[{"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-97":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},1334993,1778,"Chapter 97","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-97",97,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 97: The Sage of the Stars (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The comforting coziness of the room, returning after several days, was short-lived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone knocked on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking they’d leave if he pretended not to be there, he ignored it, but a familiar voice called out to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>0Strange. I was sure he came back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no mistaking it—Lena White.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wouldn’t come looking for him without a reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In other words, this must be work-related.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dragging his tired body to the door, he opened it, and Lena’s face lit up with a startled, rabbit-like expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were here after all. I thought you weren’t inside because you didn’t respond even after I knocked for ages.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Normally, if there’s no answer after two or three knocks, wouldn’t you just leave?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t that seem rude? And impatient, too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lost for words, Oscar guided her to the sofa and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what brings you here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, it’s nothing too major. The military contacted us. They want to purchase our potions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The military? Surely not...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing his narrowing eyes, Lena quickly interjected,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know what you’re thinking, but I haven’t contacted them since I warned you not to stir things up with the Blue Tower unnecessarily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, they approached us first about buying potions?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...That’s unexpected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar muttered with a frown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The military’s key positions were dominated by the Red Tower, so it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume their influence was behind this decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then why are they trying to do business with us, even if it means alienating the Blue Tower?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, didn’t they refuse the last time he asked?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Lena and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has anything happened recently to cause a rift between the Red Tower and the Blue Tower?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not that I know of. If anything, I heard the Blue Tower has been accommodating the Red Tower more lately, perhaps because of us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Then it’s even harder to understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you hear the recent news about the Red Tower acquiring the rights for a large-scale monster extermination?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his first time hearing about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been too busy handling various commissions lately to pay attention to other news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I haven’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The commander of that extermination force is none other than the ‘Mage of Ashes,’ Lloyd Schultz.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar, stunned, asked in disbelief,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you just say Lloyd Schultz?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yep, the one we know better as the ‘traitor.’ He’s the one who contacted us directly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd Schultz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once his first disciple in a previous life, now a student of the Red Tower’s master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lena speculated,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe he felt a bit guilty about betraying us? It seems like he’s trying to look out for us in his own way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That couldn’t be it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lloyd wasn’t the type to feel such shallow emotions like guilt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it kindly, he was pragmatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To put it bluntly... no, Oscar decided not to dwell on that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He did, however, attach one suspicious condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“......”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar flinched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does he seem to know about me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yep. He knows you’re the one who developed the cure for the Cadena flu and several potions. He mentioned needing someone with extensive alchemical knowledge. As a condition for a long-term contract, he requested that you personally deliver the first batch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, he singled him out solely for his alchemical expertise?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t as if Lloyd could have guessed his true identity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If he needs alchemical knowledge, it sounds like there’s a problem during their preparations for the extermination campaign.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s what I think too. It must be an issue they don’t want to disclose to the Blue Tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was unlikely to be something as trivial as food poisoning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such minor issues would’ve been solved with over-the-counter remedies by now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar made up his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This seems like a great opportunity. Let’s use this chance to establish a contract with the military and accelerate our business expansion by selling advanced potions. What does the Deputy Tower Master think about it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, he’s opposed. He doesn’t like the idea of sending you to the extermination force.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s understandable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite its name, an extermination force was essentially going to war with monsters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t normal for a Level 3 mage to be sent to such perilous conditions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He must feel uneasy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To outsiders, it might look like the White Tower was exploiting a young mage for profit by sending him to a battlefield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as for Oscar himself, he didn’t mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anything, he was a little excited.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The battlefield...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the White Tower was his home, then the battlefield could be his second home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And since Lloyd was the one calling for him, he had to go, no matter what.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar spoke firmly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll try convincing the Deputy Tower Master myself.”\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>“Welcome back! Did everything go well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Tower Master, Hamel, warmly greeted him, even preparing tea personally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar bowed politely and handed over his report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, here is a report detailing my recent activities.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s see...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Deputy Tower Master scanned through the report, his eyes suddenly stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar didn’t need to ask to know which word had caught his attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...A lich? This wasn’t just some simple undead causing trouble, was it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, but as I detailed, it wasn’t an extraordinarily powerful one. It must’ve been weakened by being awakened prematurely. Of course, the Black Tower’s sealing ritual also helped diminish its strength.