The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 112

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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 112
Choi Kang-mok spoke matter-of-factly.
“Ah! The system’s interference has probably diminished somewhat.”
“What? Why?”
“The system that operated to impose disadvantages apparently opened up advantages as a counteraction. Something like… an equitable attribute, they say?”
“….”
I was at a loss for words.
For Owen, this wasn’t something to discuss so calmly, yet Choi Kang-mok’s demeanor was far too composed.
“Why are you like that?”
“Yes, an equitable attribute. Such things do exist, theoretically.”
The concept itself was theoretically possible.
But no one actually experiences it directly.
“Most people die before reaching that point.”
An equitable attribute? If it imposed disadvantages, it grants advantages too?
Most die during the disadvantage phase.
“Professor Raymond never mentioned anything like that….”
“Well….”
Owen felt a peculiar sense of discord.
So that’s it—he’s a professor, after all.
The Research Institute Director’s standards are a bit unusual. It seems the professor became the benchmark.
That’s when I realized it.
‘The Research Institute Director is a mage with professor-level talent.’
If that were the case, choosing to align myself properly from now on was also a wise decision.
“Then, I shall teach you the method to craft [Blue Signal], embodying all the wisdom of an intermediate mage.”
The only difficult part is obtaining the materials.
The crafting method itself was surprisingly simple.
“One novice mage and three or four apprentice mages are sufficient.”
If you commission the Boddari Union, material procurement isn’t difficult either.
Hiring novice mages and several apprentices is faster and cheaper than entrusting it directly to an intermediate mage.
‘I can definitely make it clear that only high-ranking mages don’t hold all the value!’
This way, I could also indirectly appeal to my own standing—a win-win.
Thanks to Owen’s survival strategy, Choi Kang-mok was able to craft [Blue Signal] relatively easily.
[You have acquired [Blue Signal (Crafting)].]

* * *
The epicenter of Tower Civilization 2.0 was undoubtedly Korea.
The entire world knew that ‘Story’ had emerged from Korea.
[What’s a Story? Is it food?]
└It’s like hidden settings connected to specific floors.
└Looks like opening the Story started expanding the worldbuilding
└Isn’t this basically Tower Civilization Season 2.5?
└Feels like the Tower got Story Quests. But only one person can clear them.
Setting aside the mechanics.
What citizens felt most acutely was the new Gate.
The Fire Spirit’s Playground.
[Fire Spirit’s Playground is insanely easy lol]
└Super simple. Doesn’t even need a strategy, just hit stuff lol
└I literally fainted seeing the fire essence drop rate. This is insane
└Wait, you can even make spirit contracts there? For real?
└For real? Aren’t spirit summoners super rare jobs these days?
└Fire mages who grind here get their proficiency skyrocketing lol
└But when you talk to spirits, they all have trauma;; I feel sorry for youㅠㅠ
One rumor began spreading.
[I’m a returnee and spirit summoners are totally broken later. Start now.]
└Pilgrimage incoming lol
└But there’s barely any info;;;
└Looks way too hardcore for beginners to raise
There was one job that had been mocked until recently but was gradually gaining recognition.
The ‘Battle Mage’.
The perception that battle mages were essential at higher floors was slowly spreading, led by Western Europe.
[Spirit summoner + mage combo is absolutely broken lol]
└1+1 becomes 5
└Heard spirit summoners are essential in high-floor party compositions?
└But there’s supposedly a Gate where you can almost definitely become a spirit summoner?
Low-level Awakeners.
Miners. South Korea was a dream territory for mages.
Now aspiring spirit summoners were added to the mix.
[Countless foreign Awakeners are already lining up to enter the country]
└My national pride is exploding, and it’s all facts so it’s even funnier lol
└I used to be allergic to national pride but I’m just enjoying it now lol
└When delusion becomes art, it’s truly real
The entire world focused on ‘Story’.
Tower Civilization 2.5 era.
A new paradigm that had suddenly drawn near.
The beginning of this massive turning point stemmed from a single individual.

