My Daddy Hides His Power Chapter 284 - Side story Part 1 Chapter 24

* * * 

 

This is the Capital.

 

The current time is 2 AM.

 

Cheshire and I, hidden in the alley, began our final strategy meeting. 

 

‘He’ll have a bunch of servants trailing behind him, so meeting the young master of the Tower outside will be difficult. And since I need to see Erich anyway…’

 

The location is Oscar’s room. 

 

‘Also, there shouldn’t be any eyes around as much as possible…’

 

The meeting time is 3 AM. 

 

“I, the genius, have devised a foolproof plan to sneak into Oscar’s room without the homeowner noticing!” 

 

“We don’t have time, so just get to the point. Give me Oscar’s room coordinates first.”

 

How impatient.

 

Cheshire, seemingly preparing to draw a teleportation magic circle, picked up a stone, bent down, and urged me impatiently.

 

“Honey, sorry, but Oscar’s house is the Wizard Tower, and you can’t use teleportation there. If an outsider uses magic inside the Wizard Tower, unregistered mana will be detected.”  

 

The Wizard Tower, armed with all kinds of magic formulas. 

 

It was obvious that security was tight.

 

“What? Then how do I get to Oscar’s room?”

 

“But I don’t use mana. My abilities can’t be detected.” 

 

I looked at the bracelet.

 

‘If I just pop in out of nowhere, it’ll freak them out, so I’ll cast invisibility and warp straight into Oscar’s room!’

 

38years

 

…The price of rent is truly expensive. 

 

The landlord’s heartless personality—coldly turning away even when a disciple is desperately struggling to save Master! 

 

There’s no way it should cost this much life force just to secretly warp—it’s not even something that directly impacts the future.

 

Therefore, my guess turned into certainty.

 

“They’re really blocking this with everything they’ve got.”

 

It was clear that the landlord had read my purpose of ‘delivering the improved regression magic formula to Oscar.’

 

“At this point, I can’t tell if they have a grudge against me or against Master.”

 

“From what you’re saying, it doesn’t seem to work.”

 

“But we expected this, right?” 

 

I pointed at the backpack Cheshire was carrying. It already contained the supplies I had bought earlier at the general store during the day. 

 

“Don’t tell me…” 

 

Cheshire’s expression turned to pure shock as he realized what I had bought.

 

“Your worst guess is correct. Why do you think I insisted on meeting at 3 AM?” 

 

“….” 

 

“You’re too reliant on magic. Sometimes, you need to go with a more classic approach.”

 

I smiled broadly and tilted my thumb toward the Wizard Tower building. 

 

“Let’s go over the wall!”

 

“Ha. So that’s why… Even though I said Capital was dangerous, you insisted on coming here.” 

 

“Bingo! It takes less than ten minutes to walk from here to the Wizard Tower. It’s been twenty years, but according to Erich, the Wizard Tower’s structure hasn’t changed much. And if that’s the case, no one knows it better than I do.” 

 

Cheshire sighed and hesitated as he looked outside the alley.

 

“What, is it because Dad and Uncle are looking for us?” 

 

From what I heard, the problem started when we first arrived in the past and revealed our military uniforms. 

 

“Don’t worry. I checked the atmosphere a bit during the day. How quiet is it? If they were planning to make a big deal out of it, they would’ve already issued a wanted notice.” 

 

It just so happened that all the magic-class Dos, the rightful owners of Cheshire’s red cloak, were absent from Capital. 

 

“My dad’s a busy man. He’ll probably just investigate in secret for a few more days and then drop it. All we have to do is deliver the magic formula and head back.” 

 

“Yeah, then…” 

 

It was the moment we were about to go outside.

 

Tak, tak. 

 

The sound of two or three footsteps.

 

The knights flashed past us, instinctively holding our breath in the alley.

 

“Wow.”

 

I looked back at Cheshire in shock.

 

“…Did you see it? The cloak?” 

 

“Mhm.”

 

The blue cloaks fluttering behind the knights. 

 

It was the Dos Paladin. 

 

“Are they looking for us?” 

 

“Probably.”

 

Just a minute ago, I told you not to worry, but what is this?

 

I felt embarrassed and laughed awkwardly.

 

“Haha, guess Dad has nothing better to do. He doesn’t seem all that busy after all.” 

 

Stay calm. There’s not even a single rat around, so we’ll stand out immediately.

 

Whether the Wizard Tower is ten minutes away or an hour, the path there is basically a minefield. 

 

‘Mhm, let’s just hide~ Try finding an invisible person, go ahead~’

 

10hours/1sec

 

“What.”

 

Ten hours per second. At this point, it was definitely the landlord’s handiwork. 

 

Did we commit theft? Assault? All we did was show our military uniforms once, and now elite forces like the Paladins are coming after us in the middle of the night? 

