[{"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-173":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},1334869,1778,"Chapter 173","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-173",173,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 173: Each One's Dawn (7)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar returned to his room first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, modifying magic was all about establishing theory, conducting research, and optimizing the results.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sank deeper into the sofa and closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The goal of this research is to apply the properties of the Bitter Cold Wind to Wave Sound.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By doing so, he aimed to enhance the destructive power of his magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, it would induce frostbite, slowing down his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of his hand, he conjured the Bitter Cold Wind, and the room's temperature plummeted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Roughly -40 degrees, huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering that frostbite typically begins around -2 degrees, this was a bone-chilling cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this temperature, no matter who the opponent was, they would succumb to frostbite within three minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar stared at the wind swirling in the room, he fell into thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Come to think of it, I’ve never properly practiced or used this power since obtaining it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had simply been too busy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between the artificial island and Saint Hill, his packed schedule left him with no time for training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why this was his first time maintaining the ability for such an extended period.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Oscar withdrew the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surprisingly, it was half voluntary and half involuntary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should change its name.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, he had called the ability Bitter Cold Wind—a name chosen simply because of its icy nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he realized that the name was inaccurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s closer to Bitter Cold Mana than mere wind.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His own mana circuits were now half-frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This isn’t just magic—it’s a power that alters the very nature of my mana.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From now on, he decided to call it Bitter Cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After warming himself slightly, Oscar once again drew upon his mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I maintained Bitter Cold for roughly two minutes just now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in that brief time, nearly half of his mana circuits had frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear that if he attempted to use Wave Sound, which consumed far more mana, the results would be obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I need to lay the groundwork first.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar spread his regular mana thinly across his body, coating his circuits evenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he activated Bitter Cold again in this state, his usage time increased dramatically—to eight minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I think I’m starting to get the hang of it…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he tried it, he could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bitter Cold was on a completely different level from ordinary temperature manipulation magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Temperature spells had clear limitations—at best, they made the opponent feel hot or cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But this power has no limit.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had a strong sensation that he could lower the temperature as much as he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theoretically, he could even reach absolute zero—-273 degrees Celsius, where molecular movement ceases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, that’s only if my mana circuits can withstand it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his current level, he would freeze long before reaching such extremes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar began experimenting with various coatings for his mana circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, no matter what method he tried, he couldn’t extend the usage time beyond eight minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is this the limit?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling somewhat disappointed, Oscar clicked his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though his current mana circuits were stronger than in his previous life, this was still their limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If only I had a way to better protect my mana circuits…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he could unleash the full potential of this power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for now, that solution seemed far off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking off his disappointment, Oscar refocused and began modifying the Wave Sound spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Personally, he considered Wave Sound one of his finest original spells—a true masterpiece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the formula was already packed with precise, flawless calculations, making it time-consuming to revise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once the work was done, Oscar let out a faint sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the magic-engineered clock on the wall—it showed that seven minutes had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing something was off, he checked the date—and realized that two entire days had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now fully prepared, Oscar collapsed onto his bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After consuming so much mental energy ahead of the upcoming battle, he needed rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least I have the protection talisman from Kiri Gloria.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, he was able to enjoy a peaceful, nightmare-free sleep once again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten hours later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon waking, the first thing Oscar did was check his protection talisman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from the very tip, the entire talisman was now charred black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he didn’t acquire a new one, he would soon have to endure another round of sleepless nights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe I should visit Black Tower after this job is done.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a quick meal of canned soup, he made his way to the 13th floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you’re here? I thought you’d given up since I hadn’t seen you for days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar grinned and turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the afternoon, and the dwarves were hard at work, attaching parts to the ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You all look quite busy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The White Night Festival is coming up soon, after all. Plus, we made some last-minute changes to the design.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You revised the design?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s question made Hagor narrow his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! You’re the one who caused it, yet you act as if you know nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you remember? You brought back a massive amount of Oblisium not long ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Oscar recall the Oblisium he had obtained from Saint Hill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re actually using that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course! It’s a rare metal. We’d be fools not to. If we coat the ship’s hull with a thin layer, it’ll be able to withstand magical attacks for a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s good, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s expression turned slightly awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s just a prototype, though. Aren’t you going a bit overboard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah! There’s an old dwarven saying: ‘The first stone you carve becomes the pillar.’ No matter how experimental, this is about our pride. We can’t afford to cut corners.