After Frieren and Fern crossed that mountain, they successfully reached a nearby town before sunset.
Upon entering the city gates, Fern stared blankly at a familiar portrait.
"What's wrong?"
"Frieren-sama, that… what exactly did Diego-sama do?" Fern tilted her head, pointing at a yellowed and tattered wanted poster, curiously examining it. "Almost every town has Diego-sama's wanted poster up."
Frieren unusually showed a guilty expression, poking her fingers together, quite conflicted about whether to tell her.
"Frieren-sama, I'm really curious!"
After all, there was almost no record of Diego Brando in books, so it was normal for Fern to be curious about this.
Fine, then I'll tell her!
...
"Why are there even more people today?" Diego's forehead veins bulged as he pinched Takanashi Rikka's cheeks with a fake smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Thanks for the invite, just woke up, being admired by a crowd, feeling so handsome.
Hori, Takanashi, Dekomori, and the one holding bread… Kitagawa?!!
"Wuwu, it hurts, Dio."
"Stop playing dumb!"
"Dio boss, shouldn't you be asking yourself that?" Dekomori Sanae stealthily pulled Takanashi Rikka away, glaring at Diego with contempt.
"Hah?! Why should I ask myself…"
Masaka?!
Then Diego recalled the memory from this morning, and his face instantly changed dramatically.
Two hours earlier…
"Dio, wake up quick. Didn't you say we were continuing the bizarre adventures from another world today?" Takanashi Rikka sat on the sleeping Diego, instantly making him feel the squeezing pressure of a python coiling around him.
"Mommy…"
"Who's Mommy?! Weird, why did I say that subconsciously…"
"…Then go call Dekomori and Hori. Also Kitagawa—the clothes are done. Yesterday I got queued into a pit and lost my promotion match in that pit. I have to get revenge for this…" Diego mumbled groggily.
"Got it, mission accepted!"
Memory ended. Diego instantly broke into a cold sweat, tucked his little claws, and muttered: "Since they're already here, whatever. Let's just play the clip. Watch it together…"
"Dio, your tail is showing."
"Shut up. Tails need to breathe too."
...
Eleven years before Diego disappeared. This year Diego was seven. Fearing domestic violence, he killed the entire clan. The timeline was several months after Diego recovered from his severe injuries.
"Serie-sama, this is the seventh case of a mage going missing this month, including one of your disciples as well." The attendant respectfully knelt on one knee. The letter in his hand floated into the air and was firmly caught by Serie, who casually scanned it for a moment.
Then she grinned, the smile looking like that of a thoroughly wicked villain under the dim light.
"What do the lords of the various countries and His Magnanimous Majesty the Emperor in the imperial capital have to say?" Serie's teasing voice reached the attendant's ears.
"It seems only the Empire is still insisting on pursuing the true culprit behind the missing mages."
"Good, then no problem. Pass the order: tell my disciples to stop getting involved in this case. I'll personally go bring those stupid disciples home."
"Yes."
...
—Imperial Capital Eisberg of the Empire—
In the palace, the sleeping emperor was jolted awake. His body was held immobile by two half-dragon men. The blood-soaked blond man before him made him unconsciously widen his eyes.
"You… you're Diego Zenin?! Where is the Magical Special Forces?!"
This was precisely when the Demon King's army was advancing into human territory. The demons' offensive was exceptionally fierce, and the Empire's survival hung by a thread. Vast territories had fallen, and both the Magical Special Forces and the Shadow Warriors had retreated to the imperial capital for defensive battles.
"Oh? The old fossil actually knows me?"
At the door, Diego stopped twirling the throwing knife in his hand and walked step by step toward the emperor. In the blink of an eye, he was right in front of him. "But I no longer bear the Zenin name. I took my mother's surname. Now I'm Brando."
"Answer me, they…"
"Stop yelling. Aren't they right beside you? Look at the two faces next to you—familiar?" Diego's face was full of amusement.
The emperor's pupils suddenly contracted. With all his strength, he only managed to squeeze out a few words:
"You innate villain…"
"Hm hm hahaha, can't speak anymore? Your beloved captain of the Magical Special Forces and commander of the Shadow Warriors are both right here." Diego's smile didn't fade as he lightly patted the emperor's face.
"They held out until the very last moment for your protection duty. You should thank them properly." Diego stuck a bandage over the gash at the corner of his mouth and grinned ferociously. "It hurts so much. This scar really hurts. I really don't know how you made such talent devote themselves so wholeheartedly to the Empire."
"That's why the dinosaur soldiers made from them are one of a kind—truly excellent material." Diego pinched the emperor's cheeks, leaning in close with a mocking laugh. "This is a war against demons, yet these guys are experts at hunting humans. Little old man, what exactly are you trying to do?"
