[{"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-142":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},1334938,1778,"Chapter 142","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-142",142,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 142: The Inflection Point of Pure White (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A duel?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blue Tower mage, who had been struck against his gauntlet, hesitated for a brief moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Can I win?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his opponent exhibited even a single instance of mana reflux while casting a spell, he was confident of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, that was like handling an unpredictable ticking bomb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But if, by chance, he gets lucky and doesn’t show any symptoms this time…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Things would get complicated then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent’s basic abilities—what could be considered his raw combat skills—were quite formidable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before he could dwell on it any longer, he realized it was already too late to hesitate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s going on here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I heard someone talking about a duel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? A duel?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Other tower mages began gathering in the hallway, filling it up one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many eyes watching, the Blue Tower mage erased all traces of doubt from his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Blue Tower mage avoiding a duel challenge from a White Tower mage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a thing could never be allowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His pride wouldn’t permit it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little shit, you don’t even know your place and yet you dare act up? Fine, let’s do this. A duel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, a crowd formed, creating a small ring in the middle of the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi clenched his fists, locking eyes with his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Please.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his wretched body had even a shred of conscience or sense, just this once—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least until this duel was over—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let it not betray him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finishing his desperate prayer, the Blue Tower mage pulled out a coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The moment this coin hits the ground, we begin. Any objections?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tension escalated as mana surged between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blue Tower mage flicked the coin with his fingers, sending it spinning in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several rapid rotations—ting!—it landed on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaaaa!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both spells were completed almost simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was slightly slower… but I won.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blue Tower mage was certain of his victory the moment he saw his opponent’s spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magic he had cast was a mid-tier Blue Tower spell: Tide of Protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A perfect defensive spell that enveloped his entire body in a shield of water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, he could manipulate the water to launch waves like a tsunami, making it a spell that excelled in both offense and defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘On the other hand, that guy also cast a barrier.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mid-tier White Tower spell: 『Wind Curtain』.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key difference was that his opponent’s spell had no offensive capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, from this point on, he held full control of the duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You talked a big game, but now you’re cowering like a rat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sneered triumphantly as he swung his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A water stream, stretching like a whip, surged forward like a tidal wave and struck his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi, watching the attack approach, began preparing his second spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Everything’s going as planned.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had expected his opponent to use Tide of Protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a Level 5 Blue Tower mage, it was the ideal spell to use in a duel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Verdi had been in the Blue Tower, he would have chosen the same spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Tide of Protection has a perfect balance of offense and defense. There’s no reason not to use it as a first move.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was precisely why Verdi had chosen Wind Curtain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With its low air density, it was an extremely weak barrier—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Completely incapable of withstanding Tide of Protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both he and his opponent knew this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And that’s exactly where the gap is created.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a trap Verdi had set, and his opponent had walked right into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Tide of Protection shattered Wind Curtain into nothingness—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi cast his second spell at the perfect timing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Echo of the Wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remnants of what should have been a feeble, dissipating Wind suddenly turned sharp as blades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And before his opponent could react, they began burrowing into Tide of Protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-What…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blue Tower mage gasped in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was already too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana surged through Verdi’s circuits, bestowing a unique vibration frequency upon the infiltrating wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bzzzzzz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Tide of Protection began to tremble violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blue Tower mage muttered in horror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-No way…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because even an idiot could tell what was about to happen next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I can’t break it from the outside, I’ll just shatter it from the inside.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi clenched his fist and whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Air Explosion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment victory crossed his mind—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of pain contorted Verdi’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana reflux.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His circuits scrambled into chaos, rendering his mana flow a complete mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn this body—why now, of all times?!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t attempting a high-level spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t trying to perform some intricate mana control or complex spell calculations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Air Explosion was a spell that even a novice White Tower mage could use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, he couldn’t even complete such a simple spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The frustration was maddening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no one to blame but himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had simply been born defective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blue Tower mage, who had clenched his eyes shut, bracing for defeat, peeked them open—only to see Verdi writhing in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A hollow chuckle escaped his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah… Hahaha?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had survived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relief washed over him, followed by the joy of victory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How dare this mere White Tower mage push him to the brink?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You cocky bastard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stormed toward Verdi, his Tide of Protection rapidly stabilizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his opponent approach, Verdi resigned himself to his fate and closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Do not give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A solemn voice echoed in his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A message spell?