[{"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-215":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},1334661,1778,"Chapter 215","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-215",215,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 215: Eternal Moment (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zone 1,999 was a slum so forsaken that even most demons avoided it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a place where those who had hit rock bottom clung to life, unable to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when the residents heard that their former overseer, Yuribe, had become a Count, they responded with indifference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What does that have to do with us, anyway?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That guy oversees dozens of zones. No way he remembers this dump.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’ll probably play king in one of those fancy central districts.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Honestly, if I were him, I wouldn’t live in this shithole either.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as everyone predicted, Yuribe left Zone 1,999 and lived a luxurious life elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then, without warning, he returned—one of his horns severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step. Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yuribe walked through the silent streets, everyone lowered their heads and averted their eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They instinctively knew the wisest course was to stay out of his sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“L-Lord Yuribe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A demon who had been managing the zone in Yuribe’s absence came running, falling flat on his face before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a viscount-level demon who had once dueled Yuribe and, impressed by his strength, pledged loyalty to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘L-Lord Yuribe’s horn…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon’s eyes trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before him stood the demon he had sworn fealty to—one of only eight Counts in the entire demon realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no mistaking the implications of a Count returning with a broken horn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while, Tumash.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I-It’s an honor to see you again, Lord Yuribe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You seem stronger than when I last saw you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve trained relentlessly to live up to your great name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuribe stared down at Tumash with lowered eyes, then asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me something. Did you always hold your neck so stiffly when addressing me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Tumash reflexively replied—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuribe moved a beat faster and stomped on his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood and brain matter splattered the street as Tumash’s skull was crushed like a watermelon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other demons trembled in terror at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘T-Tumash couldn’t even put up a proper defense…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He was said to be the strongest demon in the neighboring zones…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘To think he’d reject a noble title to serve him—only to be killed like that…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweeping his gaze over the fear-stricken demons, Yuribe issued an order:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring me the five strongest viscount-level demons in this zone. Send them to my quarters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying that, Yuribe left the scene and returned to his residence, cursing under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, he remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tumash had always looked at him like that—upright and steadfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d actually admired that stiff yet loyal demeanor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, what mattered was his strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He may have refused a title, but in terms of raw power, he was top-tier among viscounts.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that his horn was severed and his strength weakened, even a backstab could prove fatal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he killed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether or not Tumash harbored any betrayal was irrelevant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What mattered most was his own life—and his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than anything, he had noticed the change in Tumash’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wariness that had once been there was now faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was because Tumash felt closer to him now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps—just perhaps—he looked more beatable without the horn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch. I hate everything about this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled the looks on the demons’ faces as he walked down the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it was just paranoia, but it felt like their lowered heads hid mocking grins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He imagined them sneering, “You’re no Count anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Get out of my world, viscount-level demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all because of what that arrogant human said before parting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words still rang in his ears like a brand that refused to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Arrogant bastard. He called me a viscount-level demon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuribe punched the wall without meaning to, shattering it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even then, the anger roiling inside refused to calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That fool will regret ever uttering such nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was Yuribe—a demon who rose to the rank of Count despite losing his horn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was no lowly human’s equal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calming himself, he washed up and sat down, awaiting his subordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, five viscount-level demons arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps having heard of Tumash’s fate, they all grovelled on the floor without lifting their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Yuribe feel the slightest relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Things have gotten a bit complicated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Do you mean the matter regarding the First Finger and the journey to the mountains?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few days ago, the human known as the First Finger had made a request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked Yuribe to guide his people to the Dragon’s Nest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Normally, I wouldn’t even consider doing a favor for livestock like him…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuribe clicked his tongue, recalling the complicated reasons that compelled him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the others, unaware, began to speak out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, Lord Yuribe. Pay it no mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. So what if things didn’t go smoothly? Humans can’t complain to us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To begin with, I still don’t understand why a Count would personally act for someone like—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuribe interrupted them, voice tinged with fatigue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He may be livestock, but he is competent. The Great Emperor himself ordered us to maintain good relations. No further comments.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An imperial decree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No demon would dare question those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They finally understood why Yuribe had personally gotten involved and fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“While returning from the mountains with the humans, we were ambushed by livestock from another faction. That’s how I lost my horn. By now, they’ve likely entered the demon realm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unforgivable!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To ambush us? Those humans are either stupid or bold.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you command us, we’ll tear them limb from limb and bring them before you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuribe nodded slightly and continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The First Finger said the Emperor himself sent those people to the Dragon’s Nest. They were probably the ones who ambushed me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps it was guilt for lying, but he felt a phantom ache in the horn that shouldn’t even hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Dragon’s Nest… you mean…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. The place where everything has stopped.