"Don't say that. At the very least, as the northern country closest to the demons, we held out for several…"
Pfft!
Diego, too lazy to listen to excuses, thrust his claw into the emperor's throat. In an instant, the dinosaur transformation was complete.
Then Diego walked openly out of the palace. Behind him, the now-mindless dinosaur army followed, advancing steadily and forming a bizarre sight.
Diego's offensive swept through like a hot knife through butter. In just one year, he brought the southern countries all the way to the northern countries under his control.
He pulled a candy from his pocket, tore off the wrapper, popped it in his mouth, and carefully calculated his available forces, recalling this operation in his mind.
The Magical Special Forces were composed of the Empire's strongest mages. The Empire actively invested magic into military use and possessed many mages specialized in warfare—individuals whose power could destroy entire nations.
The Special Forces was an openly acknowledged organization, officially recognized by the Empire for suppressing internal unrest and granting strategic advantages.
But they were still "mages," which already put them at a disadvantage. Heavenly Restriction with zero total magic power was their natural enemy.
After I broke into the imperial capital, those who relied on magic detection for intelligence were effortlessly taken out by me one by one.
However, this old thing secretly raised quite a few monsters. Like that knife-wielding warrior—extremely strong.
What was he called… Shadow Warriors… seemed to hold quite a high position, the overall commander.
It was he who realized my intrusion and rallied the remaining Shadow Warriors and the captain of the Magical Special Forces to surround and annihilate me.
All wasted effort. Before being dinosaur-ized, he was spouting something about everything being for the prosperity and glory of the Empire.
Hahaha, sounded so noble, yet in the end he personally captured His Beloved Majesty the Emperor.
"…Dawn has come."
The sun rose as usual, its light draping over Diego like an emperor donning his own cape.
"A bit dazzling… I've captured every last one of those nobles. Next is you… Demon King!"
Pfft…
A hand pressed against Diego's waist. The familiar height and touch instantly made him think of one person.
"…Serie?"
"You can't go any further, Diego. You've taken the playing around a bit too far." Serie stood behind Diego, tilting her head. Her eyes held no lack of appreciation, but her mouth was merciless. "Immediately restore my disciples and all those dinosaur-ized people to normal, or I'll kill you."
"That sounds like you could kill me anytime you wanted if you felt like it."
"Isn't that the case? The facts are exactly that."
"Let me think how to respond at a time like this… I suppose… But I refuse!" Diego suddenly attacked, lunging at Serie in an instant.
Serie merely laughed. Deep blue light bloomed in her hand.
Crack crack crack…
Diego was instantly frozen in ice.
Boom!!!
An invisible force erupted from Serie's hand, sending Diego flying. He crashed through several buildings before finally stopping.
With the final impact, Diego seemed to hear the crack of breaking bones. He curled up in a dusty corner, radiating fierce battle intent.
Go forth, my terrifying beasts!
"Interesting. Absolute numerical superiority?" Serie chuckled lightly at the dinosaur legion charging toward her, full of disdain.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Dinosaurs were sent flying one after another, collapsing unconscious and losing combat ability.
"And this one…" Serie grew excited too, showing the smile unique to battle maniacs. She extended her hand and released a sky-obscuring terrifying fireball at the nearby building, striking the Diego attempting to close in.
"So, what exactly are you planning with this dinosaur army made by infecting so many nobles?"
Roar—!
What the hell… this guy's behind me now, and the effect of my attacks on him is gradually weakening.
In fact, that fireball did hit Diego, but at that moment Diego was holding the Inverted Spear Of Heaven, and combined with Mahoraga's ability to adapt to attacks, he neutralized the assault and instantly closed in on Serie.
(Inverted Spear Of Heaven: short-handled reverse-blade knife form, effect forcibly cancels activated magic)
"Dinosaurs are the strongest Monsters in this world! I'm going to use my terrifying beasts to slaughter the Demon King!" Diego roared, seizing Serie's throat. "And now, 'checkmate'!"
"You say you dinosaur-ized all the powerful figures of every nation just to kill the Demon King? All these evil deeds were to accomplish one good deed?"
"Hah? Innate villain? What is evil? What is good? I don't care about any of that. As long as the name Diego Brando reaches the heavens! Reaches my mother's ears—that's enough! That's all!"
Diego's face was full of rage. His arm exerted slight force, and attacks rained down like a storm, instantly slashing across the throat.
Pfft!
Blood splattered before his eyes. His own throat being slashed made Diego unconsciously widen his eyes. He clutched the wound with one hand, dropping to one knee and glaring viciously up at Serie.
