LIGHTNOVELWORLD My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 207
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March 1786. There was tension in the empire. Because the actions of the emperor and those in power he cared about were suspicious. ‘There might soon be a bloody storm.’ Imperial talent training center. The Duke of Nova, a middle-aged woman and the head of a large institution that trains talented young people, was watching her guest. A sullen expression and legs crossed arrogantly. A man who is looking at his fingertips in front of a person. “What are you looking at?” The Lord of the Wizard Tower, Oscar Manuel. A 24-year-old young powerful figure. He managed all existing magic, and it was no exaggeration to say he was at the pinnacle of power. “No. Thank you for your help every time.” The Duke took the magic formula brought by Oscar. Over the past year, Oscar has been providing various ‘attack’ magic formulas to the training center. This must have been the emperor’s will. He wanted to raise talented young people into weapons of war. ‘I didn’t know that the Lord of the Wizard Tower would be in line with the Imperial family.’ The Duke was certain that the actions of the Wizard Tower, which had maintained neutrality, were leaning toward the imperial family. Is that all? The current emperor’s closest aide. The leader of the Magic Swordsman, Cheshire Libre. The emperor often took him to visit the training center. He wanted to collect promising child soldiers to build a strong army. ‘If they strengthen their strength with a Wizard Tower there, it won’t be long now. War will likely break out.’ Duke Nova sighed as she watched Oscar leisurely leave. * * * “How was it?” The aide, Rovel, draped a coat over Oscar’s shoulders and asked. “I could tell by the Aunt’s expression. She looked like she thought I was trying to impress the imperial family; her face was like dirt.” “Phew, it went as planned.” Oscar had to show that Wizard Tower wasn’t opposed to war. This is a plan to remove all the elements of anxiety that the emperor might have and make him feel at ease during this critical period when a rebellion is just around the corner. “What is this, tsk.” Oscar, who was crossing the hallway, stopped abruptly. “Because I’m going to have bad luck starting this morning.” The training center researchers approached with a smile. Among them, dressed in white gowns, he saw the face of a woman with her blonde hair tied up. She was Lilith’s biological mother. Selena Ludendorff. Her brightly smiling face was full of happiness that couldn’t be hidden. ‘You must be happy.’ Her son’s freedom was gained by selling her daughter. The rights enjoyed as a high-ranking noble. She had lost nothing and had nothing more to lose in the future. It was unfair. Enoch worked tirelessly for the past seven years, and his daughter sacrificed her own lifespan to help her father. For an empire that will eventually become peaceful. ‘Then what about that woman?’ Selena will live again in the new country they created with their blood and lives. Happily. Peacefully. Without anything lost, without anything to lose. ‘Why is it so unfair?’ Actually, Enoch and Lilith didn’t think anything of it, but every time Oscar thought of Selena, he got so angry that he couldn’t stand it. “Oh, I guess she’s pregnant.” At Rovel’s whispered words, Oscar’s gaze lowered. ‘Huh?’ Selena’s stomach was swollen to the point where it was quite painful. “Crazy.” As they gradually approached, the researchers who first spotted Oscar greeted him. Selena also smiled and bowed her head. “Well, it seems there’s been progress while I was away. This must be the second one, right?” “Ah, yes.” “Congratulations.” “Thank you.” Selena smiled shyly. “Is your son Dos?” “Yes.” “Wow, as expected, it’s amazing. If the baby takes after the mother, the second one will have remarkable abilities too.” With a smile on his face, Oscar approached, bowed his head, and whispered in Selena’s ear. “How do you get this guy out of the military?” “….” For a moment, Selena froze. The mouths of the researchers standing nearby all opened in surprise. “Huh? How will you get the child out?” Oscar asked again in a humorous voice. As if he was finally satisfied with Selena’s expression, which was frozen with embarrassment, he only smiled more evilly. “A person who loves children so much wouldn’t have planned a second child without thinking.” The researchers broke into a cold sweat and looked at each other. “What outrageous method are you going to use this time to dodge military service?” Although he didn’t say it out loud, everyone here knew. How Selena got her son exempted from military service. “You must have a lot to worry about.” Oscar, pretending to be disappointed, pursed his lips and patted Selena’s shoulder twice before walking away. “Now you don’t even have a daughter to sell.” * * * Drrrr. The rolling ball hit someone’s foot with a thud and stopped. The gaze of the child who was following went up. ‘Ah.’ The man with his back to the spring sunlight looked intimidating. A tall figure that requires one to crane their neck to look up at. An expressionless face. Meanwhile, red eyes shining fiercely. ‘This person is…’ Two years spent wearing a white name tag at a talent training center. This commoner child, who quickly learned the laws of the world where there is a clear boundary between predators and prey, felt it instinctively. That they have to bow their heads. “I, I, I’m sorry…” This man is a predator. And at the pinnacle of power. A beast with very strong teeth that can cut off the breath of a weak herbivore in an instant. “….” A shadow fell over the trembling child. “….?” The man who came closer was holding the ball he had missed in his hand. The man handed the ball over indifferently. The child froze in confusion, but then he hurriedly greeted him. “T, thank you.” At that time. “Sir Cheshire, let’s go.” Someone called the man from behind. The child’s eyes grew so big that they almost seemed like they would fall out. Emperor. The master of this empire whom he saw for the first time two years ago at his entrance ceremony. As one would expect from a man standing by the emperor’s side, the man would be a great predator. The child stared blankly at the back of the two leaving, frozen in awe and unable to move for a long time. * * * “I’m thinking of visiting the holy wizards today.” “Please proceed as you wish.” The Emperor entered the training center building with Cheshire. Young talented people dressed in white uniforms were each engrossed in magic training. ‘…?’ Cheshire’s eyes, which had been looking around indifferently, narrowed when he spotted someone. The boy with dark blue hair and blue eyes was somehow much taller than his peers. Eleven years old? Was he about twelve years old? He seems to be at an age where he should have graduated from the training center a long time ago… “Brother Kyle! Show me again!” “Haha, yeah!” For a moment, Cheshire’s eyes widened. This is because, in a loud conversation, he heard a name buried in his memory. “Wow, brother, you’re amazing!” Kyle showed off his magic in front of the children. A blue flame burned above twenty candles placed side by side. ‘That kid has already grown up like that.’ The last time Cheshire saw Kyle was seven years ago, during training center. After recognizing it and looking again, there was a faintly remembered face lingering in his memory. “…Yeah, I forgot about that kid.” At that time, the emperor’s voice was heard mumbling from behind. “How is it?” The Emperor smiled and placed his hand on Cheshire’s shoulder. “Does it look useful?” “Yes?” “That child over there. You keep staring at him.” Cheshire shook his head. “No, it’s just… he looks about the age when he would graduate from the training center, yet he’s still receiving education.” “Oh, there’s a reason for that. Well, you’ll understand when you see, but it’s not because of poor ability that he’s held back.” The Emperor stared at Kyle with satisfied eyes. “He’s the heir to the Marquis Ludendorff. Is he turning twelve years old this year?” “Is that so?” “He’s DOS.” Dos, twelve years old. Of course, he had to be working as a child soldier now, but Kyle was an exception. It was thanks to a deal between his mother, Selena Ludendorff, and the Emperor. After informing the Emperor about the whereabouts of her ex-husband, Enoch Rubinstein, who had fled with their daughter— Selena was promised her own retirement and exemption from military service for her son. “His skill is fine, right?” Why do you ask? Regardless of that child’s abilities, it wouldn’t matter much. “Yes, well.” Knowing Kyle’s story of avoiding military service, Cheshire nodded roughly. “I hear he lacks experience. If he’s a promising talent, we should start training him immediately. Without delay, we’ll take him out during the next great conquest and see how he performs.” “Yes?” Cheshire paused. In response to the puzzled response, the emperor tilted his head. “Why?” “…No. It’s nothing.” Cheshire added, hiding his embarrassment. “However, this large-scale subjugation is a burden even for elite troops. For a capable person with no military experience to go out…” “No, no.” The emperor waved his hand. “Originally, experience is gained through encounters. It’s never too late, even now.” He clicked his tongue and added, “Is it such a shame that I completely forgot about that kid when I was already running low on DOS?” “….” “Let’s train him up quickly. He’ll become a valuable asset.” Cheshire, initially taken aback by the Emperor’s firm attitude, eventually smiled bitterly inwardly. Indeed, there was nothing strange about it. He just looks like an emperor. Now, a long-awaited dream is at hand. To the emperor, there was no way he could be bothered by an old promise made seven years ago.
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