[{"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-136":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},1334932,1778,"Chapter 136","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-136",136,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 136: The Night of the Mages (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar was thrown out of the shattered glass chamber along with a large amount of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough! Cough!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he lay on the floor, gasping for breath, the homunculus drifted along the water towards him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was continuously contracting and expanding, growing smaller with each passing moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar watched it for a while, deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Why did this thing fail?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he was bound by the creature’s mana, he had thought he was done for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for some reason, it had failed to take control of his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Logically speaking, it must have something to do with the fact that I’m possessing this body.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, the homunculus had questioned what he was, why he was inhabiting this body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, it had realized that his soul was not the rightful owner of this body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And on top of that, its voice was full of fear.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it simply terrified by the overwhelming presence of his soul?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flicker of doubt arose in his mind, but there was no way the creature could answer him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he knew it, it had shrunk to the size of a fingernail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And soon enough, it became so minuscule that it vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling slightly uneasy for a moment, Oscar suddenly sensed a familiar presence approaching from the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was early morning, and everyone was still deep in slumber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to sleep, Oscar sat at his desk, organizing his notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least I’m seeing some progress.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem children—those troublemakers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, when he entrusted them with the mana development facility, he had been skeptical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But in the end, they did an excellent job.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opponent they had faced this time was on an entirely different level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being that had accumulated mana for over 200 years—practically limitless power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If they can handle something like that… they’ll all reach Level 5 in no time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as they could stabilize their mana, nothing was out of reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single real battle like this was worth more than years of secluded research.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There’s still a long way to go, but we’re moving forward steadily.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each of them had weaknesses, but their talent was undeniable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they continued to grow without any major issues, soon enough, the White Tower would see the emergence of three high-ranking mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Something to look forward to.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new golden age for the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mere thought of it brought a smile to his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Oscar sensed multiple powerful mana sources and quickly got up from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hurried to the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, along the lakeside, dozens of vehicles and carriages were lined up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now that I think about it…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today was the day the Imperial reinforcements were scheduled to arrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Straightening his attire, he stepped outside to welcome them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The opulent automobile was adorned with golden embellishments, bearing an emblem of a phoenix and a sword—symbols of eternity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the insignia of House Calderan, a dynasty with a thousand years of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it was the symbol of the empire that had conquered the continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What a truly beautiful lake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight in the passenger seat spoke, and the man in the backseat gave a brief nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His response was curt, but the knight showed no sign of displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man he served had always been this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his position, it was perhaps better that he remained so composed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall we disembark?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We will go ahead first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before anyone could assist him, the man opened the door himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights flinched in alarm, hastily moving to his side, but he waved them off with a casual gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stand aside. I can at least walk on my own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights kept their mouths shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying anything further might be seen as an insult to their liege.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning on his staff, the man stepped out of the vehicle, his narrowed eyes fixed on the bridge leading to the artificial island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have someone waiting for us. We must not make a poor first impression.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he began walking across the bridge, accompanied by his knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the bridge stood a single mage, clad in a white robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been expecting you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, you must be the Young Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Noble of the White Tower—Oscar Crucian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A name he had heard more times than he cared to count.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man studied him, observing him as if he were some strange creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We spoke over communication two days ago, didn’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. At the time, I did not realize I was speaking to a member of the Imperial Family. I apologize for my rudeness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man let out a faint chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t dress in a particularly distinguished manner. How did you figure it out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I recognized it from the knights accompanying you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar glanced briefly at the knights standing protectively around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they were suppressing their presence, the distinct nature of their mana was unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Like the sharp thorns of a rose.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As far as he knew, the only group with such an aura was the Imperial Royal Guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And the ones they protect are obvious.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The members of the Imperial Family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant the man before him was a royal prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…I don’t recall this person.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By timeline alone, it wouldn’t be strange if they had met before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, in the past, he had been far from someone a prince would have any reason to meet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, only the Emperor and Crown Prince had ever requested to see him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps they had briefly encountered each other at an official event, but at the very least, Oscar had no memory of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then again, the only royals I remember are the Crown Prince and the first and second princesses. He must be someone below them.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his previous life, he had been too busy managing the Magic Tower to pay much attention to the Imperial Family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man let out a small exclamation of admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even with their uniforms, most people wouldn’t be able to recognize my knights’ affiliation. How did you figure it out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard rumors that the Royal Guards of the Imperial Family possess mana that resembles the thorns of a rose.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so? Seems like you lot are quite the renowned figures now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prince turned back, smiling, but the knights remained stone-faced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His words sounded like praise, but they knew better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a subtle rebuke—an acknowledgment that a mere Level 4 mage had seen through them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…We will continue to improve.