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unthinkable for those with such unwavering craftsmanship to create something half-heartedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding, Oscar turned his gaze toward the spatial rift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following his line of sight, Hagor asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think it’s possible this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t say for sure until I try. However.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t feel as hopeless as before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ho, you sound pretty confident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud, thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagor, perched on the ladder, lightly patted Oscar’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Off you go, then. I’ll be here, doing my part.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, I’ll be back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After exchanging farewells, Oscar stepped into the spatial rift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The landscape had become familiar by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once again, there was the sight of a man and woman strolling along the lakeshore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, pretending to sever the thread of space, he summoned his second master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“%@$!#@$?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fist came flying toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, he easily deflected it with the back of his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes were fixed solely on his master’s exposed chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Four streams of magic circuits surged with freezing mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Kugh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body temperature plummeted instantly, making his mind waver, but he didn’t stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana, coursing violently through his circuits, eventually drew a magic circle in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This time for sure.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clenching his fist, the wind swirling around them rapidly turned frigid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The temperature around the two had already plunged to -40 degrees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar didn’t take his eyes off his master for even a second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as though time itself had frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could clearly see the widened pupils filled with surprise, the noticeably sluggish movements compared to before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar-style Martial Arts, Secret Technique: Chapter 1\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Freezing Wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaaaah!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fist infused with biting cold shot toward his master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With monstrous reflexes, the master leapt backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But definitely…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a beat slower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar witnessed his master’s face contort, his fist drove deeper into his master’s chest than ever before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwaaaaaang! Splash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His master’s body was hurled backward, crashing into the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force was so great that a towering column of water shot up, scattering droplets like rain against the dark night sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huff, huff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar panted heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he wasn’t unscathed either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His whole body was trembling violently—he longed to run straight to a blazing fireplace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not yet.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His goal wasn’t to defeat his master but to seal the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Raising his trembling arm, he grasped the thread of space and yanked it with all his might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack, craaack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The beautiful night sky splintered like shards of glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he exhaled a sigh of relief—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-#!@#!@$%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His master’s wife mumbled something unintelligible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that, Oscar was forcefully ejected from the space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagor, who had been waiting outside, greeted him with excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time you didn’t come tumbling out with your limbs dangling like a rag doll!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Did I really look like that before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to describe a person that way, but you resembled a discarded garbage bag.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Glad I didn’t show you such an embarrassing sight this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar let out a chuckle, sighing softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oho! Congratulations. Or… should I be congratulating you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well... I guess so? I did fulfill my master’s final wish, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Oscar was about to say more, the ground beneath them suddenly shook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“An earthquake!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hold on tight!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dwarves working on the airship shrieked and clung to the structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief but intense tremor, everything finally settled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hagor stared blankly in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar. Am I seeing things?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...No. I see it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for their shock was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The floor had expanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ceiling was now twice as high, and the area seemed nearly three times larger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, the space had felt cramped due to the massive airship occupying it, but now it appeared spacious and open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, spatial magic truly is incredible. Did you know this would happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No... I had no idea either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shook his head, but suddenly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His master’s words came rushing back to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—If you manage to close that rift, your spatial abilities will grow further. You’ll be able to access more sections of the White Tower. Consider it a form of homework.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait... was that what he meant by expanding the accessible sections of the White Tower?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had assumed that removing the rift would simply allow him to utilize the small gap it left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t imagined it would create such a dramatic expansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the dwarves, gradually recovering from the shock, looked around, they started chattering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa... this place got a lot bigger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ceiling’s higher too! We could even install that giant furnace we dreamed of!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s almost as large as our old settlement before we migrated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aye, and with these facilities, it’s actually much better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the dwarves’ positive reactions, Oscar felt relieved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Goodness... what in the world happened here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha arrived at the 13th floor, the epicenter of the quake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she spotted Oscar, her face twisted into a conflicted expression, and she heaved a sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar, could you come to my office for a moment?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, he had a bad feeling he was about to be scolded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...But then again, wasn’t this free expansion essentially a massive bonus?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1888,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","cbbecea00c3e5833e71b16a34b14041efcfaeb73ce4d0078ebc9b188d7209207","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-174","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-172",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]