My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 162

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Father Conceals His Power
162
Enoch watched Oscar muttering frantically and realized, half his mind already elsewhere, what was happening.
It was obvious, really.
‘He doesn’t know.’
Lilis had left on a pilgrimage and wouldn’t be in this house for weeks, but Oscar seemed completely unaware.
He’d arrived for his usual lesson, found her gone, and only now was the truth catching up with him.
“Did you ask the butler? Lilis left on a pilgrimage. She said she got your permission.”
“When did I ever—!”
Oscar’s indignation faltered mid-sentence.
Right. During last week’s lesson, the girl had indeed been chattering about something.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Was that what she was talking about?”
Oscar’s face darkened, and he slapped his own cheek in frustration.
“I told you, didn’t I? So what? You heard her and forgot about it.”
Enoch clicked his tongue disapprovingly and turned his gaze back to the mirror.
“Why in the world did you send her there!”
Oscar’s cry pierced the air behind him.
“Walking all day, sleeping rough every night, enduring every hardship imaginable—No! Bring her back! Fetch her back at once!”
“Calm down, Master. If I’d objected, would it have changed anything? But she had to go. Remember when I scolded her before?”
Enoch shook his head slowly.
“I told her if there was something she wanted, all she had to do was ask. I didn’t expect her to take me at my word so literally.”
“You just gave her permission? You should’ve made excuses—said it was too difficult, too dangerous, anything but yes!”
“I did say that. But there’s no stopping her. You know as well as I do—Lilis sees the future. She said there’s no danger involved.”
Yes, he understood that much.
But still!
“What about unexpected circumstances?”
“I worried about that too. But Cheshire will be going with her. So don’t worry, Father—that’s what she said.”
The Imperial Household customarily assigned an escort formation to accompany the pilgrimage.
The commander of the guard was traditionally chosen from among the Dos-Rank generals.
“But you didn’t have an imperial decree yet. How could you know Cheshire would be the one going?”
“And?”
“This pilgrimage was originally supposed to be guarded by the Master of the Demon Swords. That’s what it said in the records.”
Enoch added with a slight shake of his head.
“I got chills, I tell you. The very next day, it was officially changed to Cheshire. I almost wish it had been me instead.”
“Ha.”
“She sees the far future with perfect clarity. When a girl like that says something is safe and necessary, how can I refuse?”
“What makes it so necessary?”
……
At that question, Enoch’s mouth closed naturally.
And he deflected.
“Besides, there was one decisive reason I couldn’t refuse. She was crying and screaming at me, and I felt rather guilty about it.”
……
“How long are you going to keep me locked away like this! Without you, I’ll never be able to travel alone or go anywhere!”
……
“Every time you go to war, I have to stay with Aunt or Uncle—I’m so sick of it! Father, this is overprotective!”
Enoch, who’d been mimicking Lilis, affixed the false mustache he’d been holding.
Of course, he didn’t tell Oscar the real, decisive reason he’d relented.
Item eight from his daughter’s requisition form.
8. I want to be certain that I can change Master’s fate.
Enoch’s expression darkened for a moment.
Four years ago.
“The Cost of Regression is the annihilation of existence itself. Master will simply disappear without a body in ten years.”
Ever since Lilis had confirmed what Enoch had only vaguely suspected—that Regression carried a price—
he’d been desperately searching for a way to save Oscar.
Obsessively, as much energy as he’d poured into preparing his business.
He’d investigated ancient magic.
He’d searched through records of High Priests throughout history who were said to have performed miracles.
He’d even tracked down whether the bloodlines of old sorcerers who’d fled to foreign lands still existed.
Truly, there was nothing he hadn’t attempted.
“Excuse me.”
“Ah, yes.”
Enoch’s darkened expression cleared almost at once, and he turned back to Oscar.
Oscar had no idea that Enoch and Lilis knew he had only six years left to live.
He could have resented them for it.
He could have despised them.
But somehow…
“…Are you even listening?”
“Huh? What? Sorry.”
Oscar, regarding Enoch with exasperation, gestured at his face.
The blonde hair he’d changed with magic.
The mustache he’d awkwardly attached.
“So you send her off, but then you’re worried anyway? Is that why you’re disguising yourself so clumsily and planning to follow her in secret?”
“Guilty as charged.”
Enoch replied cheerfully, turning back to the mirror.
“Are you an idiot? You think she won’t recognize you just because you changed your hair color and stuck on a mustache?”
“Of course she’ll see through it. I only need the others not to recognize me. I’m just going to follow along without catching her eye.”
“What’s the point of magic, then?”
“Oh, Master of the Magic Tower. I was actually meaning to ask you about that.”
Enoch spun around sharply.
“Is there any magic that could make my height and facial features look completely different? Like someone else entirely?”
“Ha.”
This is driving me insane. Really.
Oscar covered his face with both hands and sighed.
* * *
Here was Jedo, Pavil Temple.
With the pilgrimage ahead, crowds of people had gathered dressed in white Pilgrimage Robes.
Temple officials and priests from all regions had assembled, along with a considerable number of pious nobles.
I groaned inwardly.
‘Two weeks of sleeping rough? This is really happening?’
The pilgrimage was designed to test one’s endurance, and sleeping outdoors was scheduled for the entire two-week round trip.
Still, to reach Mollek and assess the situation properly, joining the pilgrimage party was the most inconspicuous method available.
‘Well, my back will probably ache a bit from sleeping on the ground. But there’s nothing particularly dangerous about it.’
