LIGHTNOVELWORLD My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 202
* * *
After Cheshire returned. “…How was it?” Aide Ramon asked cautiously. The emperor laughed. “It was just as I thought.” “I guess the conversation went well.” “Yeah. It couldn’t have gone any better than this.” “He grew up receiving lessons from Lord Enoch, but did he have any aversion to war of aggression?” “Ah, that.” Cheshire’s biological father, the Marquis of Onyx. “For Cheshire, the Rubinstein father and daughter are like family. Enoch Rubinstein was Cheshire’s mentor all along, and his daughter grew up with him like a sibling.” Although he was worried about that, Nicholas thought it didn’t matter. Cheshire clearly grew up being taught by Enoch. However, there was something Enoch couldn’t instill. That’s right, values. “I’m talking about the expedition that will take place next month. I heard the two made a noise during the meeting again?” “Ah? Yes. During the strategy meeting, Sir Chesire opposed Sir Enoch’s will again. It seems he’s been challenging Enoch more often lately, perhaps as he grows older and gains more experience.” “Hahaha. That’s understandable.” Nicholas chuckled as he flipped through the Imperial Army’s situation report. [835th official expedition record Commander: Enoch Rubinstein Civilian Casualties: 0 Imperial casualties: 12] [838th official expedition record Commander: Cheshire Libre Civilian Casualties: 8 Imperial casualties: 1] [839th official expedition record Commander: Enoch Rubinstein Civilian Casualties: 0 Imperial casualties: 7] [841st official expedition record Commander: Cheshire Libre Civilian Casualties: 9 Imperial casualties: 0] Enoch was a commander who adopted an ineffective fighting method to protect civilians. Because he fought while keeping the demonic beasts as far away from private homes as possible, the imperial army often encountered unfavorable situations in the process of luring them away. “I like Lord Cheshire’s fighting style much more than the old-fashioned way of Enoch.” However, it wasn’t Cheshire. An extremely efficient combat method that prioritizes the safety and survival of the military. “Are all lives the same? Of course, each has a different value.” Cheshire knows that. The life of a capable person is more valuable than a powerless person. If anyone had to sacrifice, it should be those trash, not the valuable skilled individuals. “That’s why I chose Cheshire Libre.” Cheshire was a man who knew full well that a war of aggression was not a fight that involved innocent bloodshed, but an honorable battle that would raise the status of the empire. That was Enoch Rubinstein’s own ‘belief’ that he couldn’t teach to Cheshire Libre. “Hmm.” Nicholas’ fingertips brushed over the names of several kingdoms as he approached the map hanging on the wall. Continental unification. “It’s my father’s wish, ever since my father’s father. “I must do it.” He was unable to move Enoch as he wanted and was always frustrated. The sword in Nicholas’ hand. Cheshire Libre. He was a gift from his ancestors for Nicholas, who felt betrayed by God. “I will make you loyal to me.” “…his daughter grew up with him like a sibling.” When Cheshire stormed the Imperial Palace because of Lilith, he was very surprised at the time. ‘On the other hand, what if I became that kind of person to Cheshire Libre?’ The more he thought about it, the more it stimulated Nicholas’s possessiveness. It was proof that he was a loyal beast, willing to bare his fangs for those within his own fence. * * * Late afternoon, Wizard Tower. Once a week, when Lilith had a day off, Oscar had nothing to do. He cut his workload by half in an attempt to enjoy the remaining time he had, but he didn’t know how to use the extra time. ‘Is this right?’ Is this really right? Without the child, there’s nothing fun to do, no work, and nothing to play with? Since when did his life revolve around that child? So if the child is gone from his life, will there be nothing left? “Lord of the Wizard Tower…” At that time, breath was blowing in his ear. “Ahh!” Oscar, startled, instinctively swung his elbow. The assailant behind him said, “Argh!” and was knocked back. “What, what, what, what!!!” When he grabbed the chilly ear and turned around, it was Enoch. “Cough! Ack… Gasp, I’m dying.” Oscar frowned at the sight of him collapsing while holding onto his solar plexus after being hit so hard. “You surprised me!” “No, when did you become this strong? Now I’m no match for you even in a fistfight?” “….” “It’s frustrating to be lacking even in strength… The best Lord of the Wizard Tower… The best man of this era with perfect intelligence….” “….” Oscar looked at Enoch with an indifferent expression. Seeing that he was saying the same thing, it seemed like he had received instructions from his daughter. Praise Master. “Why did you come?” “I have something to tell you.” As expected, Enoch got up in an instant with a sober expression, as if there had been no blow at all. “I couldn’t find you in the study, so I asked the aide and he said you went out. Were you taking a walk alone here?” “Let’s go in.” “No, let’s talk while walking together.” Enoch said, standing next to him and walking. “It’s a pity, but I don’t think I’ll be able to come often to see the Lord of the Wizard Tower’s face anymore. It’s an important time where I need to interact with high-ranking nobles, so I have to be careful. Even if I hide it well, the Emperor will eventually realize that I have other intentions.” “Aha. Just like you said, keep the Wizard Tower neutral, right? To