[{"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-79":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},1334975,1778,"Chapter 79","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-79",79,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 79: The Special Operations Division (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica Fricks took a small, deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That guy stronger than me? Ridiculous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She scoffed at the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been two years since she reached Level 4.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in her academy days, supported by the White Tower, she had already been an intermediate mage in her final year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I hate to say this myself, but I have talent.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And she wasn’t some lazy, overindulgent fool basking in that talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was confident, proud, and absolutely sure: no mage had worked harder than her in the past two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ve never skipped my morning training, not even once.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She avoided outings, knowing even a cold might disrupt her training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She rigorously managed herself, pushing her body to the brink of overwork.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I may not have reached Level 5 yet, nor can I claim to surpass Killian, but…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, she prided herself on being one of the top two Level 4 mages of the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That pride was her fortress, built through endless effort, and the driving force to keep going tomorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Watch closely.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mage who had only just reached Level 4 three months ago?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with talent, there was no way to overcome two years of effort infused with blood, sweat, and tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narrowing her sharp eyes, she opened her mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bring it on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At her words, Fran glanced back at Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you looking at me? Look at Veronica.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh, are you sure it’s okay to use that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you suddenly talking about now? When you fought me, you blasted away like you wanted me dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well… that’s because I was sure you wouldn’t die no matter what.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Same with Veronica. She might get hurt, sure, but she definitely won’t die.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar warned him with a stern expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Attack her at full power. If you hold back, you might be the one who ends up hurt.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sorry, I think I got ahead of myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That single statement snapped Fran back to his senses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to face forward again, he readied himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she was prepared to cast magic at any moment with her quick-cast ability, Veronica didn’t attack first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her posture conveyed one thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s telling me to reveal my cards first.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever it was, she was ready to crush it head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, hearing someone weaker claim they were stronger would surely get under anyone’s skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright… Here I come.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Fran untied the cord around his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A whip?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica’s eyebrows twitched at the unexpected weapon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mages from the White Tower typically didn’t use such tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I recall, whip users are mostly from the speed-focused factions of the Yellow Tower.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One thing was clear: a whip didn’t seem to complement the White Tower’s wind magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A whip relies on speed-based attacks.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she could block just the first strike, she could unleash a barrage of spells before he could recover the whip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I just need to block it once.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She heightened her concentration, tracking Fran’s movements down to the subtlest details:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the positioning of his feet, the rise and fall of his chest with each breath, every little clue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, his body moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The ankle.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first motion wasn’t his arm but his ankle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It twisted, followed by his calf, thigh, pelvis, and waist in smooth succession.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force traveled through his body, culminating in his shoulder turning as he struck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dance of Steel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound wasn’t something a simple whip could produce.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It echoed like the sky splitting apart, ringing in her ears like a song of doom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively, Veronica deployed a Wind Shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No, that’s not enough.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly layered two 『Air Cushions』 between them, used 『Wind Shield』 to slow the whip’s approach,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and finally, formed three layers of 『Wind Shields』 for an impenetrable defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A master of quick-cast magic, she conjured six spells in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling a moment of relief, she froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What...?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She saw it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The slowed whip effortlessly tearing through her three Wind Shields as if they were paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A burning pain flared along her side as her body was lifted off the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She crashed and rolled several times across the training field, landing outside its bounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the exchange, Killian unfolded his crossed arms in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That attack just now…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he have been able to block it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer was obvious without much thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Impossible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blocking that brute-force attack head-on was nothing short of suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he ever faced it, evasion would be his only choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“D-damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dusting herself off, Veronica stood back up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she hadn’t dissipated the final impact, she would’ve been carried off on a stretcher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Veronica, are you alr—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran started, but abruptly clamped his mouth shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The expression on her face wasn’t one of pain but seething frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any concern or sympathy would only fan the flames of her indignation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The match is settled.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar spoke with a bright smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him, Fran gave him a sharp look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey! How can you laugh in a situation like this...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why? Am I not allowed to laugh? Should I instead hang my head and apologize, saying, ‘I didn’t mean for it to happen, I’m sorry’?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tilting his head to the side, he glanced at Veronica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If that makes you feel better, I can do that. What do you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Get lost.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See? This way works better.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approaching her, Oscar spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the kind of standard you were curious about when you asked how to get stronger quickly. Does this answer your question?