[{"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-261":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},1334781,1778,"Chapter 261","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-261",261,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 261: Days of the White Tower (2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the sudden apology, those amethyst-bright violet eyes stared at him intently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar didn’t look away and continued speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I promised I’d be back after a hundred nights, and I was far too late, wasn’t I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief silence he nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, you were certainly late. You might want to relearn how to count days.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s what you want, I’ll do it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was an oddly sulky air about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar sensed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s sulking already!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the other person’s perspective, feeling betrayed would be natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, just so there’s no misunderstanding: I don’t sulk. I’m not a child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……of course.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could he lift the knot of resentment in this fellow’s heart?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar thought for a moment, then spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The new world is amazing. And Sydney—wasn’t that the flower you used to raise?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd merely nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think you taught yourself magic and can stand toe-to-toe with the Red Tower Master at your age. Your talent surpasses mine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……It’s not that much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, really — that’s exactly right about you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The violet eyes slid over his face, as if confirming sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd’s expression softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arms that had been folded like a strong fortress relaxed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……There’s one thing I’m curious about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ask anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar leaned forward confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mage prepares; he had been pacing the hall to be ready to answer whatever question might come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where do I rank?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many people know your identity — where do I stand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Umm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a question from the expected set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flustered, Oscar quickly sorted through names in his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Those who know my identity are surely,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1. Silaphrion, King of the Wind Spirits, Spirit of Stillness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2. Gordin, King of the Dwarves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>3. The Sage of the Stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>4. Ado Vail, the White Tower’s first Tower Master and my second master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>5. Sasha, the youngest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>6. Edna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>7. His Majesty the Emperor.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh. That was more than he expected. Saying, “You’re eighth,” wouldn’t come easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course you’re third. After Sasha and His Majesty, you’re next.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirits, dwarves, sentient remnants, dragons — those weren’t humans, strictly speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd’s brow creased slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sounded puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about Edna? Isn’t she someone who knows your identity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s a dragon. She mustn’t meddle in human affairs, so exclude her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are there others you’ve excluded that way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharp kid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quick on the uptake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar neither confirmed nor denied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply lowered his eyes and smiled wryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yeah, I get it. It’s hard to believe someone who couldn’t even keep one promise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That wasn’t the point of my question. Of course I believe you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. If I don’t believe my master, who would I believe?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks for saying that. Anyway — you’re the third person who knows my identity.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rank pleased Lloyd; he chewed the idea over slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third… I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, and before I said that, you were actually the first to deduce my identity on your own.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact Silaphrion, the Sage of the Stars, and Master Ado had deduced it earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But telling Lloyd he was first made him finally grin a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was the first…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yep, you’re the first. Honestly I was surprised. It’s never happened before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry if I surprised you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, being perceptive is nothing to apologize for.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the conversation reaching that point, Lloyd’s sulky face became docile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything else you want to know? Like how I came back to life?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not curious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Why not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were the greatest mage in history. Of course resurrection would be possible for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did this kid imagine him to be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar smiled awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd looked at him with a gentle smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You told me before: ‘Welcome home.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Oscar and returned that soft smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d like to say the same to you. Master, welcome home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That greeting made Oscar smile for no reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before it got awkward, he stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Where?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To the Tower Master’s chamber.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now Sasha would be pacing and eager for the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked at the three before him: Sasha, Lloyd, and even Edna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These were everyone in the White Tower who currently knew his identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh. Seeing it like this…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt a little reassured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two level-8 mages and a dragon — with that backing, no force on the continent would dare ignore the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Phew, I’m glad the talk went well,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha breathed in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd gave her a sidelong look and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try not to act too much. It makes it too easy for enemies to see through you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, today I’m just not in it! I’m normally a great actor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How curious. To be out of practice for twenty-six years and still have poor performance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, Edna!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I really that bad at acting? Be honest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If judged by normal human standards, you’d score about an eight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha looked astonished at the surprisingly high score.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd asked quietly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s the scale out of?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One hundred.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s impossible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha, who got a terrible 8 out of 100 for acting, refused to accept reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar watched with a fond smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Brings back old memories.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, simply watching his pupils play would make time fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Now if only I can find Gilliot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his mutter the noisy room fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three pairs of eyes turned to him and he apologized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, sorry. Didn’t mean to kill the mood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the awkward pause Lloyd asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sasha, since the subject came up — why did Gilliot leave the White Tower?