[{"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-183":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},1334879,1778,"Chapter 183","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-183",183,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 183: Ghosts (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar stepped out of the abandoned building, he blinked in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder—Neil Brion was sprawled out in the middle of the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A trap, perhaps?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this meant to lure him into complacency for a surprise attack?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching cautiously, Oscar nudged Neil’s limp body with the tip of his boot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh… uuh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man groaned in a dazed, semi-conscious state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Someone definitely interfered here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud! Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To confirm, Oscar kicked him a bit harder this time, but Neil remained unresponsive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear—he was under a magically induced slumber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Which means… someone else was here while I was fighting Dirje.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But who?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While pondering, Oscar drew in his mana without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can just find out.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he was strong enough to do that now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stomp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lightly stamped his foot, sending out a pulse of magic that rippled through the surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, the returning wave brought him a wealth of information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Two people. One of them… feels vaguely familiar…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where had he felt this mana before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he rifled through his memory, Oscar suddenly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Kaya Lockwood?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian's sister, whom he had met in Baran City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana signature was unmistakable—it was hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His narrowed eyes grew even sharper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If she deliberately sought out this location, she must have business with me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that she left without making contact suggested one thing:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She likely witnessed his world liberation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar glanced down at the still-slumbering Neil Brion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I suppose… this counts as a gift?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, he was too tired from exerting himself to care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Kaya had a reason to meet him, she’d find him eventually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoisting Neil over his shoulder, Oscar made his way back to the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar! You’re safe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to greet him upon his return was Commander Grace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was worried you were in trouble. Where on earth have you been? And…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grace’s eyes shifted to the unconscious man slumped over Oscar’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The culprit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar unceremoniously dumped Neil Brion onto the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The culprit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. He’s one of the two behind this incident. Keep him bound tightly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing that Neil was responsible for the recent crisis, Grace’s eyes flared with indignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seems we’ll have much to discuss. Leave him to us—we’ll make sure he doesn’t try anything foolish.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure. By the way… did anything happen while I was gone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar glanced around at the bustling tower, sensing the tense atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grace’s expression hardened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...It’ll be quicker to show you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without further explanation, Grace led Oscar to the storage chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, around twenty people were bound with thick ropes, their mouths gagged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single glance was enough for Oscar to grasp what had happened in the city during his absence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You recognize the symptoms, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t take much deduction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drug used by the Salvation Cult was manufactured by NewTech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And one of NewTech's executives was none other than Neil Brion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So while I was being lured away, they released the drug into the city to distract the White Tower’s mages from pursuing them.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s fists clenched instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought of resurrecting Dirje just to beat him senseless again flashed through his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apologies, but stabilizing the city had to be our priority,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grace said with a grim expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar realized, from those words alone, that Grace was likely part of the Dark Pursuers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had immediately identified the symptoms and taken swift action to prevent the drug’s spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared at the trembling, drooling victims and asked softly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are they all accounted for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. These are the only ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only twenty people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the thought of how quickly that number could have multiplied made him feel cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar bit his lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it was just twenty, they were still citizens of this land—people the White Tower was responsible for protecting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the imperial family found out, they would undoubtedly send forces to dispose of the victims, just like last time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to Grace, Oscar asked cautiously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you intend to do with them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Relax.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grace lightly patted Oscar’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The White Tower and Sirin aren’t just your concerns. I want to save them too, if possible. But… is that realistic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is. But first, we need to take care of something else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes grew sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He urged Grace to seize control of the media immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We need to make tonight’s incident look like a drunken brawl—nothing more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already taken care of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grace smirked slightly, as if to say, “What, you thought I’d overlook the obvious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If word of this reaches the imperial court, we’ll be dealing with another purge, just like last time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar was genuinely surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected the White Tower to still have such competent individuals remaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, the leader of the White Watchers has always been a capable mage.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that she had taken preemptive measures without being told made Oscar’s evaluation of her hit the highest mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, what about the witnesses?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ironically, the recent ghost stories have been quite helpful. Fewer people wander around outside at that hour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good. Then our next task is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A cure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Commander Grace stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We need a cure to remove the demonic energy from their bodies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Don’t worry about that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had already made it twice before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twenty patients quickly returned to normal after drinking the medicine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, Commander Grace erased the memories of that day from their minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you really remember nothing at all?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I really don’t remember.