The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 180

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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 180
After experiencing one cataclysm.
Iraq was being rebuilt at a dazzling pace.
The driving force behind the reconstruction was Korea.
With the Second Korean Tower located there, new cities were being constructed amid widespread speculation that it might one day become Korea’s second capital.
“I heard the Arcsia Empire mages are helping out….”
Atop the roof of a massive castle. A glass dome caught the sunlight, shimmering with iridescent colors.
At first glance, that building in the center of the city was said to be the Iraqi branch of the Korean Guild.
Floating vessels suspended in the air were efficiently transporting construction materials.
The city had the appearance of medieval and futuristic architecture ingeniously blended and reconstructed together.
“Wow, is that an aerial floating mana turbine?”
A combination of scientific civilization and construction magic.
It could be applied not just to combat, but to everyday life like this.
-Scientific and magical civilizations are effectively combining and shining brilliantly.
-The city’s completion is still far off, but even in its unfinished state, it’s beautiful.
In Iraq, a new style of city was being born—one that couldn’t be seen anywhere on Earth.
The Arcsia Empire mages dispatched to Iraq had done their best, more than expected.
Their hearts were quite similar to Choi Kang-mok’s.
Even if they had been forcibly brought here, the combination of science and magic was real.
They grew increasingly excited about city construction.
[The Desert’s Miracle Rewritten Anew! (Photo)]
[Iraq Transformed Into a Completely New City. Tourism Inquiries Flooding In]
Tourism alone was generating tremendous added value.
Now Iraq had become the place with the most visitor inquiries in Korea after Seoul and Shenyang, the ‘Magic-Specialized City.’
Kang Hye, who had only encountered it through articles, marveled at seeing it with her own eyes for the first time.
“Wow. The city has become so vibrant.”
The city seemed to breathe with life.
Dozens of cities like this would be built throughout Iraq, they said.
“Oppa.”
“Hm?”
“Never mind.”
Kang Hye trailed off.
‘Why is my oppa, who only cares about magic, undertaking such a grand national reconstruction project?’
The answer was simple.
‘He hasn’t forgotten his days as an Unawakened.’
There were still many Unawakened in the world.
While the proportion relative to total population was small, the absolute numbers were staggering.
Even with the emergence of Awakening Orbs, supply still couldn’t meet demand.
The Unawakened continued to live marginalized lives.
They were finding new lives in Iraq.
‘The Korean Guild hired a ton of non-Awakened individuals, didn’t they?’
Non-Awakened. And low-level Awakened individuals were recruited en masse and dispatched to Iraq.
Simply by virtue of holding South Korean citizenship, they could now work in Iraq and receive considerable treatment.
All manner of media outlets across the globe were praising these changes.
The world’s order was shifting, they said.
On the surface, it appeared to be a return to imperialism, but in reality, things were becoming more prosperous.
Had the Korean Guild orchestrated all of this?
‘No.’
If that were the case, they would have shown such consideration to non-Awakened individuals in the past as well.
Everything changed after Choi Kang-mok’s emergence.
‘My brother must have ordered it.’
Yet he constantly claims he has no interest in anything but magic.
He tells everyone to handle politics on their own.
But with his own hands, he’s transforming the world like this.
‘Such a tsundere.’
No, that wasn’t it.
The Korean Guild truly acted on its own initiative.
The difference from before was that the Korean Guild’s finances had become incomparably more abundant than they once were.
And they had a powerful backer—an EX-Rank Awakened individual standing behind them.
“You’re saying you’ll find the dimensional connection point here?”
“That’s right.”
The Arcsia Mages had a special point of contact with Earth.
After all, they invaded Earth through China in the first place.
However, the Barbarian Warriors were somewhat different.
Finding the exact connection point is difficult. A search is necessary.
“I’ve already recruited an explorer crew for this.”
Kang Hye’s heart blazed with enthusiasm.
As a self-proclaimed EX-Rank advisor, she was filled with the desire to be of help.
“I’ll search too. I even did some preliminary research in China.”
“Isn’t that classified as a national security facility?”
“Really?”
Kang Hye hadn’t known.
The administrators had simply let her in.
‘Wait, I wasn’t trying to receive special treatment just because I’m my brother’s sister….’
She felt slightly embarrassed.
She had inadvertently ended up receiving preferential treatment.
Choi Kang-mok glanced at Kang Hye’s expression.
He could roughly guess what had happened.
Kang Hye had made an access request without thinking, and the Korean Guild had authorized her entry under direct orders from their lord.
“Ah, but they’ve apparently made it so that fully verified explorers are permitted entry.”
“Really?”
Kang Hye’s expression softened slightly.
Choi Kang-mok chuckled.
‘Why not enjoy a few privileges?’
It wasn’t as though he was causing significant harm to others.
He had merely delegated management to the Korean Guild, but the majority of authority remained in his hands.
Choi Kang-mok was more than willing to extend privileges to his own family.
If someone left a curse-like malicious comment? Then he’d simply delete it.
“Kang Hye.”
“Hmm?”
“Want to make a wager?”
“A wager?”
“Explorer crew versus a solo mage.”
“What are you—ah!”
Explorer crew versus solo mage.
The ‘solo mage’ here was naturally Choi Kang-mok.
“Brother, have you even learned exploration magic?”
“Not exactly exploration magic, per se…”
Terrain analysis through structural deconstruction.
And locating dimensional junction points based on magical resonance.
Now that I think about it…
“Actually, come to think of it,
it might be
a form of exploration magic?”
Couldn’t locating dimensional junction points be considered exploration magic at this level?
It might even deserve recognition as creation magic, but unfortunately, it hadn’t been registered as such.
Kang Hye thought to herself.
‘How can he call that exploration magic!’
Structural deconstruction for destroying pocket dimensions.
Dispel-type calculations as the foundation for destroying magic itself.
It was fundamentally just part of a process oriented toward destruction.
‘If that’s exploration magic, then I’m a mage too!’
But outwardly, she said something different.
“I suppose I could see how it might qualify as exploration magic…”
“Right?”
Fine, if you’re happy with it, that’s what matters.
“What are the wager conditions?”
“If I win, you get food for Red Cat.”
Red Cat’s diet consisted of rubies.
In truth, he could obtain them quickly through a request to the Boddari Union.
Kang Hye agreed. All she had to do was clear the Ruby Mine Gate again.
Kang Hye’s expression turned resolute.
“What if I win?”
“Well, is there anything you want?”
“Yeah.”
Kang Hye grinned widely.
“Let’s repeatedly clear the 50s floors together. With me.”
Now was the time to speak.
“I’m not growing as fast as you, but I’m advancing incredibly quickly too.”
Awakening Grade SSS+.
Job Title: Promoted Explorer.
“For those blessed by blood relations, multiple registrations in the Hall of Fame are possible.”
My shoulders lifted slightly with pride.
Currently, it was a unique ability found nowhere else in the world.
-Wait, you mean…?
Mayo displayed a hologram.
───────
[Hall of Fame – Floor XX]
[World] [Individual]
1.
Mage
(Korea, EX+)
2.
Mage
(Korea, EX)
Other small fries
───────
-This would be possible, yes?
Red hearts popped above Mayo’s head.
Not satisfied with monopolizing first place, but also dominating second?
-Furthermore, if the Promoted Explorer effect is applied, rank upgrades could potentially occur as well.
-Ah yes, among blood relations, regional ties, and school connections, blood relations reign supreme.
-An outstanding
Mage
must have excellent colleagues. As a
Mage
myself, I am most satisfied.
Choi Kang-mok felt equally delighted.
His sister’s growth brought joy, and the future where both first and second place were ‘Mages’ filled him with anticipation.
Meow.
Red Cat’s amber eyes sparkled as if in agreement.

