My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 181

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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
Chapter 181
“Really?”
“Yeah….”
Father let out a soft chuckle, then caught my eye with a sudden glint and asked.
“Dad really won’t die, right? There are only demons there that Dad can handle, right?”
“Right. Dad won’t even get hurt. That’s why I… said it too casually. Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine.”
Father tapped my cheek and rolled his eyes to the side as he added.
“But I’m going to sulk with the Princess until tomorrow.”
“Huh? How—how can you even do that? Let it go right now….”
“Don’t want to.”
Oh, I got it.
This was the moment that called for a little flattery.
“Hmm, I wonder what I’d need to do to make James stop being mad~?”
I asked in a playfully innocent tone, and Father tried to stifle his laughter before puffing out his lips.
“Kiss me!”
* * *
The next day.
Imperial Palace, the Audience Chamber.
Emperor Nicholas sat across from Oscar, who had contacted him first.
At Oscar’s side stood Lilis, Enoch’s daughter.
“The proposal you made before—about helping the Princess gain admission to the Magic Tower—is it still valid?”
As Oscar’s request came to mind, Nicholas’s lips curled upward of their own accord.
‘I didn’t expect him to come seeking it out so eagerly.’
Indeed, it was just like Oscar—who had been eyeing the child with interest all these years.
“Young one, surely your father isn’t trying to stop you from studying at the Magic Tower?”
Nicholas asked casually.
Lilis, whose mind had been wholly absorbed by cake, widened her eyes and glanced nervously at Oscar beside her.
“Ah, no… It’s not that… It’s just that I… don’t really like studying….”
“I see.”
A childlike reason indeed. Nicholas smiled faintly and tilted his teacup.
“You may be too young to understand my words yet, but because you hold a lower Rank, entering the Magic Tower is the more advantageous path to advancement than inheriting a house.”
“But if I go there, I’ll have to study from morning till night. I already don’t like studying even one hour at a time….”
Oscar, listening to Lilis’s lukewarm reply, clicked his tongue and turned his head away.
Watching the two of them, Nicholas let out an amused laugh.
‘True enough. If it were easy to coax a child with just a few words, I would have taken her long ago.’
Lilis, uncomfortable, set down her fork and fidgeted.
“Is there something you want?”
“Pardon?”
“Things your father cannot give you. I can provide you with anything, so speak freely.”
“…Why would Your Majesty do that? Um, in exchange for me going to study at the Magic Tower?”
“Well, yes.”
The child’s eyes darted about.
“If I go study, how would that be good for Your Majesty?”
“The Master of the Magic Tower must have his reasons for wanting to teach you further. If talented people create many good Magic Formulas, naturally that benefits me as well.”
“Ah, yes….”
Nicholas pressed the question once more to the child, who was listening with only half an ear.
“Is there truly nothing you desire?”
“Hmm….”
Lilis pondered, nearly shaking her head, but then something occurred to her and she hesitated.
“It seems you have thought of something. Tell me.”
“I… I…. Well….”
The child stammered as she spoke.
“The punishment you said you’d give my uncle before… could you forgive him instead?”
“Mm?”
“The thing is, there was a fire, but… I asked Uncle to come play with me, so he went. Because of me, Uncle got scolded by Your Majesty….”
Nicholas’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘That won’t do.’
Axion had to be eliminated this time. But at the same time, he could only incur Oscar’s debt by sending the child to the Magic Tower….
“Are you worried about your uncle?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not as frightening a punishment as you think. I’ve only ordered a Magical Beast Subjugation—something your father and uncle do all the time.”
“Oh! I see. But….”
The child, who had been fidgeting with her hands, lifted her eyes timidly and added softly.
“When Papa goes to catch monsters, I’m not scared… but when Uncle goes, I get scared. Papa’s always fine, but Uncle always comes back hurt….”
“Ha, you seem quite close to Axion after all.”
“I’ve known him since I was little, so of course.”
As if this were the first time the child had ever made a request, Oscar interjected eagerly.
It was clear he wanted to grant her wish immediately and have her brought to the Magic Tower….
‘This is rather troublesome.’
Nicholas, who had been tapping his fingers in thought for a moment, suddenly let out an exclamation.
“Very well, let’s do this. There were many witnesses this time, so I cannot simply overlook it without any punishment, and Axion has already begun preparing for the expedition anyway….”
The child blinked innocently.
Nicholas swallowed his laugh.
“Once this subjugation is complete and he returns, I shall promise Axion a temporary retirement.”
“…Pardon?”
Nicholas added for Lilis, who tilted her head in confusion.
“You said you were worried about your uncle getting hurt, didn’t you? If he doesn’t go catch monsters, there’s nothing to get hurt about. If you agree to study at the Magic Tower, I will henceforth exclude Axion from every expedition.”
“Really? Truly?”
Lilis’s face lit up.
“Yes! I’ll do it! Then I’ll study really hard!”
“Aha. What an obedient child you are.”
Nicholas covered his mouth and laughed.
How easily it had been resolved….
