[{"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-133":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},1334929,1778,"Chapter 133","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-133",133,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 133: Artificial Island, Ivemir (10)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Killian! Watch out above...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Veronica! At your feet...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran, running at the back while constantly shouting warnings, trailed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before his warnings even reached them, the two had already fended off the ambush with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling a bit awkward, Fran fell into deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'...Wait, am I the most useless one among us three?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was confident he could rival even Oscar in terms of sheer destructive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem, however, was sustainability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, all he was doing was trailing behind them without contributing much to the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I came out of grueling seclusion training to get stronger, to avoid being a burden to my comrades.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'This won’t do. I need to take down the next enemies we encounter.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was feeling guilty, he gripped his whip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Killian suddenly glanced back, his eyes settling on the whip in Fran’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Save it. There might come a time when we really need that whip’s destructive power.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? Oh, yeah… I guess using it here would be a bit of a waste.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran, reassured by Killian's words, loosened his grip on the whip and chuckled awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we need it later, let me know anytime. But this basement is larger than I expected. Are we there yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Fran mentioned, quite some time had passed since they parted ways with Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had already fought off four waves of mages emerging from the walls, ceiling, and floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, they still hadn't reached the mana facility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something felt off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian halted the group and slowly approached one of the walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following him, the other two discovered deep claw marks, as if a beast had scratched the surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica narrowed her eyes, recognizing the shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey... Aren’t these your claw marks? That whole wolf thing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I started marking the walls as we moved. I made this one about six minutes ago.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, if we’re seeing it again, that means we really are going in circles?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For now, that seems to be the case.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is this, some kind of maze...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With its high ceiling and wide corridors, the basement didn’t feel like a maze at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shrugging, Fran muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm. If it’s a maze, should we try the left-hand or right-hand rule?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You mean tracing one wall with your hand to eventually find the exit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s what I learned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That only works if all the walls are connected. If there's even one intentionally isolated space, you'd just keep looping forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica's explanation made Fran scratch his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then what do we do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Close your eyes, both of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian’s sudden request made Veronica frown, but Fran closed his eyes immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They’re closed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you sense?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s dark. I can’t see anything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I didn’t mean for you to see. I meant listen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing on his hearing, Fran picked up a steady sound through the ambient noise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shwaaa...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of a massive waterfall crashing into a pool below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran’s eyes snapped open, realization striking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah! It’s the sound of a waterfall!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly. And the mana facility we’re looking for must have a waterfall.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So we just need to follow the sound?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s the idea. Lead the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian confidently resumed running, and right on cue, more mages emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the other two held them off, Fran concentrated all his senses on the sound and called out,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait! The sound’s getting farther away! We need to go right at that last junction… but there’s no path!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Are you sure?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm 100% sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll handle these guys. Figure it out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Killian charged toward the enemy, Veronica approached Fran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing her eyes, she focused on the sound, then frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s right.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See? But there’s no path.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief hesitation, Veronica spoke cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When we looked at the map earlier, wasn’t this basement’s layout really simple?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"From what I remember, yeah?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But now, it feels like a maze, and we keep looping back to the same place…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped toward the wall, running her hands across it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There’s only one explanation. A new wall was created at a junction that was supposed to be open.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the method behind it was easy to guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they can create illusionary mages, there's no reason they couldn't create walls too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Veronica touched a particular spot, she suddenly recoiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Magical repulsion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The same kind that kept us from leaving the building?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran clicked his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that were the case, they wouldn't be able to break this wall either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Oscar had been repelled when he tried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica studied the wall for a moment before enveloping her hand in mana and touching it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bzzz!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A louder crackle of resistance pushed her back, and Fran barely caught her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, what are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Now that I’ve felt it more closely, I’m sure of it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at her tingling hand and grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This wall’s magical repulsion is way weaker than the one above ground.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that you mention it, Oscar got thrown back way faster up there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Looks like that guy is wearing down the enemy more than we thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, they hadn't invested as much power into this barrier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, even at this level, neither I nor Killian can break through it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……Step back for a moment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran, upon hearing those words, let go of Veronica’s shoulder and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had realized what he needed to do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the grip of the whip in his palm, he thought to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already used the Dance of Steel once in the battle in the hallway before the dormitory…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, he would likely be able to swing it two more times at most.