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thankfully so... still, a lich.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Tower Master heaved a sigh of relief, imagining the potential disaster if the lich had fully awakened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll need to personally extend my gratitude to the Black Tower for their assistance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That would be a good idea.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without their help, subduing the lich would’ve been impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing the report, the Deputy Tower Master smiled faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quite interesting. Above all, I can sense that Oscar’s perspective on the Black Tower has changed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. They were better than I thought.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wouldn’t it be nice if they thought the same about us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Tower Master, holding the report, nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must be tired. Don’t overexert yourself for now; take a good rest. Until the ‘Night of the Mages’ arrives, it would be best to focus on training.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Earlier, Senior Lena visited my room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Tower Master paused while putting the report into a drawer and let out a faint sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Bringing that up in front of me—does that mean you want to go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, there’s no better advertisement than supplying potions to them. The moment our potions bear the military’s certification mark, which values quality above all else, our potion business will grow exponentially.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the Deputy Tower Master’s face, once furrowed, didn’t smooth out even as time passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar cautiously asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there a specific reason you don’t want me to go to the battlefield?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it obvious? The monster called the battlefield is best avoided at all costs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A battlefield is the last place anyone should get involved with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fiddling with his teacup for a while, Deputy Tower Master Hamel continued,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you remember when you said you wanted to revive the potion business, and I gave you money?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, since the tower lacked funds, you invested your personal money. I’m still deeply grateful.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t bring it up to receive your thanks. That money……was sent to me by my son.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s expression turned to one of surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t known the Deputy Tower Master had a son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I guess I was so focused on moving forward that I didn’t pay attention to others.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling a small sense of guilt, he asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t know you had a son. What kind of person is he?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Perhaps because he inherited my mediocrity, his talent as a mage was average. Maybe he realized that himself, as he decided to become a soldier. He said he’d expand the influence of the White Tower within the military.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, so has he established himself there by now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar’s reasoning was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would be hard for an ordinary soldier’s salary to send his father a hefty sum like 30,000 bels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Deputy Tower Master shook his head slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. One rainy day, all I received was a severed dog tag and a letter containing his death benefit. Not even a scrap of the clothing he wore was found.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Apparently, he encountered demons while patrolling the Red Mountains. It was an area where demons hadn’t been spotted for over ten years, but I suppose he was terribly unlucky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar couldn’t find any words to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had never met a parent who spoke so calmly about the death of their child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the room suddenly felt heavy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why I don’t want to send you or any White Tower mages to the battlefield. It’s a place where you can lose your life simply because of bad luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Tower Master looked at him with composed eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The White Tower is doing well as it is. There’s no need to go to such a dangerous place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…….”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There wasn’t a single flaw in what he said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The battlefield was filled with dangers, and the White Tower was performing just fine without it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But…… the White Tower I remember, the one I experienced, was always the best.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing the brilliance of those times and vividly recalling the moments of its decline—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oscar wasn’t content to stay complacent and stagnant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, Lloyd, his first disciple, was calling out to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not like I’ll be drafted as a soldier. It shouldn’t be that dangerous.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……Haa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Deputy Tower Master let out a deep sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re really stubborn, Oscar. Lately, it seems you’ve become even more so than before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s no need to apologize. It’s our shortcomings that have led to this situation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After fiddling with his teacup for a moment, he presented a compromise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then let’s do this. If you really want to go, I’ll set a condition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What condition?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s a month left before the subjugation team departs. If you can become an intermediate mage within that time, I won’t oppose you any further.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaching level 4 in just one month—it wasn’t a condition; it was practically a refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mage who had just reached level 3 would typically take 3–4 years to advance to level 4.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Oscar nodded without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Understood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already keenly aware that his current capabilities were insufficient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, he was barely managing to get by, relying on his high mana reserves as his main strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But considering the upcoming Night of the Mages, I can’t stay where I am.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After witnessing the prowess of Kiri Gloria and the Black Tower mages, he was convinced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mages of the other four Great Towers would undoubtedly be even stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then the quickest way for me to grow stronger is…….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was only one clear path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to meet the Sage of the Stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>w\u003C\u002Fp>",1862,"2026-06-05T20:00:10.789Z",1,"novelbin.me","11033c762e4686b3e1e8d90e50eeecba4fed7955c760671354295784e2d5b822","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-98","the-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-chapter-96",375,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-problematic-child-of-the-magic-tower-cover.jpg"]