Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 56

Chapter 56   The Hero Apologizes / The Hero’s Father and His Party Gets Ready

◆A Certain Plateau ・ A Certain Village◆

On a plateau that stretches beyond two mountains from the port town of Acreana.

Alka, Sakya, and Garnos were gazing at a village that had been reduced to ruins.

“Could this be the work of the Demon King’s army?”

“But Garnos, I don’t smell blood or the stench of death.”

Sakya and Garnos tilted their heads in confusion.

However, Alka alone stared at the scene with a face that had come to accept the reality.

Before being summoned by Croix, he had traveled through similar villages. At first, his chest ached with guilt and despair, but he couldn’t let those feelings linger.

Alka turned to face the two of them, a self-deprecating smile on his face, with lifeless eyes.

“This village was destroyed by the aftermath of my attack.”

“Ah…”

“My, my…”

Sakya recalled what Croix had told her.

Alka was now traveling through the villages he had unintentionally destroyed.

“You two wait here for a moment.”

“But…”

“Sakya-sama, let’s wait here for now.”

“Garnos… understood.”

Sakya and Garnos watched as Alka walked toward the village.

Then, a man carrying wood noticed Alka and his expression changed.

“This…! …Well, well, if it isn’t the hero himself. What brings you to this remote place?”

The man momentarily showed his anger but quickly reverted to a sullen expression.

The villagers around also seemed to notice Alka and glared at him with cold eyes.

“I’ve come to apologize. …I’m truly sorry for causing such devastation.”

Alka slowly bent his waist and bowed deeply.

The man was taken aback by the sudden apology but soon had his anger flare up again.

“Are you kidding me… Are you kidding me! Sure, the monsters threatening the village are gone! But what’s the point of destroying the village!? And now, of all times, you come to apologize!? What kind of hero are you, this is outrageous!!”

The man picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at Alka.

Alka didn’t make any attempt to protect himself or brace for impact, simply accepting the stone.

This act prompted the villagers to start throwing stones at Alka as well.

Shouting men, cursing women, and crying children all joined in, hurling stones at him.

Sakya, unable to watch any longer, raised her staff to use magic to protect Alka, but Garnos stopped her.

“Garnos-san, if this continues, Alka-sama will…”

“Well, let’s watch. Let’s see what that young man will do.”

It seemed unlikely that Alka could remain so composed.

As a hero, Alka had the power of self-regeneration. So, while he could heal from damage, he still felt pain.

Right now, blood was streaming heavily from his head.

However, Alka remained with his head bowed.

On the contrary—

“I am truly, deeply sorry.”

—He knelt on the ground and pressed his head to the earth.

It was an unmistakable act of “dogeza,” a traditional Japanese form of deep apology.

Alka, indifferent to getting dirty, performed a dogeza.

The villagers, perhaps surprised by such humility, ceased their actions.

Sakya remembered seeing Alka covered in mud when she first met him.

He must have been apologizing like this without rest, which is why he was covered in mud.

“…Garnos-san.”

“Yes, let’s go as well. Although this was an issue before we joined him, now we are part of the hero’s party. Whether we are laughing, rejoicing, grieving, or getting dirty, we do it together.”

Sakya and Garnos moved closer to Alka, preparing to apologize alongside him.

◆Port Town Acreana ・ Sea◆

At the sea of Port Town Acreana.

Mion stood with her hands clasped in prayer and her eyes closed, concentrating deeply.

She had been standing on the water for several hours already. Despite expending a significant amount of magical energy, she remained standing without tiring.

Seeing this, Wiel nodded in satisfaction.

“…Alright, it’s okay now. You pass.”

“Yay!”

Mion cheered with her hands raised. She remained standing on the water without sinking. It seemed she had become capable of unconsciously standing on the water even if her emotions fluctuated.

“If you apply this, you’ll be able to lie down on the water and even sit and eat. You can learn those things gradually as you travel.”

“Like this?”

Suddenly, Mion sat down on the water and began rolling around playfully.

“Ahahaha! This is so strange! It’s so much fun!”

Mion spun around on the water as if she were rolling on the floor, enjoying herself. Even Wiel, usually composed, widened her eyes slightly in surprise.

“…I’m amazed. I didn’t expect you to be able to do this so soon.”

“I’ve always been quick to pick up on applications once I have the basics down. Although, learning the basics is extremely difficult for me…”

“Indeed… That’s a wonderful talent.”

Basics are important, but in magical combat, just having the basics isn’t enough. One needs to apply, innovate, and use magic that surpasses the opponent.

Thus, being adept at applications in the field of magic is a significant advantage.

At that moment, Croix, who had been observing from the beach, approached the two.

“It looks like you’ve managed to learn it successfully. Well done.”

“Hehe, thank you very much!”

“Then, from here, let’s explore Acreana freely. We’ll set off in three days. Make sure not to neglect your preparations.”

“Got it!”

Upon hearing “free exploration,” Mion was excitedly making plans.

Mion is a young girl, after all. She wants to see new clothes and try delicious sweets.

Seeing Mion’s excitement, Wiel placed a hand on her cheek and smiled.

“Hmm, free exploration, huh? Maybe I should explore as well.”

“Wiel, you tend to get lost, so stick with me.”

“You don’t trust me, do you?”

“Nope.”

“How harsh.”