The original story documented the pilgrimage party’s safe return.
‘Besides, Cheshire will be there too.’
I knew that Cheshire would be taking charge of the pilgrimage’s escort.
The escort captain for this episode in the original story had been the commander of the Swordmages.
‘…Though he’s not the same person.’
The previous Swordmage commander had died four years ago during the Sacred Water Incident.
“But Cheshire, I was right about that, wasn’t I? Do you think I was out of line too? Isn’t our master the one being too harsh?”
While waiting for the entire pilgrimage party to assemble, I was venting to Cheshire.
It was about what happened during last week’s final lesson.
When I’d lost my temper with Oscar and stormed out.
“I’m working this hard to save our master’s life, so how can he speak so casually about dying soon? About having dirt in his eyes before long?”
Honestly, I felt a surge of emotion.
The way he could speak so easily about not having much time left, about death coming soon…
“Yeah, that must have hurt.”
“Right? Our master was in the wrong, wasn’t he?”
Unlike me in Pilgrimage Robes, Cheshire gave a slow nod while adjusting his full armor.
Cheshire knew Oscar’s situation—that he had only six years left.
Over the past four years, Father, I, and Cheshire had all gone out of our way to try to save Oscar.
“And another thing—why did he suddenly bring up love and romance anyway? He should be worried about himself, not my love life, especially not right now.”
“…….”
“That’s right, isn’t it? Isn’t it?”
When I pressed him, Cheshire stared at me with a slow, deliberate blink.
After a moment’s hesitation, as if thinking something through, he let out a sigh.
“Lilis.”
“What?”
“I think I understand why the Master of the Magic Tower was worried.”
“Huh? Why?”
Cheshire hesitated a moment, his lips working, before he spoke.
“Actually, last week… on the day of the Calling Conference, you know?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“I escorted the Magic Tower Master to his residence that day….”
That was when.
A temple acolyte priest who had spotted me hurried forward.
“Good morning. You’re here to participate in today’s pilgrimage, correct?”
“Oh, yes!”
“We’re doing a headcount as assembly time approaches. Those not affiliated with the temple, please line up over there and register on the roster. You brought your Rank Slit, yes?”
“Yes!”
Where the acolyte pointed, a long line of people was already forming.
“Cheshire, I’m going to go register my name! Let’s talk more later!”
I left Cheshire behind and took my place in the queue.
I shifted the pack from my back to my front and began pulling out my Rank Slit, which served as identification―
“……?”
―Tap, tap.
Someone touched my shoulder.
When I turned around, two white-haired old men were standing there.
“Hehehehe.”
“…….”
What was this?
I decided to offer a polite greeting first.
“Hello. Is something the matter?”
“Hehehehe. What a well-mannered little lady you are. You’re so pretty I just had to say hello.”
“Oh? Thank you.”
“I’m the High Priest from down in Southern Argonia. This here is my friend, the Sub-priest.”
So they were temple officials.
The High Priest from Southern Argonia gave the Sub-priest standing beside him a couple of light taps on the shoulder.
Unlike the High Priest, who seemed quite kindly, the Sub-priest appeared to be in a foul mood about something.
“I’m Lilis Rubinstein. I’m not affiliated with the temple, but I’ve come to pray. Please call me Lilis. And feel free to speak casually.”
“Hehehehe. Is that so? My goodness, what an angelic young lady. Truly well-mannered and charming—just like my daughter.”
“Ah! That’s enough, that’s enough.”
The High Priest spoke in a good-natured tone, but the Sub-priest scowled sharply and glared.
I walked along with the shrinking queue and asked, “Um, how should I address you priests? There are so many other officials here….”
“Ah! I, I have a name….”
The High Priest hesitated and rolled his eyes.
“…I’m getting on in years, and my mind’s a bit fuzzy. I think I had a name once. Just call me Rik, roughly speaking. And this one here.”
Rik looked at the Sub-priest and paused for about a second before speaking.
“…is Grandfather Sca.”
“Hah.”
When Rik introduced him instead, Sca, the Sub-priest, covered his face and let out a sigh.
Then suddenly he fixed me with a glare.
“What are you even doing here? Two weeks of walking until your legs ache, sleeping on the ground, eating bland food, huh? Did you come to experience what hardship is all about? Go home while you still can?”
He barked it out in a voice that sounded like it took effort just to breathe.
“…What?”
I was left speechless.
What business was it of his?
Caught off guard, I faltered, and Rik slapped Sca’s back with a sharp crack.
“Ow!”
“Tsk, come on! Here’s this sweet young lady saying she’s come to pray, and you can’t even praise her for her virtue?”
“Ugh. (Ahem.)”
Rik laughed—hehehehe—regardless of whether Sca gritted his teeth or not.
“And besides, if your legs get sore, old Rik here can just carry you!”
“Um, excuse me?”
I backed away, scanning both Rik and Sca from head to toe.
They looked gaunt enough to collapse at any moment.
In fact, from the moment I first saw them, I’d been wondering how these two elderly men intended to survive the two-week journey of continuous walking and sleeping rough.
It should be me carrying them, not the other way around….
‘Wait, and when did they even see me before….’
Both Rik, who was acting overly familiar, and Sca, who had burst out with irritation out of nowhere, seemed odd.

‘Dad always told me never to follow a stranger, and to be suspicious right away if someone acts too friendly with him!’
My turn was almost here.
I gripped my bag’s strap firmly and lined up, darting forward like I was running away, turning the thought over in my mind.
These old men—I’d need to keep my guard up.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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