The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 212

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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 212
Orelli’s heart began to race.
‘An assassination spell!’
From Choi Kang-mok’s perspective, it was an evolved defensive magic.
From Orelli’s perspective, it was a far more insidious assassination spell.
Either way, Orelli understood all too well just how devastating this assassination magic could be.
‘There’s no time.’
At most, only a few seconds remained.
Now that overwhelming destructive force would descend upon this place.
There was no other choice.
“Very well!”
I decided to accept the Writers’ proposal.
───────
We made the decision to join hands with the mage Orelli. Before the full plan could commence, it was crucial to evacuate Orelli first.
───────
Orelli’s body was engulfed in an otherworldly light.
───────
We would forcibly transport him. This method was inspired by how Professor Raymond summons the Lucky Mine—with Orelli’s consent alone, immediate transport to ■■■ would be possible. However, we must exercise caution, as the magical anomaly’s ‘physical magical power’ is excessively strong. We must account for the possibility of magic distortion.
The fact that we had to account for even that seemed excessive by any measure.
───────
Orelli’s body was transported somewhere.
A dark space.
“Where am I…?”
He couldn’t tell.
Yet a voice reached him.
“First. You must discover a method to overcome the successive invulnerability. Second. You must find a way to survive catastrophic damage beyond standard parameters.”
The words carried divine authority.
Orelli was seized by a peculiar sensation.
It felt as though those words alone would make it so.
‘This is a kind of Enhancement Laboratory.’
Though darkness obscured everything, he was certain of it.
The Writers clearly intended to strengthen or evolve him.
Into a mage capable of facing the magical anomaly Choi Kang-mok.
“When you are ready, you shall become the gatekeeper of the 80th Floor. Your training period is a maximum of 3,000 years. We shall provide all materials necessary for your training.”
“3,000 years?”
“Time-distortion magic is in effect. You are severed from the outside world.”
I see.
Orelli nodded.
This too, if anything, was a stroke of fortune.
‘I just need to ensure I don’t lose my mind.’
Three thousand years is far too long for a mere human to endure.
And alone at that?
‘Perhaps they would prefer to see me lose my mind.’
They might be hoping I’d go completely mad and become the 80th Floor boss monster itself.
In any case, my interests aligned with the Writers.
‘I will eliminate that monster.’
Without that monster, Earth is nothing.
Destroying that creature which destabilizes the universe’s balance would be more just from a systemic perspective.
‘Wait a little longer, Choi Kang-mok.’
At that moment, a notification rang out to all Korean Awakened Ones, including Choi Kang-mok.
[!Tower (South Korea) Regular Maintenance Notice!]
[Tower (South Korea) is undergoing updates.]
[Access to the 80th Floor is unavailable until further notice.]

