[{"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-360":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},1334631,1778,"Chapter 360","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-360",360,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 360: The Weight of the Soul (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When science advances, new professions are bound to emerge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A prime example would be how the rise of magi-engineering gave birth to engineers and researchers who handle it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conversely, there are also professions that disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Like the shamans of old.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shamans—tribal sorcerers who claimed they could handle and even communicate with souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, it has been quite some time since that peculiar profession vanished into the annals of history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, until recently, the only ones who dealt with souls were the mages of the Black Tower…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-What? You don’t like something about your soul, so you want me to neatly cut out just that part?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. Can’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-…Do you think a soul is like fingernails or toenails? And as you know, handling souls has been prohibited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if I brought authorization from the Imperial Court?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Even then, it would be difficult. In the first place, the souls handled by the Black Tower are nothing more than a kind of material. There has never even been a school of study that delves deeply into the soul itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kiri Gloria, whom he had contacted for the first time in a while since Null City, refused firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After ending the communication, Oscar let out a faint sigh and sank limply into the sofa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, dealing with souls was never going to be easy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To begin with, he wasn’t even sure whether something like a soul truly existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if it was just an imaginary concept created by humans—and nothing like that actually existed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After being lost in idle thoughts for quite some time, Oscar got up from his seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘There might be something useful among the dragons’ records.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering his subspace, Oscar walked around with his hands clasped behind his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the inscribed characters scattered throughout were still black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he had to put it into numbers, only about 8% of all inscriptions had been completed and turned into golden letters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…When am I supposed to go through all of this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar sighed as he gazed at the endless sea of text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly, on a whim, he opened his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reminded him of how Edna had manipulated that vast amount of information using only her voice back on the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Search all records containing the keyword ‘soul.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the words left his mouth, the entire space shifted as if being reorganized, and the letters began to move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So this works.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a surprised expression, Oscar looked at the records gathering in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quite a number of records surfaced, but unfortunately, all of them were still uninscribed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much he touched the blackened text, he couldn’t access it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With lingering disappointment, he tried searching using the keyword ‘demons’ this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a few records floated to the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, the dragons had left this star as soon as the war began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These records were probably all written by Edna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving the subspace, Oscar headed straight to Edna’s room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mmgh! Mmph!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seiro, whose limbs were bound, shouted something upon seeing him, but with a gag stuffed in his mouth, it was impossible to understand what he was saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t know you had such tastes…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a misunderstanding.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Edna, who had been calmly reading a book, replied.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He kept making noise, so I simply gagged him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I told him that ownership of all the records had been transferred to Oscar, he caused quite a scene.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, I see.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a dragon’s perspective, that was only natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those records were treasures of their kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anyway, what brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I had something to ask. Do you happen to know of any groups or beings that deal with souls?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Souls? Have you suddenly developed an interest in that field?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not thinking much of it, she pondered for a moment before speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the past, there were many shamans in this land, but their lineage has since been cut off, making them difficult to find now. At the very least, I believe there is an old sect in the Yan Kingdom called the Spirit Gate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spirit Gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Committing the name to memory, Oscar asked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s nothing like that in the Empire? If not, I might have to go all the way to the Yan Kingdom, but since I don’t speak the language, I’d prefer to handle it nearby if possible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, ever since dealing with souls was prohibited…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, she spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, one place does come to mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, just a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood up and approached the bookshelf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of books, it was filled with what seemed to be thousands of newspapers arranged by date.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sure… it was around here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pulling out a newspaper, she skimmed through the back pages and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is it. Please take a look at the article in the bottom right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Receiving the newspaper, Oscar read the small article printed in the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Our institute is an officially recognized organization authorized by the Imperial Court, conducting research aimed at advancing next-generation magic-power and mental integration technology. We are recruiting applicants for in-depth research on the soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ Qualifications\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>▪ Physically and mentally healthy men and women\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>▪ Those possessing magical power preferred\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>■ Experimental Compensation\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>▪ High rewards based on participation frequency\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>▪ Guaranteed care by Imperial-certified healers\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Future Soul Research Institute?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The name reeked strongly of a scam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since it was said to be authorized by the Imperial Court, it must be a legitimate institution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless someone had bullets lodged neatly into both hemispheres of their brain, they wouldn’t lie about something like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of place is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I only know of it through the newspaper myself. However, if it’s an officially recognized institution authorized by the Imperial Court, wouldn’t it be trustworthy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s true enough. I’ll go check it out first. I need to find out where it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I hope you achieve good results.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to his room, Oscar searched for information about the Future Soul Research Institute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there was no information about it in any books.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could this be a secret institution?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t unheard of for the Empire’s secret organizations to recruit applicants in this manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief moment of consideration, Oscar directly contacted the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Oscar, is something the matter?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Greetings, Your Majesty. Have you had your meal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-I have, so get to the point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Do you happen to know of the Future Soul Research Institute? It is said to be an officially recognized institution authorized by the Imperial Court.