Dietrich von Bern

**Dietrich von Bern** (ディートリヒ・フォン・ベルン, *Dītorihi fon Berun*) is the prince of Bern.

## History

Dietrich was mentored by Hildebrand from childhood, alongside Heime and Witege. Hildebrand taught Dietrich that to be a good king, he must understand his people's pain. Following his teacher's lesson, Dietrich would often put himself in dangerous and harmful situations to experience said pain. Due to his masochistic nature, Dietrich experienced pleasure from the pain and remained perplexed as to why people are suffering. Days before his coronation, Dietrich decided to set out on a journey to slay a dragon and find something inhuman to hurt him in an attempt to find a solution to his question.

## Plot

While passing through Bern, Lynn and Siegfried encounter Dietrich being beaten in public by Roman soldiers. They mistakingly dispatch the soldiers, unaware it was all part of Dietrich's sadomasochistic play. Dietrich turns his frustration towards Lynn, battling her and Siegfried. The battle eventually devolves into Dietrich and Siegfried arguing about their fetishes. Lynn grows frustrated once they begin insulting her appearance and launches the two of them into a building. Dietrich grows more excited from the attack but Lynn begins to leave, ignoring the two. He attempts to get Lynn to continue the fight but she disdainfully dismisses him. Dietrich is infatuated by Lynn's cold attitude towards him and designates her as his queen.

Dietrich offers to accompany Lynn on her journey and join her team in the Rosengarten Schlacht. Lynn tells him to stop and questions his choice as prince to leave his country on a whim. Dietrich reassures her that she has business within the vicinity of their destination, with rumors of a dragon attacking people on the road. Lynn questions the existence of dragons and Siegfried reaffirms their existence, recounting his encounter with one. Dietrich gets angered by Siegfried interrupting his conversation with Lynn and the two start arguing. Meanwhile, Lynn hitches a ride from the Roman soldiers from earlier, abandoning the two. Dietrich and Siegfried catch up just in time to save Lynn from Lyng and Lofn. Lofn and Lyng recognize Siegfried and combine into their dragon form to battle them. As they battle, the dragon lands a blast of fire on Dietrich, destroying most of his clothes. Otherwise unscathed, he attempts to shield Lynn from the dragon. Disgusted with Dietrich displaying his nude behind in front of her, Lynn kicks Dietrich in the groin, causing his sword to grow. As the dragon prepares to launch a powerful blast of fire, Dietrich prepares to use his sword as a shield. The dragon stops their attack, infatuated by their own reflection in the sword, letting Siegfried and Dietrich to defeat the dragon, reverting them back to their human form. Dietrich's back is used as a campfire as Lynn speaks with Lofn and Lyng and recruits them for her team.

The group reach Burgundy where the group continue to ignore Dietrich, to his pleasure. Watching the opening ceremony of the Rosengarten Schlacht by KRT13, Lynn and Siegfried's ignorance of the group catches the attention of Attila who informs them of the idol group. Dietrich senses camaraderie from Attila and the two quickly become friends. As Kriemhild gives her opening speech, Lynn points out her being identical in appearance to herself, causing everyone to laugh at her. After Kriemhild leaves, Attila states his desire to support Kriemhild financially. He looks to Dietrich for affirmation but Dietrich is disgusted by Attila using his money to support weak women, seeing it as unmasochistic. The two fight but by night they end up as friends again, sharing drinks.

The next morning, Dietrich is letting himself be devoured by dogs as punishment for failing to protect Lynn when she snuck into the castle the previous night. Lynn tells him she is a warrior and does not need her protection and invites him to join her team since Lyng has been incapacitated. The next day, the qualifiers of the Rosengarten Schacht are revealed and Dietrich chooses to partake in the Gold Course.

## Equipment & Abilities

### Physical Traits

Dietrich possesses a very durable body, able to withstand all manner of injuries. He possesses considerable amounts of strength, being able to easily lift Eckesach in its engorged form and being able to smash Lofn and Lyng's dragon form into the ground with a single strike.

**Magical Aptitude**: Dietrich is capable of seeing and interacting with Siegfried's spirit.

### Weapons

   **Eckesach** (エッケザックス, *Ekkezakkusu*): Dietrich's primary weapon, a magical sword with the ability to grow in size based on how aroused Dietrich is. In its base form, the blade resembles a small dagger with a guard with two holes, resembling a pair of scissors. In this state, Dietrich is capable of wielding it with one hand, using the two holes as finger handles. Veins will begin emanating from a gem located at middle of the guard when growing. As the sword grows the shape of the handles change as well. The blade grows in both length and width, enabling it to be used as a shield or blunt weapon if necessary.  Dietrich is capable of condensing the sword's engorged form into a thinner blade. In this form the blade becomes pitch black with the veins becoming more prominent.

## Original Inspiration

Dietrich von Bern is the name of a character in Germanic heroic legend who originated as a legendary version of the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great. The name "Dietrich", meaning "Ruler of the People", is a form of the Germanic name "Theodoric". In the legends, Dietrich is a king ruling from Verona (Bern) who was forced into exile with the Huns under Atilla by his evil uncle Ermenrich.

## References

1. ↑ Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 22
2. ↑ Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 34
3. ↑ Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 3
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 4
5. ↑ Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 5
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 6
7. ↑ Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 7
8. ↑ Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 8
9. ↑ Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 10
10. ↑ Rosen Garten Saga Manga: Chapter 20