[{"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-270":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},1334799,1778,"Chapter 270","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-270",270,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 270: Null City (7)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Basically, demons are predators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They always stand in the position of trampling and hunting others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why humans, when faced with their presence or gaze, usually froze in fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran and Veronica were no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was their first time directly confronting a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the aura, it was a late stage level-5 demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That, at least, was fortunate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, the very fact that a demon was here—a place they never imagined encountering one—made his presence all the more shocking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guests? No, patients, rather.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director didn’t even put down his scissors as he slowly turned his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it the predator’s gaze, or perhaps the cold temperature of the operating room?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two trembled uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like frogs in front of a snake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, no. Everything has its proper order.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director, clad in surgical garb, smiled gently as he gave his command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Return quietly to your ward. Your surgery time hasn’t come yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned back to continue the operation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the behavior of someone absolutely certain the humans before him wouldn’t dare refuse his order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chalak. Chalak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sound of scissors continued, Fran whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Veronica, what do we do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘……’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wanted to run away this very instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they obeyed the director demon’s command, then even if they eventually died, it wouldn’t be here and now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her trembling body seemed to whisper that sweet temptation: Let’s just return for now, then consult Killian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Fine.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She admitted it—she was a coward.This update is available on novel⦿fire.net\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She always put on a tough front and spoke aggressively, but she couldn’t stand ghosts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hated bugs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So of course she feared demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, her first instinct was to flee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘……But.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes wouldn’t leave the mage lying on the operating table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mage she had only glimpsed briefly before entering Zenith Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be blunt, he was a stranger, someone with no relation to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once this ordeal was over, she would never see him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica clicked her tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They say you become like the friends you keep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She must not have been much different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Oscar were here—stubbornly righteous to the point of being annoying—he would never have abandoned that mage and fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hey, if we walk away now, that guy’s dead.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Good. Saves us an argument.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran smirked and suddenly gripped the whip tied at his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that they’d reached an agreement, his role was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaeeeeeck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whip, fully familiar in his hand now, broke the sound barrier as it lashed toward the director.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing a strange dissonance, the director turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>SPLAAAT!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Gaaahhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scorching pain across his face made him shriek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He staggered back several steps without meaning to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what… what is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rolling his eyes wildly, he looked as if he couldn’t believe he’d actually been attacked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That vermin would dare defy his words was, in his worldview, impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally realizing what had happened, his face twisted savagely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You insolent—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But already, the whip, now moving even faster, was lashing toward his face again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had been another sneak attack, perhaps he would have been hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But with both eyes wide open, he wasn’t about to be struck so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shot his hand out, aiming to grab the whip and yank its owner close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘After that, even if you beg for death, I won’t grant it easily.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glint of sadistic joy flashed in his furious eyes as he caught the whip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the whip slipped through his grip like sand, dissolving into pure wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It ignored his hand entirely and kept on flying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just before it struck his face—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Breath of Steel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind was imbued with the hardness of steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The impact was deafening, and the demon’s facial bones caved in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ughh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His nose broke, his mouth split, and blood poured across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision shook, his sense of balance collapsed, and he staggered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind Spear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of magic circles combined into a single enormous spear of wind, which shot forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRUNCH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It pierced through the demon’s tough skin, muscle, and bone, embedding him and the spear deep into the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two stared at the director, skewered against the wall, head slumped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed dead, but they didn’t relax their guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demons were famously sturdier than orcs and craftier than goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll finish it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait! Something’s off with him—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica tried to stop him, but Fran, already spinning his body, unleashed a third strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The steel-hardened whip lashed out again at the defenseless director.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hope flashed in Fran’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe this was the reward for all his grueling effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To kill a demon was an achievement to boast about anywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Break apart!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His will poured into the whip, making it harder than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swaeeck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whip cracked toward the demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just then, the “dead” director’s lips twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Twist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Space itself warped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a filter distorting the eye, the scene bent and shifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result was simple—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran felt a violent recoil in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, from behind, came a thunderous crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning, he saw Veronica slammed into the wall at terrifying speed, like she’d been hit by a charging ogre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Veronica?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her limp body twitched faintly, unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from the crater in the wall, if she hadn’t reflexively tried to shield herself, she’d be dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran’s eyes shook as he looked down at the whip still trembling in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No way…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill ran down his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pity. A little disappointing, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon casually reset his broken nose with a crack and landed lightly on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I could have watched you despair after killing your own comrade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dreadful thought was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica had been struck because of Fran’s own whip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This demon could manipulate space—clumsily, but enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I should’ve anticipated that kind of application.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been blinded by the thrill of possibly slaying a demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now what do I do?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he had was his whip and the power of Wind Lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar had drilled into him that his “one-hit kill” style, while simple, had destructive power rivaling anyone—even stronger foes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, that very attack had nearly killed his friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I can’t use Wind Lord or Breath of Steel… I’m just nothing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without those, Fran Sirius was only a mediocre mage, nothing special at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Maybe Veronica foresaw this, and that’s why she tried to stop me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regret burned in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Interesting, very interesting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The director reveled in Fran’s changing expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His fighting spirit is gone.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vermin were always too sentimental.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pathetically weak, yet they gave such meaning to the existence of “comrades.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the end, death makes all of you the same corpses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt nothing about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he desired was to perfect his warped mastery of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For that, he would gladly pursue endless experiments here, no matter the deaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you won’t move, then I shall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, he closed the gap and reached for Fran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran transformed his body entirely into wind to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, for the first time, the demon’s eyes glimmered with genuine intrigue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Turning your whole body into wind? What a fascinating patient!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Researching that would surely advance his spatial control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mad glee spread across his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come now, let me operate on you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran backed away again and again, his eyes flicking to the unconscious Veronica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clenched his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If he twists space again while I attack, she’ll really die.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That fear shackled his movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step by step, he retreated until—thunk!—his back hit the operating room wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh. Nowhere left to run.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran gripped his whip tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you swing, your attack will kill your comrade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly enough, those words gave Fran comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So he’s wary of my attacks.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must have realized after being struck twice that the whip’s power was dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant Fran’s blows were, indeed, a real threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Hoo.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran exhaled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one was coming to help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he kept running, both Veronica and he would die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have no choice but to gamble everything.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always struggled with self-worth, only temporarily reassured by Oscar’s encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But leaning on others for validation meant it could vanish in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran glared at the demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By Oscar’s account, this enemy was not yet a true master of space magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calming down, Fran began to see what he had missed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s only used space magic once—in that “Twist.”’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why not when Veronica’s devastating Wind Spear hit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why not when his whip landed twice before?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The common thread was clear, each successful hit had been too fast for him to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, Twist must require significant preparation time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even now, he’s provoking me, trying to bait my attack.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran squeezed the whip tighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I’m right, I’ll win. If I’m wrong, I die.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resolving himself, he swung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph, so you finally chose to attack?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon’s eyes gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the whip came within reach, he shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twist!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space distorted—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Fran let go of the whip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whips rely on centrifugal force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a firm grip, they lose momentum and fly off course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whip was swallowed into the warped space, emerging above Fran’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Knew it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demon hadn’t targeted Veronica again; instead, the distortion redirected toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whip fell limply—and Fran snatched it back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Breath of Steel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once more, it hardened to steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-stop—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The panicked demon raised a hand, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The savage strike tore through his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1641,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","54179bf1d45d1efbad1c9d677b79804401404bfcb914a70cd56add5bbb62511d","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-34","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-269",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]