[{"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-15":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},1334764,1778,"Chapter 15","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-15",15,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 15: Guardian of the Herb Field (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the city, the night in the herb garden was particularly dark, devoid of even a hint of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because of that, countless stars sprinkled across the sky flaunted their presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sitting on a cool platform and taking in the scene, Fran muttered to himself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They sure are shining bright. I’m a bit envious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Envious? What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just wonder what it would feel like to live with such a brilliant light, being noticed by everyone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He directed his gaze towards Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, someone like you, a genius, probably wouldn’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… You’re quite exceptional yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if it’s just flattery, thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t flattery at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In reality, Fran had remarkable talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One didn’t have to look far to see that—he managed dual casting on his first attempt, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be blunt, he was a mage with a promising future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can’t even understand why Little Oscar would call this guy a problem child.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had to point out a flaw, it’d be his occasional over-need for recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sometimes seemed lacking in self-esteem, which likely had something to do with his personal background.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not flattery. I’m not the type to give it anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Ahem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps sensing the sincerity in his words, Fran grew a bit awkward and changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, there really are a lot of stars.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right. Back then, Sirin used to be like this too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with streetlights illuminating the night, it was impossible to enjoy such a view in Sirin, but only about twenty years ago, watching the stars from the tower rooftop was one of his hobbies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran shot him a skeptical look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come on, how far back do you mean by ‘back then’? You’re born after me anyway. And by the way…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing around, Fran lowered his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think Sirin’s herb industry can really revive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll only know once we try. But I don’t think it’s impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thing he was most concerned about was whether the herb growers were still around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they had sold their land and moved away, restoring it would have been much harder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But I heard that most of them stayed in Sirin, even after selling their land. So the skills remain intact.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t help but feel grateful to the Fourth Tower Master for that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would mean that the herb growers, who had wandered across the continent, truly considered Sirin their home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. But can we trust them? Even if they were coerced, they still sold their land in the end.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Do you think they wanted to sell their land?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gave a bitter smile and replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fran, do you know the best way to break a strong will?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something we learned at the academy, right? It’s softness, isn’t it? They call it ‘yu neng zhi gang’, where softness can control hardness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[PR\u002FN: It’s a chinese idiom that means ‘the soft can overcome the hard’.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would be the correct answer on an exam, but Oscar shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hardness is the lowest approach, softness is intermediate, and from what I’ve learned in life, emotion is the best method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Emotion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s what people often call compassion or sentiment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are people in the world who won’t bend their will, even in the face of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Oscar has seen that even those people waver when their loved ones are threatened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why I don’t blame them. If the White Tower hadn’t fallen, if there had been power to protect them, the herb growers wouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, if you trace it all back, it was indirectly his fault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…But since I know now that the first button was fastened wrong, I can refasten it starting from here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the process would be inconvenient, tedious, and difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in the end, only a sense of satisfaction would remain, as always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he has learned this well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When you fall, just get up again; once you make a mistake, just avoid making it twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stood up from the platform, dusting off his pants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s late. Time to go to bed...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the middle of his sentence, Oscar suddenly turned his head to one side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With narrowed eyes, he stared intently at a spot somewhere in the herb garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's with the creepy look? Did you see a ghost?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprised, Fran turned his head as well, but he didn’t seem to sense anything unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘For Fran, who has decent magical perception, not to notice anything… That means whoever is approaching now is suppressing their presence as much as possible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching silently under the cover of night was never a good sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar spoke in a calm tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fran, we’d better prepare to welcome our guests.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold night wind brushed past his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s gotten into them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop! Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A green-haired man blew bubbles and popped them repeatedly, muttering with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, last time when they offered to kill him, they refused, right? Kidnapping or threats were fine, but killing a ‘national treasure’ carries a different weight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person who responded was an older spearman carrying a long spear on his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who cares? If the client pays, we do it. We’ve always done it that way, and we’ll keep doing it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you get that indifferent about everything as you age? Ugh, I hope I never get that old.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three men walking through the night herb garden were mercenaries contracted by Dvor Powell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they called themselves mercenaries, they were actually wanted criminals with bounties on their heads, known as the infamous ‘Gunman Jack’s Gang’ in the northern region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack, the leader, warned them,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t get careless. They said there might be a mage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. They said something about the White Tower, right? That’s a relief. It would’ve been harder if it were one of the other Four Great Towers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green-haired man chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, does it really matter? I’ve never met a mage who knew how to really fight. They all just walk around with their heads high, none of them are truly seasoned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, we know you’re great, so don’t get too cocky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spearman looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The map says it’s that house over there. But the lights are off. Seems early for bed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Max, go check it out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Max, the green-haired man, spat out his gum and quietly approached the cottage, crouched low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With skillful ease, he picked the lock and silently opened the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to look back, Jack gave him a nod, signaling to finish the job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Max, keeping his steps light, pulled out a dagger as he approached the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hm?