[{"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-271":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},1334801,1778,"Chapter 271","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-271",271,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 271: Null City (8)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re… they’re multiplying!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Tch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What suddenly barged into the ward was a swarm of mannequins dressed in nurse uniforms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Patient, we’ll begin surgery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Once you undergo the procedure, you’ll recover quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please come this way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural that a fight broke out when they tried to drag away the Black Tower mages by force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was that their numbers kept increasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Each one isn’t that strong…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there were too many of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had already taken down more than thirty, yet the fallen mannequins were filling the small ward, leaving barely any space to step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more nurses kept pouring in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘We need to get into the hallway.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they kept fighting here, they’d be cornered and killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Killian resolved himself to take some injuries to break through—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderous roar came from the hallway, and the mannequins were swept aside like fallen leaves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a welcome face appeared at the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew, not too late, am I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian’s face lit up with relief and joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect timing. I was about to be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good thing I came. The hallway’s crawling with them too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar had followed the loudest sounds of battle—and clearly guessed right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scanning the room, he asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where are Veronica and Fran?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They went to find the master of this space. And for the record, I didn’t stay here because I was scared. The warriors of the forest believe even scissors can defeat rock. But they didn’t believe me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Scissors? Defeat? What is this guy even saying?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked sour, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, anyway… but going after the master of the space? That’s reckless.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We couldn’t just sit around waiting for you either. That wouldn’t be what comrades do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…True enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what he’d seen upstairs, the level of magic wasn’t that high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At most, a clumsy 6th-level space mage. That’s what I thought.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this hospital was on an entirely different level of refinement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant the caster holding it together was stronger than expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Granted, their destructive power is impressive… but still.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible not to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar reached out and tugged at the strings of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, let’s get the missing people outside. This way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, let me grab my comrades first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mage hauled his fellows onto his back, and Oscar transported them out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, leaving the ward, he asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Were those all the missing people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No idea. We’ll have to keep looking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so began the search.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They found no one on the first floor, nor on the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only upon reaching the third floor did they discover two mercenaries bound hand and foot in a surgery prep room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmmpf! Mmmmpf!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmmphhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them, the two burst into tears of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar hurried to free them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“P-please save us! I don’t even have any money!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“M-my mother’s sick at home—please!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Calm down. You’re safe now. We came to rescue you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“R-rescue? Then… your affiliation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“White Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wh-White Tower!? Not the Black Tower?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. We’re cooperating with the Black Tower’s request for this search.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mercenaries exchanged panicked looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We… we have to get out right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is all a setup by those Black Tower lunatics!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? A setup? What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One mercenary licked his cracked lips and explained,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it wasn’t, why would a Black Tower elder be walking around here openly?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A… Black Tower elder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah! A 7th-level master! What was her name again?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Banavel… something. Creepy woman!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar and Killian exchanged grim looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their words were true, then the Black Tower’s radicals had gone way too far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll look into it. For now, head outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—outside means right into Black Tower mages, doesn’t it? Can’t we just stay with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re about to confront that 7th-level elder. If you want to tag along, we won’t stop you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Send us outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Suddenly I’m very worried about my poor mother at home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veteran mercenaries indeed—they knew when to back out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar sent them out through the space rift, then glanced upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the only floor left is the fourth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he said it—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack, craaack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fissures tore through the surrounding space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar, what’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The space is collapsing. Usually happens when the caster holding it together dies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then Fran and Veronica killed the Black Tower elder?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how destructive their magic, it wasn’t enough against a master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the reason space was unraveling was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The space-caster and the elder are separate people. Which means…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran and Veronica must have killed the caster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realization struck Oscar, and he shouted,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it! Hurry—we need to escape, now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Veronica, you okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulp, gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica drained the high-grade potion Fran handed her, then leaned back against the wall. She shot him a pained look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I told you to wait just a moment, didn’t I?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“S-sorry… I got carried away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she understood why White Tower potions were so popular—her bone-deep aches were already fading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Glancing at the corpse of the demon on the floor, she muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next time, listen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Okay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him droop like a scolded child, she scratched her head awkwardly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… you fought well. I couldn’t have done it alone. So… good job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“R-really?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brightening, Fran pulled out more potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want another? I brought a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Just sprinkle a little on my shoulder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the two wrapped up after battle—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without warning, someone appeared in the middle of the surgery room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman in a black Rococo-style dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wore a wide, ornate hat, and even indoors carried a parasol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gazed down at the demon corpse and murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it’s dead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither Fran nor Veronica could move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suffocating aura flooding the room left them struggling to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was it you two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice from beneath the parasol made Fran flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He steeled himself to answer—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yeah—urk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, his body was yanked forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black hand shot from the ceiling and gripped his throat, dangling him in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Naughty child. Do you know how hard I worked to bring this here from the north?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghkk—khh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up close, her face was grotesque.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From afar she’d seemed young, but under the thick, clownish makeup, age-carved wrinkles showed through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More terrifying than her looks was her aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘7th-level. A master…!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran tried to escape by dissolving into wind with Stormbreaker—only to feel the grip tighten again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Running somewhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black hand seized his throat once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She can… grab the wind?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That should’ve been impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching, Veronica ignored her pain and stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-wait! You’re with the Black Tower, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why attack us… oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re one of the radicals, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How rude. Call us orthodox, not radicals.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black hand squeezed harder, choking Fran to silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica couldn’t take it anymore—she gathered her power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Radical, orthodox—who cares. Let him go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overcraft.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty-one magic circles whirled around her, forming a high-tier spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A colossal spear of wind shot forward like lightning—an attack that had skewered even 5th-level demons before they could react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My, how novel. Sacrificing refinement and power for sheer speed? Quite impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black hand split apart, catching the spear mid-flight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hopeless. Too wide a gap.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was her strongest, fastest strike—and it hadn’t even made her flinch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had thought mastering Overcraft meant she’d grown strong, but the reality was cruel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, despair wasn’t an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If one big hit won’t work…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then drown her in countless small ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of circles spawned around her, unleashing hundreds of Wind Cutters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Block this, you senile hag.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish, swish, swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blades sliced past her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swatted most aside easily—except one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood welled from beneath her heavy makeup, trickling down her cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… called me a hag? Not even ‘madam’? Look at this flawless skin! And senile, you said?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face twisted with demonic rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surgery doors burst open, and two men rushed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fran! Veronica! Are you safe?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh dear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Fran’s pale face strangled in midair, Oscar immediately tugged on the strings of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1399,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","be7690f28195533b64fa767bf5600168fdbffd285953eb7ffb55de42bf3f5897","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-272","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-34",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]