The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 119

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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 119
“…and so I was hoping to borrow a little luck from you.”
In Kang Pal-do’s eyes, the EX-rank Awakener appeared quite ethical and exemplary.
At least, compared to a lunatic like that magic professor.
He looked perfectly normal.
So Kang Pal-do thought to himself.
‘This guy speaks sense!’
And that thought quickly transformed into something else.
‘He’ll be easy to squeeze!’
I’d already witnessed the EX-Awakener’s absurd power firsthand.
He had the strength to bring calamity. Honestly, it was a bit frightening.
But so what?
It didn’t seem like he’d actually throw a punch.
Even the strongest fist in the world doesn’t hurt if it never lands.
‘A naive mage ignorant of how the world works!’
Besides, he had plenty of money.
Absurdly, obscenely abundant wealth.
What he wanted was in my possession.
Before the dazzling light of capitalism, cowardly instincts lost their luster.
Kang Pal-do was now a man of courage.
“Hmm. I’ve already been robbed quite thoroughly, so I’m not sure if I can afford to lend you more, I’m afraid.”
“….”
Choi Kang-mok flinched for a moment.
Not because of Kang Pal-do’s uncooperative attitude.
‘Did I want to act like the professor?’
I was startled by the realization that such a thought had crossed my mind.
I’d almost asked Professor Raymond to ‘give me a little pain’.
I wanted to become an excellent mage, not a deranged one.
‘The moment you abandon ethics and morality, you become a monster, not a mage.’
Reading that complicated expression, Kang Pal-do found some composure.
It was certain. The other guy was a novice.
A coward recognizes another coward.
‘That bastard. He’s a coward.’
In fact, this entire situation made no sense.
If an EX-Awakener decided to squeeze me dry, I’d be helpless.
Yet he approaches like this?
Either he’s kind or he’s a coward. Either way, it works in my favor.
Kang Pal-do, relatively the less cowardly of the two, put on a troubled expression as if acting.
“I’m not sure what kind of side effects this might have either.”
It was luck I was going to give anyway.
In that case, I should extract as much as possible.
“I’ll offer you generous compensation.”
Choi Kang-mok wanted to conclude the negotiation quickly.
Time was precious.
I needed to create a buffer device to control the driving force.
And magical practice.
If I re-entered the 41st Floor, could I succeed in high-tier spirit meteorization again?
This time, with light and darkness attributes as well?
“Yes. Specifically, how would you proceed….”
The conditions Choi Kang-mok offered were indeed generous.
He promised 100 million Diamonds each time I borrowed fortune.
However, Kang Pal-do didn’t back down.
‘Even dried squid yields water when squeezed!’
The opponent was an EX-rank Awakener, no less.
Not dried squid—the ocean itself.
To him, 100 million Diamonds would be mere foam clinging to a wave’s crest.
Greed gleamed in Kang Pal-do’s eyes.
The floodgates had opened.
Now it was simply a matter of drawing it all out.
“Ah, 100 million is a bit….”
Just then, a magic circle materialized beside Choi Kang-mok, and a three-headed bald eagle appeared.
A grotesque creature that spoke with three different voices.
“So just.”
“Poke out the innards.”
“It’s easier, I’m telling you?”
It uttered horrifying words as if it were nothing.
Choi Kang-mok shook his head.
“No. I’ll handle this well, Professor.”
I was somewhat impressed.
Last time it was transformation magic, but this time it’s illusion.
With this level of manifestation, it’s nearly indistinguishable from reality.
“Time is wasting.”
“Just let me.”
“Proceed.”
One of the creature’s heads suddenly transformed into a drill.
Whirrrr—whirrrr—!
Metal spun, tearing through the air.
“Did you layer mechanization transmutation material magic over the illusion magic? Weaving them naturally into a circulation structure?”
“As expected.”
“You recognize it.”
“My
prized disciple.”
”
Choi Kang-mok continued after a moment of admiration, then spoke urgently.
“Professor.”
By now, I had grown quite accustomed to conversing with him.
“I’d prefer my magic to remain pristine. As you know, I’m rather particular about cleanliness.”
Mayo had already ‘cleaned’ this place multiple times.
The professor understood that function well enough.
“If you forcibly extract it, negative emotions and energies could cling to it. That would be a desecration of my magic.”
“Truly unwavering in your convictions.”
“I’m a mage. I spoke carelessly.”
“Thinking only of efficiency.”
Kang Pal-do wanted to weep.
Why did the drill have to talk?!

