Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 39

Chapter 39   To spar with the Hero’s father, the First Prince.

“So, what are you guys going to do after this?”

“Well, I was thinking of taking a tour of the country. Since Alka was born, we’ve only seen the village and its surroundings.”

He wanted to see how the country had changed over the past decade or so and, more importantly, he had kept Wiel confined to the village for all those years. The thought of returning to the village right away didn’t appeal to him, given his love for Wiel.

Then, Colt scratched his cheek awkwardly and said, “W-well, could you maybe give me some training? Like, back in the old days…”

“Hmm? Oh, sure. I was just curious to see how much you’ve grown.”

“Great! Then let’s go to the training grounds… Oh, but they’re busy right now, right? Let’s head to the outskirts instead.”

Excitedly, Colt started preparing to leave the room. When Croix also moved to follow, Wiel stopped him.

“Wait. Didn’t you say no?”

“Well, I didn’t initiate it. Colt did.”

“Yeah, I want to!”

With a beaming smile, Colt looked like a happy child playing with a beloved relative. It was hard for Wiel to keep insisting on a ‘no’ in the face of such a joyful expression.

“Ugh… You understand, right? If anything happens to Colt, it would be treason against the country.”

“Sister, thank you for worrying about me. But I’m fine.”

“Fine? On what basis?”

“Because I’m—strong.”

Wiel was taken aback by Colt’s confident statement, then quickly became exasperated.

“Ha, Colt hasn’t changed a bit since back then…”

“Heh heh heh. You should understand, brother and Your Majesty. A man remains a boy at heart forever.”

“「「「What!」」」”

Croix, Ashtar, and Colt all gave a thumbs-up with broad smiles.

“Um, am I the only one who doesn’t understand this?”

“Don’t worry, Mion-chan. I don’t get it either.”

“…The world is a wide place.”

“Please don’t spread such strange views.”

◆

Everyone boarded the carriage and moved to the outskirts.

Here, in the vast wilderness, there was no danger to the city or people from shockwaves or the aftermath of destruction.

There, Croix, unarmed, faced Colt, fully equipped.

“First, attack with full force for ten seconds. I’ll adjust my strength according to your momentum and swordsmanship.”

“Got it. …But is that okay? I might actually win.”

“If that happens, then so be it.”

“…Then I’ll make that happen.”

Colt’s eyes sharpened, and he drew his sword.

Immediately, a dense pressure spread around them.

Wiel and Mion were astonished. This pressure was on par with Doreal’s.

Feeling this much pressure from a distance, one could only wonder what Croix was thinking.

Ashtar, standing exactly in the middle of the two, cleared his throat and looked at them.

“Then, I’ll give the signal. If there’s any danger, Wiel will use magic to stop them. Understood?”

“Yes.”

“Please take care.”

“Then──begin!!”

In an instant, Colt vanished.

Croix was certainly not being careless.

But he had a hunch that Colt had gotten the jump on him.

However, Croix was no ordinary human.

With his exceptional danger perception, instincts, and spatial awareness, he managed to catch the sword that came at him diagonally from behind with just his index and middle fingers.

Even Croix couldn’t completely stop the force, and the impact caused the ground to sink beneath him.

Feeling this long-lost sensation, Croix couldn’t help but smile slightly.

He pushed back with his two fingers, sending Colt flying dozens of meters away.

Colt spun in mid-air to reduce his momentum and closed in on Croix without hesitation.

In the span of a second, Colt unleashed dozens of sword strikes, but Croix deflected them all.

Receiving the blades head-on would injure even Croix.

However, if he deflected the flat of the blade, it was enough to divert its trajectory.

Despite the high-speed barrage, Croix handled it with impeccable precision.

“Impressive, big bro! To keep up with my speed…!”

“Colt, you’ve really elevated yourself to this level.”

“!?!”

For a moment, Croix’s right arm wavered.

Realizing something was wrong, Colt quickly distanced himself, just as Croix’s fist struck the spot where Colt had been moments before.

The ground heaved up several meters, creating a massive crater.

Had Colt not dodged, he would have undoubtedly sustained severe injuries.

Cold sweat ran down his cheeks, and he tried to steady his ragged breathing.

It had been a long time since any combat had made him this nervous.

“Well, well. To be able to read this speed… That’s quite something.”

Croix hadn’t expected Colt to evade him, so it was a bit of a surprise.

The punch was aimed with an emphasis on speed, and avoiding it was the first time since the Demon King that it had happened.

Croix exhaled quietly and rolled his shoulders again.

“Ten seconds have passed. Then… I’ll match your speed at about seventy percent.”