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes snapped open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, as if by magic, the pain that had shackled his body vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of liberation washed over him, making him feel weightless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it’s now…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an expression like a vengeful spirit, Verdi extended his hand toward the approaching Blue Tower mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once more, he clenched his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Air Explosion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch, still trying to act tough…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bzzzzzz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Tide of Protection trembled even more violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blue Tower mage glanced down at his own hands in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air erupted, sending water scattering across the hallway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gah! Cough…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“J-Jonathan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His comrades rushed to pick up his unconscious body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard, we won’t forget this!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoving through the crowd, they disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi, still dazed, scanned his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who… was that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if the magic had come to an end with the duel,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pain once again surged through his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, once more, that voice whispered in his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Do you want to control your mana reflux?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar recalled the scene he had witnessed just moments ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was lucky.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not through a screen, but right in front of his eyes—he had seen Verdi using magic in real life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to that, he had gathered quite a bit of information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He's impressive. Now I see why Sasha said he was exceptionally talented.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Based on his analysis, Verdi Nakwind wasn’t an outstanding physical combatant as a mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he wasn’t the type of mage suited for intense, fast-paced battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But that makes him even more of a mage.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages were originally such beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why else would they be known as the ones who prepare?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Verdi is a classic strategist-type mage—he predicts his opponent’s behavioral patterns, designs the overall battle layout, and enjoys setting traps.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His approach was a bit different from Oscar’s own combat-oriented magic, but both had their advantages and disadvantages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one got caught in Verdi’s tactics, they would die without being able to lift a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And even in their final moments, they would feel as if they were possessed by a ghost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, it’s not like I can’t do it, but it’s just not my style.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The complete form of magic that Oscar pursued required a balance between physical and magical prowess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If either aspect was lacking, one could never reach that state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His talent is remarkable, and his ability to orchestrate a battle is substantial.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant that if his mana reflux symptoms were cured, he would undoubtedly excel in the upcoming dungeon escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, Oscar had already set the bait, so to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Once he experiences it, there’s no way he’ll be able to resist.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Oscar’s prediction was right on the mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been waiting in the private training room—exclusively permitted for White Tower mages—for thirty minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he finally sensed the awaited mana approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a creak, the door opened, and, as expected, Verdi entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar Crucian…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recognizing the one who had summoned him, Verdi muttered in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with an expression of disbelief, he asked for confirmation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That earlier… was really you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar responded by pulling at the threads of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, the mana flowing through Verdi’s circuits started to skip over the reflux zones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi’s pupils trembled as he relished the sensation of complete freedom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a feeling he had pursued all his life but had never experienced, not even for a single minute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar let go of the spatial threads, Verdi looked at him as if waking from a short dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do I have to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I like how straightforward you are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wouldn’t offer me such a favor without expecting something in return. More than anyone, I know this is an opportunity that not even a fortune of gold could buy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re quick-witted, too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Oscar had planned to cure him from the start, but after their conversation, he realized Verdi hated receiving things for free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he offered the treatment without conditions, Verdi would endlessly suspect his motives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar smirked and stated his condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll fix your body. In return, you bring me a first-place result in tomorrow’s dungeon escape.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fire-like determination ignited in Verdi’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I accept your offer. Even if it costs me my life, I will claim first place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. Then let’s get started.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Started? What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The surgery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Compared to conventional surgeries, are there any side effects?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None. You, more than anyone, should already know that after getting a taste of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unconsciously, Verdi nodded and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. Do whatever you need to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, take off your shirt and lie down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar sat beside the now supine Verdi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A direct modification of mana circuits using spatial magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take a deep sleep. By the time you wake up, everything will be over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After casting a sleep spell, Oscar focused his mana in his eyes and began observing Verdi’s mana circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm… So there are four reflux points? That’s quite a lot.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that many, it was no wonder his mana reflux occurred so frequently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having identified the cause, Oscar slowly but decisively pulled at the threads of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I must never touch a healthy circuit.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana circuits were extremely sensitive, closely linked to the nervous system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single mistake could leave a person permanently disabled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar briefly looked at Verdi, who had entrusted everything to him and was now sound asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just how badly did he want to break free?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had accepted a potentially fatal surgery without a moment’s hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To honor that resolve, Oscar had to ensure the operation’s success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shaped his spatial magic into the form of a blade, precisely excising only the reflux points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat poured down his face like rain, drenching the floor beneath him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But despite the strain, his eyes remained unwavering, his focus absolute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally exhaled the breath he had been holding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had taken a full eight hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling his mana reserves completely depleted, Oscar realized just how much this surgery had drained him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I almost ran out of mana before I could finish.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end, it was a success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he had gained something from it as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He now understood spatial magic more deeply and could manipulate it more effectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the still-sleeping Verdi, Oscar murmured,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m counting on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the future of the White Tower rested in his hands tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2037,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","90ed318fdd4f605a9af1ba59a18c60f2a89e045fcb39105ea731ee7d67820ea4","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-143","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-141",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]