"friend, (for now)"
Heard this line in many harem adventures and ended up with romantic feelings, I'm feeling conflicted
If it does go that route then its something new (though I saw another isekai with fujoshi that ended up like that though, not into NTR)
How has this hero not put the pieces together. He has a girl back home but currently needs to drag his ass around being stupid. Obviously any guy tasked with something that separates him from his girlfriend would probaly turn him very very bitter. If I was Ed he would be tied to the underside of the horse with the task of shutting up or his head goes under the ass.