My Daddy Hides His Power Chapter 294 - Side story Part 1 Chapter 34

* * * 

 

The largest port city and tourist attraction in the duchy, Bethel.

 

After a successful dinner. 

 

Axion and Cheshire, the father and son, returned home to prepare for tomorrow. 

 

“Hey!”

 

Enoch kept nagging Oscar to stay for a day and finally got permission.

 

“As expected, tourist accommodations really are on another level!” 

 

Enoch admired the luxurious family room as he looked around. It was a place they had hastily booked, but it wasn’t bad at all.

 

“Hmm.”

 

The real reason he went this far was because he sensed the unsettling tension between Lilith and Oscar. 

 

Yesterday, even after being told that Oscar had given his blessing for the marriage, Lilith’s expression didn’t look pleased. 

 

There must have been a problem between them.

 

The next day, when Cheshire came to visit and explained the whole story, and as expected… 

 

‘I really hope they make up.’

 

Enoch let out a sigh as he gazed at the night sea beyond the wide window. 

 

He had just sent them out for a walk, half-forcing them, saying that the sea was beautiful. 

 

‘If the princess would just act a little cutesy, everything would be resolved….’

 

Lilith was always the one to make up first, but this time, he wasn’t so sure. 

 

Ever since the day she returned from the past, his daughter had seemed somewhat strange. 

 

It seemed like she was feeling hurt about something Oscar had done—he just hoped their conversation would go well. 

 

“It’s okay, Princess! This Dad still has one secret weapon left up his sleeve!” 

 

Enoch, smiling contentedly as he took out the three ‘weapons’ he had secretly prepared, grabbed his share and headed to the bathroom. 

 

“I should have put them on in advance~!”

 

* * *

 

The moonlit night sea. 

 

Oscar and I were walking side by side on the soft sandy beach, but neither of us had said a word for the past ten minutes. 

 

“You showed that you were upset with the Lord of the Wizard Tower, didn’t you? I could tell you were sulking all by yourself.” 

 

Recalling what Cheshire had told me, I glanced at Oscar. He was silently walking, eyes fixed straight ahead. 

 

“Master! It’s a bit chilly, but shall we take off our shoes and walk? The sand is so fine, it feels nice to step on it barefoot.” 

 

“I don’t want to.” 

 

Oscar was cold. 

 

I pouted and took off my shoes by myself. And immediately regretted it. 

 

‘Ugh. My feet feel like they’re freezing. I just wanted to set the mood, but going barefoot in this weather was definitely a bad idea.’

 

But since I had already taken my shoes off so confidently, I pretended nothing was wrong. 

 

“….?”

 

At that moment.

 

Oscar suddenly took my shoes and carried them himself.

 

“Ahem.”

 

Could it be that the mood is finally right for reconciliation? 

 

We walked again.

 

“Master.”

 

“….”

 

“After I came back from the past, I was kind of sulking at you, and I guess it showed, right? I’m sorry. You must have had no idea why… It must’ve been frustrating since I didn’t say anything.” 

 

“Mhm, no. After I heard that I’d been gone for three years because of the restriction spell, I kind of figured out what had happened.” 

 

He immediately added. 

 

“Since I wasn’t around, you two probably dated without any worries, right? Stayed out overnight for anniversaries, kissed, made out, and then…” 

 

“Master!”

 

I quickly cut off Oscar.

 

“…Just kissed.”

 

“Let’s say that’s true. It would be good for my mental health to believe that.”

 

“Yes. Anyway, after your curse was lifted, I was really looking forward to your return… But even more than you opposing our marriage, I was sad that so many of the times we spent together—those trips we took alone… well, the nights we stayed out too—were just gone. They were special memories to me…” 

 

“Yeah, I get it. You had time to enjoy yourselves while I was gone, and now that I’m back and interfering with everything, it’s hard to adjust—so you got a little snappy.” 

 

“Yeah. But when I look back at the new memories, it’s not like you locked me up or anything—you just really put your foot down about staying out overnight. And honestly, it made sense. I was younger back then, and of course you’d be strict. Even Cheshire says there’s no way he’d ever let his daughter sleep out when she’s still young.” 

 

“So, have you let it go now? Just because I said I’d obediently walk into the wedding hall?” 

 

“It’s not like I was mad enough to hold a grudge or anything….”

 

“You’re probably really happy, huh? Now that you’re getting married?” 

 

“Honestly, I don’t feel much. I’ve known Cheshire since we were kids, and we’ve been dating for a long time. It’s really just going from living separately to living together. Now, when I come home from work, instead of my dad, my husband will be there.”

