My Daddy Hides His Power Chapter 324 - Side story Part 2 Chapter 20

* * * 

 

7 p.m.

 

Just as we finished all the preparations for the housewarming, the guests arrived right on time.

 

“Good morning, Madam Libre!” 

 

“Brother!”

 

Leon chuckled, ruffled my hair as I hugged him back, and pulled me even tighter.

 

“Well then, did you enjoy your honeymoon?”

 

“Of course! Thanks for coming!”

 

After exchanging a warm hug, Leon immediately introduced me to my husband’s colleagues.  

 

“Here we go. Starting from this side: Colonel Tony Kruger, Lieutenant Colonel Albert Fischer, Major Sid Brandt, and finally, that cute little chick at the end is the newest recruit in the Magic Sword Division, Private Bjorn Bernstein.” 

 

“…?!”

 

“Hello, Madam Libre!”

 

“Thank you for inviting me!”

 

“Nice to meet you!”

 

“Salute!”

 

“Hey, that’s not it.”

 

My eyes were spinning as the sturdy soldiers greeted me loudly.

 

‘I didn’t expect this kind of introduction!’

 

I was caught off guard—I had expected something like “So-and-so from the 1st Division of the Magic Sword.” 

 

‘B, but I suppose this is how it’s supposed to be.’

 

After the revolution, the military underwent various reorganizations. The rigid imperial-era system that had been in place for so long was gradually refined and, more recently, fully established in its new form.

 

I knew that the Empire’s unusually structured military ranks had been replaced by a more conventional system…

 

But when I heard about colonels and lieutenant colonels, my brain froze.

 

‘Isn’t it more confusing?’

 

I was familiar with the unique systems in novels like Dos, Quarto, and Septima, but I was somewhat lacking in general military rank knowledge.

 

Having lived 25 years on Earth as a woman who never served in the military!

 

Since it wasn’t a field I was particularly interested in, the extent of my military knowledge was limited to what I’d picked up from my college friends—things like enlisting as a private, going through basic training, and being discharged as a sergeant!

 

A colonel? Sounds like someone pretty high up, but honestly, I have no idea exactly how high.

 

“Does your head hurt? Just call them Tony, Albert, Sid, and Chick. First names only. They’re all the ones bowing 90 degrees to your husband anyway. You can speak informally and make them run errands if you want.”

 

“W, what…” 

 

I was shocked. Leon noticed my disgusted expression and laughed.

 

“Although the rank system has been abolished, the military is different, little sister. In every country, the military has a clear hierarchy. Without that, it would be a difficult organization to function.”

 

“No, I get that.”

 

I looked at Chick, who was standing with his military discipline.

 

Even based on my limited knowledge, it seemed odd that this Private Chick was standing here among colonels and lieutenant colonels.

 

“Brother.”

 

I smiled awkwardly and pulled Leon to whisper in his ear.

 

“When putting this group together, was there really no coercion based on hierarchy? That Private Chick over there is pale and trembling—anyone can see he was dragged here against his will, right?”

 

“Huh, what are you talking about?”

 

Leon immediately asked the chick.

 

“Private Bjorn Bernstein. Were you dragged here by force?”

 

“No!”

 

Bjorn continued to report, standing at attention.

 

“Lieutenant General Antrase announced that one enlisted soldier from the Magic Sword Division would be granted the ‘Captain Libre’s Housewarming Invitation.’ Twenty-eight soldiers from private to corporal volunteered, and I earned the right to attend through a fair and honorable duel!”

 

What are you talking about?

 

“Duel?”

 

“Yes, we arm-wrestled!”

 

…That was amazing.

 

Anyway, I couldn’t understand half of it, but I knew that he wasn’t dragged here by force.

 

And the fact that I didn’t pay much attention to my husband’s job.

 

‘What’s a captain and what’s a lieutenant general?’

 

I glanced up sideways at Cheshire, who had his arm wrapped around my shoulders.

 

‘Captain Libre?’

 

Surely not the captain of some neighborhood gang…

 

It’s mostly Cheshire’s fault that I’m this clueless. He never told me whether, after the military restructuring, he became a proper captain or just some glorified neighborhood boss.

 

I recall the time before our marriage, when Cheshire first put on his newly designed uniform…

 

“Wow! The uniform is so cool. The star-shaped emblem looks amazing, Honey.”

 

It was really pretty.

