[{"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-144":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},1334940,1778,"Chapter 144","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-144",144,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 144: The Inflection Point of Pure White (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi Nakwind took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the spectators watching them disappeared, and towering walls rose around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because those gazes had vanished?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi actually felt more at ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I still can’t get used to this, no matter how many times I see it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. To think this is all an illusion…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought the Violet Tower only dealt with illusions and mirages, so I didn’t expect much. But my opinion has completely changed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His companions voiced their shared impressions, one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before long, their gazes all turned toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Verdi, are you really okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally, I’d think you were just putting on a brave face to boost morale…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But your opponent is Oscar, of all people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar Crucian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That unpredictable genius had healed Verdi the night before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t just a rumor—this was something the Tower Master himself had confirmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no reason to doubt it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, probably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re healed, you’re healed. What’s with that ‘probably’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So far, in the past sixteen hours since the treatment, I haven’t had a single incident of mana backlash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How often did you experience it before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had only been a day, yet it already felt like a distant past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe because he desperately wanted to forget that hellish, agonizing time as quickly as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi slowly opened his eyes and answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Too many times to count.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His companions’ expressions hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their team’s combat power had increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the one who had grown stronger was none other than Verdi—who was already considered one of the strongest among them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t help but feel reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The official match will begin in 10 seconds.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the announcement echoed throughout the labyrinthine dungeon—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, his comrades patted him on the shoulder as they passed by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go wild. We’ll take care of finding the key.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make sure those arrogant Tower mages see for themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Show them who you really are. Show them what you can do—what you could have done if not for that damned illness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi quietly looked at his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, expectations like these would have felt heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would have struggled to bear their weight, feeling suffocated by the pressure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But now…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His steps felt light, and his body was brimming with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never felt such confidence in his entire life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leave it to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his unwavering voice, his comrades grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[3.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[2.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[1.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The match begins.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the nine mages scattered in different directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each became a scout, setting off to find the golden key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Verdi sprinted toward the path his comrades had avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I need to get there as quickly as possible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His target was the boss monster guarding the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would start moving five minutes after the match began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to keep it occupied…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His job was to hold it off alone so the others could focus on finding the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the strategy of the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s the most efficient plan—but also the most dangerous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other Towers weren’t fools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only reason they had never attempted this strategy was that it was practically impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this randomly generated dungeon, the only fixed location was the boss room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi arrived at the massive stone gate and pushed with all his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak, creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he stepped across the threshold, the air changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The colors around him shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he entered the vast chamber of bluish-gray stone—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh, whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ghostly blue flames erupted in various places, evoking the presence of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi gazed at the figure reflected in the flickering flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the room sat a massive stone statue, wings folded and horns protruding from its head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A gargoyle.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even while crouched, it was over two meters tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had already eliminated more than ten mages and was the undisputed master of this dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi glanced at the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>4 minutes, 12 seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three seconds faster than his estimated arrival time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without wasting a single second, he began casting his spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A mage must always be prepared.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that aspect, no one surpassed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of that, he was certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was never good at dealing with sudden changes.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he was a patient afflicted with mana backlash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he was always cautious—always careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even a slight rush in drawing out mana would trigger the symptoms nearly every time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That fear controlled me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had developed a habit of using his magic slowly, steadily, safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the chains of magical backlash that had bound him were gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s time to find out.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he was capable of now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much he had changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi carefully but flawlessly set up his magic circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His actions were smooth, precise—like a machine programmed for spellcasting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After setting up thirty-seven magic circles, he took a brief moment to catch his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack. Crackle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Small pieces of stone began falling from the gargoyle’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Five minutes have passed since the match began.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The slumbering presence in the deepest part of the dungeon awakens.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the system announcement echoed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gargoyle slowly unfolded its legs and stretched its back upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, its head rose to a height of six meters—so tall that one could no longer look at it without tilting their head back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Hoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment Verdi let out a deep breath—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gargoyle’s massive fist crashed down onto the spot where he had been standing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main screen in the arena was entirely focused on Verdi and the gargoyle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It looks like things are about to begin. Baron Bellowin, what’s your take on this?