Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 80

Chapter 80   The Fishman’s Apprentice Speaks

The next day, while Mion and Dona were being thoroughly beaten by Croix as usual, someone entered the courtyard.

It was a merman dressed as a knight. Likely from the Royal Army.

But unlike the three who had previously harassed them, this man seemed much more robust.

Seeing the man, Dona hurriedly saluted. Even Croix and Mion, as usual, stopped their movements and observed the man.

“Hmph, he’s strong.”

“Of course. He’s the Commander of the Royal Army…”

Dona responded with a tense expression. The Royal Army Commander must have a significant presence to be felt so strongly.

Neptune tilted her head, puzzled by the sudden appearance of the Royal Army Commander in the courtyard.

“Commander, what brings you here?”

“I apologize for the intrusion, Your Majesty. I need to ask Dona a few questions.”

“Hmph… Croix, is it alright?”

“Yes, there’s no problem.”

Croix, being an outsider here, had no intention of interfering in the matter between the internal members.
He stepped back with Mion, and the Commander turned his gaze towards Mion.

“I’m sorry, but you’re included too. I’d like to ask about last night.”

“Last night?”

Not understanding, Croix looked at her, and she clearly averted her gaze.

Something definitely happened… Croix placed a hand on Mion’s head and forcibly turned her towards him.

“Mion, be honest.”

“We—we’re not at fault. Those guys were in the wrong.”

“Hmph… What happened?”

“…Dona and I were having a review session after training, and then they started causing trouble. So, I just gripped his arms a little…”

Upon Mion’s explanation, Croix sighed.

The fact that they were harassed probably referred to the same three who had previously abused Dona. It seems they had once again targeted Dona without learning their lesson.

However, regardless of the circumstances, raising a hand against a knight is problematic. One could easily be charged with contempt.

As expected, the Commander glared at Mion with a fierce expression.

“That’s odd. According to the report I received, it was said that you harassed and unjustly subjected to violence while you were training?”

“That’s impossible! There’s no way we would do something like that!”

“Mion, calm down.”

It was clear the Commander was infuriated, nearly ready to pounce.

Croix placed a hand on Mion’s shoulder, and Mion glared at the Commander with fierce breath.

Then Neptune spoke up with an air of boredom.

“Commander. Are you saying that Croix’s beloved disciple used excessive force and caused injuries?”

“In fact, there are marks on one’s arm from being gripped too hard, which have turned into bruises. Regardless of the reasons, it still amounts to violence against a knight.”

“Then how do you explain the violence inflicted on Dona by those three? If you are to punish Mion and Dona, wouldn’t it be only fair to punish those three as well?”

“They reported that the injuries were from an accident during self-training. Injuries are part of training.”

The Commander faced Neptune’s gaze head-on.

He wasn’t saying anything wrong. He was merely discussing based on facts and reports.

As the Commander continued to argue with Neptune, Croix approached.

“Commander, may I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Is the report from those three truly accurate?”

“…What are you implying?”

The Commander increased his pressure in response to Croix’s words.

But Croa met that pressure with a calm expression.

“I’ve heard that you are a guest of Her Majesty the Queen, but that doesn’t mean you have any right to meddle in our affairs.”

“Mion is my family. If anything happens to my family, whether it’s the Demon King or a god, no matter who it is, I will protect them.”

The gazes of Croix and the Commander clashed.

Mion and Dona, nearby, trembled. It wasn’t murderous intent or killing intent. It was pure pressure dominating the space.

And then—suddenly, the Commander’s pressure dissipated.

“Ha… I’m sorry. I didn’t come here to impose any punishment. I really just came to hear the circumstances.”

The Commander pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket. The amount was unusual, clearly equivalent to an entire book.

“This is what they have reported so far. We require detailed reports on the training content and any injuries even after self-training. Most of the reports mention training with four people, but Dona’s injuries are almost always marked as ‘none.’”

“Th-That can’t be…!?”

Dona was stunned by the Commander’s words.

Indeed, the reports had always been submitted by the three others. Dona himself had never written them.

But he never imagined that the reason was to cover up the truth.

“After receiving last night’s report, I checked the reports again. I found it quite strange. I want to hear directly from Dona.”

“I… I…”

Dona, holding back his trembling body, slowly began to speak.

He spoke of the almost daily violence disguised as self-training.

He spoke of being threatened with even more violence if he revealed this.

And that’s why he was training under Croix to change her current situation.

When he finished telling everything, the area was enveloped in silence.