The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 217

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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 217
My ears perked up at the mention.
“A magical duel?”
I had wanted an exchange, certainly.
But I never expected them to bring it up first.
Excellent.
“It’s not as though I lack interest in combat, after all.”
I wasn’t solely devoted to combat magic—I was capable in battle as well.
An official proposal would actually be welcome.
The system recognized this as a story arc.
[!Global Alert to All Earth Territories!]
[Story: ‘First Official Interdimensional Exchange’ has commenced.]
This was different from before.
The Barbarian Warriors’ Dimension, Brain.
The Magical Civilization’s Dimension, Arcsia.
Neither had conducted ‘official exchanges’ with Earth previously.
Both had been closer to invasions.
But this time, it was an official exchange.
[Story Quest: ‘Interdimensional Championship (Friendly)’ has begun.]
Through this, the world’s sovereigns received identical notifications.
They were to select twelve representatives from across the globe to compete in the interdimensional championship.
Since it was friendly competition, there were no official penalties for defeat.
“No penalties, my foot.”
The championship would be conducted as a mock battle.
Defeat meant a loss record, friendly or not.
My pristine, gleaming undefeated record would be tarnished.
If that wasn’t a penalty, what was?
“Perhaps I shouldn’t participate…”
A tournament would be preferable.
I could simply face twelve opponents in succession alone.
But this was a team event.
Best of twelve, first to seven wins.
Seven victories were needed, yet Earth lacked sufficient talent to match them.
As I deliberated, Choi Kang-chul spoke.
“First-time dimensional representatives who participate receive an Earth Medal.”
“An Earth Medal?”
“A permanently applied title. Apparently, a medal fashioned after Earth is embedded on the edge of your mock battle record.”
I examined my battle record window.
A magnificent record adorned with a gleaming Platinum Badge.
───────
40 wins / 43 victories / 0 draws / 0 losses
───────
Mayo swallowed hard.
-If an Earth Medal were affixed here, its brilliance would be beyond description.
-You must focus on the fact that it’s only awarded to first-time representatives.
-In essence, only 12 people across the entire Earth can receive this medal.
A medal for only 12 people. Rare among the rarest.
Even in defeat, the medal remains.
Preserve the undefeated record, or accept defeat to inscribe the medal instead?
At that moment, Choi Kang-mok recalled his mock battles with friends.
The Crbe Alliance friends—Christine and Bessius—the primary architects who had created Platinum.
‘Back then, I had layered multiple defensive spells using energy field barriers across empty space, hadn’t I?’
I had cast multiple defensive spells.
They functioned like defensive mines, sealing off the movements and magic of the Crbe Alliance friends.
‘Could I do the same this time?’
Upon investigation, the combat arena remained identical.
Then stepping out as the first player and laying down defensive spells should work.
Now I could see a glimmer of hope.
‘If I research the principles of friend-foe identification more diligently… and configure it so it doesn’t affect Earth’s representatives.’
It’s still impossible right now.
But I was confident that with effort, it would become entirely feasible.
‘I’m a mage, after all.’
One who challenges the impossible.
I can do this!
‘Defensive magic utilizing physical force has a much simpler structure, making application convenient.’
Had it been any other magic, I wouldn’t have dared attempt it.
But applying only ‘physical force’ is simple.
Without needing spatial release, creation and maintenance should be possible.
‘If Earth’s representatives receive my defensive magic support, we might actually win.’
After all, a 100% victory probability doesn’t exist.
Even when fighting the Crbe Alliance or Lee Kang-nam, I account for roughly a 0.1% defeat probability.
-That’s correct. There is no 100% in magical combat.
-If you refuse a challenge out of fear from a slight defeat probability, that is unbecoming of a mage.
Igniasha, who had been dozing, opened her eyes slightly.
What does that have to do with being a mage?
‘Adaptation will be necessary.’

