My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 176

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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’s hidden strength
Chapter 176
* * *
The Emperor’s Chamber.
A table laden with refreshments, and the Emperor placed a fork in my trembling hand.
“Are you feeling calmer now?”
“…Yes.”
It was an absurd sight.
A tranquility utterly at odds with the chaos raging beyond these walls.
‘Steady yourself. Breathe.’
I’d already grasped the situation.
The Emperor hadn’t summoned me here because he’d noticed something amiss.
So there was no reason to panic.
Fear gnawed at me, but time was slipping away—I had to escape this place with as much composure as I could muster.
“Your Majesty….”
“Hmm?”
“My uncle… he’s in danger right now. Could you help him?”
“Your uncle? Ah, you mean Axion?”
“…Yes.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. He’s quite a capable person.”
“But there are many others too. In the place where the fire is….”
For some reason, the Emperor seemed indifferent, and I couldn’t understand his reaction.
‘Why?’
Separate from the fact that the Emperor didn’t regard commoners as people at all, the fire was breaking out in Jedo nonetheless.
Jedo—his own domain.
If it wasn’t suppressed quickly, there was no telling how far the flames would spread.
“It troubles you? Then let’s go.”
That was when Oscar cut in, as though he’d been waiting for his moment.
The timing was fortunate.
“We should head out at once. Besides, support was already requested from the Magic Tower, or so I understand.”
“Wait.”
The Emperor pressed his fingers to his brow as if weary, looking down at me.
“You really do take after your father.”
The Emperor picked up his teacup with deliberate leisure.
“Let me tell you something, child.”
“…Yes, of course.”
“Regardless of rank, you are your father’s daughter, and so you shall live as one of this nation’s wielders of power.”
“…….”
“I haven’t watched you closely, but I have always heard news of you—your service at the temple, the way you mingle with commoners….”
I swallowed hard.
“You’ve grown enough now that you must understand: you cannot naturally mingle with them, nor should you.”
“…….”
“Imagine ants crawling over your legs. Do you find them lovely or pitiable?”
The Emperor smiled gently and stroked my cheek.
“If you gain any wisdom from today’s events, consider yourself fortunate. Not all of Jedo is alike—so henceforth, stay away from such ant colonies.”
I paid no mind to his contemptible words.
But….
‘Why does he seem to be buying time?’
When every second was precious, the Emperor was keeping me here.
More precisely, he was keeping back Oscar, who would follow once he sent me away.
And he was preventing Oscar from attending to the burning area.
‘What could his purpose be?’
In that instant, a suspicion struck me like lightning.
This terror had erupted so suddenly.
There were those with the strength to suppress it, but few could move without the Emperor’s watchful eye—Oscar was one of them.
Yet Oscar was trapped here now.
Why?
It couldn’t have been chance that brought him here.
The Emperor must have summoned him.
Everything felt as though it had been carefully orchestrated.
‘Surely she didn’t orchestrate this herself?’
Four years ago, during the Sacred Water Incident, the Emperor had shown no concern for people dying or land being destroyed.
It had been to break Father in.
And perhaps… this time too.
“Ah….”
I could only bite my lip helplessly.
‘I see.’
That pale blue light that blazed wherever terror was about to strike.
After two experiences, I finally understood what that light meant.
It wasn’t simply a warning of places where many would die.
It marked the struggle between protagonist and villain, the clash of forces—
a beacon for the ‘innocent’ deaths that would occur in that revolution.
* * *
At that same moment.
‘I’ve lost my mind. I must have.’
Gillian Valenchiano, Commander of the Magic Corps, sat inside a carriage racing toward the commoner district.
‘Why am I going? Why?’
A memory from before surfaced.
When it had come to light that he’d made an improper request to the Magic Tower Master to exempt his son from military service….
“Ahem. I have no face to show Enoch.”
The person he’d most dreaded to face was Enoch. After all, it was as good as being caught in military corruption by the head of the armed forces.
“No, sir. If we’re being fair, I’ve been a deserter for seven years. I’m grateful to you. You’ve endured hardship in my stead all this time.”
Yet Enoch had been remarkably magnanimous.
“To be honest, I’m no longer sure what’s right and what’s wrong anymore. Is it the fault of able-bodied men trying to avoid military service, or is the cruel military law that forces soldiers to live as soldiers until death more at fault?”
“…….”
“We need soldiers to defend the nation. But I’d like to change the military law somewhat. If we set a shorter mandatory service period and expect young able-bodied men to sacrifice only that much, I think it would suffice. What do you think of it?”
