Agreeing to Go on an Adventure

"Well, goodbye, then. Fern, let's go."

Frieren seemed unconcerned about everything. She tightened her grip on her staff and stepped forward.

Fern grew anxious. Fine, Frieren wasn't going to invite him? Then she would!

Even if she exposed her true feelings and lost all face, she would take Dugu Qing with them today.

She could not leave herself with regrets in the future.

"Dugu Qing, are you really content to stay in the forest forever, living among birds and befriending wild beasts? Why not come adventuring with us? See the poetry and the distant horizons, taste the food from different places, and make friends worth having. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Fern stepped forward, her eyes icy as she stared at Dugu Qing with an imposing air.

Dugu Qing was almost persuaded, but then he thought about how the scoundrels, villains, and demons he encountered on the journey would far outnumber the good and genuine people.

Dugu Qing shook his head again. "Fern, I like the quiet life I have now. It's uneventful, but it has its own pleasures. So I refuse."

With that, Dugu Qing sent the Battle Sword flying, leaped onto it, and flew home.

"I failed again."

Fern clenched her hands until her knuckles turned white. Forcing down the emotions churning inside her, she caught up with Frieren, her face expressionless.

The two of them walked slowly along the path.

Soon, it was noon.

Frieren wasn't much of a cook. She cast Appetite-Dulling Magic, found a patch of grass, and lay down in the shade of a tree to avoid direct ultraviolet rays.

Fern sat in a daze on a tree root. When she thought that from now on, she and Dugu Qing would be "separated as if by life and death," never to see each other again,

powerful emotions churned within her again and again, leaving her eyes red and misty with tears.

"Lady Frieren, I'm going to practice Flight Magic. Please wait here for me. I'll be right back."

Wand in hand, Fern shot into the sky and flew toward Dugu Castle.

Frieren waved and called out a loud instruction,

"Make sure you always keep more than two-thirds of your mana in reserve! Don't give any monsters an opening."

It seemed Frieren really thought Fern was practicing Flight Magic!

In the hall of Dugu Castle.

Dugu Qing brought the final dish, deep-fried prawns, to the table. He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite of the pork ribs and potatoes.

The first bite was soft and tender, with a floury texture. It was delicious.

The second bite, the third.

Dugu Qing sensed something was wrong. He looked at the spicy diced chicken, braised mushrooms, deep-fried prawns, pork ribs and potatoes, and bok choy on the table.

The dishes were rich with oil and sauce, and their colors were enticing.

Why didn't he have an appetite?

When he had eaten with Frieren and Fern before, the food had tasted so good!

Why did he feel full after eating only a few pieces of meat now?

How strange!

"Knock, knock, knock~"

Outside the castle, Fern knocked hard on the front door.

Dugu Qing went to the entrance and opened the door. Seeing Fern, a trace of delight quietly appeared on his usually serene face.

"Fern, what brings you here? I made lots of food, and I happen to have no appetite! Would you like to try some?"

When Fern heard there was food, she couldn't help swallowing. Keeping a straight face, she entered the hall.

The table was covered with delicious food and drinks.

Fern plopped down on the sofa. Its soft cushions were wonderfully springy, and she felt more relaxed.

"Home really is better! Traveling with Lady Frieren, I can only use magic to suppress my hunger."

"Have a taste."

Dugu Qing invited her to eat.

Fern picked up her chopsticks and dug in, wolfing down the food.

Watching Fern, Dugu Qing's appetite returned. He picked up his chopsticks and stuffed a rib into his mouth.

"Delicious, so delicious."

"Dugu Qing, your cooking has gotten even better."

Fern stuffed herself, full of praise for Dugu Qing's dishes.

Dugu Qing accepted the praise without embarrassment.

Ten minutes later, a sudden series of soft footsteps came from outside the door.

Frieren came running in from outside, carrying her suitcase and panting for breath.

"Y-you two!"

Frieren saw the cooking oil on the corners of Fern's and Dugu Qing's mouths and the peeled shrimp in their hands. Her expression changed in an instant.

"So that's it! I was wondering why something felt off! You two were sneaking food behind my back. That's going too far!"

Fern's face reddened slightly, and she hurried to defend herself.

"Lady Frieren, while I was practicing Flight Magic, I suddenly saw black smoke rising above Dugu Castle. I thought monsters had invaded! So I came especially to help Dugu Qing. I just happened to have a good meal while I was here. I wasn't sneaking food!"

"Thank you for your concern, but the smoke from my home was from my cooking!"

Dugu Qing picked up his teacup and took a sip of Moon Dew collected the previous night.

"Never mind. Whatever the case, I'm definitely getting a free meal."

Frieren put down her suitcase, sat beside Dugu Qing, took a sip of water, and began enjoying the food.

The meal came to an end.

The three of them squeezed together on one sofa, nestled up against one another like a real family.

Fern was tall and slender, with a gentle, graceful air that made her seem like a mother.

Dugu Qing had an incomparable, immortal-like appearance and stood straight and tall. A head taller than Frieren, he had the bearing of a father.

Frieren was petite, with fair, delicate skin and a cute appearance, so she could play the obedient daughter.

A family of three—they really did look quite harmonious.

"Dugu Qing, your cooking is just too delicious. I feel awful all over when I think about not being able to eat it again. Why don't you travel with us?"

Resting her head on Fern's shoulder and putting an arm around Dugu Qing's neck, Frieren invited him again.

"That's right! Dugu Qing, look at us. We're both weak, helpless girls. If we run into danger on the road, I'm afraid we'll be at a loss, fall into peril, and be at anyone's mercy. Dugu Qing, could you really bear that?"

A timid, gentle light shimmered in Fern's deep eyes, making her look utterly pitiable.

"All right! In that case, I'll agree to come with you! I'm pretty bored at home anyway."

After hesitating for three seconds, the heroism in Dugu Qing's heart won out over his hermit's mindset, and he agreed to Frieren and Fern's repeated pleas.

"Hooray! (He finally fell for it.)"

Frieren and Fern clapped softly, their joy plain to see.

Dugu Qing went upstairs and covered the furniture he wouldn't be using with gauze.

He packed up the iron wok, spatula, cleaver, boning knife, and other tools and put them in Frieren's suitcase.

Frieren's suitcase looked small.

But it had magic cast on it, giving it an enormous amount of space that could hold many things.

Dugu Qing put his clothes, gold coins, staff, Battle Sword, and other necessities... all inside.

Frieren picked up the suitcase and walked out of Dugu Castle.

Dugu Qing stopped at the entrance and cast Barrier Magic and Disguise Magic.

A spherical barrier slowly rose, enclosing Dugu Castle.

Then the entire barrier, castle and all, became like air and vanished from sight.

Dugu Qing took one last look at Dugu Castle, then turned around, both sad and glad, and walked forward.

Of the three, Frieren walked in the middle, while Dugu Qing and Fern strode along on either side of her, like her right and left hands.

"If we run into danger, Dugu Qing, do you still remember Mana-Suppression Magic? Suppress your mana and disguise yourself as a warrior, then strike suddenly at the right moment and land a critical hit on the enemy."

"I understand."

"Dugu Qing, how good is your swordsmanship?"

"Hmm, how should I put it? It's not as good as my level of mana, but I was born with the Overlord's Power."