The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 123

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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 123
[Upon integration, all Awakeners receive the ‘Tower Entry’ skill.]
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[Tower Entry (Provisional)]
Enter the Tower within your nation’s jurisdiction.
General items cannot be brought inside.
Maintain invincibility for 3 seconds after returning.
Cooldown: 72 hours
※Available uses: Up to 1,000 per person
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Inferior compared to Choi Kang-mok’s ‘Tower Entry’, but regardless, the Tower Entry skill now exists.
If the national Tower is designated as Seoul?
It means Tower Entry becomes possible from Busan, from Jeju, anywhere—Seoul Tower access is guaranteed.
‘A change that emerged after I broke through the Tower’s rejection and forced my way inside.’
A change born from disrupting the Tower’s entry system.
As a researcher, my curiosity was piqued, yet simultaneously, I felt a twinge of unease.
‘If this instability stems from my disruption….’
The Tower isn’t as stable as it appears.
Sifting through my memories, the Tower has been damaged countless times.
Crackling, walls fracturing, holes opening, water seeping, the Dragon Palace erupting, even reconstruction underway—and the 40s Floors remain unrepaired.
If the Tower possessed a conscience, it could rightfully demand: “If you had any decency, wouldn’t you refrain from discussing Tower stability?”
And now, Tower integration.
Remote entry for countless Awakeners.
‘The likelihood of the Tower becoming increasingly unstable is rising.’
It would be wise to discover methods of stabilizing the Tower if possible.
This bordered on a mission—both as the cause and as a researcher.
‘I’m conducting inquiry like a true mage.’
I felt a modest pride in my growth as a mage.
Meanwhile, the world erupted in upheaval.
The most urgent nations were those still unable to conquer Floor 44.
They dispatched emergency requests to neighboring countries.
[Breaking News] Philippines, Manila Floor 44 Conquest Fails—Global Awakeners Requested for Emergency Support
[Breaking News] South Africa, Cape Town Stalled at Floor 42. Monster Infestation Risk Warning!
Several nations received humanitarian aid from developed countries—specifically, the promise of support from players capable of clearing Floor 44.
Tower civilization’s advanced nations would reap enormous profits in return.
Nations fortunate enough to receive aid fared better.
At least they prevented immediate Tower collapse.
Yet several nations lacked even this fortune.
[Poland Requests Aid from European Union!]
Poland was the prime example.
Poland, which had grown rapidly in the early days of Tower civilization, had been stalled at Floor 40 for over six months.
[Poland poses little threat.]
How many Awakeners in the European Union could break through Floor 44 in Poland’s stead?
Of course, even though the European Union had become nominal through the Tower civilization era, they remained the world’s most cohesive community.
Yet no Awakeners stepped forward willingly for Poland.
Lee Byung-gyu, the Seoul Lord, spoke.
“First, geopolitical reasons would be significant.”
Poland was a buffer zone positioned between Russia and Western Europe.
If it transformed into a Monsterland, Western Europe would actually become safer.
Monsters within one region don’t cross borders, after all.
“Second, everyone is simply too busy.”
The Tower vote was fourteen days away.
Top-tier players in each city had already entered the campaign phase.
There was no spare capacity to go rescue Poland.
“Poland will likely become Europe’s experimental ground and buffer zone.”
Evacuation convoys stretched across all of Poland.
Massive moving bags piled like mountains at train stations, while highways were clogged with endless vehicle processions.

* * *
While the world descended into extreme chaos, certain nations remained peaceful.
Saudi Arabia was the prime example.
It had only one Tower to begin with, and Floor 44 had been conquered long ago.
There was no risk of Tower collapse, no possibility of integration failure.
Physically, it was the most stable nation.
Yet there existed an even more stable place.
[Seoul Tower: Preparation? Just bake some fish cakes and we’re good]
└Is it really true there’s zero tension?
└Just confirm Seoul before the vote
└National opinion poll shows 98% support for Seoul Tower lol
└What about the other 2%?
England and Germany, which had solidified their overwhelming first-place positions, faced similar circumstances.
London and Bavaria Munich were becoming established as their representative Towers.
Yet globally, extreme chaos was accelerating.
【Paris city center. Beneath the Eiffel Tower】
“Paris is the city of art—without it, there is no France!”
“Marseille has the best Tower quality, you country bumpkins!”
Makeshift ballot boxes were set up on the street.
Citizens holding bread, citizens holding wine bottles, shouted at each other.
Someone threw off their beret, another hurled a Bordeaux bottle.
Police intervened. The police fought too.
【Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Copacabana Beach】
“Rio is Brazil itself!”
“Without São Paulo, we never would’ve broken through Floor 44.”
People fought while wielding surfboards.
Soccer balls flew through the air.
Whistles blew but were drowned out by shouting.
【Turkey, Central Istanbul】
“Istanbul is the gateway between East and West!”
“Don’t disrespect Ankara!”
Thousands of flags fluttered in the Grand Bazaar.
Tea cups shattered, and kebab skewers flew through the air.
[??? : To unify the Tower, we must first create division]
└Currently fragmenting into four factions with fists, wine, kebabs, and soccer balls
America had anticipated a three-way battle between New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, but it ended anticlimactically.
[New York : I’m close with an EX-Rank Awakener, you know?]
└Los Angeles : Your brother
└Chicago : We can’t compete with that
└Saudi Arabia : We’re actually closer, though?
America quickly consolidated around New York.

