[{"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-126":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},1334922,1778,"Chapter 126","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-126",126,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 126: Artificial Island, Ivemir (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the deep of night, while the rest of the party slept soundly, Oscar quietly slipped out of the inn and began ascending the hill behind the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had overheard at the tavern that the locals rarely ventured into these hills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take long for him to understand why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The whole mountain is frozen solid. There’s no herbs or mushrooms to gather…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the slippery ground made injuries a high probability, and the altitude wasn’t low enough to make it worth the climb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘An icy cave behind the village, they said.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ripple of mana spread out from him, scanning the entire mountain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The process took no more than twenty minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Found it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were four caves in total, but one of them stood out with an exceptionally high concentration of mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was worried someone might have already taken the elixir hidden in the cave…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t seem to be the case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhaling a puff of white breath, Oscar reached the summit and peered down the sheer cliff below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cave he was seeking was nestled midway along the cliff face—a spot inaccessible to most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Oscar leapt off the edge, using wind magic to slow his descent and gently landed at the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...This is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cave was covered in massive ice crystals from the entrance onward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breaking through them, he ventured inside until he reached a large hollow chamber, where a small flask sat in the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he untied the string around its neck, a sharp chill hit him, making it hard to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Such intense cold.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elixir inside the flask exuded a freezing energy so potent it seemed to freeze his lungs with every breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, shock flickered in Oscar’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I thought it was just another ordinary elixir, the way it was described…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never imagined it would be Ice Essence—a substance he had only ever read about in his previous life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘An extreme yin elixir that freezes most people solid just by consuming it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Typically, it was said to be taken alongside an opposing yang elixir like Fire Essence, to ensure safety.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But that’s a misunderstanding.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for combining opposing elixirs was simple: the pure essence was too potent to consume safely on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But mixing opposing elixirs inevitably causes a clash.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the process, their respective mana erodes, resulting in significant loss of potency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ideally, one should consume the pure essence alone—though few had the capability to do so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And I’m one of those rare individuals.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his past life, Oscar had consumed no fewer than 34 types of elixirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If nothing else, he had an unparalleled aptitude for absorbing their power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Allan Winterhart…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Acknowledging the man’s intention, Oscar expressed his gratitude silently and downed the elixir without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent shiver overtook him as his teeth chattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like his blood vessels and even his brain were freezing over, his vision turning white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gritting his lips until they bled, Oscar forced himself to focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is where it begins.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the elixir left behind by Allan had been a mere trinket, Oscar would have simply consumed it and moved on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with Ice Essence, things were different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I may never get another chance to absorb something this potent.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seizing the moment, he resolved to tackle a task he had long postponed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The eight dormant mana circuits in my body—today, I’ll awaken them.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a goal firmly in mind, Oscar closed his eyes and focused inward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mana surged, generating heat as it traveled swiftly through his frozen circuits, rousing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Break through.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana charged like a bull, slamming into the sealed circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderclap roared in his mind as his body jerked violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood spurted from his mouth, but he clenched his lips tightly shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I lose control now, it’s over.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To complete the process, he needed absolute control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a single drop of mana escaping through an open mouth could create an unpredictable variable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside his body, a fierce battle raged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harnessing the overwhelming power of the Ice Essence, he assaulted the sealed circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One strike, then another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each successive attempt amplified the pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each wave of agony came the temptation to give in—whether to groan, collapse, or surrender entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Oscar endured it all without so much as flinching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time passed, though he had no way of knowing how much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With only the final circuit left, Oscar paused briefly to weigh his options.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he push through now or save it for another, safer time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deliberation didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll finish it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana surged within him, an immense storm spiraling beyond what a 4th-tier mage should be capable of containing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is a gift for you.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If unlocking his circuits so far had been for his own growth, this final step was for the memory of the young Oscar who had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana storm struck the last circuit, and with that, Oscar’s consciousness faded into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hazy vision and a dreamlike state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar found himself standing in a musty space filled with thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of books stacked like towering spires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…When is this memory from?