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woooom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic within him surged rapidly, heating up his circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire whip in his grasp transformed into wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that alone made his mana drain away as if it were water in a pot with a hole in the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his preparations weren’t finished yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My wind is harder than steel.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He imbued the entire wind-forged whip with Breath of Steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My wind is faster than sound.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, he enchanted it with the Jet Booster spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, everything was ready.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A technique forged by combining three spells—his fastest and strongest attack available.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here I go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whip he swung tore through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than the sound of a whip crack, it was more like a massive boulder smashing against a wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… Huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had only swung it once, yet his entire body was drenched in sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Fran expressed neither exhaustion nor pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack. Crrrack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spiderweb-like fractures spreading across the wall made him forget all else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the wall crumble like smoke, he shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Killian! I made an opening!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well done!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian, having successfully shaken off the pursuing mages, dashed through the newly revealed path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After running for another ten minutes, the temperature around them suddenly dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just cool—it was outright cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…We’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them were left speechless at the grand sight before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the small space where they stood, the three surrounding walls—on the left, right, and front—were entirely composed of waterfalls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…With a facility like this pouring out mana, it’s no wonder it never runs dry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do we shut it down?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s something over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching cautiously, they found something that unmistakably resembled machinery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After inspecting it for a moment, Fran spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, I have no idea. Anyone know how to turn this off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that response, both Fran and Killian turned to stare at Veronica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She flinched and asked nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-Why are you looking at me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you think? You’ve been to a mana power plant before—with Oscar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, but back then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A memory flashed through her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had spent the entire day hunting slimes, only to freeze up completely in front of the monster, unable to do anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling that shameful moment made Veronica’s ears turn red with embarrassment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you kidding? Did I go there to inspect the core or something? I never even touched any of the machines! How would I know? If anything, you have a driver’s license!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This is completely different from a car.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, that leaves us with only one option.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled by Killian’s remark, Fran clung to the machine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t just smash it! What if something goes wrong?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I never suggested anything that barbaric.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking his head, Killian lit a cigarette and spoke, his gaze fixed on the massive waterfalls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This mana-generating facility works by converting the waterfalls’ force into mana. In other words, if we stop the waterfalls, the mana production will naturally cease as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Wait, why are you suddenly so logical?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran stared at him in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica, who fully understood his reaction, chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Funny, isn’t it? I’ve been telling you—he only pretends to be dumb.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never pretended to be dumb.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, so we just have to stop that thing, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwoooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them looked up at the raging waterfalls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new issue occurred to Fran, making him ask,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, you know… Isn’t stopping the waterfalls even harder than shutting off the machine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s look around first. There might be a lever or a button somewhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they searched the area—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssssshh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—a figure quietly emerged from the floor behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk. Another nuisance. I’ll handle it. Let’s get rid of that thing quickly and—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Veronica was about to deal with the unexpected enemy, her eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange sense of unease crept up her spine as she quickly scanned their opponent from head to toe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Something feels different this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For starters, the numbers were off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their previous foes had always come in groups of ten or more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, however, only one enemy had appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do they really think they can stop us with just one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That didn’t make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant there had to be a hidden reason behind this decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I have a bad feeling about this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian, who shared the same unease, made the first move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His plan was simple—dodge the enemy’s front, slip behind them, and tear them apart with Wolf’s Song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every mage they had fought in this facility had failed to block that attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was my unease just paranoia?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian briefly tilted his head in doubt as he darted past, studying his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill ran down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enemy mage’s eyes were locked onto him, tracking his movements perfectly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They can follow my speed?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he realized that—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world twisted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange, floating sensation overtook his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, an overwhelming force crashed into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kuhak…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian was slammed into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, dozens of Veronica’s fire arrows rained down toward the enemy mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a simple gesture of the palm, the arrows froze in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an air of casual confidence, the mage swept their gaze over the three of them and clicked their tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk. This technique takes decades just to restore the soul after one use… I’d rather not have used it, but I suppose I have no choice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, thirteen magic circles materialized behind them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The price of sacrificing thirteen souls… I’ll collect it in exchange for your lives.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1921,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","4fc0cdd5e503465c3c72dd7ec3b9bbf0d169648990644243c90451ecd1c1676d","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-134","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-132",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]