My Daddy Hides His Power – Chapter 271 – Side story Part 1 Chapter 11

Author: rolypoly

* * *

It was easy to get confirmation of being an ability user.

I went to the inspector and said, “My mom disappeared. I came here because you said you’d give me food if I was hungry,” and they immediately understood and checked for the presence of a core with a magical device.

I had thoroughly prepared myself to answer any other questions they might ask, but they didn’t even show any curiosity.

‘There must be quite a lot of commoner ability users with similar stories.’

Since tomorrow was the enrollment day, the inspector had no choice but to put us on the warp gate and personally take us to the Valkyrie territory in the north-central region where the training center was located.

The plan was proceeding as I had expected!

So, for now.

The Empire’s Ability User Training Center.

Interview room for new recruits.

“Tomorrow’s the enrollment day, so I’ve already finished sorting out the paperwork. Why did you have to come now, of all times?”

A training center employee in a white gown grumbled in discontent. Her name tag read ‘Mathilda Koch.’

Since she was in charge of paperwork, unlike the high-ranking researchers, at most, she was a 4th Class Octava.

‘That’s a relief!’

Thinking that, I glanced at Mathilda’s desk, where she was busy filling out paperwork.

“What’s your name?”

“Anna.”

“James.”

“Tell me one by one!”

Mathilda shouted irritably.

As expected, she didn’t even ask for the surname of a commoner.

“Next, age.”

“I’m nine. My brother is ten.”

“Ah, your brother is next in line, so just tell me yours!”

“Yes.”

Even though we’re commoners, they’re still cute little children.

Mathilda’s unfriendly attitude was disappointing, but I was relieved that she probably wouldn’t waste time showing unnecessary interest in us.

‘Let’s see.’

While answering Mathilda’s questions, I subtly stole glances at the papers on her desk.

The personal information sheets of the new batch of trainees, divided into groups of five and stacked, as if the room assignments had been completed.

‘Oh, it’s easy to find~!’

As expected, Oscar was on the top.

Name: Oscar Manuel

Date of birth: February 18, 1763

Expected rank: Dos

Special notes

– Early admission

– Special care required as successor to the Manuel family…

As it was Cheshire’s turn for the interview, I cautiously peeked at the documents.

It was to check the ability users assigned to the same room.

‘Dos has one Oscar, two Quarto, and for the commoners… Hmm? What’s this one?’

There was one commoner with a lot of notable details listed.

Name: Erich Lehmann

Date of birth: March 26, 1761

Expected rank: Diez

Special features

– Request for rooming according to Prince Manuel’s request.

– The commoner, in addition to the main trainee, will be assigned separately…

‘Oh, wait! If it’s Erich?’

It was a name I had remembered after checking all the details of Oscar’s childhood information.

“Oh my! I asked for information about your relationships, but I didn’t expect this. You have a friend, Master?”

“Do you want to get in trouble?”

Erich Lehmann.

It was clearly the name of the friend Oscar had told me.

But to my surprise, the only information I knew about this person was whether they were alive or dead…

‘No, if you were in the same training batch, he should have told me that!’

Looking at the details, it seemed they were actually much closer than what Oscar had told me.

‘Oscar even asked to share a room…’

Since this commoner was someone the esteemed Young Master Manuel had specifically declared he would personally take along, it was only natural that they would be treated differently.

‘There must have been another person, besides Erich, to handle the nobles’ affairs.’

That’s why another commoner was assigned to Oscar’s room.

“Hey, what are you doing now?”

Clap—!

“Ouch!”

Suddenly, a flame ignited on the back of my hand as I was rifling through the documents.

“It hurts….”

I gently rubbed the back of my hand, which had been struck by Mathilda.

She was so busy with Cheshire’s interview that she only noticed me sneaking a peek at the documents later, and she got angry.

“How dare you touch something without manners?”

“Anna, are you okay?”

Cheshire glared at Mathilda. Taken aback by the intense gaze, Mathilda was stunned.

“Mhm, it’s okay…”

Actually, it wasn’t fine. It hurt so much that it made me want to cry. I sniffled while glaring at Mathilda, then looked at the bracelet.

1hour

‘Ugh! It took an hour to use my power on Octava?’

Time travel now.

The cost was much higher than I expected, but there was nothing I could do about it.

“Bleh~!”

“W, what?”

I stuck my tongue out at Mathilda and used my ability. In that moment, the focus vanished from her eyes.

Soon, Mathilda started moving her hands mechanically.

The document for another commoner assigned to Oscar’s room was missing, and in its place, Cheshire was added instead.

“….?”

Soon, Mathilda regained her composure and tilted her head. It seemed that the memory I had briefly cut off left her dazed for a moment, lasting about 30 seconds.

“Hmph.”

I pretended not to notice and simply rubbed the back of my hand where I had been struck.

* * *

The next day, the much-anticipated enrollment day.

The day before, when I mentioned that I didn’t have a home, Cheshire and I were thrown into the temporary dormitory within the training center, and we prepared for the enrollment ceremony early in the morning.

All the procedures were no different from when I enrolled 10 years ago.

However.

[Anna]

This time, since I was pretending to be a commoner, a white name tag was attached to the chest of my uniform.

