The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 160

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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 160
South Korea’s stock market went haywire.
Foreign currency from around the world flooded into the Korean Peninsula, and KOSPI surged past the 7,000 mark.
Once again, riding the wave of Iraq’s reconstruction boom, the nation was entering its golden age.
Kim Chul-in, an executive of the EX Salvation Corps, spoke with evident satisfaction.
“The premium of being an EX-Rank Awakener-holding nation has transcended mere symbolism and become a global asset.”
The ripple effects manifested immediately in the numbers.
“The EX Salvation Corps’ membership is skyrocketing.”
Emily, likewise an executive, burst into delighted laughter.
”
My master
, or rather, EX-sama’s grace—we’re only now beginning to truly understand it. This was always meant to happen. A dazzling world star, no, a cosmic star, my celestial one.”
Above Emily’s headband, a hologram displaying ‘★Kang-mok★’ materialized.
The light sparkled like starlight, and the color was strikingly vivid.
Emily pointed proudly to her headband.
“The deeper the fan devotion, the stronger the light’s output becomes.”
Kim Chul-in’s gaze fixed upon the headband.
“Can I purchase that headband?”
He coveted it.
With that, he could prove his faith.
The intense, glittering light could even establish hierarchy among the executives.
But Emily shook her head.
“Not yet. There’s only one.”
“What a shame. If you could just produce a few more….”
“That’s not possible right now. The production cost exceeds 30 billion won.”
“I’ll cover the expenses.”
“Money aside, the materials are extremely rare….”
Kim Chul-in’s eyes narrowed. Emily’s true intentions were transparent.
She intended to monopolize the item that could prove one’s devotion?
Emily continued.
“EX-sama will be visiting soon. Will you greet them?”
“No. As someone humble, I won’t fawn before them unless they summon me.”
“That’s admirable conduct—truly befitting an executive! However, my approach is somewhat different. I’m considerably more proactive in my courtship.”
She retrieved an item from her inventory.
It was a necklace adorned with a heart-shaped gem.
“What is that?”
“It’s a computational tool that dramatically accelerates the basic calculation speed for analyzing magical structures.”
“….”
“I went through considerable trouble crafting it into a heart shape, you know?”
“…I see.”
Kim Chul-in found himself at a loss for words. Emily’s performance was simply extraordinary.
As someone positioning himself as the First Executive of the EX Salvation Corps, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease.
“You’re coming to pick this up.
If you propose with this, do you think she’ll accept?”
”
Soon after, Choi Kang-mok arrived at Emily’s Workshop.

* * *
I glanced at Emily’s headband.
By my standards, the design was somewhat unsightly.
‘It’s gotten a bit strange since Mayo’s consciousness was partially absorbed.’
Emily’s sense of self wasn’t fundamentally compromised, but it had been enhanced in peculiar directions, one might say.
According to Emily’s own description, her “fandom passion” had been amplified.
-This Mayo finds that headband quite appealing.
-If it’s possible, could I purchase one in a size to fit my body as well?
Mayo’s aesthetic sense was equally bizarre.
In any case, if Mayo wanted one, I could always buy her one.
“That headband—is it possible to purchase one?”
“Oh, not at all. I’ll just make one for you. It’ll take about three days though.”
-This Mayo can certainly wait three days.
-A brilliant ★Kang-mok★ blooming atop my head—my heart is already racing at the thought.
You don’t even have a heart.
-Just imagining it makes me feel like I’ll short-circuit.
I said nothing.
There was no need to dampen the spirits of an excited Mayo and Emily.
“And this is a
proposal gift
.”
“Pardon?”
“What?”
Emily covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.
“Just kidding, just kidding!”
In any case, Emily held out a heart-shaped necklace.
───────
[Kang-mok Exclusive Computation Circuit: Emily Custom]
Grade: Creation
An advanced computational auxiliary device that dramatically enhances the speed of magical structure interpretation. Upon equipping, it automatically analyzes the flow of mana around the user and displays complex magical formations and conceptual calculations in real-time.
───────
The name alone was ominous.
‘Kang-mok Exclusive Computation Circuit: Emily Custom’—what a thing to call it.
It was a naming convention I’d never heard before.
Emily laughed softly.
“I’m confident about this. It’s my life’s masterpiece. It’s thanks to the wisdom flowing from within me.”
“That’s not merely wisdom…”
“I know. It’s a form of contamination. But is all contamination bad? If the contamination is helpful, then isn’t it no longer contamination? Look at our immune system. We deliberately inject vaccines—a kind of contamination—into our bodies to strengthen immunity.”
Magic offers similar examples.
“Some magic appears to be destruction magic, but it’s actually healing magic, isn’t it?”
“That’s true.”
“And some magic looks like area-explosion magic, but it’s actually purification magic.”
“Ah.”
I began to understand, bit by bit.
Progress that appears like contamination but isn’t actually contamination?
It was entirely possible.
“In any case, thank you. Thanks to Emily, I think I’ll be able to use Dispel magic even more effectively.”
I’d obtained a new item.
I wanted to test it immediately.
‘I should go find Raymond.’

