Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 62

Chapter 62   The Demi-Human Girl Sees Hell

A week had passed since Croix and the others had set out to sea.

Today, too, the weather was perfect. The vast ocean stretched out before them, with not a single large wave in sight.

At first, Mion’s spirits were high, but after days of nothing but blue skies and blue seas, she started to feel mentally drained. To be honest, it was tough on her psyche.

It’s often said that humans start to feel mentally exhausted when exposed to the same color for too long. Even though they were treated to sunrises, sunsets, and starry skies, most of the time it was just blue sky and blue sea. To put it mildly, she wanted to go home.

“Croix-sama, it’s been nothing but clear skies…”

“Isn’t that nice? Better than a storm, right?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“It’s good training, isn’t it? It strengthens the mind.”

“Please don’t tie the weather into the training.”

Indeed, walking endlessly towards an unknown destination, seeing the same colors over and over, might be perfect for mental training. But still, there should be a limit to this.

“Well, we’ll keep going like this until you figure it out.”

“Wait, you…”

“Huh?”

“…Figure it out?”

Mion tilted her head at Croix’s words and Wiel’s reaction, but then she finally realized. She sensed a faint trace of magic from Wiel. It was so subtle that you wouldn’t notice it unless you were very attentive, but it seemed like Wiel was constantly using some sort of magic directed upwards.

“Wiel-sama, that magic…”

“You noticed, didn’t you? Hey, you’re not supposed to let her figure it out this way!”

“S-sorry, it just slipped out…”

Surprisingly, Croix seemed to falter under Wiel’s scolding. This confirmed that Wiel was indeed using some kind of magic, though Mion wasn’t sure what it was.

Wiel let out a soft sigh and raised her index finger.

“We were actually planning to keep things this way until you noticed it on your own, Mion-chan.”

“Well, you found out.”

“And whose fault is that?”

“I’m sorry.”

Croix said, “I’m sorry.” It was the first time Mion had heard that.

“Now that you’ve figured it out, there’s no point in continuing.”

Wiel gently waved her raised finger. With a sound like shattering glass, the magical presence that had been emanating from her vanished. In the next moment, something about the atmosphere changed. The air, or maybe the smell of it, felt different. Earlier, it was as if a veil had been covering everything, but now it felt clear.

“What kind of magic was that?”

“Weather manipulation.”

“Oh…”

“…”

“Huh?”

“I was using weather manipulation magic to keep the weather clear in this area. The purpose was to mentally push you, Mion-chan, and sharpen your senses. Well, thanks to someone, you found out rather easily.”

Wiel shot a sharp look at Croix, who quietly averted his gaze. But Mion was too stunned to care about that. Weather manipulation. Magic that controls the weather. Even Mion, who was still new to studying magic, understood the immense scale and absurdity of it.

And the fact that Wiel had been maintaining it with such a minimal amount of magic power was beyond her imagination.

“Well, well, Wiel. Even though the magic was discovered, the real challenge starts now, right?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“…Challenge? What challenge?”

Mion had a bad feeling about Croix’s words. With a bright smile, Croix gave her a thumbs-up.

“The challenge of facing the raw power of nature.”

“No way! No no no no no—!”

“Mion-chan, your magic control is getting sloppy.”

“Focus, Mion-chan.”

An hour after Wiel dispelled the magic, the entire area was being pummeled by violent winds and torrential rain. Massive waves surged, whirlpools formed, and the currents beneath their feet churned wildly. Thunder roared across the sky, and shadows of flying magical beasts and monsters could be seen in the distance.

It was hell. The ocean was so turbulent it felt otherworldly.

In the midst of this nightmare, Mion was desperately focusing all her energy on maintaining her magic control, struggling to stay standing on the water. Croix and Wiel watched her calmly, unaffected by the chaos.

“Uh, um, I-I really think clear skies are better! I love blue skies! I love the blue sea! They’re the best! Hooray!”

“It’s too late. This is phase two of your training, so you’d better get used to it.”

“If we don’t move quickly, monsters from the depths of the sea will come up to eat you, Mion-chan.”

“Eep!”

She let out a sound that barely qualified as a voice. But she wished they could understand how she felt.

“Come on, keep those feet steady.”

“This reminds me of the first time Alka stood up. Such memories.”

“Don’t start reminiscing nowwwwwww!”