[{"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-239":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},1334685,1778,"Chapter 239","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-239",239,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 239: Ascension (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Backstage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Yellow Tower's demonstration concluded, the roaring applause that followed seemed endless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elder Schwein, secretly peeking out at the crowd's reaction, gulped nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘As expected of the Yellow Tower… I didn’t think they’d be this well prepared…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nothing short of fitting to call it the next-generation stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was as if they were proclaiming to the world that, while everyone may now benefit from magi-tech, the true masters of it were still them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They ended the presentation with nothing but pre-recorded footage…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Schwein had never seen such a bold presentation before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What excited the audience wasn’t just the train itself, but the polished, stylish way it was presented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Schwein’s expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe I’ve been too complacent…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had simply thought that completing the airship and unveiling it would be enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But after watching the Yellow Tower’s performance, a wave of fear swept over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he had prepared was a single airship—nothing more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, the significance of the airship is enormous, but still…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the White Night Festival, the atmosphere on-site is also critical.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schwein began to doubt whether he could overturn the kind of excitement that had just been stirred up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing his unease, Oscar spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you really that nervous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I am. In fact, I should be asking you—why aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I just have a strong heart.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shrugged, looking unbothered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure, their stage was sleek. Gotta admit—it was a bit shocking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was likely the work of Tony Havertz, the Tower Master’s apprentice and head of the magi-tech department. He’s long been hailed as a marketing genius, known for creating groundbreaking presentations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony Havertz…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That mage he had run into with Kudel in the artificial island corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A marketing genius, huh? He definitely lives up to the title. I guess tech like that will only evolve from here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rumor has it that theater and education sectors are already racing to adopt similar video techniques.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Theater and education, huh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That would mean, in the near future, people might watch plays or attend lessons through these projections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagining that future, Oscar was genuinely impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Yellow Tower really did change the times. Stuff like this was unimaginable when I was a kid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You had access to magi-tech even when you were young, though?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar chuckled awkwardly, then changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, my point is, we shouldn’t be intimidated by stuff like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can I not be? This presentation… everything rides on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His emotions rising slightly, Schwein clenched both fists tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they failed to deliver at this stage, the White Tower could be expelled from the Four Great Towers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked at him and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve built an airship, something unbelievable—and you’re still worried?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I am. It’s not just us—the Yellow and Black Towers also unveiled something incredible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Black Tower showcased a machine golem equipped with AI, capable of learning and defeating mages on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yellow Tower, through the use of video, seemed years ahead of the others in presentation and technology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast, all the White Tower had prepared was one airship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schwein’s shoulders slumped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure, if we go by the sheer impact of the technology, ours might lead… but in terms of presentation, the gap is undeniable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his worries continued, Oscar spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s do it too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Do what, exactly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stage direction. We’ve got magic—we can figure something out, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Oscar’s naive suggestion, Schwein let out a bitter chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it were that easy, I wouldn’t be this anxious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Night Festival’s rules for magical presentations are stricter than they appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over the past 19 events, there have been all sorts of ambitious attempts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Schwein listed some prime examples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know why only up to three mages are allowed on stage at once? That’s because, during the 2nd Festival, the Red Tower flooded the stage with over a hundred mages casting flashy spells to steal the spotlight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sounds like something those firepower-obsessed Red Tower folks would do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then during the 3rd Festival, a 7th-level mage from the Blue Tower put on a major show. Since then, mages ranked 7th level or higher are banned from using magic on stage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant Elder Schwein, a 7th-level mage himself, was prohibited from casting onstage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rules were tighter than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a rulebook somewhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should be over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar returned after briefly flipping through the rulebook in the corner and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elder, just to clarify—everything not explicitly prohibited in this rulebook is allowed, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Well, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had Schwein reluctantly nodded than—thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar slammed the rulebook shut with a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it’s settled. Leave the presentation to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean you’ll do it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. First of all…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning his head, Oscar gazed at the massive airship still hidden beneath a tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He murmured to himself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll get rid of that thing first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the applause died down, the Emperor posed a question himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve already had a chance to ride the train during its trial run, so I know well how useful it is. But there’s one drawback, isn’t there? Have you resolved it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The train’s one critical weakness—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Emperor pointed it out, Tony Havertz responded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty must be referring to the rails.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Trains, after all, can only run on tracks that have been laid in advance. Isn’t that right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You're correct. As you said, that's still an unresolved issue.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then we would have to lay tracks across the entire continent. What about the enormous costs involved?