Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 105

Chapter 105   The Demi-Human Girl Sees

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“Ugh… I’m so tired…”

In the guest room, Mion sprawled out on the floor, looking completely worn out. After weeks of traveling at sea and half a day of climbing, along with the unsettling thought of staying in a place haunted by ghosts, it was no surprise that she was exhausted both physically and mentally.

As she savored the scent of tatami mats, Wiel opened the window to let in some fresh air.

“Mion-chan, are you that scared of ghosts?”

“It’s not so much that I’m scared… but yes, I am scared.”

Realizing that excuses would be pointless, Mion admitted it openly. She wasn’t fond of ghosts, thanks in part to her father Alan’s scary stories. Most kids around her age were also afraid of ghosts. It was all Alan’s fault. She wanted to complain to him next time she saw him. For now, she decided to send some mental grumbling in his direction.

As she directed her mental energy towards where Alan might be, Croix, sitting on a cushion, gave a wry smile.

“Mion-chan, don’t worry. Ghosts generally don’t interfere with the living. Besides, as you saw, they don’t appear to the living.”

“Now that you mention it…”

“Ghosts feed on the life energy that’s faintly present in food and drinks. That’s why the food in the great hall was untouched.”

Mion understood Croix’s explanation. It was reassuring to know there was no harm… at least, that’s what she hoped. Her anxiety seemed to reach Wiel, who patted her head.

“It’s okay. It’s scary when you can’t see ghosts, isn’t it?”

“Yes…”

“It’s frightening when you can hear them but not see them.”

“Yes…”

“Then it wouldn’t be scary if you could see them, right?”

“Yes…”

“……”

“W-what…?”

“Chaos Vision.”

Before Mion could react, Wiel cast a spell on her.

For a fraction of a second, her view wavered slightly but quickly returned to normal.

“W-what did you do…!?”

“Chaos Vision. It’s a spell that allows you to see things beyond this world. Look outside the window.”

“Outside…?”

Led by Wiel, Mion looked out the window.

—There were things floating without lower halves.

“!!!!!!!”

A sound like she was being choked escaped Mion’s throat.

There they were. Transparent figures without legs. Objects. Smoke. Haze. Mist. —Ghosts.

Thoughts bubbled up in her mind like soap bubbles, appearing and disappearing. To alleviate her feelings of isolation and fear, Mion clung to Wiel’s arm.

But her trembling wouldn’t stop. It felt like her body was unresponsive, as if it didn’t belong to her.

“W-what, wh-wh-wh…?”

“Yes. Those are ghosts.”

“W-w-w-w…!!”

“The lack of lower halves is just because the spirits are materializing. The upper halves are in human form. Just think of the lower halves as spirit remnants.”

Wiel had explained the information she needed clearly.

She understood the logic and grasped the concept.

But even so, it was still frightening. It would have been better if she couldn’t see them.

“Isn’t it better if you couldn’t see them?”

“O-o-o-o-o-o-ohhhhhhh…!”

“But maybe seeing them is better for you?”

Mion couldn’t understand the meaning of Wiel’s words at all.

It was clear that not seeing ghosts was better. What was Wiel talking about?

“Both of you, it’s nice to talk, but we should get to the bath soon.”

Croix, who had already prepared to enter the bath, spoke to the two. Indeed, their bodies were sticky with sweat and sea breeze.

No matter how creepy the ghostly inn was, it couldn’t surpass Mion’s discomfort right now.

Mion hurried to prepare and, along with Croix and Wiel, headed for the large bathhouse.

“Ahhh… this is so relaxing…”

“It feels so good to be in a hot spring after so long…”

Having discarded their clothes, the two were soaking in a spacious outdoor bath with a view of mountains, rivers, and waterfalls.

The bath was so large that even with ten adults stretching out, there was still plenty of space.

The temperature was just right. They could stay in here forever.

In front of such a magnificent view, their tired minds melted away.

“Well… if we couldn’t see those ghosts, it would be perfect…”

In Mion’s line of sight, there were about five (?) ghostly children floating around.

However, they were all chatting cheerfully. As long as she ignored their translucency and lack of lower halves, they seemed like ordinary children.

“Ghosts aren’t scary. They’re just there, like us.”

“Are you sure they’re not harmful? Like, possessing us or cursing us…”

“Hehe. You’ve read too many fictional stories. Ghosts don’t do those things. Or rather, they can’t.”

“I-I see… I’m a bit relieved.”

While she wasn’t entirely at ease, knowing there was no harm made it less frightening.

…Well, it was still scary, though.