Luka quietly recovered atop the bed while still bathing in the afterglow of his first sexual experience with Galatea.
A dull emptiness replaced the intense, passionate release that rocked his world a few minutes earlier.
During this time, Luka relived his first two days since gaining this body.
'I've wasted time.'
Because of the clash with the dark elf, he'd lost more than twelve hours as the sun began to sink behind the horizon for the second time.
"Let's get up."
Although the feeling of Galatea's soft lips and heat lingered on his skin, he couldn't just lie around and bask in them.
"Guards!"
The moment he called, two knights wearing lighter armour than during battle stepped towards the entrance, calling out to him.
"My Lord, do you need anything?"
He didn't recognise either of them, so he just waved his hand while fastening the fresh blue tunic that was folded neatly and left beside his bed.
"Call for Zack or Gerard and have them prepare a report of what happened after I lost consciousness."
"Y-Yes, Sire!" The second guard excitedly saluted across his chest.
'Strange fellow...'
Luka stretched his legs with a subtle crack, considering whether to replace the lost Willpower. After losing three points, he didn't notice any change, but felt a strange lack of motivation and desire to move.
There was a constant lingering hunger for Galatea's mouth in the back of his mind.
"Phew, forget it, let's fix this issue."
He tapped the air, flicking the plus icon on his attributes after dealing with the hobgoblin and dark elf. Luka had no issues with his choices and couldn't help but smile. Thankfully, his class granted more bonus points than a normal class.
[You have spent 10 Bonus points to improve attributes!]
[Willpower: 13 --> 19]
[Agility: 10 --> 12]
[Dexterity: 10 --> 12]
A sharp twang of pain shot through his brain the instant he increased his Willpower by six points.
The pain resembled something like a dagger stabbing directly into his brain and gouging out the grey matter.
"Ugh...!"
Luka collapsed to the ground, his knees scraping the dirt as he gripped the wooden barrel beside his bed and panted heavily.
"Damn it!"
His body began to sweat profusely, beads dripping down his cheeks as a jolt of lightning arced through his brain. To endure the agonising pain, he gripped the barrel so tight his fingers turned white and trembled.
"Nggh!" Grinding his teeth like a captured beast.
Bang!
Luka slammed his head against the cold, hard metal, with the hopes it would relieve the disgusting heat and pain.
He remained still for several seconds and listened to the sound of footsteps approaching from the entrance.
"Hmm?"
Eventually, the pain subsided. Luka closed his eyes, trying to understand what had changed when he increased his Willpower so much.
He felt a sense of clarity wash over him.
The thoughts which appeared blurry and vague before were now crystal clear. Luka found himself in a much better state than before. Although he still felt a seething desire for Galatea, he was able to control his impulses to some degree.
As if a shield protected his logical mind.
He began stretching, punching the air and squatting to test his body.
Not only did his mind become sharp, but his hand-eye coordination and vision seemed better thanks to the improved dexterity. The increased agility seemed to boost his movement speed and his flexibility.
"My Lord, are you alright?"
Gerard stepped inside, his face full of worry. Behind him, Zack held a stack of several parchments and a pot of ink, which he hastily placed on the makeshift table in the centre of the room.
"Gerard. I am fine, though it might have seemed dire. It is thanks to the knight captain's great efforts that I have completely recovered." Luka smiled at the old man before snatching one of the reports Zack held. "Hmmm, so we lost quite a few good men..."
"Ahem, but the victory was—"
Luka raised his hand, interrupting Gerard, who tried to explain.
"There is no need for excuses, Gerard. They fought valiantly for our people, and we should reward their families in equal measure."
He tried to recall the past and the methods Galatea used to calm the masses after large casualties and failures.
"What shall we do for them, Sire?"
"Hm..."
Though he could copy Galatea's methods completely, that wouldn't be his style, and maybe it was a side effect of almost reaching twenty Willpower, but Luka could find the errors and shortcomings of her ideas.
"First, we should focus on the widows and those with children. If we treat their fathers horribly, would the sons and daughters fight for us in the future?"
Both Zack and Gerard listened intently.
As knights, they didn't have to worry, but the actions and policies of Luka would dictate the future of their territory.
Nobody would willingly serve a cruel tyrant or worthless baffoon.
"I plan to hire a number of our male workforce, those who might not be fully suited for farming or hunting will become official warriors of our territory."
Gerard's eyes widened. "B-But Sire, what about the knights?!"
"Yes, My Lord..." Zack backed him up, their expressions torn and confused.
"The knights will be my elite force, paid the best wages and treated with the highest respect and honour. Do not fear, my brothers in arms. These forces will be a step lower than squires, and one above Militia."
Gerard seemed about to speak, then seemed to realise something and stopped.
Zack remained oblivious but followed his superior knight.
Luka smiled at their reaction and continued. "We will train them, pay them a basic wage which covers their monthly costs and leaves a small amount remaining. Should they die in duty or combat, then their spouse or families will receive their pay for five years to help them recover and adjust."
Luka decided to create a new class of warrior.
Instead of the Militia and knights, he would have most of his men become career warriors, calling them soldiers.
"Also, the families who produce a warrior will have a year of reduced taxes for each child who joins our forces for more than a year."
He watched Gerard and Zack's faces, noticing the subtle movements in Gerard's eyes thanks to his increased Willpower and Dexterity.
The old knight might find this kind of thing disgraceful. In his previous life, many knights became enraged, renouncing their titles and forming their own band of mercenaries in protest.
But when the Fallen reached the central plains after burning everything to the west, honour and chivalry meant nothing.
"Gerard, this task falls upon you. Forgive me."
"Nonsense, Sire! I can put my entire heart into this plan! You have my thanks as a knight who served your father and grandfather before him!"
To Luka's surprise, a bright shimmer lit in the old knight's eyes, and he suddenly knelt before Luka, holding his sword.
"My Esteemed Lord, please allow this humble knight to offer his services to you and take the honourable position of leading this force. I promise to maintain your ideals and train a force that can contend with any knight order if you give me one year!"
Luka stared at the knight in silence.
Not because he couldn't respond, but because of the bright blue panel shimmering above his head, revealing something unexpected!
[Knight Gerard has reached the potential for a Class Change!]
[Upon a Class Change, Level will be reset, but all skills and half his attributes will be retained!]
[Will you grant Gerard de Alverain a system slot? (4/5 remaining)]
After reading everything, he examined the aged knight.
Gerard de Alverain was a man who, after losing his entire family to the invading Fallen, fell into despair and sought a swift end.
But now showed such a brilliant spark which almost illuminated the room.
"Gerard de Alverain, I ask of thee—"