[{"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-293":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},1334839,1778,"Chapter 293","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-293",293,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 293: Primordial Evil (8)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In most professions, talent and hard work are indispensable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But there was one field where such abilities were surprisingly unimportant—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the vocation of serving as a follower of the Church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For theirs was a profession that required an entirely different kind of ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unwavering faith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That—and nothing more—was the sole qualification required of all believers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus some people ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then does that mean anyone can become a priest or a holy knight?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half yes, half no.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone could join the Church, but not just anyone could endure within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-what is that…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Merciful gods…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the rooftop of a cube-shaped building, the priests and holy knights of the El-Terra Church stared at the approaching tsunami of malice, groaning in dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confronting that ocean of negative emotion—large enough to swallow the world—felt like having their spirit crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those present were the Church’s finest, handpicked for their devotion and unwavering belief in the Earth-Mother Goddess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even in their steadfast hearts, a seed of doubt sprouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Holy power may purge evil and the demonic… but can it really stop something like that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed… unlikely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even before they could think it through, that conclusion rose instinctively within their minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes, the end of a battle can be seen before the fight even begins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And on top of that, the Archbishop…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some of them glanced at the Archbishop, who was kneeling with both hands clasped in deep prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew whether it was a prayer for divine magic—or simply an escape from reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Brothers and sisters. Do not waver.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young holy knight Aine Fenerbahce—hailed as the future of the Church—spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow-white sword he raised gleamed with sacred power, radiating golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The moment we collapse, everyone behind us collapses as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep below, in the depths of the labyrinth, the battle against Belpher raged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shockwaves of their clash were so intense that tremors rippled across the entire labyrinth and up through the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our task is singular: prevent that tide from reaching them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking, even he flicked a glance toward Archbishop Baldwin—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in his eyes, there was no resentment, nor expectation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Archbishop… is not like ordinary priests.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was indulgent, worldly—fond of luxury, drink, and entertainment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More a politician than a clergyman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one really expected him to turn this situation around with some miraculous intervention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have to do it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Aine steeled himself, even the swordmasters of the Heavenly Sword Clan drew their blades and gathered their mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We don’t know how much help we’ll be… but we’ll lend a hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They swallowed hard as they watched the black wall of malice draw closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was, to any observer, an act no different from striking a boulder with an egg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAAAAA—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun vanished behind the rising darkness, and complete night fell upon them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here it comes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aine swung his sword in a wide arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A wave of golden divinity surged outward, plunging into the tide of malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOM—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind it, divine spells from the priests and sword-energy from the knights rained down like bombardment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It—It worked!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oooh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The towering tidal wave split apart, sunlight flooding back in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as hope began to shine across everyone’s faces—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAAAAAAA—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The severed malice reformed instantly, as if unharmed, and surged forward again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aine bit his lip and shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second strike!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Divinity burned even brighter this time, slashing forward—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but the tide of malice split open on its own, avoiding the blow entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It behaved like a living organism, slipping past every attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Priests and knights unleashed full-force strikes, but each one was effortlessly avoided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of nonsense is this!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A despair-inducing horror—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the very embodiment of malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the word “defeat” carved itself into everyone’s mind and their eyes trembled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint whisper echoed through the suffocating dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shield Thy lambs from that which is false.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>FWAAAASH—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Archbishop Baldwin’s long prayer came to an end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive sacred spell-circle bloomed across the rooftop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pillar of divine light descended from the heavens, enveloping the entire labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wave of malice—capable of wiping out the world—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>crashed against that barrier and was pushed back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“O-oh…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Amazing…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“L-Lord El-Sia…! As expected of the Archbishop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Holy Sword Clan’s knights, and even his fellow clergy—people who knew him well—stared in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A man known more for his luxury, frivolity, and worldliness…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>now knelt on cold stone, eyes closed in sincere prayer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He was considered the most worldly, materialistic priest of all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even within the Church, he had many critics.