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place where everything has stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demons who knew what that meant flinched—but only for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. Should we request reinforcements from nearby zones?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. We’ll handle this on our own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuribe shook his head immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two reasons behind his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Those arrogant humans… I hate to admit it, but they are powerful.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could devour them all, he might not only restore his broken horn but surpass his former strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But to do that, I need to reduce the number of mouths to feed. I’ll take the bare minimum… and when it’s over, eliminate them and keep it all to myself.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he had selected only the five strongest viscount-level demons in the zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Public perception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Normally, I should be able to kill mere humans by myself.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after having his horn severed, he couldn’t afford to show any sign of weakness by asking for support from others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he did, people would start disregarding and mocking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuribe, who was fiercely proud, could never allow that to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll give you two hours. Finish your preparations and gather again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon entering the Demon Realm, Sasha wore the goggles Oscar had given her and wrapped a scarf around her nose and mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s because a human body couldn’t handle the polluted air of this land as it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You’re not qualified to inherit the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You almost got everyone killed because you lacked power. Who’s to say it won’t happen again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The position of Tower Master isn’t one where mistakes are allowed. But you already made one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You’re neither human nor fae. No one welcomes you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whispers of a mind demon or endlessly echoed in her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she knew exactly what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s a heart demon... I mustn’t listen to it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—those were words she absolutely must not listen to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the words whispered by the demon pierced her heart like daggers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because, the more she listened, the more they didn’t sound entirely wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...I was lacking, it’s true.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, she’d had some confidence in her own abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she hadn’t reached the 8th level like the other masters of the Four Great Magic Towers,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>for her age, she thought she had attained a fairly high realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that confidence had been utterly shattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By just one demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pride and powerlessness that were broken after encountering that creature weren’t easy to restore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha quietly looked at Oscar, who was walking ahead, finding the path for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Master... he must have fought against beings like that countless times.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not even once had he been defeated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the contrary, demons feared him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, she couldn’t even come close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At one point, she had even blamed her master for that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking that her weakness was because she didn’t know enough high-level spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she knew better than anyone that was just an excuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Some of the previous Tower Masters… with just one high-level spell, they could dominate the world.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it would’ve been nice to have more high-tier magic,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but that wasn’t the root of the issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it because of a lack of effort?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t it either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had worked hard—so hard that she could proudly say it to anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even while taking outside commissions, she would reduce her sleep to study magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then… it really must be…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lack of talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, this doubt had plagued her since childhood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd and Gilliot—her two seniors—were older, yes, but even then,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>their talent had shone brightly, even in her young eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Compared to those two…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was endlessly weak, her talent painfully meager.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in that moment of doubt, the heart demon whispered again, as always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You were the first who should’ve left the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—They left because you felt like a burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—They must regret it now. Realizing it was a mistake to entrust the White Tower to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No, that’s not true…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha shook her head violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had never once desired the position of Tower Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All she had wanted was to be with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she had any selfish desire at all,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it was simply to be worthy of standing beside her two seniors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haah… haah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, she felt as if something were tightening around her chest—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>like being trapped in a flooded room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t breathe properly for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tower Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff, huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gently shook her shoulder and asked with a concerned look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-sorry…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regaining her breath, Sasha nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been a little negligent in physical training, so walking for so long is a bit tough…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That won’t do. A strong mind and magic dwell in a strong body.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ll keep that in mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an awkward smile, she asked in return,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, why did you call me? Did something happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve arrived.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar spoke, he pointed to the area beneath the waterfall they had been walking along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far below the steep cliff, an utterly surreal scene was spread out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The falling water of the waterfall suddenly stopped at a certain point in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the individual droplets were distinctly visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same applied to the rainbow that naturally spread outward,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the tree branches swaying in the wind, and the blades of grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if the very concept of time had been severed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a perfectly frozen world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A place where time itself held its breath—waiting for a visitor that might never come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The meadow visible below—that’s the location marked on the map. The Nest of Edna Sol Laplace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1954,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","94b17bccce85af8d6654c033ad0bdd89b88bf74e0b8e921f8b389b00d9e72078","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-216","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-214",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]