The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 178

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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 178
Long ago, I happened upon a video.
A lotus flower in full bloom.
It was a documentary using time-lapse photography to show petals unfurling in magnificent splendor.
The scene of a tight bud bursting open from within, layer upon layer peeling back.
The Unbreakable Rock before me looked exactly like that.
The rock’s surface cracked delicately, revealing a cross-section carved from within as if by a master’s hand.
The black interior gleamed with brilliant luster.
-It looks like juice would flow if you bit into it.
-Beautiful. Truly beautiful.
As if a sharp blade had meticulously sectioned it from the inside.
It was too massive to take in at a glance.
But Choi Kang-mok, whose expertise in structural analysis had reached the pinnacle, could perceive the overall form.
As if gazing down from the heavens above.
Choi Kang-mok marveled.
“Magnificent… isn’t it?”
Even my master would surely be astounded by this.
Like a fruit meticulously carved by a master chef, it displayed perfectly refined beauty.
To the eyes of mage Choi Kang-mok, it appeared exactly so!
I savored my creation with my eyes. My gaze could not tear away.
“Though this was somewhat accidental.”
They say real combat is the fruit of training.
This form was the result of my penetration and compression training.
-Highly developed penetration and compression are no different from cutting, are they?
“Exactly.”
Now that I think about it, I’ve heard that high-pressure water can cut steel.
This was closer to a sculptural artwork created with magical high-pressure water.
I had stepped into the realm of form beyond mere destruction.
Once is chance. When this chance repeats, it becomes skill.
A fortunate foundation had been laid to ascend to yet another level.
“I barely managed to stop the destruction.”
A light touch and it would crumble.
The control was relatively successful.
“Ah. I need to release tension and keep it light.”
A small realization had been gained.
Relaxed, tension-free, light.
Direct combat-type awakeners always emphasized that “releasing tension comes first,” and now I finally understood what they meant.
“But….”
Within the flower made of black stone.
Something small was writhing somewhere inside.
“There seems to be something here.”
Ah.
Flight magic would be really convenient to have.
I moved directly myself, rather unbecomingly for a mage.
Professor Raymond would have transformed into a triple-headed bald eagle with at least four wings and flown away, wouldn’t he?
Whether it’s flight magic or transformation magic, I’ll need to master it eventually.
“It really is beautiful.”
The sharp cut surface. I like it.
The surface was so smooth it was nearly mirror-like.
I could see my own reflection, and Mayo fluttering about in flight as well.
After walking for a while with a satisfied smile, I discovered something resembling a small tuft of fur.
“Huh? What is that?”
Overall, it had the form of a kitten.
About the size of a human palm, with two pointed ears twitching.
Its entire body was curled up tightly, with its tail tucked beneath it and hidden away.
“Ah.”
So that’s why it’s called the Cradle of the Crimson Cat.
The Unbreakable Rock itself was apparently the cat’s cradle.
At its center, a newborn kitten trembled with its eyes tightly shut.
“No wonder the clear notification didn’t trigger.”
Typically, creating a scar on the rock would satisfy the clear condition.
Yet the clear notification still hadn’t appeared.
It meant I’d progressed to the next stage.
As I stepped closer, the kitten flinched again.
Its eyes remained shut. It seemed to be playing dead.
Quite adorable in appearance.
“Is it a boss monster?”
Should I eliminate it?
I shouldn’t be fooled by appearances.
There’s even a saying that cuteness and danger are proportional.
If it’s a boss monster, the sensible thing is to dispatch it quickly regardless of how adorable it is.
“Energy ball….”
Meow.
The kitten suddenly sprang to its feet.
Its eyes wide and bright, it rubbed its body against my leg.
Purring all the while.
-It seems to have changed its survival strategy.
-This cat is quite perceptive.
A notification chimed.
[!Congratulations!]
[You have received recognition from the Dimensional Monster, ‘Red Cat’.]
[Hidden Quest, ‘Earn the Recognition of Red Cat!’ has been cleared.]
Choi Kang-mok tilted his head in confusion.
I’d never received a quest, yet one had been cleared?
But soon enough, I nodded to myself.
For Korean mages,
this was quite a common occurrence.
‘A Dimensional Monster?’
The terminology was rather amusing.
This tiny, adorable creature was supposedly a Dimensional Monster.
It seemed this one’s specialty was puffing itself up like a pufferfish.
[The Dimensional Monster, ‘Red Cat’, becomes subordinate to the Awakened One.]
[‘Red Cat’ selects a butler….]
The notification appeared, then paused.
Red Cat’s mouth gaped wide, revealing teeth like millet seeds as it hissed with a sharp cry.
All its fur stood on end like needles, puffing up like a tiny hedgehog.
[‘Red Cat’ selects a butler….]
[‘Red Cat’ swears its loyalty.]
I gazed at Red Cat.
For just a moment, I found myself in serious contemplation.
Could I actually have a talent for taming creatures?
-My thoughts differ slightly.
-It seems
Sculptural Art Magic
impressed it greatly. It’s likely a monster with exceptional artistic sensibilities.
I smiled wryly.
A cat that understood the beauty of magic.
Quite the remarkable feline, indeed.

