[{"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-82":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},1334978,1778,"Chapter 82","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-82",82,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 82: Poxxon (3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the stench that stung her nose, Moira Main glared at her opponent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…Oscar Crucian, Oscar Crucian.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eyes of the person muttering that name held something beyond hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resentment, contempt, and the poisonous desperation of someone who had fallen into the abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason she hadn’t attacked right away was because of her confidence—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An overwhelming belief that she could hack her opponent into dozens of pieces if she so wished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know how far my life has sunk because of you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’d be a lie to say I didn’t.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar replied nonchalantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the Blue Tower suffered massive losses in the potion business, he’d looked into this one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard you were stripped of all your positions in the Potion Division and ended up working as a janitor in the Mage Tower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You know it well.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira Main growled lowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I fell all the way into this sewer’s filth because of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How is that my fault? You were the one who tried to screw us over and got caught. High risk, high return—ever heard of it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shut up!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air vibrated, and the gently flowing water stilled in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if the world itself had held its breath in response to her fury, the only sound left was the rhythmic dripping of water from the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have lost the cure for the Cadena Flu, and I wouldn’t have gotten dragged into that cursed price war.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sure, let’s go with that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was the kind of person who always blamed others for her failures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in continuing this conversation—nothing productive would come of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You arrogant brat. Remember that the only reason you’re still breathing is my mercy.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, yeah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her overbearing confidence was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this sewer was undeniably her domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Filthy water up to my thighs.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disgusting, yes—but it was still water, and in this place, the possibilities for Moira were endless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, even basic Blue Tower magic would double or triple in power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Fighting a Blue Tower mage near water is suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a reason that phrase existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water amplified the magic of the Blue Tower to 200%, even 300% of its normal strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let me ask you one thing. Who’s behind this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re asking something obvious. Where do you think I belong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that shameless answer, Oscar chuckled and shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you saying the Blue Tower is behind this? Don’t be ridiculous. That’s impossible.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What makes you so certain?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because this isn’t the Blue Tower Master’s style.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar knew the personalities of the other Tower Lords inside and out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after 20—or rather, 21—years, a person’s nature doesn’t change easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If this were the Red Tower or Yellow Tower, I’d believe it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Red Tower Master would use any means necessary to obtain what he wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similarly, the Yellow Tower Master preferred handling matters quickly and efficiently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for that very reason, this wasn’t the Blue Tower’s doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The Blue Tower Master. He’s someone who knows how to wait.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t care if it took five years or ten to achieve something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He preferred a clean resolution without noise, using only the most certain method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why people called him the “Blue Gentleman.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"More importantly, if the Blue Tower were really behind this, there’s no way they’d use someone like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira had fallen so low that she handled the dirtiest jobs of the Magic Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Tower had already deemed her unworthy, they wouldn’t entrust her with something this important.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…You damned brat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira’s eyes glinted with killing intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s words were so precise they struck a nerve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s see. If it’s not the Blue Tower, but someone who hates me and would work with you…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, plenty of factions disliked Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Moira to work with someone, there had to be at least minimal trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At the very least, they’d need to have some basic level of mutual confidence.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the only way someone as suspicious as Moira would have accepted the offer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar thought further, a particular man who traveled with Moira came to mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only Niel Brion from NewTech fits. That’s right, isn’t it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not answering, huh? That’s not a bad choice. At least you’re trying to show some loyalty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Silence.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira’s body radiated magic, bursting forth like an uncontrollable storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water in the sewer suddenly dipped, then began pooling around Moira.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dozens of water spheres the size of human heads swirled ominously around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your mouth has always been your problem. It’s why you’re going to die in this sewer today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sssshhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water spheres shot forward the moment she finished speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some people might scoff—what’s so scary about water magic?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isn’t it just like being hit by a waterfall?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If that were the case, it wouldn’t even be called an offensive spell.