[{"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-84":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},1334980,1778,"Chapter 84","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-84",84,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 84: Poxxon (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of the fan's wind roared incessantly in his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the powerful gusts failed to dispel the stench and humidity, and Fran swallowed hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"O-Oscar. That thing... doesn’t it look a bit... off?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Not just a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What stood before them was an abomination, a human body exuding demonic energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no doubt in Oscar’s mind—he had never encountered such a being in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now that I think about it…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled a passing remark from Nebula Grime during a conversation at the imperial palace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simply put, they’re humans transformed into something akin to demons. They call it a blessing and cooperate with demons to achieve that state. We call them ‘Demonic-humans.’ However, it’s mostly rumors for now—no concrete cases have ever surfaced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps this was what the demon worshippers had so fervently desired—the existence of a demonic human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Back then, I thought it was just some absurd, fantastical story.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, with it standing right before his eyes, denial was no longer an option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s gaze deepened, grappling with a dilemma—how to perceive this being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Should I treat it as a human... or as a demon?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The question brought an immediate chill, causing Fran to shiver uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-Is it the water making me cold? Suddenly I feel a chill.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar failed to suppress his killing intent for a brief moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Fran’s hand—bruised blue, trembling, seemingly too weak to hold a whip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The explosive power of Dance of Steel had taken its toll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He probably can’t use the whip anymore.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran was no longer a viable ally in this fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without taking his eyes off the demonic human, Oscar muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fran, go back to the surface.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Because you’ll get in the way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blunt yet scathing remark left Fran speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was essentially saying he couldn’t handle protecting Fran and fighting simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clenching his lips, Fran nodded without protest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He understood Oscar’s position, even if the words stung.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If only I were stronger, we could fight together until the end.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a Level 4 mage, he was now being protected by a Level 3 mage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite recently perfecting a trump card, he could only use it three times in battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The euphoria of defeating Veronica dissipated as quickly as it had come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He thought he had become a better mage, and it wasn’t entirely false—he had bested someone he thought far superior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Next time, I won’t leave so pathetically.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He made a firm resolve, stepping back slowly as he offered one final word of encouragement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Win.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran turned and sprinted down one of the eight passageways.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when Oscar confirmed he was gone did he feel a sense of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he could bear whatever was to come on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hey.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He called out to Moira Main.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If even a shred of humanity remained within him, they could communicate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you still alive?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar waited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Moira was still human, she would answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she was a demon…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Kill.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar narrowed his eyes and asked again,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What did you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill... them all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a moment, Moira’s dead, fish-like eyes gained a spark of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill all mages.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, the demonic energy she emitted surged like a torrential river on a rainy day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, thirteen tentacles shot out from the puddles around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Thirteen?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the same being who could barely control four earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even among Blue Tower Level 5 mages, none could wield so many tentacles at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...What the hell have you consumed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frowning deeply, Oscar raised one hand above his head and began preparing a spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll use the wind the fan generates to conserve mana as much as possible.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mana saved this way would be used to push the spell's power and range to the limit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooooooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fan’s roar, which had been filling the purification zone, suddenly ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fan hadn’t stopped—it spun faster than ever, generating more wind to compensate for the decreased purification efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All that wind was now being sucked into Oscar’s spell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Phew, done.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Above his head, near the ceiling, a small orb of compressed wind took form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of raw mana, it would take his entire reserve to create something of this magnitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the environment allowed him to achieve it—though it was still a minor imitation of what he’d once wielded as a high-level mage in his past life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But for now, this will suffice.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Oscar exhaled in relief, Moira’s lips moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill all mages.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira now looked as if decades had passed in mere moments, her gaunt face twisted grotesquely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, her blood-red eyes fixed sharply on Oscar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kill them all.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirteen tentacles flew toward him at a speed incomparable to before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead of dodging, Oscar gracefully lowered the hand he was holding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unleash it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wind orb, \"Core of the Storm,\" fell slowly and touched the filthy sewer floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment it made contact, it shattered like a broken glass bead and unleashed a massive storm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fierce winds tore through the tentacles, shredding them to pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every... mage...