 

But now, finally, we can move beyond just being friends…

 

I’m looking forward to it…

 

Of course, I swallowed my words because I was afraid of causing trouble. 

 

“Hey! After I finally gave you my blessing, that’s all you’ve got to say?”

 

“Of course I’m fine with it, but it must feel a little weird for you, right, Master?” 

 

“….”

 

Oscar hesitated for a moment, then closed his mouth and kept walking in silence. I gently slipped my arm through his. 

 

Thankfully, Oscar didn’t shake me off.

 

“Hmm.”

 

It wasn’t perfect, but I could understand to some extent how Oscar felt about me getting married.

 

I know very well what I mean to him.

 

The pilgrimage to the holy site, where I had heard about Oscar’s prohibition… 

 

“You are the reason I live.”

 

Those unforgettable words.

 

Because of the world’s elasticity, all the events still happen even without Oscar’s prohibition. 

 

Even though I didn’t know what the prohibition was, I had this lingering fear—surely there has to be a price for a return spell, right? So I ran around restlessly on my own, trying anything and everything I could…. 

 

Oscar, still bound by the Caster’s Prohibition—which forbade him from speaking even without the Sacrificial Prohibition—couldn’t even tell me I didn’t need to go through all that trouble, and just bottled up his frustration….

 

‘Since we couldn’t communicate, I was the only one getting depressed, while Oscar was boiling with frustration watching me. The new memories I received were really amusing.’

 

I said, wrapping my arms around Oscar tighter.

 

“Even if I get married, nothing will change. I’ll just be stuck next to you like this.”

 

“No, really. Can you get out of my life now?”

 

“Huh? What are you saying that’s so disappointing?”

 

“Ha.”

 

Oscar sighed and said.

 

“Because of you, my life has been turned upside down. I wish I could turn back time to before I got tangled up with you.”

 

“….?!”

 

Wow. This is a bit much.

 

Now, with the ‘improved regression magic formula,’ it was an even scarier statement, as it meant that turning back time was easily possible. 

 

“M, Master… t, that’s too much…” 

 

“Keugh.” 

 

Oscar looked back at me with a smile.

 

“It’s a lie.” 

 

“No? I think some sincerity slipped through there, though?”

 

“It’s a lie~” 

 

Should I believe this, or not?

 

As I walked along, feeling down and pouting, Oscar gently nudged me.

 

“Are you an idiot? If I said broccoli was meat, would you believe me and eat it?” 

 

“Of course…”

 

“It’s really a lie. Why would you believe something like that? I have no regrets about getting caught by you.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Yeah. The only good thing that b*stard emperor, who’s probably rotting in hell right now, did was handing you over to me.” 

 

“….”

 

“I met you, and now I understand what it means when people say they don’t feel regretful about giving something away, nor do they feel sad about losing it.”

 

At those words, I was momentarily stunned.

 

The letter that Oscar left behind when he had to leave my side because of the prohibition.

 

It was what was written in the letter.

 

For the first time, I understood what it meant to not regret giving and not feel sad about losing. 

 

I had deliberately brought the letter with me when I traveled through time, fearing that it might disappear if I succeeded in breaking the seal… 

 

“Well, thanks to you, the memories of suffering from the seal are gone. But even if that situation comes again, if there’s no other way… I think I would have sacrificed my life to save you.”

 

“…It’s not ‘I think I would have,’ I’m telling you, you really would have.” 

 

“Ah, yeah.” 

 

Oscar chuckled and added. 

 

“Anyway, this master of yours would have been happy even if he had to pull out his heart for you~” 

 

“….”

 

Again. 

 

I bit my lips tightly in surprise and tears.

 

Now, Oscar had no memory of the day he was oppressed by the restriction.

 

So, I don’t know the contents of the letter that he wrote with a heart torn apart as he left me. 

 

I would have been happy, even if I had to take out my heart for you. 

 

And yet, he says the same thing. 

 

That is something that has never changed, and therefore, cannot be doubted. 

 

It was because it was his sincere heart.

 

Tears burst out without resistance. 

 

“What’s this? Why are you suddenly crying like this?”

 

“Huhu… M, Master… I’m so happy that it hurts… I’m so happy, I’m going to burst…” 

 

“….”

 

“Th, thank you so much for raising and saving me…sniff… I’m so grateful… I…” 

 

“Hey, I can’t understand what you’re saying. Stop crying and tell me.”

