[{"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-19":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},1334771,1778,"Chapter 19","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-19",19,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 19: The Ugly Duckling (2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The training room on the 40th floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran, practically dragged there, let out a sigh of resignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don't know if I can achieve in one day what I haven't been able to in years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's possible. But you have to trust me completely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What exactly are you planning to teach me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, stand in a natural posture and close your eyes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A natural posture involves standing still and relaxing the entire body, letting the limbs hang loosely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It has a slower flow of mana compared to a meditative pose, but it has its own advantages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Humans are naturally upright-walking creatures. To assess one's usual habits and tendencies, this posture is better than a cross-legged position.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. Now try circulating your mana throughout your body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his eyes closed, Fran focused intensely and began to move his mana slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, observing him quietly, made a move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here, here, and over here….\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed out several spots along his mana circuits with his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"These are areas where you experience mana loss during circulation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran's eyelashes fluttered as he kept his eyes closed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had instantly identified habits he wasn't even aware of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you have a lot of these points, your spell execution is bound to suffer.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…If I fix these, will I reach level 4?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not necessarily. This isn't directly related to your level.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With enough talent, even someone with terrible habits could become a level 4 mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In fact, 99.9% of mages don't even concern themselves with these details.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then why…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, 0.1% of the mages in history who were called Archmages? Every single one of them paid attention to this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There's always a reason why the best obsess over certain details.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before diving into the main lesson, Oscar intended to address Fran's fundamental issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Remember what I'm about to teach you and practice it every morning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began explaining the problems with each mana circuit as if revealing the answers to a math problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This circuit here has a sharp turn. The mana enters too quickly and crashes against the wall, causing significant loss. Be mindful of your entry speed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"On the other hand, this area is too slow. You need to push the mana through more forcefully and swiftly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This circuit has six entry points, so you need to split your mana into six streams. That way, you minimize loss and maximize speed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran couldn't even imagine the value of the information he was receiving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was something that even most high-ranking mages would find difficult to teach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Do I have to pay attention to all these details every time I cast a spell?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eventually, it will become as natural as breathing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran looked at Oscar like he was a monster and stuck out his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is why geniuses are on a different level... Anyway, I memorized everything you taught me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, after hearing them just once, Fran was smart enough to remember the explanations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, then let's start the actual lesson now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran flinched and opened his eyes at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We haven't even started yet?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I told you, this has nothing to do with your level.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So far, everything had just laid the foundation for becoming an excellent mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, having addressed the basics, suddenly looked serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fran Sirius, I made it clear before we start. You said you would trust me completely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then show me the spell you used during your fight with the swordsman in the herb field.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You saw that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a deep sigh, Fran shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was it a lie when you said you trusted me?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, it's not that I don't trust you…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Avoiding his gaze, Fran muttered in a barely audible voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm scared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Scared?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar's expression became curious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are usually two main reasons why someone would be scared of their own magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Does using that spell cause serious side effects, or do you have some traumatic memory associated with it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The latter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran slumped his shoulders as he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I nearly died once while using that spell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me more. That way, I can suggest a solution.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning deeply, Fran touched upon a memory he didn't even want to recall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a young age, Fran Sirius considered himself a genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In any physical activity or academic endeavor, he had never failed to be at the top of his peer group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he not been part of the Sirius family, he might have lived content with his talents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ouch!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being hit on the head with a wooden sword and falling, Fran was surrounded by two boys and a girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the youngest, who started crying, they began conversing among themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is bad. The youngest has no talent for swordsmanship. I heard his rank in the recent mock exam was only 14th nationwide.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unbelievable. Who would have thought that someone from the Sirius family wouldn't be ranked first in the nation…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's worrisome. He isn't even that smart, and now it seems like he lacks physical talent too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back, it was simply that the people he was compared to were exceptional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His two older brothers and sister were already renowned as geniuses within the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Isn't the third son of the Sirius family known as 'the ugly duckling'? Everyone else in that family is outstanding, but the youngest is a bit lacking. He couldn't possibly be a child they picked up from somewhere, could he?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when he overheard someone insulting him, he couldn't muster the courage to confront them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was terrified that he might actually be a child who was picked up from somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in the personality test that was trending throughout the Empire, he was the only one with a different result.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How strange. In our family, everyone except the youngest got the same result.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They described us as highly capable but unnecessarily serious, lacking flexibility, and rigid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nonsense. This test is just pseudoscience with no solid evidence, so don't be swayed by it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, according to the test results, the youngest has a wide range of shallow interests, lacks persistence, and is easily frightened.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just as I thought.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sounds accurate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling smaller and smaller among his emotionally detached family, Fran had only one thing he could lean on: magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Alright. In that case, I'll go to the White Tower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He planned to prove himself there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To show that while he might be looked down upon in his family, outside, he would be recognized as a genius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, even in the White Tower, which was rumored to have declined, there were three people more talented than him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I can't continue like this.