"Dio, why do you hate the Goddess so much? Didn't she create this world?"
During their journey, Alicia had once curiously asked Diego this question.
"There's no real reason at all..."
That was Diego's answer back then.
So what was the real answer?
Perhaps it was simply resentment that the Goddess hadn't saved such a devout mother of hers.
...
"I'm hungry..."
"How much time... has passed? The Zenin clan meeting seems to be in three more days..."
"I think... it's been a really long time... since I last filled my stomach..."
Amid the rock layers of the desert, massive dinosaur skeletons lay scattered like monster remains. The young Diego was covered in blood, his blue checkered shirt wrinkled and tattered.
His small body curled up beneath a dinosaur skeleton frame, golden hair matted with cold sweat. His fists remained clenched, but his eyes were dull and lifeless, lips cracked, his whole body reeking of death.
At this point, Diego is still eleven years away from disappearing. This year, Diego was seven. The timeline was one month after Tot was rescued...
(ps: Connects to the story after Chapter 41)
Under Schlacht's arrangement, Miracle Grausam had publicly disclosed Diego's identity as a hunter.
This caused the tactic Diego had long relied on—feigning weakness to lure in and prey on great demons, thereby supplementing his body's need for food—to completely fail.
Even more fatal was that, due to Tot's memories, not only great demons became wary of Diego, but even weak demons would detour around the areas where he was active.
This meant the feeding method he had once depended on for survival was gone entirely. He was forced back into the state of endlessly searching for food every day.
But ordinary beasts and monsters could never compare to the abundant magical energy inside great demons...
He could only make up for quality with quantity. Yet the number of beasts and monsters was ultimately limited. Under such terrifying food demands, even if Diego searched day and night, no creature capable of replenishing his energy loss appeared in his field of vision anymore.
"Energy replenishment can't keep up with consumption... I'm completely beyond saving..." Diego stroked his protesting, growling stomach, letting out a couple of self-mocking chuckles. His eyes turned ruthless as he resolved himself to what came next. "At the very least, before the very end, I have to complete my revenge...
Before I starve to death, I'll drag the Zenin family down with me. During the clan meeting, that sinner who abandoned Mom will return to the main house. I just have to endure three more days..."
This was the vow Diego had made before taking his deceased mother away from the Zenin family: 『I will definitely find that man and avenge Mother!』
"Heh heh... After two years, it's time to go back for a visit..."
Diego slowly turned his head, eyes vacant, staring at the empty dinosaur skeleton. Without much hesitation, he suddenly opened his blood-drenched maw and bit down on the skeleton.
Crunch... Crunch...
...
——Three days later, three kilometers outside the Zenin estate——
Tonight's wind was unusually chilling. Three students from the magic academy had agreed to camp and barbecue here.
Because of the Zenin family clan meeting—and since one of the camping group was a Zenin clan member—the three magic academy students had temporarily decided to camp nearby.
"Speaking of which, Zenin-kun, isn't today your family's clan meeting day?" Among the three camping, one boy sitting by the campfire, constantly adding firewood, asked curiously. "Is it really okay to come out camping with us?"
"Yeah, doesn't your family's clan meeting require mandatory attendance from all members?" The girl in charge of grilling added. "I heard even criminals get pardoned and allowed to return to the main house today..."
"Hm? Yeah, I think there's something like that..." The leading Zenin youth was momentarily stunned, then shrugged indifferently with a light laugh. "It's fine. My magical power is strong enough anyway—they won't make too big a deal out of it. Every clan meeting is just listening to the family head drone on and on about a bunch of nonsense."
"Let's not talk about that. The demon attacks on the border are getting fiercer. Peaceful days like this won't last long. The skewers are just about done—let's eat."
"Okay."
Rustle rustle...
Suddenly, the sound of leaves being crushed reached the three's ears. They looked up, but aside from the bright moonlight, no one was in sight.
The Zenin youth frowned slightly, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure as he asked: "...Who's there? Did you guys call someone else?"