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the darkness of the cabin, something didn’t feel right, and his eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the blanket covering it, the shape beneath seemed too bulky to be a person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a trap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Max realized this and began to turn to escape…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re too quick to catch on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The compressed air burst, and a spinning wind bullet drilled into his temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result was instant death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Max, who had long awaited his confrontation with a skilled magician, died without even a moment to feel pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar's face showed a hint of surprise at the result he’d just created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wind Bullet, huh. Its lethality is higher than I expected.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was one of the spells from the book Reinterpretation of Basic Magic that young Oscar had authored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new style of attack magic that reinterpreted the weaponry of guns through the wind magic of the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Wind Cutter specialized in \"cutting,\" then this was a magic focused on \"piercing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One down, three to go.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Walking past Max's body, Oscar calmly stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spearman, meeting his gaze, asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What happened to Max?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s asleep inside. Go and fetch him, though he might be asleep for… quite a while. Maybe… forever?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch, foolish bastard. This is why I told him not to let his guard down.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spearman clicked his tongue in annoyance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Oscar nodded to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'They're not amateurs.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the clear provocation, they weren't recklessly charging forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant they weren't the type to be easily consumed by momentary emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If he's already dead, then there's nothing we can do about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gunman spoke to Oscar with a remarkably cold expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just tell us the location of the herbalist, and I promise not to hold any sentiment over Max's death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar admired his composure but had only one response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just go ahead and hold on to your sentiment.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you're so set on seeing blood, then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a glare brimming with intent, the gunman gave the command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As you wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spearman, who'd nodded, closed the distance in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, still calm, watched his opponent carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The main strength of a spearman lies in utilizing the long reach of their spear for a relentless barrage of attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the first thing is to neutralize that strength.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clicked his fingers, and a Wind Shield materialized in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? Trying to block me with some shield?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spearman, scoffing, thrust his spear forward—only to pause, stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the Wind Shield had angled itself just right, deftly deflecting the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thrown off balance, Oscar seized the opening and moved in close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'No way… was he aiming for this from the start?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an eerie level of skill, a move that belied his young face with its sophisticated precision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just one exchange, he’d completely neutralized the spearman's greatest advantage—his range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…But, what a shame for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sinister grin, the spearman twisted his spear, which split into two short spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange and unique weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His was a peculiar weapon designed to catch his opponents off guard, ensuring their defeat in a first encounter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Getting old means survival. Did you think I’d reach this age without compensating for my weaknesses?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two short spears sped toward Oscar’s vital points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Oscar muttered without a trace of concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, so that’s how it is.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apart from a decent speed, everything about the spearman was ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d thought there must be a reason this man had survived to his age…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But what a letdown.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind Bullet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pwoom! Pwoom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a flash, two bullets shot out, precisely hitting the tips of the short spears flying at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to withstand the impact, the weapons splintered, and the spearman’s face twisted with shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-Impossible…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such accurate shooting, at such close range, against a surprise assault with a unique weapon?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even our leader couldn’t pull that off…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as this thought crossed his mind, Oscar raised his long, slender forefinger and middle finger to point at the spearman's forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Second one down.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar gathered his mana to finish off the spearman—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every hair on his body stood on end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His instincts, honed from countless battlefields and near-death encounters, screamed a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You are in danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind Shield!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reacting reflexively, Oscar stepped back and summoned three Wind Shields.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That movement ended up saving his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bullet whizzed in from behind the spearman, piercing all three shields and grazing Oscar’s cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the blood trickle down Oscar's cheek, Jack shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Too bad. If you’d let your guard down just a bit more, you’d have been dead for sure.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Wasn’t he your ally?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Technically, he was a subordinate. I can always find another one.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Criminals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a despicable bunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down briefly at the spearman’s crushed corpse, Oscar asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And what’s that toy of yours?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack shook the massive sawed-off shotgun he held in one hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, calling it a toy wouldn’t do it justice. Just know it’s damn expensive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Jack leisurely loaded a new shell, sure of his victory, Oscar’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s enchanted with speed, power, and penetration—three effects, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…How did you know?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because my shield couldn’t block it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had even one of those three enchantments been missing, his Wind Shield wouldn’t have been penetrated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only someone with absolute confidence in their magic would make such a judgment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jack, now finished reloading, murmured to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arrogant, but skilled enough to back it up. So the White Tower wasn’t completely bereft of talent like you, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of contemplation, he shrugged and made an offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not bad. I like your battle sense, your sharp instincts, and your skill in reading magic… How about working with me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Reason?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar jerked his chin towards the spearman’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I feel like my back would itch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh, I see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Jack found the reasoning understandable and wiped away any remaining hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In that case, there’s no need for further conversation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gunshot echoed, resuming the hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2158,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.509Z",1,"novelbin.me","759d2f23e25d5712ca13c0e6a5e4c64c92d9bcb0d051b9492d325a090b7f8ee9","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-254","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-14",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]