[{"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-356":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},1334627,1778,"Chapter 356","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-356",356,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 356: Observers (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Falling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sensation of speed wrapped around his entire body, the consciousness that had been cut off gradually began to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar barely managed to open his eyes and slowly looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What entered his blurred vision was a beautiful yet enormous nebula.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, he even wondered if he had drifted away from the moon and become lost in space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, Oscar widened his eyes, and only then did his surroundings begin to come into focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Mana?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he had thought was a nebula was actually an endlessly spreading flow of mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Oscar realized where he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His extinguished consciousness had sunk deep, falling all the way into his inner world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This is dangerous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering one’s inner world directly wasn’t particularly rare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, any mage or knight above a certain level would try it several times to inspect their mana circuits or internal condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was that cases like this—where the consciousness sank so deeply—were uncommon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it’s only submerged up to the ankles, I can pull myself out at any time, but…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling up a mind submerged to the chin was no easy task.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, he could feel the connection to his physical body growing loose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, if he delayed even a little longer—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I won’t be able to return. Ever.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing the danger, Oscar hurriedly tried to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his consciousness wouldn’t budge, as if he were wearing a thick fur coat and submerged in water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how desperately he paddled, it felt like he was just spinning in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After struggling for a long time, Oscar finally realized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t simply that he couldn’t rise because he had sunk too deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was ‘pulling’ him with a powerful suction force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze naturally turned toward the mass of mana that formed a vast, nebula-like current.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Those are the residual mana from the Dragon Heart.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mana that should have returned to nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead, mana that had been distorted and twisted at some point was being sucked into one place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The end of the inner world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A point untouched by light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>KWA-A-A-A-A!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pitch-black region, so dark it made him wonder if he had always possessed such a side within himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That place was devouring mana like a starving beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell is that…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar found his gaze drawn to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though his instincts screamed danger, he couldn’t look away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if the space itself was desperately calling him to come closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the moment he took a step toward it, as if possessed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Be careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burst of brilliant light erupted throughout the space, annihilating a large portion of the mana being drawn in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that familiar voice, Oscar’s eyes widened as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Itaca?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-It’s been a while. But this is hardly a situation fit for a reunion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heavy, mid-low voice of divinity sounded weary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re alive after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-There were times I thought it might’ve been better to disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The radiant glow hovering there felt like it was staring straight at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe it’s just my imagination, but it feels like you’re looking at me with reproach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-At least you’re quick to catch on. You—just what the hell are you harboring?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The divine voice spoke as if disgusted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-If I had known something like that was nestled inside you, I wouldn’t have chosen you as a vessel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know either. What is that thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-…Darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Itaca’s gaze turned toward the dark region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Even I cannot fathom its depth. A horrifying darkness. Do you have any guesses?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not really.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-It’s your inner world, isn’t it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if you say that… I genuinely don’t know what it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he had known something resided within his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second waveform the Designer had mentioned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The remnants of the soul the Saintess had spoken of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally, the red moon revealed during World Liberation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What they all had in common was a familiarity with demonic energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But so what?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t like his soul was some stray hair he could pluck out just because he didn’t like it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he could do was live with the lingering unease tucked somewhere in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But seeing it directly like this…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the space so deep and dark that even light failed to reflect from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt far more real than simply being told that something existed within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unsettling aura sent goosebumps crawling across his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’ve been busy dealing with that thing this whole time?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Yes. I wanted to rest and accumulate strength in peace, but because of that, I couldn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You’ve had it rough where I couldn’t see.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the darkness, Oscar asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you completely get rid of it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Who do you think I am? Most negative energies are erased just by me approaching them. But even when I pour out my full power of light, it doesn’t disappear. That alone tells you it’s no ordinary thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed even Itaca couldn’t clearly identify what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment of thought, Oscar spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I’ll have to make contact with it myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-What? That’s far too dangerous!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know it’s dangerous. But there’s no other way. It’s pulling me in right now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I don’t get rid of this suction, my consciousness won’t return. I might like nature, but I don’t want to end up as a vegetable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Grr…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Itaca let out a short groan, unable to refute him, and simply added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Then I recommend taking that one with you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning his gaze, Oscar saw something like a small snowman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, since its exterior was made of ice, maybe it was an ice man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this—wait, don’t tell me this is the power of extreme cold?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-That’s right. It was pushed aside in my battle with that thing and has been cowering in a corner, watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-…….\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cold lowered its head as if dejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In another place, it would probably strut around like nobility, but having met the wrong master, it was reduced to this pitiful state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar lightly picked up the cold and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why this guy all of a sudden?