* * *
Raymond greeted me with his arms spread wide.
“Haha! Welcome! Master of Dispel magic, my
disciple
!”
“I’ve just obtained an artifact that’s perfect for me.”
“Oh?”
Raymond was taken aback.
“It seems to be of a quality that would be difficult to produce on Earth?”
“Yes. There was some outside assistance involved.”
“Haha, Earth truly is a peculiar dimension.”
My disciple is so irregular that I suppose that’s to be expected.
But to think someone could craft an artifact of this caliber.
Usually the dimension is below average, yet it produces cosmic-class awakeners one or two at a time.
“I came to you because I’d like to practice while actively using this, Professor.”
Raymond had considerable skill in combat magic as well.
If Raymond demonstrated combat magic for me, I planned to try canceling it with Dispel.
“Excellent! For my disciple’s magical development, what is it to sacrifice this body?”
Raymond waved his staff, and a door materialized.
“Come along.”
The NPC-Exclusive Magic Lecture Hall.
It was called a lecture hall in name only—in reality, it was no different from an arena.
“First, I need to get used to Dispel, so let me start with the basic spell, Energy Bolt… Huh?”
Raymond seemed slightly taken aback.
[This is the domain of science.]
[A zone where magic cannot intrude has been declared.]
But that was only momentary.
He quickly swung his staff and shattered the ‘fabricated truth’.
“A newly controllable Small World, then?”
Exactly.
This magnificent staff I’d just acquired.
The power of the Science Staff.
“Yes. I didn’t expect it to break so easily, though.”
“Haha! Once you graduate from the magical academy and reach a certain level of mastery, something like this is child’s play. What do you say? When dimensions eventually connect, I’ll write you a recommendation letter. Why not apply to the magical academy?”
“I’ll consider it positively.”
If I could gain magical wisdom, I’d attend the magical academy’s grandfather if it existed.
“Well then, let’s begin again. Starting with a simple Energy Bolt.”
“!”
As Raymond flicked his hand, a hundred energy spheres materialized.
Energy spheres rotating at different speeds from one another.
They traced erratic trajectories as they hurtled toward me.
Using the speed differential, trailing projectiles overtook leading ones, and suddenly halted spheres deflected incoming bolts from behind.
Some merely obscured my vision like guided missiles, while others bored in straight lines, curved arcs, and zigzag patterns.
-He calls that ordinary magic.
-This professor is insane.
-Should we intercept?
I shook my head.
I’d come here to practice Dispel magic.
I attempted Dispel while maintaining only the most basic Shield protection.
‘I can’t fully trust even the Shield.’
Regardless of how much the professor held back, these were still his spells.
A direct hit could be fatal.
Which was precisely why this was ideal. It pushed my concentration to its absolute limits.
‘The structure is simple.’
The ‘Choi Kang-mok Exclusive Calculation Circuit: Emily Custom’ activated.
The fundamental structure of the spheres became visible to my eyes as if drawn before me.
‘Wait.’
And I realized something.
The Emily Custom calculation circuit, running repeatedly, revealed something with absolute clarity.
Though there were a hundred energy spheres, they were ultimately connected as one.
They were being coordinated by a single consciousness.
Thin threads of magical power intertwined and twisted into a thick rope, then knotted at the professor’s hand.
‘This is the artifact’s performance that even the Professor admired.’
A masterwork worthy of Emily, who accepted a touch of corruption.
Now that I can see the structure, the entire battlefield comes into view.
The combat situation becomes crystal clear, as if I were gazing down from the heavens.
‘Once I fully grasp the structure, the foundation reveals itself.’
In the end, the foundation lies there.
That mana line touching the Professor’s hand.
It was a phenomenon similar to discovering the massive pillar connecting the 20th Floor and the Small World through structural analysis.
‘Blink.’
After evading the energy sphere’s attack with Blink.
I unleashed an Energy Bolt toward the Professor’s hand.
There are many energy spheres in front, but it doesn’t matter.
‘Penetration attribute maximized.’
Two ashen Energy Bolts were fired.
Two shots aimed at the Professor’s wrists.
The Professor’s spells, touched by the overwhelming destructive force of the energy sphere, crumbled to dust and scattered.
“Is this
my disciple’s
Dispel?”
No. This isn’t Dispel.
This was merely an incidental effect.
This isn’t the focus of this training.
“I won’t simply accept this.”
I understand what my disciple is aiming for.
Movement magic. And just as I was preparing an additional 300 Energy Bolts.
Choi Kang-mok advanced once more with Blink.
“Actually, it was a feint.”
I know well my disciple’s destructive power.
Of course I must remain vigilant.
So I drew his attention with the Energy Bolt, then closed in with Blink.
“It’s Physical Dispel magic, Professor!”
I swung my staff with all my might.
By striking the fundamental structure, the spell is canceled.
Not a bad start for the training.
In that instant, time around Raymond flowed slowly.
Time warped, and my movements dulled.
“Let me show you what true Dispel really is. True Dispel can even nullify physical magic.”
A lesson from an unexpected direction had begun.

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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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