* * *
Without Choi Kang-mok’s knowledge, the Victim Alliance had been formed.
It all began with the Crbe Alliance.
Christine spoke with a somewhat disgruntled expression.
“I’ll admit, forming an alliance with someone as ruthless as you does irritate me a bit….”
“Hmph, how gracious of you to thank me for allowing a genius mage such as myself to join forces with you.”
Bessius didn’t fall for Christine’s deflection in the slightest.
To Bessius, Christine was nothing more than ‘a shy lady mage who couldn’t express her true feelings properly.’
Then one more person joined their ranks.
“In any case, it’s wonderful to share various experiences with such exceptional mages as yourselves.”
It was Lee Kang-nam, whose power had been advancing by leaps and bounds recently.
Ever since his defeat at Choi Kang-mok’s hands long ago, he had grown at an astonishing pace.
Now he had nearly reached the level of a world-class ranker.
Christine laughed awkwardly.
“Various experiences, you say….”
“Yes, various experiences indeed.”
They shared one particular experience among them.
The forms varied, but all of it was the experience of ‘defeat.’
Bessius chuckled with glee.
“Isn’t it said that defeat is the mother of success? Well, we’ve gathered quite a few mothers here, so now it’s time we beat Choi Kang-mok.”
“….”
“….”
In truth, the other two aside from Bessius harbored no illusions of victory against Choi Kang-mok.
Their real intention was to fight him, study him, and convert the data they obtained into nourishment for their own growth.
‘Is this guy seriously thinking he can win?’
‘Madman. He’s clearly taken too many hits.’
Christine and Lee Kang-nam thought similarly, but neither voiced it aloud.
After all, having someone else take the beating instead wasn’t a bad arrangement.
Especially for Lee Kang-nam, who served as their tank, it was even better.
The harder he got hit, the harder he’d hit back.
But then one more person joined the victim gathering.
It was someone unexpected.
“I wish to stand with you all.”
The fourth victim had declared his participation.
He was none other than Raymond, the advanced combat mage professor.
Christine was startled.
“Professor, you’re joining our group?”
“Indeed.”
Raymond’s body trembled slightly.
“The memories remain vivid even now.”
That day, I gave my disciple an excellent lecture.
My disciple certainly learned much from me.
The concept of spatial liberation was learned at that time as well.
My teachings were excellent, and my disciple’s learning speed was remarkable.
Within mere seconds of beginning the instruction, I had taught everything.
It was a lecture that satisfied everyone.
But then my disciple’s attitude shifted, and they said this.
“Then, would it be acceptable for me to try it against you, Professor?”
I didn’t show it at the time, but Raymond was greatly taken aback.
“Over there, I’ll assign you an imaginary opponent….”
“Yes. I’ll use it right away, Professor.”
“Wait, just a moment!”
“I’m using it.”
They immediately employed meteorization and unleashed murderous magical attacks, causing me to break out in cold sweat.
Of course, my disciple demonstrated tremendous growth, but my spine went cold.
“In diverse magic, I am indeed the master, but in combat magic, I am a victim.”
Raymond’s joining.
It was not merely the addition of another victim.
“In truth, I have greater talent in teaching than in pure magic itself.”
He resolved to cultivate the victims.
Having gained confidence in his teaching, he made the firm decision to nurture the next generation.
“Let us make an effort toward victory together.”
Lee Kang-nam and Christine had similar expressions, while Bessius’s face brightened noticeably.
“Hehe, with the Professor’s help, defeating that bastard is nothing!”
“Confidence. Excellent.”
“Yes. Even if we lose 100 times, if we can inflict just 1 loss on that bastard, that’s victory, isn’t it?”
Bessius’s plan was this.
Lose 100 times, 1000 times, inducing carelessness, then somehow secure just 1 victory.
Then declare “Yes, my recent record is 1 win in 1 match!” and never fight again.
‘Truly a cowardly and magnificent plan, hehe.’
In the midst of this, Christine asked just to be sure.
“Professor, did you happen to see the recent Earth region announcement?”
“Hmm. A mage does well not to take excessive interest in too many things. Sometimes, focus and prioritization….”
“So you didn’t know?”
“Rather than not knowing….”
From our conversation, I sensed something was off.
“I was too busy with research to check.”
“Do you know of a dimension called Neroph?”
“I’ve heard of it vaguely.”
I don’t know much.
I think he just called me some promising hotshot who likes to throw his weight around.
“Ah, now I remember. One of my countless juniors—an idiot I can barely recall—hails from that dimension.”
“An idiot you can barely recall among countless juniors?”
Normally, if you can’t remember someone, wouldn’t that be the case…
“Tofurian.”
“Pardon? Tofurian? The mage who commanded Arcsia’s magical artillery corps?”
“Ah, that was Arcsia?”
I couldn’t quite recall whether they were from Arcsia or Neroph.
It seemed Raymond didn’t consider it particularly important.
His memory was poor when it came to anything outside of magic.
‘How does someone like that remember a junior’s name and origin dimension so precisely?’
In any case, Tofurian’s origin dimension was Neroph.
Later, he naturalized into Arcsia and assumed a position of prominence.
“Anyway, what’s this about them proposing some inter-dimensional tournament?”
“…Yes.”
“That shouldn’t be possible. Even accounting for everything, the dimensional gap is… wait? Did you just say yes?”
“Yes.”
After hearing the full explanation, Raymond burst into laughter.
“Twelve representatives selected. A best-of-seven format, you said?”
A friendly match might seem inconsequential, but the reality is different.
Just as first impressions matter to people, the first battle between dimensions carries weight.
“I did put some thought into it, but… tsk.”
Raymond shook his head disapprovingly.
“Yes, Professor. How should we respond?”
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Sir?”
“If their plan succeeds, wouldn’t my student incur a loss?”
“That’s right.”
“Do you think those scheming bastards would stand for that?”
The professors at the Magic School are currently watching Choi Kang-mok intently.
Some misunderstandings have accumulated between them, and Raymond is letting it fester.
“Those scheming bastards?”
“The professors, of course. They would never forgive anyone who tarnishes my student’s flawless record.”
They would protect him as carefully as one guards gold or jade, never allowing their promising doctoral candidate to suffer painful experiences.
Christine felt somewhat bewildered.
‘Then aren’t we also villains tarnishing Choi Kang-mok’s flawless record?’
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t fathom Professor Raymond’s true intentions.
In any case, the professors immediately sprang into coordinated action.
How dare they harass our doctoral candidate?
They resorted to diplomatic and political pressure without hesitation.
Sparks from the conflict had even reached the Neroph Dimension.
They ultimately withdrew their proposal for a friendly match.
[Breaking News: Dimensional Gap Acknowledged, Unfair Friendly Match Withdrawn]
[Breaking News: Neroph Cancels Envoy Dispatch]
Choi Kang-mok furrowed his brow.
“The envoy is returning?”
They spoke of magical exchange, yet now they flee?
They set my heart racing only to vanish?
They’ve essentially stolen my Earth medal?

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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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