Not long after leaving the sanatorium, Übel could hardly wait to resume her grand endeavor of getting to know him better.
With her hands behind her back, she followed beside Diego with a beaming smile. "Mr. Joestar~ I really wouldn't have guessed. You actually have such an approachable side. I thought you were always that lofty and arrogant type."
"Don't call me Mr. Joestar—call me Lord Brando!" Veins bulged on Diego's forehead; he had no intention of responding to Übel.
Grind grind...
Diego's teeth itched with anger. His sharp dinosaur fangs rubbed against each other, producing an ear-piercing noise.
The dinosaur was about to start huffing—consequences would be severe!
"Okay, Mr. Joestar. No problem, Mr. Joestar." Übel nodded and replied with a smile.
"..."
Run away. This kid's head isn't quite right. I, Dio, hate these dazed, silly types.
At this moment, in Diego's eyes, Übel was no different from Sota—except with an added layer of stupidity, making him instinctively want to distance himself from dumb kids.
Before long, the restless girl started fidgeting again. She kept rubbing against Diego and firing off questions nonstop.
"Come on, tell me—why? Mr. Joestar, aren't you a criminal who killed tons of people? How come there's not a shred of killing intent on you?"
"Is it because you're around Serie? Could it be that you're really close with her? When did you two meet?"
The killing intent of a copy could blanket the entire Tomb of the Fallen King, yet the original was this peaceful—what an incredible talent.
Even though she couldn't learn magic, Übel still wanted to see if she could secretly pick up some weird skill.
"You're really curious about how heavy my killing intent is?"
Übel bent at the waist and nodded—after all, her own killing intent could make a three-year-old cry.
Seeing this, Diego pulled his gaze away from Übel. He turned his face aside and let out a soft chuckle. "Then maybe letting you see it wouldn't be so bad."
The moment the words left his mouth, the Diego who had just been grinning mischievously and messing around with Serie vanished from Übel's vision.
What replaced him was a sudden mountain of corpses and sea of blood. Diego's gaze was utterly indifferent, as if he didn't regard anyone as his own kind. Übel could even clearly sense how each person had died.
Thud...
Even though it was only an instant, cold sweat poured down Übel's body. Uncontrollably, she dropped to her knees.
"Uh… Happy New Year?"
A breeze blew past. Übel felt her body lighten. Looking up, she saw Diego with a conflicted expression, trembling as he pulled out a red envelope and held it out to her—gripping it extremely tightly.
The previous scene felt like nothing more than an illusion.
"Mr. Joestar…" Übel reached out and pinched the red envelope. After a moment of silence, her voice rose noticeably. "Since it's a gift for me, let go already!"
"Shut up! Can't you put a little more strength into it?!" Diego refused to back down and raised his volume as well.
"I already used every ounce of strength I have!!!" Übel shouted through gritted teeth.
Übel wasn't lying—her entire body was tensed, muscles straining, leaning backward with all her might, yet she still couldn't wrest the red envelope away.
After a long stalemate, it ended with Diego reluctantly letting go, his face full of heartache.
Thump...
"Ow…" Übel fell to the ground, clutching her butt and putting on a pitiful, exaggerated act.
"Hey… How long are you planning to follow me?" Diego—who wanted the fun of raising someone but found chatting too troublesome—was utter trash.
This person is so annoying. Her voice is like a little sun, so why is she this clingy?
(PS: Übel and Kita Ikuyo share the same voice actress)
"Hmm… I don't know how long it'll take either." Übel raised one index finger. Her pupils drifted upward as she pondered for a moment before her gaze refocused on Diego. She let out a soft laugh. "I just purely want to understand you more—your life experiences, the thoughts in your head. I'm really curious about all of it."
"I already told you—even if you understand me, Dio, as much as you want, you won't learn any magic." Diego leaned back slightly and explained in a flat tone.
"I'm not trying to understand Mr. Joestar for the sake of learning magic." Übel leaned in teasingly, circling Diego and observing him closely. "However…"
The killing intent radiating from Übel suddenly vanished. Her aura became as calm and peaceful as the Diego before her.
Watching this scene, Diego narrowed his eyes slightly. She copied my, Dio's, camouflage coloring so quickly—Übel, you really are a genius!
I, Dio, like you a lot!
"I think I've gotten a basic grasp of your personality." Übel studied Diego's expression, her eyes flickering as she pursed her lips slightly. "That's enough for today. Otherwise Mr. Joestar is going to lose his temper."
