Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 104

Chapter 104   The Demi-Human Girl is Scared

“Gh… ghosts…?”

Mion was bewildered, trying to process Croix’s words and struggling to understand. Ghosts. Literally ghosts.

Demons, devils, and angels fall under the category of creatures because their existence is acknowledged and some humans have interacted with them.

But ghosts, on the other hand, have not been confirmed to exist. Hence, the common belief is that ghosts do not exist.

This had to be a joke from Croix.

Thinking so, she looked at Wiel, who smiled and placed a hand over her mouth.

“Hehe, it is surprising, isn’t it? I was surprised at first too.”

“O, surprised isn’t quite the word… Wait, is this really true? An inn for ghosts…?”

“Yes, it is.”

Wiel’s casual and nonchalant affirmation left Mion stunned.

In fairy tales, ghosts are depicted as frightening entities. Mion had been told repeatedly by her father, Alan, that ghosts would come for bad children and take them to dark places.

Because of this, she used to be afraid to go to the bathroom at night…

Remembering these unnecessary details, Mion shook her head to forget them.

“But, but ghosts…”

“Are they not real?”

Wiel’s interruption did not quell Mion’s anxiety, but she reluctantly nodded.

“Well, you’ll see once you look. Let’s go.”

Wiel and Croix entered the inn in turn. Mion hesitated for a moment but quickly followed them inside.

The entrance was spacious, with a ceiling so high that even Croix couldn’t reach it. The shoe lockers were numerous, easily numbering in the hundreds, but all were locked, and none seemed to be in use.

“Um, excuse me, innkeeper?”

“Oh, I’m sorry for the delay. My name is Titi. Please, call me Titi.”

“Yes, I’m Mion.”

Mion, following Titi’s respectful bow, also bowed in return.

“Nice to meet you, Mion-sama. Is there something you would like to ask?”

“Well… this is the entrance, right? There are so many shoe lockers, but no one seems to be using them?”

“Yes. Our guests from the afterlife do not have physical forms, so these shoe lockers are for the living guests only.”

“I… I see.”

This meant that among the countless presences, there were no living beings.

To be precise, just the three of them.

Even without considering the staff, the sheer number was overwhelming.

They placed their shoes in the lockers and were guided to their guest rooms. As they walked down the corridor, the floor creaked under Croix’s weight.

Although normally not a concern, the eerie atmosphere heightened their sense of fear. Mion tried to ignore the sounds, folding her ears flat and walking with a blank mind.

They moved through the maze-like mansion. Passing by a particularly lively room where a banquet seemed to be taking place, Croix glanced at it and spoke.

“It seems as lively as ever.”

“Yes. The deceased always visit here. Even today, somewhere, someone has passed away. We take pride in being a place of final respite for such people.”

There was no hint of deceit in Titi’s words.

But Mion’s intuition caught on one particular phrase.

“Titi-san. So, um… does this mean that ghosts from all over the world gather here…?”

“That is correct.”

“And does that include evil people as well?”

“Of course. In death, it doesn’t matter whether one was a saint or a sinner. We simply offer our hospitality without discrimination.”

Mion’s heart was clouded by unease from Titi’s words.

Evil people, who had acted with impunity in their lifetime, were now finding solace here. Mion couldn’t accept that the bandits who attacked her village, or the slaver, Leto, could be here without facing any punishment.

“Mion-chan, it’s okay.”

Wiel, seemingly reading her thoughts, patted her head.

“Evil people do receive appropriate punishment. Isn’t that right, Titi-sama?”

“Hehe, indeed. As for that, we can arrange a time for you to observe later. — It seems Mion-sama has some concerns.”

Titi’s sharp gaze pierced through Mion. The intensity of Titi’s eyes, unlike anything Mion had encountered, made her feel defensive. It wasn’t merely that Titi was a werewolf, but there was an overwhelming presence emanating from her soul.

Titi continued to smile and led the way.

Mion wondered what kind of being Titi really was. She was completely enigmatic. Just then, a maid entered through a sliding door, carrying food.

(Oh, a chance.)

On a whim, Mion peeked inside.

— There was no one there.

In fact, the lively noise she had heard earlier was now absent. The room was quiet, with untouched food and drinks arranged on the table.

“Eh…?”

“That’s not allowed.”

“Eek…!?”

A cold voice suddenly whispered into Mion’s ear, startling her. She turned around, clutching her ears, to see Titi smiling with her hand over her mouth.

“I apologize for startling you. But our guests are enjoying themselves very much right now. Peeking in is rather impolite.”

“Y-yes…”

Tears welling up in her eyes, Mion hurriedly clung to Wiel’s arm. The once quiet great hall was now as lively as before. The sounds of joyous laughter and conversation clung to her ears, making her even more frightened.