"Dio… Onii-chan, are you really going to take me to see Papa?" Jolyne Cujoh timidly held Diego's hand and asked cautiously.
"Of course. Even if there are extenuating circumstances, I can't stand someone who abandons his wife and daughter." Diego picked up little Jolyne and pinched her nose. "But not today. I want him to see how much you've grown before he apologizes to you."
"Mmph… Mmph! I… can't breathe." Little Jolyne pushed Diego's hand away in protest.
After a night of treatment in her dinosaurified state, Jolyne Cujoh's body temperature had successfully returned to normal from the near-death line.
She looked full of energy overall, but she was still a bit shy around people and didn't like talking much. She clung tightly to the relatively familiar Diego and refused to let go.
Jolyne Cujoh—Jotaro Kujo's daughter—was born after Jotaro entered university, the result of a whirlwind romance and shotgun marriage with her mother.
Because Jotaro Kujo spent years constantly on the move dealing with the troubles left behind by the vampire Dio and collecting Stand Arrows scattered around the world, Jolyne Cujoh had barely felt any fatherly love growing up.
If left unchecked, she would definitely become a problem child who'd give everyone headaches once her rebellious phase hit…
Diego stroked the obedient Jolyne Cujoh's head and thought to himself.
You old bastard! Your daughter is the most well-behaved when she's with me! Hehehehe! Just imagining Jolyne Cujoh summoning her Stand and yelling "Muda muda muda muda muda muda" is so thrilling!
"Hm hm hm~" In a cheerful mood, Diego casually grabbed a cup of coffee from the table and drank it with satisfaction.
"Dio…" After staring for a while, Hori pointed at the cup and pursed her lips. "That's my cup. Yours is the one next to it…"
"Pfft! Cough cough cough cough…" Diego's expression visibly froze the moment he heard that, and he started coughing furiously. "…Uh, something came up. I'll head out for a bit. Jolyne, stay here at the Hori house and play with Sota for a while. I'll pick you up tonight."
"Okaaay—!"
"Be careful on the road!"
Hori waved goodbye, secretly delighted. Was Dio just embarrassed? Hehe~
Wait… why does this feel like a wife seeing her husband off…
Awoo…
The 21st century's first human steam engine was born from auto-brain-completing!
A day worth commemorating.
…
Five years before Diego disappeared…
"I know you—the most heinous criminal in modern human history. You slaughtered your entire family in a single night and single-handedly invaded and occupied the human nations across the northern, central, and southern continents. So… what do you want with me?" Frieren squatted in front of a patch of medicinal herbs, sensing Diego quietly approaching from behind as she asked.
She really doesn't remember me anymore…
Diego paused for a moment before replying.
"…I've long heard there's a powerful mage in this forest. I came specifically to invite you to become my subordinate, Dio's subordinate. Join me in subjugating the Demon King and lend me your strength."
"I refuse."
"I figured you would. Looks like the disciple of the great mage Flamme isn't much after all."
"Mm. Then please leave."
"Aren't you curious how I knew?"
"Not really. Just go."
Diego sighed inwardly, realizing he really wasn't suited for persuading people.
He reached up and patted his head, pulling Yōun from Ugly Treasure's mouth. His expression turned ferocious as he flashed behind Frieren and struck!
(Ugly Treasure: A purple bug-like creature, a wondrous magical creation raised by Diego that can store items.)
Clang!
The heavy, powerful blow was blocked by an invisible barrier. Immediately afterward, several fireballs shot toward him, all deflected by Yōun.
Frieren quickly created distance. Lightning gathered on her staff.
"Zoltraak!!"
The purple lightning was dodged by Diego sidestepping. In response, he summoned a swarm of small dinosaurs to surround Frieren while he leaped onto a nearby tree, rapidly flashing between the trees around her until he vanished from her sight.
"Zoltraak of Hellfire!!"
Frieren soared into the air and unleashed a massive area-of-effect fire spell. Beneath the roaring flames, the small dinosaurs died or were gravely injured, quickly losing their combat ability.
Amid the aroma of grilled meat, Frieren calmed her mind and began searching for Diego, who had hidden himself in the forest.
"This is bad. He's moving way too fast…" Frieren gripped her staff tightly, sensing the slightest movements in the wind and grass. "So that's how it is… No wonder you could slip through the royal capital guards' blockade…"
Even warriors couldn't completely hide their mana. As long as one had a soul, the source of mana would constantly pulse.
But the Heavenly Restriction physique was different—it was a constitution completely rejected by mana. It thoroughly abandoned mana in exchange for an overwhelmingly powerful body.
Mana detection was entirely ineffective against Diego. That was how he had easily slaughtered the Zenin household within the Magic Association's mana detection range and left with ease.
Frieren conjured a Chibaku Tensei in her hand, destroying the entire forest within a 100-meter radius centered on herself.
Now the field of view was much clearer.
"Amazing… A Heavenly Restriction with completely zero mana. This must be the first case since the age of myths!" Frieren's tone carried indescribable admiration.
Hmph! Even the enemy is full of praise? Frieren… you really are interesting! But!
The weakness I sensed… was completely correct!!
You… are worse than a novice mage! A great mage who's lived a thousand years actually made such a mistake—interrupting mana detection for an instant while casting a spell!
Huff… huff…
A kilometer away on a treetop, Diego—brimming with battle lust and excitement—stood sideways. His dinosaurified face twisted in a constant sneer as he swung the Chain of Ten Thousand Miles.
