[{"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-42":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},1334817,1778,"Chapter 42","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-42",42,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 42: The Celestial Voice (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"........\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Dokgo faced his opponent, he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only family who had been with him for decades was now lost, never to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How did he die?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"His head was blown to pieces.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……Then, at least it must have been painless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Contrary to what one might expect, Dokgo neither showed much agitation nor did he reveal any intense bloodlust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, he spoke in a calm, almost bittersweet voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, I always figured this day would come. I had a feeling he’d die before me. His skills didn’t match his filthy personality, and he was never very cautious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"........\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But still, now that it’s happened, it does feel a bit disappointing. This was supposed to be our last job together.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you plan to retire?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No way, I’m far too young for that. I was just offered a spot at the top of the field.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top of the field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar chuckled in response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Interesting. So, it’s a battle between an assassin from the top and a mage from the top?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh? Isn’t White Tower ranked at the bottom? I hear they’re usually last or second to last.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.... It'll be different this year.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered, his face slightly flushed, feeling like a die-hard fan of a sports team that finished last every season.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing that, Dokgo opened his mouth to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It seems you don’t know much. Being the best in the field means…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a faint mist, a violet aura of magic seeped from his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exposed to this sticky energy, the hallway walls and ceiling slowly began to melt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is what it takes to get to the top.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…………Poisonous Qi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given that his opponent was an assassin, he had expected someone with either enhancement or speed skills, not someone with such a troublesome, unique technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Cool, right? And when I condense it like this…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The purple aura, which had been spreading like mist, gathered into a dense, fist-sized sphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poisonous energy was so intense that simply standing in the same space made his head spin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo flicked the sphere with his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bam! Sizzle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sphere shot toward the wall, melting the concrete as if it were chocolate left out in the sun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, what do you think? Looks deadly, doesn’t it? Imagine what would happen if a person were hit by it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that very moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sizzle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The poisonous sphere shot out, melting the wall to Oscar’s left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".......!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly jerked his head to avoid it, but Dokgo laughed with a sinister grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, I forgot to mention that even a slight touch will poison you. It might already be too late for you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, he hadn’t really forgotten; he just hadn’t said it on purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar nodded knowingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know. It looked obvious.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......What? Why do you look so unaffected?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo's eyes went wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, his opponent should be gasping for air or paralyzed by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s simple. I’ve surrounded myself with magic, so no outside air is reaching my body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……Then you can’t breathe?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m generating clean oxygen within my body.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Dokgo’s face turned dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that even possible?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the kind of thing you need to be able to do to be called the best.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd taken action as soon as he realized how potent his opponent’s poison was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, he wasn’t new to facing people who specialized in toxins, given his history as the former Master of the Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……Interesting. So it wasn’t just a coincidence that you killed my brother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo smirked and casually flicked his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, the poison broke into dozens of fragments and shot toward Oscar like a machine gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Acceleration』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar heightened his physical speed, focusing magic in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I’ll break through at once.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the way, he dodged every speck of poison, regardless of size.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t merely worried about getting drenched like in a drizzle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each drop of poison carried lethal power, enough to be considered an instant-kill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his hands clasped behind his back, Dokgo laughed in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Floor, walls, ceiling—the opponent was using the entire corridor three-dimensionally to avoid every bit of poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait, did he really dodge them all? This is beyond a Level 4 skill.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Dokgo’s eyes dropped to see Oscar closing the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sawn-off shotgun named Trinity was aimed at his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Oscar pulled the trigger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Acceleration』 『Enhancement』, 『Penetration』.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These three spells were combined in a single weapon, which meant one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brutally fast, brutally strong, and brutally piercing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"……Whoa. That was close.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sizzle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But even that extraordinary bullet melted, unable to penetrate the poisonous barrier Dokgo had wrapped around his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met up close, and Dokgo sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Got it. My idiot brother must’ve been killed by this, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\".......!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With ghost-like speed, Dokgo's kick landed squarely in Oscar’s solar plexus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar was sent flying sideways, shattering a window and falling out of the building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Agh… Ugh…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pain was so intense that his mind went blank, and he couldn’t even scream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both legs were broken, and he couldn’t feel strength in his left arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though he had summoned a wind shield at the last moment, the damage was this severe, revealing the overwhelming difference in physical power and mana reserves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a gap that couldn’t be closed by experience alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wow, you’re really hurt. That must be painful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo leisurely descended the stairs as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, shall we finish this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he said this, Dokgo’s gaze remained fixed on Trinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if he was certain that, without it, nothing Oscar did could harm him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh… grrr…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar gritted his teeth as he lifted his upper body, and Dokgo scratched the back of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why don’t you just stay down? The fight seems over. No need to be stubborn.