Who Was Being Set Up?

"Smile" immediately removed herself from the dispute between Kane and Punk. She did so for no other reason than simple self-awareness.

The reason the caster and the mad knight were arguing so fiercely was because they had the strength to do so—the kind of formidable strength that let them fight without fear. Yet what the maiden goddess lacked most was precisely strength.

In a conflict between Legends, strength was the only principle that determined everything. Charging recklessly into a battlefield without power was what truly meant being used as a pawn.

Therefore, fully aware of the gap in strength, "Smile" had maintained a clear attitude of watching the tigers fight from the mountain from the very beginning. Didn't she remain calmly to the side, pretending not to see, when Kane and Punk had both rushed toward the Bright Moon Staff?

Because the maiden goddess understood very well that, given her speed, she could never compete with those two "monsters" for the spoils. Honestly playing the part of an invisible person was the best way to avoid bringing trouble upon herself.

However... Kane, who had hoped to use "Smile" as a threat against Punk, was very unhappy about this. The mad knight's greatest bargaining chip against the caster was that he had more people on his side. If "Smile" stood aside and did nothing, didn't that mean the staff he desired was slipping farther and farther away?

Thus, upon hearing the maiden goddess's words, Kane immediately turned toward her with an extremely displeased expression. In an exaggerated yet warning tone, he loudly complained:

"Hey, hey, hey, Smile! Whose side are you even on? Undermining me right here is a little too disloyal, isn't it? Won't you really think it's unfair if you just watch Punk take the staff?"

"...I do not.