After my headache subsided, I slowly rolled my eyes, let out an internal cheer, and smiled as I met Mark's gaze.
"Ah, we'll have to see about that. Don't you think? Want to make a bet?"
"What do you mean by a bet?"
"It's simple. If Luna wins in a duel against one of the knights here, I'll take that knight and strip them of their knighthood."
Mark's eyebrow twitched at my provocation.
"If our knight wins, I'd like you to formally apologize to our knightly order. Would that be acceptable?"
"Alright. I'll also increase the budget substantially. But."
I flashed a smile full of what must have looked like an arrogant trait.
"I'll choose which knight to face. You never know. It might even be you, Vice Captain."
"Very well. Choose then. If that knight loses, I'll personally swear an oath of loyalty to you, young master."
"I'll do it too."
"Me as well."
Following Mark's words, the other knights chimed in one after another, pledging their loyalty.
What a windfall is this? While internally shouting 'Call! Call!', I outwardly just snorted once and looked at Luna, trying not to look too excited.
[Luna Index – Crybaby Rabbit race Maid]
Representative Traits: [Shyness (S)] [Cuteness (A)]
Hidden Traits: [Leg Strength (A)] [Frenzy (C)]
Only representative traits can be identified at the temple. The most outstanding talents and characteristics are recorded.
And traits that are slightly less outstanding. Or traits that even the person themselves can't gauge are hidden and can't be confirmed by either the individual or the temple.
So even if Luna boasted about being a rabbit race warrior or my bodyguard, no one would have believed her.
'But I'm different.'
Luna was part of the main party in both the original work and the game, and the main party was full of monsters who sacrificed communication to gain combat power.
The stats I raised for Luna before coming here were:
[Luna Index – Frenzied Rabbit race Kick Boxing Champion]
Representative Traits: [Leg Strength (SS)] [Frenzy (S)]
Hidden Traits: [Bloodlust (A)] [Insomnia (D)]
Just as the original Adelian tried to gain the Swordsmanship trait by hitting Kane, traits can be changed through effort.
If there's even a slight talent, it's not impossible to develop it.
In other words, Luna has potential.
If only we could get rid of her shyness.
I worked with Luna the hardest along with Kane to get rid of that Shyness trait, and in the end, she went crazy and became a female version of the slaughter-machine Kane, but…
"I'll believe in you, Luna. You're a warrior, right?"
At my words, Luna, who had been sniffling, meets my eyes for the first time.
"Th-that's right. I'm a proud warrior of the prairie rabbit tribe."
This time, I'll protect your sanity at least! Let's go, Luna!
"For the knight, um, the one with olive-colored hair. Hey, you. I mean you."
I pointed at one knight standing blankly at the far end, and I suppressed a laugh as I saw Mark's expression subtly change.
[Harlon Devlin – Regular Knight of the Gold-Beaked Raven Knights]
Representative Traits: [Keen Eye (S-)] [Dexterity (B)]
Hidden Traits: [Paperwork (S)] [Intelligence (A)] [Business Acumen (C)]
Although his representative trait Keen Eye is S-rank, it's not directly related to combat, so Luna's Leg Strength (A) will likely be more effective in actual combat.
This is doable. Plus, I really need that guy. Just look at those hidden traits. He's definitely mine.
"Go get him, Luna. If you win, you'll get a whole carrot cake."
I smiled and gave Luna a push on the back.
* * *
"Is it delicious?"
I gently pushed a large whole carrot cake towards Luna, whose face was all bruised up.
"Yeah! It's so delicious!"
To think hand dexterity would be used like that. When he couldn't get the right angle to swing his sword, he resorted to punching while still holding it.
It was my mistake to think Keen Eye and Dexterity were non-combat traits.
He dodged all of Luna's kicks by sight and wielded that long sword by changing its angle in his grip as if twirling a pen.
It was really dangerous. But it's a success nonetheless. The kick that connected properly to his chin due to Luna's persistence was effective.
I patted Luna's head affectionately and gently tugged on her ears which were drooping like twintails, smiling.
Because truthfully, Luna is the only person on my side in this household.
But if my plans work out well, I need to leave and move around, so I need to plant at least one or two of my people here before I go.
To prevent betrayal, I need to make them swear an oath using a divine contract worth thousands of gold, including donations.
So the childish provocation I threw out worked well.
Harlon, who fainted and woke up, said he would return his knight badge tomorrow with slumped shoulders, so I can write up the contract tomorrow.
If only that Kane guy had come around today, how nice it would have been to eat cake together.
If he just comes around, I'll feed him the elixir first… His official profile said he was 190cm tall, didn't it? Since he's about my height now, I should prepare some nutrients…
As I watched Luna almost finish the large cake, I took a sip of tea and raised my eyes at the sound of knocking from outside the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Alkaido, Young Master."
"Come in."
Alkaido, with his neat Kaiser beard that always looks impeccable, enters and slightly bows his head.
"Lady Gadia has arrived nearby. She will enter the castle early tomorrow morning."
…What?