 

“I’ll be good… sniff! Even if I get married, I’ll never forget Master’s kindness, and I’ll definitely take good care of you… sniff. I’ll live well without causing you any trouble…” 

 

“Ah, stop!”

 

Oscar grimaced but still knelt down and grabbed my foot.  

 

“It’s cold, so put your shoes on quickly. I’ve been worried about it since earlier.”

 

A gentle hand brushing off the sand from my feet and helping me put on my shoes.

 

“M, Mas… sniff… Master…” 

 

“Stop it!”

 

I continued to cry while putting on my shoes as he told me to, with my hand on his shoulder. 

 

Anyone who wouldn’t cry at such kind words and actions must have a heart made of iron… 

 

“Walk again! You crybaby pig!” 

 

“I’m not a pig, sniff…” 

 

We started walking again.

 

For a long time until my tears finally stopped flowing.

 

“Hmph. Master.”

 

“Why.”

 

A moment of happiness that was so overwhelming.

 

The beautiful night sea with waves crashing gently against it.

 

It was a shame that I could only enjoy it for one day.

 

“We have to go to work tomorrow… right?”

 

“Of course.”

 

But Oscar was harsh.

 

I sighed and held his arm tighter.

 

“Then hurry up and go to bed. It’s late, and the cliché might explode any moment now.” 

 

“What are you talking about?” 

 

As expected from the largest port city on the continent and a popular tourist destination, couples were often seen strolling along the sandy beach by the night sea. 

 

The brightly lit taverns located along the scenic coastline, with a few middle-aged men stumbling around drunkenly nearby. 

 

“What that means is, at this point, a drunk thug is going to come up and say, ‘Wow, what a nice picture~’ and start causing trouble.” 

 

That’s how it always goes in movies or dramas…

 

“Then they look at the woman up and down in a creepy way, and tap the guy on the shoulder saying, ‘Hey, bro~’ and stuff. I’m scared.” 

 

“Why are you talking nonsense all of a sudden? And even if there is some crazy guy like that, what’s there to worry about?”

 

Oscar frowned as if he didn’t understand.

 

“Are you really scared of some nonsense like that while walking next to someone as perfect as me?”

 

“….”

 

“What. Why. What.”

 

“I love you, Master, but….”

 

…That statement just now was a little unfortunate.

 

“I love you, but what!”

 

“No.”

 

I can understand Oscar’s excessive narcissism, but I suddenly missed Cheshire. 

 

If I said I was scared to walk down the street at night, he—.

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

 

He would console me like this.

 

I miss you, my dear… 

 

“Walk more! Lose weight, you pig!”

 

“Tsk.”

 

Although Oscar had not a trace of sentimentality, I decided to give in. 

 

He probably wanted to enjoy this moment of walking by the night sea with me a little longer. 

 

But, at that time.

 

“Hey, the picture is nice~?”

 

“….?”

 

“….?”

 

We stopped at the same time.

 

And then we looked back.

 

A drunk man with a red nose was walking towards us, holding a bottle of alcohol.

 

We blinked in disbelief and stared at the man for a moment, then looked at each other again.

 

“Did you use your powers to create this situation on purpose and all…?”

 

“No!!!”

 

Oscar sighed.

 

I really can’t believe it either.

 

Why did it happen the way I thought it would when I didn’t use my powers? Why.

 

“Haa.” 

 

Oscar sighed again as he watched the approaching man, then casually raised his finger.

 

When he swung his index finger in the air from top to bottom.

 

“Ugh!”

 

The man followed the gesture and fell deeply.

 

His face fell into the sand.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Oscar put his hands deep in his pockets and walked first to the dorm.

 

“No, Master?”

 

I looked at the old man with his head down and was confused, then quickly followed Oscar.

 

“That guy hasn’t even said ‘Wow, the picture’s nice!’ yet! He might have just been complimenting because he liked what he saw! How can you just shove someone’s head like that out of nowhere?!”

 

“Ah, shut up! According to you, next he’ll be checking you out from top to bottom, then tapping my shoulder and saying ‘Hey, bro’ or whatever!” 

 

“Wow! I don’t know about that! I really didn’t do anything! I didn’t create this situation~!”

 

“I don’t know, I don’t know. Come quickly!”

 

This is so unfair!

 

A beautiful night sea with moonlight.

 

A sandy beach like gold dust.

 

…The old man whose head was stuck in it.

 

‘I’m sorry. Sob sob.’

 

I kept looking back at him, feeling sorry for his struggle to free his head, but eventually, I had no choice but to chase after Oscar.

 

“Let’s go together, Master~!”