 

Unlike the old imperial army uniforms, which screamed “Look how important I am!” with their bright red capes and over-the-top insignias…

 

The new-style uniform was simple—just an epaulet adorned with four stars.

 

“But since the military was reorganized, I guess you’re not the DOS Magic Sword Division Commander anymore?” 

 

“No. The ability users didn’t disappear, so the unit remains. My job of overseeing the training of ability users soldiers is the same, so I’m still the Commander of the Magic Swordsmen, just without the ‘Dos’ part in front.”  

 

In fact, nothing really changed for Cheshire—only his uniform did; he continued doing the same work as before.

 

He became an irreplaceable key figure, replacing many of his colleagues who had been discharged in search of freedom, and even as an officer, it was routine to change into a training uniform and roll around on the dirt floor when he went to work.

 

“So what changed?”

 

“They just divided the military ranks a bit more specifically. Terms like Dos or Quarto aren’t used anymore. You can think of it as assigning new rank insignias to soldiers based on their service duration, regardless of their abilities.”

 

“Aha, so those four stars on your shoulder must be your new rank insignia. Is that high?”

 

“Well… you could say I’m roughly at the officer level.”

 

Let’s take a look at the expressions of the soldiers attending the housewarming party of their superior who just said, “Well… I’m roughly at the officer level.”

 

Not just the rookie private, even the man with the rank of colonel looks visibly tense.

 

“Haha.” 

 

Leon, noticing my expression, casually slung an arm around Colonel Tony’s shoulder, who was standing right next to him.

 

Colonel Tony flinched.

 

‘Mhm, I guess you’re not normally close.’

 

I figured it out.

 

“Madam Libre’s expression looks like she’s worried that I’m a bad boss. Can you explain that we’re not like that, Tony~?”

 

“Ah, y, yes! Not at all, madam. Today, the Lieutenant General was gracious enough to prioritize us officers and gave us three invitations to the Captain’s housewarming party, so we rushed over happily.”

 

Colonel Tony held out the long box he had been holding, with a gentle look in his eyes, as if to tell me not to misunderstand.

 

“This is a housewarming gift we prepared together. Thank you so much for inviting us.” 

 

“Oh my, thank you.” 

 

The gift was wine. I accepted it gratefully and decided to act tactfully.

 

You can’t show off that you don’t know much, even though you’re a soldier’s wife.

 

“Thank you all for coming. I don’t have much to prepare, but let’s go eat first. Oh? That’s right.”

 

At that moment, the purpose of the housewarming party that I had forgotten came to mind.

 

“Brother, do you want to see the baby first?”

 

At those words, the silence fell.

 

…Hmm. Was this the first time you heard of it?

 

Everyone’s eyes widened and Leon was flustered.

 

“Uh, sure. Hang on. First, uh… why don’t you all take a look around the house. Haha.”

 

Leon hurriedly waved his hand toward his colleagues. At that, Cheshire led the four soldiers away from the entrance, giving us some space.

 

“Hey, do you want to get in trouble?”

 

“Ugh.”

 

Leon pinched my cheek, which was left alone.

 

“I didn’t say anything to them, but what if you tell them about the baby?”

 

“Why didn’t you say anything? You can. I really do have a baby.”

 

“Are you kidding me? What kind of baby is that? Did you hire someone else’s baby to ask your husband to take a break from work?”

 

“No. I understand that you don’t believe me, but let’s talk about it first.”

 

I took Leon to the bedroom where Jamie was.

 

“Lilith, I’m not trying to nag you, but let’s keep work and personal life separate. No matter how passionate your newlywed life is, I heard you used the Lord of the Wizard Tower’s backing to get out of work. What do you think your colleagues must be saying? I’m only saying this because I’m worried about your reputation, okay?”

 

“Ugh, it is nagging, but then you say you have no intention of nagging…” 

 

Leon opened the bedroom door and sighed in bewilderment as he saw the baby’s crib in the distance.

 

“Even so, I let you off afternoon duty today because I thought it was admirable that Cheshire went as far as lying for you. So let’s stop here. You’re married now and living together—that should be enough. What, do you want to be together 24/7? Did you really think I’d let it slide just because you went so far as to bring someone else’s kid into your home out of some ‘admirable effort’…?”

 

“Byaaaaah! (Hey, Leon!)”

 

“…But….”

 

Leon, who checked on Jamie, blinked blankly, then turned his head toward me and asked.

 

“Did you give birth to the child?”