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue Tower water magic, compressed with mana, could crush steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar once saw a high-ranking Blue Tower mage cut through diamond with high-pressure water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s not at that level—she’s a 5th-level mage, after all…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bu still, taking a hit from that wouldn’t be pleasant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang! KABOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water spheres collided with Oscar, erupting with a deafening roar as water spouted like an explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira’s expression relaxed slightly as she watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph. A cursed mouth, but no skill to match.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much they hyped him up as the ‘Young Noble,’ Oscar was still just a 3rd-level mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way he could withstand the magic of a 5th-level intermediate mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira slowly stepped forward and looked at the body floating in the sewer water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This place is the perfect grave for trash like you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She snorted and stomped on Oscar’s face—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only for the body to dissolve like smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘An illusion spell?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait—did that mean she’d lost sight of the real one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Impossible. I clearly felt his residual magic coming from the body…?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira's gaze quickly shot toward where the corpse had been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water rising up to a person's thighs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a place just deep enough for someone to hide if they lay down, a sudden burst of wind shot out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira twisted her head just in time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep wound was carved across her cheek, but she was lucky—that was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had she not reacted in time, her brain would have been pierced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha! You dodged?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You rat-like bastard!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The water level dropped again, and a water orb five times larger than before surged toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Oscar crouched down in an instant and wrapped his body in a Wind Shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swept by the raging torrent, his body was carried to the opposite side of the sewer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dammit!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching him, Moira spat out a curse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t expected him to try escaping in such a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no different than letting her opponent run away with her own hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You'll never escape from this place!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira stepped onto the water, gliding swiftly across its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Oscar, having already widened the distance, was on his feet and sprinting toward the opposite side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, water up to one’s thighs would make running nearly impossible, but he solved this problem with wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With every stride, the water around his thighs was pushed aside, offering him no resistance at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The location... should be somewhere around here.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar was looking for a specific spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t entered the sewer without a plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘A mage is affected by the environment more than any other class.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the Red Tower’s magic is more lethal in a scorching desert, and the Yellow Tower’s power grows stronger on rainy days, so too did the Blue Tower and the White Tower have locations that amplified their might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Just a little further...!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dodging the water orbs and spears flying toward his back, Oscar finally stumbled into a massive central chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haah, haah… you rat-like bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira, who had barely caught up to him, was panting heavily from exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She quickly scanned her surroundings, and then a sinister smile crept across her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah, so this is the best you could come up with?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The enormous chamber was the central point of the sewer, a place where eight tunnels converged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its purpose was to discharge water and waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your intention was good, but you made one mistake.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had the water already been drained as usual, the surface would have been down to ankle level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But perhaps the time hadn’t come yet, for the water remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You underestimated me. Did you think I wouldn’t prepare for this? Your arrogance will be your downfall. A mage is a planner—and that preparation includes choosing the battlefield.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...You’re arrogant, I’ll give you that. But fine, I’ll admit it—I didn’t expect you to have tampered with this place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared at the foul water pooled in the chamber, acknowledging his miscalculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that doesn’t mean I’ll go down quietly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To recover his strength, he pulled a potion from his coat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Moira Main wasn’t about to let him drink it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How foolish. Have you already forgotten?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar opened the potion bottle, she pulled a poison pouch from her cloak and scattered its contents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A fine powder spread into the air, forming a thick, murky cloud of poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’d better not think about drinking potions in this place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar stared at her quietly and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you even know what this place is for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. It’s a place to discharge contaminated water and waste.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right. More precisely, it’s called the Purification Zone.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ultimate destination for every path in the sewer was this chamber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, it was a place that purified all manner of filth before expelling it outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And that includes air as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning that pollution in the air was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Moira furrowed her brow, not yet grasping his meaning, dozens of fans mounted on the walls and ceiling roared to life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, the enormous gusts of wind swept through the chamber, clearing the poison cloud entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gulp, gulp, gulp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar downed the potion in one go, wiped his mouth, and muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now let’s see whose battlefield this really is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1730,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","317df7394e715a825d3d06885d58551222d06f9cedd386707bc397d1185d24a7","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-83","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-81",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]