 

The cost of warping to Oscar is ridiculous, so I decided to walk instead—then they send obstacles. Trying to escape? That costs a fortune too… 

 

The entire world was trying to stop me from delivering the magic formula to Oscar. 

 

“Don’t do anything.” 

 

As I was looking at the bracelet, Cheshire covered it with his hand and said. 

 

“Since it’s come to this, let’s find a way to break through.”

 

* * * 

 

The two of them decided to give up the main road, the fastest route to the Wizard Tower, and instead cut through the buildings. 

 

Of course, to do that, they would have to jump over a couple of walls. 

 

“Be careful.” 

 

“Yes, I’m careful.” 

 

Of course, to do that, they would have to jump over a couple of walls. 

 

“Success!”

 

Cheshire tried to follow and jump over as well. 

 

“H, H, Honey.” 

 

“Why?”

 

A bad feeling crept over him. From the other side, he could hear Lilith’s voice trembling. 

 

“Don’t come!”

 

“What?” 

 

“Don’t come over! Just stay there!” 

 

In the midst of my panic, another voice immediately interrupted. 

 

“Hey, you there, man. Can you hear my voice? The woman’s been subdued, so don’t do anything foolish and come over.” 

 

Ah, this can’t be happening. 

 

Cheshire bit his lip tightly. 

 

As he listened carefully, he could hear Lilith and the search team members talking. 

 

The voices were small, so he couldn’t tell the content well, but…

 

‘There’s only one person.’ 

 

There was only one opponent. It was worth a try.

 

Cheshire climbed over the wall lightly.

 

‘…Ah, damn it.’

 

After seeing the other person’s face, he froze for a moment.

 

Why of all people… .

 

Enoch Rubinstein… .

 

“Paladin Commander.” 

 

But he had to be calm. 

 

“I’m sorry for causing a fuss. I won’t impersonate Dos again, so please let me go quietly.” 

 

“You know this is an unreasonable demand. If you have an explanation, go to the law enforcement and make your case. I’ll listen and decide if there’s any room for consideration.” 

 

Enoch was firm. 

 

“I’m sorry, but we’re in no position to cause a fuss. Let go of my hand.”

 

“You don’t seem to want to follow along.”

 

Enoch drew his sword.

 

‘What should I do? Should I fight the Duke here?’

 

He hesitated.

 

“Huh, Duke! Why are you drawing your sword all of a sudden, so scary? Let’s speak in our language, in our language!”

 

“…..”

 

Even though they became enemies chasing each other, was it because they shared blood that it felt different? 

 

The father and daughter looked quite affectionate.

 

“…There, man.”

 

The father, who had been strangely dissuading his daughter, soon came to his senses and grabbed his sword.

 

“I don’t want to see blood for no reason, so just follow me.”

 

Yes, there’s no avoiding it now.

  

Cheshire slowly took out the “weapon” that he had hoped never to use.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

As expected. 

 

Enoch was momentarily dazed upon seeing the weapon, the ‘Poker’. Cheshire didn’t miss the gap and rushed in. 

 

Clank—!

 

In the deep of the night, the two men began exchanging fierce blows. 

 

‘That’s it. As long as I’ve shaken off the Duke’s hand from Lilith, it’s enough.’ 

 

Cheshire, who had deflected Enoch’s sword several times, slowly closed his eyes. 

 

And then opened them again, at that moment.

 

His time began to flow more slowly than others.

 

He controls the density of time.

 

It was an ability he had used instinctively since he was young.

 

He avoided Enoch who was rushing at him. 

 

He ran to Lilith. 

 

He carried her.

 

To create some distance.

 

For Cheshire, it was a steady passage of time, but for Enoch, it was a fleeting moment. 

 

‘I can’t run away.’

 

However, this ability isn’t like teleportation. It could only be maintained when there was an ‘interaction’ between them. 

 

If Enoch is simply chasing him, it means that it is difficult to continue to increase the distance.

 

“…?! What is this…!”

 

However, how could Enoch know that?

 

The man he had been exchanging blows with just moments ago had suddenly moved far away. 

 

And that too, while carrying the woman over his shoulder. 

 

“Stay there!!!”

 

Enoch was confused. If it was magic, it was a magic he had never heard of or seen before.

 

‘He had never actually disappeared from sight. But how could a human possibly move like that?’

 

The man was definitely a person with powers. 

 

Enoch, convinced of this, started chasing after the two at full speed. 

 

Fortunately, the man was carrying the burden of a woman. 

 

The distance between them gradually narrowed. 

 

“What? If you fail… it’s too…!” 

 

Since they were running frantically, Enoch couldn’t hear them clearly, but the two exchanged some words. 

 

‘Are you blatantly planning an escape?’

 

It was annoying.

 

Just a little more.

 

The hem of the robe of the woman clinging to the man’s shoulder fluttered…. 

