My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 207

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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 hides his strength
Episode 207
* * *
March, 1786.
Tension hung over the Empire.
The Emperor and the powerful men he favored had been moving in suspicious ways.
‘A bloodbath might come soon.’
The Imperial Ability Training Institute.
Nova, the middle-aged director of this vast institution that cultivated young Ability Users, was studying her guest’s face.
His expression was lukewarm.
His legs crossed in arrogant repose.
A man who sat before her while idly examining his own fingertips.
“What are you staring at?”
Oscar Manuel, the Magic Tower Master.
A young wielder of power at twenty-four.
As the administrator of all existing Magic in the world, he sat at the very pinnacle of power.
“Nothing at all. I’m grateful for your continued support.”
The Duchess collected the Magic Formulas Oscar had brought.
Over the past year, Oscar had been supplying various offensive Magic Formulas to the Training Institute.
This was surely the Emperor’s intention.
To raise young Ability Users as weapons of war.
‘I never thought the Magic Tower Master would tie himself to the Imperial Household.’
Nova was certain: the Magic Tower’s neutrality had shifted toward the throne.
And that wasn’t all.
The Emperor’s closest confidant.
Cheshire Libre, leader of the Magic Swordmaster Order.
The Emperor visited the Training Institute frequently with him in tow.
To build a strong army, to collect promising Child Soldiers.
‘If the Magic Tower lends its strength to that, it won’t be long. War will come.’
Watching Oscar depart with unhurried grace, Nova exhaled slowly.
* * *
“How did it go?”
Robel, his Advisor, draped Oscar’s coat over his shoulders as he asked.
“The old lady’s face was worth seeing. She really thought I’d tied myself to the Imperial Household—went pale as ash.”
“Good. The plan worked.”
Oscar needed to show that the Magic Tower would not oppose the war.
It was a scheme, at this critical juncture with rebellion imminent, to eliminate every source of the Emperor’s anxiety and set his mind at ease.
“Damn it.”
Oscar stopped abruptly in the middle of the corridor.
“Bad luck from the moment I woke up.”
Research staff of the Training Institute approached, laughing brightly.
Among them, in white coats, a woman’s face appeared—blonde hair pulled tight in a knot.
Lilis’s biological mother.
Selena Luden Dorf.
Her radiant smile overflowed with undisguised happiness.
‘Happy, aren’t you.’
The freedom of a son gained by selling a daughter.
The privileges enjoyed as a high-ranking noblewoman.
She had lost nothing, and would lose nothing in the future.
It was unbearable.
For seven years, Enoch had labored without rest, and his daughter had shortened her own lifespan to aid him.
For an Empire that would finally know peace.
‘And this woman?’
Selena would live on in the new country they had built with blood and lives.
Happy.
At peace.
Having lost nothing, destined to lose nothing.
‘Why does this feel so unjust?’
Though Enoch and Lilis themselves thought nothing of it, each time Oscar recalled Selena, he burned with an anger he could barely contain.
“Ah, it seems she’s pregnant.”
At Robel’s soft whisper, Oscar’s gaze lowered.
‘Well, well?’
Selena’s belly was swollen enough to be quite noticeable.
“Insane.”
As they drew closer, the researchers who spotted Oscar first offered their greetings.
Selena smiled and bowed her head in return.
“Well, well, you’ve had good news while we haven’t seen each other. Your second, is it?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Selena smiled shyly.
“A boy, then? This Dos?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, truly remarkable. If he takes after his mother, the second child’s abilities should be exceptional too.”
Oscar flashed a grin and stepped closer, bowing his head. Then he leaned in near Selena’s ear and asked.
“How are you going to get him out of military service?”
……
In that instant, Selena froze.
The researchers listening from the side all gasped in unison.
“Huh? How are you going to get him out?”
Oscar asked again, his voice tinged with amusement.
Only when Selena’s expression — stiffened by panic — seemed to satisfy him did he break into an even more wicked smile.
“Someone who loves their children so very much wouldn’t have planned a second child without thinking it through.”
The researchers broke into cold sweat, exchanging nervous glances.
“What extraordinary method will you use this time to commit military service fraud?”
They didn’t say it outright, but everyone in this room knew the truth.
How Selena had obtained military service exemption for her son.
“You must have much to worry about.”
Oscar pouted his lips in mock sympathy, patted Selena’s shoulder twice, and left.
“And now you don’t even have a daughter to sell off.”
* * *
Roll-roll-roll.
The ball that had been rolling came to a stop with a soft tap against someone’s feet.
The child chasing after it looked up.
‘Oh.’
The man silhouetted against the spring sunlight cut an imposing figure.
A towering frame that required the child to crane his neck far back to meet his gaze.
