So Alike, Far Too Alike

Dugu Qing pushed Orden away and took a step back, brushing off his clothes with distaste and fixing his hair.

"You're going too far. I'm playing your son, not your actual son. Why are you so worked up?"

Orden looked at the distaste and disgust on Dugu Qing's face and remembered how his son, who had argued with him before dying in battle, had looked at him the same way: cold, heartless and distant, with a hint of disappointment.

So alike, far too alike. It was as if Welt had been reborn, a flawless reproduction.

"Sorry, I got carried away. Let's eat!"

Orden touched his chest, calmed himself and apologized humbly.

A moment later, the butler led a procession of maids inside, and they covered the dining table with delicacies.

Crisp-roasted venison, crystal pigeon cups, abalone and ginseng stew, stuffed foie gras...

The table was piled high with luxurious dishes, accompanied by honey-preserved fresh fruit and soup in silver cauldrons, subtly revealing the extravagance of noble life.

Stark's mouth fell open. His mouth watered furiously, and his stomach rumbled as he drooled over the food.

Orden invited everyone to take their seats.

Stark eagerly sat down, picked up his knife and fork, and cut into the food, wolfing it down with gusto.

Dugu Qing picked up his red wine and took a sip. His eyes lit up, and he tipped his head back and emptied the glass into his mouth.

"If you like it, I can give you some when you leave."

"Thank you."

Dugu Qing raised his glass and poured himself another.

The red wine was sweet and crisp, with a lingering aftertaste. Its flavor far surpassed the wine Dugu Qing had made from wild grapes in the forest; the craftsmanship was exquisite.

Dugu Qing couldn't resist drinking several more glasses. A blush spread across his cheeks, and he asked about the steps involved in making the wine.

Orden answered truthfully.

When the meal ended, Orden excused himself and went to prepare a room for Dugu Qing.

Dugu Qing lay on the sofa, took out his notebook and wrote down the winemaking process.

Fern sat beside him, occasionally reminding him of things and filling in details.

They sat so close that each could hear the other's heartbeat.

As Dugu Qing recorded the winemaking process, he felt a little more at ease, and the discomfort of suddenly arriving at a noble's home seemed insignificant.

Stark sat on the sofa without a care for appearances, clutching a cushion and staring at the spotless chandelier on the ceiling, at a loss like a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time.

Frieren and Sein sat together, their movements gentle as they elegantly enjoyed their after-dinner desserts.

When Dugu Qing finished writing, he took out the staff Orden had given him and compared it with Frieren's. The difference in materials was too great, and he shook his head in disappointment.

"There's too much of a difference."

"Dugu Qing, do you want a high-grade staff?"

Frieren put down her tea and asked curiously.

Her staff looked simple and understated, but it was an all-purpose casting staff, fully compatible with fire, ice, sealing and spatial magic. It could also store mana and withstand ancient and forbidden magic. It was a top-grade staff in every sense.

"Yes! My future opponent is a world-destroying level powerhouse... Of course I need a powerful staff."

Since setting out on his journey, Dugu Qing had rarely used a staff, but that was because the opponents he encountered were too weak; he could suppress them with Overlord's Power. If he encountered a true expert, he would still need a staff for a prolonged battle.

Frieren nodded slightly. That was true.

"Auwest is a world-famous city of magic. When we pass through, let's check the auction house! We might find a suitable staff."

"All right."

Everyone rested for a while.

The butler came in and took Frieren, Fern, Stark and Sein to their respective guest rooms.

Dugu Qing, meanwhile, was led by a maid into a spacious bedroom with luxurious, elegant furnishings.

Blooming orchids grew outside the bedroom door, glittering jewels were set into the walls, and a soft cashmere carpet covered the floor. The dressing table shimmered with color and held all kinds of grooming implements...

Dugu Qing's castle was just as exquisite. Seeing another room so thoughtfully furnished refreshed him, and he felt as though he had returned home as he lay down comfortably on the large bed.

Early the next morning.

Dugu Qing got up early. The maid outside heard him, immediately knocked and came in, then helped him wash his hair and change clothes.

"I feel like I've become useless."

Sitting in front of the dressing table, Dugu Qing let the maid arrange his red hair.

The attentive maid styled Dugu Qing's hair, tied his shoelaces, applied men's cologne and tucked a scented handkerchief into his suit pocket... She attended to his every need.

Dugu Qing gave the maid an odd look, walked out the door and found Fern.

Seeing Dugu Qing in Welt's form, Fern chuckled awkwardly.

"Dugu Qing, can you change back to how you originally looked?"

Dugu Qing returned to his original form and turned around in front of the mirror. Sure enough, he preferred the sight of his original self.

"Dugu Qing, there are many eyes and ears in the manor. You had better maintain your original appearance!"

The butler noticed the commotion and hurried over, using his body to block the view so that no one else would see.

"What's there to be afraid of? My real face hasn't broken any laws."

Dugu Qing headed for the kitchen, intending to boil an egg.

The maids in the castle were so attentive and handled everything so well that if he didn't do something himself, he hardly felt as though he existed.

"Young master, you should leave such a small task to the servants!"

The old butler followed Dugu Qing, tirelessly reminding him of his new identity.

"But if I don't boil an egg, what else can I do?"

Dugu Qing looked at the butler in puzzlement.

The butler smiled, hurried forward and lifted the cover from the piano.

The black piano gleamed, tiny flecks of light shimmering on its lacquered surface, its black and white keys spotless.

Dugu Qing was drawn to the piano. He really didn't have one of these at home!

"Young master, besides the piano, you may also study court dance, noble etiquette, swordsmanship, strategy and other subjects."

The butler bowed slightly and looked at Dugu Qing earnestly.

Dugu Qing liked dancing. As for noble etiquette, even though he didn't like it, if he really encountered the World-Destroying Calamity in the future, he would probably have dealings with kings and nobles. If he could learn it, he might as well!

Though Dugu Qing thought it was very hypocritical and pretentious...

"Where's my teacher? I want to learn to dance."

Seeing how readily Dugu Qing had caught on and how eager he was to learn, the butler smiled in gratification.

Dugu Qing spent the entire day adapting to his new identity.

A knight, a commander of armies, a hero of the city, a genius who had made his name in his youth, and a model noble.

Orden took it all in, and for a moment it seemed as though his beloved son had returned to the world of the living.

To maintain secrecy and let Dugu Qing immerse himself in his new identity, Orden asked Fern to accompany him to an empty corridor.

He invited Fern to join the lessons as Dugu Qing's study companion.

"Please forgive me for refusing."

Fern compared Welt's appearance and bearing with Dugu Qing's and refused without hesitation.