[{"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-224":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},1334670,1778,"Chapter 224","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-224",224,"\u003Cp>Chapter 224: The Way Back (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Eye Thief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even while crouching, it had a massive build.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it straightened its hunched back, it would stand at an imposing 2 meters and 40 centimeters—an A-rank threat-level monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three of them, who encountered it without warning, were caught off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever you do, don’t take your eyes off it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Oran’s urgent warning, Kaya let out a short gasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is unexpected. Didn’t they say that thing only appears near the third peak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s what I heard too. It hasn’t even come near its own territory. Why the hell…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be targeting us because it sensed our side has weakened?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shook his head, having listened to the two talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Edna.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she currently held the strength equivalent to a child, that didn’t mean she had become truly human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inherent aura of a dragon was still within her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even for a monster, anything that rivals level 8 in power would naturally have high intelligence.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If that’s the case, it made sense that it left its territory to seize this rare opportunity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, a dragon heart was a treasure even high-ranking demons coveted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Kaya continued to stare at the unmoving Eye Thief, she asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it impossible to kill it in one strike while it’s not moving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If the Tower Master and you were still in good condition, then maybe, with me adding my strength. But with just me and my brother? It’s not happening.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Oran’s previous explanation, the Eye Thief enters a “frenzied” state if attacked while still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It becomes capable of moving freely for about 10 seconds even under direct observation, and its speed doubles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In short, unless we’re absolutely sure we can kill it with the first strike, it’s better not to attack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what other options do we have…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the principle behind its immobilization?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Oscar’s question, Oran—still locking eyes with the Eye Thief—asked back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean by that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That monster can’t move when someone is looking at it, right? I want to know exactly what counts as ‘looking’ in this context.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Oran and Kaya’s eyes lit up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could see what Oscar was getting at.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, are you talking about that thing you showed last time? Something like... the Eye of the Sky?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. If that thing reacts to indirect magical observation, then escaping might be easier than we thought.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Eye Thief’s mechanism worked just by being observed—not necessarily by a biological eye—then the plan was plausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many strange phenomena in this world, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if it only worked through direct exposure to a living eye, things would be trickier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m in. It seems worth trying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you use that spell right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar answered and snapped his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A geometric magic circle formed in midair, and a completed sphere shot into the night sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Eye of the Sky』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A screen appeared in front of Oscar’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside it was the world as seen through a magically manifested, white-glowing eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zoom in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He zoomed in on the Eye Thief’s location, and its entire body came into clear focus on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon confirming this, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m going to count to three. When I do, I want you both to close your eyes for exactly one second, then reopen them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait. Just in case, you should step to the back. I’ll stand at the front.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Kaya nodded and took a few steps backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar confirmed their positions and began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m counting now. One... two... three.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked only through the screen, never directly at the Eye Thief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the other two having their eyes closed, there was no one directly observing the monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the Eye Thief didn’t budge on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It works.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, even indirect magical observation was enough to activate its immobilization trait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one second passed, the two opened their eyes and swallowed nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did... it work?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To their uncertain questions, Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, it appears to be functioning properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy crap! You're a genius!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oran shouted with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him, this monster had been a living nightmare—and now they finally had a way to escape it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya, who let out a sigh of relief, also asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then how long can you maintain that spell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I focused solely on keeping it up, about a week...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was also responsible for real-time detection and navigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t devote all his mana to just the Eye of the Sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Realistically, in our current situation... 18 hours is probably the max.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“18 hours, huh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya muttered, recalling the distance they had traveled the day before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s not quite enough. That won’t get us across the entire mountain range. But maybe we can put enough distance between us... Think it’ll stop chasing us then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. That thing won’t give up until its target crosses the range completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having already experienced it once, Oran spoke with certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But, if we move into a completely different peak, it probably won’t follow us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A different peak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. More precisely, a different disaster’s territory. From what I know, these disasters avoid encroaching on each other’s domains. Except for the one called ‘the Devourer of the Mountain’—that one's the exception.