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In response, Oscar raised his trembling right hand, loaded his weapon, and aimed it at his opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he plans to die fighting, even if it means death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They say you're a warrior of the forest. You're pretty tough, aren't you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Respecting his resolve, Dokgo gathered his magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Trinity spat out flames once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I told you, it's useless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo's poisonous qi not only melted the bullets but even swallowed Trinity itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssssss!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gun, a legacy from Gunslinger Jack, melted away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, it’s really goodbye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Dokgo prepared to throw his elongated toxic blade like a spear...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop! Pop-pop-pop-pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Waaaahhhhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, fireworks exploded from the stage, and a roar even louder than before erupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…She remembered well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the deafening cheers, Oscar smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-We'll rehearse just one thing. It’s simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he had taught Marin was one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-When you hear two gunshots from backstage, set off the fireworks and get the crowd to cheer as loudly as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That cheer would soon become his weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar drew in his magic, completing a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Binding Sound』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire dome of Baran was filled with the combined noise of cheers and fireworks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzzz...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above the dome, it sounded like the cries of hundreds of thousands of cicadas in unison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What the hell is this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing an ominous threat, Dokgo hastily enveloped himself in all his mana for protection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using up all his remaining power, Oscar transformed the sound into another spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Noise Wave』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zzzzzz!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a thunderbolt from the sky, the sound wave struck Dokgo square on the crown of his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh... ughhh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo couldn't even scream properly, his body convulsing as if electrocuted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood was already streaming from his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in this state, Dokgo glared at him with bloodshot eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What a tenacious bastard.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His determination was truly extraordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his condition, he had tried to kill him with a toxic blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that he had lost his hearing, he was effectively disoriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ughhh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The toxic blade he aimed at Oscar flew off in the wrong direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Oscar gathered his remaining magic and completed another spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Wind Cutter』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade of wind flew faster than ever and slashed Dokgo's neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dokgo collapsed to his knees and died on the spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Confirming the outcome, Oscar finally allowed himself to collapse, lying back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah... hah. That’s what it means to be the best in the business, kid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among all the opponents he had faced, this one was the strongest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his current level, he couldn’t guarantee victory if they fought again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Strong foes like that will probably keep appearing out of nowhere.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, he knew he needed to regain his full strength as soon as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But right now... that can wait. First, let’s... just rest.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Exhausted, Oscar closed his eyes and fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Hotel Room in Baran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph, hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman sat cross-legged on a sofa, humming as she read the newspaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a man entered the room and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Senior, I've got good news and bad news. Which one would you like first?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good news, always.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That new recruit’s brother, the one we were supposed to take in… he’s dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, that's genuinely good news.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman with ash-gray hair sparkled with delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had found a gem of an assassin in this city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His only weakness was his brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been debating whether to kill his brother once his initiation was complete, so it was one less worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Okay, so what’s the bad news?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well... the recruit died too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What nonsense is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her expression turned cold, her eyes narrowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Would you like me to make some new bad news? Want to join them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"D-Don’t be mad at me. Apparently, your younger brother killed him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She folded her newspaper and leaned forward, reaching out her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The junior man nervously handed her a photo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is him, right? Killian Lockwood, your younger brother. Seems he was hired as security for the opposition.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were two photos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One showed a bodyguard following behind Marin Maria on an outing, and the other showed the same bodyguard being carried out on a stretcher from the Baran dome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she closely examined the photos, one corner of her mouth twisted slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And who do you think this is?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...The Saint of the White Tower, isn’t that your younger brother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing she was entering a dark mood, the junior's voice became cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossing her at a time like this was a quick way to get hurt, regardless of seniority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...I don’t know. Has his face changed that much since I last saw him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person in the photos wasn’t her brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just some insolent fool pretending to be him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman brushed off her seat, turned her head, and gazed out the hotel window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her crimson eyes sparkled like jewels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I need to see this face in person. Just who does this bastard think he is... pretending to be my brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Clara]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1844,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.509Z",1,"novelbin.me","ce2b4e9e37740c8ee6162caee594fcd8b4db4ace517aca701d3302a1042e8abd","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-280","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-279",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]