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

Chapter 63 The Hero’s Father and His Party Dives

A full day had passed since Wiel dispelled the weather manipulation magic. The sea was more turbulent than they had imagined, and Mion had been struggling just to maintain her magic control. As a result, they had hardly made any progress.

However, thanks to Mion’s adaptability—one of her strong suits—and the life-threatening situation, she managed to adjust to the hellish conditions in just one day.

“You really can do it when you try,” Wiel said.

“Well, if I don’t, I’ll die…” Mion replied, looking utterly drained.

The thought of death had been lingering in her mind all day, leaving her mentally exhausted. Fortunately, the weather was now clear, and the sea had calmed. However, the unpredictable nature of the ocean meant that she couldn’t let her guard down. Mion’s concentration was sharper than ever.

They walked for several more hours. Suddenly, Croix stopped and looked around.

“Was it around here?” he asked.

“Yes, it seems so. I can definitely sense it,” Wiel responded.

Mion could tell they were discussing something, but she couldn’t detect any presence other than themselves. She didn’t understand what they were talking about.

“Alright, Mion-chan. Envelop your body in a magic barrier,” Croix instructed.

“Huh? O-Okay…?” Mion responded, creating a barrier around her body as instructed.

This would keep her clothes dry and repel water, but…

“Wait, you don’t mean…”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean,” Wiel confirmed.

“This is our midway point. We’re going to dive down to the seabed to secure food and supplies,” Croix explained.

Since she had a vague idea of what was coming, Mion wasn’t particularly surprised at this point.

However, the thought of diving to the seabed in the middle of the ocean was daunting. The depth would likely be immeasurable—not shallow at all. She wasn’t even sure how long she could hold her breath. On top of that, there were surely sea monsters and magical creatures lurking below. A careless dive might lead to her being eaten.

While she trusted that Croix and Wiel would protect her, she couldn’t shake off her anxiety. Her stomach was in knots from all the worry; she felt like she needed some medicine.

“Don’t worry. Wiel and I will handle any monsters or creatures. Fighting underwater requires experience,” Croix reassured her.

“I’ll cast a spell that will allow you to breathe underwater, so there’s nothing to worry about,” Wiel added.

“What?” Mion responded, suspicious.

Everything seemed a bit too convenient, which made it even more suspicious. Mion was starting to distrust them, but given their past treatment of her, it was understandable.

“…Is there some kind of catch?” she asked.

“Ah, you’re sharp,” Croix said with a grin.

“Mion-chan, I’m so proud of how much you’ve grown,” Wiel added.

“I don’t feel proud at all,” Mion muttered.

It was just as she had expected.

But if she didn’t have to fight sea monsters or worry about breathing, what kind of unreasonable challenge awaited her?

“Well, it’s nothing too difficult. You just need to dive on your own. That’s it,” Croix1 explained.

“…Really? That’s all…?” Mion asked, somewhat incredulous.

“Yes, that’s all,” Croix confirmed.

Mion had never swum in the ocean before, but she had often swum in lakes with her friends. She was quite good at free diving, so she felt confident she could handle it.

“Alright, I’ll do my best!” Mion declared.

“That’s the spirit,” Wiel encouraged her.

“Then let’s dive. We’re heading to a depth of one thousand meters… to the underwater nation of Dipsea,” Croix said.

“Yes!” Mion replied enthusiastically.

“…”

“Wait, what?” she suddenly realized.

◆

“Um, Wiel-sama, the magic barrier is creaking…” Mion voiced her concern.

They had already descended past 300 meters underwater. The magic barrier was keeping her dry, but the constant creaking sound was making it hard for her to focus. She had never experienced anything like this before.

“That’s the water pressure. The deeper you go, the higher the pressure becomes. If your magic control slips even a little, you’ll get crushed by the pressure, so be careful,” Wiel explained calmly.

“Please don’t say something so horrifying so casually!” Mion replied, panicked.

She hastily refocused on maintaining her magic control. However, the deeper they went, the stronger the pressure became on her entire body, and the magic barrier felt like it could burst at any moment. It was truly a life-or-death situation.

“But Croix-sama seems to be diving just fine. Is it because you’re maintaining his magic barrier?” Mion asked.

“No, I’ve only cast a spell that allows him to breathe underwater,” Wiel replied.

“He looks like he’s diving effortlessly despite this pressure,” Mion observed.

“Well, he’s my husband,” Wiel said nonchalantly.

“True,” Mion agreed.

But Mion had no time to worry about others. She could feel the pressure increasing by the meter, and without Wiel’s light, it would be pitch black. Beyond the darkness, she sensed the presence of countless sea monsters.

The psychological strain was taking its toll, causing her magic control to falter slightly.

“Now, now, Mion-chan. You need to focus on your magic control. Otherwise, you’ll really die,” Wiel said with a disturbingly cheerful smile.

“Eek!”

That smile was terrifying in its own right, making Mion even more anxious. Following Wiel’s advice, she focused solely on controlling her magic as she continued her descent into the depths.