[{"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-207":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},1334653,1778,"Chapter 207","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-207",207,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 207: The Red Mountains (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Humans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oran spread his mana wide and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t sense anything. Are you sure they’re actually humans?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m certain. And it’s not just one or two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is something happening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya and Sasha, who arrived late, each offered their thoughts after hearing the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Humans in a place like this? Maybe there’s an undisclosed imperial outpost nearby?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we think logically, that does seem like the most likely explanation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar fell into thought at the two women's reactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A new imperial outpost, huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Sasha said, that does seem like the most plausible option if you’re thinking logically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chance of running into non-imperial humans in the Red Mountain Range is virtually zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Purely in terms of probability, it’d be faster to find a founding-era coin on Barbara’s beach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But Uncle Emperor doesn’t like provoking the demons.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when Oscar requested the White Tower’s records as his reward for winning the Night of Mages, the emperor had refused to send troops for that very reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Put politely, he’s cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bluntly, he fears the outbreak of a second war with the demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In that situation, would the Imperial family establish an outpost even deeper than before? It doesn’t add up.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having sorted out his thoughts, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s not much point in speculating among ourselves. Let’s check it out with our own eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our own eyes? You mean go to the source of the magic?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world, there’s a convenient tool called magic that saves you from such trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Oscar happens to be a skilled craftsman with that tool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a hum, his gentle mana flowed outward and completed a complex magic circle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eye of the Sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sphere of magic shot into the sky, piercing the clouds and heading toward a certain direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Sasha gaped in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Eye of the Sky! I can’t believe it’s usable even in this place with such unstable magic flow… Amazing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gave a faint smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this little trick was enough to earn praise, that was a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mage known as Magiro Wilson, the Keeper of the White Tower, had once used this spell to spy all the way from the holy capital to the tower’s outskirts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does that magic even do? Is it really that impressive?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya, who had never seen the Eye of the Sky before, asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha smiled brightly and replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll understand better by seeing it for yourself than by my explanation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar agreed and snapped his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s take a look together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a vivid image appeared before the four of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A clearing on the first peak of the Red Mountain Range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the sea visible to the west, more than twenty people dressed in black combat uniforms had gathered there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of them were vigilantly keeping watch of their surroundings, while only three stood in the center of the clearing, deep in conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um… aren’t they seven hours late? There’s not even a shadow of them yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re the ones who want something from them. What can you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man smacked his lips and grinned as if an amusing thought crossed his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to think of it, is this your first time climbing the Red Mountains?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How does it feel? Entering a forbidden zone designated by the Empire?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The youngest one glanced around before swallowing nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I’m kind of scared. I think I finally understand why the Red Mountains are synonymous with fear…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? He gets it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man turned to look at the silent middle-aged man beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A long diagonal scar across the man’s face gave off a threatening aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough chit-chat. We don’t know when they might arrive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Okay~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But still…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The middle-aged man gave a piece of advice while glancing at the youngest one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you carry demonic energy within you, you can’t afford to be frightened by something like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yes, sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing such a disciplined reply, the man chuckled to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he asked the middle-aged man another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But really, a nest left behind by the last dragon? You think that kind of thing really exists?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know. But since the First Finger gave the order himself, we follow it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, I hope it does exist. Would be nice if there’s a bunch of artifacts too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even the strongest three in the group — nor any of the twenty black-clad members — noticed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That someone was watching them from over 7 kilometers away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Those bastards, just look at them — you can tell they’re demons. And they mentioned the First Finger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oran clicked his tongue as he stared at the vivid image.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But how the hell do those guys know about the nest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t it be stranger if they didn’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We stole that map from Neil Brion’s vault. Since he was part of the Black Fingers, it makes sense that they’d know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, she’s right. Just because it was in his private vault doesn’t mean only he knew about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the two quickly came to a consensus, Oscar furrowed his brow slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That doesn’t make sense.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to his theory, Uncle Emperor was using the Violet Brigade to retrieve the White Tower’s records.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which means that the map in Neil Brion’s vault was placed there by the Imperial family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So the Black Fingers shouldn’t know about Edna’s location.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fact that they do suggests two possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, that they had always known.