My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 202

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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 202
* * *
After Cheshire had left.
“…How did it go?”
Ramon, the Advisor, asked carefully.
The Emperor smiled.
“Exactly as I expected.”
“It seems the conversation went well.”
“Indeed. It couldn’t have gone better.”
“He grew up under Enoch’s tutelage, yet he harbors no reservations about waging war on the Rubinsteins?”
“Ah, that.”
Onyx, Marquis and Cheshire’s biological father, explained:
“The Rubinsteins—father and daughter—are nearly family to Cheshire. Enoch has been his teacher all these years, and his daughter grew up beside him like a sister.”
He had been concerned about that point, yet Nicholas dismissed the worry.
Cheshire had certainly been raised under Enoch’s instruction. But there was one thing Enoch could never instill in him.
Values.
“About the military campaign scheduled for next month—I hear the two of them clashed again during the war council?”
“Yes. Cheshire defied Enoch’s judgment during the strategy meeting. As his mind has grown sharper and his experience richer of late, he’s been increasingly bold in opposing Enoch.”
“Ha ha ha. Understandable enough.”
Nicholas leafed through the Imperial Army’s battle reports with amusement.
[835th Official Military Campaign Record
Supreme Commander: Enoch Rubinstein
Civilian Casualties: 0
Imperial Army Casualties: 12]
[838th Official Military Campaign Record
Supreme Commander: Cheshire Libre
Civilian Casualties: 8
Imperial Army Casualties: 1]
[839th Official Military Campaign Record
Supreme Commander: Enoch Rubinstein
Civilian Casualties: 0
Imperial Army Casualties: 7]
[841st Official Military Campaign Record
Supreme Commander: Cheshire Libre
Civilian Casualties: 9
Imperial Army Casualties: 0]
Enoch was a Supreme Commander who employed an inefficient combat strategy centered on protecting civilians.
Because he kept the Demon Beasts at maximum distance from populated areas before engaging them, the Imperial Army frequently found itself in disadvantageous positions during the luring phase.
“I must say, Cheshire’s combat style appeals to me far more than Enoch’s old-fashioned approach.”
But Cheshire was different.
His strategy placed the safety and survival of his troops as the paramount concern—ruthlessly efficient.
“Are all lives worth the same? Of course not. Each life holds a different value.”
Cheshire understood this.
That the life of an Ability User was worth far more than that of a commoner.
If sacrifice was necessary, it should be the Vermin—the ordinary soldiers—not the precious Ability Users.
“The reason I chose Cheshire Libre was precisely for that.”
Cheshire recognized that a war of conquest was not a conflict steeped in innocent blood, but a glorious battle that would elevate the Empire’s prestige.
It was a conviction—a “belief” that Enoch Rubinstein had ultimately failed to instill in Cheshire Libre.
“Hmm.”
Nicholas’s fingertips traced across the map hanging on the wall, brushing the names of several kingdoms.
Continental Unification.
“It is the dream my father’s father—and his fathers before him—have long cherished. I must accomplish it.”
In his frustration with Enoch’s refusal to bend to his will, thwarted time and again,
a blade had come into Nicholas’s grasp.
Cheshire Libre.
He was a gift sent by the ancestors for Nicholas, abandoned by God.
“I will make him loyal to me.”
“…He grew up beside her like a sister.”
When Cheshire had stormed the Imperial Palace in a rage over Lilis, Nicholas had been deeply shocked at the time.
‘What if, instead, I became that kind of existence to Cheshire? What would happen then?’
The more she thought about it, the more it would fuel Nicholas’s possessiveness.
It was proof of something else entirely — that he was a loyal beast willing to bare his teeth for anyone within his fence.
* * *
Late afternoon at the Magic Tower.
On Lilis’s day off — once a week — Oscar had nothing to do.
He’d cut his work in half, thinking he might as well enjoy what remained of his life, but now he didn’t know what to do with all this spare time.
‘Is this right?’
Was it really?
That without the child, there was no joy, no purpose, nothing to do?
Since when had his life revolved around her?
So if she disappeared from my life, there’d be nothing left?
“Head of the Tower….”
Just then, breath whispered against his ear.
“Ah!”
Oscar startled reflexively and drove his elbow backward. The figure behind him let out a grunt and stumbled away.
“What, what, what, what?!”
Still clutching his tingling ear, he spun around to find Enoch.
“Gack! Ugh… I’m dying.”
Enoch doubled over, clutching his solar plexus where he’d been struck, and Oscar’s expression soured at the display of dramatics.
“You startled me!”
“When did you get this strong? Pretty soon I won’t even be worth a punch to you.”
“…….”
“It’s frustrating, actually — such perfect strength. The greatest Head of the Magic Tower… the finest man of this age, flawless in intellect, virtue, and physical prowess….”
“…….”
Oscar regarded Enoch with an expressionless face.
The fact that he was spouting the same praise suggested he’d received orders — from his daughter, no less.
Praise your teacher, evidently.
“Why did you come?”
“I have something to tell you.”
Enoch recovered instantly, his expression clearing as if the blow had never landed.
“You weren’t in your office, so I asked the Advisor. He said you’d stepped out. Were you taking a lonely stroll out here?”
“Let’s go inside.”
“No. Let’s talk while we walk.”