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Hmm? Ah, yes. That must be the public-facing name of the 13th Research Institute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 13th Research Institute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Emperor remembered it, then at the very least, it wasn’t a group of fraudsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly does it do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-I believe it analyzes and researches souls using magi-engineering. Why do you ask?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was curious since there was no information about it. I’ve recently developed a strong interest in souls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Souls, you say… Has something happened to your body?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way he could say that it felt like there was a demon inside his soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially not to the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m in perfect health, to the point that it’s a problem. In any case, thank you for informing me. And…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hesitated briefly, wondering whether he should offer even a small word of comfort regarding the Master of the Yellow Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-We’ll end it here. I must attend to state affairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, yes. Please take care.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor unilaterally cut off the communication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had likely seen through Oscar’s hesitation during that brief silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it probably also meant he didn’t want to hear any words of comfort regarding the Yellow Tower Master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Lonely. The seat above all others.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A position where even a simple word of comfort was hard to come by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shrugging his shoulders, Oscar submitted an application to the research institute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The acceptance letter arrived three days later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is it this way?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The institute was located in a small city in the northeast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he arrived at the appointed place, a man soon approached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you… Mr. Oscar Crucian?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct. Are you from the institute?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, a pleasure to meet you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed in a neat suit, the man smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was quite surprised. To think that one of the most renowned figures in the magical academic world would apply as a participant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve recently become very curious about souls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s wonderful. The more you learn about souls, the more there is to learn. Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He extended his hand for a handshake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My introduction is late. I am Chan, head of security at the 13th—no, the Future Soul Research Institute.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oscar Crucian.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A solid strength could be felt from the hand he clasped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A martial artist… level 7?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For something like the 13th Research Institute, it would be relatively low in priority among secret organizations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet, the head of its security team was level 7.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected of the Imperial Court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This way, please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After getting into the back seat of the car he opened, Chan sat in the passenger seat and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the driver set off smoothly, Oscar asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Am I the only applicant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. You were specially invited, while the other applicants will be arriving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, special treatment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you wish, we can give you a tour of the institute before the experiment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, I’d appreciate that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar responded with interest piqued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he toured the institute, he would be able to gauge their level in handling souls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The car soon left the city and entered a remote mountainous area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The institute, located halfway up the mountain, consisted of several massive connected buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It must have cost quite a bit to build structures of this scale in a place like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, I’ve heard it was cleared during the war to be used as a military outpost. Of course, the buildings were constructed afterward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After passing easily through the gate, the car came to a stop in front of a building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Chan after getting out, he opened the door with the card key hanging around his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please, come in.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stepping inside, a pristine white interior unfolded before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was so clean it felt as though he had entered his own subspace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, is this him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar stood idly in the corridor, a researcher approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chan nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be giving him a tour of the institute.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, in that case, I’ll guide you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the researcher took the lead, with Chan and Oscar following behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar looked at the glass tubes installed throughout the institute and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What goes in there?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, it’s not something that goes in—it’s already inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The researcher chuckled as if amused and moved toward one of the glass tubes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each tube had a magi-engineering device attached, displaying weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“24 grams—that’s quite a healthy state. It seems to be adapting well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This isn’t a den of lunatics, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar briefly debated whether he should run, as he watched the researcher gaze lovingly at the empty glass tube.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keeping his eyes fixed on the interior of the tube, the researcher asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By any chance, do you know how much a soul weighs, Mr. Oscar?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The weight of a soul? I’m not sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t a fish market—he had never once thought of measuring something like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To begin with, did a soul even have weight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even a first-rate mage doesn’t know this, it seems. The very first study conducted in our lab was measuring the weight of the soul.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s possible?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. We brought in individuals suffering from incurable diseases or those at the brink of death due to old age, treated them with the utmost care, and conducted our research. A total of 507 cases. The method was to determine whether there was a difference between their body weight before and after death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was quite an intriguing idea and approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curiosity piqued, Oscar asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the result?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“21.3 grams. That was the average weight of the soul we measured. Even more astonishing was that the higher the individual’s level, the heavier their soul. A level 6 knight’s soul weighed as much as 32 grams.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be honest, it was quite an interesting study.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, thinking about how his considerable taxes were being used in a place like this did sting a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then the number ‘24g’ written in front of this glass tube—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That is the weight of the soul currently inside. A well-developed soul can reach up to 41 grams.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he was speaking so seriously, there wasn’t much Oscar could say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly changed the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what kind of experiment will we be conducting this time? Putting souls on a diet?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, this one is a bit more daring.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The researcher turned his head and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a soul coexistence experiment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2187,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.790Z",1,"novelbin.me","8b1f37d46acafdde5244ca70314a7bd4277954049d9089b45289c0b7aecf923f","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-361","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-359",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]