[{"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-64":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},1334960,1778,"Chapter 64","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-64",64,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 64: City of Dreamers (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar groaned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that’s why he had this drowsy feeling...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was another dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite giving up his room to Veronica to avoid falling asleep, he had dozed off anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, he hadn’t had proper rest in a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last time he got any real sleep was when he passed out in Baran City.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since then, he’d endured an intense training camp, where sleep was nearly nonexistent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All he managed was 30 minutes of meditation each day—naturally, the fatigue had built up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this place...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar narrowed his eyes as he scanned his surroundings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What lay before him was a remote mountain village—or, more accurately, the ruins of what had been a village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackling flames roared as a massive fire consumed the entire village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The acrid stench of smoke, the sickening smell of charred flesh, and the metallic tang of blood filled the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magiro Wilson, the brain of the White Tower, approached, shaking his head grimly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is horrific. Judging by the methods and traces, it’s the demons' work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, it had to be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in this twisted world, there were few who would slaughter a village on this scale, save for the demons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Any survivors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...None.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t the first time Oscar had seen a village reduced to ruins, but this time it felt worse than usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because just a few weeks ago, they had visited this very village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demons’ reconnaissance squad came here while they were staying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had swiftly dealt with the demons and saved the villagers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He still vividly remembered the elderly village chief clasping his wrinkled hands in gratitude, tearfully vowing to honor the White Tower as their saviors forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Persistent bastards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once demons set their sights on a target, they never gave up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would keep trying until they succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That relentless determination was something Oscar and the White Tower mages learned the hard way that day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They should’ve evacuated them to a major city no matter what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He should have ignored them and forced an evacuation even if they had pleaded about this being their lifelong home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he hadn’t foreseen this outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The weight of that misjudgment pressed heavily on his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wearing a somber expression, Oscar turned his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly but surely, the corpses scattered around the village began to rise and shuffle toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This, of course, wasn’t something that had actually happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...A distorted dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared impassively at the horde of zombies stumbling his way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them was the village chief, his deeply wrinkled hands still recognizable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Morning came, and Oscar woke naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clock read 6 a.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had slept for seven hours, yet he still felt drained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, he felt even more exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder—he had spent the entire night in his dream battling magic-resistant zombies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a quick wash, he stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The brisk morning air filled his lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snow must have fallen heavily overnight, as the world under the clear blue sky was blanketed in white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar took a moment to admire the pristine scene before walking down the snow-covered path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crunch, crunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every step left tracks in the snow, giving him a strange mix of guilt and satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar tilted his head when he arrived at the garage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bill, who was always there unless it was the crack of dawn, was nowhere to be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...Does he sleep in often?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waking someone from a deep sleep felt rude, but waiting around felt awkward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might as well run to the city for some exercise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The city at the bottom of the hill was about a 30-minute run away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He took off at a brisk pace, but it only took a few minutes for him to feel an inexplicable sense of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no one around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even for the early morning, it was strange not to see a single soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Picking up his pace, Oscar reached the city at full speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is anyone here?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice echoed through the empty streets, but there was no reply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the only sound in the entire city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is definitely...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His expression turned grim as he started searching the marketplace frantically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every shop was closed, the streets deserted, and even the square with the grand fountain was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huff, huff.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After running around for a while, he finally found people at an inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! Are you okay?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inn’s dining hall was packed with dozens of people, but all of them were slumped over, fast asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One person was even frozen mid-chew, a fork still in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Excuse me for a moment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Placing a hand on a man’s head, Oscar channeled his magic and narrowed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...It’s magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These people hadn’t fallen asleep naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spell so advanced that Oscar couldn’t break it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which means someone cast a spell on this entire city of over 5,000 people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, this kind of feat could only be pulled off by a high-level mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But one question lingered in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Why am I unaffected?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True, he had been an Archmage in his previous life, but now he was merely a Level 3 novice mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a high-level mage had deliberately cast this spell, he shouldn’t have been able to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That means...