[{"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-311":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},1334707,1778,"Chapter 311","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-311",311,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 311: Forest of Spirits (8)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doubt surfaced in the eyes of the high elves—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even in Evelyn’s gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes quickly scanned Fran from head to toe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This scrawny thing is our last hope?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘We’re screwed.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Mother Tree, please forgive our inadequacy!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran’s thoroughly untrustworthy appearance darkened the elves’ expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Evelyn refused to let go of hope and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can this person become our hope?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fran possesses one special ability. Fran!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clap, clap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gracefully clapped his hands twice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran, who had no idea what was going on, merely blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You should show it. That thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, that…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeming to understand what he meant, Fran gathered his mana with a reluctant expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the next instant, his entire body turned into wind—and the elves’ eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-What is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In just twenty years, such mysterious magic has been added to the human world!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s not a trick. He has truly become wind itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are lesser spirits implanted in his body assisting with mana computation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elves examined Fran as though they were scientists evaluating a new invention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing their reactions, Oscar spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As you can see, Fran can turn himself into wind. And…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar summoned a gust of wind and infused it with divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can create wind imbued with holy power.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn let out a small gasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had already guessed what the human was planning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re saying that this human—who can become wind—will carry the holy power all the way to the roots of the Mother Tree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost in thought, Evelyn slowly nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s certainly… not a completely baseless or absurd plan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Majesty, at this point, it seems this is our only option!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high elves, now seeing possibility in the plan, began to agree one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Evelyn raised her hand to calm their excitement and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know how far it is to the deepest roots of the Mother Tree?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s about twenty-one miles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran and Oscar both looked stunned—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>though for very different reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My god. That’s about thirty-four kilometers? How can the distance from the surface to the roots be—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My god. You’re a rare mile-user?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran glanced sideways at Oscar, who was looking strangely delighted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was using miles really something to be happy about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Letting out a light sigh, Fran replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. I can cover that distance in about an hour.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Human, this isn’t something you can calculate with numbers alone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn made sure he understood the reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This could cost you your life. It has nothing to do with you—are you truly prepared to risk your life for us elves?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Caught off guard by the heavy question, Fran trailed off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, he wasn’t prepared at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, he had been a coward since birth—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>always running away, comforting himself with excuses, promising a ‘next time’ that never came.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That guy had a strange talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just by staying near him, you somehow began to feel things, little by little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica had become more mature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Killian had grown more reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There’s no way I didn’t change too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, facing things head-on—experiencing failure—had terrified him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why he always ran away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he knew what remained at the end of that road:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>not relief at surviving, but deep self-loathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m different now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he feared more now was facing a version of himself that hadn’t changed at all—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>that couldn’t move forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While his friends were charging ahead like raging bulls, even now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I can do this.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The victories and successes he had accumulated while traveling with Oscar had given him confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clenching his fists, Fran answered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s fine. I’m actually pretty quick with calculations, so I’d never do something that’s a guaranteed loss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it youthful recklessness, or confidence backed by experience?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Evelyn could tell was that Fran’s voice sounded surprisingly bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a sound like space itself being crushed erupted from the World Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It resembled the ultrasonic cry of a dolphin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We should move soon. We don’t have much time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Evelyn could do now was cheer for the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same was true for the other high elves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Save the Mother Tree.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having received everyone’s plea, Oscar slowly turned his head toward Fran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ready?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it obvious?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran gestured to his wind-formed body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve been ready this whole time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar grinned—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuuung!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive branch of the World Tree crashed to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t cut by anyone—the tree had severed it itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inside of the branch was hollow, as though beckoning them to enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at it, Oscar offered a warning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll be dark, cramped, and hard to breathe in there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The light will be handled by holy power. I’ll endure the cramped space. Breathing can be solved with magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With an approving expression, Oscar smacked Fran’s back firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whew.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhaling deeply, Fran approached the floating wind of holy power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he slowly reached out, the two winds crossed and began to merge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ugh…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fused divinity made it feel as though every cell in his body was awakening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no gift in this world came without a price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every nerve felt pushed to its limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Pain included.