"No, didn't we say it was just the three of us?" The other two hurriedly explained, spreading out their magical detection. "Magical detection isn't picking up any mana reactions either. Maybe it's just some wild rabbit from somewhere?"
"I see..."
The three turned back half-doubting, only to see a golden figure appear beside the campfire, swallowing all their carefully grilled skewers in one gulp.
(Chew chew)... "A bit too much salt."
"Yo, long time no see. You're... that fatso's older brother, right? The guy who used magic to break a few of my ribs back then. Mind if I join the barbecue?"
"Gotta give credit—these skewers smell amazing. Just a little less salt and they'd be perfect..."
Seeing the skewers the girl had worked hard to grill get snatched away, rage surged in the Zenin youth's heart. He grabbed the blond kid in front of him by the collar.
Just as he was about to properly teach the insolent brat a lesson, he recognized that familiar face, suddenly let go, sat down on the ground, propped his chin, and started mocking:
"I was wondering who it was."
"You really look pathetic in this state. Look at you—clothes all torn up. Need me to donate you a set?"
"I heard you caused big trouble. Two years ago you went crazy for some reason, ambushed and killed a family physician, then fled. What are you back for now? Things not going well out there, so you want to attend the clan meeting? Or maybe take advantage of the family head being in a good mood today to beg him to let you return to the family?"
"Diego Zenin."
Diego paid no mind to the dead man's mockery. Expressionless, he continued eating the skewers in his hand and let out a teasing laugh: "Two years later and you've finally learned to recognize people by their faces? I thought you could only stare nonstop at the mana leaking out of people's bodies."
"I'm asking what you plan to do from now on. Answer honestly, you useless trash." The Zenin youth kept his chin-propped pose, speaking in a condescending tone as he analyzed Diego's current situation with venomous criticism. "Can't use magic, no mana. The only thing you could rely on to survive in the family—your mother—is dead. Even if you return to the family, no one would look at you twice."
"How tragic. Want me to bully you like I used to? Beat you down to the ground, then step on your head and grind your face slowly into the dirt."
"That way, maybe you'd finally feel a little sense of belonging as the bullied one."
Diego remained silent, his hands never stopping as he finished off the remaining skewers one by one.
"What are you going to do, you little tail who only followed behind your mother?" Seeing Diego had no intention of replying, the Zenin youth stood up and reached out to grab his golden long hair like before. "Come on, say it, you was—"
Bam!
The Zenin youth's voice cut off abruptly. The scenery in his eyes shifted, and the next moment he was slammed onto the grass. A foot stomped hard on his head, grinding relentlessly, rubbing his face into a bloody mess.
Being stepped on by the very person he used to bully freely, the Zenin youth flew into a rage. Struggling to get up, he summoned his staff to channel magic, cursing furiously: "You filthy brat, how dare you... Aaaah————!!"
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The half-formed magic was interrupted. Diego coldly twisted and broke all four of the Zenin youth's limbs. His foot kept pressing down, grinding against the exposed white bone.
Crack!
Under the shocked gazes of the two magic academy students, Diego punched straight into the Zenin youth's chest, caving it in. The broken ribs pierced directly through his windpipe.
"Huff—who gave you permission to mention my mother?"
Diego exhaled a puff of white breath. His pupils shifted left and right, turning vertical. His dinosaur tail grabbed the Zenin youth's hair and hoisted his limp, dog-like body high into the air.
Then Diego spat out Ugly Treasure, drew the Split Soul Katana from its mouth, and pressed it against his neck.
"Why do you have..."
"Why what? Weren't you pretty clever? Today is the clan meeting—the treasury storing magical tools is lightly guarded. What's so surprising about a useless middle-aged man being secretly killed by me, someone with no mana?" Diego looked puzzled, rubbed his chin, and curled his lips in faint mockery. "Just follow in the footsteps of that old bastard who threw me into the beast-fighting arena."
At the same time, Diego recalled the scene of killing the treasury guard in his mind.
