[{"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-66":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},1334962,1778,"Chapter 66","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-66",66,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 66: The City of Dreamers (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar scanned the unfocused gazes directed at him, deep in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Come to think of it, the butler at the Vince mansion did mention that no stores would be open on Christmas.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But in this dreamlike street, some shops were operating as if nothing was out of the ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This upscale restaurant was one of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Which means... the people working in these open establishments are all…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all distorted entities created by the Nightmare Baron—like Veronica's parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he realized that, a waiter silently crept up behind him and swung a wine bottle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Wind Bullet』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even turning around, he fired a bullet that punctured the waiter's head clean through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hissss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the dead waiter dissolved into black smoke, the customers who witnessed it murmured in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Some-someone just died…?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A murder, it's a murder!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Run!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not realizing the waiter wasn't human, the customers screamed in terror and fled outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Actually, this works out better for me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the patrons gone, there’d be no interruptions during the fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Veronica and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now you see, don't you? They're not human.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was too stunned to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey, you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar was about to add something when enemies started pouring in from all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of figures armed with steak knives, cellos, and frying pans rushed at him en masse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaping onto a table to evade them, he began shooting them one by one in the head as he fled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘About 30 of them? If it’s just this many, I can handle it alone…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he allowed himself a moment of optimism—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The front and back doors of the restaurant shattered as another wave of lifeless-eyed enemies surged in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it. How many are there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were so many that the end of their procession was nowhere in sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed every corrupted entity in the shopping district had gathered here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This might be a bit much to handle alone.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number was overwhelming, but the spatial limitations of the building were the real problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Air Explosion』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar cast a wide-area spell from the second floor, blasting back the enemies climbing the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Veronica! Snap out of it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite his repeated cries, she remained frozen, overwhelmed by confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica’s pupils trembled as she watched the chaotic battle unfold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are we really inside a dream? And my parents—they’re false entities?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shaking her head as if to deny the idea, her mind swirled with memories of happy moments spent with her parents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So… all these memories, are they lies fabricated by that Nightmare Baron?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes quivered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear crept in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it were true, then who was she, standing here now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a seemingly ordinary girl with a poor but loving family—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To suddenly being a girl with no family at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Veronica.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mother and father approached her, speaking softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s leave this place while we can.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s too dangerous here. Let’s go back home and wait for things to settle.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Home?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that word, a familiar image flashed through her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A picturesque cottage atop a hill overlooking a green meadow dotted with delicate white flowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She remembered hanging laundry with her mother there, while her father chopped firewood nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even amidst the hard work, they would always smile at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For reasons she couldn’t explain, tears streamed down her cheeks as the memory surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s go. Quickly now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mother, looking frightened, gently grabbed her arm and tried to pull her away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Veronica’s feet wouldn’t budge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Veronica?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing her name, she asked calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The white flowers that bloom in front of our house. What are they called?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flowers? Well, they’re just… flowers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Daffodils. And if my memory’s right, it was Mom who told me their name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve been forgetful lately; I’m sorry. But let’s talk after we leave here, okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, Veronica, listen to your mother. We don’t know when we might get caught in the fighting…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mom. Dad.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned slowly, looking directly at the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are your names?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their faces stiffened awkwardly, as if they were malfunctioning, before they let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What kind of question is that? You’re not seriously believing what that boy said, are you? I’m your mother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Veronica, no matter what anyone says, I’m your father. We’re family. That’s all that matters.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica glanced over at Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the second-floor landing, he was desperately holding back more than a hundred enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corrupted entities were now using their own bodies to form ladders to climb up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cornered, Oscar struggled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chef grabbed his ankle while a baker from a nearby shop latched onto his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, even then, he didn’t give up, fighting to fend off the endless waves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, the scene reminded her of the time she collapsed pathetically at the power plant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She recalled the way he had patted her head, reassuring her that everything would be fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica spoke suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Stroke my head.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Now? In this situation, you’re asking me to—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do it. Quickly!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mother hesitantly reached out and stroked her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the touch for a moment, Veronica chuckled bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…What a joke. People always say a mother’s touch is the best, but it’s nonsense.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the warmest touch she’d ever felt was the one Oscar had given her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica muttered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry, but I don’t think I can go with you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Veronica! We can make you happy if you come with us!