[{"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-230":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},1334676,1778,"Chapter 230","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-230",230,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 230: An Old Promise (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take my hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edna extended her hand to Sasha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lake of emotions, unlike when Edna had entered, was now calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sasha, staring at that hand, gently shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, but… could you give me a little time alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For what reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if I leave now, I won’t be much help anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she had been freed from the whispers of her Heart Demon, that didn’t mean it had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if unseen and unheard, the demon in one’s heart always remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, she had yet to break through level 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s precisely why she wanted to see it through to the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking down at the pitch-black portion sunk at the bottom of the lake, Sasha spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if I can say a proper farewell to that thing… then it’ll be a different story.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it wasn’t just about escaping the Heart Demon, but overcoming it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would gain a clear clue—perhaps even a revelation—that could push her to level 8.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edna hesitated briefly before opening her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…There isn’t much time left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know. But thanks to you, Edna, I think I’ve realized what I was missing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha smiled softly as she made her request.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It won’t take long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was indeed a new sense of stability in her that hadn’t been there before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of watching her, Edna gave a small nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be waiting outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment she exited Sasha’s inner world, Edna let out a light gasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kaya, who had quickly approached, frowned upon seeing Sasha still unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did it fail…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. It succeeded. I made it safely into Sasha’s inner world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the odds had been lower for failure, it could only be described as luck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she steadied her breathing, Edna bit her lip as she looked at Oscar, who was still locked in desperate battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But from here on… it’s up to her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Sasha would return with from the bottom of that lake depended entirely on her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the bottom of the lake of emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That black, smoke-like substance rippling below was uninviting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Sasha, her face set with resolve, slowly reached out toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black smoke stretched out like seaweed and engulfed her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, she found herself in a space filled with pitch black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where… is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter where she looked, all she could see was that dark color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively, Sasha understood—it was negative emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just looking at it made her stomach churn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, sensing a presence in the darkness, Sasha gathered her mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Light.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A small orb of light flickered from her fingertip, pushing back the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that’s when she saw—someone standing in front of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked exactly like her, but the atmosphere was completely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was her Heart Demon—the demon of her heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You came?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart Demon smiled softly as it spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though it was called a smile, it was twisted beyond recognition—a sneer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I didn’t think you’d show. I figured you’d run away again, just like always.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, cat got your tongue now that you’re face to face with me? Are you scared again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha slowly shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not scared. It’s just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I feel sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart Demon’s face momentarily went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never in its existence had it expected to hear that from its own conscious self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry? To me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Like you said, I always ran away. You were born out of that disappointment, weren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart Demon made a bored face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re not wrong. I’m a creature made from all your weakness and negativity. So what? Don’t tell me you think a little apology’s going to make us hug it out and call it a day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course not.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good. At least you’re not that stupid. Then go ahead—what excuse have you prepared this time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No excuses this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m weak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know I’m still lacking a lot. I’m still scared of so many things. Even right now, I want to turn and run from this place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart Demon’s lips twisted upward, unmistakably mocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you do know. Then why are you here? Why not run away again, crying all by yourself like before?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because I’m tired of that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sick of crying alone, running away, being anxious all the time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a depth in Sasha’s eyes now that hadn’t been there before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart Demon narrowed its eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha was looking straight at it—without flinching, without avoiding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing her own weakness head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I used to hate admitting that I was weak. I thought that if I did, the weight of the White Tower Master’s crown would crush me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that wasn’t true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of her refusal to admit weakness, she had kept running, and in doing so, had only pushed herself closer to the edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So? You’re just going to accept your weakness and call it a day?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I’m going to keep moving forward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart Demon had whispered to her that she didn’t deserve the title of Tower Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That any one of her fellow disciples would’ve led the White Tower better than her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Everything you whispered to me until now—honestly, you were probably right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because deep down, she had believed it herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that’s why the Heart Demon could whisper it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up until now, she had been too scared to admit and face it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what if I fail?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone faces crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if you lose to it, as long as you have something to lean on, you can always get back up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What an incredibly pathetic mindset.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heart Demon sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘So what if you fail’? Go ahead, then. Fail all you want. But with that kind of light, shallow mindset, you’ll never grow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I can grow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is growth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some say it’s being better than the person you were yesterday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then who decides what “better” means?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And by whose standard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was mistaken.