My Daddy Hides His Power Chapter 273 - Side story Part 1 Chapter 13

* * *

 

After unpacking our belongings in the dormitory, the two of us met again.

 

I was angry.

 

“It seems like they really spoiled him.”

 

Who would have thought I’d end up resenting Oscar’s parents, whom I’ve never even seen? 

 

“Honey, when we have kids, let’s never raise them like that. What kind of seven-year-old tells a friend to get lost?”  

 

“….”

 

“If my son ever did that, I swear…! I’d spank his bottom until he’s crying his eyes out…!”

 

“Disciplining him with violence is not good.”

 

I frowned at Cheshire’s firm words.

 

It’s a disaster to have different views on discipline with my future husband.

 

“Honey, I think that sometimes, when words don’t work, a little spanking is necessary. If Master had memories of getting spanked every time he said something bad, he wouldn’t be like this now.” 

 

“Our child will understand just by talking to them.” 

 

Look at this? I could already picture Cheshire as a doting father, spoiling his child endlessly.

 

“Well, if that’s what you think.”

 

To be honest, my dad spoiled me too. But I didn’t grow up to have such a rotten personality that I’d tell my friends to get lost at seven years old.

 

If personality is inherited, then our children probably won’t need spanking 

 

“Certainly, it seems like Master was just born with a bad personality from the start.” 

 

“It seems like you’re really upset. Cheer up. The Lord of the Wizard Tower probably doesn’t even know you right now, so how could you have a conversation if you just suddenly try to get close?” 

 

Cheshire lightly tapped my lips, which had formed a pout. 

 

“Cheer up.”

 

“….”

 

“Lilith.” 

 

No, I’ll probably still be angry at Oscar for about an hour more.

 

“But where are you going right now?”

 

I changed the subject.

 

Cheshire grabbed my hand and was quickly heading somewhere.

 

“Restaurant.”

 

“Restaurant? Why a restaurant all of a sudden?”

 

“You have to become friends with the Lord of the Wizard Tower.” 

 

What does becoming friends with Oscar have to do with going to a restaurant?

 

I was puzzled, but as I thought of some information I could share with Cheshire, I explained it while walking. 

 

“You know, I don’t think it’s a good idea to get close to that devil, so let’s change our approach. Let’s target Erich.” 

 

“The one you said was the Lord of the Wizard Tower’s friend?” 

 

“Mhm. Since you’re in the same room, you should try getting close to him. If you become friends with Erich, then naturally, you’ll be able to get closer to the devil… I mean, Master. Ah.” 

 

I added, gritting my teeth.

 

“I’m going to stop calling him ‘Master’ from now on. You should just call him Oscar too. We’re older than him right now, after all.” 

 

“…Alright. Do you know anything more about Erich?”

 

“Phew, that’s kind of the problem, you know?” 

 

I sighed and recalled the conversation I had with Oscar.

 

“Please tell me how you became friends with this Erich, where he lived, and things like that!”

 

“Hey, I’ve lived over 40 years combined in this life and the last. I played with him nearly 40 years ago—how am I supposed to remember that?”

 

“Aha. So you’re not friends now? As expected, he must have cut ties with you, huh…”

 

“What are you saying? You’re really asking for trouble, you know?”

 

Erich, the friend Oscar vaguely remembered being close with when they were young.

 

“He died when he was young because he was sick.”

 

He was already dead.

 

That’s why I didn’t ask too much.

 

Anyway, the only place where I could target Oscar was the training center, and even then, I had the limitation of just one month.

 

‘I figured that even if I had information, it wouldn’t really be useful, and since I felt bad asking more about his deceased friend, I just let it slide.’

 

Although he’s a commoner, I didn’t expect him to be ability user and also a fellow trainee from the training center. 

 

“Erich died when he was young. I heard he was sick.” 

 

“Is that so?” 

 

Cheshire said with a serious expression, lost in thought.

