Seventy-nine years after Diego went missing…
—Northern Nations, Apetido—
After bidding farewell to the Sword Village, Frieren and her party crossed the Schwia Mountains and arrived at an inn in Apetido just as the sky began to lighten, securing two rooms.
Frieren carried her suitcase and gave instructions to Fern and Stark: "After dropping off the luggage at the inn, we'll have free time until evening."
"Finally in a town—I can finally relax properly." Stark stretched, his spirits rising. He clenched his fists in excitement. "Great! I'm going to wander around the city!"
"Oh right, Fern, could you store my axe at the inn for me?" Stark stopped, took the battle axe off his back, and clasped his hands together in request.
"So heavy…" Fern was momentarily stunned as she accepted the axe. Curious, she asked, "Aren't you training today?"
"Mm!" Stark nodded vigorously, eyebrows raised high, his face glowing with delight as he shouted, "I'm going to eat a super huge sundae! Just for today!"
With that, Stark hopped away from the two and ran off into the distance.
"…Don't eat too much, okay!"
Fern blinked at Stark's departing back, weighed the axe again, hesitated for a long moment, then headed to the inn room together with Frieren.
Stark-sama must have heard me…
Inside the room, Frieren eagerly lay on the bed and began flipping through her grimoire, her bare feet swinging up and down.
Fern placed the battle axe in the corner and sat on the stool in front of the mirror.
"Stark-sama seems especially happy today." Fern tidied her hair, mouth slightly open as if thinking and asking at the same time. "Do you know why, Frieren-sama?"
"Ah, I think today is Stark's eighteenth birthday…"
Creak!
Fern's expression froze. She shot up from the wooden stool, her tone carrying a hint of displeasure.
"Why didn't you tell me something like that earlier? I didn't prepare anything!" Fern looked at Frieren, utterly confused.
Frieren didn't even lift her head, still immersed in her grimoire, completely absorbed in the ocean of magic. "Just buy something random in town. As long as it's from you, Fern, Stark will be happy no matter what it is…"
"I don't know what Stark-sama wants, and I can't just prepare something carelessly because of that. This is an important occasion." Fern continued.
"Hehehe, Fern, you're still too young." Frieren closed the grimoire, leaped off the bed, and began rummaging through her suitcase.
"It's all your fault anyway, Frieren-sama." Fern lowered her head, sighed, and watched as Frieren pulled out various pieces of junk from the suitcase. She asked, "By the way, what are you planning to give him? Since you have experience giving birthday presents to Diego-sama, I'd like to learn from it."
"This is one of my treasured secret items." Frieren pulled out a bottle of purple liquid, shook it gently, and smiled smugly with a mischievous grin. "A potion that only dissolves clothes."
"Men, you see, get really happy when they receive something like this."
"That's what my master told me, hehe~"
Pop—
Under Frieren's astonished gaze, Fern expressionlessly took the bottle, silently pulled out the cork, and poured the entire contents over Frieren. With zero emotion, she said, "So for Diego-sama's birthday, you gave him this sleazy potion?"
"You two are really so vulgar…"
Splash splash splash…
"Aaaahhh!!"
Frieren twisted her body frantically, hands flailing in an attempt to block the pouring potion.
In the end, white mist filled the room, and every piece of clothing on Frieren's body dissolved completely.
"I'm done with you, Frieren-sama. Do whatever you want." Fern was angry. She opened the door and prepared to leave.
"…Fern, it's not what you think. I don't have any experience giving Dio birthday presents." Frieren reached out to explain. "More precisely, none of us in the party have experience giving Dio birthday presents."
Now it was Fern's turn to be surprised. "Hm? What do you mean? You didn't forget Diego-sama's birthday, did you?"
"Don't underestimate me, Fern. Of course I remember everything about Dio. Those are precious memories."
"It's just that… Dio never let us celebrate his birthday…" Frieren's voice carried a touch of melancholy. "There was even one time when Elga led us to try and force his birthday out of him so we could prepare a gift."
"…And then?"
"Dio flew into a rage. It was the first time I saw him so angry."
"Why would that be? Is it because there's no custom of birthdays in Diego-sama's homeland?"
"Who knows… But I think there is, because he always celebrated ours, remembered them perfectly, and prepared for a long time in advance." Frieren twirled a strand of her white hair around her finger again and again, as if doing so might yield an answer. "Why? Why would he get so furious about his own birthday? There has to be a reason. Why exactly?"
"I just can't understand it. Probably something happened on his birthday… but we can't ask…"
Unnoticed by the two, a strange light flashed across the dinosaur emblem on the battle axe in the corner.
...
Ninety years earlier, the entire Zenin bloodline was massacred by Diego—including the servants employed by the family, his own biological father, and the one hailed as the strongest head in history.
Diego would not forgive anyone who harmed his mother. Any factor, direct or indirect, that led to her death—he spared none.
Even those who merely stood by and watched without offering help were still etched into his hatred.
Thus, even after successfully avenging his mother, his heart felt no relief—because one person still remained unavenged.