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... just wait.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica wasn’t responding to Oscar but was glaring at Fran, who stood on the training ground behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You, once I learn properly from this guy, let’s face off again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fiery determination was almost palpable, a perfect moment for ambition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, watching her, smiled warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Right now, she’ll be able to handle even intense training.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her prideful and competitive nature, there was no doubt in his mind.\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>\"Mam, your room fee is overdue...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll pay it all at once when I leave, so buzz off.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dim, damp corner room of a dingy inn, a woman, irritated by the musty smell unique to such places, slammed the door shut and cursed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Goddamn it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She scowled at the stack of job requests piled on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘How did my life end up like this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was all because of the White Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, to be precise, it was all because of a brat from that godforsaken place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Oscar Crucian…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman was Moira Maine, a Level 5 mage who had once been a rising star in the potion department of the Blue Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If her collaboration with NewTech had gone as planned, securing an exclusive deal with the archbishop, she could’ve been on a clear path to becoming the department head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If only things had gone that way, no one would’ve dared look down on me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, even the innkeeper of this cheap lodging dared to look her in the eye and demand money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone who, in the past, wouldn’t have even met her gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what choice did she have?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abandoned by the Blue Tower, she was now relegated to dangerous, life-threatening assignments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, refusing their orders and running away wasn’t even an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She knew better than anyone that you couldn’t live freely on this continent after turning the Four Great Magic Towers against you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living as a mercenary, or something even less dignified, for the rest of her life was unacceptable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet she had no brilliant plan to escape this situation either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All she could do now was sit in his dingy room, spewing curses and drinking heavily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock, knock, knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden knocking at the door made her snap her head around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You bastard! I told you, I’ll pay it all when I leave—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as she yanked the door open, she trailed off mid-sentence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person standing in the hallway wasn’t the innkeeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a man in a suit, hands clasped behind his back, smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A complete stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Get lost. You must have the wrong room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she was about to shut the door, a polite voice slipped through the crack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ms. Maine. Don’t you want revenge?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew her name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And from the mention of revenge, this man clearly knew her circumstances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snapping herself out of her drunken haze with a flicker of magic, Moira reopened the door, growling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who the hell are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How much longer will you rot in this stinking room? You’re not someone who belongs in a place like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I said, who the hell are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m someone here to help you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira stared at the man with his amiable smile and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Help me? Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be honest, because we have a common enemy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hah. And how would you know who I hate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oscar Crucian. Isn’t that right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man whispered, his voice as sweet as honey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know how you can take revenge on him and regain the trust of the Blue Tower Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Go on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she remained cautious, Moira asked further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Recently, in the region near Sirin, White Tower potions are selling better than those of the Blue Tower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because delivery is faster due to the proximity, I’d assume.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly. The problem is, the Blue Tower is on the verge of losing the entire northern market.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Moira scoffed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So what? You want me to go to Sirin and sabotage their potion department?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not. There’s no need to storm into enemy territory recklessly. The White Tower uses the Sirius Merchant Guild’s network for their potion distribution.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Safe, then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, with the Sirius Guild’s banner, no bandit would dare touch them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll switch their potions with poisoned ones during distribution.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Switch them out?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. Once people start dying from the potions they purchased, rumors about the White Tower’s potion quality will naturally spread.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing the plan, Moira chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The White Tower or merchants aren’t fools. They’ll investigate right away.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And who do you think the White Tower would send to investigate?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing what the man was implying, Moira’s eyes gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oscar Crucian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Exactly. The very person who created all those potions will personally come to find the issue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then we kill him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’ll handle the cleanup. All we need is a skilled individual to get the job done.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone capable of definitively killing Oscar Crucian.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira, tempted by the proposal, asked one more thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sounds enticing enough, but I can’t team up with someone whose affiliations are unclear.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Hmm, if that’s your concern.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a brief pause, the man retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Moira instinctively took it, she froze, recognizing the strong scent of the perfume it carried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"NewTech?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The vice president values you as an excellent colleague and wishes for your reinstatement.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything clicked for Moira.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since her dismissal, relations between NewTech and the Blue Tower had soured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They want me back to restore their partnership with the Blue Tower?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mutually beneficial arrangement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As that thought crossed her mind, a sinister smile spread across Moira’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come back when you have the exact time and location.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1908,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","3b8228039dd7e68cd3c244c0454cb800e288fe69e3f9c8ad153eca38ddac9cd7","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-80","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-78",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]