Karina's Melancholy: Combat

"Tama and Pochi have it so well."
"What's wrong~?"
"Pochi will listen nanodesu."
At the Muno Castle training grounds, Karina-sama begins complaining to Tama and Pochi with a depressed look on her face.
Apparently, the three were training with the other soldiers a little while ago.
"Tell us~?"
"Let it all out nanodesu."
Tama and Pochi look up to Karina-sama with earnest expressions.
"Zotol told me I have no talent with the sword."
Karina-sama whispers quietly as if she was in pain.
Zotol-san is an ex-knight and the head instructor of the soldiers, so what he says is probably right.
"Tama gets it~?"
"Pochi can't do anything nanodesu."
Tama and Pochi abandon Karina-sama instantly.
This appears to be pretty heartless of them, but they are currently looking at the pile of broken wooden practice swords shoved into a corner.
"What happened?"
"Snappy snap~."
"Karina broke all of them nanodesu."
The two run over to hug my legs as they tell me what happened during training.
I guess Karina-sama used too much force and ended up destroying all of the practice swords.
"I-I didn't do it on purpose!"
"I wasn't thinking that you did."
It looks like she is clumsy in more ways than one.
"Could you do the training without Raka's strength boost?"
"Satou-dono, that's not possible."
"It's not?"
"Karina-dono is a sheltered noble lady. Without my assistance, she would lack the strength to swing a practice sword."
I see. She may be level 7, but she's a noble that has never experienced real training or combat.
"In that case, maybe she can practice with a dulled metal sword instead?"
Karina-sama should be able to do that easily with Raka's help.
"That's... Well, look over there."
After hearing Raka's words, Tama and Pochi point to a different corner.
There are a few iron swords lying on the ground, bent and twisted.
It seems like she is more clumsy than I had thought.
"Don't worry about it, Karina-sama."
"Uu, S-Satou."
Karina-sama unusually calls me by first name, and looks at me with her as if I was her last hope.
"You can just try using a more durable weapon, like a mace or crowbar."
Maybe a bat would work too.
From the training area's weapon storage, I take out a large mace and heavy flail and bring them over to Karina-sama.
"Zotol said the same thing... Uu... S-stupid Satou!"
As if she was a spoiled child making a tantrum, Karina-sama shouts that as she dashes off. She is incredibly fast when boosted by Raka's power.
Tama and Pochi shout as they chase after her.
"Karina~?" "Wait nanodesu."
It looks like I may have struck a tender spot.
I walk over and pick up three of the swords that Karina-sama broke.
"Since I have access to the castle's workshop now, I might be able to use these to make a more durable sword. That way, it won't break no matter how hard she swings it."
I mutter those words to myself as I walk over to the blacksmith area.