* * *
If Christine was in London, then Bessius was in Real Madrid.
Bessius, who had recently triumphed over Christine in a public mock battle, brimmed with confidence.
“I am stronger than Christine.”
His conviction was well-founded.
A curse magic he’d recently acquired—the Veil of Void.
The moment he cast it, Christine couldn’t mount a proper defense.
The result was a crushing victory. Since then, he’d been boasting to himself at least five times a day.
“I’m the one who discovered the hidden field on the 45th Floor!”
After six weeks of conquest, he’d obtained the Tear of Azure from that place.
A seed shaped like a water droplet.
What rested in his palm satisfied him more than anything else.
───────
[Tear of Azure]
A mystical gem that reverses the properties of water.
───────
Its exact nature remained unknown.
But one thing was certain.
“It will render the mana barrier useless.”
A mana barrier was an auxiliary artifact that blocked water from the Water Layer, allowing Awakeners to move freely.
But with the Tear of Azure, water would pierce through the barrier and seep in.
Subtly. Fatally.
“And one more thing.”
The Tear of Azure grew far more potent under specific conditions.
Against those with strong fire resistance.
For instance, against a monster who’d bulldozed the 30s Floors at EX-Rank.
“EX Awakeners are constitutionally optimized for flame.”
The water seeping through the mana barrier would become a terrible poison to an EX Awakener.
The EX Awakener had toppled Italy’s stronghold and monopolized first place.
Achieving perfect victory in direct competition against Western Europe.
And now, they were baring their fangs toward Real Madrid.
“Perhaps the EX Awaker needs to learn that excessive confidence can be poison.”
Bessius had decided to teach the EX Awakener humility.
It would be a bitter lesson. If they managed to return alive.
“Though survival will likely be impossible.”
For an EX Awakener blinded by overconfidence, it would be the perfect grave.
“Drowned. How romantic.”

* * *
Naples Lord Spaloti betrayed Real Madrid.
He revealed everything to Seoul Lord Lee Byung-gyu.
“…that’s what happened.”
Lee Byung-gyu nodded quietly.
“Thank you for the valuable information.”
The transmission was swift.
Straight to the EX-Awakened one.
“Azure’s Tears, you say?”
From what I gathered, it seemed to be a precious item that Bessius had obtained with great difficulty from the mid-boss floor of the 45th Floor.
It might even be a story item.
Rather than anger, curiosity bloomed within Choi Kang-mok.
The first person who came to mind for answers was the professor.
[Currently researching.]
[Entry to the 4th Floor has been denied.]
[You may forcibly enter using Research Institute Director authority.]
[Will you forcibly enter?]
“Sigh.”
I exhaled deeply.
I understood the professor was remarkable, but he was far too busy.
This time, I sought out intermediate-rank mage Owen.
“I’m an expert in that field. Or rather, you could even call me a master. Even Professor Raymond wouldn’t know as much as I do. Hahaha!”
Fortunately, Owen was well-versed in the matter.

* * *
Cyan’s Tears altered the properties of water, inflicting adverse effects on those who wielded mana barriers.
However, this was merely a surface-level drawback—the true essence lay in ‘transformation’.
“The fundamental principle is to transform the very nature of water and summon the true Dragon Palace. With Part One’s water properties alone, summoning the genuine Dragon Palace would be exceedingly difficult.”
In essence, a trigger for entering Part Two.
That was precisely what Cyan’s Tears represented.
“Wow. This is genuinely difficult to obtain—most people struggle with it—yet you’ve already secured it? Surely Professor Raymond didn’t give it to you? But even for someone like him….”
“No, that’s not it. Someone gave it to me.”
What? They gave you this?
Owen was momentarily taken aback but refrained from pressing further.
The Research Institute Director was, well, quite an unusual individual.
Attempting to understand him through conventional logic only invited exhaustion.
Choi Kang-mok’s interest was piqued.
‘This is the key to entering Part Two?’
I had already experienced it when defeating King Sparlock on Floor 7.
Part Two and Part Three rewards far exceeded Part One rewards.
And now, on a fresh server.
Clearing here would multiply the rewards several times over.
“Does this relate to the story?”
“■■■.”
The answer remained inaudible.
I circumvented the question and asked again.
“Then with this item, can I enter Part Two immediately?”
“No, that’s not possible.”
Had it been possible, Spain would have already attempted Part Two entry.
And they would have promoted it extensively worldwide.
Emblazoning titles like “World’s First Official Part Two Entry on the 40s Floors!” across every platform.
“As I mentioned, the water existing in the Water Layer is merely a phenomenon of flow, correct?”
“Yes. I remember.”
“You need an item that transforms the flow itself. Something like ■■ ■■■, for instance.”
System noise prevented me from hearing the precise name.
Yet Owen continued undeterred.
“Transform the flow… alter… open….”
The words came with difficulty.
The air density suddenly intensified.
The strength of the system constraint had increased.
Intensified gravity. My teeth chattered against one another.
Yet I clenched my jaw.
‘Damn it! If this were Professor Raymond, he’d pierce through this level of system pressure with one hand and explain it with utter indifference!’
I could not lose to Raymond.
Now, while Raymond was absorbed in his research, lost in delighted fascination!
This was the moment to prove it.
That I too was a mage of immense value!
“New… flow… water….”
I wrung out the words as if squeezing them from my heart.
The words were difficult to understand, but I could still grasp their meaning.
The core message was simple.
[■■ ■■■ to ‘convert’ the flow of water, and then using Cheong-yeon’s tears would summon the true Dragon Palace.]
Choi Kang-mok’s expression grew slightly bitter.
‘It connects like this?’
A flow-distortion item.
The ‘■■ ■■■’ that Owen spoke of.
It was far too clear.

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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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