And that person was Diego himself. He believed, from beginning to end, that his mother's death was inextricably tied to him.
To Diego, his mother was like a meteor streaking through the darkness—brief yet dazzling. Her passing became his eternal regret and deepest knot.
Rewind the timeline many years earlier, to the banquet where Serie and Diego first met.
After their brief exchange, Serie brought Diego back to his mother's side.
"Dio, Serie-sama didn't do anything to you, right?" His mother hugged her son—who had briefly been away from her—tightly, checking him up and down to make sure he was unharmed before relaxing.
"I'm fine. Serie-sama was really nice to me."
"That's good." His mother let out a long breath of relief and bowed repeatedly to Serie in gratitude. "Thank you so much, Serie-sama, for looking after Diego!"
Serie said nothing. She gave Diego one deep look before slowly walking away.
Throughout the entire exchange, Diego had been staring at the necklace around Serie's neck—or more precisely, at the five vivid green gems on it.
Those five gems have such strong life energy… If I could get even one, maybe I could heal Mom's hand. At the very least, selling it would get enough money to hire a powerful monk for treatment.
If only it were around my neck…
Young Diego's brows drooped slightly. His lips pursed. Gazing at his mother's scarred, bandage-wrapped hands filled him with heartache. Powerless, he lowered his head and imagined the scene of healing her illness once he obtained the necklace.
"Mom, let's go home…" Diego looked up, forced a smile, took his mother's hand, and started to leave.
"Mm."
At the very last moment before stepping out the door, Diego quietly turned back for one more reluctant glance at the necklace.
Just one more look… just one…
At that time, Diego thought he had hidden it perfectly. But he overlooked one thing: this was his own mother. How could someone who loved him possibly fail to notice the shift in her child's expression?
Guilt, heartache, self-reproach…
All kinds of emotions flooded his mother's heart. She felt deeply saddened.
Dio… he probably wants to wear a necklace of his own like the other children in the family…
My precious son—he's so well-behaved and sensible. So young, yet already working to ease my burden. Even when he wants something, he suppresses it so as not to trouble me.
…And yet I, his incompetent mother, can't even fulfill one small wish of his.
From childhood to now, Dio has never once received a proper birthday present. He never complained…
I…
This is all my fault…
After that day, Diego Brando's mother continued working tirelessly…
And one year later, the chronic wound on her hand became infected with tetanus. She ultimately succumbed to the high fever indirectly caused by tetanus, ending her life at the age of only twenty-three.
"Wuwu——Mom… Mom…" Diego knelt at the bedside, head bowed, tears streaming. He gripped his mother's hand tightly and roared helplessly, "Don't leave me… You're going to get better…"
His mother had been delirious with fever for three days. During those three days, Diego exhausted every possible means to scrape together her medical fees. Like a drowning man, he grasped desperately at any straw.
He sold off the few personal possessions he had, asked the underground boss of the coliseum to advance his appearance fees, knelt endlessly in front of the Zenin family head's residence…
Dignity no longer existed. Any method that could quickly bring in money—he did it all.
He knew full well that the root of his mother's illness traced back two years to the clan gathering: a severe burn on her hand that became badly infected. Only the most top-tier monk might have any chance of curing her.
So money—more was better. No limit.
But when Diego finally gathered every last coin and went to the only monk in the family who possessed the holy seal granted by the Holy City to the region's finest priest, that monk coldly refused him because of his zero mana and tried to extort even more.
[Why?! Why?! This is already more than enough for your usual house calls!!]
[For others, yes, it's enough. But Diego—have you ever considered that with zero mana, what right do you have to the same treatment as the rest of the clan? Go back. Come find me again when you've gathered enough…]
After being rejected, Diego refused to give up. He went to every remaining monk in the family. The result was always the same: powerless.
"Cough… cough… Dio, don't cry… I've lived this long and raised you with my own hands. That's already a blessing amid misfortune." On the sickbed, his mother's eyelashes fluttered. She slowly opened her eyes, voice frail. "Ri… right. Today… is your birthday. Mom has a birthday present… for you…"
"Waaah——!!!" Diego's tears poured uncontrollably. He choked, "I don't want any birthday present. I just want Mom to be okay. For that, I'll throw away anything, give up anything…"
Stroke…
His mother propped herself up, reached out, and gently wiped away Diego's tears. Her tone was tender as she smiled. "This is a gift for my good boy who's always been so well-behaved… You'll definitely like it. Because before, you were always looking at Serie-sama's necklace, right…"
Then she slowly opened the hand she had kept tightly closed. In her palm lay a silver cross necklace.
"This one carries the blessing of the Goddess. It will bring you good fortune. From now on, let it stay by your side in Mom's place…"
"Don't be sad. This is all my fault. You haven't done anything wrong… I really was a terrible mother. You've suffered since the day you were born—never enough food, never warm clothes… bullied by the clan. You must resent Mom too, right…"
Diego's body trembled. Tears filled his eyes. "…No way. Every day with Mom has been happiness. That's what makes you my one and only Mom…"
She shook her head and personally fastened the necklace around Diego's neck. With two fingers, she lifted the corners of his downturned mouth.