The training center auditorium.

The children grouped together by matching color name tags.

“Line up! Stop being noisy and quiet down!”

Among them, only the researcher leading the white name tag group was shouting loudly, and honestly, it was ridiculous.

Everyone was joking around and making noise, so why are we the only ones being quiet?

“Isn’t there a Dos in this batch?”

At that moment, Cheshire asked me quietly.

“Mhm. In Master’s batch, it seems there was only Master.”

“Then, the Lord of the Wizard Tower… hasn’t arrived yet?”

“I guess so.”

I couldn’t see the gold name tag. In the prominent leftmost row, only the 2nd-class Quarto kids with red name tags were gathered.

‘Why isn’t Erich here?’

I was more curious about that side than Oscar’s, so I carefully looked at each of the white name tags, but there was none.

But…

“James, what’s wrong with your expression? Are you nervous?”

“A little.”

Cheshire sighed.

“The Lord of the Wizard Tower has… a bit of a sensitive personality. It seems like it will be hard to get close to him.”

“Uhh-hah~! Hey, don’t worry!”

I tapped Cheshire’s shoulder with a few playful slaps, trying to boost their courage.

“I already asked, and he said he was an angel in person.”

“Really?”

I recalled the conversation I had with Oscar.

“Was Master like that even when you were young?”

“… ? What’s my personality like?”

“Ah! I didn’t mean anything by it, it’s just… you’re smart, so maybe a little bit arrogant? Hmm, and maybe because you’re tired from working, you’re a bit short-tempered too…?”

“….”

“I’m not saying you have a bad personality, Master. It’s true.”

“I wasn’t like this when I was young.”

“Yes? Really?”

“Yeah. I remember my parents saying there was no one as kind and sweet as me. I used to smile a lot and was very sociable. I was a hundred times cuter than you and listened well. Even I think I was an angel in person.”

Oscar, an angel?

I couldn’t imagine it, but he wasn’t the type to say something nonsense, so I decided to believe him.

And of course, he was only seven years old, so his personality hadn’t even formed yet.

“Since it’s the time when Master was still kind and pure, you’ll be able to get close in just a day.”

“That would be really great.”

As we were eagerly imagining the ‘7-year-old angel’ Oscar Manuel, drinking kimchi soup with all our hearts, at that moment…

The surroundings somehow became quiet.

‘Ah! This sudden silence, the atmosphere… surely…!’

The silence that flows when a predator appears!

Realizing this, I quickly turned to look at the entrance.

And, as expected.

The children parted like the Red Sea for the appearance of the predator, and through the gap, I saw seven-year-old Oscar walking with great dignity.

“O, oh my…”

Short, spiky white hair.

Unique golden eyes that caught attention even from a distance.

A small frame, underdeveloped limbs…

And as expected of a rich young master, he looked cute even in his plain white uniform.

‘Isn’t he cute~?’

I raised my cheeks in a pleased smile and admired the young Oscar.

As I got closer, my vision, which had been focused solely on Oscar, began to include his surroundings.

‘But what’s that guy?’

Upon closer look, it wasn’t like he was some gang heir; he was walking in with attendants lined up on either side of him.

And there was another boy wearing the same uniform.

‘Is that kid?’

The child who appeared with Oscar whispered something to him, then came over to our row.

[Erich Lehmann]

As expected, it was Erich, judging by his name tag.

The child had light brown hair, with eyes that had a gentle droop at the corners. His skin was strangely pale, and his body was extremely thin.

Two of Oscar’s attendants were following him like bodyguards.

‘I see. He must have deliberately assigned his attendants to avoid being looked down upon as a commoner.’

Erich seemed to be a friend that Oscar cared for much more than I thought.

“…It must be very difficult.”

“Huh?”

While observing Erich, for some reason, I followed Cheshire’s gaze, which was filled with frustration, and looked at Oscar again.

Even if he brought servants to the entrance ceremony like attendants, it was second to none.

‘What’s with that expression?’

One eyebrow raised arrogantly.

A twisted lip, as if he was dissatisfied.

‘A seven-year-old with that expression…?’

It seemed like he had ‘I have a bad personality’ written on his face.

“You said there was no one as kind and sweet as you…”

What on earth is wrong with that look?

Oscar stopped in his tracks and looked down at his outfit with a face full of irritation.

‘You don’t like the training center uniform.’

I could tell his state of mind right away.

Everyone around held their breath, watching Oscar, who seemed like he was about to shout and throw a tantrum at any moment.

It seemed like he was used to the situation, where the atmosphere was entirely shaped by the expression he made. Without a care, he continued walking.

With a scowl on his face, he walked through the auditorium, which had parted like a solo runway.

“I used to smile a lot…”

Without even a glance at the pitiful spectators who were trembling and watching him.

“I was very sociable…”

In a very, very rebellious pose, with one hand shoved deep into his pocket.

“He must have been a hundred times cuter and more obedient than you.”

“Even I think he was an angel.”

Doesn’t Oscar know what an angel is?

The moment everyone’s attention was focused on him.

He moved his tongue, his cheeks puffed out, and he cocked his head arrogantly.

A truly perfect ending.

“Wow.”