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

Chapter 64 The Hero’s Father and His Party Arrive

At that moment, something like a tremor traveled through the water, striking Mion’s body from the darkness ahead. It felt like the roar of a dragon, a sensation that made her soul sound the alarm, and she instinctively shrank back. Croix and Wiel also stopped, turning towards the direction the tremor had come from.

“Hmm, a sea beast?” Croix mused.

“In this area, it must be that one, right?” Wiel asked.

“Most likely. Both of you, stay back,” Croix instructed.

Croix stepped in front of the two, staring into the darkness. The tremor grew steadily stronger. Wiel, just in case, began to cast a magic circle and stepped slightly forward, positioning herself to protect Mion. It was clear that Mion wasn’t strong enough for this battle, and that filled her with frustration.

After a few seconds of waiting, something sliced through the pitch-black water, heading straight for Croix and the others. It had blue scales, sharp and jagged teeth, and piercing eyes that glowed even in the darkness. Though it lacked wings, its fins were well-developed—a dragon born in the sea, living in the sea…

“A Water Dragon, as I thought,” Croix confirmed.

“A d-d-d-dragon…? There’s a dragon in the sea!?” Mion stammered.

“They say there’s no environment where dragons don’t live. I’ve seen ones that swim in magma and others that survive in temperatures below minus a hundred degrees,” Croix casually explained.

“Now’s not the time for a lesson!” Mion protested.

Indeed, this was no time for explanations. They were up against a creature that ruled the sea, while they, as mere humans, couldn’t move properly in the water. In a normal swim, they’d lose even to fish.

“Mion-chan, stay calm. It’s going to be okay,” Croix reassured her.

“Y-yes…” Mion replied.

There was nothing more reassuring than hearing Croix say “It’s going to be okay.” Her body, which had been trembling just moments ago, was now still. Croix glared at the Water Dragon, then crossed his arms and took a deep breath.

And then…

“I’m going to tear you apart,” he declared.

He muttered quietly. His voice was so soft that even the keen ears of a Rabbitfolk could barely pick it up. However, the Water Dragon seemed to sense something and abruptly stopped, fleeing from Croix at lightning speed, like a weak creature encountering its natural predator.

“It’s over,” Croix said calmly.

“Over? What did you do, Croix-sama?” Mion asked, puzzled.

“I just intimidated it. If you spill blood in the sea, it could attract other sea beasts. If we had to fight each one that showed up, no matter how much strength we have, it wouldn’t be enough. The rule underwater is to avoid unnecessary battles,” Croix explained.

“I see,” Mion nodded in agreement.

Croix was right. A single drop of blood could attract not just one or two sea beasts, but entire swarms. Even for Croix and Wiel, dealing with that would be tough, especially with Mion—a burden to protect. The thought filled her with frustration.

It felt strange to admit, given she was still in training, but Mion realized she was nothing more than dead weight to the two of them. She stared at Croix and Wiel’s backs with a mixture of frustration and admiration.

The trio continued to dive deeper, occasionally scaring off approaching sea creatures with intimidation alone. As they descended further, Mion’s magical barrier suddenly groaned under the pressure.

“Eek!” she gasped.

“We’re at about nine hundred meters now. We’re almost there,” Wiel informed her.

“No, I’m seriously at my limit! How much pressure is this!?” Mion exclaimed, panicking.

“It’s about ninety kilograms per square centimeter. Imagine ninety kilograms of force pressing on you from all directions,” Wiel explained calmly.

“Ninety…!?” Mion stammered.

The numbers were so overwhelming that they didn’t make sense to her. Essentially, at one thousand meters below the surface, the pressure could reach one hundred kilograms. Obviously, that kind of pressure could be lethal.

And yet, Croix was swimming as if it was nothing. Clearly, his body was far from ordinary.

“Well, technically, only your lungs and stomach would be crushed, not your entire body,” Croix added.

“That’s exactly the kind of information I didn’t need to hear right now!” Mion snapped back.

“Lungs and stomach getting crushed? That definitely sounds fatal, so why is he saying it so casually?” Mion thought, completely unable to comprehend Croix’s nonchalance—nor did she want to.

“Alright, just one last push,” Croix encouraged.

“Mion-chan, let’s keep going,” Wiel added.

“Ugh, fine! I’ve come this far, so I’m going to see it through!” Mion declared, her determination hardening.

In a way, Mion had shed a layer of hesitation. She swam on and on, pushing herself as the magical barrier around her creaked and groaned, nearing its limit.

“Is that… light?” she wondered.

A strange light began to appear from the ocean floor. It shimmered in seven colors, growing stronger as they approached—until, in an instant, the pitch-black darkness was pierced by a brilliant, blinding light.

For a moment, the brightness was overwhelming, but her eyes quickly adjusted, revealing a massive city sprawling out before her. The enormous city was illuminated by multicolored lights, all encased within a colossal magical barrier.

“Amazing…” Mion whispered, awestruck. She never imagined that such a city could exist in the pitch-black depths of the ocean.

“This is the undersea nation of Dipsea. Let’s go through the entry procedures,” Croix instructed.

“R-right!” Mion replied, stifling her urge to relax as she followed Croix and Wiel into the city.