My Daddy Hides His Power Chapter 270 - Side story Part 1 Chapter 10

“…I think I know who it is, so I’ll leave now. I’ll make sure to pass the message along.”

 

Enoch said that even though he had no idea who it was.

 

“I, I understand…” 

 

The nobleman, who wanted to apologize in person but couldn’t insist any further after being told by someone of higher rank, finally stood up. 

 

As he left, he kept glancing behind him as if he was uncomfortable.

 

‘What is this?’

 

Enoch was confused.

 

Currently, the holy beasts, which had started to become corrupted even before, began rampaging on a large scale, starting from the southern plains.

 

Many magical power users who specialized in dealing with holy beasts had gone south.

 

As far as Enoch knew, all of the magic power user Dos were stationed in the south. 

 

“Why are you slacking off here?”

 

“Axion.” 

 

At that moment, Axion Schneider, a fellow knight and long-time friend of Enoch, approached. 

 

‘Didn’t the defensive forces go on an expedition?’

 

Enoch, who was still puzzled, asked.

 

“Didn’t the Dos Magic Archer Division go on an expedition this time?” 

 

“…? What are you talking about? The damage in the south this time is huge. His Majesty gathered all the magic users and sent them off.”

 

“Yes, that’s right. He definitely did.”

 

“Why? What’s going on all of a sudden?”

 

It was strange.

 

‘Could it be… Impersonation? Dos?’

 

Enoch’s blue eyes gleamed sharply. He needed to investigate further. 

 

* * *

 

A small inn on Seraph Street.

 

I was exhausted after unpacking my belongings in the temporary room we had chosen. In contrast, Cheshire was calmly polishing a fire poker. 

 

“You don’t seem bothered at all?”

 

“Because I’m used to it.”

 

Really? Are you used to this?

 

While I was identifying the number and location of the checkpoint officers as planned, I was shocked.

 

There were really a lot of thugs in the commoner districts. As Cheshire said, most of them were 4th class Octava nobles. 

 

Commoners had to bow their heads to the ground, but if they were unlucky, they would still get slapped.

 

There were young kids, barely out of their childhood, making elderly men kneel, and when I saw an old nobleman groping the waist of a young lady at a fruit stand… I almost couldn’t hold it in and was about to throw up. 

 

These were not special, everyday things.

 

“It bothers me…”

 

“Don’t worry about it. We shouldn’t do anything.”

 

Cheshire said coldly as he unpacked. 

 

“Everything you’re seeing here has already happened. As much as it’s unfortunate, there’s nothing I can do to help. We decided not to intervene as we don’t know what actions will lead to which consequences.”

 

“Mm, I know. I’m not trying to do anything, it’s just… I feel a little uncomfortable.”

 

It was because I was the only one free from the trouble caused by the thugs. 

 

There were two more nobles who tried to take off my robe, but Cheshire quietly handled it. 

 

It seemed that wrapping myself up in the robe made me stand out more, but I couldn’t just walk around revealing my face to everyone either.

 

“…You’re the best, Cheshire. Thank you.”

 

I muttered weakly. Tears welled up at his foresight in bringing the uniform.

 

If it hadn’t been for Cheshire, I would have probably experienced something unbearable right in the middle of the city.

 

“It’s harder than I thought. I’d rather enter the training center quickly.”

 

This is my plan.

 

Transformed into a child, I will confidently enter the training center through the main gate tomorrow, on the regular enlistment day. 

 

Since the two powerless children with no specific status are ordinary civilians, even if they complete their mission and suddenly disappear, the commotion will only last for a short while.

 

I looked at my bracelet as I thought about my plan.

 

3sec/1sec

 

Even at this moment, I could see my lifespan burning endlessly.

 

‘The life force it takes for the two of us to transform into children…’

 

10min/1sec

 

Ding.

 

What is this? I rubbed my eyes in surprise and looked again.

 

‘It takes 10 minutes per second to maintain the transformation magic for two people? Really?’

 

Not 10 seconds, but 10 minutes.

 

In that case, maintaining the transformation for a day would consume roughly 1 year and 8 months of life span.

 

Gulp.

 

‘…50 years in one month.’

 

It’s dizzying… 

 

In fact, having studied Primera’s abilities for a long time, I was familiar with the principle.

 

The cost of healing others is the lowest, and the more selflessly one uses their abilities, the cheaper the cost of all magic becomes.

 

I had continuously helped sick people, maximizing the cost-effectiveness of my abilities to their limit.

 

So I thought that transformation magic wouldn’t be a burden…

 

‘Oh, could it be because I was forced into another timeline?’

 

I guessed, but I was frustrated.

 

After all, all the abilities used here might be unexpectedly expensive.

 

‘Hey, bracelet! It’s too expensive, can you give me a discount? I’ll be in the grave before I even try anything!’

 

10min/1sec

 

10min/1sec

 

10min/1sec

 

“Ugh.”

 

Despite my desperate plea for a discount, the bracelet remained firm.

 

Goodness. I wonder who made this magical item—it’s almost like the creator’s personality is reflected in how heartlessly it ignores a poor customer… 

 

In the end, I sighed and slightly raised my head.

 

Cheshire was staring at me intently.

 

Did you see my frustrated expression?

 

“Uh… wow!”

 

I awkwardly cheered as a thief with numb feet.

 

“Transforming doesn’t take much life force, huh? Best cost-effectiveness!”

 

“….” 

 

Cheshire didn’t answer. 

 

‘I’ll have to lie, well. No matter how much lifespan I use, I have to break Oscar’s ban.’

 

Primera’s lifespan is twice that of others.

 

The body remains at its peak for the longest period of time, and only when the remaining life span reaches 30 years or less does it begin to age. 