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[To be honest, I think it's reckless.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bellowin took a sip of her whiskey before continuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’s not that other magic towers didn’t know about this method. But why do you think they didn’t use it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Because they didn’t believe it was feasible.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Exactly. In fact, according to the official setting book created by the Violet Moon……]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She opened the book on the table and read the entry on the gargoyle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That boss monster is set at level 6.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Level 6, huh.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It was absurd that four mages from the Red Tower almost managed to take it down.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Then that means he must have some kind of plan prepared… Ah, he’s setting up a magic circle now.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tesila let out a small exclamation as she watched the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It’s like watching a machine. Since I’m not there in person, I can’t be sure, but I doubt even a single speck of mana is being wasted in his spell formations. What do you think, Master Andre?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm, his skill is nearly flawless. To be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever heard the name Verdi, but now I find it shocking that I didn’t know him sooner.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A level 8 royal court mage had just described his abilities as \"nearly flawless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, the watching mages whispered among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Is it really that impressive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Doesn’t seem much different from what I do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the gargoyle’s preemptive strike shook the screen with a deafening roar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah! The battle has begun! It’s been five minutes now!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Honestly, I’m a little worried. The gargoyle’s skin is as strong as steel.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That’s true. We’ll have to see what kind of wind magic he plans to use to restrain that monster.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gargoyle could withstand most attacks without taking any damage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse yet, if it determined that an attack posed no threat to it, it would simply ignore its opponent and leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the fundamental reason why it took at least four mages to pin down a gargoyle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And right now, Verdi is activating his first magic circle!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The first spell he’s using is…? Hmm?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Huh?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hm?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three commentators all voiced their confusion at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for good reason—because the spell emerging from the magic circle did not seem powerful at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bellowin tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It looks like a Wind Blade spell. Master Andre, what do you think?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[That is indeed Wind Blade.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[……Excuse me? If that’s true, then this doesn’t seem like the right spell to use against a gargoyle.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It would be quite difficult indeed.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using a blade of wind to cut a gargoyle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was not just difficult—it was nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Verdi had been a high-ranking mage, he might have been able to compress an enormous amount of mana to make it work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that kind of feat was not something a mere level 5 intermediate mage could achieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah, Verdi Nakwind is flicking his fingers, sending a blade at his opponent! And—it lands!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade of wind slashed through the air and struck the gargoyle’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SCREEEECH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent burst of sparks erupted from the point of impact—but the gargoyle showed no reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to have had any effect on the gargoyle.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I agree, it looks that way to me as well.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I don’t understand what he’s trying to accomplish with this attack…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Verdi was undeterred and conjured another blade from the magic circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[He’s trying the same attack again even though it didn’t work! Could it be that all thirty-seven of his magic circles are Wind Blades?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm. If that’s the case, I’d say his chances of winning aren’t very high.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the commentators tilted their heads in doubt, they suddenly shouted in alarm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah! The gargoyle seems to be getting annoyed with Verdi, like he’s some bothersome fly! It’s firing lasers from its eyes!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[It looks like it wants to deal with him quickly and move on to another prey.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[How will Verdi respond… Ah! He’s activating his third magic circle!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The third magic circle produced a Wind Shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ZZZZZIIIING!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The descending laser beams hit the shield at a precise angle, scattering in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the commentators, only Andre noticed something strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bellowin looked at him curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What is it?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The Wind Shield he just summoned—it didn’t move or change angles at all.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, that’s right. Is there something wrong with that?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[No. Quite the opposite.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not only had Verdi predicted the gargoyle’s attack, but he had also calculated the exact angle at which it would fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, a chill ran down Andre’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[He entered the boss room, set up thirty-seven magic circles, and then rested.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Yes, that’s right.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[At first, I thought he was just taking a break because he was exhausted. But now, I have a different suspicion.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[What do you mean…?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[A great architect, when designing a new building, plans out every last detail—including the exact number of screws that will be used. If Verdi decided that thirty-seven magic circles were enough to defeat the gargoyle… don’t you think that means he calculated it all in advance?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Bellowin and Tesila fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their expressions showed their skepticism, but at the same time…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Verdi activated his third magic circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, a Wind Blade appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SWOOSH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade sliced through the air and scraped against the gargoyle’s ‘neck.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[……!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[……!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commentators' eyes widened in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the attack landed at exactly the same spot as the first one—without a single millimeter of deviation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hmm, it seems I made a major misjudgment.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Andre watched the scene and admitted his mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Verdi never intended to restrain the gargoyle in the first place.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Then… what was his plan?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Hunting.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gargoyle, having just realized that a tiny piece of its tough skin had been shaved off, fixed its gaze on its opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[From the very start… he planned to hunt that gargoyle down.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1986,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","fb41ae94b7c5e958dead241ed4ea311dc5c692d332cf02526b495f7ed4437d06","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-145","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-143",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]