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet now he proved that his faith ran deeper than anyone had imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And more importantly—the Earth-Mother Goddess herself answered him with a brilliance stronger than ever before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could only mean one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was well aware of the rumors about him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, no one cared more about public perception than he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A priest was expected to be humble, ascetic, restrained, devout…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he possessed none of these things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Luxury, spectacle, indulgence, worldliness…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lived exactly as people accused him of living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t done so to exploit the Church’s power for personal gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The world has changed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ancient Mage Tower, the traditional sword clans, even the proud Imperial Family—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all had undergone change over the centuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some called it decline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others called it progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But everything, without exception, changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Except the Church.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘An institution unchanged for a thousand years.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In one sense, its steadfastness was admirable—like a great tree with deep roots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in another sense, it was stagnant, rigid, and closed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Priests still memorized scripture written a millennium ago,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and risked their lives to obey doctrines older than the Empire itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as a child, Baldwin could not understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There is no such thing as a single correct answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And any organization that refuses to change will eventually be left behind.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Church was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, he had feared these thoughts were blasphemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Earth-Mother Goddess had never—not once—failed to answer his faith or grant him divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, in this very moment, she was proving that again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This settles it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had not been wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His convictions deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sacred radiance around him flared even brighter, dazzling to behold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The evil… it’s receding…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aine Fenerbahce stared in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never once respected Baldwin as a believer—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but the miracle unfolding before him demanded respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve practically won!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally smiled and approached the Archbishop—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but the moment he saw Baldwin’s face, his smile vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Archbishop…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood streamed from every opening in Baldwin’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The price of invoking divine might—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the might of a god—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>with a mortal body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Baldwin simply wiped the blood away with his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Focus. The battle isn’t over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… it’s clearly—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aine turned toward the edge of the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tide of malice had retreated far, unable to overcome the divine light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him, it seemed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Baldwin’s eyes never left that distant tide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tell me, lad. When do you think evil is most dangerous?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you first meet it? Since you never know what it’ll do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh. Wrong. The most dangerous moment is after you think you’ve already beaten it—once your guard is down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because evil does not care about methods or honor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It does anything to win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And this tide of malice was no different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s coming.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Baldwin whispered, the sea of darkness condensed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>folding into itself, thicker and thicker—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>until it formed a single, monstrous spear of pure malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It shot upward, piercing the clouds, reaching an unfathomable height.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOM—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear burst through the clouds, aiming directly at the airship circling overhead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“N-No!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aine screamed, swinging his sword in desperation—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but his light fell short.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin sighed softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected. Nothing is ever simple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cunning thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a dry laugh, Baldwin dispersed the divine barrier around the labyrinth and instead wrapped it around the airship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAAAAA—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The airship was blasted backward by the impact, violently shaken—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>but protected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It soon regained balance and fled to the far side of the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The real problem… is now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear of malice no longer chased the airship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, as if waiting for this exact moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it hurled itself toward the now-unguarded labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Earth-Mother Goddess… grant this old servant strength and courage, just once more…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His desperate prayer flared into a final divine barrier around the entire labyrinth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a candle burning brightest before it dies,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it shone even more fiercely than before—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when the spear struck—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“—Khff!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An indescribable pain ripped through Baldwin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He coughed blood, but did not faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Archbishop!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aine slashed desperately at the malice, but it was meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no longer an attack that humans could stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a natural disaster given form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Perhaps… lasting this long was already a miracle.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bittersweet mix of regret and relief welled up in him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something inside his mind broke, like a taut thread finally severed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baldwin collapsed unconscious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without his divinity, the weakening barrier dissolved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wave of malice surged forward, pouring over the rooftop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone—get down!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aine pulled Baldwin close and threw himself low to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWAAAAA—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black tide smashed through the rooftop,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>devouring everything as it crashed downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1562,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","26b3fd6a5d15c3d01b1366ce83c3c66e6df2c93cc32fd1868fdee33aae2e2380","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-294","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-50",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]