Hi, I’m the Hero’s Father ～I’m Sorry For All The Trouble My Foolish Son Has Caused You～ - Chapter 86

Chapter 86   Two Disciples Shoulder the Future

“I am deeply sorry, Your Majesty…!”

The captain of the guard, who had let three individuals escape, bowed his head deeply before Neptune in the audience chamber.

Leaving the country without permission from Neptune, the ruler, was a serious crime—especially in the case of the Fishmen. Among all demi-human races, the Fishmen were particularly rare. There were people out there who would go to great lengths, even desiring a Fishman’s body, dead or alive.

Furthermore, if they were a knight of the kingdom’s army, they could potentially possess classified information about the Kingdom of Dipsea. If such information were to leak, it would not only reveal Dipsea’s existence but also increase the number of those who might target it.

This was a grave matter.

“Raise your head, captain. We will investigate the cause later. Right now, the priority is to capture them,” Neptune commanded.

“Yes, Your Majesty. The elite forces of the kingdom’s army are currently continuing the search,” the captain replied.

“Continue the search. You are to take command,” Neptune ordered.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The captain swiftly left the audience chamber, leaving behind a tense silence.

Mion, who had been watching, turned to Wiel with a concerned expression.

“Why would they defect like this…?”

“I’m not sure… but it might have something to do with what’s been happening recently,” Wiel suggested.

“Recently?” Mion asked.

“Regarding Dona,” Wiel clarified.

Dona’s eyes widened in surprise.

“M-me…!?”

“Yes. It’s not out of the question,” Wiel continued.

Croix nodded deeply, placing a hand on his chin.

“They were defeated so badly by someone they thought they had a clear advantage over. It’s understandable that they might feel uncomfortable staying here.”

“B-but would that really lead to them defecting from the country…!?” Dona asked, bewildered.

“There can be many reasons,” Croix replied. “People can start a fight over a single apple, friendships can break, and wars can even begin. Maybe their daily stress accumulated, and this incident pushed them to the point of defecting. It’s just the way things go sometimes.”

Croix’s words were met with nods from Wiel and Neptune. However, Mion and Dona, with their less life experience, struggled to come to terms with it.

“But we don’t know where they might have gone. I understand they would go to the surface to escape detection in Your Majesty’s waters, but three Fishmen—it’s hard to believe they could survive on land.”

“Yes. Even if they enter any body of water, they would be detected by Neptune’s senses and their whereabouts would be known…” Wiel agreed.

Mion, contemplating their words, acknowledged their point. It was indeed difficult for just three Fishmen, who were rare in the outside world, to survive. Securing food would be challenging, and camping out would pose numerous dangers. They couldn’t stay in the wild forever; surely, the three were aware of this.

If that’s the case, there must be something that makes defection viable.

As Mion mulled over this, Dona suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”

Neptune, with keen hearing, turned to Dona and asked, “Dona, do you have an idea?”

“Y-yes. I, um, I’m not sure. It’s just a possibility, but…”

“Very well. You may speak.”

All eyes turned to Dona.

Dona swallowed nervously and slowly began to speak with a trembling voice.

“I, um, I think they might have gone to the sea gang’s territory…”

“────. …I hadn’t considered that angle.”

Neptune grimaced and clenched her fist.

The Sea Gang was an organization formed by those who had been exiled for committing crimes in Dipsea. They were truly malevolent beings, not even allowed near the waters.

Normally, Fishmen cannot survive on land. It’s essentially a form of banishment, akin to a death sentence.

But the Sea Gang consists of those who survived such banishment. If they relied on this gang to defect, it makes sense.

“Tch. I should have dealt with them myself instead of merely exiling them…!”

Neptune pressed her temple with her fingers, closed her eyes, and began to focus. Fishmen possessed a special ability known as telepathy, which allowed communication over long distances.

Although the range varied with the user, Neptune, as the Sea God, could extend his telepathic reach across the entire underwater kingdom of Dipsea.

“Commander, are you there?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Regarding the three, they’re likely headed for the Sea Gang’s hideout! Quickly organize a unit! Strengthen the defenses of Dipsea!”

“The Sea Gang…!? I-I understand!”

If the Kingdom’s knights are heading to the Sea Gang, it’s likely that weaknesses in Dipsea’s security will be exposed.

That means it wouldn’t be surprising if the Sea Gang decided to launch an attack.

Neptune was unusually agitated.

“Damn it!”

“Your Majesty, please calm down.”

“Croix… I appreciate your sentiment, but how can I stay calm? At this rate, the country will…”

“It will be alright.”

Croix and Wiel exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

“We’ll handle the Sea Gang ourselves.”

“Ah! …No, that won’t do. As much as I’d like to rely on you, this is a national issue. Unless we overcome this crisis, the country’s progress will be halted…”

“Forgive me. Let me rephrase.”

Croix placed a hand on Mion and Dona’s shoulders, with a daring smile—

“We’ll let our future bearers, our apprentices, handle it.”

—And then uttered something quite outrageous.