When I was far weaker than you are now, I was already wandering alone in the Lands Between—surrounded by monsters, vengeful spirits, and even demigods."
"The things we've experienced are on completely different levels."
He raised his dagger casually and pointed it toward Yukino.
"Enough talk. Show me what you can do."
"Let me see how much your physical ability has improved after gaining the power of the Nekomata."
Yukino looked at him, then glanced down at the dagger in her hand.
After a moment of silence, she took several deep breaths.
Her gaze gradually hardened with determination.
Then she charged forward.
With the power of the Nekomata enhancing her body, Yukino's speed had increased dramatically—more than double what it was in her normal human state.
In the blink of an eye, she closed the distance between them.
Seeing Luo Yu directly ahead, Yukino tightened her grip on the dagger. Her blood surged through her veins as instinct took over, and she thrust the blade forward.
Luo Yu raised an eyebrow.
His own dagger moved with precise accuracy, easily blocking Yukino's attack. In the same motion, he stepped aside, letting her momentum carry her forward.
Watching her rush past him in a straight line, Luo Yu commented calmly,
"The Nekomata power isn't just improving your physical strength. It's sharpening your combat instincts too."
"But your movements are too obvious."
"An attack that straightforward will never land unless your opponent is an idiot."
"Use your speed. Change positions. Don't let your enemy predict your attack path."
"Again."
Under Luo Yu's strict instruction, Yukino underwent continuous combat training for an entire hour.
When Ranni and Miko Yotsuya finished their lesson—during which Ranni had successfully taught Miko Yotsuya a new spell—and came to find them, they were greeted by quite a scene.
Luo Yu stood calmly in the center of the hall, completely relaxed.
Meanwhile, Yukino lay flat on the ground, staring at the ceiling while gasping for breath.
Her dagger had long since been tossed aside.
Miko Yotsuya swallowed nervously at the sight.
Turning to Ranni, she whispered,
"Ranni… isn't this training a little too intense?"
Ranni shook her head slightly.
"You and Yukino are different."
"You specialize in magic. Yukino, however, possesses the power of a Nekomata, which makes her far more suited for close combat."
"It may look exhausting, but this is a path she must walk."
"Unless she chooses to give up."
With that, Ranni and Miko Yotsuya walked over.
"My lord," Ranni asked, "is the training finished?"
Luo Yu nodded.
"More or less."
"If we continue any longer, it might harm her body—even with the Nekomata's resilience."
He glanced toward them.
"How about you two? How did the lesson go?"
Ranni smiled faintly.
"Very well."
"Miko Yotsuya has already mastered Glintstone Pebble, so I taught her the advanced version—Great Glintstone Pebble."
"As for teaching the language of the Lands Between, we can start after Yukino recovers."
"Sounds good," Luo Yu said.
Then he looked down at Yukino, who was still lying on the ground.
"Have you rested enough? We should head back."
Yukino didn't answer.
She remained sprawled on the floor, eyes unfocused as she struggled to catch her breath.
Ranni observed her for a moment.
"She's still exhausted."
"My lord, you may need to carry her back."
Before Luo Yu could respond, Yukino suddenly spoke.
"N-No… I can walk on my own."
She forced herself to sit up.
However, when she tried to stand, her legs simply refused to cooperate.
Luo Yu chuckled and crouched beside her.
"It seems that one hour of full-intensity training was still too much for you—even with the Nekomata's power."
"Here's a suggestion."
"Spend some time exercising every day from now on. Running, endurance training—anything will help."
"It'll allow your body to synchronize with the power inside you more quickly."
"Right now, you're not even using half of the Nekomata's strength."
Without waiting for Yukino to protest, Luo Yu pulled her arm over his shoulder and lifted her onto his back.
Then, together with Ranni and Miko Yotsuya, they used the Site of Grace in the hall to return home.
—
Once they arrived back at the house, Luo Yu gently placed Yukino on the sofa.
Looking at both girls, he said,
"It's about time for dinner."
"We'll eat here tonight."
"Rest for a bit first. After that, you two should take a shower."
Miko Yotsuya nodded, already used to the arrangement. She pulled out her phone and called home to let her family know where she was.
As for Yukino, she lived alone, so there was no one she needed to inform.
After about ten minutes of rest, Yukino had mostly recovered.
Just then, the kitten jumped onto her lap.
Yukino gently stroked its fur, and the lingering fatigue in her body gradually faded away.
Seeing that she had recovered somewhat, Luo Yu walked into the kitchen and began taking out various ingredients.
"Since you're feeling better, go take a shower first."
"You're both drenched in sweat."
"As for clothes, Ranni has some you can borrow. Wear hers for now."
Ranni nodded and looked at Yukino and Miko Yotsuya.
"Come upstairs with me. I'll get some clothes for you."
Miko Yotsuya followed but waved her hands quickly.
"I'm fine! I didn't exhaust myself like Yukino."
Yukino also wanted to refuse at first, but the sticky feeling from sweat was too uncomfortable.
Reluctantly, she followed Ranni upstairs.
"Then… thank you."
Ranni replied casually,
"Luo Yu bought quite a lot of clothes for me. There's even a set of underwear that hasn't been opened yet."
"Our body types are similar, so it should fit you."
Ranni's current doll body was quite close to the proportions she had originally possessed.
Except for height.
After all, as a demigod, both her father Radagon and her mother Rennala were extremely tall.
Aside from height, however, Ranni's figure remained slender. She wasn't particularly voluptuous—only slightly more so than Yukino, and roughly comparable to Miko Yotsuya.
Arriving at the bedroom, Ranni opened the wardrobe she shared with Luo Yu.
She took out a full set of clothing—from underwear to outerwear—and handed them to Yukino.
"Here."
"Thank you."
Accepting the clothes, Yukino headed toward the bathroom together with Miko Yotsuya.
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