"Don't cry. Smile more. My little Dio is so good-looking—your smile is the handsomest. In the future, who knows how many girls will fall for you. You can't scare them all away with a crying face…"
"Okay… okay… From now on, I'll bring every girl who falls for me to see you. I'll find you so, so many daughters-in-law…" Diego forced a grin, holding that stiff smile while his eyes trembled uncontrollably. Tears fell in huge drops. He ran off in three steps and two glances back. "Mom, wait just a little longer! I'll go get the monk—your illness will be cured soon!!"
"…Ah..." The words had barely left her mouth when his mother reached out to stop him. Watching Diego's retreating figure, she drew her hand back and pressed it tightly over her mouth. "…No…"
"You have to wait for me——!!!" Diego's voice grew fainter as he ran at the fastest speed of his life toward that monk's house.
"Don't go…"
His mother broke into sobs, covering her face. How she wished she could watch her child until the very last moment of her life.
...
"Huff… huff… huff…"
Diego panted heavily, running for his life.
Enough… With this necklace too, it's definitely enough! Money—I have money now. I can hire the monk to cure Mom!
Bang bang bang!!!
"Open the door! Open up! I've got the medical fees!" Diego pounded frantically—even kicking the door. "Hurry! Hurry!!"
Unfortunately, the family's top monk leisurely came to open the door.
"Didn't think you'd actually manage to—"
Before he could finish, Diego shoved all the money and the necklace into his hands, grabbed him, and ran.
Five minutes later, Diego returned home with the doctor—only to find his mother's hand had already fallen limply. Her breathing had ceased. She was gone.
"..."
Staring at the scene, Diego stood like a statue—motionless. The light vanished completely from his eyes.
"Let go of my hand. Looks like there's no need to treat her anymore. I'm not refunding the money—I didn't come all this way for nothing…"
Ignoring the monk's words, Diego walked forward on his own. The few meters felt impossibly long.
"Mom? Mom…" Diego limped to her side and embraced her gradually cooling body. His face was deathly pale; his lips trembled nonstop. "Don't… don't joke with me… Please, I'm begging you—live, aaaaahhh——!!!"
The fever had broken—but not because she recovered.
A thick shadow enveloped Diego's face. As if all life had drained from him, he collapsed weakly to the ground.
He tried to breathe steadily, but it felt as though his lungs were being crushed, his throat strangled. No words would come.
Silence stretched for several minutes. Suddenly, Diego stood up and threw his head back in ragged, broken laughter.
"Hahahahaha!!" Laughing like that, tears streamed from Diego's eyes. Unconsciously, his pupils turned vertical. Signs of dinosaur transformation crawled across his entire face. He muttered, "Present… a present for a good child… But from beginning to end, I was just a bad child…"
But why—why!!!
Why did I let my desire for Serie's necklace show through?!!
Why, at the very last moment, didn't I choose to stay with Mom?!!
If it weren't for buying this damn necklace for me, would Mom have held on until treatment?!!
I'm the one who killed Mom…
Hatred and regret intertwined endlessly in his mind. The last string inside Diego snapped.
Look at me now—so pathetically weak…
Mom died? I refuse to accept that!
And I… will never cry again!
If I had status, power, money, strength… none of this would have happened!
The pinnacle… I will stand at the pinnacle of society!
The devouring aura radiating from Diego grew heavier. His muscles visibly swelled. Overwhelming hatred soared skyward!
The hidden physical strength of Heavenly Restriction was fully unleashed!!!
At this moment—the terrifying dinosaur that seizes everything—awakened!!!
"Let go, you filthy brat! I said let go—I'm leaving!"
The monk's curses finally snapped Diego back to reality. His face calmed; his gaze turned deep and cold. He released the monk's hand.
"Jeez, if you'd done that earlier, none of this would've happened!" The monk straightened his clothes and stepped toward the door.
"Eh?!" The instant he left the room, the monk's body jerked. Slowly, he looked down at his chest.
Diego's dinosaur claw had pierced straight through his heart—a fatal strike. With a slight flex, he crushed the heart.
The monk coughed up blood and slowly turned his head, staring in disbelief at this zero-mana brat who had always been bullied.
"Diego… you!!!"
"I almost forgot… my good fortune is still on you…" Diego stared into the monk's eyes and said calmly. With his other hand, he snatched back the money and the necklace. "Maybe only by killing you can my raging heart find peace again…"
Bang!
Diego followed with a kick. The monk's body exploded instantly. He died without a grave—blood rained down!
Then Diego put the necklace back around his neck, turned, and returned to the room. Gently, he lifted his mother's corpse into his arms.
"Mom, let's go. No more waiting this time. I'll take you outside to see the world…"
The wind that blew the day his mother died has never stopped blowing even now.
Lesson 3: Never let your desires be noticed.