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We intend to cover those through shared contributions for public infrastructure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ludwig's eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words sounded plausible enough, but in essence, it meant they'd be collecting money from someone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, first, we plan to install stations—train stations—near territories that contribute to the fund. From the territory's perspective, hosting a station would be highly beneficial.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of benefit would that be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, ahem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearing his throat, Tony Havertz spoke in a firm yet persuasive voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, any territory with a train station will naturally become a transportation and logistics hub for the surrounding region. People and goods will gather, commercial zones will form naturally, and the territory can expect increased tax revenue and influence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, having a train station means possessing a faster and more reliable supply network than any other city. In emergencies, troop deployment and urgent supply transport would offer significant advantages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Economic revitalization, and a fast, stable supply line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a one-time payment, the benefits were more than worth it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the Emperor made sure to confirm:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This contribution—do you pay it just once?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. A single payment entitles them to all those benefits permanently.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ludwig briefly closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected in the imperial court’s internal meetings, the plan adopted a structure where responsibilities were dispersed among the territories and cities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t feel like they were simply shifting their burden onto others—it resembled mutual benefit, even cooperation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the reactions from high-ranking nobles seated in the guest section weren’t all that negative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll need to run the numbers once we return to our territories, but the framework itself seems sound.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I agree. Especially the idea of attaching a new economic 'lung' to stagnant areas—that's quite attractive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And if the contribution really is a one-time deal... then all that’s left is to negotiate the price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the nobles reacting like that, there was no reason for the Emperor to oppose it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The commercialization of trains would ultimately contribute to the Empire’s growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there was one thing bothering him…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From magitech to trains—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yellow Tower's explosive progress was soaring unchecked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, the imperial family had a firm grip on their leash, but there was no guarantee that would still be true in 10 or 20 years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It would be nice if a balancing power emerged…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the various magic towers all specialized in different fields, so relying on them wasn’t realistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a lingering sense of unease, the Emperor slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I look forward to the day the Yellow Tower’s iron horses run across the continent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You won’t be disappointed, Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tony Havertz offered a confident smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mood among the White Tower mages had deflated like dried fish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one-two punch from the Black and Yellow Towers had simply been too strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So strong, in fact, that even always-positive Fran couldn't hide her expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is insane. We’re up next after that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh, why did we have to be last…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, no one even remembered how the earlier towers performed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That might’ve actually been a good thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If people forgot you, at least they wouldn’t compare you to the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is what they mean by ‘better to get it over with early,’ huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If only the Black and Yellow Tower’s order had been reversed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, the Black Tower’s next-gen golems were the more advanced tech.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Yellow Tower's overwhelming stage presentation had completely overshadowed even that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nervously crossing her arms and bouncing a leg, Veronica asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, do they even score stage production? Isn’t this supposed to be about the tech?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it is a festival. The citizens’ votes have a fair bit of weight, too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, it was advantageous to nail both tech and presentation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, something floated gently through the air and landed squarely in Veronica’s ponytail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What the heck?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me see that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran reached over and plucked out the paper airplane stuck in her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She unfolded it to reveal something scrawled inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Congrats on being kicked out of the Four Great Towers. Keep your eyes down from now on.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who the hell—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica shot up, furious, but of course there was no way to know who had thrown it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fuming, she sat back down and muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s definitely that jerk from the Red Tower we bumped into earlier. I’m beating him up after this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no proof he did it, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran spoke quietly, crumpling the paper with a gloomy expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And... well, it does kinda look bad for us right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, you never know. Elder Schwein might’ve prepared something amazing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I wouldn’t count on it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A light sigh and voice drifted from the back row.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned their heads and saw Berdi Nakwind, a 5th-level mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He opened his mouth and explained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Elder Schwein isn’t bad at speaking, but he’s not exactly great either. He gets really nervous during public events.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, he wasn’t suited for presentations like this—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially not after a spectacle like the last one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone looked visibly gloomier at those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some even clasped their hands together, silently praying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the lights went out, plunging the hall into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every sense heightened, a voice rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Humanity, over thousands of years, has claimed 38% of the land and 62% of the seas on this world. But throughout that long history, there remains one domain we’ve yet to conquer—not even 1% of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was soothing, almost hypnotic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind of voice that made you want to keep listening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And now, we invite you to that very place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enchanting voice faded, replaced by a warm breeze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sky beyond borders layered itself atop the exhibition hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1919,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","c0cc9743047b6e1acc4923ff27049b7d62462d36b713e9086c2eded45db2b834","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-240","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-238",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]