[{"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-290":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},1334835,1778,"Chapter 290","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-290",290,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 290: Primordial Evil (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy Light.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwaaash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine radiance conjured by one of the priests illuminated the dark interior of the labyrinth as if turning night into day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surveying the inside, Cheon Ajin spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Considering it’s a labyrinth, this corridor is narrower than expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said, the corridor was small and cramped compared to the exterior structure’s size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps for that very reason, the confined space made simply facing forward feel suffocating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This place gives me a bad feeling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t start complaining from the entrance. Let’s move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The party began to walk slowly forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, their pace was noticeably cautious due to the tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like there aren’t any traps, at least.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… if we’re being precise, it’s not that they don’t exist…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar pressed down on a slightly protruding floor panel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, a cracking sound came from both walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you can see, they no longer function properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, they must have been installed at least a few hundred years ago.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That works in our favor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They weren’t here to explore the labyrinth anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This outcome had been expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their goal was simply to retrieve the holy sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, let’s stay alert. There might still be traps that work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother, have you explored labyrinths before? You seem quite experienced.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A few times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was referring, of course, to his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ooh, so that’s why you knew so much!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder you felt reliable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even that vague answer was enough to boost morale considerably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was Belpher’s labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the Demon King was already dead, who knew what curses he might have left behind?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Thinking about it that way, it’s understandable why they’re so tense.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having a veteran nearby would be reassuring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, the first branching path appeared before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm. From here, there are two paths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Should we take the left? It’s better to follow the Left-Hand Rule, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, you mean the hand-on-left-wall method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Left-Hand Rule—running one’s hand along the left wall to guarantee eventual escape no matter how complex the maze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Oscar shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to make things harder than they are.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was what magic was for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A book materialized in midair and opened itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind Archive—Guiding Wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Streams of wind shot down both corridors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve located the holy sword. We’ll take the right path.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ohhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group couldn’t help but cheer at the convenience of magic—especially the church members, whose eyes widened in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Magic sure is convenient.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Feels different from holy magic, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Truly. Holy magic is mostly protective and supportive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his memories, the church had been a very isolationist group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They handled most matters themselves, rarely interacting with mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even after twenty-one years, the church hasn’t changed much.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not surprising—foundations like that don’t shift in just a few decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they progressed deeper, the corridor gradually widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the widened corridor was filled with skulls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not skeleton monsters—actual human remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“El Sia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“El Sia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The priests and holy knights quickly traced the sign of the cross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea of skulls silently testified to the brutal battle once fought here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“U-ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knight of the Heavenly Sword Clan suddenly screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group turned sharply, only to see him wearing an embarrassed expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“M-my apologies. I stepped on a hand bone… and it crumbled like sand…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crumbled like sand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheon Ajin looked around and picked up a rusty sword lying nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment he gripped the hilt, it disintegrated into dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He let out a hollow laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The corrosion is too severe. It looks like none of the equipment here has any value.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The White Tower was supposed to receive 90% of the expedition’s rewards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most labyrinth rewards would normally be magical equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But if everything is like this…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This expedition might end as unpaid volunteer work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheon Ajin seemed aware of that and spoke apologetically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If all the equipment is in this state, the Heavenly Sword Clan will compensate separately.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s hold off on judgment. Maybe this corridor is just unusually damaged.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you say.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the deeper they went, the worse it got.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it wasn’t just the equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Urgh… cough…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is anyone else feeling dizzy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“M-my breathing… haa… it’s getting hard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The group began to suffer nausea, headaches, and shortness of breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar supplied them with clean air, then stepped back and looked ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheon Ajin approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is a vile aura.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the pile of skulls lay a corridor drenched in pitch-black slime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It coated the walls and floor like a sticky liquid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you think it is? Demonic energy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No… not that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demonic energy from demons felt more like mana—an energy, a force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t energy—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt more like an emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It feels like… pure, concentrated malice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you saying someone’s negative emotions actually took physical form?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s how it appears to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheon Ajin stared again, shaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Oscar was right, it meant someone’s hatred had been so intense it materialized visibly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is something like that even possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not impossible. We already know the opposite phenomenon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar pointed to the divine light illuminating the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy power is also the physical manifestation of belief.