Curiosity drives people forward, but sometimes it leads them into traps. If you don't gauge the right amount, the only one who suffers is yourself.
In other words—if she didn't run now, she'd get beaten!
"Oh? Didn't expect you to know when to stop." Diego didn't skimp on praise for someone who knew their place. Then his tone shifted. "However—The World!"
Now let me show you the time that belongs only to me!
And at the same time, let me, Dio, get a good look at that art of yours—resonating with others to borrow their abilities.
The World appeared in its signature pose with both fists crossed over its chest. Time ceased to flow. Even Übel's dazed expression froze in place.
"Hmph. This feeling isn't bad, but I've actually been pissed off for a while now."
After scribbling and doodling for a bit and securing some weird headpiece on Übel's head, Diego finally nodded in satisfaction, then vanished from the scene in a flash.
Time resumed...
"…I didn't blink, right? Where did Mr. Joestar go? 'Za Warudo'? What does that mean?" Ordinary-person Übel looked utterly confused. Clearly, she couldn't instantly comprehend the overwhelming four-balled power that even time itself feared (Stand ability)!
Then her thoughts returned. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at a roadside trash can. She walked over, lifted the lid, and peered inside.
"Mr. Joestar, are you in there?"
"Ah eh, nope."
She moved aside an oversized fruit from a fruit stand and inspected the frame underneath.
"Mr. Joestar, are you in there?"
"Hm… Looks like not here either."
With cat-ear headgear on her head and "meow meow meow" written across her forehead, Übel wandered the streets aimlessly. Her powerful mental resilience meant she didn't care at all about the strange looks from passersby.
I thought they were just shocked that my aura suddenly became so peaceful.
In the end, Übel hugged her knees, stared blankly at the drifting clouds in the sky, and drawled in a long tone:
"So weird… Where exactly did Mr. Joestar go?"
"Hm… Whatever. Let's see what's inside this strange red package Mr. Joestar gave me."
"Three copper coins? This isn't even enough to buy a single loaf of bread. Then why did Mr. Joestar look so heartbroken about it?"
...
Meanwhile, what was Diego—who was running out of summoning time—doing?
In an ordinary magic shop, the owner was an old man wearing glasses and sporting a thick, bushy beard—perfectly fitting the image of someone who possessed "Grandma's Handy Life Tips" magic.
Frieren was struggling to choose a legendary-grade spell. In her left hand she held "Magic That Lets You Brag Without Needing Drafts," and in her right, "Magic That Prevents Oil from Growing Mold."
"Hmm… My secret stash is only enough for one book. Which one should I pick?" Frieren was deeply conflicted.
The shop owner, as if finding a kindred spirit, kept stroking his beard with great satisfaction at Frieren's expression. "Oh ho ho. If you're willing to compliment me nicely, I might consider giving you a discount."
"Eh, then…"
Before Frieren could finish speaking, a golden flash scooped her up onto a shoulder and carried her away. Several silver coins spun on the glass counter—exactly the price of the two spellbooks.
The owner removed his glasses, shakily picked up the silver coins, and held them overhead to examine.
"He left in such a hurry… I didn't even give change. These are imperial silver coins from last century…"
The view shifted several times, landing at a street-side restaurant. Stark sat obediently at the table, receiving a scolding from Fern.
Though Fern's face was expressionless, she radiated terrifying anger. "Even though Lady Alicia worked very hard to put in a good word for Lord Stark, Lady Mabel sleeping all the time is one thing—but Lord Stark, have you also been sleeping for several days straight?"
"To actually make Lady Alicia help by waking you up early before we returned from the First-Class Mage Exam."
"…" Stark silently swallowed. Sweat beaded on his cheeks as he tried to argue. "Fern, isn't it normal for a disciple to resemble their master? Master said that occasionally spending a lazy day is good for cultivation…"
Come to think of it, should I call Mabel Master "Master" or "Second Master-Mother"…?
At this life-or-death moment, what filled Stark's mind wasn't how to calm Fern down, but this bizarre dilemma.
Fern asked again: "Hm? Weren't you dozing off even before we left?"
Fern was so angry she dropped honorifics! Terrifying!!!
"…Yes." Stark's cold sweat flowed faster.
"Stayed up late?"
"…Yes."
"And?"