* * *
Instead of a grimoire of authentication, I obtained the Red Cat, who swore loyalty to me.
───────
[Red Cat]
One of the dimensional monsters sealed by ■■■ in the Unbreakable Rock.
It possesses the ability to directly influence the system, and its sense of smell is particularly exceptional, granting it an outstanding ability to distinguish the genuine from the counterfeit.
───────
“It’s a shame it’s not a grimoire, but….”
Still, the Red Cat seemed capable of fulfilling the role of an authentication grimoire.
I had already confirmed that it could directly influence the system.
I’d witnessed it changing notifications through its jaw movements firsthand.
“An outstanding ability to distinguish the genuine from the counterfeit, huh.”
The Red Cat nestled in my arms let out a small meow.
This dimensional monster was quite affectionate.
“Once this one grows a bit more, I might be able to learn authentication magic from it.”
A mage learns from everyone.
All things in the universe can become a teacher.
Meanwhile, the text that had been quiet for a while began to rampage once more.
───────
…(omitted)… The high-risk anomalous entity in Earth, South Korea, Seoul is… firmly convinced of being a mage themselves….
───────
Just reading it made me slightly irritated—the content of the “Open Source Worldview.”
It kept treating people like boss monsters.
‘Is it really not an exaggeration to say I’ve even corrupted Mayo?’
The Red Cat’s ruby-like eyes gleamed brilliantly.
Its gaze was directed precisely at the text.
“Can you see this too?”
Meow.
The Red Cat nodded its head.
───────
The national tournament had instead devolved into an event that drastically amplified the individual’s power and influence….
───────
As the Red Cat continued to gaze at the text, something began to appear faintly.
───────
Arcsia Empire, Peltin (deceased)
───────
“Huh?”
I realized what the small text was.
“The author?”
Meow.
Red Cat nodded.
“You can uncover part of the author’s identity?”
Meow.
Confidence gleamed in Red Cat’s eyes.
“The one who wrote this passage is Peltin?”
Meow.
Red Cat’s shoulders lifted slightly.
“Peltin… I’ve heard that name somewhere.”
Mayo provided the answer immediately.
-A barrier that was dispelled by Dispel magic.
That’s right.
It was the name of the Arcian Empire’s most formidable barrier.
The barrier of the commander who spearheaded Earth’s invasion.
“So that was one of the [authors]?”
Meow.
Red Cat’s expression grew considerably more composed.
Now I’m earning my keep, the look seemed to say.
───────
The probability of this entity encountering the high-risk-class dimensional monster “Red Cat” has become extremely high.
It appears to have entered the interior of the [Cradle of the Crimson Cat], and we must immediately redefine the durability parameters of the [Unbreakable Rock]. We will exhaust every possible measure.
We must not allow Red Cat to meet this entity under any circumstances.
───────
Red Cat stared at the characters but could not discern the author any further.
I blinked drowsily in Choi Kang-mok’s arms and fell asleep.
───────
This entity has successfully unsealed the Unbreakable Rock. All our countermeasures have been unlocked. Every attempt is proving futile. The suppression system we built has crumbled like a toy. It even mocks us without hesitation. Calling it a work of art, no less.
───────
‘Wow, that’s quite the exaggeration.’
I’ve never mocked anyone.
The narrow-mindedness of these [authors] is astounding.
Their perspective is far too limited.
“Just let me find out who the author is.”
I won’t let this slide.
───────
This entity’s magical abilities are amplifying exponentially.
───────
It seems not all of them are terrible.
───────
Still, there is one reassurance. Red Cat is a dimensional monster that humans can scarcely control. Taming Red Cat will fail. No—it must fail.
───────
“Huh?”
I gazed down at the Red Cat sleeping in my arms.
Isn’t this a success? It was incredibly easy.
I’m genuinely wondering if I had a talent for taming all along.
“We must have had exceptional compatibility.”
That’s possible.
Some people clash terribly with certain individuals, while with others, the compatibility is mysteriously perfect.
“Just like how Haeju, spatial magic, and art magic fit perfectly, there are difficult magics like destruction.”
The text didn’t continue any further.
There seemed to be a time lag.
I had perfectly cleared the Cradle of the Crimson Cat.
The Red Cat’s Loyalty had been replaced with the clear reward.
───────
[Hall of Fame – Cradle of the Crimson Cat]
1. -(Earth, South Korea)
…
───────
As always, engraving my name in first place felt wonderful.
But then, the Red Cat that had been sleeping suddenly lifted its head, trembled with a shiver, and swiped its front paws at the empty air.
───────
[Hall of Fame – Cradle of the Crimson Cat]
1.
Mage
(Earth, South Korea)
…
───────
The Red Cat had altered the Hall of Fame entry.
To a name that was thicker and larger—far more impressive.
The Red Cat, satisfied at last, drifted back into slumber.
But then, something even more entertaining unfolded.

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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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