* * *
After completing my origin-point defense—or rather, origin-point protection—I immediately sought out Professor Raymond.
“Professor.”
I approached him to consult about the ‘spam mail’ that had arrived in my system messages.
“Did you see my defensive magic?”
“I did. Heh heh.”
Raymond regarded his student with an approving gaze.
“You applied physical force to completely nullify the attack power at the point of impact.”
“That’s correct.”
“I’ve also observed it becoming more refined with each iteration.”
It grew increasingly defensive in nature.
The destructive power diminished.
Of course, from the attacker’s perspective, they wouldn’t notice the difference.
Infinity minus one is still infinity.
In any case, the destructive power decreased while the intent to attack faded further.
Which meant it had become all the more subtle.
“In defensive magic and location-tracking magic, my student has already surpassed me.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Thank you for proving what an excellent teacher I am.”
“?”
“Some fools occasionally disparage me, saying my magical skill is decent but my teaching ability is worthless.”
I’m inclined to agree somewhat.
Choi Kang-mok fell silent, and Raymond continued.
“Though I must say, combat magic is slightly lacking in both respects.”
“Pardon?”
“Doesn’t my student possess far superior talent in combat than I do?”
“….”
“From now on, those fools will say it again. That my naturally gifted student simply cultivated their combat abilities on their own… something like that.”
Choi Kang-mok felt a slight resistance toward his teacher.
Defensive magic could be considered combat magic, sure.
But location tracking—wasn’t that something more sophisticated than combat magic?
Raymond, true to his nature as a teacher, immediately grasped his student’s thoughts.
“The ability to track location itself was remarkable. Even the ability to pinpoint the origin by crossing dimensional boundaries. The synergy with the Magic Fortress’s abilities producing such formidable effects is certainly impressive. However, fundamentally, that magic only manifests against targets that have launched a preemptive attack, does it not?”
“….”
He was right.
This ability was ‘Origin Exposure’.
Tracking was only possible if the opponent attacked first.
“So wouldn’t you say it’s closer to combat than simple tracking?”
-Grrr!
-You bastard!
-How dare you dismiss my magic!
-My magic is not mere combat magic, you thick-headed sorcerer!
The Magic Fortress, whose ‘abilities as a mage’ had been denied, grew greatly agitated, but Raymond actually seemed pleased.
“Hehe, you’re welcome to come to me. Why don’t you come over?”
-….
The Magic Fortress retreated slightly backward.
It was better not to get entangled with that madman.
In any case, Choi Kang-mok learned something else from this conversation with Raymond.
“I see. So this was an ability closer to combat magic.”
I had nearly fallen into arrogance.
I had almost mistaken it for comprehensive magical growth across all fronts.
It was good that I came to have my teacher review my progress.
“Thank you for your guidance, Master.”
“I do teach rather well.”
I had no choice but to acknowledge it.
Without Raymond’s teachings, I would have been greatly delighted by this ‘false achievement’.
Even a broken clock is right twice a day—I had learned a profound lesson from Raymond’s instruction.
“Yes, then I shall take my leave now.”
My boasting was finished.
Since Raymond had watched from beginning to end, my mind was at ease.
But… I feel like I’m forgetting something? What was it?
“Wait. I have something to tell my student.”
“Yes.”
“About the spam mail.”
Ah, that’s right.
I had come to talk about the spam mail.
“Let me say it once more: they’re all con artists.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. But Professor… the fact that they discovered my low intelligence stat…”
“The more I think about it, the angrier I get. To pull such shameless tricks on my student. Those perverts.”
Raymond’s face flushed crimson.
He had activated a magic spell that made his face alternate between red and blue.
“They’re people I truly want nothing to do with. What happened after that? Did they demand money using it as leverage?”
“Nothing like that has happened yet…”
Though Choi Kang-mok hadn’t activated any face-changing magic, his face had turned as red as a radish.
Having his low intelligence stat exposed felt more humiliating than having nude photos taken.
“Don’t worry. I’ll use
Manipulation Magic
to feed those con artists some appropriate false information.”
“False information?”
The Professors were already suspicious.
There’s no way an EX-Rank Awakened One could have such a low intelligence stat.
The ‘EX-Rank Awakened One’ must have planted ‘false information’ through some kind of defensive magic.
At those words, Choi Kang-mok understood.
“That method exists!”
“?”
“Thank you for the guidance!”
That’s right.
I have the Deception Distortion ability too.
Using ‘Deception Distortion’ against those ‘massive con artist organizations’ that even manipulate the system might be somewhat difficult.
But what if I collaborate with the Dimensional Monster Red Cat?
Red Cat is also a feline with abilities to directly and indirectly interfere with the system.
By properly combining Mayo’s and Red Cat’s abilities, I could plant false information in their minds.
Choi Kang-mok spoke quickly.
“Professor, my intelligence stat is now 60.”
Proper false information requires mixing truth and falsehood appropriately.
“I’ll spread the false information that my intelligence is 60.”
“Excellent.”
It was the truth.
But those people would smell the scent of ‘Deception Distortion’.
They’d start becoming confused about what’s real and what’s fake.
‘Perfectly deceiving them would actually be harder…’
So I present fake pretending to be real pretending to be fake pretending to be real.
From the con artists’ perspective, it would be extremely confusing.
Using the low intelligence stat as leverage would become awkward.
Raymond nodded in admiration.
“I really am a genius.”

* * *
Arcsia’s ‘Forward Base’ and ‘3 Headquarters’ began to be cordoned off as restricted zones.
[Restricted Area – Danger]
Defensive magic.
In other words, the physical force hadn’t dissipated.
This was an effect I hadn’t anticipated, even as Choi Kang-mok.
“It lasts this long?”
It was definitely different from an energy barrier.
An energy barrier required sustained concentration even after manifestation, demanding constant control.
But this defensive magic? Once deployed, I could simply forget about it.
It remained in place, persisting until the physical force was completely consumed and dissipated.
Because its structure was simple and elegant, its durability was exceptional.
[According to investigations by the Arcsia Mages, it will persist for at least 30 years or more….]
30 years was merely theory; no one could say how long it would actually last.
The physical force was diminishing, but the absolute quantity was so vast that investigators concluded the end was nowhere in sight.
[This magic is by no means ‘ordinary magic’. It is….]
One expert offered this assessment.
[This recalls the governance of the medieval era. Just as medieval rulers displayed corpses in public squares to imprint an endless terror, this assassination magic too transcends mere technique. How arduous and magnificent is the magical symphony of maintaining a vast physical force that persists without vanishing, yet remains invisible to the eye?]
It wasn’t arduous at all.
[Yet the effect is undeniable. It makes observers experience an irresistible force. A living, breathing magical warning has descended upon Arcsia.]
Following that assessment, political and strategic interpretations proliferated.
[…Truly, a deed befitting an emperor of the new age.]
[Yet one notable point: casualties were minimized.]
The medieval era displayed corpses; now, ‘magic’ is displayed.
In a far more refined, yet overwhelmingly dominant manner, power is being proven.
[Some Arcsians felt awe rather than fear. I understand that sentiment.]
Meanwhile, the Arsia Liberation Army was annihilated, and tangible gains were secured.
Refined governance transcending mere terror.
[Perhaps that is the governance of an EX-Rank Awakened One, an emperor of the new age.]
…No.
It was magic practice.

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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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