[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower":3,"chapter-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-101":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1334897,1778,"Chapter 101","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-101",101,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 101: Sage of the Stars (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar remained silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, carefully managing his expression, he sank into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he met the Sage of the Stars in his previous life, the atmosphere had been much more amicable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if the sage had been waiting for him, offering tea and inviting him to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the atmosphere was entirely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s wary of me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was likely that the sage was convinced Oscar was not Oscar Crucian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This raised a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How did he figure it out?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To Oscar’s knowledge, the Sage of the Stars was not a godlike being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That conviction hadn’t changed even now, as he had met actual divine entities in his previous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If he had godlike powers, he wouldn’t need to ask such questions.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divine beings could discern everything about a person simply by observing their soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could uncover whatever they wanted and wouldn’t tolerate even the smallest lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar denied the notion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure what you mean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sage of the Stars hummed softly, stroking his beard with a contemplative expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, emboldened by the sage’s ambiguous demeanor, countered with a question of his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What makes you think that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To explain that, I must first tell you what I am.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sage snapped his fingers lightly, the world plunged into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next moment, Oscar realized, to his shock, that he was standing in space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But any sound he made vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panicking, he tried to summon his magic, but the sage’s voice echoed before he could act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I’ve loved gazing at the stars since I was young.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, a vast galaxy materialized in the once-empty void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A breathtaking spectacle of countless stars clustered together, forming what seemed like a river flowing through the universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Stars are such radiant beings, aren’t they? I was captivated by their brilliant light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the massive collection of stars, certain ones stood out, commanding attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their dazzling brilliance drew the eye, overshadowing the glow of the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But no star shines forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brightest star dimmed and faded away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The reason is simple: most stars eventually reach the end of their lifespan. Once a star cools, it can never shine as it once did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I found this fact profoundly tragic. I wished for their brilliance to endure, to be passed down to future generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar realized this wasn’t merely a story about stars and the universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Do you know how a single being can alter the laws of the world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One being changing the world’s laws?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the centuries of recorded history at the Tower of Magic, no such tales existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Surely, it’s impossible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he harbored such doubts, the sage continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You think it’s impossible, don’t you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Don’t be surprised. I thought so too. But I found a clue in ancient texts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a dazzling light filled the dark void.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s simple. Become an order yourself, a new universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An order?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new universe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar furrowed his brow in confusion, the sage elaborated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—By your standards, reaching the 10th level would signify such a state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 10th-level mage, a 10th-level knight—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were merely theoretical concepts, never achieved in human history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait, does that mean...?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be that the Sage of the Stars was the first mage to reach the 10th level?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes wavered, and the sage replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Don’t look at me like that. I neither established an order nor became a universe. I was a hair’s breadth away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hair’s breadth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, it was clear that he was an extraordinary figure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 9th-level archmage from an era so ancient it wasn’t even recorded?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I offered my soul to the gods, pleading with them. I begged to continue witnessing new stars, ensuring the brilliance left behind by the radiant ones could be passed on to future generations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sage of the Stars finally revealed himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the background shifted again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This place is….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the word that came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The gods granted my plea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stars that had formed the galaxy scattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each became a book, neatly placed on shelves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Though I nearly created a universe as a mortal, the gods graciously entrusted me with this role.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What role is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage gestured to his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People call me the Sage of the Stars, but I’m more akin to a librarian. The Keeper of the Starlight Library. I remember the most radiant and beautiful moments of stars that have passed and relay them to those of future generations who resemble them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar steadied his breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t realized just how remarkable the Sage of the Stars truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like other world wonders, he’d simply assumed the sage was another extraordinary phenomenon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You asked why I believe you aren’t Oscar Crucian? It’s simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage raised a hand and pointed at Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I know a star exactly like you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar paused, choosing his words carefully, before suddenly asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of star was that person?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At first, just an ordinary one,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The kind of genius that appears once in every era. But when the war against the demons broke out and dragged on, they began to burn brighter and brighter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the end, it was frightening to watch. They shone so brightly that it felt like they'd burn themselves out. And, well… their end wasn’t far off from that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage’s eyes dimmed as he finished speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I ever meet them again, I’d like to thank them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a peculiar old man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You knew everything from the start, didn’t you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage replied with a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The star you hold in your heart, once seen, is impossible to forget.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar felt a strange sense of relief washing over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oscar Sage, or Oscar Crusian. Which name do you prefer?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just call me Oscar,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, letting out a soft sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Congratulations. You’re the third person to learn my true identity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only the third? Impressive. And the other two?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The King of the Wind Spirits and a Dwarven King.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad company,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage nodded approvingly and snapped his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two sofas approached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have a seat. Standing for long periods is hard when you're my age.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once seated, the sage wasted no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At first, I was stunned. A star that had already burned out was shining again. For a moment, I thought I’d gone mad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That doesn’t happen often, I take it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s outright impossible,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage replied firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But after observing you for a while, I realized it was thanks to the existence of the ‘Wind Archive.’\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the magic he’d received when he visited this place in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A bit late, but I must say—it was incredibly useful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Glad to hear it. The demons were defeated, so I suppose it was a fair trade,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could I, perhaps…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re wondering if you can receive new magic this time too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For someone nearing a thousand years old, the sage had an unsettling knack for reading thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does that mean… I can’t?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the doubt in Oscar’s voice, the sage smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can. In fact, the reason I spent so much effort uncovering your identity was to confirm whether it was safe to grant you magic.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean by that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oscar Crusian, the genius of a new era. It’s not impossible to think someone so brilliant could be a villain in disguise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar unconsciously nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d thought many times about how this body was, aside from its tangled energy pathways, superior to the one he’d had in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the main reason he believed he could reach the coveted 10th level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is this phenomenon unique to me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A dead soul occupying a body from a later generation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage mused before shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not that I know of. Then again, I’ve only observed the mages who make their way to this mountain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those powers you demonstrated earlier were incredible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just the tricks of an old hermit,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage laughed as he rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come, let’s figure out what gift to give you this time.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage wandered among the shelves, hands clasped behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is there a specific spell you’d like? This library contains everything except what doesn’t exist.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After careful thought, Oscar replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I ever face the Emperor again, I need a spell to finish him for good.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Emperor? Isn’t he already dead?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, so was I, once,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, I see. You’re thinking that if you returned, he might as well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage glanced back at Oscar and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need to worry about that. When I saw you, I checked the Emperor’s star just in case. It’s utterly shattered, beyond repair. I doubt it will ever shine again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely. Honestly, resurrection itself is an absurdity. It’s not something most magic can even dream of achieving.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Most magic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bringing back the dead isn’t as simple as summoning a soul. If it were, necromancers would have resurrected everyone they ever loved.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn’t they try?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, some did,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage admitted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But were any of them ordinary humans?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how fresh the body, a resurrected soul would rapidly decay, leaving behind a monstrosity, not a loved one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, this suits you,\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sage said, halting in front of a shelf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled out a book and held it up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1652,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","273af68b22ae9bb7b833e851d91871a44e3bd899959f1a439df6fe37d134d8ac","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-102","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-200",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]