An expressionless face.
Yet within it burned a pair of eyes—a fierce, piercing red.
‘This person is….’
Two years spent in the Ability User Training Institute, bearing a white name badge.
This common child, who had learned early the law of the world where predator and prey were starkly divided, sensed it instinctively.
That his head should bow.
“I-I’m so sorry….”
This man was a predator.
One standing at the very apex of power.
A beast with fangs so sharp it could sever the breath of a defenseless herbivore in an instant.
……
A shadow fell over the trembling child.
“……?”
In the hand of the man who had drawn close without a sound lay the ball the child had lost.
The man handed it over without emotion.
The child, startled, stood frozen for a moment, then stammered out a bow.
“Th-thank you.”
Then.
“Cheshire, come along.”
Someone called to the man from behind.
The child’s eyes went wide.
The Emperor.
The master of this empire, whom the child had first laid eyes upon during the entrance ceremony two years ago.
Anyone standing beside the Emperor would surely prove to be a formidable predator, just as one might expect.
The child stood transfixed, watching the two receding figures until they vanished from sight, seized by a kind of reverent paralysis.
* * *
“I thought I might tour the Magic Swordmaster Order today.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor entered the Training Institute building with Cheshire at his side.
Young Ability Users in white training uniforms were scattered throughout the halls, each absorbed in their magical practice.
‘……?’
Cheshire’s eyes, wandering absently across the space, narrowed upon catching sight of someone.
The boy with navy hair and blue eyes was, for some reason, considerably larger than his peers.
Eleven? Perhaps twelve years old?
He looked to be well past the age when he should have graduated from the Training Institute….
“Kyle, show us again!”
“Sure, why not!”
In that instant, Cheshire’s eyes widened.
In the soft murmur of their exchange, he had caught a name buried deep in his memory.
Kyle….
Kyle Luden Dorf.
Lilis’s half-brother.
“Wow, you’re incredible!”
Kyle performed an elegant display of magic before the gathered children. Above twenty candles arranged in a line, blue flames erupted and danced.
‘So the boy has grown so much already.’
The last time Cheshire had seen Kyle was seven years ago, during his own Training Institute days.
Now, looking at him again with recognition, he could discern the faint face preserved in memory.
“…Yes, I had forgotten about that boy.”
Then the Emperor’s voice murmured from behind him.
“What do you think?”
The Emperor smiled and placed a hand on Cheshire’s shoulder.
“Does he look promising?”
“Pardon?”
“That boy. You’ve been staring at him.”
Cheshire shook his head.
“No, Your Majesty. It’s merely that he appears to be past the age of graduation, yet he’s still receiving instruction.”
“Ah, there’s a reason for that. Well, as you’ll gather, it’s not because his abilities are lacking—he wasn’t held back for poor performance.”
The Emperor gazed intently at Kyle, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
“He’s the heir to the Luden Dorf Marquessate. Twelve years old this year, if I recall.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Dos age.”
At twelve, the Dos age.
By rights, he should have been serving as a Child Soldier, yet Kyle was an exception.
This privilege was courtesy of a bargain struck between his mother, Selena Luden Dorf, and the Emperor.
In exchange for revealing to the Emperor the whereabouts of her former husband, Enoch Rubinstein, who had deserted with their daughter—
Selena had secured a promise of her own retirement and Military Service Exemption for her son.
“He’s fairly capable, isn’t he?”
Why ask? Regardless of the boy’s ability level, it wouldn’t matter.
“Yes, fairly capable.”
Knowing the circumstances behind Kyle’s exemption from service, Cheshire simply nodded in acknowledgment.
“But he lacks field experience. A promising talent like that needs training—no point in delay. Take him along on this Great Subjugation and give him practical instruction.”
“Your Majesty?”
Cheshire faltered.
The Emperor tilted his head at this expression of confusion.
“What is it?”
“…Nothing at all, Your Majesty. Nothing of consequence.”
Cheshire concealed his disquiet and continued carefully.
“But this large-scale Subjugation will be a considerable strain even on our Elite Forces. For an Ability User without field experience to participate….”
“No, no.”
The Emperor waved his hand dismissively.
“Experience comes from engaging with challenges. We’ve already waited long enough.”
He clicked his tongue with mild frustration and added,
“With our shortage of Dos soldiers as it is, I can’t believe I let that boy slip my mind. What a waste.”
“…….”
“Nurture them quickly. They’ll become excellent soldiers.”
Cheshire fell silent at the Emperor’s resolute tone, then felt a bitter smile curl inside him.
Yes, there was nothing strange about it.
It was simply the Emperor being true to form.
Now, with his long-cherished ambition within reach.
For the Emperor, a promise made seven years ago would mean nothing.

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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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