* * *
The hotel had not yet been completed.
Instead, I rested in the Korean Guild’s lodging facilities at their Iraq branch.
The explorer crew led by Kang Hye continued their expedition, enduring the desert’s scorching heat.
I sipped a refreshing iced Americano while gazing down at the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“The expansibility of magic truly seems boundless.”
-I share that sentiment.
These days, Mayo and I see eye to eye.
I wondered if this was all part of a plan to reassure me and merge us into “we,” but regardless, our communication was seamless.
It felt like having a good mage friend by my side.
“People dismiss it as intercontinental ballistic missile magic, but….”
No.
It wasn’t dismissal—it was closer to awe.
“You can’t lack understanding of spatial magic, can you?”
Designating coordinates and precisely applying sniper magic to that location?
Of course, a foundational understanding of space had to come first.
Through ICBM sniper magic, I became proficient in “long-range detection.”
-Pocket Dimension destruction and structural analysis are the same.
Through Pocket Dimension analysis, my “precision detection” skill also improved.
As a result, I could now perform “long-range precision detection.”
In my mind’s eye, I could see where green mana lines twisted in the distance.
It wasn’t visible to the naked eye, but it was clearly manifested in my thoughts.
It was to the west.
-This is the expansibility of magic.
-We are growing into true mages. No one can underestimate us as mere combat-specialized battle mages.
“But Kang Hye said she was heading east….”
Should I wait a bit until my sister finds it?
Time is precious though.
I picked up my phone.
“Ah, my lord. I have a favor to ask.”
The recipient was Lee Byung-gyu.
An excellent magical secretary.
“Could you tell Kang Hye my location? If you say the Korean Guild’s intelligence network found it, she probably won’t suspect anything.”
If I said we discovered it through the Korean Guild’s capabilities, she wouldn’t be suspicious.
Fortunately, a rather good response came back.
-The Arcsia Mages would know that well. They’re the ones who orchestrated the plot by deploying the Barbarian Warriors to Earth first. I’ll obtain the exact coordinates… no, I’ll relay them to your sister.
Shortly after, a message arrived for Kang Hye.
Kang Hye
I think I’ve almost found it ^^
Really? I can’t find it, but I guess Explorers are different;
So you’ll find it in about 10 minutes?
Seeing my sister proud of herself makes my heart feel good.
If I can make Kang Hye happy by investing 10 minutes, it’s a worthwhile trade.
Kang Hye
I’ll find it within 10 hours ^^
…Should I just find it first?
Fortunately, the answer came quickly.
The magical secretary’s information had been accurate.
Kang Hye
I’m winning lol
Still, I’ll get the ruby for you since Red Cat is so cute

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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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