The sky gradually darkened. Diego walked along the street carrying Takanashi Rikka on his back, brushing past the flow of cars on the roadside.
Takanashi Rikka had already fallen asleep on his back. She was very quiet and cute, lacking some of the strange and elf-like aura she had when awake, and gaining a bit of tranquility.
In a daze, Diego felt the force gripping his neck increase a little.
He subconsciously turned his head to look.
Perhaps Diego's broad and thick arms were too reassuring, making the sleeping Takanashi Rikka feel very safe.
"I miss you so much..."
"Daddy..."
Diego heard her murmuring. His forward steps paused for a moment. He reached out and patted her head before continuing to walk.
The moment he lowered his eyelids, Diego always felt like he had forgotten something, but he couldn't remember what it was.
What could it be...
...
——Neet's Place——
"I'm back..."
As soon as he entered the door, Diego vaguely felt a killing intent. Although it only flashed by, it still made his heart skip a beat.
"...Dio?"
A voice like a female ghost came.
Diego followed the sound and saw Sui under her green eyes burning with cold light. Her legs were spread wide, her center of gravity sunk extremely low, her right arm tightly tensed and flickering with dancing electric arcs. Her whole body was arched like a bow full of power, as if she would charge over in the next second.
Wait... The one Dio is carrying is... Rikka-san?
Never mind, I'll deal with him later!
Thinking this, Sui's clenched fist loosened. She chose to carry the sleeping Takanashi Rikka off Diego's back into the room to rest.
Anger was anger, but Sui hadn't lost control to the point of beating up an ordinary person along with him.
Diego suddenly felt the pressure decrease.
Just as Diego thought nothing had happened and was taking the fish out from his space storage magic to head to the kitchen to cook...
His body moved on instinct. Diego suddenly turned around, extended two fingers toward the void and clamped, catching the incoming sword blade.
Clang!
A longsword suddenly appeared before Diego's eyes.
It appeared—the 100% bare-handed blade catch!
"What..."
The strike missed. A flash of astonishment passed through Sui's eyes.
"I was still wondering if I had regressed. Ever since I came in the door, I've been able to sense killing intent from you..." Diego half-lowered his eyelids, the corners of his mouth slightly hooked but not quite, hiding a bit of indifferent laziness at bothering to care. "Child's play. I shouldn't have provoked you, right? This kind of sneak attack——"
"Useless useless useless useless useless!"
Hearing this, Sui got even angrier.
She had originally calmed down a little because the attack missed and was planning to stop and ask about the filming matter.
But now.
"You go die, Dio!"
Sui abandoned the longsword and threw a punch!
Forget about seven films or eight films or whether he filmed or not—beat him up first to make him behave, then talk!
Smack!
Diego shook his head and easily caught the punch. "I already said it. This kind of attack is muda da muda!"
"Don't block! Let me properly beat you up to vent my anger and I'll forgive you for going off to film!" Sui said anxiously.
"Hmm?"
This time it was Diego's turn to be surprised.
"What filming——"
But the lightning magic wouldn't care whether Diego was distracted or not. Carrying the force of splitting the air, a slap landed squarely on Diego's face!
Bang!
"wryyyyyyy——!!!" Diego let out a miserable scream and instantly went Yamcha on the ground.
"Really!! How could you believe that!!" Sui straightened her collar. Her cheeks were flushed red, and her voice carried a bit of a scolding tremble. "What situation?! Stupid beastman!! Too honest, seriously!!"
"Stu..."
Sui suddenly realized that Diego seemed to have been lying on the ground without moving for a while.
She hurriedly half-knelt on the ground, her eyes wide open, pupils left with only empty spiral circles, lips slightly parted as she checked Diego's condition.
Not moving, half-dead—that meant he was about to die!
Sui rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find the first aid kit. With fine sweat on her forehead, she applied medicine and wrapped bandages round and round, almost giving Diego a white halo.
Before leaving the room, she still poked her head out and carefully took one last look, confirming that Diego still looked like he was about to die.
Only then did she shout loudly: "Alicia!!!"
...
"Just which bastard is spreading rumors that I, Dio, went into the sea to become a male model!!"
After waking up, Diego touched his slightly swollen side face. A "well" character symbol appeared on his cheek, and his eyes hid a bit of helplessness and anger as he stared dead at Dekomori Sanae hiding behind Mabel.
"...Dekomori?"
A rather resentful voice reached everyone's ears.
Seeing this, Dekomori Sanae trembled: "Iyaaah——!!! Mabel-sama save me death!!!"
Mabel instantly stood up for Dekomori Sanae, firmly protecting her behind her. "Dio, you are not allowed to bully Dekomori!"
Diego widened his eyes, as if he had heard something inconceivable.
Mabel standing up for Dekomori?
What a joke!
After simply thinking for two seconds, Diego pointed indignantly.
"Did she bribe you?!"
Hearing this, Mabel silently hid the fan money Dekomori Sanae had given her even more securely.
Then, her gaze firm, she suddenly clenched one fist and spoke with resounding force: "Dio, do you know what the dream of all humanity is?"
"Huh? Dream? Or all of humanity's?"
"『Dream』..., the dream of all humanity..., that actually has only ever been one since ancient times!" Mabel slowly said.
Dekomori Sanae's eyes were full of worship. "As expected of Mabel-sama! Her vision is just so far-sighted!"
Everyone's gazes were drawn to her. Even Frieren, who had been flipping through 『Even Monkeys Can Learn Magic』, raised her head, anticipating Mabel's next answer.
Mabel changed the subject, her tone even more lofty: "That's right, that..."
"Of course it's getting something for nothing!"
"My dream is that even if I go to another world, I won't work and will live comfortably for a lifetime relying on things like copyright...!"
Overestimated her...
Frieren lowered her head again and silently flipped through that 『Even Monkeys Can Learn Magic』.
As for the dispute, it definitely had nothing to do with her. Anyway, Dio would handle it well.
"So she gave you money, right!!"
"Ehehe..."
"Calm down a bit, Dio." Alicia smiled apologetically on the side, soothing Diego's emotions like calming a bristling cat. "Little Dekomori didn't do it on purpose either. She just couldn't understand what you meant."
"So this slap of mine was for nothing?!" Diego moved his hand away. That big lump was visible to the naked eye. "My handsome face has been ruined!"
At this moment, Sui, who had been turning her face away the whole time not daring to look at Diego, finally spoke with a red face: "A-At worst, I'll compensate you...!"
"Eh? What did you say..."
Diego's words stopped. He suddenly lost his temper.
Then the corners of his mouth and eyebrows rose at the same time. The big lump on his face instantly disappeared. Happily, he ran to the kitchen to handle the ingredients.
Frieren asked: "Why is Dio so happy?"
"I don't know." Alicia shook her head.
Mabel was still concerned about dinner: "What about dinner——?"
A voice came from the kitchen.
"There's fish——"
"Wow! I'll come help too!"
They were busy for about an hour.
The neet chef who had been humiliated all day finally got to eat four dishes and one soup. The praise that greeted him was:
Frieren's unintentional complaint.
"Although it's delicious, I thought I would get to eat otherworldly specialties..."
Diego's eyes went black.
Today's victory or defeat: Diego, crushing defeat!