[{"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-277":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},1334811,1778,"Chapter 277","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-277",277,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 277: Happy End (2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the most dazzling city loses its overflowing energy and grows quiet at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of that stillness, a group of figures raced swiftly across rooftops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhhhhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even the heavens seem to aid us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Blue Tower mage exclaimed in delight as he looked up at the sky that seemed to have holes torn in it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The falling rain would muffle their presence and strengthen the spells of the Blue and Yellow Towers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the building.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bubble bubble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guided by his blood magic, Anatol Kincess came to a stop on a rooftop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mages scanned the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dust is supposed to be in a place like this? What even is this building?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For the head of a drug cartel, it’s surprisingly shabby.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To their flippant remarks, one of the knights accompanying them replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It used to be a theater. These days there are bigger and cleaner ones, so people stopped coming… I didn’t expect it to turn into a criminal hideout.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see. No wonder the inside felt so spacious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Continuing his relentless pursuit of their target’s position, Anatol murmured,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, the boiling blood drew something in midair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the floor plan of the seven-story building and the target’s current location.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the seven maps, hundreds of pairs of footprints flickered nonstop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whoa, the positions are appearing in real time? There are more people than I expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Most of them are just bugs anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. With five level-7 masters gathered here, there’s nothing to worry about.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What we should worry about is this footprint.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anatol pointed to a motionless mark by a fifth-floor window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s Dust.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Blood Tower’s tracking magic really is convenient when you see it firsthand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mages nodded in awe; there could be no spell more terrifying than this if one were being hunted by the Blood Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Checking the time, Anatol addressed the swordsmen of the Heavenly Sword Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ten minutes until midnight. Prepare to breach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Didn’t need to be told twice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fifth-floor window—got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knights nodded and took their positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, and White Tower—watch the rear entrance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They glanced down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rear door connected to a filthy alleyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar, the smell here is like wiping stinky feet with a stinky rag.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, the alley reeked faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, the rain masked most of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four stationed there checked the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two minutes to go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re not even doing anything, but I’m nervous for no reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The troublemakers gulped in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the moment the hands of the watch struck twelve—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It begins.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click! The lights went out, plunging the building into darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? What the hell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Power outage?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the abandoned theater that served as Happy End’s headquarters, the gangsters who had been playing cards looked around, bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, I was on a good streak too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe the rain’s screwing with the power?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, anyone got a flashlight? Or at least a candle?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Candle? What century are you living in? I got a lighter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small flame couldn’t light the whole room, but it illuminated their surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thug moved to open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rattle, rattle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The handle turned—but the door wouldn’t budge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It won’t open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Locked?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The knob turns fine, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Move aside, idiot. Can’t open one damn door?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed his companion away and grabbed the knob himself, but no matter how he strained, the door wouldn’t move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What the hell?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The handle turned, yet it felt like something massive blocked it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, he felt dampness seeping into his shoes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, the roof leaking from the rain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How hard would it have to rain for this much water to come in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While they panicked, crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A window shattered, and dark silhouettes entered through it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who the hell are you!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who cares—kill ’em!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gang members drew their weapons, but—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No lowlife drug runner could match the elite knights of the Heavenly Sword Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams erupted as blood sprayed, and a level-7 knight calmly stepped past the carnage his subordinates created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. Kendrick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Sir Mateus?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What floor are we on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fourth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding, the level-7 knight Mateus looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then that makes the fifth floor… about there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew his sword—and in an instant, slashed the ceiling into hundreds of fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ceiling collapsed like a toy, and Mateus stepped onto the debris to climb up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There we are. Fifth-floor window—then you must be Dust.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A broad-shouldered man stood by the window, back turned, drinking wine straight from the bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mateus found the sight amusing and laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha! You’ve got the attitude down, but drinking from the bottle kills the look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re from the Heavenly Sword Clan?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man asked, still staring out at the rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mateus nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Dust of the Empire, you are hereby executed for illegal drug manufacture and distribution.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Heavenly Sword himself didn’t come?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mateus’s brow twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To every knight of the order, the Heavenly Sword was a living legend—a god.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dream on. Scum like you aren’t worthy to witness his blade.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scum, huh. Can’t say you’re wrong.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lightning flash illuminated Dust’s faint smile reflected in the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He’s smiling?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he really think Mateus had come alone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Uneasy, Mateus shouted,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that signal—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The window shattered, and along with rain and shards of glass, a blade flew in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one clean stroke, it severed Dust’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The knight who delivered the blow sheathed his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A level-7 fighter, but without proper discipline—disappointing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flawless strike, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha, you’re young yet, and already my equal—don’t flatter me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they relaxed and chatted—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is the sword of the Heavenly Sword Clan. Impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust, whose head had been cut off, still stood before the shattered window, wine bottle in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip, drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He poured the remaining wine onto his severed neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never understood the taste of wine. Even this one’s an expensive bottle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he stooped, picked up his own head from the floor, and set it back on his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mateus’s eyes trembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… are you a demon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought you were slow, but you catch on quick here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust twisted his reattached head in a full rotation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unnatural sight made Mateus mutter,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior… we can’t let our guard down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My thoughts exactly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such regeneration—instant and perfect—was impossible even for normal demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant… he had likely drunk the blood of a high-rank demon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe human blood tastes better than wine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not getting mine, freak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he’d become a demon, there were two level-7 knights here—both elite veterans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Drip, drip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mateus tried to speak—but no sound came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike demons, humans can’t talk without a head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm, yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dust licked his lips, savoring the taste as he murmured,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is better than wine. And cheaper.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screams erupted from all over the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhhhhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They soon drowned beneath the rain, but Dust didn’t care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight, the entire city would drown in screams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood Tower mage Anatol Kincess frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the map before him, the knights’ footprints were vanishing one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yellow Tower mage watching beside him asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does it mean when the footprints disappear?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. Three possibilities. One—the spell itself malfunctioned. But I checked; it’s working perfectly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it must be one of the other two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, both remaining options were grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If someone stronger than me noticed the tracking spell and hid their mana, the prints would vanish. But the knights who entered aren’t above my level.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That left only one explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anatol didn’t need to say it aloud—everyone understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean the knights are being killed? The Heavenly Sword Clan knights!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jumping to conclusions is—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anatol stopped mid-sentence, eyes narrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across the city, massive plumes of smoke were rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Smoke? Fire?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—on closer look, it wasn’t normal smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with this much rain, no ordinary fire could burn that high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s that smoke?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange colors—pink, green, yellow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Multicolored fumes billowed across the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, from a deserted street, someone screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-help me! Somebody, please—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone turned toward the voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman running through the street tripped on the curb and fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man chasing her drooled as he lunged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yellow Tower mage hurled a bolt of lightning, piercing the man through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That… looks like the symptoms His Majesty described. The drug addicts from Saint Hill—the illegal narcotic that destroys reason and turns people into beasts.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then that smoke everywhere is…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Yellow Tower mage nodded grimly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like… we’re completely screwed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1460,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","9ddc7770dea6cf48933108a777d6fde92a5e251664fdc120d0389672cbefcc8c","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-39","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-38",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]