[{"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-286":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},1334829,1778,"Chapter 286","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-286",286,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 286: The Primordial Evil (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sign it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grrk!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar glared at the contract before him with a humiliated expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contents were simple enough:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Oscar Crucian shall never reveal to anyone the secret concerning the Heavenly Sword’s head.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since he had already been caught, there wasn’t much he could do.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he could do was sign it—sympathizing deeply with the plight of a censored journalist as he did so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword looked satisfied at last, tucking the contract into his robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If any rumor about my head leaks out, I’ll assume it came from you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s absurd!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you have a problem with that, then you’d better help ensure the secret stays buried.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a petty man for someone hailed as the strongest of the age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar grumbled inwardly and nodded half-heartedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That didn’t sound very convincing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes! Are you satisfied now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword glared but stopped short of striking him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For all appearances, Oscar was still an honored guest—and more than that, a benefactor who had done much for the Heavenly Sword family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh. How did I end up entangled with the likes of you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call it divine fortune.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He almost snapped back but shut his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this man had done a lot: created a cure for the infected citizens, lifted his grandson’s curse, and even relieved the boy of the crushing expectations that weighed on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much good done in just a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And yet… why does just looking at that face make me so angry?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since advancing to Level 8, his emotions hadn’t been this stirred in ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sigh, the Heavenly Sword finally spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, irritating as you are, you’ve rendered great service. Our family never forgets a grudge—but neither do we forget a favor. So, I intend to reward you accordingly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A reward, huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering what he’d done, no small sum could cover it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes gleamed with curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What would the Heavenly Sword family offer in return?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, we’ll shoulder all costs for constructing your airport.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eastern metropolis of Sicadel thrived on trade thanks to the Bettis River.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An airport there would yield astronomical profit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, if that’s all, it’s kind of dull.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Oscar blinked expectantly, the Heavenly Sword smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Of course that’s not all. The real prize is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slid a small slip of paper across the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On it was written a single character—Heaven—in graceful calligraphy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar turned it over, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this supposed to be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A token. You may, once and only once, call upon my personal aid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword’s help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an 8-level knight at one’s side—one on the verge of reaching Level 9—there was little that couldn’t be accomplished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even left unused, the token was a valuable long-term investment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An incredible reward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One that no amount of money could buy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So why does it feel so… cheap?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper wasn’t enchanted or embossed; just a torn scrap of ordinary parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, any great sword clan or tower would have an engraved medal or sigil for such favors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes narrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me guess—this was whipped up right before I came in?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword coughed heavily, averting his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I never personally issue such favors. It’s unthinkable for me to assist someone directly, so of course there was no pre-made token.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, this looks like one of those massage coupons students make for Teacher’s Day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What!? How dare you compare my token of aid to a massage coupon!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brows twitched as he reached out a hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enough! I’ll just pay you in gold instead—hand it back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, that would be rude. You went to the trouble of making it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know that and still—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Oscar quickly hid the token behind his back, the Heavenly Sword’s eye twitched again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t used mana, but the boy dodged his grasp with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tsk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only this brat had chosen the sword instead of magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that physique, he could’ve become a swordmaster anywhere—perhaps even the lord of a great sword clan himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If only he’d trained under me…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing that regret, the Heavenly Sword slid another document across the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s this, another reward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You dare ask for more after taking my token? Have you no shame?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just handed it over so suddenly—I was curious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared as if to say So, what is it then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man gestured at the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a commission request to the White Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A request? From the Heavenly Sword family to us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a clan powerful enough to seize whatever it desired, that was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar picked up the papers to read.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘Third Labyrinth Expedition’… Looking for treasure, are we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Treasure, eh? Not entirely wrong. Ever heard the name Belpher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can’t mean the Demon King Belpher?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. About 840 years ago—back when the Calderan Empire was still a kingdom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course Oscar knew the name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>History books described Belpher as a Level 9-class calamity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know the story. To defeat him, the El Terra Church sought Calderan’s aid, and their alliance later became the foundation of the Empire itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. So you paid attention in history class.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was a good student. Anyway, judging by where this is going, the labyrinth you mean must be…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. The one said to hold his corpse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belpher had died on an island beyond the western sea—the Black Sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that it had always been black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You do know that’s called the Sea of Death for a reason, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“After Belpher fell, his malice poisoned the surrounding waters. Even now, 800 years later, the sea remains pitch-black.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Malice potent enough to stain an entire sea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since then, the western ocean had been deemed impassable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The first expedition all drowned together. The second made it back alive but never crossed the sea completely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—don’t tell me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. When I visited the Cathedral to cure my grandson, the Pope suggested this—why not cross using one of the White Tower’s airships?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Flying across the Black Sea…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar rubbed his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not impossible. But if His Holiness himself mentioned it, then the real goal must be the Holy Sword, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You catch on fast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forged by the Goddess El Terra herself, capable of purging all evil—the Holy Sword Itaca.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now little more than a legend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Church had spent centuries trying to reclaim it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So only your clan and the White Tower will join this expedition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many sword clans and mage towers rivaled the Heavenly Sword in strength,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but none had him—the Heavenly Sword himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A late-stage Level 8. Practically a living weapon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, they intended to ensure the Holy Sword was recovered at all costs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar asked coolly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do we get out of it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All treasures found in the labyrinth will be split evenly—fifty-fifty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering how much might lie buried there, that wasn’t a bad deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief thought, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ninety-ten.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Are you suggesting we only get ten percent?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword stared, dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think that’s reasonable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not? Without our airship, you can’t even start the journey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be joining in person—a knight on the verge of Level 9!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But you’re still Level 8 right now. We’ll send an 8-level mage to match. How’s that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sasha was busy, so bringing along the idle Lloyd sounded perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you’ve left out something important.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What would that be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Holy Sword. If the Church is partnering only with you instead of forming a joint force with mages, then you’ve already secured a private reward—like a loan of the sword, perhaps?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword’s face stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how gifted, children were children.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All prodigies he’d seen over a century had shared that flaw—even his own grandson.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yet this one… a boy barely in his twenties, talking like an old noble veteran of politics.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was almost eerie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…As you guessed, the Church promised to loan the Holy Sword Itaca to our family for thirty years should we recover it. How did you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because you’re the Heavenly Sword. Without such a profit, why risk the Black Sea for mere money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At present, the clan’s prestige rested entirely on the man before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In truth, Toft Clan had more high-ranking knights, and Dragon-Sword Clan excelled in sword arts.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Heavenly Sword died, the family needed a new pillar to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Sword would serve that purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the young sword-heir Cheon Ajin became its wielder, the clan would thrive for decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, the old man agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll have ninety percent of all finds and first claim rights. But if there’s even a single error crossing that sea, I won’t forgive it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll travel in absolute comfort, I promise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve heard the White Tower values you greatly, but are you even authorized to make a deal like this on your own?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Archmage’s approval is required, of course—but leave that to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was confident he could persuade the necessary party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1527,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","419554ec08e63acef37760909f7f6935e0acd2444671ff966e82848b755770ad","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-48","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-47",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]