"…What did you do?"
"Heh." Serie sneered mockingly. An eerie light emanated from her entire body as she spoke bluntly. "If you'd been just a little more serious back then, the current you would have died by your own claw."
"Magic that returns all received attacks back to the enemy—no need to identify magic power. This is the crystallization of human wisdom from the mythical era, the most primitive magic that cannot be explained by magical theory."
"Though I don't particularly like this magic, it's perfect for dealing with you."
"…I see. No wonder it hurts so much. As expected of my own attack." Diego's posture still exuded pride. With a light wipe, the throat wound had already healed.
Shoo…
An invisible barrier sealed Diego in 360 degrees with no blind spots. It was Serie's disciples, worried for her safety, who had seized the moment to act.
Though Serie had given strict orders to stand by on-site and not participate in this operation.
But disciples who respected Serie so deeply would never sit idly while their master faced the enemy alone—especially when their former fellow disciples had also been dinosaur-ized.
The barrier constructed jointly by several mages was nearly indestructible. Diego, trapped inside, glanced expressionlessly at the group, then slowly grinned.
"Stupid disciples, don't get in the way! Run!"
"Master…"
Pfft!
The lunging Diego plunged his dinosaur claw into this disciple's throat. Signs of dinosaur transformation instantly appeared on his face, then the second, the third… the last.
Looking around, a crack had been torn in the barrier—the Inverted Spear Of Heaven had forcibly canceled the activated barrier magic.
Serie's slightly opened mouth hadn't yet closed when her disciples were already completely wiped out. Though they were disciples taken on a whim, it still stirred long-unfelt anger in Serie.
"How about it? Want to kill me? Then come! In this horde of dinosaurs, make sure to accurately identify your own disciples—don't accidentally injure them by mistake!"
Serie, you're too strong. Among all the enemies I've encountered, only you—I have no way to deal with.
That's why I had to scheme to weaken you this way. By infecting your disciples, you'd be restrained by concern for their lives, limiting your ability to use wide-area indiscriminate anti-enemy magic…
Boom!
A massive killing magic struck out, blocked by Diego with one hand. He countered by throwing several knives that closed in on Serie.
The knives stopped dead one meter from Serie, their force completely nullified, then scattered and fell to the ground.
When Serie's full line of sight returned, Diego was no longer in place—only the vast dinosaur legion remained.
"Serie, you know, those old fossils' arrogance deep in their bones hasn't changed at all. There's one thing I remember quite clearly—that guy told me to reflect on my own problems…"
Diego's voice came from all directions, disturbing Serie's thoughts. Violent killing intent enveloped her completely. Serie took to the air, constantly searching for Diego's whereabouts.
"So I grabbed him by the throat and questioned him!
'You were born without magic power, thrown into a river and nearly drowned—why don't you reflect on your own problems?!
'You couldn't even walk properly at that age and went hungry—why don't you reflect on your own problems?!
'Thrown into a pile of magical beasts because you had no magic power, forced to fight them for nobles' entertainment like a monkey—why don't you reflect on your own problems?!
'Why do they keep tormenting you to death?!
'Why couldn't they find even one monk to heal a simple burn?!
'Why, born into such a huge family, couldn't you even provide a grave for one dead person?!
'Why don't you reflect on your own problems for all of it?!
'Why were you the only one drifting homeless and destitute, barely clothed and starving?!
'Why couldn't the game you hunted all day even fill your stomach?!
'Why could you only survive by eating demons that tasted like vomit-soaked rags?!
'Someone answer me—!!!'"
The impassioned voice fell silent once more.
"So Serie, I actually quite wanted to be a politician. I'll be the one to reorganize this world, step on their heads, and dominate them completely!"
Finally, Diego reappeared in Serie's line of sight.
As he spoke, he uprooted a hundreds-of-meters-tall lighthouse that pierced the clouds in the city. Muscles bulging, he hurled it toward Serie.
The massive lighthouse tore through the imperial capital like no man's land. Even from thousands of meters away, it smashed surrounding buildings without slowing as it barreled toward Serie.
"…"
Serie's face darkened. She said nothing. Multiple layers of defensive magic appeared before her, shattered one by one by the lighthouse, until a final ordinary attack magic completely destroyed it.
But a golden figure stepped on the flying debris in the air, climbing higher. Just as Serie raised her hand to attack, he reached behind her.
"After all, you can fly. Do I need to repeat myself?" Diego stepped on Serie's back, his savage and unrestrained demeanor fully on display.
"…!"
Serie's eyes were filled only with disbelief.