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-With its power, it should at least be able to buy you enough time to escape in a crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fair enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it couldn’t defeat that darkness, it could at least manage that much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if agreeing, the cold raised both its ice arms high, expressing confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. Then I’m going.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Good luck. I’ll keep weakening it as much as I can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly walked toward the region submerged in darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The darkness that had been continuously pulling him trembled as if shuddering when he approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just what kind of thing you are.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Oscar stood in the pitch-black center and stretched out his hand—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space twisted, and his vision distorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first thing to react was his sense of smell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A stench—like rotting flesh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On top of that, his eyes stung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must have been due to the thick gray smog that stabbed at his lungs with every breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Where is this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surroundings that had clearly been filled with darkness had, at some point, turned into an endless wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to look around, but he couldn’t even move freely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as though he had entered someone else’s body, completely losing control of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step. Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unknown figure walked across the wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After walking for a long time, ruins appeared, and between the buildings were things piled up like mountains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not all of them were dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some were still barely breathing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kh… kgh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haa… haa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Groans mixed with pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fading breaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unknown figure soon approached a man on the verge of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, practically a corpse, gathered what little strength he had left and reached out his arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unknown figure took his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corpse-like man opened his dry lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please… our… mission…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those final words, the strength drained from his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holding his hand tightly, the unknown figure spoke in a dry voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It will be fulfilled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps reassured by those words,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the man’s ragged breathing steadied, and he peacefully closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After holding the now-dead man’s hand for a long while,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the being began to walk again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He unerringly sought out those on the brink of death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each time, they left behind their final words, and the unknown figure nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who is that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Oscar had to question whether this was his own memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he had experienced similar things, walking through ruined villages after battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had never seen a place this desolate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like a world dyed in gray smog, as if the end of days had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After letting go of another corpse’s hand, the unknown being slowly rose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the shared vision began to drift backward, revealing his form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His face…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It couldn’t be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the neck, it was as if submerged in darkness—nothing could be discerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the viewpoint kept retreating, it suddenly came to a halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the unknown being slowly turned and looked this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘……’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the being emanated a demonic energy as cleanly refined as vegetables prepared by a master chef.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was it just his imagination that their gazes met?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if to prove it wasn’t, the being spoke in a flat voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you lack the confidence to bear it, hand it over even now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What did that mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who the hell are you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to ask, but no voice came out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, he had no physical body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step. Step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The being approached, reaching out toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t avoid it—he had no legs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A suction force from the being’s grasp pulled him in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance closed in an instant, and the hand was right in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would be caught.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I’m caught…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything would be taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That thought instinctively flashed through his mind,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and a chilling cold ran up a spine that may not even exist—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A freezing energy burst forth, freezing everything around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not just the grasp, but the ruined buildings, the fading breaths of the people—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>even time itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From above the being’s darkness-shrouded neck, he could still feel a burning gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gritting his teeth, Oscar forcibly raised his consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that the suction that had trapped him was gone,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>his consciousness surged upward, ignoring everything around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff, huff!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The breath he had been holding burst out roughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood-mixed saliva dripped onto the floor, the sight searing into his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…can you…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…are you conscious…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Oscar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar! Can you hear me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, Edna’s voice—once a chaotic noise—became clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barely managing to steady himself, Oscar finally looked around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moon’s power chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had returned to the place where he had consumed the Dragon Heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…How many days has it been?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was hoarse, as if quite some time had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Four days. It took much longer than expected. Are you alright?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her words, Oscar quickly checked his condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No—if anything, he felt better than ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from his hazy mind, his body was in peak condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What the hell was that?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The memory that surfaced when he came into contact with the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was definitely not his memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nor could it possibly belong to the younger Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘More importantly, that demonic energy I felt from that thing…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vast and yet pure—a kind of demonic energy unlike anything found in ordinary demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up until now, there had only been four beings in the demon realm who possessed such energy: the Four Great Counts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…the Emperor.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s already complicated expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2003,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.790Z",1,"novelbin.me","5d9786d5a9960c761e1d89f6e6817ce69247499feb2aa5d7adcb8c633699c2a3","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-357","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-355",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]