Accompanying the scenes from the memory screen, Frieren also provided narration.
"At that time, the Seven Sages of Destruction dominated many key locations across the continent centered on the northern nations—they were humanity's greatest threat."
"Even so, the Hero of the South's offensive was unstoppable. In just one year, he crushed the Demon King's frontline forces and advanced to the northernmost end of the northern highlands—the core of the Demon King's supply routes."
"The Demon King's confidant was a demon named Schlacht, known as the omniscient one. It was said he could use magic to foresee a thousand years into the future."
"Schlacht gathered the remaining Seven Sages of Destruction and defeated the Hero of the South. Even then, the Hero of the South managed to kill three of them."
At this point, Fern raised her hand with a question: "Wait—didn't you say the Hero of the South disguised himself as Master Diego to hunt demons?"
"That's right. I don't know what happened after that. Only Dio knows why the Hero of the South survived." Frieren nodded, her gaze shifting to Diego with a flicker. "Even we only realized he was still alive many years later when we saw the elderly Hero of the South."
"Master Diego…" Fern's big, watery eyes fixed on Diego, brimming with eagerness. "I'm really curious!"
Faced with his cute junior's thirst for knowledge, the kind-hearted Diego naturally…
refused!
"I decline. We still have to travel today—no time to waste watching memories."
"Stark, Sein—get ready to clean the statue. We'll leave as soon as we get the reward."
The memory screen faded and closed. Diego dismissed everything with an attitude of "whatever," then called Stark and Sein to follow.
"Alright—watch me show off!" Stark rolled up his sleeves with an excited grin.
As a mature adult, Sein had already prepared cleaning tools and was waiting by the statue.
Stark took the tools and bucket, climbed to the top of the statue, and prepared to start from the head.
"Okay…"
"Wait…" Just as Stark was about to begin scrubbing the rust, Diego pinched his chin and suddenly spoke. "The World! Hold him down. Before cleaning the statue, I want to share a little trick that can clean dinosaur teeth sparkling clean. Master this trick, and a mere statue will be nothing."
"Oooh~~~ I wanna learn! I wanna learn!" Stark's eyes sparkled. Teenage boys are always fascinated by weird stuff.
Especially brushing dinosaur teeth—that's super cool!
At that moment, a flash of white light appeared. Magical power enveloped the statue, and the rust vanished.
Magic capable of cleaning rust off a statue...
Frieren maintained her ＜(´⌯ ⩊ ⌯`)＞ expression, staff in hand swaying like an evil old witch.
Shine————
Under the magic's effect, the statue gleamed brilliantly—like a glowing plate of egg fried rice when the lid is lifted, bursting with intense light.
"Hmph hmph—all clean." Frieren smirked smugly, admiring her handiwork. The staff flashed and vanished. She planted one hand on her hip. "No chance for you to shine, Stark. Statues can be cleaned with magic."
Clang...
"Aaaaah…" Stark's mouth hung open, eyes vacant. His hand loosened, and the bucket dropped.
It landed squarely on Sein's head. The spilled water soaked his clothes.
Yet even so, Sein didn't blame Stark. Everyone maintained the same expression in uncanny harmony.
After a while, the anticipated praise and compliments never came. Frieren's slender finger rested against her chin, her clear eyes showing a hint of confusion.
"Hm… Mabel, I have a question." Frieren turned her uncertain gaze to Mabel. "Is the atmosphere… awkward right now?"
"Waaah—Frieren's starting to read the room! I'm kind of moved!" Mabel nodded firmly, giving an affirmative answer. She reached out and shielded Frieren in front of her. "Um… Dio might be about to lose it."
Mabel was spot on. From earlier, Diego had kept his head lowered. Faint tremors ran through his body, and his fists were clenched tight.
"My, Dio's Wonderful Technique Teaching Time…" Black mist enveloped Diego entirely. His face visibly darkened.
＜(´⌯ ⩊ ⌯`)＞!!!
So scary!
"Please, Alicia—you have to save me. You're all I have left." Sensing the incoming tragic fate, Frieren hurriedly grabbed Alicia's clothes, slumping behind her in dejection. "Dio's tantrums are terrifying…"
"Alright. It might be a little difficult, but I'll do my best to calm Dio down." Alicia took a deep breath and agreed.
Diego watched Alicia approach, narrowed his eyes, and said gravely: "Alicia—even if you put in a good word for Frieren, it won't work. You know what happens to naughty kids, right?"
Three enormous onions appeared in Diego's hands. Seeing them, Frieren trembled even harder.
"No… no!! I'm not trying to cover for Frieren…" Alicia spoke slowly, recalling something Diego had said before.
[The best way to shift conflict is to create an even bigger problem the person can't ignore~]
Then Alicia's gaze gradually grew resolute. After steeling herself, her voice suddenly rose: "It's about what happened before…"
"Before? Could it be…" Diego's calm eyes suddenly turned panicked. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Oh no—did the fact that I forgot to brush my teeth this morning get exposed?!