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A special kind of magic—something that had a connection to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar's thoughts began to approach a conclusion—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak, creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of someone walking outside the inn reached his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, Oscar immediately hid behind the bar, suppressing both his mana and his presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jingle, jingle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the small bell on the door jingled as someone entered the inn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Strange. I could’ve sworn I heard something from this direction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice belonged to a man with a rather light tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak, creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each step he took caused the old floorboards to groan, echoing in the otherwise quiet space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘His stride is steady, and his center of gravity is balanced.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant he was no ordinary person—likely a knight or a veteran mercenary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Was it my imagination? Then again, there's no way anyone could be awake right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear this person knew something about the current situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll subdue him first and interrogate him afterward.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Oscar finished deliberating, his ring glimmered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the man spun around, swinging his sword in a wide arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the figure struck by the blade dispersed into a faint mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...An illusion!?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing he had fallen into a trap, a powerful gust of wind erupted from behind, hurling him into a wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a loud noise, the man smashed through the wooden wall and tumbled into the snow-covered street, coughing up blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough, cough! A mage? How... how are you still standing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll be the one asking questions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emerging through a hole in the wall, Oscar fixed him with a cold stare and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer me. What have you done to the people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Keuk. Want to hear it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man staggered to his feet, letting out a sly chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Oscar shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, forget it. It’ll be easier to ask once you’re subdued.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hahaha! You must be feeling quite confident after one lucky ambush, huh...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sinister grin, the man suddenly swung his sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A mage who lets their guard down at this range deserves to die!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sword aura?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade, laced faintly but unmistakably with magic, surged toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by its pale glow, he’s probably a level 4 user.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar initially prepared to deflect the attack with a Wind Shield, as he always did, but quickly revised his plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how faint the aura, he knew better than anyone how devastating sword aura could be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, evasion would be the right move… but with the artifact his master left him, there’s no need.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snatch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar grabbed the incoming blade with his left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? How…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s eyes widened in disbelief, nearly popping out of their sockets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He quickly looked at Oscar’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Barehanded?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopping sword aura with his bare hands and emerging unscathed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That could only mean one thing—his opponent was far more skilled than he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could he be a high-ranking mage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As alarm bells rang in the man’s head, Oscar murmured,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The morning breeze is cold. It should be enough to cool your boiling killing intent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wind’s Wrath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s soft-spoken words rippled through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s eyes bulged as a blood-curdling scream tore from his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“AAAAAAAHHHH!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the same spell Oscar had once used during Gordon’s interrogation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A close-range technique that sent wind magic into the target’s body, ripping them apart from the inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without a doubt, it delivered pain no ordinary human could endure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“KAAAAHHH!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man screamed so loudly it seemed his vocal cords might snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, he trembled violently, begging,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“P-please... please, I beg you...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the winds receded, Oscar looked down at the panting man and said,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re ready to talk, nod your head.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“K-Kuh... kuhk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, the sound resembled sobbing, but it soon shifted into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar’s eyes narrowed, the man lifted his head and laughed like a madman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s so funny?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha… stupid bastard. You think I’d talk? Just kill me. Nothing will change anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He endured that torture?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t something anyone could withstand with ordinary mental strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In my experience, there are only two kinds of people who survive this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One was the truly strong, unshaken even with a blade at their throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other was those so far gone their minds had already broken beyond repair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This guy’s definitely the latter.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clenching his lips, Oscar grabbed the man by the collar and shook him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer me! What did you do to the people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, see this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man extended his pinky finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he infused it with mana, the finger turned black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m one of the Black Fingers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...The Black Fingers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing an unfamiliar name, Oscar furrowed his brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man’s eyes widened in mock surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Kekeke, so you’re really just some clueless bumpkin. Listen carefully. We, the Black Fingers, are...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning in, he whispered softly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...a group devoted to the Great Emperor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the word “Great Emperor” escaped his lips, the air grew suffocating with a murderous aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s eyes turned icy cold as he muttered under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who... did you say you worship?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1772,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","076b08a5507429599c591d41b1d1fcc97e4210305764dc02685ee212bb7b9209","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-65","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-63",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]