[{"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-321":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},1334717,1778,"Chapter 321","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-321",321,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 321: Special Prescription (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, in the Red Mountain Range, Oscar once had the following conversation with Oran Quil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? The internal combat rankings of the Violet Brigade? You’re interested in that sort of thing too, little brother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… I am curious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah. I suppose you’re at that age.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, Oran fell silent, his expression turning serious as he pondered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t fought every single member, so I can’t say for sure. But just going by intuition…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze drifted toward the tent where Kaya and Sasha were sleeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She’s probably in the top three.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Top three?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. And honestly, even though I say top three, she might actually be the strongest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A physical-type mage who excelled in close combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the opponent’s perspective, she was an existence that practically screamed unfairness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You couldn’t recklessly close the distance—yet you couldn’t widen it either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then who are the other two?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Next would be the Mad Mage, no question.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Mad Mage… the one who lost his sanity?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. A walking disaster incarnate. But his attacks are simplistic, so someone at your level could actually gain the upper hand more easily than you’d expect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Kaya has a slight edge over the Mad Mage… then the final member of the top three must be the commander, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one reason he thought so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the commander were weak, those eccentric, unpredictable individuals would never follow him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The power to unify and lead them forward had to originate from the commander’s strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Oran’s answer was unexpected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who knows? I don’t know that one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You don’t?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never seen the commander fight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not even once?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But when you face someone, you can usually gauge their strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally, yes. But with the commander, I feel nothing at all. Let’s exclude him from this debate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What followed, layered atop that lingering doubt, was the identity of the Violet Brigade’s third-ranked combatant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s the Designer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s surprising.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All Oscar knew about him was his obsessive fixation on mana circuits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No… maybe it makes sense.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite crippling countless mages and knights, he was still active.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant he had survived the pursuit of innumerable trackers who had come after him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a grave expression, Oran warned him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me say this in advance—don’t get involved with the Designer. Especially you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your growth rate is absurd. Honestly, even I’m curious how your body actually works. If I feel that way, imagine how the Designer would feel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar clasped the front of his robe modestly with both hands and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll keep that in mind. But how would I recognize him if I ran into him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that’s easy. Just look at his eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His eyes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Yes. Those eyes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if recalling something unpleasant, Oran frowned deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Remember this well. That bastard’s eyes… they look just like a snake’s.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Oscar didn’t really understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could a human’s eyes resemble a snake’s?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t quite make sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he thought he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Snake-like eyes.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were unmistakably human eyes, yet somehow evoked the image of a serpent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The small, rimless glasses failed to soften their inherent sharpness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar heightened his guard and replied,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t have any particular pain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snake-like eyes curved gently into a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm. I’ve already taken your money, so I should treat you… but if there’s nothing to fix, that’s a problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t need to trouble yourself. I just heard you had a special menu and decided to try it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my. You must be quite wealthy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t usually lack for money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better to play the role of a carefree third-generation tycoon than draw the Designer’s attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar glanced around indifferently and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I’d known this was just playing hospital, I wouldn’t have needed to buy the place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Playing? Playing, you say… you may think of it that way. Everyone tries it at least once as a child, don’t they?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Oscar had not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been too busy scraping by in the back alleys just to survive—hospital play was out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Judging by your reaction, I guess you haven’t. What a pity. It’s really quite fun.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Incidentally, the first participants in my hospital play were my parents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes, smiling pleasantly as if reminiscing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“People often say parents are trees that give without restraint, don’t they? Mine were exactly that type.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They sound like good people.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They were. Truly wonderful parents.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared at him, surprised by how ordinary the conversation felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He seems… more normal than I expected.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than anything, the constant gentle smile made him seem harmless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why had Kaya and Oran judged this man to be so dangerous?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was at that moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It would’ve been nice if they’d lived a little longer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Did they pass away early?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Unfortunately, I misdiagnosed them that day. Hahaha!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man scratched the back of his head awkwardly, still smiling brightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, I think it couldn’t be helped now. Everyone has a first time, after all. That just happened to be my first—and my parents were unlucky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Oscar couldn’t comprehend what he was hearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So… during hospital play, he killed his own parents?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he was saying this with a smile?