In midair, Diego shifted his stance, body launching upward. Spinning at high speed, he delivered a powerful horizontal kick, sending Serie crashing to the ground from the sky.
Boom—!!!
Smoke cleared. Serie clutched her completely numb arm, kneeling on one knee covered in blood, staring fixedly at Diego, who rolled up his sleeves and slowly approached.
"You protected your vitals with highly dense magic power, huh, Serie… You kneel too?" The dinosaur-ized Diego closed in on Serie, pounced, and drove the claw holding the Inverted Spear Of Heaven straight toward her throat.
"The winner is still me, Dio—!"
Farewell, the only elder I ever respected!
Diego's hand blade cleanly severed Serie's head. She died on the spot!
But…
This sensation—it's a clone magic…
Realizing this, Diego had no time left to dodge the incoming attack.
"Diego, you've truly gone mad. Normally, you would have seen through that it was clone magic…" Magic power compressed thousands upon thousands of times shone in Serie's hand, aimed at Diego's waist. She dropped her playful attitude. "I had a lot of fun. It's just a shame you became a victorious slave and couldn't perform at your proper level…"
This was merely magic that scattered magic power outward…
BOOM——————!!!
Half the imperial capital was destroyed. The roar echoed for dozens of seconds before finally subsiding.
As the smoke gradually cleared, Diego was cut clean in half. His pupils were dilated, gaze dim, wounds everywhere, bones broken. His upper and lower body lay on opposite sides of the massive crater created.
"…Ugh… ugh…"
Diego dragged his severed body crawling toward Serie. His dinosaur-formed claws flailed wildly, still attempting to attack, but it was doomed to fail.
Soon Diego lost his last strength and lay still until the light in his pupils completely faded.
Serie saw his lips move. She crouched down, tilted her head, and listened carefully to his final words.
"Ugh… that's why… I hate magic… you talented people—"
The voice cut off abruptly.
Serie channeled magic power. Diego's corpse floated into the air. She magically pieced it back together and held it in her arms, standing silently in place, lost in thought.
The self-proclaimed "Greedy One" Dio, who created such a massive dinosaur legion, seized the human nations, his outstanding combat intellect bearing the ever-expanding ambition.
Though wealth, power, and status all fell into Diego's hands… when he lay alone in the Empire, what was left in his grasp?
In the end, he could only drag his broken body, revealing unreserved greed and longing, eyes wide in disbelief at having lost everything he had pursued.
The generation's supreme villain Diego Brando could advance no further. With his ambition to kill the Demon King and reach the Land of Sleeping Souls, he exited the stage!
Thus, this upheaval of the human nations came to a close.
Tap tap tap…
"Master—!"
The crowd, freed from dinosaur transformation, surrounded Serie, expressions full of gratitude.
An discordant voice rose from the crowd: "Serie, hand over Diego Brando's corpse. It's precious material. Research on him will surely allow us to defeat the demons within a few years, even counterattack…"
"Get lost. I'm taking him back."
"You…"
"Didn't you hear? I'll say it again: I. Will. Take. Him. Back!"
Today's winner: Serie. Victory.
(Successfully protected all disciples and defeated Diego.)
...
"Yee~"
"He's alive?"
In Serie's residence, the grandmaster personally witnessed Diego's flesh wriggle for a moment before fully recovering.
"He's alive, but how did you know…"
Is this Mahoraga's heaven-defying recovery power…? Good thing I ate it directly back then. But it looks like my thinking has been influenced by its violent mindset.
That's enough. I need to restrain it…
"Because my disciples' dinosaur transformations were undone. That means you still retained consciousness." Serie easily read Diego's implication but remained merciless with her words. "Now that you're alive, get out."
"How dare you… how dare you… how dare you do this to me. I won't forgive you." Diego's face fell as he growled viciously, then suddenly began convulsing like he had a seizure. "Yamero! (No!) Onegai (please), let me stay a bit longer. I'll do anything. You beat me way too hard…"
Shoo shoo shoo…
Ordinary attack magic—also known as killing magic—gathered continuously in Serie's hand, aimed at Diego.
"Then I'll beat you until you cry and leave."
"Wryyyyyy—Grandma, I was wrong."
Diego knelt very obediently. His dinosaur tail wagged—this was a sign of submission.
"Pfft…"
Serie seemed to laugh for a moment.
What's this? Serie laughed?
Did I see wrong? That perpetually expressionless Serie with no change in face actually laughed? Doesn't she always have no expression?
No, with my invincible dynamic vision, I guarantee she definitely laughed. This Dio didn't see wrong!
"Hey hey hey, Serie, did you just laugh?"
"No."
"You clearly did…"
"I said no means no!"
...