"…I also stayed up late with Sein while pestering Third Master-Mother for stories, and we ate all the snacks other people gave her…" Stark confessed his crimes one by one, tears of repentance streaming down.
They didn't leave even a crumb for me and Lady Frieren.
Thump thump...
"Sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Fern puffed up again. Her small, powerless fists pounded Stark's shoulders, eliciting continuous yelps.
Just then...
Zing!
The Chain of Ten Thousand Miles flew in, wrapping around the two of them loop after loop. Diego gave a slight tug, lifting both Stark and Fern into the air.
"You two—time to set off!"
"Eh eh eh eh, Lord Diego, where are we going?"
"Golden Land!"
"Master is running so fast! So scary!"
(Fern seemed to have overloaded from being tied to Stark for too long and was too embarrassed to keep being angry.)
From Sein's perspective—as a mature adult man—he had gone to great lengths for today's "chance encounter."
He woke up early to groom himself, even used the expensive cologne he usually saved, and the night before had carefully selected the perfect formal attire.
"Hm. I heard that big sister Methode was seriously injured and today is exactly when she recovers. And this is definitely the only road out of the sanatorium!" Sein held a bouquet of fresh flowers, waiting eagerly at the sanatorium gate.
To think that in my first year of adventuring, Sein, I could already score a date with a big sister—what incredible luck!
Soon, under Sein's expectant gaze, the fully recovered Methode appeared and slowly walked toward him.
"The copy that injured me was Lord Diego Brando… So manly. I really want to meet the real him." The mature, older-sister-type Methode still had the violent scene of Diego's copy massacring examinees lingering in her mind.
"Good morning, Miss Methode."
"Eh, good morning. And you are?"
"Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. You can call me Goat-Beard Monk, or just Sein. I'm a member of Lord Diego's party. I know you because Frieren mentioned the First-Class Mage Exam to me." Sein offered the bouquet with complete sincerity. "I heard it was Lord Diego's copy that injured you so badly. That's why I absolutely wanted to apologize. I've reserved a table at the best restaurant in Oisast. Do you have time?"
"I see. No need to apologize—it was just a copy created by the water-mirror demon, not Lord Brando's own intent." Methode accepted the bouquet and covered her mouth with a light laugh. "I'm free. Could you tell me more about Lord Brando's exploits? He's the faith of our entire clan, you know."
(PS: The northern highlands have clans specialized in hunting demons. Their entire lives are dedicated to studying how to kill demons. As the first human to eat demons and the one who killed the most, Diego is naturally regarded as a figure of faith by that clan.)
"No problem at all." Sein agreed excitedly.
Yes! Lord Diego's name really works wonders—it was this easy…
Yank...
Just as Sein was about to head to the restaurant with Methode, Diego grabbed him by the collar and added him to the flying lineup—right beside the utterly lifeless Stark-Fern duo.
"Sein—time to set off!"
"Wait, Lord Diego! I have a date with big sister!"
"Date my ass! Don't use my, Dio's, name to pick up girls!"
Waaah, my big sister…!
Sein cried heartbrokenly.
Finally, Diego leaped through a hotel window, scooped up Mabel—who was in the middle of preparing desserts—and Alicia one after another.
Crunch...
"Desserts made by Mabel and Alicia?" Diego dumped all the sweets into his mouth and let out a sound of approval. "Not bad at all—really delicious!"
"Hee hee hee, then I'll make more for Dio tomorrow!" Mabel wrapped her arms around Diego's neck and laughed happily.
"Eh eh, Dio—this was supposed to be for everyone!" Alicia floundered a bit, then leaned close to Diego's ear and whispered, "Um… that… I prepared a special dessert just for Dio. You should eat that one…"
"I, Dio, want them all!"
With that confident smile, Diego whooshed away from the magic city of Oisast.
The current situation: Frieren carried on his shoulder, his left and right arms occupied by Alicia and Mabel, Chain of Ten Thousand Miles wrapped around his waist with two knots at the end—the first knot binding Stark and Fern together, the second knot holding the pitifully crying Sein.
A genuine one-dragging-six!
"Go, go, go—Diego's party is revived! Dio's Bizarre Adventure is setting off again!!!"
"Wind sprite, coordinates set to xxxx…"
Today's result: Total defeat!
(Too hyped—didn't realize the summoning time ended. Diego's consciousness returned, causing everyone to crash.)
...
"Hm… I happen to have plans with Takanashi. It's about time to head to Italy and visit my, Dio's, dear son!"