Just as I tried to calm the situation, I heard the clank of armor approaching, followed by a loud, "What!?"
And there she was Luna, this body's childhood friend.
I really felt complicated about her. Their story was simple: two noble kids growing up together.
Believe it or not, this body's owner wasn't that bad as a kid, but after his mother's death, everything changed.
When I first got here, I made a series of… radical changes for a noble.
That caught the capital's attention, and they sent Luna to inspect me under orders from the Princess.
Through some twists and turns, I convinced them that my "modern" solutions could benefit the whole kingdom.
I didn't leave a single trick unused, which unfortunately led to the Princess developing an obsessive fixation on me, and that meant her personal guard, Luna, got involved.
When we met, she was surprised, and I made an excuse about "turning a new leaf" to make a certain woman proud.
She thought I was talking about her. I wasn't. I meant my mother back on Earth.
As I achieved more and treated her kindly, she developed feelings for me without realizing it.
One festival night, I didn't have anyone to go with, so I asked her out.
She thought it was a date.
And in the middle of the night, after a great time, she looked me in the eyes and asked if I wanted her.
I won't lie, who could refuse a stunning woman like her?
But it felt like deception since I wasn't the real body's owner.
So I kept her at a distance. And at some point… I just forgot about it.
Trapped between three women, I couldn't move.
So I did the best thing I could, I dashed out, claiming I had work.
Didn't even bother changing into proper formal clothes; I just went straight to the city.
The city's name is Destro, under my noble house's management, currently the third-biggest commercial city in the entire kingdom.
Crazy, right? Just a year ago, we were struggling to fend off barbarians and bandits.
As I walked to the city center, I spotted the shop of that new magician woman I'd been visiting lately.
I kept coming back because her shop was filled with lost artifacts and advanced magical spells way ahead of public use.
I didn't pry; it's her shop, her choice what to sell.
But still, why would an Archmage, one of the top ten strongest in the world, open a shop here,
in the smallest territory of a third-rate kingdom?
I knocked on the door.
"Come in~"
There she was again. I've met a lot of women, but this Archmage beauty was on another level.
Her name is Marianne. She had purple eyes, white skin, and long violet hair. And yes, she was very voluptuous,
even under her mage's robes.
"Hello, Marianne. I assume business is booming?"
She smiled helplessly. "Can't say that. Most people here get surprised by a simple cleaning spell,
and the rest run away screaming they can't afford my spellbooks."
"Oh, sorry, we're still developing the city's magic department."
"No need to apologize. This was my hometown. I can't thank you enough for making it better."
"Is that why you opened a shop here?" I asked.
"Well, partially." She leaned in slightly. "But the biggest reason… is that I found a reason to settle down."
She said that last part while looking directly at me.
I quickly changed the topic. I really didn't like where that was going.
And I'm not sure I'm strong enough to handle someone like her if she decided to force herself on me.
"Marianne, can I ask for your help?"
After hearing my words, her demeanor shifted instantly into serious mode.
"You're about to head for the Frost King Gate expedition, aren't you? You need to be prepared. Follow me."
I was taken aback, this was the first time I'd ever seen her so serious.
Following her, we went down into a dark basement behind the shop. She stopped in front of a bookshelf, pulled out a book, then placed it back in a different position.
A loud thud echoed, and a hidden door swung open. She gestured for me to follow, and we continued down the narrow passage.
Unintentionally, my eyes wandered to her rear as she walked ahead. I couldn't help but get hypnotized by the view.