 

“It’s hard for a commoner to receive treatment at the Temple Healing Department, but still… Oscar could have helped, right?” 

 

“Right. As the son of a wealthy family, he must have visited the Healing Department with his friend. But if he still died, then maybe…” 

 

“It must have been an incurable disease that can’t be cured even with healing magic.”

 

I nodded.

 

“You don’t know exactly when he died?”

 

“Ah, that’s…” 

 

Oscar, how should I put it, only remembered fragments of things that were vivid and strongly etched into his mind, things that could be considered memories. 

 

“I don’t even remember what he looked like. A rabbit? Yeah, he liked rabbits… Oh! That’s right, his birthday.”

 

I recalled Oscar’s words―

 

“He died before his ninth birthday.”

 

―My mouth fell open.

 

“Wait a minute.”

 

Suddenly, I remembered Erich’s personal information document that I had seen yesterday.

 

Today is March 5th.

 

Until Erich’s ninth birthday.

 

Name: Erich Lehmann

 

Date of birth: March 26, 1761

 

There are only a few days left.

 

I grabbed my head in surprise.

 

‘In the training center…?’

 

* * *

 

Leaving the restaurant, Lilith chuckled and mocked Cheshire.

 

“The method you thought would help you get closer…? Is this really the best option, James?”

 

“…Yeah, but? Why?”

 

“Wow~ Cheshire Livre, you sold out your pride~! The best idea you could come up with was to get the prince to do ■■■?! Ehehe~!”

 

Cheshire felt a surge of determination because of Lilith, who was laughing so hard she had to hold her stomach.

 

‘We will definitely become close before Lilith.’

 

The boys’ dormitory.

 

Cheshire was watching Oscar closely.

 

Lying down with his right arm propped up on his head, Oscar was casually shaking his short legs back and forth.

 

With that arrogant pose, he flicked his left index finger, and white flames appeared.

 

“Wow! As expected, you’re amazing!” 

 

Erich, who was nearby, was amazed.

 

‘He’s a genius.’

 

Cheshire readily acknowledged it.

 

Although their cores have been opened so they can use magic, the new recruits haven’t received any training yet. 

 

However, Oscar was trying out various magics skillfully.

 

Being a young master from the Wizard Tower, he must have already memorized various magical formulas before enrolling, just waiting for the day his core would open. 

 

“Wait a minute. Now that I know what it feels like, I’ll make it right away.” 

 

“Huh? Haha, yeah. Thank you.” 

 

Cheshire’s eyes narrowed as he listened to Oscar and Erich’s conversation.

 

‘What are you going to make?’

 

He was curious.

 

He was thinking about whether to start a conversation.

 

“Oscar! I’m sorry to interrupt while you’re having fun!” 

 

A boy from the Quarto class in the same room approached Oscar.

 

“It’s time for our snack.”

 

That’s right. It’d be sad if they missed out on snacks. 

 

Cheshire chuckled. It was a relief that the same repertoire had remained unchanged even after 20 years. 

 

[Robert Schultz]

 

Cheshire glanced at the name “Robert” written on the red tag and observed Oscar’s reaction. 

 

“….” 

 

Oscar just stared up at Robert, lying there haughtily.

 

“Th, that… we need to decide who will bring it, you know?” 

 

“You bring it.”

 

“….”

 

“I’ll take the one with lots of cream.”

 

As expected, impressive. Cheshire continued to watch with interest.

 

“You know, Oscar. My brother said that the snack duty is usually for the commoners.” 

 

At that moment, another Quarto boy with a name tag that read [Benjamin Gross] suddenly interjected.

 

He looked somewhat dissatisfied.

 

He must have received orders to get close to the young master of the Wizard Tower, and had probably heard it over and over before enrolling.

 

‘I guess it must look unpleasant to him since Oscar is just chatting with commoners.’

 

As Cheshire had thought, the two Quartos were glaring at Erich with disapproving looks. 

 

“Aah, I see!” 