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The anxiety and fear of becoming a nobody consumed him, leading him to make a dangerous decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'What if I could turn my entire body into wind, not just a part of it…'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was fully aware of the risks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fragile hope drawn by his anxious mind was filled with baseless optimism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I just succeed, it'll be a jackpot, right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He imagined famous newspapers coming for interviews and receiving invitations to all sorts of high society events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, he'd become the leading mage of the White Tower and, naturally, gain recognition from his family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than anything, that sweet future felt like a cookie placed within arm's reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he needed was a single crumb of courage to reach out and grab it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But accidents always strike unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Fran succeeded in transforming his lower body into wind, his magic spiraled out of control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What... what the hell? Damn it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screaming, he struggled to flee the training room but to no avail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His legs no longer existed, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his upper body was rapidly turning into wind, scattering into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haah... haah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sensation of his soul being torn apart, shredded into countless fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fear that he, as an existence, would become wind and forever wander the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time his body was reduced to only the part above his neck, rendering even breathing difficult—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Fran? Fran!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Sasha, the Tower Master, hadn't passed by the hallway at that moment, Fran would have died that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, more accurately, \"death\" wouldn’t be the right term—annihilation of existence would be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that incident, Fran could no longer use his one and only pride: his unique magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whenever I try to use it, my breath quickens, and cold sweat starts pouring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran displayed his trembling hands with a self-deprecating smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I'm pretty pathetic, aren't I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To some, it would sound like a privileged complaint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Born into a well-off family, with remarkable talent—just a spoiled kid's grumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know my family is full of good people, even if they're a bit stoic… But… I always feel like I'm drifting alone within the family. What am I supposed to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...I don’t think it’s pathetic. Everyone has their struggles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, to be honest, Oscar couldn’t fully empathize.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had grown up parentless, scavenging through back alleys for food, until he was discovered by his mentor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seized that stroke of fortune and became a mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the many mages who envied his genius, he overpowered them with skill and won their admiration, eventually rising to the position of Tower Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prime example of triumph over adversity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given their vastly different upbringings, empathy was naturally difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, to sum it up, you want your family’s recognition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you want to become an outstanding mage, but the trauma from the accident is holding you back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fear of being consumed by his own magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the very reason Fran couldn’t properly wield the power of the Wind Sovereign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded, understanding the root cause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So this was it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason he occasionally seemed to lack confidence or had an excessive need for approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his curiosity satisfied, Oscar spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you managed to use it well when fighting that swordsman in the hills, didn’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That wasn’t me using it. It activated on its own when my life was in danger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, he couldn’t consciously control it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar pondered briefly before asking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Describe the situation during the accident in more detail. Why did you almost dissipate into wind?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...At some point, the magic slipped out of my control and went berserk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quick glance at Fran’s hands revealed they were still trembling slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he was trying to act nonchalant, recalling the incident alone was terrifying for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, who wouldn’t fear annihilation of existence?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most fearsome generals among the demonkind had sobbed like babies in the face of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fully understanding this, Oscar gently patted Fran's shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for sharing your secret with me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, you did say you’d believe me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran muttered as he slightly turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hearing someone say they need me for the first time… feels kinda nice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? What did you say?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, nothing. Forget it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking a bit sheepish, Fran quickly changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what do we do now? I’m not confident, but I’ll do whatever you say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, you need to understand that this is actually a problem more common among mages than you think.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Seriously?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seriously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Greed is always the issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The desire to knock on the doors of higher truths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s a bomb that every mage carries in their heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the solution is surprisingly simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar pointed his index finger at Fran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In essence, your issue stems from a lack of magical control, right? Then you just need to address that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Easier said than done. Isn’t that something determined by innate talent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magical control or perception is often referred to as the sixth sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not something you understand intellectually, but something you instinctively sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like hearing a sound or seeing something without having to learn it first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Usually, yes. But there’s a way to enhance that ability forcibly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it wasn’t a method just anyone could use.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few knew of this method even in the past, and fewer still succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap, tap, tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran asked as he watched Oscar suddenly start drawing something on the training room floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me? I’m drawing a summoning circle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you summoning? Don’t tell me… you’re not asking me to make a pact with a demon or something, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran’s face turned pale with fear as Oscar chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you nuts? Even if I called them, those demon bastards wouldn’t show up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d wet themselves and flee just from the scent of his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… what are you summoning?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A spirit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap, tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Completing the summoning circle, Oscar replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m about to summon a Wind Spirit to embed within your body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2155,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.509Z",1,"novelbin.me","a61c3b11073822e0b806368671f492d4bb358f545835f1d5f3408f8e3ca9f45c","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-257","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-18",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]