If that year, I had held onto Mother's hand as she went to ladle the hot soup, how would my life have changed?
I once questioned myself like that.
And now, this question has appeared before me, exactly as it is...
...
Illusion...
Slap!
A crisp slapping sound rang out. When Diego regained consciousness, he was already in the midst of a bustling clan gathering, and he had just been slapped across the face.
A sharp pain hit him. Diego slowly covered the side of his face, filled with disbelief.
"Huh?"
What just happened?
What's going on here...
Who the hell dares to slap me, Dio, in the face!?
Diego shifted his gaze. Everything around him felt very familiar.
A small boot scattered on the ground, the disgusting Zenin clan members, the old Zenin estate that he himself had destroyed, and...
"Mother..."
Diego stared at his mother's disappointed face in front of him. His thoughts drifted far away, and he couldn't help but space out for a moment.
No... Wasn't I fighting demons just now?
Why is Mother here?
His five senses, memories, and even his physical sensations were all telling Diego that this was the real world.
But...
"Mother already died long ago..."
Diego couldn't help but murmur.
Soon, he noticed something abnormal.
Everyone around him required him to look up to see them. His hands and entire body had become incredibly small. Scary Monsters, which had accompanied him all this way, showed no reaction at all.
Have I... returned to my childhood?
"That's right… Miracle Grausam... The last demon I encountered was him." The confusion in Diego's eyes lessened considerably. He pressed his lips together and continued reasoning, "This is a mental world created based on my memories. I fell under his Paradise Transfer Magic!"
Tap tap tap...
Following the sound, Diego looked over and saw his mother resolutely walking toward the large pot filled with stew.
Diego instinctively wanted to grab his mother's hand and stop her from using her bare hands to ladle stew for him to drink. But at that moment, he recalled the effect of Paradise Transfer Magic in his mind.
[Realizing the dreams that the other party once believed were impossible and had given up on..]
No, I can't do that..
I have to endure it..
Once I grab Mother's hand, I'll completely miss the best moment to break free from the illusion and will sink completely into this magic..
In reality, there are still three greater demons. Frieren, Alicia, and Mabel are still waiting for me to break free from the illusion and support them..
Diego forcibly suppressed his impulse, clenched his fists tightly, and forced his feet not to rush forward.
As long as the dream is shattered once more, I can return to reality..
I can do it..
At the same time, Mother got closer and closer to that large pot. She extended her hand toward the clan member ladling the soup and spoke the words that had haunted Diego for countless nights:
"Could you ladle some soup for me? It's fine even if you pour it directly into my hand."
It's just doing nothing..
I can do it..
It's just having to watch Mother die once more...
I...
"How could I possibly do that!!!"
Diego could no longer suppress the turmoil in his heart. Roaring, he charged straight toward his mother.
During this process, Diego's body gradually returned to normal.
Pat..
By the time Diego grabbed his mother's hand, he had completely reverted to his original appearance. His Stand ability could also be activated freely.
He pulled his mother to a stop and looked up at her face with hopeful eyes, his voice trembling with pleading: "Don't————!!!"
...
Reality...
Grausam stepped closer and closer, almost pressing the flying sword against Diego's neck.
"Goddess's Three Spears!"
Three magical light beams, each nearly several meters wide, directly shattered the sword in Grausam's hand.
Looking in the direction of the attack, Grausam saw Alicia standing ready with the World-Saving Staff in hand.
"...How impressive." Grausam couldn't help but praise. "So this is the 『Goddess's Blessing』? As expected of the Holy Hero—even Scary Monsters couldn't resist my mental magic."
"Dio won't lose to mental magic. Until then, I'll protect the two of them." Alicia's expression was resolute as she cast protective barrier magic on the two behind her.
"It's useless. Even if the 『Goddess's Blessing』 can immunize against the effects of 『curses』, this favor won't help you for long. With your strength alone, you cannot turn the tide of battle." Grausam's eyes lowered as he swung his sword forward. "Although I don't wish to fight this way, there's no longer time to consider methods. Therefore, I created an illusion that Diego Brando absolutely cannot refuse. Even knowing it's a trap, he will sink into it."
"Your stalling is meaningless. Diego Brando absolutely cannot wake up."
With that, Grausam continued closing the distance with Alicia. The onslaught of magic and flying swords grew fiercer.
Squelch!!!
The moment Grausam closed in, the World-Saving Staff instantly transformed into sword form. Alicia slashed off Grausam's arm in one strike.
"Eh?"
Grausam's eyes were filled with great confusion.
A sword?
Isn't she a cleric?
"Rapid Strike, Storm Blade!" Alicia firmly gripped the sword hilt, holding the sword horizontally in front of her in a defensive stance, showing no panic whatsoever.
The weakness of clerics and mages is being approached at close range.
This was a view acknowledged by both demons and humans.
In this regard, Grausam's decision wasn't wrong. Although both were mages, it was also a fact that demon bodies were sturdier.
Moreover, ever since Diego's party had appeared in the demons' sights, Alicia had always presented herself in a support role.
"Perhaps you're right." Alicia's short hair was stirred by the airflow. She pointed her longsword diagonally. "That's why I've already prepared for the worst."
"If Dio doesn't wake up, then it's my responsibility to slay all three of you greater demons right here!"
A resolute expression appeared on Alicia's profile.
Grausam looked up, clearly realizing: This woman was serious. She truly had the confidence to face three greater demons at once.
But that also meant—this was the best time to kill the isolated and helpless Holy Hero!
Thinking this, Grausam created distance and retreated toward Solitär's hiding place.
Seeing this, Alicia had no intention of giving Grausam time to recover from his injuries. Sword in hand, she charged after him.
Slap!!!
Diego appeared behind Alicia and grabbed her hand.
"Dio? You're awake?!"
Alicia turned to look, only to see Diego with his head lowered, eyes still vacant. Clearly, he hadn't broken free from the illusion yet.
"Don't..."
"Don't go..."
Diego murmured softly. He spread his arms and pulled Alicia into a tight embrace, holding her tighter and tighter. Tears slid down his face.
For a moment, Alicia was stunned. She had never seen Diego look so vulnerable before.
But soon, she came back to her senses. She used her elbow to push open Diego's arms and prepared to continue pursuing Grausam.
At that moment, Diego suddenly exerted force and pulled her protectively behind him.
Whoosh...
『Magic that scatters magical power outward』...
Solitär, hidden in the grass, had activated magic on the path Alicia had just been about to take in order to cover Grausam's retreat.
Rumble rumble rumble rumble————
Seeing this, Solitär leaned against a tree trunk and sighed. "Ah, what a pity. I thought I timed it perfectly. I was hoping this would seriously injure her."
"Why can he still move even though he's clearly lost consciousness?" Grausam covered his wound. He was also encountering this situation for the first time and was extremely surprised.
Realizing that Diego's subconscious was protecting her, Alicia decided not to attack any further. Her priority was protecting Diego and Frieren. She would first observe the battlefield situation.
Although 『Heart-to-Heart Magic』 couldn't be used when enemies were interfering, Alicia still decided to try calling out to Diego's consciousness.
Because Dio had said he wouldn't lose.
"Dio!"
The next moment, Diego responded.
"I've already grown up. I can protect you now..."