 

The moment it was about to touch Enoch’s fingertips.

 

“….!”

 

The man suddenly stopped in front of him.

 

Enoch, who had never thought that he would stop running, quickly followed… 

 

Thud!

 

He bumped into the man’s back.

 

“What…!”

 

“Hero, Enoch Rubinstein!”

 

As he quickly lifted his head, he saw the woman who had climbed down from the man’s shoulder stretching both arms wide toward the air. 

 

“Your sense of justice! Your unwavering beliefs!” 

 

“….”

 

“Someday, it shall surely take root in this barren land!”

 

Enoch was once again distracted, staring blankly at the woman who was speaking strange words with a face that looked just like his own. 

 

As expected…was she really crazy? 

 

“Fighting until then!”

 

The woman winked cutely and raised her fist as if cheering.

 

It was absurd, but… 

 

‘Now, you’re caught.’

 

Enoch quickly reached out his hand.

 

But.

 

‘Damn it, again?!!!’

 

The moment he reached out his hand, the woman was once again lifted onto the man’s shoulder as if by magic and was already moving away. 

 

“Honey, James! Run! Let’s go!”

 

That’s so exciting.

 

Enoch quickly thought as he chased after the two again.

 

‘They won’t be able to run far from me. That man’s ability—it’s certainly not omnipotent. But….’

 

He glanced down at his hands.

 

‘Just now, when I tried to grab the woman, they moved instantly again. Then… does it require interaction as a prerequisite?’

 

Enoch Rubinstein, a quick-witted warrior, finally succeeded in understanding the man’s abilities.

 

But what if he understood them?

 

‘Damn it! How can I catch them?’

 

If he reaches out face-to-face, they will escape in an instant. 

 

How could he capture them without giving the man a chance to use his ability? 

 

“Stay there! If you stop now, I will try my best to understand your circumstances!”

 

In the end, although it was a bit humiliating, at the time he was shouting loudly and trying to persuade them.

 

The man turned the corner and disappeared.

 

Enoch quickly followed.

 

“….?”

 

Gone?

 

Even though it was a matter of seconds, the two had vanished without a trace, as if they had evaporated. 

 

“This is ridiculous.”

 

He felt possessed.

 

A woman who looked so much like him.

 

A man wielding an ability never seen or heard of before. 

 

The two disappeared before his eyes.

 

Even if he were to find them again… for some reason, he had a feeling that he would never be able to catch them. 

 

“Enoch!”

 

“Commander!” 

 

At that moment.

 

Hearing the commotion, Vice-Commander Axion and his subordinate knight, Philip, rushed over. 

 

“What? Didn’t you find the impostors?”

 

Axion asked. Enoch nodded.

 

“I did. I did, but…” 

 

“You did, but?” 

 

“…I missed it.”

 

“What?”

 

Axion and Philip’s eyes widened.

 

Missed? Enoch Rubinstein?

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah…” 

 

“What a strange situation. You saw their faces, right?” 

 

Enoch thought of the woman.

 

The face that looked so much like his own, smiling as if pleased to see him. 

 

“Hero, Enoch Rubinstein!”

 

“Your sense of justice! Your unwavering beliefs! Someday, it shall surely take root in this barren land!” 

 

He doesn’t know what she’s talking about, or if she’s just crazy… Even those meaningful words.

 

“None of the witnesses got a clear look at their faces. If we’re going to make a wanted poster, we need what you saw…” 

 

“No.”

 

Enoch shook his head.

 

“I didn’t see it.”

 

“What?”

 

Axion frowned.

 

Even as Enoch lied without hesitation, he couldn’t understand why he was doing it. 

 

It just…

 

For some reason, it felt like it had to be that way.

 

“Why has he lost his mind like this?” 

 

Axion grumbled in dissatisfaction as he turned to Philip. Philip gave an awkward smile and changed the subject. 

 

“Commander! Then, if not the face… was there any other distinguishing feature we could track?” 

 

Enoch thought for a moment.

 

“Ah.”

 

“Honey, James! Run! Let’s go!”

 

“I heard the man’s name.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“James.”

 

Silence fell at Enoch’s answer.

 

Axion, who had been blinking quietly, sighed and clicked his tongue.

 

“…As if that were their real name.” 

 

“Haha, that’s a name at least sixteen hundred people in the capital might have. Sounds like the kind of alias a criminal would use to avoid being tracked down.” 

 

It seemed like a waste of time.

 

Philip let out an awkward laugh and stepped forward first, followed by Axion, who lightly tapped Enoch on the shoulder as he passed. 

 

He missed the impersonator, and couldn’t find any evidence.

 

“That’s right….”

 

Enoch, who had now become an incompetent superior, murmured quietly as if entranced. 

 

“That would be a good name to use when hiding…”