[{"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-254":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},1334765,1778,"Chapter 254","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-254",254,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 254: Blooming the Flower (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I could have won.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Tower Master’s room, left alone with him, Sasha muttered with her lips pouting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She seemed dissatisfied about being eliminated from the candidacy without even getting a proper chance to compete.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, Master must have his reasons. So what’s the reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you feel anything after seeing Lloyd’s world?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Sasha fell into thought, her brow furrowed more and more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pressed that spot flat with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t frown. You’ll get wrinkles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, um. Well, the world felt kind of desolate? Barren? It was like that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Doesn’t suit him, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t fit magic, but… if you think about his past… it might fit a little?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she said, Lloyd’s youth was unfortunate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been driven to the edge, alone, desperate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The current world seemed to reflect those feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it mustn’t be so.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A world isn’t a box under the bed where you stash away flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there are countless views on world liberation, with as many papers scattered about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But a certain archmage who once reached level 9 in his past life knows:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fundamentally, a liberated world takes shape to fulfill the caster’s desires and yearnings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that sense, Lloyd’s world was strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eternal Bloom, was it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A world holding endless blossoming, where closed flowers bloom again, without end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike the thousands of flowers ready to bloom, the world itself was utterly barren.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soil filled with dry sand, a sky with not a speck of light, scorching heat, no wind to stir.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every condition was akin to poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if you say it mustn’t be… what can you even do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha tilted her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A world that’s already complete can’t just be swapped out somewhere else. Even if you go to the Sage of the Stars, I’m pretty sure it’s impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t exchange it, but you can change it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People often liken the human heart to reeds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some mock that as spinelessness, but Oscar thought otherwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It means it’s flexible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heart is supple and formless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why it can become anything, if one wills it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like the wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean… depending on how one sets their mind, the world itself can change?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To some extent, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, even such change has limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning, once a world is liberated, its fundamental background and structure cannot be altered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For example, my sky cannot become a sea, and your grassland cannot become a sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… I don’t really get it. If that’s the case, isn’t it meaningless?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally, yes. But if the subject is Lloyd, it’s different.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flowers he deals with are extremely sensitive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind, light, soil, temperature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when all conditions are perfectly met do the best flowers bloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘One week left.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that time, to help Lloyd bloom the perfect flower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was Oscar’s goal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Lloyd’s training, there was something to take care of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sending Uncle Emperor back to the capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation had been urgent, so he had called him here, but the man couldn’t remain away from his post for ten days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m truly grateful this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For no one else but you, how could I not come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze upon him was the same as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eyes filled with trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be trusted by another is always both a burden and a source of strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll escort you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, Ludwig, clasped his hands behind his back, looking at the gaping open space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced around as though stalling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting, Oscar blinked and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not going?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I should go. I must, but……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gazed at the open space with reluctance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can’t remember the last time I left the palace like this. Somehow, I feel a pang of regret……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does he want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then would you like to tour the southern coast? Or perhaps the elves’ Great Forest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hrmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently not the answer he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narrowing his eyes, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me… you want to return by airship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, an airship? Can I return by that? I never thought of it, but yes, what a way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor brightened immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You could have just said so from the start.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I too have appearances to maintain. At my age I can’t just whine like a child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Then you shouldn’t have hinted at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t mutter, I hear you. Just lead the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they reached the dwarves’ workshop on the 13th floor, a ruckus filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dwarves, roped to their waists, hung onto the Nospelra as they carried out maintenance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ohh, up close it’s even grander.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor’s eyes sparkled like a child’s as he looked at the airship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing them, Hagor approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Been a while, Oscar. And this is……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes widened at Ludwig.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, are you Ludwig?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hagor? I knew it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two already knew each other, having worked on the Sky Project in the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor showed rare excitement, shaking hands with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“From the moment I saw that elegant hull at the White Night Festival, you came to mind. My eyes weren’t wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eh, it’s nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Hagor brushed it off, the twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed his delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All dwarves loved hearing praise for their work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, could something like this also be implemented?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What sort of thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, their chemistry clicked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally so, since both had shared the dream of soaring in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, I’ll reflect as much as possible. Rare chance to get such feedback.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And I too enjoyed this time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the chat wound down, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hagor, can the airship be flown to the capital?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. By now the maintenance is… ah, finished. No problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then please escort His Majesty back to the capital.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excellent. The more flight data, the better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until the White Night Festival, the airship had been kept secret, so they had only gathered data by hovering inside the 13th floor to balance the hull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nospelra, prepare for takeoff!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prepare for takeoff!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Hagor’s shout, dwarves bustled about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon a wall of the workshop swung open like a door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The airship, resting on rails, slowly moved outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My heart races. More than the day I ascended the throne.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much did he love airships?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gave a brief explanation on deck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I said before, the Nospelra is a prototype.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what will change?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The goal is to build seating like the luxury cruises.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since airports in each major city would take months to build, they planned to use that time to enhance onboard facilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Freight transport, passenger transport, and mixed. These three types will be produced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does it vary that much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Passenger-focused hulls will be more luxurious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. But isn’t it a loss to carry many passengers? Wouldn’t guild cargo bring more profit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why we’ll grade the seats.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basic economy seats, pricier business seats, and first-class seats so costly only those of certain status could even dream of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Emperor gave him a knowing look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very like you. It’s almost frightening, like you plan to sweep up all the continent’s wealth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Taxes will be paid faithfully, don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar winked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And of course, for Your Majesty and the imperial family, first-class will always be free.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hrmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who dislikes being treated well?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor laughed like a child as the airship lifted gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few hours later, an overexcited Emperor called again, stealing another hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Oscar wrapped up that conversation, he naturally made his way to the training hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There stood Lloyd, motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edna had yet to arrive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar approached, Lloyd stared at him and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If training was your purpose, you’d have gone to an empty hall. If it was to speak with me, you’d have said so already.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right. I didn’t come to the wrong room, nor to ask you anything specific.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t you hear from the Tower Master? From today, Edna and I will be helping with your training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a pause, Lloyd said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Personally, I think you’ll become an excellent mage. Your growth is quick, your talent remarkable. But as of now, in what way can you possibly help me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Coming from Lloyd—or from an 8th-level mage—that was gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone else might have said “Know your place and get lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve already seen how deep my theoretical knowledge is, haven’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He and Lloyd had debated extensively while researching the Seed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not to boast, but most of those debates ended with Oscar proven right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course I remember. But that was limited to alchemy. I called you in because my knowledge of alchemy was lacking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, so in short you accept my alchemy, but not my magic theory?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Since you insist on putting it that way, I won’t deny it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd exhaled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar Crucian. Right now, every day, every minute, every second matters to me. The Red Tower Master is no lenient opponent. I wish to focus on Edna’s rich instruction.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar answered cheerfully, jerking his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ask me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A question. Anything on magic theory. I’ll answer. If I can’t, I’ll step aside cleanly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd sighed quietly, thinking it wasn’t a bad deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If he can’t even comprehend the question, he’ll give up himself.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, if it was a question worth long contemplation, it could aid his growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After brief thought, Lloyd posed one with generosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are two opposing views on the brief delay between a caster’s controlled mana and its manifestation as magic. Do you think it’s a physical limitation of the mana circuits, or the mage’s lack of ability?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar answered instantly, less than a second after the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most people misunderstand. In truth, there is no delay whatsoever in magic manifestation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd’s eyes widened at the unexpected answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1665,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","4d2b3e37779fd9e58baec877729f3628508016fe21843620fe11bbbe0a0df483","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-16","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-15",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]