Chapter 10: Chapter 9 – Luna's Awakening
Deep within the Monster Forest, I trained Luna alongside Aisha and Reshia. We hunted and defeated countless beasts, camping out for just one night.
As dawn rose, I realized the royal wedding was only a day away. On our way back to Piltre City, stronger monsters appeared—but we handled them with ease.
While walking, I noticed a strange red stone lying by the path. Curious, I picked it up. I didn't know what it did, but I pocketed it anyway.
Back at the inn, I opened my party's status interfaces to check our progress—starting with Aisha and Reshia. Just then, a scream echoed from outside. I'd completely forgotten about Luna!
"The ranch—I forgot all about Luna!" I shouted, bolting for the door.
At the ranch, a terrified woman pointed toward a massive creature.
"G-GIANT SNAKE!!" she screamed.
"Wait—don't worry!" I called out, raising my hands. "That's my tame! Sorry, I didn't have anywhere else to keep her…"
Luna slithered toward us, her once-dull scales now glossy—proof of Aisha and Reshia's devoted care. As she reached us, she gently wrapped her tail around the three of us, as if expressing gratitude.
Then, it happened.
A soft light shimmered over her body, and she began to transform. Her serpent form shifted, evolving into a graceful lamia with silver hair, crimson eyes, and elegant elven ears. We quickly helped her into clothes we'd prepared for this moment.
"Master…" Luna's voice trembled. "You… saved me," she whispered, clutching my shirt before breaking into tears. "Thank you…"
"You're such a crybaby, Luna," Aisha teased. "But remember—I'm the first!"
"Oi, Aisha!" I groaned, flustered.
I recalled the merchant's words about Luna being "stubborn." But looking at her now, she was probably the cutest lamia I'd ever seen. We returned to the inn together, and I checked Luna's status:
> Name: Luna
Race: Lamia (Twilight Serpent)
Class: Witch
Magic: Order, Chaos
Level: 350
A Witch class? That was unexpected. Checking my own stats, I discovered I had unlocked the Wizard class—apparently the counterpart to Witch. I even gained a passive ability: Extra Mana Pool, which granted me a permanent 1,000 mana that scaled with levels. As usual, I leveled up and earned +1 to all stats.
Maybe now I could actually cast real spells.
"Master, let's eat!" Reshia called.
"I'll be there in a sec!" I replied.
"Meat!!" Aisha shouted, eyes sparkling.
"Mmm... smells delicious," Luna added, drawn in by the aroma.
"Did you make all this, Reshia?" I asked.
"Yes. I borrowed the inn's kitchen and got a little help from the staff," she said proudly.
"Tastes amazing—you'd make a great wife one day," I said between mouthfuls.
"W-Wife?" Reshia turned beet red. "I want to be Master's wife…"
I choked on my food.
"Not fair! I'm first in line!" Aisha pouted.
"Can I be your wife too…?" Luna asked, shyly curling her tail.
All I could do was nod while chewing.
---
The next morning, the final day before the wedding, I woke up between three beautiful girls. After washing up, palace guards knocked at our door.
"Sir Ares, Prince Desmond requests your presence," one said.
We got dressed and headed to the palace. In the guest chamber, Desmond greeted me like a long-lost little brother. Then he saw Luna.
"That tail… no doubt—it's her," he whispered, recognizing Luna's serpentine form.
He asked me to accompany him on a trip into the city to buy a wedding gift for Princess Aurora. As we were talking, the King passed by. I quickly knelt in respect.
"Shina!" Desmond called.
"Yes, Prince Desmond?" a maid replied.
"Accompany the girls. Let them pick anything they like to wear."
"You don't have to, broth—I mean… Prince Desmond!" I tried to decline, but he just grinned.
"It's my way of saying thanks for tomorrow. Oh—and I know you almost called me 'brother.'"
---
While Desmond and I searched for a gift, the girls were guided to a boutique. Aisha and Reshia tried on every gorgeous dress they could find, dazzling the crowds with their beauty. Luna, however, hesitated. Her lamia tail made her self-conscious.
"I wish I had legs… I'd look better in a dress," she whispered.
Shina knelt beside her with a kind smile. "I used to feel that way too." She showed Luna her belt—an enchanted artifact that concealed non-human traits.
"Really…?" Luna's eyes sparkled with hope.
"With or without it," Shina said warmly, "you'll look stunning."
Luna beamed, confidence restored. Nearby, a strange exchange caught Aisha's attention.
"What's that?" she asked Shina.
The maid blushed. "U-Underwear… for women."
"Underpants?" Aisha blinked. "Wait, people wear those to impress their mate?!"
"Yes, yes!" the shopkeeper cried. "Your husband will be overjoyed when he sees you in these!"
"I'll take this! And this!"
"Can I wear these too?" Luna asked.
"We don't have Lamia sizes," the seller admitted, "but we do have lingerie!"
"Would Master… like me in this?" Luna blushed.
A sudden chill ran down my spine, and I sneezed.
"Cold?" Desmond asked.
"Maybe…"
I mentioned I wanted to borrow a grimoire. Though Desmond wasn't a mage, he directed me to the palace library and gave me access to study whatever I liked.
---
That night, after a grand dinner (which I tried to decline—Desmond insisted), I returned to the guest room completely exhausted.
While washing my face in the bathroom, Aisha entered.
"Master… do I look good in this?" she asked.
I turned—and nearly fainted. She was wearing the very underpants she'd bought earlier.
"Wha—Aisha?! What are you even wearing?!"
"Do you like it?" she asked innocently.
"I—Yes, but why?!"
"Ehehe~ I just like it when Master smiles, that's all!"
When I stumbled out, I found Reshia and Luna already dressed in elegant lingerie.
"Do we look good too?" they asked in unison.
Unable to form words, I gave a thumbs-up... and collapsed face-first onto the bed.
Tomorrow was the big day... what would go wrong?