[{"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-309":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},1334705,1778,"Chapter 309","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-309",309,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 309: Forest of Spirits (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A political marriage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something closer to a contract carried out for the harmony between factions, regardless of the will of the people involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Twenty-eight years ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar Sage, who had just entered his mid-twenties, stared at his master with a deeply sulky expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you… sell me off by any chance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm? Someone wanted to buy you? For how much?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Gilbert Rosenbach showed interest, Oscar crossed his arms and muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. Judging by that reaction, maybe not….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little brat, explain properly. Don’t just mumble to yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, this suddenly arrived, so I thought maybe you’d sold me off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Oscar placed a single document on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gilbert skimmed its contents, then burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pwahaha! Disciple, what is this? A marriage proposal? You? And to an elven princess of all people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, don’t laugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an irritated expression, Oscar asked again, as if confirming,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, you really don’t know anything about this, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How would I… hmm? Wait a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Gilbert searched his memory, his eyes widened slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think I heard something like that in passing at a recent imperial council meeting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, who had been about to protest, instead let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No doubt his master had drunk all night and nodded off during the meeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, it was impressive that he remembered anything at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, do you remember any details?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You ask the obvious. Of course I don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, Master, seriously.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re going to nag, you become the tower master. I’ll hand over the seat tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……If it wasn’t anything important, you might’ve just ignored it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk tsk, insolent brat. Instead of offering to shoulder your master’s burdens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling the position of the White Tower’s master a “burden”—only his master would say that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar swallowed the words at the back of his throat and averted his gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glaring at him for a moment, Gilbert slowly spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As far as I remember, the request came from the elven kingdom first. I never imagined it would be for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……But how did they even see me to pick me specifically?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How would I know? They said the princess’s wishes were strongly reflected. Have you met her somewhere?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An elven princess?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way he had met her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never even seen an elf in my life, let alone a princess.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That I can’t say. Elves sometimes disguise themselves with magic and leave the forest. You might have met her then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When you put it like that, now I’m curious. Damn it—who is she?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re that curious, go meet her and talk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, Oscar shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nah, forget it. Marriage isn’t for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not? What’s wrong with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just… I can’t really imagine myself loving someone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t as though he’d never dated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back at the academy, he had accepted a confession and been in a relationship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But I still don’t really know what love feels like.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d even been broken up with because his partner wasn’t sure he truly loved them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What exactly is love?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar stared blankly, Gilbert asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s with that look?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, what does it feel like to love someone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gilbert’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah—never mind. Question withdrawn. There’s no way you’d know, considering you’ve never married.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shut up, you brat! And look at this face. I didn’t fail to marry—I chose not to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an exasperated expression, Gilbert was about to explain, then suddenly shut his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar didn’t miss it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was that? You looked like you were about to say something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Honestly, you’re too perceptive for your own good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking his head as if he couldn’t help it, Gilbert spoke in a serious tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Love comes in many forms. I hope that one day, you experience it yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what kind of love are you feeling right now, Master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Gilbert looked at Oscar and smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A feeling where giving up everything I have wouldn’t feel like a loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……If that’s real love, it sounds like a terrible deal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk tsk. Talking about losses—this is driving me mad.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a deep sigh, Gilbert shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, if you want to refuse, I’ll inform the Emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, please do.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still, you’ll need a reason. What should I tell him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of thought, Oscar replied casually,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t it be best to give a reason the other party can understand?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. You’ve never even met—what reason could there be?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s an elven princess, right? She’s got to be at least a hundred years old. Just say I don’t like the age gap.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That day, Gilbert Rosenbach had to seriously wonder whether his disciple truly possessed human emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the past, Oscar swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that he possessed something closer to a “human heart,” he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How careless he had been then—and how deeply the other person must have resented him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Even though Evelyn was an ally, she looked like she wanted to kill me every time we met on the battlefield.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, he hadn’t understood why she hated him so intensely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back, it was shocking how oblivious he had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His former self had been something like pure, unfiltered malice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Never.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar made a vow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He must never let her discover that he was Oscar Sage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Oscar sweat nervously, Evelyn thought,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now that he knows my status, he’s clearly very tense.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the Human–Demon War, she had roamed the battlefield executing demons, earning the title “Witch of the Moon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke gently to reassure him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do not be afraid. Although Eloen has currently cut off exchanges with humans, we were once allies facing the same direction. I have no intention of harming you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Th-thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar bowed deeply, something about him looked… rather cute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile appeared on Evelyn’s lips as she asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So. What brings humans into this treacherous great forest?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, we’re here to visit the Forest of Spirits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Forest of Spirits?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn tilted her head slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To humans without spirit affinity, the Forest of Spirits was no different from an ordinary forest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes—more precisely, we’re here because of this man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through the veil, Evelyn’s eyes fell on the blue-haired man Oscar indicated, and a spark of interest appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking closely, she could see lesser spirits settled throughout his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is… fascinating. He doesn’t seem contracted, yet spirits aid him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is technically a contract, but… more like a dispatch. It’s complicated.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go on. Explain this ‘complicated’ matter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar quickly summarized Fran’s situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn—and the other high elves—showed clear interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A human who turns his body into wind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does that mean he can partially become a spirit himself?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is certainly unusual for a human.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But his origin is… somewhat….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the elves began to chatter, Evelyn snapped her fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Silence.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if a switch had been flipped, everyone fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a testament to how perfectly she ruled her kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The fact that they’re from the White Tower is irrelevant. Is it not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Is that really acceptable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you forget? That—long ago—Oscar Sage himself belonged to the White—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn slammed both palms onto the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to the high elf who had spoken, she said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe I said it has no relation whatsoever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice was full of laughter, yet the high elf felt his life threatened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bowing deeply, he replied in a trembling voice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Y-yes. No relation at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Her Majesty would never concern herself with such personal matters.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How could you even suggest that of our queen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Weren’t you the one who brought it up first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shh! Quiet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High elves held positions equivalent to ministers among humans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, at the moment, they hardly looked impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Somehow… I remember them as people so sharp there was no room to breathe.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where had those cold, needle-sharp nobles of the forest gone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar blinked, Evelyn spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem. I understand your purpose in coming to the great forest. However, at present, we are not accepting any outside guests. That means you cannot enter the Forest of Spirits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask why you are not receiving guests?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as hesitation crept into Evelyn’s voice—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We cannot allow it, Your Majesty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They are outsiders. Letting too many rumors spread would be unwise.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high elves spoke in unison, opposing any explanation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unable to ignore them entirely, Evelyn slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Oscar hurriedly added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re facing some difficulty, I might be able to help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem! Ahem!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high elf seated at the very front reacted sharply, clearing his throat in displeasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What arrogance. Do you truly believe a mere human could resolve what we have not?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That depends on what the problem is. Fair warning—I’m quite capable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Puhaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high elf laughed and turned to the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This human mage claims he’s capable. What do you all think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s so absurd I can only laugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is no laughing matter. He’s clearly belittling our abilities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t find it amusing either.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Calm yourselves. Such bravado is common among the young.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high elves began murmuring again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opinions varied, but none were particularly favorable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-was that a mistake?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But we can’t just turn back like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar calmly responded to Fran’s worry—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BANG!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doors burst open as an elf soldier carrying a spear rushed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is the commotion?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Evelyn’s sharp question, the soldier replied in a trembling voice,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“T-the World Tree… is beginning to awaken!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1626,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.790Z",1,"novelbin.me","372cbd591bd562a9f5564f6afe4f437c978ab306cacc770831423047ad2097a0","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-310","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-308",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]