Enoch fell into step beside him and began to speak.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be able to visit often now. This is a crucial period — I need to keep my distance while making contacts with the high nobility. Even if I’m careful, the Emperor will soon realize I’m harboring other intentions.”
“I see. So the Magic Tower should maintain its neutrality as always, yes? Keep our connection from reaching the Emperor’s ears?”
“Exactly. So even when we do meet, we’ll need to follow protocol — relate only as the Head of the Magic Tower and the Duke.”
Oscar’s expression darkened.
Surprised by the reaction, Enoch nudged his ribs.
“What? What’s with that face? Don’t tell me you’re upset you won’t see me?”
“…What about the child?”
Ah-ha!
So that was it — he was worried about not being able to see Lilis.
“Well, the princess is fine, of course.”
Enoch nodded.
“It doesn’t matter where she is. The Emperor wanted her sent to the Magic Tower in the first place. Everyone knows how devoted you are to nurturing talent, how much you care for the princess.”
“Thank goodness.”
Oscar’s expression eased with relief, and seeing him so quickly mollified, Enoch pouted.
“So you’re not even a little upset about not seeing me?”
“What are you talking about?”
Oscar’s face twisted into a grimace.
“What does it have to do with me whether I see your face or not? If that’s all you came to say, why bother coming at all? I thought you came because of the child, but apparently not — so why drag yourself all the way here just to tell me you won’t be visiting often?”
“Wow, that’s harsh… I’m hurt now….”
“You’re a strange person.”
“I thought we’d gotten quite close while co-parenting the child!”
“Stop saying unnecessary things.”
Oscar waved his hand dismissively, but his eyes suddenly sharpened with genuine gravity.
“So you’re moving into recruiting the nobility already — things are progressing faster than I thought?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Three years.”
“……?”
Enoch’s words came out blunt and clipped, but Oscar caught his meaning at once, eyes widening.
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Really.”
Three years.
The Final Day, which should have come six years hence, had been pushed forward considerably.
“Thanks to our princess, we didn’t need to waste time on trial and error.”
Because Lilis had sorted through potential allies and traitors beforehand, Enoch had saved himself countless hours consolidating his forces.
“That’s great news, isn’t it? The kid must’ve been thrilled?”
“No, Master. I’d prefer she didn’t find out about this.”
“…? Why not? She’s always hoping the plan moves faster.”
“She didn’t expect it to move this fast.”
“But what’s the problem with that? Isn’t faster always better?”
“Not before I seize the Imperial Palace and take the Emperor’s head.”
Enoch’s voice grew heavier as he spoke.
“I have to cross swords with Cheshire first.”
…Right.
Oscar pulled the memory from that day, from the time that no longer existed.
“There’s no way around it. To drain the Emperor’s Life Force in a single blow, I have to let him possess me.”
It had been the same then.
When death was the only option left, the Emperor burned through all his remaining years to make Enoch submit.
“Lilis said Cheshire would be able to subdue me cleanly, but….”
“Right. The circumstances have changed since she knew him then.”
Back then, Cheshire had been twenty-one.
His body was fully developed and at its peak, his experience vast.
He’d even fought with the Sacred Object, the Judgment Sword, which could close the gap in raw power.
And yet Cheshire had struggled.
He’d managed to subdue Enoch without killing him in the end, but….
“Cheshire doesn’t have enough time. I don’t know how much more he can grow in three years.”
Now, with the Final Day brought forward.
The window for Cheshire to grow strong enough to defeat Enoch had shrunk.
That had become the greatest variable.
“And I don’t really understand my own limits either….”
Enoch let out a long, weary sigh.
He spoke with genuine concern, but something about it grated on Oscar—vaguely, irritatingly so.
“Right! I told you to go back to the Training Institute and remeasure your mana when you had time!”
“Yeah, I did.”
“The old Mana Measurement Device maxed out at one million, but now it goes up to ten million. Cheshire was what, two million? If we estimate the gap between you two….”
….
Oscar’s words trailed off as he watched Enoch smile silently.
“Wait. Don’t tell me—?”
“Yeah. Nine sevens on the display.”
9999999.
The Mana Measurement Device, built to register up to ten million, couldn’t measure the ceiling.
“…You’re genuinely insane.”
“Honestly, I was already disappointed in the Magic Tower’s technical capabilities.”
“You madman! How is that the Tower’s problem?! Have you never thought that maybe you’re the abnormality, destroying every standard scale you touch?!”
How on earth had Cheshire subdued Enoch in the previous timeline?
“Lilis will know this too, so if she learns the timeline’s accelerated this much, she’ll definitely be worried.”
“Listen. What if—and I mean what if.
“Cheshire can’t win?”
Enoch added quietly, with another sigh.
“Then he’ll have to kill me.”
“Come on, don’t—”
“I trust Cheshire. But if the worst happens, it’s far easier to kill me than to subdue me.”
….
“It has to be me who dies. If I stay alive and keep getting controlled by the Emperor….”
Enoch exhaled again, a sigh that seemed to sink straight through the floor.
Even unspoken, the rest was horrifying.
An unprecedented, unmatched Ability User, one whose own limits remained unknown, becoming the Emperor’s puppet—wielding a blade at his command?
“Why was I born like this….”
“What?”
It wasn’t boasting—just a quiet indictment of himself—yet why did it grate so?
Oscar was in foul spirits.
“This is madness. Pure madness….”

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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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