NOVEL NEXT My Daddy Hides His Power
Chapter 259
“Ah! Lilith, you’re here?”
It seemed he was just about to leave, as Hans was standing right in front of the door the moment it opened. And. “Here, say hello. It’s Mr. James Gray.” As Hans stepped aside, Lilith’s eyes fell on the man standing behind him. “Ah…” * * * Early morning at the Wizard Tower’s examination hall. Oscar was shocked when he received the first test paper. The passing score for this level of difficulty was 50 points. If he just did the half-work, he would be eligible for the second test. ‘Are you kidding me? Who made the test?’ Examiner: Hans Weaver …So, he was my student. To think that such a lackluster set of questions was written by him… ‘Has he lost his mind? I get that they made the test easy just to recruit someone since the Wizard Tower’s short on people, but a thousand applicants? What, is he planning to accept all of them?’ …Oscar’s worries were in vain, with only ten people passing the first test out of a thousand, and only one person getting a perfect score. It was only James Gray. “A perfect scorer?” Groan. “Isn’t this the first time someone scored perfectly since the open application system was introduced?” Groan. “Look over there, it must be that guy.” Groan. Oscar Manuel, who would die if he gets caught! This is already a minefield, and the spotlight is pouring down fiercely! The supervisors were all surprised and stared at his face, and he thought his heart was about to drop. Oscar, who thought it wouldn’t work, decided to make a few mistakes starting from the second test. So he took the second test. ‘God, is this the level of intelligence of the people in this country?’ Among the ten first-round passers, eight packed their bags, and only two remained. Oscar looked at the nobleman of the same age who passed the second test with a dejected expression. His name was Andre Helsley. He was the second son of the Count of Helsley, and he was so proud of being one of the last two applicants that his shoulders were raised arrogantly. On the way to the third test site. “I am Robert Quinn, the supervisor for the third-round exam. Please feel free to call me Robel.” Oscar was able to see the face of his assistant, Robel, after three and a half years. “Robel, nice to meet you. But, I have a question—may I ask something?” “Oh, of course.” Robel responded kindly when Andre spoke. “There’s the previous Lord of the Wizard Tower who disappeared, right? I heard he provided magic to the Emperor of the Empire. He must have run away because he was afraid of being purged, right?” “….” Robel’s steps suddenly stopped at Andre’s question. Haha, he started walking again and said. “At that time, the Revolutionary Army occupied the Imperial Palace and the Lord of the Wizard Tower disappeared, so many people know that.” “Right?” “No, that’s a rumor. The Magic Tower researchers went to support the Revolutionary Army in the first place because of the previous Lord of the Wizard Tower’s orders?” “Oh… Really?” Andre pouted, probably because he didn’t like the answer. “I heard that Duke Rubinstein put a lot of effort into correcting such rumors, but why was the Helsley family so slow to hear?” “No, I heard that. But who would believe that? A brat like the former Lord of the Wizard Tower was a revolutionary? I thought Duke Rubinstein made it up because he didn’t want to be branded as someone who missed the purge target.” Oscar, who had been walking behind and listening silently, glared at the back of Andre’s head. ‘I really want to hit him. He was probably at home, scratching his belly and sleeping, while all this was happening…’ At that moment. “Brat…haha, brat…” Robel, who had been quietly mumbling to himself, turned around. “But Mr. Andre, have you ever met the previous Lord of the Wizard Tower? How is it that you speak of him as if you him them so well?” “Wasn’t he a psychopath? Living for his own pride, spewing venom every time he opened his mouth, a rotten power-hungry tyrant who cared about nothing but money.” What? Oscar gritted his teeth as he was repeatedly attacked with words. Robel, who had been blinking, nodded in agreement. “A corrupt person, living for his own glory, and speaking harshly whenever he opens his mouth, I admit.” That guy? Oscar clenched his fist. “No, but did his infamous reputation really spread even outside the Tower?” “Actually, I once applied for the gifted education exam a long time ago. It was when the previous Lord of the Wizard Tower had just inherited the Wizard Tower, and I saw that guy’s face back then.” Ah, so it was someone he knew. But it wasn’t a face that Oscar remembered. When he had just inherited the Wizard Tower, it was probably not long after his return. He was too busy creating magic for Lilith to even have time to blink, let alone remember the faces of the idiots who kept bothering him. “Huh! In that case, it seems like you, Andre, were also ‘affected’ by the former Lord of the Wizard Tower, huh?” “Yes, I was affected. The insults that guy threw at me still haven’t left my mind.” He doesn’t remember his face or what he said, but he knows that Andre’s words about being ‘affected’ aren’t a lie. That’s because Oscar had been swearing at those guys who had been begging to take the test despite not being smart enough, and had been stealing his precious time. “I can understand why I was rejected back then. It must have triggered a sense of insecurity, seeing someone smarter than himself. I’m sure it was an unjust failure.” “Oh, I don’t think that’s the case. The former Lord of the