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he ever been to a place like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he instinctively scanned his surroundings, Oscar’s gaze caught sight of someone’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure stood upright, engrossed in reading a book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From his back emanated an air of loneliness and solitude that struck deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, Oscar’s eyes welled up, and he reached out instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the man noticed the gesture?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he began to turn slowly toward Oscar—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes shot open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He found himself staring at the icy ceiling of a cave filled with frost crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, he sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange, inexplicable sense of unease and hollowness filled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like reading an engaging book only to find the ending torn out and unreadable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a faintly bitter expression, he shook off his thoughts and checked his physical condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least I achieved what I wanted.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had successfully unlocked all eight physical circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to this, casting intermediate-level spells would now be far easier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And then there’s the mana.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The energy gained from consuming the Ice Essense was about 40% of his previous mana reserves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even before, his mana had been excessive for his level, but now he was essentially a walking calamity for intermediate mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In terms of raw mana reserves alone, I could rival high-ranking mages.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most significantly, the elixir he consumed was an Ice Essense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond increasing his mana reserves, it also granted him a unique ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared at his palm with eyes that seemed colder than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a soft murmur, a small vortex formed in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he focused on it, the vortex became increasingly frigid, freezing the air around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve gained a powerful weapon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could now wield a cold wind akin to an arctic gale, something impossible with mere temperature control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To enemies, it would feel like a blade slicing through flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Satisfied, Oscar smiled faintly and flew toward the distant village visible from the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group had a simple breakfast before getting back in the car to head toward Silverin Lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa, they’ve really sealed it off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They saw a thick 2-meter-high iron fence encircling the area as they approached the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just the artificial island, but access to the lake itself had been completely restricted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Getting out of the car, Oscar read the notice posted on the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Warning: This area is the private property of the Imperial Family.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Unauthorized access is strictly prohibited and will result in punishment by the Imperial Court.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at the sign, Oscar couldn’t shake a vague sense of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why would they go to such lengths to block even basic access? What’s the reason?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next to him, Fran seemed to have similar thoughts and cautiously asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What now? Should we keep going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…We have to. The Imperial Family directly requested us to clean up the artificial island.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar destroyed the padlock on the gate, opened it, and got back in the car.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vehicle drove overgrown paths for another 20 minutes before stopping at the edge of a vast lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if they had rehearsed it, everyone got out of the car and let out their own expressions of awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is impressive.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with all the breathtaking views he had seen in his previous life, this was one he’d never forget.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center of a frigid, serene lake stood a stunning fortress, framed by a background of dense trees and crimson mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire scene resembled a masterpiece painting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I can see why the late Emperor was captivated by this view.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s almost a shame that a place like this was locked away for so long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This sight deserves to be preserved in photographs—or at least a painting—for future generations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group crossed the bridge connecting the lakeshore to the artificial island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bridge, ancient and worn, seemed too fragile to support their car, so they decided to walk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This definitely hasn’t been maintained.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it’s been abandoned for centuries.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Considering that, it’s actually in decent condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s probably thanks to the natural environment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wind stirred on the artificial island, and its pristine waters surrounded it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The extreme cold kept wildlife away, leaving it free from external contamination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After centuries, it still hasn’t collapsed. They built it well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Although you can see signs of aging—like discoloration—on the structure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fortress on the artificial island consisted of five main sections: four large towers on the outer edges and a massive hall in the center.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s said to have been built for harmony and peace, but doesn’t it seem overly focused on the Four Great Towers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They probably had no choice. That was during the height of the conquest wars when the Four Great Towers dominated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, despite its title of “Harmony and Peace,” some believed the event called the Night of the Mages was the Imperial Family’s attempt to subdue the mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the group entered the grand central hall, they nodded in agreement at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Other than the dust and cobwebs, there’s not much cleaning to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a bit of trash scattered on the floor, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, for a place abandoned for centuries, it’s remarkably preserved.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After checking his watch, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s split up and clean our assigned areas. Meet back here tonight. I’ll take the central hall. Fran, you handle the Red tower. Killian, take the yellow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment everyone began moving toward their respective zones—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…….]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the crystal spheres embedded in the chandelier above blinked with a faint red light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1833,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","770ba51f39cd8db4d2fb0a87d6db2c257591fd905960b018bda260ded51589b5","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-127","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-125",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]