LIGHTNOVELWORLD My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 187
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After asking him to find Axion, I borrowed some paper and a pen. “Since Rico decided to help find Uncle, I’ll give you something too!” The iron rule of the information guild <Red Hawk>. Strict give and take. After writing a line, I handed it to Rico. [It is not too late for a gentleman’s revenge even if it takes 10 years.] “…What is this?” Rico was puzzled after reading that. “Hehe. That’s something Rico has wanted for a long time. It’s a promissory note for now, and I’ll give it when Uncle Axion returns after this expedition.” “Hmm, well, I don’t really have anything I want.” “Oh, really? Nothing comes to mind~? Something you’ve been really wanting~?” Rico chuckled. “Well, if Lady says so. But, there’s one thing I’m curious about.” “Yes! What is it?” Anything you want to ask! Rico looked at me with sparkling eyes, then chuckled softly. “No, don’t worry about it. Go back quickly. As soon as we receive information about Duke Libre, we’ll send someone.” What is it? Realizing that I had delayed quite a bit, I decided not to ask any further questions and got up. “Alright then. See you next time! Thanks, Rico!” * * * When he opened the screen of the semi-basement window, he saw Lilith and Chesire leaving, chatting loudly. “How was the sliced mackerel, Chesire?” “…It didn’t taste very good.” “Ahahaha!” Riko muttered, chuckling at the same innocent laughter. “…Be sure to survive this time.” * * * A few days ago. A fire terror attack that occurred in a commoner residential area. Rico handed Enoch evidence that could help uncover the background to the terrorist attack. “…It will be a big help. Thank you. But how on earth did you know about and investigate the terrorists in advance?” “It wasn’t something I knew about or investigated. I found this by accident while researching something else. It’s all thanks to the princess.” “Huh? Lilith?” “Yes. Before the incident happened, there was something the princess asked me to look into.” “What did she ask you to find out?” “She mentioned that there might be commoners preparing for a protest and asked for their identities. But there were no significant individuals involved, and if there had been any movement for a protest, I would have heard about it first, right?” “I guess so?” “Anyway, she must have asked for something, so I did some research…” “Then, did you happen to discover evidence of terrorist preparations by chance?” “That’s right. But Duke.” “….?” “If I were curious about the princess’s identity, could you tell me?” For a moment, Enoch paused. At that moment, Rico nodded. As expected, her father would know. “What do you mean suddenly?” “Now some commoners are preparing to protest. It happened just as the princess said.” Enoch’s eyes widened. “Why are they preparing for a protest? This is to ask the emperor to promise a minimum level of security and crime prevention even in areas where commoners live.” “….” “When did you start preparing for the protest? That is after this fire incident. The damage caused by being helplessly attacked by terrorists was extensive.” “….” “So this terrorist attack is the occasion for this protest. In other words, at the time the princess asked me to investigate, we were not preparing for a protest at all.” “Phew.” At Rico’s words, Enoch smiled as if he understood why he was suspicious of Lilith. “I guess our princess didn’t know that there was a fire, only that there was a protest.” “Unless she knows the future…” “That’s right. She knows.” Surprised by the straightforward answer, Rico nodded. “Haha, why so surprised? We’ve worked together for a long time, and I trust you. If you’re curious, I’ll tell you.” Enoch asked back with a bitter expression. “Our princess, what do you think she is?” “Isn’t she acting like she can foresee the future? Does she have precognitive abilities? Or is it her second life… something like that?” Rico added, touching his chin. “The Duke has been investigating regression magic with great interest. You have also relied on my assistance a lot during this process.” “Uhm, right. That’s right.” Enoch nodded. Actually, it was to find a way to save Oscar. “Why are you investigating that magic? I was curious. Are you prepared to start over again in case of failure? Otherwise…” Rico added with sharp eyes like a wild beast. “Has someone already succeeded with that magic once?” “Whoa,” Enoch stuck out his tongue and clapped his hands. “Amazing, isn’t it? That’s right. My daughter remembers the future. She returned, along with me and everyone else, due to regression magic. But having memories…” “You’re saying it’s only the princess.” “That’s right.” As Enoch confirmed his guess, Rico’s expression became quite serious. He even seemed nervous. “Duke.” “Is there something you want to ask?” Enoch chuckled. “Is it because you failed? So, so you started it again… ?” Riko asks with a trembling voice. Yeah, he thought that would be the most curious thing. Not only Rico, but all members of the <Red Hawk> guild are preparing for a life-or-death revolution. “I’m not lying, I can assure you. I won’t