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After steeling himself, Fran nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, he threw himself into the hollow interior of the World Tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shooooo—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran became a single stream of wind, racing through the winding, dark, narrow path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, even the sensation of moving forward disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply trusted the World Tree and kept pushing through the passage it had created.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the World Tree was a suffocating silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though he’d never been there, it felt like drifting through outer space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…It’s suffocating.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark and stifling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was imagination or not, it felt like sinking into the deep sea—his breathing growing labored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Almost there. I’m really almost there.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept repeating the same words in his mind, as if hypnotizing himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heat began to build in his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The geothermal temperature was far beyond what a human could endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Fran forced his concentration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If Windform breaks, I die.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heat here was unbearable for a human body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he inhaled, his lungs would burn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just a little more…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death finally began to shimmer clearly before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doubt crept in—was this really the right path?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The urge to turn back, to flee to the surface, surged violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran forcibly crushed the temptation gnawing at his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he could feel it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump. Thoom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The World Tree’s heartbeat.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The being worshipped as a god by the elves was crying out to live—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and the only one who could hear that cry was him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ghk…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But contrary to his resolve, his vision blurred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maintaining this form in such heat consumed an absurd amount of mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just a little… just a little more…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran clung desperately to his fading consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He no longer even knew how he was maintaining this state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he tried to think about it in detail, it felt like everything would end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was in a complete trance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Ah…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, finally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a vile, oppressive demonic energy surged ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gathering every last ounce of strength, Fran hurled the holy power toward it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his mental strength completely spent, his will could no longer hold on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His fading vision was swallowed by darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Fran was advancing toward the roots of the World Tree,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn continued tracking his mana from above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s almost at the destination. But… compared to the beginning, his speed has dropped significantly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That could only mean he had been pushed to his absolute limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every high elf watched Evelyn’s lips, hands slick with sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“H-He’s arrived! And immediately separated from the holy power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, every elf turned toward the World Tree as if on cue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… ohhh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Mother Tree’s bark is regenerating!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leaves are sprouting! Fruits are forming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The high elves embraced each other in joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Evelyn’s face stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Oscar in panic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah… well…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rechecked again and again, wondering if she’d made a mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing something was wrong, the elves slowly released one another and looked at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment, Evelyn bowed her head deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’m sorry. Fran Sirius, was it? Your friend’s reaction… has completely vanished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elves covered their mouths in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one was insensitive enough to celebrate while a life had been lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked up at the World Tree and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The World Tree has been fully healed, correct?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Fran’s mana disappeared after that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I checked several times.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evelyn couldn’t lift her head, staring only at the ground as she answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A friend had died—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>in a place where even the body couldn’t be recovered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t imagine how immense that grief must be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it’s fine.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Excuse me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Oscar’s casual tone, she reflexively looked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The World Tree was healed first, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s… true?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then it’s fine. The World Tree isn’t an ungrateful, heartless being.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The elves, including Evelyn, tilted their heads in confusion at Oscar’s optimism.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that very moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pwah!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran finally released the breath he’d been holding and looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘D-Did I…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panicking, he raised his hands—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and sure enough, they were human hands, not wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Fran’s face crumpled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a warm voice echoed by his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Please don’t worry. You are not dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-What? Who are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled by the unfamiliar voice, Fran looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did he realize how strangely different this place felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait… where am I?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last place he’d been conscious was inside the World Tree—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a realm of endless darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But here was a vast meadow filled with brilliant colors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wind spirits drifted through the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water spirits gathered by a nearby lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth spirits dug playfully into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That’s right. As you may have guessed, this is the Spirit Realm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if reading his expression, the voice continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Congratulations. You are the first human to ever visit this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1730,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.790Z",1,"novelbin.me","5598710b91d60d55671469dcdbcb6c758215bbd0a822f8590791fb7dbbe95d53","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-312","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-310",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]