[Heavenly Restriction... Exceptional physical talent—so what? We magic users fight by using mana to further strengthen bodies honed through years of training, battling through the vast world of magic.]
[Diego, even if you kill me, so what? With that little strength you have, can you even imagine the greatness of magic? Even if you get these special-grade magical tools, you'll never be able to deal with the family head. You'll definitely die under the Ten Shadows Technique. I'll be waiting for you in heaven...]
"...People like this can go to heaven? The Goddess really is blind!"
Thud...
The head fell. Diego wiped the blood from the blade, pulled out the family register and a pen from his pocket, found the Zenin youth's name, and crossed it out.
"Your debt with me is settled."
After putting away the register, Diego lowered his gaze. His peripheral vision swept up and down over the trembling boy and girl huddled in the corner.
These two... kill them all...
The beast-fighting arena has no survivors left. Anyone who didn't attend the clan meeting has been dealt with. I've killed countless already—two more innocent souls won't make a difference.
『The me now probably won't feel anything from killing anymore』
Facing this seven-year-old child, the two couldn't muster the slightest will to resist. After all, the Zenin youth's terrified head lay rolling at their feet. They could only watch helplessly as Diego swung the Split Soul Katana straight toward their throats.
"Ah———— Eh?"
The two squeezed their eyes shut, letting out sharp screams as they awaited death.
Yet a fierce gust sliced across their cheeks—the blade never arrived as expected.
Gathering courage, they slowly cracked their eyes open a sliver. They saw Diego's face twisted in ferocity, cold sweat beading on his forehead, the hand holding the knife trembling violently—as if something was blocking him. The sharp blade hovered just five centimeters from their throats.
[Dio, you have to be a good boy.]
[Only then will the Goddess, when you arrive in heaven after death, pat your head and praise the good deeds you've done—like this... Be good, sleep for a while now, my dear little Dio. As the kindest-hearted good boy in the world, Mommy will praise you in place of the Goddess first.]
The soul of his deceased mother seemed to appear behind Diego in that moment. She gripped the hand holding the knife and stopped the fatal strike.
It was precisely because of his mother's teachings that Diego retained a final trace of humanity and kindness—leading to the story of Frieren and the others changing this villain.
No, forget it. Killing them would be meaningless.
I promised Mom I'd be a good boy...
But I, Dio, don't need the Goddess's fake praise! Someone has already praised me in her place!
As for the grand feat of massacring the magic clan Zenin family—the empire will inevitably find the culprit.
This place is over a hundred ri from the capital. Even if they report it immediately, by the time guards arrive at mage speed, it won't change the outcome of the entire Zenin clan being wiped out. And I'll most likely die of starvation.
No—I'll definitely die of starvation...
If I hadn't gotten lucky and eaten that four-sword demon called Divine Skill Thunder Reifurdi, taking this storage-capable magical creation called Ugly Treasure from him, I wouldn't have lasted this long...
After tonight, I'll be dead. Whether these two live or die doesn't matter anymore.
"Get lost. Don't get in my way." After struggling for several breaths, Diego finally slowly sheathed the knife, kicked the two over, and spoke calmly. "I only kill Zenin clan members!"
"Yes yes!"
With Diego's tacit permission, the two regained control of their bodies. They scrambled on all fours without a second's delay, fleeing frantically toward the royal capital.
Watching them leave, Diego turned toward the opulent Zenin territory that carried his tragic past. Darkness shrouded most of his face, the shadowy expression only heightening his aura of ruthless predation.
At the same time, knife in hand, he slowly advanced into the Zenin estate.
Though there were faster, more efficient methods—like using Scary Monsters to create a massive dinosaur army and overwhelming the sleeping Zenin clan members with sheer numerical violence.
But simply because he was displeased, Diego chose to do it himself. He wanted to etch every person's final, miserable moment into his memory. These would be his precious recollections before death.
"Mom, it's starting."
Diego gently touched the silver cross necklace at his neck and drew the Split Soul Katana once more.
The bloody family purge began!