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if that were the case, the timing would be way too perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of all times, they’re heading to the nest now? That’s way too convenient.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which is why the weight shifts toward the second possibility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘……An insider hiding within the imperial family. Their position is much higher than I expected.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how powerful the Emperor is, he couldn’t have orchestrated all this alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There must have been people under him executing the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In other words, the insider is someone in a position to oversee even the Emperor’s personal affairs.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of it that way actually narrows down the suspects considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They can start by investigating those with the highest authority and rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s something to look into once we return.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, deciding what to do about those demons is the priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What should we do? That middle-aged one seems to be Level 7, and the rest are all probably Level 6.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, yeah. They’re much weaker than expected. Honestly, I’d like to ask what gave them the confidence to enter the Red Mountains in the first place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a gentle smile, Oran asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior, should we just take them out? With our strength, it wouldn’t even take ten minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. No harm in it. Unless they’re aiming for a completely different location, there’s no need to keep them alive if they're heading to the same place as us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like they said, their side currently has three Level 7s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they wanted to, wiping those enemies out wouldn’t take even five minutes, let alone ten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But something feels……’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsettling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a tiny thorn stuck in his throat—just enough to keep tickling and irritating him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar had always trusted his instincts over logic in dangerous situations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? You’re serious, little bro?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oran asked, eyes wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why would we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I’ve got a bad feeling. Like you said, Oran, I think it’s worth confirming what gave them the confidence to come all the way here before making a move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oran thought it over, then surprisingly nodded without resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say you can beat hard workers and geniuses, but never someone with good instincts. Do as you like.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s there to thank me for? That was the rule from the start. Until we pass through the Red Mountains, we follow your decisions absolutely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked at him with a rather surprised expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True, they had agreed on that rule, but he hadn’t expected Oran to follow it so obediently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That reaction seemed to irk Oran a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke, looking slightly indignant:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s with that look? Did you think I was some kind of rogue who doesn’t care about rules or anything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… I mean, you are, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a misunderstanding, brother. The only rules I break are the Empire’s unjust laws.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most people would call that kind of person a rogue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gave a half-hearted response to Oran’s protests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You did understand that, right? Honestly, when you think about it, I’m a pretty decent citizen……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oran’s voice trailed off like a warped tape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that odd moment, a question mark appeared in Oscar’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A suffocating pressure suddenly descended, and a chilling cold crept up his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goosebumps instantly rose on his arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The others?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar quickly looked at the three of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But their expressions remained the same as usual—they were all just going about their business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant… he was the only one sensing this presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where is it coming from?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trying to locate the source, Oscar’s eyes turned to the area shown in the screen—through the “Eye of the Sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the clearing where the black-fingered ones were gathered, a figure appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man with a wolf’s face, his body covered in dark blue fur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar almost mistook him for an ordinary beastkin—until he noticed the pair of horns jutting from his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone made the identity clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A demon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A high-ranking demon with that characteristic blank face and emotionless gaze began scanning the area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Level 7 middle-aged man, who had carried an air of intimidation, and the laughing man who had been chuckling constantly—both now bowed their heads deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wolf-like demon asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Are you the humans I was supposed to meet?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Y-Yes. We are followers of the First Finger, and under Lord Yuribe’s guidance, we have come to cross into the Grey Zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Are all of you here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Yes. There are 27 of us in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Hmm, in that case……\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one called Yuribe suddenly lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiver!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the same instant Oscar felt their eyes meet—though it was probably just his imagination—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Those must be the rats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon vanished from the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar didn’t hesitate another second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted aloud:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it! Retreat!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his hunch was correct, the demon was at least of Count rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If we fight now……’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Victory wasn’t certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as the demon turned and veered off their original path—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deafening explosion tore through the air, and red sand scattered forward like shrapnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes trembled as he stared at the red dust falling like rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How amusing. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a meeting like this……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still an emotionless voice, yet laced with undeniable excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure if you’re enemies…… but this is going to be fun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1856,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","f816df066057bb6cdd02a89d2cd30f951b86dacf12063cfecfba85e0bdd373c3","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-208","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-206",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]