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha had always believed that a mage’s growth came only through an increase in mana or the refinement of technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So she cut down on sleep to squeeze in more mana breathing, used every spare moment to study and train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had worked tirelessly to improve her skills and never missed a chance to review what she had learned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Master.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that she thought about it, her master—so incomparably strong—had always carried a sense of calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had assumed that was simply the leisure of the powerful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But it wasn’t.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Edna, the one who had watched him more closely than anyone else, who spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Oscar is a strong person. But the reason he's truly strong is because, when necessary, he can lean on others without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to her, she was able to realize something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason her master had always seemed so strong was because he didn't try to fill himself to the brim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He left room for someone else to fill in what he lacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was something she could never even dream of doing, when she hadn’t left even a sliver of space within herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Failure wasn’t allowed. I thought the only way to grow was to force things—pile them on, plaster over every crack.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That mindset had worked, to a point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least until she had reached the threshold of level 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But breaking past the human limits—ascending to the realm of level 8—was something that method could never achieve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In fact, I had to let go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let go of obsession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let go of torment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, even let go of herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is the true meaning of Wu Wei—non-action through effortless action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[PR\u002FN: Taoist concept, doesn't mean literally doing nothing, but rather acting in a way that is natural, spontaneous, and in harmony with the flow of the universe]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha let out a breath, a weight lifted from her chest, leaving a refreshing clarity behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt almost foolish for having struggled so hard, when the answer was so simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heart demon, who had been silently watching her, asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, have you grown compared to yesterday?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha answered without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I may not be able to prove it. But I was definitely less shaken than I was yesterday. My chest feels lighter, my head clearer. I’ve found some peace in my heart. And I’ve gained enough courage to face the parts of myself I used to hate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heart demon nodded quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, it smiled—just slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, there was no trace of mockery in its expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. You really don’t seem like the coward you were yesterday. You’ve grown. No doubt about it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it gave its acknowledgment, the heart demon slowly began to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with it, the pitch-black space around them began to crack and crumble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were apologizing earlier. Pick one—either thank me or say sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heart demon closed its eyes slowly and dissolved into smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was likely no lingering regret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its face held nothing but relief and peace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as the space completely collapsed, cracks also began to form on Sasha’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a spear of wind flew toward him, Oscar yanked on the thread of space without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this battle, there was no room for the luxury of thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to rely purely on instinct just to survive—things were that dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff… huff…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sweat and blood dripped from Oscar’s entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Silmarion had changed not at all since the start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This fight could probably go on for days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So damn strong…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already exhausted his mana—his world-liberation spell was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even his [Blink] spell could only be used three or four more times at best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gave a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, my life was just a bonus anyway…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His only regret was not being able to protect the people who had come all this way with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was then that Silmarion murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The fae…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, yeah. Trying to destroy again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Top priority… elimination requested…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a line Oscar had never heard since the start of their battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just as he sensed something was off—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive surge of energy erupted from behind, where Kaya’s group had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What the—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>White mana shot up into the sky, like a pillar of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, watching the scene with trembling eyes, bit his lip unconsciously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the mark—a new 8th-level grand mage had appeared in this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve worked so hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A gentle voice came from beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its owner reached out and placed a hand on his sweat-drenched shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From here on, I’ll take over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar lowered his head, not wanting to cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it wasn’t just relief that filled him—it was something deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just witnessed a child, once no bigger than his hand, rise to the level of 8.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now, that same child was strong enough to protect everyone in his place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His chest swelled with overwhelming emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m counting on you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gave a small nod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a massive spear of wind came flying toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really now…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack-crack-crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear froze in midair and shattered before it could reach Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn't pierce through Sasha’s white mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her warm smile now gone, Sasha spoke in a voice that had turned slightly cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How rude. Do you even know who you’re talking to?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Destroy…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a calm voice, powerful mana surged from Sasha’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“World Liberation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One Thought, Pure Land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where once the pillar of light had stood, a white tower now rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bloody mountain trail where Oscar had struggled was now a lush green field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the world she had created before when facing Yuribe, this one had a whole new level of clarity—its resolution and completeness on a different scale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mad Wind Silmarion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The master of this world, Sasha Maestro, spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll end your suffering as quickly as I can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2033,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","c01eb84205af19682f35eee52791a9c61f945a2a2b45a459b15b2391594779c1","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-231","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-229",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]