Alicia lightly pinched the hem of her clothes and nodded, stepping closer: "The attack on the Warrior Village by Rivale was defeated. The war in the southern nations suddenly ended. Guillotine Aura's army was defeated. Multiple attempts to rally the Demon King's forces failed…"
"Hm…" Diego turned his head away, his momentum weakening.
Alicia pressed: "All of this was done through summoning magic by Dio, right?"
"…It was me." Diego's voice sounded slightly guilty. "If you had stepped forward, the return of the deceased Holy Hero would have caused a huge uproar. I sensed things would get complicated, so I didn't tell you."
"I knew you'd come nearby. Even if I wasn't there, you could have handled it…" Diego reached out, continuing to explain.
"More importantly! Why did you repeatedly tear your soul with summoning magic?! One mistake and you'd have gone completely insane?!"
"…Because subconsciously, I believe the captain should control everything, keep every matter firmly…"
"No! Not alone! Not always by yourself…" Alicia's hair was slightly disheveled, tears in her eyes. Her wide pupils were full of anxiety as she hugged Diego and shouted: "Since it's for us, you should drag us into it too. We're one and the same… aren't we?"
"I don't want to see Dio get hurt alone anymore! So you can…" Alicia clenched her fists, speaking urgently: "Believe in us a little more… depend on us a little more… we…"
After a long silence, Diego crouched down to Alicia's level, nodded gently: "Yes…"
"And no more reckless use of summoning magic!"
"Yes…"
"…Even though I was careless too, Dio—you! Have to reflect properly. You can't keep making people worry like this!"
"…I understand."
Alicia's tantrum is terrifying…
Diego couldn't help thinking.
On the other side, Mabel—who had hidden behind Frieren—quietly gave a thumbs-up and whispered in praise: "Alicia's amazing. Dio can't even lift his head."
"Saved—Alicia is the savior!"
Frieren, who had narrowly escaped disaster, breathed a huge sigh of relief. She glanced back and saw Diego—seemingly mortified by the scolding—shrinking lower and lower until he was squatting on the ground, head down, drawing circles in the dirt like a wronged child.
(This guy's faking it—he didn't listen to a word.)
Crack...
Fern's image of her reliable captain crumbled.
She muttered softly and quietly looked away: "I really don't want to see the Dio who killed the Demon King getting scolded…"
"Seeing Master like this makes my knees ache faintly." Stark gave an awkward laugh as memories of his own kneeling apologies flooded back.
Let's do our best together, Master!
Sein stayed silent. Somehow he'd acquired sunglasses and put them on, with two little cotton balls stuffed in his ears. From the moment Diego started getting scolded, he'd activated a technique to erase all emotion and senses.
He'd entered a perfectly qualified state of living corpse!
Ahaha, I saw nothing, heard nothing.
I'm not like these insiders—if I make Master Diego angry, I don't know if they'll be fine, but I'd really die!!
I have a reason I absolutely cannot lose. Before my date with that beautiful, sexy, sensual big sister—before she gently pats my head and says "Sein did great"—I refuse to die no matter what!!
Thud thud thud...
It didn't last long. Alicia stopped the scolding and walked back with her head lowered.
"Amazing, Alicia—I don't have to eat onions after all." Frieren let out a long breath of relief. Seeing Alicia's dejected look, she quickly asked: "Eh—what's wrong? You look so down…"
"Frieren, I…" Alicia looked up, teary-eyed, completely drained of the energy she'd had while scolding Dio. Her voice trembled: "I really tried… I actually… actually scolded Dio!"
"Even though no matter what, I'm always on Dio's side…"
"Sorry, Alicia… for making you do something you didn't want to. It must have felt awful." Frieren hugged Alicia, patting her head comfortingly.
Alicia sniffled pitifully: "Exactly…"
So why does the one doing the scolding end up sadder than the one being scolded…
Stark genuinely couldn't understand. Did Fern feel this way when she scolded him?
He sneaked a glance at Fern's expression for an answer.
Just one look—Fern seemed to sense the gaze from behind. She turned and asked: "Lord Stark, is something wrong?"
Stark hurriedly looked away, waving his hands: "No no—I was just wondering… as Third Master-Mother's disciple, when you scold me… uh, I mean—do you feel the same way?"
"What does Lord Stark think?" Fern's face was expressionless, merciless: "Naughty children who misbehave need to be properly lectured. You absolutely cannot spoil them too much."
"I understand… but, could you maybe be a little gentler with me too…" Stark's voice grew smaller and smaller.
"…I understand." Fern's eyes softened slightly. She stood in place, spread her arms in an embrace, and parted her lips lightly: "Come here. Let me pat your head properly."
Hearing this, Stark's eyes widened. He shouted: "What are you planning?! So scary!!"
This guy is such a hassle…
Fern thought to herself.