fail. I didn’t come back because of failure. So don’t worry.” Rico’s expression brightened at Enoch’s words. Then he immediately began to have doubts. “Then why is regression magic…?” “It’s because Lilith is dead.” Rico froze in place. “Blame it all on me. Even if you resent me, I’ll listen. Whether it’s meddling with regression magic or turning everything hard-won into nothing… It’s on me.” “…” “Because I had to… save my daughter.” I’m sorry. Enoch spoke with his head down, unable to meet Rico’s eyes as he was shocked and speechless. “Even if everything ends, it means nothing without my daughter. It might have been a success for everyone else who worked hard, but… that’s why I’m truly sorry.” “…” “… For me, it was a failure.” * * * The competent intelligence guild <Red Hawk> discovered Axion’s shocking whereabouts around early evening. “Go, Dad!” “What are you talking about? I don’t want to.” “No, pleaseee!” They already boarded the ship early this morning! “Aren’t you worried about Uncle?” “Mhm, no. Dad caught all the monsters. Uncle just needs to rest there and back. The view is great too.” “Uncle doesn’t know there are no monsters! Everyone who went there came back, but uncle is still there alone, right now!” I held my head. “Even though it’s all over! Can’t you imagine Uncle being scared, biting his nails hard?” “Doesn’t the princess get mad about Uncle? He decided to die alone without even discussing it with us?” “Did Uncle do that for no reason? He didn’t want to worry us, that’s why.” “If Dad were Uncle, I would never have done that.” Dad said coldly. “I don’t want to die. Let’s find a way somehow. So, I would have said, let’s put our heads together.” “….” “Princess, what if not everyone makes it out alive? Would it still be worth it for Dad’s business?” “Of course, no…” “Knowing that he already left this morning makes it even more upsetting. He went to his death without a chance to even attempt to escape. If Dad had been just a bit slower, Uncle would have really died, Princess.” “…That’s also true.” “So, let’s just imagine him trembling at the threshold of hell for a day or so.” Dad said, “Hmph,” and he turned over and lay down. Although he was worried about Axion, he seemed to be more disappointed. ‘Wow, male friendship is so childish.’ I sighed and turned around. “Then there’s nothing we can do about it.” As I walked away pretending to look at the bracelet, Dad suddenly ran up and grabbed me. “Oho.” “Why, Mr. James?” “Our princess, what are you planning? Why are you looking at the ominous bracelet?” “Well, I should go. I’ll reassure Uncle and stay there for the next few days. I’ll bring warm clothes with fur trim so he won’t be cold in the morning.” “Whoo.” Dad quietly closed his eyes, then opened his closet door and took out his armor while holding me. “Eung? Dad is going?” “Uncle is really lucky, isn’t he? Isn’t the princess going to the magic tower to make her uncle retire? And you’ll go to that monster island to bring him outerwear…” Dad gritted his teeth and smiled. “You love Uncle more than your Dad, huh?” * * * That time. “…Come.” An island in darkness. Axion Libre held his sword with a solemn expression. “…Come quickly.” It’s been a while since the sun has set. This breathtaking wait has already been two hours. “…When is it coming out?” The blade refuses to fall from the guillotine. The indefinite waiting, separate from the certainty of death, was unpleasant. If you’re going to come out, come out quickly and attack me. If things continue like this, shouldn’t we continue to feel tension and fear? “No, when did I!” At that moment. Axion, who couldn’t stand it and was screaming hard, felt a strange distortion of magical power and quickly turned around. ‘It’s coming.’ On the sandy beach, a large magic circle that didn’t exist until a moment ago was engraved with blue light. ‘A magic circle?’ His mind went blank. He had expected that unseen monsters would appear. He also anticipated that there would be the most formidable magical creatures to deal with if no one came out alive. However, A magical beast that uses elaborate magic formulas like human abilities? Was there such a thing? What kind of magic is that? ‘No, I don’t have time.’ There was no time to worry about this or that. Axion quickly dodged backward while unleashing a powerful sword strike. “Ah?” It was at the same time that a familiar face suddenly appeared on the magic circle and sword energy flew out. Boom—!“Ugh!” “….?” Cloudy sand dust. His vision obscured, but the face he had seen just moments ago was unmistakable. “Enoch?” It looks like Enoch? When the cloudy dust settled, indeed. Clutching his chest, Enoch was seen about 3 meters behind, pushed back. “What…” Enoch’s breastplate was split in half after being hit by Axion’s sword directly on his chest. Fortunately, he seemed to have sensed something strange in that brief moment and had wrapped his shield to avoid a fatal wound. “Haa, whoo. Haa.” Enoch groped his chest and let out a surprised breath. Then, he looked around and found Axion, who ground his teeth and drew his sword. “Ah, yeah! Let’s fight, you b*stard!”
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