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Oscar’s lack of response, the Designer shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was that a bit heavy for a first meeting? I was just so happy to see you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Happy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. I’ve been wanting to meet you for so long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a look of pure delight, the Designer proudly declared,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve clipped and collected every article and magazine that featured your photo. Oscar Crucian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alarm bells rang in Oscar’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was the chill radiating from the Everlasting Froststeel around them or something else, a creeping dread crawled over his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was genuinely shocked, you know. That you’d come to me of your own accord. Isn’t this fate?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I’m honestly worried. You’re not sick, are you? You mustn’t be sick. You might be the owner of the most perfect mana circuit I’ve ever sought.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thin sigh escaped as a cloud of breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar fixed him with a sharpened gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you know who I am, then there’s no need for me to go back. A mage from the White Tower came here recently, didn’t he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm? Ah? Well… I don’t know. What did he look like?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“His name was Chester Landus. A 7th-level mage of the White Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve never heard that name… but a White Tower, 7th-level mage…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pondering for a while, the Designer clapped his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah! Are you referring to the mage who illegally trespassed into my shop?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This operating room normally requires payment to enter. But that mage had the nerve to sneak in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking about it, it was unlikely Chester had paid to get inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had probably beaten up the two 6th-level knights guarding the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what did you do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That day was rather important to me. I had a private meeting scheduled with the commander… Ah, you do know I’m part of the Violet Brigade, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a faint smile, the Designer handed over a medical chart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without taking his eyes off him, Oscar snatched it and skimmed the contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Unidentified Patient – Forced Discharge]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Forced discharge?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. I returned him quietly, in my own way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Taking back the chart, the Designer continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I haven’t seen him since.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes weren’t lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or perhaps… he was simply very good at lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, Oscar asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that’s true, you won’t mind if I verify it myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You may, if you like. But how exactly do you plan to do that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment permission was given, Oscar drew up his mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wind Archive.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, a thick book materialized above his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar flipped through its pages and ignited one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Reproduce the moment Chester Landus visited this place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everlasting Froststeel disrupted mana flow when present in large quantities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under normal circumstances, casting magic here would be unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Oscar cast the spell as smoothly as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Designer’s eyes sparkled with interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re using magic just fine despite all this Froststeel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You just correct the fluctuations as they happen.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? To realize that in real time… impressive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring him, Oscar watched as the scene unfolded before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The perspective resembled a surveillance camera covering the entire operating room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Designer was smiling as he organized surgical tools, while a man stood with his back turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was gently stroking the Froststeel when he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s noisy outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice didn’t sound human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was closer to the mechanical tone of a magitech golem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I’ll check immediately—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the Designer could respond, the door burst open and Chester stormed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Gilly! Where are you?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After glancing between the two, Chester rushed toward the man with his back turned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Gilly! Gilliot Dominic! Come back home with—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Excuse me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chester slammed into the opposite wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Designer had intercepted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Commander. What shall we do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—……Deal with it quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What followed was a one-sided battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chester’s wind magic never once reached the Designer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Take him out. Oh, and per protocol, sprinkle some salt as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Yes!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guards dragged the unconscious Chester away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The recording ended there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having seen everything the Wind Archive showed,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>it was clear the Designer hadn’t lied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He didn’t lie.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though “forced discharge” wasn’t what Oscar had imagined, it was still within an acceptable range.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least Chester hadn’t been critically injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s a fascinating spell,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Designer said, eyes glittering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So this is one of the high-tier magics the White Tower recently restored. Could I learn it too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“High-tier magic is restricted to White Tower mages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll join the White Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared at him, taken aback by the instant response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…If you plan on joining, at least clear the imperial bounty on your head first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah. Is that the issue? Unfortunately, that’s beyond my ability. How regrettable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honest about his desires, quick to give up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His behavior was oddly childlike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has that man gone missing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How did you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Because that’s why you came here. If he left and still hasn’t returned to the White Tower, then he must be following the commander. Personally, I believe that’s the case.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what Chester had sensed, but he had called the commander ‘Gilly’ in that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he was being dragged away, he’d been shouting the name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with a gentle smile, the Designer spoke softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shall we make a deal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll tell you the commander’s location. In return, I want just one thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze resembled that of a fanatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those snake-like eyes, glittering with desire, wrapped around Oscar like coils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Allow me to diagnose you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1844,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.790Z",1,"novelbin.me","88cd322eed76df0a9a5508b4c9d85943aefddbff4bf251cefa684a78523322a8","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-322","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-320",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]