My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 170

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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 Strength
170
Oscar held me for a long while, breathing in shallow, hitching gasps.
His arms around me trembled as though they might crush me.
“Lilis, Theo… you….”
His voice fractured, trembling words seeping into my ears.
“…matter so much. So very much….”
“…….”
“More than I’ve ever longed for anything….”
He buried his face in my shoulder and whispered.
“Lilis….”
“…Yes.”
“Promise me one thing….”
“…….”
“Don’t do anything dangerous that catches the Emperor’s eye. And anything that drains your Life Force heavily—ask me or your father first. Without fail. And….”
He loosened his hold and met my reddened eyes, his voice steady now.
“…Even if I can’t find a way, I’ll be fine.”
“…….”
“Don’t ever say you’d die with me again.”
“…….”
“Answer me.”
I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.
“You said promise me one thing, but that’s more than one….”
“For heaven’s sake!”
At Oscar’s outburst, I lowered my eyes and sniffled quietly.
“You won’t promise?”
I pretended not to hear and nestled back into his arms.
“I’ll find a way. I promise I will.”
“Tch.”
Oscar gritted his teeth, then abruptly stood.
“M-Master. Do you still hate me?”
“…….”
“You don’t, right? You’ll talk to me now?”
“Troublesome girl.”
He watched me gauge his mood, then slowly extended his hand.
“…Let’s go.”
“Oh! Hehe….”
“Don’t grin like an idiot.”
Oscar gripped my hand tightly and began to walk.
“Master, you know what? I love you. Very much.”
My voice was thick with tears. He stilled for a moment, then let out a quiet laugh.
“…That’s enough. I don’t hate you, and I’ll talk to you now, so stop it.”
“No, that’s not—I’m not trying to sweeten you up. I really do love you. Father said that genuine feelings should be expressed every day whenever we get the chance, so we won’t regret not saying it enough later.”
“…….”
“You should too. Say it. I love you.”
Oscar opened his mouth soundlessly, then suddenly shouted.
“I can’t say things like that!”
“Tch.”
The moment was ruined. My stern Master was back.
Still, I was grateful we’d made up.
As I walked beside him, something suddenly occurred to me.
‘Oh, that’s right.’
I’d only just remembered why I’d brought Oscar alone.
I needed to ask him to read the Ancient Language.
I took Oscar’s hand and hurried him toward the edge of the Village.
“What is it? Where are we going?”
“…….”
“I said where?”
“T-the air is so nice! I thought we could take a walk? There’s no need to rush back right away….”
At my evasion, Oscar’s eyes narrowed.
“You called me out here as an excuse to have something to say? You had some other scheme in mind from the start, didn’t you?”
Sharp. Very sharp.
“Oh, a scheme? That’s hurtful. You say such cruel things.”
“Then what is it? Why did you come here?”
“Well, I just thought… it’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to spend some quiet time together. A little date, you know.”
Oscar’s frown deepened.
His expression made it clear he didn’t believe a word of it.
“Look! Master, look at this!”
I made my way to where the Ancient Stone inscribed with the Ancient Language was visible, and acted as though I’d stumbled upon it by chance.
“Here, over here! What is this?”
“What….”
“There’s a suspicious-looking stone here of all places! And the writing on it—isn’t that the Ancient Language?”
Oscar examined the stone quietly, then turned his gaze toward me.
“…….”
“…….”
Silence.
I felt embarrassed and quietly looked away.
“I knew this would happen.”
Oscar sighed and lowered himself onto his knees before the stone.
“Your acting is awful, so from now on, don’t waste time with this nonsense. Just tell me what you actually want to know.”
“Yes, sir.”
Oscar soon began running his fingers across the stone’s surface.
Then he paused.
“What? What does it say?”
“…The people of this village—they all die, didn’t they?”
“Yes!”
I asked, my excitement rising.
“This is some kind of prophecy, isn’t it? Could it be warning people they’re going to die? Does it say how to save them?”
Oscar laughed softly.
It was an ominous sort of laugh.
“No. There’s no way to save them.”
“Then what does it say?”
He rose to his feet, shrugging.
“It says they should die quietly—as a gift for your father.”
* * *
On the way back to camp.
“Why are you suddenly so shocked?”
Oscar spoke as he watched me walk in a daze.
“Surely you didn’t think the god was sane? He’s the one responsible for reducing the nation to this chaos.”
“I had some small faith… I never thought he could be so heartless….”
“Foolish.”
The prophecy was devastating.
It certainly foretold the tragedy of the Holy City of Mollek, but rather than warning anyone to prepare or resist, it said….
When the light is withdrawn,
sacrifice shall begin according to fate.
This is noble blood shed for the Hero’s victory.
Destinies that drive out evil—
grieve not.
Oscar was right. It instructed them to die quietly.
The Hero was my father, evil was the Emperor.
The god himself had marked the villagers with death’s fate, all to aid the revolution.
“Master, there’s something….”
From this prophecy, I was able to infer far more than I’d expected.
“Now I understand why Theo nearly died at exactly the moment he was supposed to die in the Original Story.”
“What. He was also fated to die?”
“Yes, I think so. Actually, I’m certain of it.”
I added quietly.
“His death was sad, but it was a good catalyst. For both Cheshire and my father.”
