My Daddy Hides His Power - Chapter 35

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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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Dad hides his strength.
Chapter 35
“Come on, drink up! You’ve worked hard today too!”
“…Thank you.”
“Hehe.”
There was another piece of good news.
Dad had agreed to become Chesire’s guardian, and from then on, we could take classes together.
Our schedules were identical except for two periods.
I received special private lessons in mathematics from Oscar, the Magic Tower Master, while Chesire….
‘…was learning swordplay from Dad!’
I watched Chesire’s profile as he drank his water, suppressing giggles.
Since he was starting sword lessons with Dad two years earlier than the original timeline, Chesire might become a Swordmaster two years sooner as well.
‘Can it really be this easy?’
Everything was proceeding smoothly, exactly as the story dictated.
“Chesire!”
“Mm.”
“Come here for a sec.”
I gestured. Chesire bent his head and offered me his ear.
“You didn’t forget about that thing we promised to do today, right?”
“What… oh.”
Chesire’s expression soured, then he caught himself.
“Why not just go with the old man and come back?”
“No way! You promised me!”
“…Fine.”
Chesire relented reluctantly.
“Hey! Why are you two whispering? What’d you say?”
Leon butted in.
“Hehe. Nothing, nothing. We weren’t saying anything important.”
“Nothing important my foot! You, come over here. Tell me what you said!”
“Kyahahaha! Aw, you’re such a pain!”
I dashed away, dodging Leon as he chased after me.
Today was the opening day of the Children’s Day Festival.
* * *
“Are we ready, soldiers!”
“Yes sir, Captain James Brown!”
…….
Early evening, as the sun dipped low.
Dad in commoner’s clothes, Chesire, and I slipped out of the Mansion without anyone knowing.
Dad looked down at his two small subordinates standing in a row and grinned before spinning around and barking, “Forward!”
At that same instant, Dad transformed into James Brown.
The symbol of an extra—brown hair and brown eyes—back for the first time in ages.
“Is this really okay…?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine!”
“Let’s have a blast today!”
Dad and I dragged the worried Chesire out onto the streets of Jedo.
“Whoooosh!”
The first day of the festival.
Unlike the noble townhouse district, where no one would’ve known a festival was happening, the Commoner Residential District blazed with color and noise.
Twinkling lights hung from every corner, and street vendors hawking candy and pastries waved welcomingly.
Children clung to their parents’ hands, lost in the festive joy and laughter.
‘Now that’s a real festival! The nobles are too busy acting refined to actually enjoy themselves like idiots!’
I stole a glance at Chesire’s profile—he was trying to play it cool but clearly thrilled—and smiled to myself.
I’d asked Dad to come see the festival today specifically for Chesire’s sake.
‘That day when Dad took Chesire to the festival… I can’t forget it! What an moving episode that was!’
In the original story, Dad and Chesire hadn’t been affectionate from the start.
Well, it made sense. After losing his daughter, Enoch Rubinstein’s personality had grown cold enough to rival the Northern Grand Duke himself, and Chesire was naturally taciturn to boot.
But as you’d know, Enoch Rubinstein wasn’t a character frozen in ice all the way through.
Despite his awkwardness, he’d always cared for Chesire and had tried, clumsily but genuinely, to be a real father to a boy who’d never felt parental warmth.
“The festival.”
“…Yes?”
“There’s a festival. Outside.”
“Oh, yes.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…Let’s go.”
“What?”
“Heh heh heh.”
I found myself laughing as I recalled that exchange from the original work—so utterly different from the father before me now and the taciturn Chesire.
“Princess! Look at those! They’re so cute! Should we get them? What do you think?”
“Wow! I’m a bunny! A bunny!”
We each bought an Animal Headband from a vendor’s stall and put them on, then continued walking.
I wore the bunny ears, Chesire the leopard horns, and Father the bear.
After eating candied fruit skewers and watching a clown’s magic trick, time slipped away.
“Hee hee. This is so much fun. I’m having the best time.”
“Are you enjoying yourself, Princess?”
“Mm-hmm! Chesire, you’re having fun too, right?”
Chesire, walking beside me with heart-shaped face paint on his cheeks, nodded.
“…Yes.”
“Hehe.”
That was when it happened.
For some reason the crowd ahead seemed to stir, and I spotted six uniformed Security Force officers.
And standing at their center was a dark-haired handsome man….
‘Isn’t that Uncle Axion?’
A face I hadn’t seen in some time.
It was Axion, the Holy Knight Order commander who’d been beaten with a poker by Enoch Rubinstein the moment he appeared.
We spotted each other almost simultaneously.
Axion, having caught sight of Father, strode toward us.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, Commander, is that you? You must be working hard.”
Father’s grin made the Security Force officers’ eyes widen in shock.
One of them stepped forward abruptly.
“How dare you be so disrespectful? Do you not know who this person is?”
“That’s enough.”
Axion dismissed the officer and glanced down at me.
“Hello!”
“…….”