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the only option is the first peak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, they were at the second peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the third peak was the Eye Thief’s own territory, so heading there was meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you sure? If we make it to the first peak, it’ll stop chasing us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t tested it personally, but that’s what I heard back then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar backed Oran’s opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve also heard that the calamities around here don’t invade each other’s territory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If even you say so… fine. How long will it take to reach the first peak from here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, just a sec.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He used Sky Eye to estimate the rough distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirteen hours. Even at a relaxed pace, we should make it in fifteen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That just about fits within the time limit for the magic to last.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the group’s current pace, it would take at least two to three days to descend the Red Ridge completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar couldn’t possibly maintain Sky Eye for that long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, the best they could do was get to the first peak and try to shake off the Eye Thief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if, worst-case scenario, it still follows us after we reach the first peak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya’s voice carried a sharp and chilling edge to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, neither Oscar nor Oran could answer immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That truly would be the worst-case scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s just hope that doesn’t happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Yeah, let’s hope.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya slowly nodded her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Edna, wake up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Mm, five more minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, really, you have to get up.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh… okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he shook her body firmly, Edna groggily pushed herself upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She muttered like an office worker who stayed up until 4 a.m. reading gossip and was now dragging herself to work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…My condition seems worse than expected. It feels like I’ve only slept ten minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It has only been ten minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shot him a resentful look, as if asking, Then why did you wake me up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling a twinge of guilt, Oscar almost told her to sleep five more minutes—but he steeled himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Eye Thief showed up. One of the five calamities of the Red Ridge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought this was the second peak?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something unexpected happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s because of me, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edna’s sleepy gaze disappeared instantly, replaced with her usual stoic expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s likely targeting my heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think so too. But I think I found a way to deal with it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Oscar explained his plan using Sky Eye, her eyes widened—just a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. So, get up quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood. By the way, brushing my teeth…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t need to. You did that ten minutes ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Edna got up, Oscar went into Sasha’s tent and carried her out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed her off to Kaya, who carried her on her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are we all set?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Edna’s ready to go too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ve felt this since we first met in Baran City, but for someone with such a pretty face, you sure aren’t afraid of anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing. Never mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya gave a wry smile and shifted her gaze to the hovering screen in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, I just have to keep my eyes on this screen now, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar adjusted the screen’s position so she could see it more easily and gave a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please don’t take your eyes off it. If you feel the urge to blink, call someone to take over, or alternate blinking each eye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it okay for you to move while watching it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Um… thanks for worrying, but I am a Master, you know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya looked awkward, as if she wasn’t used to people being concerned about her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Fair enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Carrying someone while climbing a mountain and staring at a screen the whole time would be impossible for most people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Kaya was a Level 7 Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if her magic had been weakened by the aftermath of the World Liberation, the strength, stamina, and balance she had built over the years hadn’t vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. Then I’ll leave the Tower Master in your hands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After one final glance at the group, Oscar began to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, they didn’t bother putting out the fire or packing up the tents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Sky Eye already active, it was better to move as quickly as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked, Oran kept glancing behind him nervously—but the Eye Thief didn’t follow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after they had gained a kilometer of distance did he click his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, who would’ve thought it’d be this easy to deal with that thing… No, I guess that’s not true. Without my little brother, we wouldn’t even be dreaming of this. So I guess it’s not easy after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was just good timing. We happened to have a spell that works in this situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We usually call that ‘skill.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar smiled softly at the compliment and asked, glancing back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How’s it going, Kaya? Are your eyes okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problems. The Eye Thief’s still quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good to hear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The journey went more smoothly than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after about three hours of walking, Kaya suddenly muttered something in confusion from the back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, Oscar rushed over, and Kaya spoke with a doubtful expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not sure… Maybe it’s because I’ve been staring at the same screen for so long, but something feels… off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Off? In what way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This guy. I’m wondering if he was standing right there to begin with.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar immediately looked at the screen, and his eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he last checked before they left, the Eye Thief had been standing under a tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, it had moved just slightly past that tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one possible conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s moving—very slowly. So slowly that if you just keep staring at the screen, you wouldn’t even notice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh. But if all it’s doing is changing its position slightly, doesn’t that mean nothing’s really happening?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, for some reason, the uneasy feeling in his chest refused to go away.\u003C\u002Fp>",1898,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","e00fb1611d967d0709b8cba0a3e973713640af0b81ec65064a99575c3ef476df","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-225","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-223",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]