Unlike Enoch Rubinstein, who lost his daughter, Cheshire had lacked any sense of purpose for the revolution.
It was through the death of his twin—the one person he cherished most—that he awakened.
“Also, the deaths of the village people this time—that’s good for Dad, isn’t it?”
The Mollek catastrophe dealt a blow to the Emperor but strengthened Dad.
“Fate isn’t entirely fixed, though….”
Since so much has changed from the Original Story, you can’t really say human destiny is predetermined.
“But there do seem to be a few specific people whose fates are set.”
Certain individuals whom God has ‘predetermined’ the fates of.
Like book characters whose deaths are described in precise detail on a specific page and line….
They must, eventually, face crises at the appointed time of their deaths.
Because.
They are noble blood sacrificed for the Hero’s victory.
They all share a common trait: they’re ‘devices’—each one either inciting the Protagonist’s resolve or aiding the revolution.
“Wow, that’s truly shocking.”
This world, it seems….
Like a script meticulously composed by a God who desires Dad’s victory.
* * *
Halfway up the mountain.
Dad and I had climbed to a spot with a clear view of the Lake.
“Wow, what a view!”
With no one around, Dad dropped his old man disguise and gazed down at the glittering Lake in wonder.
The Protagonist.
The Hero.
The one God chose to defeat the villainous Emperor.
The fact that Dad secured victory smoothly in the Original Story owed much, naturally, to his own Protagonist-like skill….
‘But there were definitely fortunate buffs that came with being the Protagonist.’
When you read a novel.
Oh, moments where the entire universe conspires to help?
Or such improbable coincidences?
—Situations like that appear from time to time.
That’s precisely the author’s omnipotence.
In other words, God’s design.
The catastrophe that befell Mollek is no different.
‘An epidemic of unknown origin suddenly breaking out? It was strange.’
And this is only the beginning.
Sudden natural disasters or peculiar man-made calamities occur, and conveniently the Emperor loses public support and falters….
More instances of this ‘Protagonist Buff’ will unfold ahead.
More innocent people will have to be sacrificed for Dad’s victory.
“By the way, why did you want to come here?”
“Oh, well… I want to help these people here… that’s why I came….”
“Help them how, from here?”
I watched Dad tilt his head in confusion, my mind churning.
“Dad.”
“Hmm?”
“Hold me for a moment.”
“What?”
Dad’s mouth fell open in surprise, then he quickly wrapped his arms around me.
“What’s this about, sweetheart? You were still a little upset with me earlier. Does this mean maybe you’d let me kiss you? Come here~!”
I didn’t miss the opportunity, placing my hand over Dad’s approaching lips.
“Not yet. You said after four more nights, remember?”
“Tch.”
“Dad, but there’s something I need to tell you.”
“Tell me? What is it?”
“You know I said your plans would succeed?”
“Oh, right. You did.”
“Well, of course… it’s because you’re really, really skilled, but apparently there was some luck involved too….”
“Oh, is that so?”
“But, Dad.”
Saving the people whose fates God predetermined for the revolution to succeed means….
I’d have to strip away the ‘Protagonist Buff’.
“Would you still be able to pull off this revolution if that luck disappeared?”
“Hm?”
“Luck is… a gift from God. If all the people in this village die this time, Dad benefits from it. If luck like that disappears from now on….”
“Lilis?”
Father spoke with startled eyes.
“So many people die, and that’s somehow a benefit and good fortune? If that’s a gift, I don’t want it.”
I couldn’t bring myself to look at him and averted my gaze.
Truth is… I’d known all along that Father would say exactly this.
I’d already made my decision to save the people, and I couldn’t pretend not to see the deaths that lay ahead.
And yet I was still asking him.
While thinking I’d only make things harder—
‘If Dad approves, then it’s fine.’
—so my heart could feel at ease.
“I’m sorry.”
“…….”
Father fell silent at my sudden apology. As if he knew everything without needing to ask why.
“Lilis. Will it be hard for Dad without the gift?”
“Yeah. I know there’s nothing Dad can’t do, but still… I’m worried.”
“Hmm.”
Watching Father’s troubled expression, I spoke timidly.
“What if I don’t help? If I do something and Dad ends up struggling, his business ruined….”
“Lilis.”
Father chuckled softly, then whispered near my ear.
“Actually, this is a secret, but Dad already received a gift from God. I have enough with just that, so I don’t need anything more.”
“Huh? What gift?”
What was he suddenly talking about?
“Are you curious?”
“Yes!”
“If you’re curious, give Dad a kiss~!”
I couldn’t resist when something made me curious.
I kissed his lips, and Father chuckled, touching my nose.
“The gift is you, our little princess.”
“……?”
“Just now you gave Dad a kiss, and it gave me strength. Dad became strong because of you.”
Father’s gaze held a profound depth.
“Thanks to you, I grew this strong—hunting monsters and all. I even took up business to protect you. So Dad’s already received such an enormous gift, and I’ve already gathered all the fortune a lifetime could hold.”
“That’s….”
Father smiled and pressed his forehead to mine.
“You believe in Dad, don’t you? Don’t worry needlessly about Dad—do what brings peace to your own heart. As long as our daughter is with me, I can do anything.”

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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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