[{"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-291":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},1334836,1778,"Chapter 291","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-291",291,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 291: Primordial Evil (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The holy sword slid out with a soft swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Archbishop Baldwin carefully received the blade with both hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oho… at long last, the sacred artifact returns to the bosom of our Church…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For once, genuine piety flickered in Baldwin’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after more than 800 years in a place overflowing with malice, the holy sword had not corroded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That alone testified to the greatness of the Mother Earth Goddess’s power imbued within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—this is no time to stand here gawking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin breathed holy power into the sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brrrrrrrr.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade quivered, and a heavy voice echoed through the chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Hmm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone stared, eyes wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling smug, Baldwin lifted his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you all so surprised about? It is a sacred artifact bearing the Goddess’s power. Naturally, it chooses its master—and as such, it is an Ego Sword.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never seen an Ego Sword before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nor I.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword Clan’s knights nodded, and even Oscar agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Ego Sword—a sword with a mind and will of its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Where am I?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword’s voice was hoarse, as if it had truly been asleep for ages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Ah… Belpher’s Labyrinth. I see. Tell me, how much time has passed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eight hundred forty-two years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Hah. Far longer than I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After clicking its metaphorical tongue, the sword asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You wield holy power, so I assume you are clergy of the Church. Who are you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I am Baldwin, Archbishop and faithful servant of the Mother Earth Goddess. And you—do you remember your name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…Itaca. Yes. My name is Itaca, the Sword of the Earth Goddess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the reply, the blade released a faint, weak glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Mm. This is the most holy power I can muster right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s to be expected. You were abandoned here far too long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Archbishop’s calm conversation with the legendary sword looked like something straight out of a fairy tale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I have a question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ask anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Why did it take 842 years to retrieve me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simple. Until recently, reaching this place was impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Without the airship flying us here, we still wouldn’t have come today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Hah? Airship? You flew here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Itaca chuckled in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But why go through such trouble? Why not travel by ship?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because when the Demon King died, the Western Sea turned black. A horrifying force that corrodes all it touches. Records say the area expands every passing year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Itaca’s voice hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Don’t tell me that cursed malice still remains?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unfortunately, yes. It seems the hatred he held in life was… monumental.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Nonsense! Where is Belpher?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword shouted, its light sweeping the surroundings like a scanning beam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine glow stopped where Belpher’s corpse was fixed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Destroy that body! At once!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Why so suddenly—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Baldwin could finish, the Heavenly Sword moved instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shwing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a ray of light, his blade sliced cleanly through Belpher’s neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that enough?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—No! Reduce it to dust—leave not even a speck!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustrated, Itaca roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You fool! The power he wields is manifested emotion! A dead corpse cannot possess emotion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You mean—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Yes. That persistent monster is still alive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill ran down everyone’s spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To live despite having his heart pierced by a holy sword?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could hardly believe it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they stared, Belpher’s severed head rolled—then rotated toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its eyes snapped open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sharp, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only three people moved fast enough to react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>0.5 seconds:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slash from the Heavenly Sword split the head into four pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>0.7 seconds:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd’s wind blades diced those four pieces into twenty-four.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>1.4 seconds:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burst of compressed air crushed the pieces into shapeless fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at 1.8 seconds—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAOOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From all four entrances, tides of black sludge surged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Priests and paladins unleashed holy power in reflex—but it did nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sludge moved like a single living swarm and instantly absorbed Belpher’s corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thoooong!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A violent shockwave rippled outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar grabbed the back of Cheon Ajin’s collar and yanked him backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough! Cough! What the hell—!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cheon Ajin glared, but his voice trailed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two priests who had stood before him were nothing but bloodstains now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The once quiet chamber was now thick with metallic stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just the aura released by Belpher had killed seven people—without leaving bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Haaa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belpher exhaled slowly from the center of the carnage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now this… this feels like being alive again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His frail, mummy-like body looked weak, but none dared move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just his presence crushed the air around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone held their breath—not daring even to swallow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword clicked his tongue loudly—almost provocatively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think a centuries-old corpse is acting up like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belpher flexed his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though still skeletal, nothing about him felt weak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said it has been 842 years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze traced over the Heavenly Sword and Lloyd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two of you… not bad. Has humanity truly grown so much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not bad? Me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword laughed coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him, Belpher’s current strength—around late level 7—was nothing to boast about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seems your senses rotted while you were napping.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“True. For this moment alone, you two are stronger.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly. And you will not be growing stronger. You're about to die again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sword floated behind him, aiming at Belpher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Belpher merely shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That assumption is wrong. As time passes, I win.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Heavenly Sword’s strike fell like lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belpher didn’t react.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body was split cleanly in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Archbishop! A message from the airship!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does it say?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“T-the sea… the sea is rushing toward us!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone remembered the black ocean below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So the black sludge grows stronger the more it gathers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Itaca answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It seems the Demon King separated his power from his body to avoid being purified by my holy light, and has been nurturing it in secret.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin paled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Belpher had reached level 7 just from absorbing the sludge inside the labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he absorbed the entire Western Sea—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Demon King’s resurrection…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin whispered, horrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there any way?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He demanded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Unless ten thousand knights and priests are here, no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We have only a few near the airship.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Does the Pope accompany you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a heavy sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Listen carefully. Pour as much holy power into me as possible. Then leave only your best knight behind and evacuate the island. I will hold him off for as long as I can. Return to the continent and prepare for war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a de facto admission of defeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there truly no other way? You are a legendary holy sword!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I cannot draw water from a dried well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hundreds of years abandoned had drained Itaca completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Gods…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As despair filled the room, Oscar stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What fills a dried well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Two ways. Either the entire Church restores it with massive holy power… or it heals naturally over centuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But hasn’t it been healing for 842 years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—While lodged in that monster’s heart, all restored power was instantly spent purifying it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… time is the only way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And not mere hours. At least decades, more likely centuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Oscar asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about a thousand years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—A thousand would suffice… but what use is that fantasy now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar turned to Lloyd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd dashed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me what to do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even he was using honorifics; the situation was that dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Protect me. For about… six minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Six minutes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I will put the holy sword into my subspace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What does that mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My subspace shifts time depending on the number of overlaps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar rapidly calculated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With eight-fold overlap, five minutes fifteen seconds inside will be about… exactly one thousand years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Is that true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. What matters is that no one touches me during that time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most he had ever attempted was Lloyd’s five-fold overlap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eight would require insane concentration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two things are needed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Lloyd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must protect me from everything—for six minutes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked at the Archbishop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And you must delay Belpher from absorbing the ocean sludge. The Heavenly Sword must hold him 1-on-1.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You mean I should block the incoming sea?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin cursed loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You damned shaman! Not once did your prophecy mention this catastrophe!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he ran toward the western entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine! I’ll handle it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar watched him go, then turned to Itaca.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A thousand years is a long sleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I’ve already slept for eight hundred. A bit more won’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he placed the holy sword Itaca into his subspace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1451,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","d6d7d14ce177402b2d7f1fb0279f996c56507dae5d4e909352f5fb355f5e33dc","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-292","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-290",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]