The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 108

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Return of an EX-Rank Mage Episode 108
But I couldn’t do it.
The cursed Naraka Gate—now called the ‘Fire Spirit’s Landing Point’—had already been destroyed.
It hadn’t reached complete annihilation, but destruction was destruction nonetheless.
Choi Kang-mok’s expression twisted in frustration.
“The final curse was already lifted?”
When?
Kang Hye, who had quietly approached his side, offered her analysis in the distinctive tone of an explorer.
“You said it was protected, not invincible.”
“…What?”
There was no such thing as permanent protection.
Just as dripping water wears through stone, just as the Mayo Shield wasn’t infinite,
enough strikes would eventually bring anything down.
And now, it had crumbled.
In any case, since it had been destroyed by magic, the plan had worked out as intended.
“Shouldn’t we be hearing the clear notification soon?”
“Yeah.”
[Clear is temporarily suspended.]
[This delay period will be excluded from clear rank calculation.]
When there were settings or hidden narratives players needed to know about.
Suspensions of this type happened fairly often.
Kang Hye pointed at a small flame.
“Brother, look over there. That must be the Forgotten Fire Spirit’s true form.”
The flame gently descended onto Choi Kang-mok’s shoulder.
It merely touched lightly, yet information cascaded down like a waterfall.
“Ah, according to the lore, it’s a fragment of divinity. Originally a young spirit that frolicked across the heavens, but after falling into this world, it was cursed by wicked sorcerers and corrupted.”
A mage is one who explores the world’s secrets.
As an aspiring mage, uncovering settings unknown to the world carried a rather delightful thrill.
“Since it’s a divine fragment, an enormous amount of effort went into cursing and sealing it.”
That was the Forgotten Fire Spirit’s Stone Tower, spanning floors 31 through 39.
“Fortunately, I destroyed all nine stone towers as I made my way here.”
One remained.
By smashing the Naraka Gate—the source and core of the curse—the Fire Spirit finally gained its freedom.
In that instant, a system notification followed.
[!National Territory-Wide Announcement!]
[You have cleared the hidden ‘Story’ of Tower Floors 31-40.]
A new concept had emerged.
Story.
A new setting revealed for the first time in the Tower system.
[Story Gate, ‘Fire Spirit’s Playground’, has been created.]
The creation of a new form of Gate.
I still had no idea what this was.
And changes occurred across all the Towers in Korean Territory.
[Korean Territory Tower, ‘Forgotten Fire Spirit’s Stone Tower’ will disappear.]
[Korean Territory Tower, Floors 31-40 rewards will be significantly strengthened.]
This much was a phenomenon at the national level.
But a small yet special change occurred for me as well.
A ball of flame blazed upward,
transforming into a small fire salamander.
The creature that appeared with a flutter of palm-sized wings suddenly began to speak.
“I am grateful.”
“Hm?”
The flames of its tail swelled with a whoosh.
“I shall grant you the opportunity to worship this body. Ah, wait. Why am I like this?”
The fire salamander flailed its short legs and fluttered its wings before coming to an abrupt halt.
Its expression filled with shock.
“What is this? Why does this body inhabit such a pathetic form?”
“….”
“You, awakener of narratives. Submerger of emotional threads. Wanderer through the gaps of stories. Silent smuggler of foreshadowing. Gatherer of settings. Lips that awaken the ripples of forgotten lore. Mortal who rewinds endings. Could your intellect possibly be….”
“My intellect is….”
A moment too awkward to speak carelessly.
But faster than that, the fire salamander’s reaction exploded.
“No! Do not speak! I already know! How could you cast such magic with intellect like this!”
“….”
“This is fraud! Fraud, I say! This body has been deceived!”
Igniasha cried out at me as if the world had wronged her most grievously.
[Your intellect is too low to proceed with the contract.]
[!Minimum Required Intellect: 50!]
But the deed was already done.
Igniasha sighed.
“Take this much, at least.”
It was a ring containing a crimson ruby.
It looked like a child’s toy.
“Let it be known that this is not to my taste. This design is entirely the catastrophe born from your intellect….”
[You have obtained ‘Igniasha’s Ring’.]
───────
[Fire Spirit’s Ring]
Grade: Story
A contract medium with the Fire Spirit Igniasha.
You can form a contract with Igniasha using this ring.
※Usable regardless of job class.
※Fire attribute affinity significantly increased.
───────
‘A Story.’
A setting I’d never encountered before.
And a name that somehow didn’t quite fit with ‘rank’.
‘There’s something to this.’
It seemed like there would be pleasure in gradually uncovering its mysteries.
At that moment, as Igniasha grew increasingly translucent, she left one final remark.
“Raise your intellect and help me find myself again… Oh, and I do hope you’ll punish that filthy wretch who cast this curse upon me.”
“A filthy curse?”
I listened intently to the notification, wondering if this was a Quest, but no Quest alert followed.
“That creature staked his own life and cast a foul-smelling curse upon me.”