A mere play on words, and he’d indebted the Tower Master.
This promise was meaningless. Axion would not return alive from this expedition anyway.
* * *
The Magic Tower, Oscar’s office.
“…So you promised Duke Liber’s retirement? Even if it’s temporary, if you change your mind later, it’ll look bad on me, won’t it? So while the child is at the Tower, it counts as a temporary retirement.”
Oscar spoke languidly, leaning back on the sofa.
“Is that really true?”
When he’d sent word, Enoch arrived fully armed for some reason, and he stopped short while drawing a Magic Circle on the office floor.
“Yes. But keep what I said secret, okay? If he finds out she went to the Emperor herself, Dad said he’d absolutely go wild, so don’t tell him.”
Oscar shrugged.
“Since we made a deal, the girl has to come to the Tower now, so I couldn’t proceed without your permission, could I?”
“Wow, goodness.”
Enoch murmured blankly.
“Is our princess a genius? She’s so clever!”
“Of course. My recognition isn’t given to just anyone.”
He praised Lilis, but it was Oscar whose shoulders lifted with pride.
Enoch gave him a sidelong glance.
“Anyone would think she was the Tower Master’s daughter….”
“But anyway. The Emperor turned out to be a lot stupider than I thought.”
Oscar chuckled.
“He could’ve just granted the girl’s request this once, so why promise retirement? Is he thick-headed or something?”
“I wish he were. If he were, I’d have dragged him out long ago.”
Enoch finished drawing the Magic Circle and let out a heavy sigh.
“The promise of Axion’s retirement means nothing. The Emperor is someone who never does anything that costs him.”
“What do you mean?”
“If it were as the Tower Master said—just granting the girl’s request once—why didn’t he do that?”
Enoch spoke with a wry smile, thinking of the Emperor.
“He must have intended to send Axion to his death this time. Since he won’t come back alive anyway, whether it’s retirement or anything else doesn’t matter.”
“…? What are you saying? Duke Liber is going on an expedition to the north, isn’t he? That’s what I heard? Is there some fearsome Demon Beast there?”
“Not the north.”
“Then where is it?”
Enoch stepped onto the completed Magic Circle and pointed at the ground with his index finger.
“Here. Where I’m about to go.”
“So where is it?”
“The Moarte Archipelago.”
“…….”
Oscar stood frozen for a moment, then slowly opened his mouth.
“M-mad. Are you insane? You’re sending him there?”
“What’s the fuss?”
Enoch dismissed the concern casually and checked the sword at his hip.
“Wait, wait. So what are you going to do there? Clear it out beforehand?”
“That’s the idea. If I know the Emperor, he’s definitely pressured Axion into this expedition. I need to make sure the path is safe.”
It would have been natural to lay everything out and puzzle through it together, but Axion held his tongue.
Because he knew the Moarte Archipelago was a place where even Enoch couldn’t guarantee survival.
He didn’t want to see Enoch tormented, weighing his own life against his friend’s….
“And you think you can come back alive from there?”
“Probably? Lilis said it was okay for me to go. I should be fine, at least.”
Enoch gave a casual shrug.
Oscar studied the darkness that had crept into Enoch’s expression.
‘Well, that’s true. Honestly, I was shocked at how unscathed he came back.’
The Moarte Expedition.
Oscar knew it well.
It was an event that had stirred the entire Empire before the Regression.
A single skilled operative had wiped out every Demon Beast on the island and planted the Imperial flag, returning without a scratch.
“Why don’t you take a few trustworthy people with you? Even if the girl gave you her word, you’re human—you must be afraid?”
“I am. Afraid. Good eye.”
Unlike before the Regression, when he would have thrown himself into certain death without hesitation, Enoch—now with a daughter to protect—looked visibly anxious.
“If anything goes wrong—not that it will—but if something happens to me, watch over our princess. Sob, sob.”
“…….”
Enoch spoke in jest, but released Mana into the circle.
“Wait, wait! Hold on! That—”
“Hm? What is it?”
A blue light bloomed across the Magic Circle, blocking Oscar’s vision as he stumbled forward into the gathering glow.
* * *
A crimson sunset painted the sky.
In the distance, graceful mountain ridges rose like brushstrokes.
A cool breeze, the salt-sweet scent of the sea….
There was no time to marvel at the serene and beautiful landscape before Enoch noticed.
“……?”
Beside him stood Oscar, who had apparently rushed into the Magic Circle on impulse, transported alongside him.
“Master…?”
A land Enoch’s feet had never touched.
A place where even Enoch couldn’t guarantee survival.
Though Lilis had been certain, Enoch had wavered all the way up to departure—worried that perhaps he should bring one of the Magic Tower’s personnel along.
At least one skilled mage to aid him.
And so, truthfully….
Enoch was moved to tears.
“Ah, what the—!”
Enoch jabbed Oscar in the ribs with his elbow. Oscar staggered helplessly.
“Master, did you really come along because you were worried about me?”
“Ha….”
Oscar clutched his head, dazed, muttering to himself.
“Have I lost my mind…?”

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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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