Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 60

Chapter 60   The Demi-Human Girl Faints

◆ In Front of the Port Town of Acreana’s Hotel ◆

“…This is bad… very bad.”

It had been almost a full day since Mion had beaten Anela to a pulp.

Time had passed, and now it was the evening of the promised third day. Technically, it was still within the promised timeframe, but Croix had mentioned they would be leaving today.

The sun was already setting; it was hard to imagine they would depart now. In other words, Mion had failed to make it back on time.

“What do I do, what do I do, what do I do…?”

Mion paced nervously in front of the hotel, looking like a suspicious character. Staying here wouldn’t improve the situation, but she didn’t want to go inside either—because that would mean the training intensity would increase fivefold.

However, this was a high-end hotel. Lurking around here too long could result in the hotel staff reporting her to the guards.

“Damn it. My mistake was getting too flustered and heading in the wrong direction…”

Mion wasn’t typically bad with directions. She had played in the forest since she was young, so her sense of direction was usually quite good.

But all of this was the fault of the “fivefold training intensity” curse that hung over her head. The compounded panic had thrown her senses into disarray.

“What am I going to do…?”

She sighed deeply as she sat down on a bench near the fountain. She knew sitting there wouldn’t help, but she couldn’t bring herself to move. After all, if she went inside, she’d be stepping into a nightmare.

Of course, delaying the inevitable wouldn’t change anything.

Then, an idea struck her.

“Oh, right. I just won’t go.”

“If I go, there’ll be hell waiting for me.

So if I don’t go, there won’t be any hell.”

“…Maybe I should just run away.”

That seemed like the only way to survive. Not that Croix and Wiel would kill her—she didn’t think they would. But the training awaiting her might very well be worse than death.

She felt guilty about leaving behind the friends who had sent her off, but self-preservation came first.

“Alright, I’ll run… I’m going to run away…!”

“Run away from who?”

“From the sadistic general, of course.”

“Hmm. And are you sure you can escape from the sadistic general?”

“Haha. That’s the thing, isn’t it…”

She doubted she could truly escape from Croix and Wiel. Even if she did manage to run, those two would undoubtedly come after her. And when they did, fivefold training might be the least of her worries.

“Giving up before you try isn’t good. You only live once. Why not give it a shot?”

“Y-You’re right! I should give it a try… Wait, what?”

She realized something.

Who exactly was she talking to right now?

Her body froze, but her mind was racing. This sensation was familiar. It was the same feeling she had when she was about to be eaten by a dragon—a brush with death.

No, this time it was even worse.

Her mouth went dry, and cold sweat poured down her back like a waterfall.

As if accepting her fate, Mion slowly turned toward the voice.

“Welcome back, Mion.”

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

There stood Despair Croix and Death Wiel. At that moment, there was only one option for a human being.

“—Ah.”

Her thoughts shut down, and she fainted.

“Did we overdo it?”

“We might need to include some mental training from now on.”

As Mion lay unconscious, Croix and Wiel continued their usual conversation.

“It’s still the third day, so we’re on time… We can leave now without any issues.”

“But she’s passed out.”

“We could carry her while she’s out cold, but that wouldn’t count as training. Let’s stay the night and leave tomorrow.”

Croix picked Mion up in a princess carry and headed toward the hotel. Wiel pouted slightly in envy but quickly followed beside him.

“Are we leaving tomorrow morning?”

“Let’s do that. Mion’s probably exhausted, and there’s no need to wake her up forcibly.”

“And what about the density of her training?”

“Technically, she made it within the three-day deadline, but since she didn’t make it in time for departure, we’ll go with triple the density.”

“…Hmph.”

Wiel gave Croix a sidelong, skeptical glance.

“What?”

“You’re pretty soft on Mion.”

“Am I? I think it’s a fair decision.”

“Pfft.”

Wiel finally turned away with a pout. But Croix knew what that meant—she wanted attention.

“What do you want me to do?”

“! Princess carry me!”

“Alright, alright. When we get back.”

“Hehe.”

Satisfied, Wiel happily nestled up to Croix as they headed back to the hotel, with Croix smiling gently beside her.