Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 35

Chapter 35   The Mysterious Girl Appears / The Demon King Talks to Himself

◆Apuu Gald Residence◆

“Hmm, I see. Many collars were seized from the slave traders’ hideout.”

“Yes. Additionally, there are lists of merchant associations they were connected to.”

Gald scanned the report from the investigating knight.

The scale was larger than he had imagined. It seemed impossible to grasp the full extent just yet.

“What about the source of the slave collars?”

“We haven’t found that out yet…”

“Hurry. This matter is urgent.”

“Yes, sir!”

The knight saluted and hurriedly left the office.

Gald, who hadn’t been sleeping well lately, had dark circles under his eyes.

Leaning back in his chair, he removed his glasses.

He seemed extremely tired, sighing uncharacteristically.

“I’ll leave the aristocrats to His Majesty, but there’s still more to do… I can’t rest, but maybe I can take a short nap… hm?”

There was some commotion beyond the door.

It seemed the knights and maids were trying to stop someone.

(Could it be an enemy attack!? Retaliation from the slave traders!?)

Gald stood up and grabbed the sword that was leaning against the wall.

He had been reckless in his younger days. Even now, he kept up his training enough to not lose his edge. He wouldn’t fall behind mere bandits.

After a moment, with a thunderous sound, the door was flung wide open.

“Lord Gald, excuse meeeee!!”

“Quiet!”

A woman barged in without even knocking.

She was stunningly beautiful.

Her short curly hair was more yellow than blonde.

She had eyes full of energy.

Her figure gave the impression of a girl who had simply grown up.

For a moment, Gald didn’t recognize her, but her name soon surfaced from the depths of his memory.

“Ugh, Remi…!”

“It’s rude to say ‘ugh’ upon a long-awaited reunion!!”

He had every reason to say it, considering her past antics.

“I’m still holding a grudge for the time you half-destroyed my mansion. And hurry up and pay back the debt from then.”

“Nobody likes a small-minded man!!”

“The amount isn’t small, that’s why I’m bringing it up!”

If it were just some broken furniture or burnt artwork, he might have let it slide. But having his house half-destroyed was something he couldn’t forgive so easily.

“More importantly, Lord Gald!!”

“You think there’s something more important than my mansion…? Fine, what is it?”

Remi’s face lit up with a full-blown smile as she closed in on Gald.

“I heard that Croix’s big brother came here! Where is he now!?!?”

“…Croix big brother?”

Gald had never heard of Croix having a sister.

And that sister turned out to be the woman who half-destroyed his mansion.

As Gald tilted his head in confusion, Remi showed an even bigger, radiant smile.

◆ Demon King’s Castle – Throne Room ◆

“Hey, are you listening? You are, aren’t you? …My son is coming to kill you soon. You better be scared and sleepless──Demon King.”

Crunch!

The image in the remote crystal broke off, and Croix’s face that had been displayed there disappeared.

The Demon King, Flood, who was sitting on the throne, removed his gaze from the crystal and quietly exhaled.

Even while sitting, he was bigger than Croix.

He had ominous horns growing from his temples, but one of them was broken.

His appearance was stern yet youthful. However, his face bore a deep diagonal scar.

Flood looked at the three grotesque creatures kneeling before him and opened his mouth, which had been closed until now.

“As you saw, he is strong… What do you think? I want to hear everyone’s words.”

A low, heavy voice echoed in the Demon King’s chamber.

Just by speaking, the air trembled with an overwhelming pressure.

Amid this, one of the creatures raised its face.

It had a humanoid base, but its body was jet-black, as if covered in ink. Its gender was indiscernible.

Wings sprouted from its back, and those wings were writhing with countless eyes.

It was the Demon Eye Emperor, Balba.

“With all due respect, I, Balba, will speak.”

“Speak.”

“Is that… a human?”

“I don’t know.”

^[1](Figures.)

Seeing such a battle, it’s impossible to view him as human. Yet, he is neither a demi-human nor does he emit the presence of a demon. So what is he? No one knows.

Next, another creature raised its hand. Its body was like a mass of tentacles but had human-like arms and legs. A single red eye swiveled around, and its tentacles undulated. It was the Tentacle King, Gordon.

“Your Majesty, could that man be…”

“Yes. The only human who has ever defeated me.”

At Flood’s words, the three generals trembled. Along with Doreal, these four beings had fought and replaced the previous generals in duels, having held their positions for the past decade. They had heard rumors that the Demon King Flood had been defeated by a mere human, but that it was the relative of the hero was shocking.

“Lilith, who was sent to weaken the hero, was killed by those monsters. We can’t use the same tactic again… But it seems those monsters will not be accompanying the hero on his journey.”

“In that case, we must eliminate the hero immediately!”

The last figure stood up, clenching its fist. It was an evolved form of an ogre, a rare variant known as the General Ogre, specifically, the Arc Ogre, Regand.

“No, if we march while that creature is in human territory, it will undoubtedly intervene. We will crush the hero when he enters our domain. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!!”

Balba, Gordon, and Regand bowed their heads again and left the throne room. Watching them go, Flood exhaled deeply, letting his guard down.

“…I want to quit being the Demon King.”

His small murmur melted into the air, unheard by anyone.