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have any idea how much trouble our Watchers went through to stop you from throwing up in the streets and causing a commotion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I’m so sorry. But I really don’t remember anything…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A member of the White Watchers glanced at Grace and gave a subtle nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Grace returned the gesture, the Watcher let out a faint sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. Just take it easy with the drinking next time. Drink too much, and you’ll start blacking out like this more often.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-I’ve never experienced anything like this before… I’m truly sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The patients, who had just been released from the detention center, wandered home in a daze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Grace issued orders to the Watchers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keep a close eye on them for a while, just in case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was still a chance the symptoms could resurface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally finishing the task, Commander Grace slumped into a chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It's done.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s still one left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interrogation of Neil Brion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Commander Grace asked cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the one who captured him, but if you want, I can handle it instead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grace wasn’t trying to steal his credit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression showed genuine consideration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No matter how much you torture him, he won’t talk. He hasn’t even asked for food despite being starved for days. That’s how tough he is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have time to watch?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s casual question made Grace grimace slightly, but she nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two of them made their way to the prison hidden beneath the White Watchers’ hideout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, Neil Brion sat on the floor, handcuffed, staring vacantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few days, he had become gaunt and disheveled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, you’ve really fallen apart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar casually approached and opened with a remark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Neil Brion’s dull, fish-like eyes remained fixed on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In my memory, you were a sharp-dressed man with neatly combed hair and a refreshing scent of mint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no one here to save you. Dirje is dead. Did you happen to witness it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just kill me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neil Brion muttered weakly with his eyes closed, as if he had already resigned himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked like he no longer cared what happened to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar smirked at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A textbook loyalist.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This kind of man would never break easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He valued his loyalty more than his own life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he faced death, the tighter he would shut his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People like this often took a twisted pride in ‘remaining loyal even in the face of death.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay. I get the type. I’ll handle it my way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he slowly summoned his magic, Neil Brion smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do as you please. I have no intention of—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up and hold this for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neil Brion instinctively caught the object Oscar tossed to him—a magic engineering watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a state-of-the-art device that displayed not only the time but also the date and year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring at it blankly for a moment, he furrowed his brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you tell? It’s a watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why are you giving this to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The time wouldn’t change when I put it in alone. I was curious if having a living creature inside would make a difference.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put it in?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The time didn’t change?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baffled by Oscar’s cryptic words, Neil Brion opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell are you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Subspace opening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A space split open like the jaws of a beast, swallowing Neil Brion whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar watched with a slight nod of satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s still incomplete, but my mastery of spatial magic has definitely improved since reaching level six.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just now, he had pulled the strings of space thirty times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant he could now create a subspace—a pocket dimension—with his own magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, he could never have dreamed of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, creating such a dimension barely fatigued him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘More than anything, I was just too curious.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using such a remarkable ability merely as a storage vault felt like a waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had wondered if time would flow differently inside the subspace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it did, it could be used in countless ways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exactly five minutes later, Oscar reopened the subspace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space split open and spat out Neil Brion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gah! Hah… Haaah…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man gasped for air, disoriented, before glaring at Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard… what did you do to me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up. Let me see the watch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snatching the watch from him, Oscar checked the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely fifty minutes had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A 1:10 time ratio.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One hour in reality was equivalent to ten hours in the subspace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oho, it flows.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he had placed only objects inside, time had remained frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment a living being entered, time began to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Excited by the discovery, Oscar stroked his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘By default, time doesn’t exist inside the subspace.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least, not until something is placed inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until then, the dimension remained in a state of stasis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once a being entered, time began to flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much deliberation, Oscar concluded that the reason was due to the presence of an observer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Perhaps time is not an absolute concept, but one that interacts with the observer.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the moment a lifeform entered the subspace, its perception of time activated the dimension’s own temporal flow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, the subspace was not ‘a place without time’ but rather ‘a place where time remained dormant until triggered by an observer.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By placing something inside, time could be set in motion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If that’s the case, could the flow of time inside be deliberately controlled?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar pondered the thought, Neil Brion seethed with rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard! What the hell are you—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, what if I create another subspace inside the subspace?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were still many experiments left to run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casually tossing the watch back to Neil Brion, Oscar opened the subspace again and asked nonchalantly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way. You’re still not planning to talk about the Black Fingers, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Just kill me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring into Neil Brion’s defiant eyes, Oscar smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I figured as much. Thanks. Personally, I’m hoping you hold out for a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, keeping a living being inside for an extended period would be impossible unless they were as resilient as him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2012,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","001f604354b8140aa52f96113f3303297d7ed3bd5d7c415cb452859fe29dcc5b","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-184","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-182",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]