Wizard Tower had quite a peculiar personality, but he was a strict meritocracy, so he wouldn’t have turned away someone with potential.” Before they knew it, they had arrived at the third-round examination hall. Robel put the test paper down in front of Oscar. “…You’re not giving it to me?” Then he smiled brightly at Andre, who asked in a puzzled manner. “Andre Helsley failed the 2.5th test. Unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for the 3rd test.” “Yes? The 2.5th test?” “Actually, I’m also overseeing the 2.5th round ‘personality test’ that’s between the second and third rounds. As Andre said, someone with a personality like the previous Lord of the Wizard Tower shouldn’t be allowed into the Wizard Tower, right?” “I, I failed the personality test? What did I do?” “In my opinion, if you become a Tower researcher, you’ll probably spend every day badmouthing your superiors, ruining the workplace atmosphere. I have a responsibility to provide a pleasant research environment for the researchers.” Robel smiled brightly and added, raising his index finger in a teasing manner. “I’ve come to the conclusion that Mr. Andre is an applicant who doesn’t fit the working atmosphere of our Wizard Tower. Now, please pack your things and leave.” “T, that’s unfair! You’re not letting me take the test and kicking me out? Do you have the authority to do this? Huh?” “Oh my, your voice is so loud. Judging from the way you are screaming, you will never leave on your own, right?” When Robel waved his hand, the guards inside the testing room dragged Andre out. “No! I can’t leave like this! This is unfair, it’s unfair!!!” Bang—! The testing room door closed in an instant. Oscar, who had been watching the whole scene, opened his mouth wide. ‘What the heck, Robel? Is this okay? A personality test? Is there something like that at the Wizard Tower?’ Oscar was dumbfounded, and sure enough. Robel’s face darkened, and he slumped down on the supervisor’s seat and muttered. “This feels like a report of misconduct…” Then that’s right. It must have been an impulsive act. With the shortage of staff as it is, to just arbitrarily kick out a candidate who passed the second round exam… “Mr. James…!” At that moment, Lovell’s eyes sparkled and he said to Oscar. “My life is in your hands. If no one passes this time, I’ll have to write a hundred-page report on what I just did…” Oscar stared blankly down at the third test paper. They say the difficulty level is getting higher, but honestly, he doesn’t know. It’s more difficult than the first and second tests. “Please, do your best… .” Oscar smirked and flicked the pen with his finger. ‘It’s easy, well.’ * * * Interview room. Contrary to Oscar’s expectations, the highest authority of the Wizard Tower, Hans, who he thought he wouldn’t be able to see until after passing the final exam, came rushing over in a hurry. It was inevitable. After the introduction of the free application system for researchers, Oscar was the first to pass the third exam. “Haa. Why is this guy so slow… Waiting for someone…” Hans was nervous, his legs shaking. “Ugh. Why is she taking so long… someone is waiting for her…” Hans was nervous, his legs shaking. The Lord of the Wizard was watching the applicants’ reactions. He could tell how severe the manpower shortage in the Wizard Tower was. “I shouldn’t have given her a half-day off in the morning….” Oscar felt nervous as he listened to Hans mumbling. There was one more thing that was different from his expectations. He met the child he had been trying to find after safely entering the Wizard Tower. Lilith was the final exam supervisor. “This won’t do! Please head to the exam room first. The examiner can be called over to you.” “Ah, yes.” Hans got up with Oscar. “If it’s Mr. James, you’ll definitely be able to pass the final exam with ease.” Hans, whose mouth was up to his ear, tried to open the door, but it opened on the other side first. “Oh! Lilith, you’re here?” At that moment, Oscar’s eyes widened. “Here, say hello. It’s Mr. James Gray.” Hans stepped aside. Only then did Oscar see the face he had longed for so much. Lilith… He thought she had grown up. That’s what he thought, but… Still, Lilith had changed amazingly. Far more than what he had imagined in his mind, much, much more… ‘…Pretty.’ A memory that hadn’t faded at all during the time he was away. Rather, it became clearer day by day, the face that made him eagerly await the day he would see it again. ‘You’ve grown up well.’ There were many things he wanted to say, but he couldn’t. “Nice to meet you, James. I’m Lilith Rubinstein, the final exam supervisor.” Lilith, who had been staring intently at Oscar’s face, smiled and offered to shake his hand. ‘Ah.’ Oscar paused as he looked at Lilith’s outstretched hand, then chuckled. ‘What are you upset about again?’ The promise that she wouldn’t forget her Master’s face was just a child’s wish. “I told you, didn’t I? I won’t forget Master. If I forget and then recognize you again… then you’ll die. But if I never forget in the first place, it doesn’t matter.” Of course, Lilith couldn’t avoid her own ban, the punishment given by God. But did I expect it like a fool? “Yes….’ Seeing the child who had forgotten him, his heart felt as though it were being torn apart. “…Nice to meet you.” Oscar shook hands with Lilith and smiled brightly. The warmth felt in his hands… Yes, this is okay. Even if you forgot me. I am satisfied just to be alive like this, and to feel that you are alive too.
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