ensure the Emperor doesn’t suspect I’m staying close to you?” “Yes. So, even if we meet, I think we will have to go through the formalities and just view them as the Lord of the Wizard Tower and a Duke.” Oscar’s expression darkened. At the unexpected reaction, Enoch poked him in the side. “What. What’s wrong with your expression? Are you really sad because you can’t see me?” “…Then, what about the child?” Aha! He seemed to be worried that he wouldn’t be able to meet Lilith. “Mhm, that’s right.” Enoch nodded his head. “It doesn’t matter to the princess, well. Because it was the Emperor’s will that sent the child to the Wizard Tower in the first place. There’s no one who doesn’t know that the Lord of the Wizard Tower cares about the princess because he is obsessed with discovering gifted children.” “Ah, that’s a relief.” Seeing Oscar, who quickly lost his expression and was relieved, Enoch became upset and stuck out his mouth. “Aren’t you sad that you can’t see me?” “What are you talking about?” Oscar frowned. “What on earth does it have to do with me not being able to see your face? If that’s what you came to say in the first place, why did you come? I thought it was because of the kid, but that’s not the case. Why did you come all this way to tell me you couldn’t come often?” “Wow, that’s too much… I’m hurt right now…” “You’re a really strange person.” “I thought we had become quite close while co-parenting with the Lord of the Wizard Tower all this time!” “Stop talking nonsense.” Oscar waved his hand, his eyes shining quite seriously. “You’re already starting to recruit the higher-ups, so it looks like things are progressing quickly?” “Oh, that’s right. 3 years.” “…?” Despite Enoch’s habit of abruptly cutting to the chase, Oscar quickly grasped the situation and his eyes widened in surprise. “…Is that true?” “Mhm, it’s real.” 3 years. The final day that was originally set six years later was now pushed significantly closer. “Thanks to my princess, I didn’t have to go through trial and error.” Thanks to Lilith’s screening in advance of those who would join and those who would betray, Enoch was able to save time in rallying his forces. “Wow, that’s great, isn’t it? The child must have really liked it!” “No, Lord of the Wizard Tower? I hope the princess doesn’t know about this.” “…? Why? Doesn’t the child always hope for Dad’s business to speed up?” “She wouldn’t have guessed it would go this fast.” “So what’s the problem with that? The faster the better, right?” “Before taking over the imperial palace and beheading the emperor.” Enoch added heavily. “I must fight Cheshire.” …That’s right. Oscar recalled the memories of that day in the lost time. “It’s not a problem that can be avoided. The only way to drain the Emperor’s life force at once is for me to be controlled.” It was the same that day too. At the moment when his only option was death, the Emperor consumed all of his remaining lifespan to force Enoch into submission. “Lilith said Cheshire would be able to subdue me safely…” “Yeah. Things must have been a little different from when I knew him.” Cheshire was twenty-one at the time. His perfectly grown body was at its peak and he was also rich in experience. He even fought with the holy relic <Sword of the Judgment>, which could reduce the gap in mana. Nevertheless, Cheshire struggled. In the end, he succeeded in subduing Enoch without killing him… “The time given to Cheshire is a little short. I don’t know how much more he can grow in three years.” Now that the final day has come earlier. The time for Cheshire to grow enough to beat Enoch has been reduced. That became the biggest variable. “I don’t know my limits either…” Enoch sighed deeply. He was genuinely concerned, but to Oscar, it sounded oddly shameless. “That’s right! I told you to go to the training center and measure your mana again when you have time!” “Mhm, I went.” “Originally, the old mana formal measured up to 1 million, but now it measures up to 10 million. Cheshire, was he like two million? If you roughly estimate the difference between him and you…” “….” Oscar trailed off, looking at Enoch’s face, smiling brightly without saying a word. “Hey? It can’t be.” “Yes, that’s right. 9 appeared in seven places.” 9999999. This means that the limit can’t be measured even with mana formal, which was designed to check up to 10 million. “…You’re really a crazy person.” “Honestly, I was a bit disappointed by the Wizard Tower’s technological prowess.” “Human! Why is that a problem with the Wizard Tower’s technology? Don’t you think that you are abnormal for destroying everything that is average?” How on earth did Cheshire subdue Enoch in his past life? “Lilith will know that too, so she’ll definitely get worried if things go too fast.” “Hey. If, and I mean if.” “What if Cheshire can’t win?” Enoch added with a sigh. “He should kill me, well.” “Ugh, really!” “I trust Cheshire. But if the worst comes to worst, it’s much easier to kill me than to subdue me.” “….” “I should be the one who dies. If I live and continue to be controlled by the emperor…” Enoch sighed again, wishing the earth would open up and swallow him whole. Even if he doesn’t listen to the backstory, it was terrible. What if a person with unprecedented and supreme ability who knows no limits becomes the emperor’s puppet and wields his sword? “Why was I born like this….” “Ha.” Even though it’s not a mumbling apology but a sincere one, why is it still bothering him? Oscar was dumbfounded. “It’s crazy, it’s crazy…”
Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.