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren’t we the family you’ve always wished for? If you come with us, you can live without worries, in peace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Maybe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if this was a dream and they were false entities,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>she couldn’t deny that she had felt a fleeting happiness here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But going with them wasn’t an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My name is Veronica Fricks. A mage of the White Tower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her gaze shifted to one corner of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To that idiot, cornered and overwhelmed in the shop’s corner, who had taught her this lesson:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…A White Tower mage never abandons their comrades.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially not for something as fleeting as an illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle! Spark!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharp mana crackled around her like electricity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Veronica...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the panicked voices of the two before her, she softly bid them farewell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Goodbye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Wind Press』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compressed air crushed the two, dissolving them into black smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica let out a bitter smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Argh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nowhere left to retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cornered at the edge, Oscar bit his lip as he watched the enemies close in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, he was whittling down their numbers, but there were far too many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how many he killed, their ranks didn’t seem to thin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar-style Martial Arts, Secret Technique Chapter 1:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wave Sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of the twisted beings exploded all at once, scattering into smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ordinarily, when an ally is horrifically killed beside you, fear is the natural reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these twisted beings didn’t so much as blink, filling the gaps without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a moment of carelessness, he lost sight of one wielding a steak knife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar widened his eyes at the frying pan descending toward his head—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Krrrrunch!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A compressed gust of wind fell, crushing the twisted beings, quite literally, into the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the thick black smoke that had filled the view began to dissipate, an all-too-familiar face awkwardly broke the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… big sis is here. You’ve been waiting, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Don’t call yourself my sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of sister would cause this much chaos?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar met her sheepish gaze with half-lidded eyes, she avoided his stare and smacked his back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, I showed up, didn’t I? Besides, I got here before anything really bad happened.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Before anything really bad? Look at me! I’m scraped up here, cut here, and burned over there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Well, then, isn’t it lucky I arrived before you died?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What an absolutely selfish woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s exasperated expression melted into a dry chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ha, you really are a piece of work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, geez, sorry, okay? But seriously, right now….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She fixed her gaze on the beings surrounding the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Getting rid of these things takes priority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t argue with that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh! Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With deft movements, Veronica manipulated the threads woven between her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were magical threads, conjured from mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why bother taking them out one by one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s sweep them all away at once!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssssshhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The magical threads burst forth from her fingers, slicing through the restaurant ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is ridiculous….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar couldn’t help but grumble, even as he hurled the massive chunks of falling debris at the enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRASH! BOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twisted beings crushed under the rubble disintegrated into clouds of smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? Feels satisfying, doesn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yeah, maybe a little.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take a breather. I’ll handle the rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She swung a chunk of debris tethered to her magical threads like a slingshot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each swing, groups of twisted beings evaporated into smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spotted Veronica and Oscar in the marketplace! We’re joining in!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Senior mages from the White Tower descended through the gaping hole in the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar finally felt a wave of relief as he let out a small sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The last twisted being dissipated into smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happens now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A senior mage approached, asking the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar explained everything he knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To my knowledge, once we eliminate all the twisted beings, we automatically wake up from the dream.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? Then why are we still…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, it’s starting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s gaze swept the surroundings as he murmured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he said, the senior mage standing nearby vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if they had never been there to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the… that’s anticli—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Veronica could finish her thought, she vanished too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The senior mage let out a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it’s over. We just have to wait, huh? See you outside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, see you in reality.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the senior mage also disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now left alone in the suddenly silent street, Oscar instinctively spread his mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…They’re all gone.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Detecting no human life signals in his search, he felt reassured—until he heard it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clink! Clatter!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shards, like broken glass, began raining from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, he looked up to see the world itself crumbling, like old wallpaper being torn apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d experienced countless dreams, but witnessing the collapse of the dream world was a first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Is it because this dream space housed tens of thousands of people?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the question formed in his mind, he felt it—a gaze from beyond the crumbling sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a gaze steeped in malice and contempt for humanity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it also bore a sharp, almost obsessive curiosity directed at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s face hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen such eyes before, on a demon lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Nightmare Baron.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Nightmare Baron looked at him, he stared back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, the demon’s deep voice resonated in his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—How amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if the Baron found this all unbearably entertaining, a low laugh rumbled through the air, and the world shattered completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—We’ll meet again, mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1880,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","b7e4ea04a6c066e401f4d95801ae3137079890f09852a1251c341cf026e00e85","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-67","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-65",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]