* * *
The contract was successfully concluded.
It seemed I could have extracted more, but any further greed risked having my stomach actually pierced by the drill.
In the end, I signed for 100 million Diamonds per session.
‘This counts as a victory!’
Negotiation is about adjusting to circumstances.
I didn’t sign just to survive. Absolutely not.
‘I’m aiming for the next opportunity.’
The professor is insane.
But EX-rank Awakeners are reasonable.
Surely, I can extract more.
Perhaps I can even obtain the coveted ‘EX Coins’ that have captivated the world recently.
That’s not the end of it.
‘If he’d just appear on my broadcast once.’
An EX-rank Awakener, revealed to the world for the first time.
Just that single sentence made my chest swell with grandeur.
My heart began to race.
‘I absolutely must add this to the contract terms.’
Without that mad professor, that bumbling EX-rank would be far too easy to manipulate.
Handling such types is my specialty.
‘The earnest, straightforward sort. Obedient.’
Even so, I’m the boss in the Coward Guild world.
My old gaming nickname was even Coward ‘King’.
To add, I founded the Coward Guild and served as its guild master.
‘And hyung, what if I become your younger brother?’
Now I don’t need military power or political authority anymore.
A power broker in the shadow world with an EX-rank Awakener as my younger brother!
Just imagining it sends shivers down my spine!
Kang Pal-do’s twenty-four-year-old mind raced without pause.
‘Hehehehe.’
Today was a day when fortune erupted.
The only difference from before was that the house mage had changed this time.
“I’ll need to administer anesthesia.”
The professor had extracted ‘fortune’ cleanly without anesthesia.
But Owen was different.
He slowly raised a rather hefty staff.
‘Oh, is he going to use that for anesthesia magic?’
Kang Pal-do felt somewhat relieved.
At least this mage had a human touch.
A mid-tier mage’s approach—one that hadn’t lost their humanity.
Thwack!
The staff struck precisely against the back of his head.
“Anesthesia, successful.”
“Owen, I couldn’t detect any magical principle at all?”
I was disappointed not to observe anything.
But my scholarly curiosity didn’t cease.
Why employ an invisible structure here?
“Huh? I just knocked him out.”
The staff wasn’t a magical tool.
It was just a club.
If he thrashed about while conscious, the work would be difficult.
So I made sure he stayed down.
Owen immediately utilized several rituals, a magic circle, and scrolls to
extract the refined ‘fortune’ that gleamed with a golden light.
“Within an hour, I’ll create a fortune box. Please wait a moment… Huh? He’s awake. Impressive durability.”
Smack!
Anesthesia succeeded once more.

* * *
I waited with eager anticipation for the completion of the Lucky Box.
Of course, there were some complications.
–
“When focusing on the essential function, there are limits to perfecting the external form.”
In other words, its appearance was unpredictable each time.
The name “Lucky Box” was merely a conventional expression.
More precisely: “a random form imbued with fortune.”
–
“When I made one before, it came out shaped like an elephant’s… well, you know.”
Yes. A male elephant’s that.
That massive thing hanging between two legs.
–
“When the structure forms similarly to a body, it must be mounted in a corresponding location for the effect to work.”
A fatal constraint based on external form.
First, all individuals classified as “female” in the system cannot use it.
Half of humanity eliminated.
Moreover, the size is excessive, causing considerable “rattling” during use.
Naturally, it’s cumbersome and inconvenient.
Above all, it’s utterly inelegant.
“I really hope something good comes out on the first try.”
Something small and inconspicuous, like an earring or ring.
It also needed to integrate well with the Motive Force Control Device.
“Oh no. A horse’s came out.”
“….”
“Huh. This is a rabbit’s ear….”
“….”
“This is rare. A Cyclops’s eyeball form!”
It was a massive eyeball-shaped Lucky Box.
Extracting and transplanting an existing eye would amplify the fortune.
In exchange, you’d lose your vision.
After several attempts, an earring-shaped Lucky Box finally took form.
Using it as the primary material, Owen began crafting the Motive Force Buffer Device.
“The manufacturing should take approximately 24 hours.”
Kang Pal-do’s face, drained from continuously extracting fortune, had turned deathly pale.
“P-please… save me….”
Owen swallowed hard.
This guy had a unique constitution.
The more fortune was extracted, the stronger it became.
‘How long can I keep extracting from him?’
After conducting multiple experiments, I reached one conclusion.
—It doesn’t deplete.
Of course, there were “very minor” side effects like stomach pain and vomiting.
‘But that doesn’t matter.’
My luck continues to strengthen!
Look at that guy!
He’s absolutely thrilled.

* * *
Choi Kang-mok walked along the Mage-Only Corridor alongside Kang Pal-do, who retched continuously.
Though Kang Pal-do wasn’t a mage, his exceptional accompaniment was permitted under the “Research Institute director’s authority.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“…Yes.”
Ugh!
My insides twisted.
I looked ready to vomit any moment, but I held it back.
‘I can’t end it like this.’
The mad professor was gone now, and so was the intermediate mage who beat people with a staff.
All that remained here was one seemingly gentle EX-rank Awakener.
‘I’ll expose the EX-rank Awakener.’
Though I’d been treated as an experimental subject, I was a legitimate million-subscriber YouTuber.
Checking my account, I’d already surpassed 1.6 million subscribers.
It was a growth curve I’d never experienced even in my early days.
【[Exclusive Reveal] Showing Real EX-Rank Awakener】
Just that single thumbnail line sent shivers down my spine.
It was still possible now.
I had the system skill ‘Live Broadcast’ after all.
‘But the [LIVE] mark would show up.’
A camera, on the other hand, was safe.
Physical equipment didn’t display any markers.
In other words, a “hidden camera.”
Honestly, it was a bit terrifying.
‘One shot like this and my life’s reversed! I have to film it.’
A product of Tower civilization.
I inserted a pen-shaped camera into my chest pocket and began recording.
[Recording has started.]
– Crude-level eavesdropping detected. It’s unfortunate there’s no malice.
– If there had been malice, I would have intercepted it.
At that moment, Choi Kang-mok received a notification.
[!Special condition satisfied!]
───────
[A Day Blessed by Fortune]
+[Premier-Tier Facility Hub]
+[Qualifications of the Facility Owner]
+[Detection of Eavesdropping Exposure via Mid-Tier and Lower Artifacts]
───────
-Useless things can sometimes find peculiar applications, you see. 🙂
-That human, unexpectedly… has recycling value.
[Security]
[Breaking Through Growth Limits!]

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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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