Gillian had been so startled at the time that he’d fled without answering.
It was far too sensitive a topic.
How could he have broached it so casually, so calmly?
The authority to govern military law and command the armed forces as one pleased was the Emperor’s prerogative alone.
To discuss reform of military law was tantamount to raising a hand against the Emperor.
That day….
What had been Enoch’s intent in saying such things?
Could it be?
Perhaps?
While lost in thought, the carriage arrived at the scene.
‘Now even I don’t know.’
Gillian let out a hollow laugh.
His action in coming here to contain the disaster without imperial authorization would certainly displease the Emperor.
He wouldn’t say anything outright, but he would retaliate in some form.
He always did.
‘He’d send me to the front lines to die, perhaps.’
Even knowing what consequences his split-second decision might bring….
Gillian moved as if possessed by madness.
He had no one to rely on. Only Enoch.
“……?”
As Gillian descended from the carriage, surprise struck him.
Many able-bodied individuals had already arrived at the scene.
‘Wait—did they come from the Magic Tower?’
The white coats of Magic Tower researchers caught his eye first.
And….
“Gillian?”
Ulian Erzo, Commander of the Holy Mage Order.
He’d spotted Gillian and rushed over in shock, his unit members trailing behind him.
“I didn’t expect you to come, sir.”
“Well, ah—it happened that way.”
He’d thought the young blood of Ulian might be able to move….
‘Though he was the sort who knew full well to fear the Emperor.’
Both the Magic Tower and Ulian were unexpected.
“This is truly fortunate. With the Magic Corps here as well, containment will proceed much faster.”
Perhaps it was easier knowing he wouldn’t face this alone.
Gillian’s anxiety eased slightly, and he rolled up his sleeves.
“Right. Let’s move quickly.”
* * *
Jedo, Pavil Temple.
Beneath the grand cathedral lay the Sacred Relic Storage.
Cheshire crossed the quiet corridors of the vault without hesitation.
At the final moment, I’ll need that special ‘sword’—I have to be the one to wield it!
The letter Lilis had left for Enoch, anticipating her own capture.
The very letter Cheshire had later discovered and read, breaking his promise to wait.
He remembered every word.
The phrases that had been cryptic then made perfect sense to him now.
At the final moment
That meant: when the Emperor’s throat was cut.
And though he didn’t know why, he understood that a specific weapon was required—and that it lay here, in this very place.
“Um… Commander?”
One of the young priests following Cheshire spoke up, his expression uneasy.
“Might I ask what brings you here?”
His name was Paulo.
He had recently assumed the position of High Priest.
“I opened the vault at your request, Commander—it wouldn’t normally be permitted without proper authorization, but given who asked, I made an exception. However, proper protocol requires advance notice and a stated reason for—”
Paulo hurried after Cheshire, who paid him no mind whatsoever.
“—you must provide justification for accessing the vault and contact us beforehand. That’s how it’s supposed to work.”
Mid-sentence, Cheshire’s footsteps stopped.
‘Found it.’
A single sword lay horizontal inside a glass case.
Paulo followed Cheshire’s gaze to the relic case where he’d halted.
He was curious. What could possibly be so urgent that the Commander had shown up demanding access to the vault?
[Judgment Sword]
Four years ago, it had been the Sacred Relic that brought death to the previous High Priest, who had orchestrated the false revelation incident.
The expedition had attempted to recover it, but for reasons unknown, the blade refused to move at all.
Only a priest named Zadkiel had been able to lift it, and even then with great difficulty.
“Is this it? The Sacred Relic you came to verify so urgently?”
Clang—!
In that instant.
“Hnngh!”
“Hngh!”
Cheshire’s fist smashed into the glass case, shattering it into a thousand glittering fragments.
Every priest present gasped, their hands flying to their mouths in shock.
“C-Commander? What—what in the world are you—”
Cheshire carelessly scraped the shards of glass embedded in his fist, tearing them away as though they were nothing.
Drip. Drip.
Silence fell.
As everyone held their breath, only the sound of blood dripping to the floor rang clear.
……
Cheshire grasped the sword in his hand.
Then he turned.
The priests caught sight of Cheshire’s crimson eyes, blazing with lethal intent, and froze in terror, scarcely able to breathe.
“Move aside.”
If they didn’t, this man would surely kill them and walk through.
They all understood that truth. Trembling violently, they raised their hands to either side of their heads and stepped back.
A gesture of complete non-resistance.
……
Through the suffocating terror that hung in the air, Cheshire slipped away calmly.

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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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