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holy power wasn’t a one-sided gift from the goddess—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It grew stronger depending on the believer’s devotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But seeing negative emotion manifest like this… I’ve never heard of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me neither. It’s just my best guess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar approached and scooped up some of the black slime without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-wait! That’s dangerous—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheon Ajin panicked, but Oscar raised his other hand calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. My hands are protected by an artifact.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sandalwind—his master’s gift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as he wore it, nothing could easily harm his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar squeezed the black slime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sensation was revolting, like touching melted jelly left in the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wriggled constantly, rejecting his touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Like a living organism.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having made up his mind, he carried it to a priest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could you hit this with some holy power?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Holy power? Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pale-faced priest summoned divine radiance and fired it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it touched the slime—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black mass convulsed violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar used mana to hold it in place as it writhed like a living creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulled tight, expanded, shriveled, wriggled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Pretty disgusting.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But soon, under continuous exposure to holy power, the sticky mass shrank and vanished completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least it was weak to holy power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To pass through that area, everyone will need to be coated in holy power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Difficult, but with four priests, we can manage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh—come to think of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly remembered Cheon Mujin and Lloyd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither of them had priests accompanying them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheon Ajin seemed to have realized the same thing, and their eyes met.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He soon smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandfather will be fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even though he can’t use holy power?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It doesn’t matter. He’s the Heavenly Sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hard to argue with that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about the Ashen Magus?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’ll be fine too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way someone like him would lose to melted-jelly evil slime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The priests began blessing the party one by one, coating them in holy light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll pick up the pace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They needed to retrieve the holy sword before the divine power ran out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar led the way, and wherever he stepped, the black slime recoiled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They pushed through the twisting passageway, rounding three corners in quick succession—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then a massive chamber opened before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mountain of bones and artifacts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And beneath its peak, two figures stood frozen like statues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man driving a sword through another’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ooh—Ooooh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Warrior!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“El Sia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The church members repeatedly crossed themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One priest shouted in excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you see the sword? The wing-shaped guard, the holy sigil—there is no doubt! That is the Holy Sword Itaca!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the one being stabbed is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Demon King Belpher.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether due to the sword’s power or something else, the two alone remained preserved—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their bodies desiccated like mummies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm? Oh—looks like we’re not first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the opposite entrance came Archbishop Baldwin’s party.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And moments later, Cheon Mujin and Lloyd appeared from the left and right corridors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch, I’m late. At least I wasn’t last.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not sure what you mean. I arrived slightly earlier.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh. Is your young eyesight already failing? I clearly arrived first. By 0.2 seconds.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sounds like your age is making you see illusions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While the Heavenly Sword and Lloyd bickered over who arrived last,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin—radiating divine light—approached the bone mountain and the holy sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He drew a cross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“El Sia… at last, we have found the sword you bestowed upon this land.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it safe to pull it out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why wouldn’t it be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. Hold on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword examined Belpher’s corpse with a displeased expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s definitely dead. But after what I saw on the way, I can’t shake this feeling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean the black slime?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? You encountered it too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was also in our corridor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And ours.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh. So all of them had it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheon Mujin nodded slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that fragment of twisted malice. Absolutely disgusting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you get through? It flees from holy power, but you don’t use that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I cut it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It could be cut by a sword?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I cut it until it could.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A very Heavenly Sword answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, everyone turned to Lloyd next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the attention on him, he grimaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I burned it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? So it was weak to fire?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. I just burned it until nothing was left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Somehow similar to Grandpa’s—mmmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar quickly covered Cheon Ajin’s mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some truths were best left unspoken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Archbishop, can we retrieve the holy sword now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. No need to delay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwaaash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin spread brilliant holy light and gently placed his hands over the hero’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve done well, brave warrior. Return now to the goddess’ embrace and rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, the hero turned peacefully into dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gripping the hilt, the archbishop slowly drew the Holy Sword Itaca from Belpher’s corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1708,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","8f2d41d40fdfbe8e9ac9854f48b7c5593211cc86ca8be10d4bb215a18390e706","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-291","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-289",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]