Axion seemed to realize we’d snuck out to enjoy the festival, and he let out a deep sigh before speaking.
“…I know them. They’re friends.”
“Friends, sir?”
“Never mind that. You—why are you wandering around the Commoner Residential District so shamelessly? Trying to enjoy yourself before your face becomes known?”
“And you, Commander, as busy as you are—what brings you out to manage security yourself?”
“That’s not it. I’m just personally investigating something.”
“Investigating?”
Axion brushed his hair back wearily.
“Lately there have been frequent reports of missing children from the Commoner Residential District coming into the Security Force. I came out to look into it myself.”
“What?”
Father’s expression darkened.
‘Hmm, reports from commoners are hardly ever worth anything….’
I thought this while listening to their exchange.
The Commoner Residential District was essentially a lawless realm.
Crimes were only prosecuted under Imperial Law when nobles were involved.
If commoners reported assaults or disappearances to the Security Force day after day, nothing would ever come of it.
‘He really is admirable, this Uncle Axion.’
A noble who wielded his authority personally to investigate crimes affecting commoners.
In this wretched world, he was something like a unicorn.
‘Well, only someone this just could possibly become our father’s closest ally.’
While I was thinking this, Axion finished their conversation and moved on.
“Please, just keep a low profile and enjoy yourselves quietly before heading back. The Return Ceremony is the day after tomorrow.”
“Don’t nag. I’ll handle it. Thank you for your trouble.”
“Uncle!”
I called out to Axion. He stopped and turned around.
I hurried over and pulled a piece of Mint Candy from my bag that Dad had bought me, pressing it into Axion’s hand.
“…What is this?”
“It’s a cool-flavored candy. Eat it and feel better.”
…….
“Well then, goodbye!”
I left Axion standing there in a daze and made my way back to Dad.
Holding Dad’s hand, we started walking again when I noticed a crowd of people clustered up ahead like a swarm.
“And now, the first prize is none other than Princess Lara Shoes! Entry fee is only five thousand Ter! Sign up right now for your beloved daughter!”
A banner hung above the stage where the emcee’s resonant voice rang out.
<Dad and Me>
It appeared to be some kind of contest with prizes.
And the grand prize was actually Princess Lara Shoes.
‘The girls are going to lose their minds over this.’
The famous fairy tale <The Adventures of Princess Lara> had become a massive hit, and Princess Lara merchandise was sweeping across the entire empire.
Princess Lara Magic Wands, Princess Lara Compacts, Princess Lara Shoes….
As it happened, last year I’d hummed the tune wanting those shoes, but they were so expensive that I’d eventually given up—and those shoes were the Princess Lara Shoes.
“And strong mothers are more than welcome to participate! Second prize is the Bunny Friend Bunibuni Pajamas! Both adult and children’s sizes in one set!”
“Princess.”
“No, Dad. It’s okay. I don’t like Princess Lara anymore.”
“This is a sign from the heavens.”
“I’m telling you it’s fine, so drop it!”
Dad quickly grabbed both my hand and Chesire’s, pulling us up onto the stage.
Already on the stage were what looked like at least ten pairs of children holding their parents’ hands.
“Oh, are you our final participants? What’s your name, sir?”
“James Brown.”
“Mr. Brown, but….”
The emcee, writing Dad’s name on the participant list, pointed at Chesire.
“<Dad and Me> is an event for children! We can’t leave your son disappointed, can we? According to the event rules, all children you’ve brought today must participate—is that all right with you?”
“Pardon?”
I frowned.
The way the emcee talked about strong mothers participating made it obvious they’d be doing things like picking up children and standing up, or swinging them around like elephant trunks….
“If it’s just the two of us, Dad will be at a disadvantage!”
“Oh my, there’s nothing we can do about it. Little princess. Those are the rules.”
Chesire hesitated before interjecting.
“Wait. I’m not actually a son, I’m—”
“Oh, easy now! Don’t worry, don’t worry! Your old man’s got this!”
“Eeek!”
“Hmph.”
With confident swagger, Dad beat his chest and hoisted me onto his shoulders while settling Chesire in one arm.
…Was this really going to be all right?
While I wasn’t particularly interested in the Princess Lara Shoes, my competitive spirit stirred nonetheless, and I quickly sized up the opposition.
Just then.
Thud, thud, thud.
A sound like the earth itself was shaking, and my shadow deepened as something blocked the light above me.
I slowly lifted my head to look.
‘Holy hell.’
A massive man with a thick orange beard came into view.
“Haha. A young fellow with such darling siblings! Looks good. How about we have ourselves a bit of fun?”
“Wow. You’re quite impressively built, sir.”
He was nearly three meters tall—or so it seemed. From beneath his snug black sleeveless shirt, muscular forearms as thick as Dad’s head jutted out, rippling with raw power.
One punch from that fist would be fatal for sure.
I stared in shock at the size difference between the two men’s hands as they shook.
‘What the…is this guy some kind of monster?’
How were we supposed to beat him?

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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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