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The storm then surged toward Moira Main, slamming her against the opposite wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Argh!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira let out a brief scream as she hit the hard ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, the demonic energy piercing his skin vanished as if it had been a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gah... Damn it... What... is this...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira, her limbs shattered, twisted her face in pain as even breathing seemed agonizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar approached her, crouching down, and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your ribs are broken and puncturing your lungs. Breathe as slowly as possible and don't try anything foolish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Pl-please... spare me...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar took a potion from his pouch and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Answer my questions, and I'll spare you. The drug you took—who gave it to you? Where are they from?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Drug? What... are you talking about?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You don’t remember?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had they prepared for this, even erasing short-term memory as a safeguard?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, keeping her alive was the top priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, they could figure out how to recover those memories by any means necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Drink this for now. You must survive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Oscar poured the potion into Moira's mouth—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Gah! Gaaahk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moira suddenly coughed up black blood and began convulsing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her breathing, which had become ragged in an instant, soon quieted like a dying ember before ceasing altogether.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar examined the inside of Moira's mouth for a moment before clicking his tongue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Pinero powder.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same powder Moira had used to turn the White Tower's potions into poison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed to have been an ingredient in the strange drug she'd consumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Thorough. Utterly ruthless.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drug had been designed so that anyone who took it would inevitably die, no matter what measures were taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a vicious method gave Oscar a sense of who might be behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It really does seem connected to those demon bastards...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the so-called \"Demonic Humans\" weren't particularly threatening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Moira Main's magic had grown stronger after releasing demonic energy, that was all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They didn’t have the high regenerative ability of true demons or any special powers.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What, then, was the ultimate purpose behind the demons creating these \"Demonic Humans\"?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Narrowing his eyes, Oscar glanced at Moira and gently closed her lifeless eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Shocking! The Hidden Power Struggle Behind the Mosque Tragedy—Is the Blue Tower the Villain?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Citizens Caught in the Crossfire of Magic Towers—Can This Go On?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[(Photo) Citizens Gather in Front of the Blue Tower in Rafs—Criticism and Pointing Fingers Abound.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Potion Market Overcompetition—Should the Imperial Family Step In?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After it was revealed that a Blue Tower mage had been involved in the mercenaries' deaths, public opinion turned sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The startled Blue Tower rushed to declare that Moira Main had acted alone and that they were unaware, but the flames of outrage were not easily quelled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If they knew, they're accomplices; if they didn’t, they're incompetent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, the Blue Tower's deputy master had to step forward to offer a public apology.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Normally, Oscar would have mocked them, but he had no time to concern himself with their predicament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...You sensed something strange?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. It wasn’t quite magic, but something different—tingling, almost electric.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon returning to the White Tower, Oscar immediately reported the incident to the deputy master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This will go into the Special Task Unit's activity report anyway, but reporting it directly will get it to the Imperial Family faster.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was well aware of his limitations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attempting to investigate NewTech, track demons, or chase the Black Fingers on his own would be inefficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply wasn’t strong enough to do it all alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I need to take the more efficient and faster route.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant leveraging the Imperial Family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even now, the mention of the Demonic Human had caused Deputy Master Hamel's expression to grow grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you happen to notice the opponent’s eyes at the time?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, right. They turned red. They were originally brown.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hamel let out a heavy sigh and nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Include detailed information about this incident in your activity report.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You weren’t injured, were you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fortunately, no.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technically, Fran had been injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Oscar mentioned this, the deputy master tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really? Before you arrived, Fran came to see me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What? Why?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He submitted a request for closed-door training.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran had voluntarily requested seclusion for training?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this unexpected news, Oscar smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...It must have really bothered him that he couldn’t fight alongside me until the end.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was a good sign.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True strength lies in acknowledging and confronting one’s shortcomings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘You have to face it. Only then can you overcome it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fran had recognized his shortcomings and chosen to seclude himself to address them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar speculated that Fran would likely emerge having improved his basic physical condition and further refined his \"Steel Dance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m looking forward to it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much would the reinterpreted and advanced Steel Dance differ from what he knew?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1704,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","c703889444f131c77b9e5d298abc8b2ad347d366d0e8c924d1becaf31e7140db","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-85","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-83",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]