Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 70

Chapter 70   The Hero’s Father Comes Across Bullying

After finishing a fair amount of the meal and feeling somewhat satisfied, Wiel, Mion, and Neptune began a drinking contest.

“Whew, Mion, you’re quite something! You’re the first to keep up with me in a drinking match since Wiel.”

“I’m totally fine! Bring me more!”

“Hehe, Mion-chan is really pumped up.”

Near the trio, empty barrels of alcohol were piled high like a mountain. Despite that, the three continued drinking without pause, leaving the maids and butlers visibly struggling to keep up. Watching them, Croix felt like he might get drunk just from the sight of it, so he quietly slipped out of the banquet hall without being noticed.

“They’ll be drinking like fish for a while, so I might as well take a little walk…”

It had been nearly twenty years since his last visit, but as long as his memory served correctly, he wouldn’t get lost. Unlike Wiel, that is.

As he strolled around the palace, partly to aid digestion, he eventually arrived at what seemed to be a courtyard. Though called a courtyard, it was vast, fitting for Neptune’s scale.

“This brings back memories. I used to spar here.”

Though the wounds from those days had healed, he could still faintly feel the ache. The time when their battle’s aftermath nearly destroyed the castle was now a fond memory. Of course, the castle and courtyard had long since been restored.

He remembered getting a good scolding from the ministers afterward. Exiting the courtyard, he walked down a corridor leading to the next area. If he recalled correctly, this should be where the Royal Guard’s training grounds were located.

As he walked down the dimly lit passageway, he began to hear the sound of swords clashing in the distance. But that wasn’t all. He could also faintly hear multiple voices, seemingly hurling insults.

“What… is this?”

Judging by the tone of the voices and the number of people, it didn’t seem like a normal training session. Trying not to alert the fishmen, Croix carefully peeked around the wall.

There were four people in total. All of them were dressed lightly, holding wooden training swords in their hands. Three of them, who were quite burly, were attacking a smaller, more slender young man, especially small for a fishman.

“You’re weak! Way too weak, you idiot!”

“How the hell did you even get into the Royal Guard?!”

“We’re doing you a favor by training you so you don’t get killed on a mission!”

“Gah!”

It was clear they weren’t holding back. Even though they were using wooden swords, blows struck with that much force could be lethal. The smaller youth was trying to fend off their strikes with his own wooden sword, but he was easily overpowered and received a kick to the stomach.

There are bullies everywhere, it seems, always picking on the weaker ones. Croix sighed, then formed his fingers into a flicking gesture—

“Hogeh!”

“Buh!?”

“Oof!?”

He shot air bullets, carefully adjusted to avoid causing serious harm, at the heads of the three larger men. The sudden concussions and pain knocked them out instantly.

“Wha… what just…?”

The young man, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, looked around in confusion. Croix approached him.

“Are you okay?”

“Wh-who are you? An intruder!? Ow…!”

The young man clutched his side, grimacing in pain where he’d been hit. Though Croix couldn’t heal wounds or injuries, he did his best to support him as he staggered.

“It doesn’t look like you’re okay. Let’s get you to the medical room. I think there’s one near the training grounds.”

“Don’t… don’t touch me. Wait… wh-what kind of grip is that…?!”

The young man tried to shake off Croix’s hand, but his grip was too strong for him to break free.

“Stop struggling. I was watching—you took quite a beating. You might have broken bones.”

“This is nothing! Let me go!”

“You could have my wife heal you, but she’s drunk right now. Sorry, but you’ll have to settle for the Royal Guard’s doctor.”

“I said I’m fine! I’ll deal with it on my own!”

As expected from a fishman, he was incredibly tough. A human would likely have passed out from the pain of such injuries, but this young man still had enough energy to shout.

“Just stay still. If I hadn’t stepped in, those hits could’ve been fatal.”

“I didn’t ask for your help! And what do you mean, ‘stepped in’? You didn’t do anything!”

“I did this.”

Croix flicked the air with his finger, sending an air bullet that shattered a nearby piece of coral into tiny fragments. The young man, who had been struggling moments before, froze in shock at this display of otherworldly power.

“Wha—wh-wh-what did you just do!? Destroying property inside the palace is forbidden! What kind of trick did you use!?”

“You’re too noisy.”

“Oof!”

Tired of the young man’s constant yelling, Croix brought his fist down on his head. The blow was so strong that he had no chance to resist as his consciousness quickly slipped into darkness.

“This makes it easier to carry you.”

The phrase “defeating the purpose” couldn’t be more fitting. Croix picked up the now unconscious young man and headed to the medical room.