* * *
Fire fell upon Poland’s doorstep.
Twelve hours until Tower collapse.
Citizens formed evacuation lines, and each city descended into panic.
In the midst of this crisis, Karol, the Lord of Warsaw Gate, sent an urgent message to Lee Byung-gyu, the Lord of Seoul.
-Please, I beg you to aid Poland. We will never forget this kindness.
-We only have twelve hours left. How could we possibly help?
-If we fall like Naples did… wouldn’t that be catastrophic?
The immediate threat had to be extinguished.
Breaking through Floor 44 was the only way to stop the collapse.
Western Europe offered no assistance. Neither did Russia.
The East Asian powers were either too distant or consumed by internal political warfare.
Korea was their only hope.
-We will surrender up to the 20th Floor. Please send your Occupying Lord.
Lee Byung-gyu fell silent for a moment.
They were offering twenty floors without question or hesitation.
Part of me wanted to tell them to let every floor fall into occupation, but that wasn’t realistic.
Choi Kang-chul’s abilities hadn’t yet reached that level.
-Ten floors will be sufficient.
-Pardon?
There was no need to be honest about it.
-The EX-Awakener has no desire to negotiate by holding the people’s lives hostage.
Karol had heard of it too.
Perhaps the EX-Awakener dreamed of becoming the emperor of a new age.
If someone were to become emperor, it would be better if they were merciful.
-Understood. If you send the Territorial Lord over immediately….
-They’re already there.
Lee Byung-gyu and Choi Kang-chul had moved ahead of time.
Calculating that Poland would be in danger, they had already entered the country.
That one sees through everything.
Karol felt his hair stand on end.
-This too was arranged by the EX-Awakener…?
He didn’t bother answering.
-The detailed contract is with the Territorial Lord. We wish you success.
The Territorial Lord’s occupation of the 10th Floor of Warsaw Tower.
Connection to the EX Layer.
And the 44th Floor had been cleared by an anonymous Awakener.
Poland’s doomsday clock had stopped.

* * *
Poland’s atmosphere stood in stark contrast to Western Europe, where anti-EX-Awakener sentiment was boiling over.
[Breaking News] Poland officially announces “national gratitude” to the EX-Awakener]
[Warsaw city center pushes forward with monument installation for the EX-Awakener]
[So they’re becoming a Mecca too?]
└Honestly, isn’t this beneficial?
└Rising to become the center of world civilization
└Russia: Utterly bewildered?
The evacuation had ceased.
The streets were filled with people.
Some waved flags, others threw bouquets.
In an instant, everyday life had been restored.
Jubilant cheers soared into the sky.
In the midst of it all, I felt strangely moved.
-The people are smiling.
-It’s beautiful. The laughter of those who endured and survived always is.
–
We
will soon smile together as well.
Within
us
My arrival in Poland wasn’t solely for the sake of rescue.
I had come to investigate the Warsaw Gate.
‘The place where Poland’s hero, Kowalski, vanished without a trace.’
The Warsaw Gate was structured in stages.
Kowalski had disappeared on the 11th stage without leaving any clue behind.
This Gate had both elevated Poland and become the shackle that bound it.
Up to the 10th stage, it was safe, and the rewards were excellent.
Clearing just that much allowed Poland to avoid obsolescence in the Tower civilization era.
That’s why Polish Awakeners hadn’t risked climbing higher, and it was the reason Poland remained stalled at Floor 40.
‘Managed at the national level. They’re not disclosing information to the outside.’
Only two pieces of information were known.
1. A Gate structured in stages.
2. A place where Stabilization Shards could be obtained.
I focused on the Stabilization Shards.
The description was marked with ‘?’.
They were being used as synthesis materials that marginally increased success rates during enhancement or synthesis.
I concentrated on this aspect.
‘With merely 10 stages cleared, they’ve achieved growth comparable to other nations’ Tower civilizations.’
It was extraordinary.
A single Gate. And only 10 stages cleared at that, yet it rivals other nations’ Tower civilizations?
What about the higher stages here? If one reached the 30th stage?
‘There’s something here. Definitely.’
Without a crisis like this, I would never have gained the opportunity to enter.
Moreover, it just so happened that Stabilization Shards emerged from this place.
From a location designated as a Monsterland candidate. From a place where annihilation was nearly certain.
If we lost this place?
Humanity might never obtain ‘Stabilization Shards’ again.
‘The Tower carries a story.’
I had already confirmed this on the 30s Floors.
Gates intertwined with stories had appeared.
Other floors, other nations—they surely would too.
‘What if, beyond the Tower level, Earth itself is connected by a grand narrative?’
Competition transcending city-states. Competition between nations.
Was that truly all?
‘Perhaps not.’
The traces the Tower left behind differed by nation.
Spain had produced Awakeners with refined technical prowess,
Germany had perfected teamwork that meshed like clockwork.
England had built civilization through meticulous strategy and restrained order,
Saudi Arabia had formed its own unique ecosystem based on abundant artifacts and wealth.
Japan had pushed the pinnacle of craftsmanship ever higher through an endless succession of artisans.
The currents seemed scattered and disparate.
Yet every single one felt like a piece arranged within a single, grand narrative.
‘Then I must protect this place.’
To prepare for the coming Tower civilization. To truly grasp the flow.
Choi Kang-mok drew a slow breath.
It felt as though I stood upon an enormous puzzle.
– That’s really just an excuse, isn’t it? You want to research the Warsaw Gate and stabilization shards, don’t you?
– An unexplored frontier. Unknown rewards. A mage’s heart naturally races at such things. 🙂

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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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