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come now, no need to take it so seriously. You’re making me look bad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prince shook his head and turned back to Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knights are always the same—dull, stiff, and utterly humorless. Are mages any different?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… mages aren’t particularly entertaining either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? That’s unexpected. I’m enjoying myself quite a bit talking to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grinning, the man placed a hand over his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Berkan de Calderan. Though the world knows me better as the Ninth Prince.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. My name is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need. I already know. Oscar Crucian, the Noble of the White Tower. Your mana perception skills are truly remarkable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, he seemed genuinely amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing Oscar’s curiosity, he spoke first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, forgive me. It’s just… it’s been years since I’ve traveled this far outside the Imperial Palace. I suppose I’m a little excited.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My health has never been the best.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Berkan tapped his staff lightly, drawing Oscar’s gaze to his leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For a royal, an injury like that should have been healed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With access to archbishops and legendary elixirs, there was no reason an imperial prince couldn’t be cured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant only two possibilities remained—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Either he’s fallen out of the Emperor’s favor…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Emperor, the pinnacle of the continent, personally rendered that leg unusable, then no one would dare to fix it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be no different from openly defying the Emperor himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And the other case… is a curse.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A curse that neither divine power nor elixirs could cure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a unique sorcery used by certain demons, much like the \"Curse of Dreams\" engraved upon him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I've been cursed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, who never expected him to say it so bluntly to his face, was momentarily taken aback and lowered his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If my gaze was offensive, I apologize.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, it's fine. I emphasized my staff precisely so that you would notice. I just thought you'd be curious, so I told you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For something like that, the knights standing behind him were exuding a rather menacing aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if they were silently asking: Did you really have to make him say something like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Please, come inside.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let's do that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he began walking first, he casually asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was there any trouble with the cleanup?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"There were some unfortunate incidents, but we handled them well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunate incidents?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Berkan turned his head toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's a long story to explain…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar briefly summarized the events they had encountered as concisely as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After listening to everything, Berkan's expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he turned around and gestured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knight hurried over, and Berkan whispered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Contact our people in the imperial family and discreetly gather any information related to homunculi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the knight departed, he furrowed his brows and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…I apologize. I’ve put you through a great ordeal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even the imperial family was unaware of this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As shameful as it is to admit… we truly had no idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He acknowledged the oversight with frank honesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be more precise, it would be more accurate to say that we couldn’t have known.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Couldn’t have known?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing those words, Oscar's brows knitted together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you saying someone deliberately concealed the information?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be completely honest, we didn’t even know why the artificial island was designated as a restricted area.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He added one more sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now that I've heard your story, I think I finally understand why we never knew.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had intentionally hidden the information—and Berkan had an idea of who it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar understood what he meant, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking carelessly could easily be considered treason against the imperial family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing his hesitation, Berkan spoke first, making things clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've probably already realized it, but I believe it was the Emperor from 200 years ago who concealed the information.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you think the reason was?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a question that felt like a test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar quickly responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that is true, there could be two possible reasons.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? Two? Let’s hear them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"One, the Emperor from 200 years ago wanted to cover up his own disgrace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, the artificial island and the Night of the Mages had failed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was undoubtedly that the homunculi had completely escaped their control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given the astronomical amounts of money and time invested in the project, the Emperor would have wanted to bury the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And the other?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of hesitation, Oscar spoke carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps… the Emperor was deeply interested in immortality.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he might have feared his approaching death and turned to homunculi research in search of a way to extend his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what Oscar had glimpsed in his visions, the Empire had secretly overseen the experiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And since the Emperor’s name was officially tied to the project, there's no doubt about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No researcher in their right mind would dare to use the Emperor’s name to deceive patients.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, an experiment of that scale could not have possibly taken place without the Emperor’s knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After hearing your explanation, I came to the same conclusion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Berkan murmured with a troubled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Things are going to get busy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial family would now have to scramble to collect all information related to homunculi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were revealed that a past Emperor had dabbled in forbidden sciences—or if a related dungeon was discovered—the imperial family's reputation would be ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A secrecy pact will be inevitable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant they would have to draft an oath of confidentiality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the people most likely to leak this information were the Special Forces members.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As a token of goodwill, though I hesitate to call it such—if you ever need help, let me know. I will lend my strength at least once.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The help of the Ninth Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not a bad deal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The imperial family was undoubtedly the most powerful entity on the continent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And a promise from a royal carried more weight than anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most matters could be resolved swiftly with such backing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gave a slight bow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2166,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","cd546e2222718909718cddbac1e26bde0fc573baab662389506302f76d164cb6","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-137","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-135",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]