Driven by immense strength, the chain spun faster and faster, its length steadily increasing.
(PS: If the base of the Chain of Ten Thousand Miles cannot be observed, the chain can extend infinitely.)
Bang!
With a powerful swing from Diego, the Chain of Ten Thousand Miles erupted with a fierce sonic boom, tearing through the air as it hurtled toward Frieren at high speed!
That guy Diego Brando… he definitely won't give up so easily. Where exactly…
A bead of cold sweat dripped from Frieren as she nervously scanned her surroundings and cried out, "No—behind me!"
Frieren whipped around and summoned a massive earth wall spell to block the devastating strike.
Looking at the Chain of Ten Thousand Miles embedded in the earth wall, Frieren thought how close that had been. It had nearly hit her head… If that strike had landed…
Hm?!
Only then did Frieren realize she was being lifted higher and higher—held under the arm by a large hand.
"No, you're wrong—it's above your head!" Diego had arrived at the destination even before the chain, teasing her. "Do you know why you lost?"
"…"
"You really can't read the room, old hag." Diego's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "Because you relied too much on your strength and neglected basic training. You interrupted mana detection for an instant while casting, giving me the chance to pull the Chain of Ten Thousand Miles out of Ugly Treasure without you noticing."
"Don't call me old hag… I lost…" Frieren admitted somewhat dejectedly. "But I'm not going with you to subjugate the Demon King."
Slap!
Diego gave Frieren's butt a firm smack. "There's no one this Dio can't obtain. Don't give me that unwilling look—it's not unpaid labor. There's compensation."
"Mm… I'm not a child anymore! And I'm clearly the elder here! I'm the big sister!"
"Then how long have you lived?"
"Over a thousand years."
"Wow, you're really old…"
"You just mocked my age twice in one day! That's so mean… This is the second time. Third time's the limit." Frieren counted on her fingers. "By the way, what's the compensation you mentioned?"
Diego scratched his cheek awkwardly and pulled several grimoires from Ugly Treasure.
"How about the grimoires and magical tools collected by the Zenin household over a hundred years? Plus the ones I gathered during later travels. The non-combat magic ratio is… a tiny bit high…"
Frieren skillfully took the grimoires and flipped through the pages. "Let me see what spells are in here… So many I already know. Wait, what's this…"
"A spell that fills your feet with fragrance… a spell that lets you descend slowly through the air… a spell that makes your stomach feel hungry… These are legendary-level spells… As long as I adventure with you, you'll keep providing me with spells like these?"
"Mm—In theory, the spells I have are enough to support defeating the De—"
"What are you waiting for? What kind of adventures await us ahead?" At some point Frieren had broken free of her restraints. Now she was tugging at Diego's clothes excitedly, ready to set off.
That's right…
The mage I'm looking for… can only be you, Frieren.
"So next we head to the central nations. I hear there's a venomous demonic dragon wreaking havoc there, and there's a good magical tool commission for killing that venom dragon…" Frieren pulled out a map and started chattering nonstop, pointing to the next destination.
Listening to Frieren's endless chatter, Diego relaxed for the first time in ages. He gave a gentle smile, reached out to ruffle her hair, and raised his chin to signal they should get going.
"By the way, if you'd just said from the start that you were trading with magic, we could've avoided fighting and talked properly, right?"
"…Tch."
"Did you just tch under your breath? Normally when recruiting companions you don't start with a life-or-death fight. You're doing it wrong."
"Shut up! You're the last person I want lecturing me…"
"Idiot…"
"Stinky old hag…"
…
Frieren, you were right. I'm a complete idiot. I swear I'll never force someone to come with me again.
Why did it turn out like this…
Diego looked somewhat tearfully at Kitagawa Marin, who was dragging him by the arm ahead.
This damn blond… Why are girls so socially unstoppable?! Who turned you into this!
"Sorry, Marin-chan. Back in high school I studied so hard for university entrance exams that I went a little crazy. Now seeing a perfect cosplay candidate like you, Mr. Handsome, my cosplay soul just exploded. I couldn't help dragging you to the convention." Marin saw Diego looking a bit down and clasped her hands in apology while frantically smoothing things over. She pulled a cup of milk tea from her bag and handed it to Diego.
"…No, it's fine. I came out to relax anyway. Checking out that convention or whatever sounds okay." Diego tried to pull his hand free. "By the way, you're the girl who was sitting next to me watching the performance at STARRY last time, right? I remember you were right beside me…"
…
Mini Theater:
Kessoku Band group chat…
Goto Hitori: My little sister's been begging to buy arm sleeves lately. Any recommendations?
Yamada Ryo: What's "ice pomelo"?
Goto Hitori: Sleeves.
The One and Only Emperor · Dio-sama Himself: Is it pomelo-eating season already?
Ijichi Nijika: Can you two even read? And why is Dio's username so extra?
The One and Only Emperor · Dio-sama Himself: Mind your own damn business, you miracle crisp freak. Don't worry, Bocchi. If your sister wants to eat pomelo, let her! She can eat whatever she wants. No one starves the kid on my watch! My treat!
Goto Hitori: Um… everyone please don't fight. And thank you Dio for the kindness, but ice sleeves really aren't…
Ijichi Nijika: Dio, are you sure you're a top student…
Ijichi Nijika: [Throwing rocks at you.jpg]
The One and Only Emperor · Dio-sama Himself: Did I do something wrong? If I did, I absolutely will not apologize.
Yamada Ryo: Spectacular!
Yamada Ryo: [Like.jpg]