“What do you mean? A foul-smelling curse?”
“That bastard who claims to be a Holy Knight. Vicario or whatever!”
Igniasha’s nostrils flared.
She cried out petulantly, as if demanding that I punish him for the vile stench that still lingered.
Choi Kang-mok was momentarily taken aback.
Vicario had seemed suspicious, but I hadn’t realized he was a curse caster.
“The stench of mimicking divine essence was so revolting I nearly retched!”
“…I see.”
So that’s why something felt off.
The final curse had been Vicario’s doing all along.
“Then the curse that was placed on the entire Korean Territory Tower was also…?”
“Indeed.”
Igniasha tilted her head.
“Strange, though. Your body reeked of it before… but now it doesn’t?”
“Hm?”
I lifted my arm and sniffed it experimentally.
Naturally, there was no odor whatsoever.
“Hmm. I understand now.”
“….”
The fire salamander drew a small breath, then nodded heavily.
“Highly advanced damage is indistinguishable from Haeju…!”
Meanwhile, Kang Hye trembled with her entire body.
This was the moment she became the world’s first explorer to directly witness a ‘Story’.
‘The Tower has a Story?’
First discoveries always make one’s heart race.
In this age of Tower civilization, this place was not merely a hunting ground—it was the stage of a ‘narrative’.
Awakeners were those who walked within that story, and explorers were those who discovered its meaning.
And Kang Hye was the explorer closest to the stage that lay ahead.
‘This will be fun.’
It wouldn’t end with merely clearing the tower, obtaining items, and advancing civilization.
A path that could reach beyond that.
Kang Hye’s heart pounded—thump, thump.
Then the clear notification chimed.
[You have cleared Floor 40 of the Seoul Tower.]
[Clear Grade: ░░░░░░…]
An error had occurred in the clear grade, but it corrected itself immediately.
[Clear Grade: EX+]
Moments later, an additional notification appeared.
[Failed to apply the Promoted Explorer effect!]
[The clear grade transcends the Promoted Explorer effect.]
Kang Hye, who had been elated dreaming of another world just moments before, quickly fell into despair.
‘What did I even do?’
I had entered wanting to be of some help, but I had accomplished nothing.
Even the Fire Spirit’s story—Choi Kang-mok had cleared that alone.
Emerging from the tower, Kang Hye became somewhat dejected.
“…I’m useless.”
“What are you talking about? We got the EX+ grade because of you.”
“No, that’s not it.”
Kang Hye’s eyes had lost their focus.
“It was just… you alone, oppa. I couldn’t help at all….”
“….”
Choi Kang-mok said nothing.
He understood well that no words of comfort would reach her in this moment.
That feeling where even the most successful plans felt meaningless without magical achievement.
He knew that emotion better than anyone—he had felt it himself countless times.
After gently patting her shoulder, he entered his room.
‘It’s unfortunate for Kang Hye, but….’
Inside his room, Choi Kang-mok was practically bursting with joy.
The story contained in the tower? The hidden truths of the world? Those were matters for later.
What mattered was that I had both ‘completed’ and ‘sustained’ the energy barrier.
My entire body ached, and I was on the verge of collapse, yet my spirits had never been higher.
‘If I’m a mage, I should be able to handle at least one area-of-effect spell like this.’
Grinning widely, I pulled out the coin.
Not an EX Coin, but a genuine EX+ Coin.
Another notification had appeared saying an EX Coin would be awarded, so I had used the Seal of Justice.
As a result, I received an EX+ Coin instead of an EX Coin.
To the naked eye, it didn’t look significantly different from an EX Coin.
Except for the “EX+” inscribed on the face of the coin.
‘I should bring this to Professor Raymond and ask him to help me acquire the magic.’

* * *
Professor Raymond, a man who rarely praised others, found himself clapping repeatedly without realizing it.
“You actually managed to obtain this?”
“Yes, I was fortunate.”
“Fortune is a skill in itself. Truly magnificent.”
Even if it was a lower dimension!
Though they said praise came easily for the smallest accomplishments, an EX+ Coin was never something one could acquire without considerable effort.
“In my heart of hearts, I’d love to seize the Research Institute Director’s EX+ Coin through magical sublime violence… but.”
However, Professor Raymond refrained from attacking Choi Kang-mok directly.
“If I fought the Research Institute Director, I’d have to stake my life as well, so I’ll hold back. Haha.”
His tone made it impossible to discern whether he was joking or serious.
Then, suddenly stroking his chin, he spoke with meaningful weight.
“But, Research Institute Director.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you perhaps harbor a desire to master the magic more perfectly-”
In that instant, Raymond’s body transformed into ash-gray.
[The system restricts NPC (Raymond) interference.]
[A minimum affinity of 100 is required.]
[You must increase affinity to obtain the next information.]
Fortunately, the affinity requirement was already satisfied.
[Affinity 100 has been achieved.]
The summoned NPC Raymond appeared unaware of what had happened to him.
“…So?”
A new notification followed.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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