 

In other words, I will stay the way I am now, fully grown, the longest. Even when I am 80 or 100.

 

‘So what I mean is, if I don’t tell the truth about how much lifespan I’ve used, no one will ever know.’

 

I don’t care, since I want to live just as long as everyone else and have no regrets.

 

I was willing to give up the useless double lifespan that others have in order to break free from Oscar’s shackles. 

 

“I’ll do it. You don’t have to do anything.”

 

“Mhm?”

 

With a sigh, Cheshire lowered his gaze. On his lap, sitting at the edge of the bed, was a book that seemed to have been opened at some point, though it was unclear when.

 

‘Magic Textbook?’

 

It was the first volume of a practical magic textbook published by the Magic Tower, which was now widely distributed.

 

“Why did you bring this?”

 

I sat down next to Cheshire and looked at the open page.

 

* Transformation Magic

 

-Facial Features

 

-Height

 

-Body Type

 

…. 

 

“Ah!”

 

Now that I think about it, the textbook also included transformation magic, didn’t it?

 

The transformation magic that was previously known only allowed small changes, like altering the color of one’s eyes, but now, magic that could completely change one’s appearance to look like someone else has been revealed. 

 

‘Is this the grace of the teacher?’

 

Three years ago, when Oscar left the capital.

 

He left behind the magical formulas he had selfishly kept to himself, but this textbook compiled and published them. 

 

“Good!”

 

Anyway, it was fortunate.

 

“I’ll teach you this, using a magic formula that consumes less mana!” 

 

Where is the pen?

 

I looked around excitedly.

 

“We made some changes to the spell so that it consumes a lot of mana when it’s used, to make it so that it can’t be used for long and not just anyone can use it.” 

 

It was because we were worried that it might be misused. 

 

Only a few high-ranking officials of the Wizard Tower, including myself, know the original. 

 

“Originally, it actually uses less mana than this, but wait, the pen… Ah! Thank you?”

 

Cheshire suddenly handed over the pen.

 

Is he a peddler?

 

There’s nothing missing from the bag.

 

“Here, like this, like this!”

 

I immediately modified the magic formula in the textbook.

 

“With your mana regeneration speed, you could last about fifteen days while maintaining the transformation magic… Cheshire? Are you listening?” 

 

For some reason, Cheshire was barely listening, alternating between glancing at the textbook and me. 

 

“Are you listening… Huh?”

 

Suddenly, a change in my body was felt. The height at which I was sitting across from Cheshire dropped abruptly. 

 

What?

 

I raised my hand in surprise, but it was small.

 

“What! Why are you using this on me?”

 

Cheshire, as if not hearing anything, cast a spell on himself as well. 

 

Brown hair, brown eyes.

 

Ordinary, dull facial features.

 

His ability to learn was so impressive that in an instant, he transformed into the appearance of a nine-year-old child with absolutely no distinctive features.

 

“I told you I would do it.” 

 

“Mhm. You do it on your own. You need to keep running the magic formula simulation in your brain.” 

 

Even aside from the fact that it drains mana twice as fast, it’s a spell that causes overload in the brain 

 

“It’s okay.”

 

“Ey, don’t be like that. It doesn’t take much life force, so I’ll do it. Honestly, I don’t want to be this much of a burden.”

 

“Lilith.”
 

Cheshire sighed and called out to me.

 

“Don’t lie. It shows on your face.”

 

“….” 

 

“I hope you won’t lie from now on. Especially about how much life force it costs when using your abilities.”

 

…You must have noticed the frustration on my face when I was looking at the bracelet earlier. With nothing left to say, I kept my mouth shut. 

 

“I don’t understand why you think you’re a burden. Do you apologize and act cautious every time you ask the Duke for something?” 

 

Dad?

 

“Dad… Dad is a little less so. But, well, he’s my family…”

 

“Me too.” 

 

Cheshire added, looking intently into my eyes.

 

“I’ll become your family too. A family that might even be closer than the one between you and the Duke.” 

 

Uhm, that’s true… 

 

Parents and children are closely related, but husbands and wives come from different families, so…

 

“Mhm, I get it.”

 

I apologized, avoiding Cheshire’s eyes in embarrassment.

 

“I’m sorry I lied, honey.”

 

“Mhm, you’re pretty.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Cheshire, accepting my apology coolly, smiled and pointed at my face.

 

‘Right. I’m in my transformed state right now.’

 

I smiled back, then quickly ran toward the mirror in the room.

 

How much more beautiful did he make me…

 

“What is it?”

 

Brown hair, brown eyes.

 

Small eyes, low nose, and even the freckles on my cheeks.

 

It was a face that I couldn’t even pretend was pretty, even as a compliment. 

 

“This is…” 

 

I turned around in disbelief, and Cheshire was right behind me.

 

“Is this really pretty?”

 

“…? It’s cute.”

 

I was a little taken aback by Cheshire’s aesthetic sense, but I decided to let it be.

 

Customizing is the heart of the person who worked hard to transform you.

 

“That’s right! Looking at it again, it looks really cute! Now let’s go to the inspectors!”

 

I was excited and about to leave.

 

“Oops.”

 

I came back and said to Cheshire.

 

“Let’s make the setting clear. How about siblings? If we stick together often, everyone will be like that.”

 

“Okay.”

 

“We don’t need surnames, and let’s decide on names to call each other. Something ordinary!”

 

If you want to hide your power, you need a pseudonym.

 

The more common, the better.

 

“From now on, call me ‘Anna,’ the name that ranked first in the statistics for the most commonly used name among newborns born in the Principality of Primera in 1788!” 

 

“Okay.”

 

“What do you want to do?”

 

Cheshire looked into the mirror for a moment, thinking.

 

“….”

 

Then he smiled and said.

 

“James.”