 

Erich noticed and got up with an awkward smile.

 

“Do you think the snacks are in the cafeteria? What does everyone like?” 

 

He tried to leave as he spoke naturally.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

He was immediately caught by Oscar.

 

“You, you should have a snack too. Wait, I’ll go get it…”

 

Erich panicked, perhaps anticipating the tense atmosphere that was about to turn.

 

“Get out of the way.”

 

Oscar got up, pushed Erich away, and stood in front of the two Quarto.

 

Then he made a slight nod.

 

Whoosh—!

 

A straight line of white flames blossomed in the air between them.

 

“Ack!” 

 

“Heukh!” 

 

The two, who almost had their bangs all burned off, stepped back in shock.

 

“Do you want to dwie?” 

 

…A vicious 7-year-old’s death threat!

 

The two Quarto boys shook their heads vigorously from side to side.

 

“If you want to die, bring the bread.” 

 

That’s right. They’re 7 years old, so they can’t give up snacks.

 

That’s right. After all, being 7, snacks are something they can’t give up. 

 

Cheshire suppressed a laugh as he watched Oscar, who had finished organizing the order and was lying down on the bed again.

 

‘He’s really cute.’

 

At that moment.

 

The two Quarto who turned around to deliver the prince’s snacks, stopped in their tracks when they saw Cheshire.

 

[James]

 

White name tag. Commoner.

 

Benjamin looked back at Oscar confidently.

 

“Can I order him?”

 

Oscar glanced at Cheshire while lying down and said,

 

“I’m not interested.”

 

That’s right. You should come out like this.

 

From the long-standing tradition of exploiting commoners at the training facility, to the fact that 7-year-old Oscar couldn’t give up on snacks, and his disinterest in the injustice of the class system.

 

Cheshire had expected it all.

 

Oscar Manuel’s world is not divided into classes such as nobles and commoners.

 

Only ‘my people’ and ‘the others.’

 

It is divided into only two groups.

 

“Hey! You heard? You… Ugh!”

 

Cheshire easily pushed Benjamin and Robert aside, who were blocking the way, and headed straight for Oscar. 

 

“Wh, what kind of strength does that guy have…?” 

 

“Hey! Did you just push us?!”

 

Oscar frowned as he looked up at Cheshire who had come closer.

 

“Whawt?” 

 

“….”

 

Taller than his peers.

 

Expressionless, with no way to tell what he was thinking.

 

This commoner named [James] must be weaker than those stupid red badges, but why?

 

“…Whawt is it?”

 

Oscar instinctively felt a strange sense of alienation from him.

 

“Guys! Don’t fight, I’ll just go and come back.”

 

Erich, sensing the tense atmosphere, tried to intervene, but was caught by Oscar again.

 

Oscar Manuel, the 7-year-old who couldn’t lose.

 

“I asked ywou whawt is it thrwee times.” 

 

He stood up and boldly confronted James, who was at least a head taller than him.\

 

At the same time, whoosh.

 

“….!”

 

[James]’s fist slammed in front of Oscar’s chest.

 

No, not a fist.

 

‘What is this?’

 

A cloth bundle, limp as if something is inside. 

 

“Ta-da.”

 

Ta-da? Oscar was dumbfounded by the words coming out of [James]’s mouth.

 

‘Ta-da’ with a dull, expressionless face.

 

“Oscar Manuel.”

 

[James] snickered and opened the bundle.

 

“Wow~ Cheshire Libre sold out his pride!”

 

Pride?

 

Will that feed him?

 

Cheshire Libre has a goal he can’t miss.

 

He will definitely lift Oscar Manuel’s ban and marry Lilith.

 

And he wants to have a cute son like Oscar.

 

“I’ve already prepared it. For you.”

 

Oscar looked inside the package and was shocked.

 

That was…

 

“Is that all you could come up with? Becoming the prince’s errand boy?! Wahaha~!” 

 

It was a carefully packed bread of different types.