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How would I know? At best I only know the rumors.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pushed out her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Apparently Gilliot had one day taken the grimoire Wind of Ruin and left the Tower without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind of Ruin… It was violent enough, but its destructive power was extraordinary,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd said, rubbing his chin gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar, why wasn’t Wind of Ruin listed among the High Spells?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, about that….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar answered with a slightly awkward expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t even know which spell you call ‘Wind of Ruin.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha stammered, wide-eyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s a White Tower spell, don’t you know all of them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s a well-known High Spell, of course I’d know it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Wind of Ruin was not a High Spell of the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That made it understandable that he didn’t know everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tower’s records were vast; it would take decades just to read them all, so claiming to know everything was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All right. Since we’re on the topic, let’s take a look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar breathed magic into the records Edna had returned to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A vast archive floated up like a projection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow… is all this really White Tower material?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. The centuries of history the Tower compiled that we reclaimed from beyond the Red Range.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar moved his hands busily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bright screens shuffled until one floated up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Found it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wind of Ruin.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar scanned the entry quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He winced and made a short sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd asked cautiously,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you all right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not great.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? What is it? Is it bad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Both — there’s good news and bad news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha and Lloyd exchanged looks and answered in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell us the good news first!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Start with the bad news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Typical responses based on personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked at Sasha and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you were a bit quicker, I’ll give you the good news first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, Wind of Ruin is indeed a formidable spell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The record said exactly that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever could master this spell at will would be unbeatable under the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that an exaggeration?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These records were written by the Tower’s previous archmage. That means they were verified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, the record listed the spell’s original wielder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ain Rudrigon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ain Rudrigon? I’ve heard that name before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd narrowed his eyes and muttered; Oscar replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He was Ado Vail’s right hand when the White Tower was first founded. He was like Ado’s shadow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh — you mean deputy tower master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their surprised faces showed they understood how significant that made the spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it originated with such a noble figure, the mystery deepened: why wasn’t it listed as a High Spell?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simple. That grimoire is banned.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The word banned made everyone raise their eyebrows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one in the room didn’t know what that implied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edna asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar, aren’t banned grimoires supposed to be kept from leaving the Tower?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. They’re normally kept in the deepest vaults.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kept” was almost a euphemism for “sealed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banned books were dangerous: learn them wrong and you could be ruined or driven mad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked at Sasha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said that grimoire was ‘found by accident,’ right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. The big man remembers too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. He said Gilliot picked it up while walking in the corridor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……I suspected as much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…When the demons attacked the Tower, the protective wards around that banned grimoire must have weakened. The book chose Gilliot as its new owner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Banned grimoires don’t let just anyone learn them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’re picky; the book chooses its master.Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel·fire.net\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If someone not chosen tries to learn it, they become a wreck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then maybe Gilliot realized the book’s nature…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quite possibly. In this situation, I’d even expect he did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Gilliot advanced in mastery of Wind of Ruin he would come to understand its nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that instant, two choices would present themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One: tell everyone and reseal the book. Two: devote yourself to attaining mastery of the spell regardless of becoming a wreck or even dying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed Gilliot chose the latter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way. Why would he choose such a dangerous path…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha murmured, pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd bit his lower lip so hard it bled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s probably because of me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He bowed his head deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gilliot left not long after the two of you came to the Red Tower, met me, and left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s the kind of person who will do it if he decides to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, at that time there wasn’t a single High Mage in the Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would Gilliot think was most needed in that situation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That foolish fellow must have dug into the banned book to become a High Mage himself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he succeeded it would be amazing; if he failed he’d be nothing but a burden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar closed his eyes tightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps Gilliot left the Tower intending the world to think him dead rather than return as a broken man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he failed, maybe he thought it better to die outside than remain a cripple inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then… is the Little Brother dead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t jump to conclusions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s face was not bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing appearing so far meant only that he’d failed to show up — which suggested failure to attain mastery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Gilli…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he’d become a wreck, that would be better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he were reduced to an ordinary person who could never use magic again, that would be okay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just, please, stay alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the three of them, that was all the prayer they could offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1897,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","d17f37fbb4e036ae2ce126285a76cb2976c3df72f3f67c15b8474b162de979a9","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-25","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-24",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]