The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 222

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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 222
Demonire.
The Neroph Mages, half-deceived by Raymond, ground their teeth inwardly, but could not let it show.
Their opponent was a Professor from Keipahall.
Since power lay with them, so did justification.
Moreover, a Professor from Keipahall was perfectly suited to serve as a mediator.
After an internal meeting, they engaged Raymond in dialogue.
“…Magical exchange?”
“What my disciple truly desired was this. Not mere offensive magic or anything trivial.”
“…Trivial?”
With that ‘trivial’ magic, twelve Royal Castles were obliterated?
Did one describe it as ‘trivial’?
Was this… deception?
The minds of the Neroph Mages grew turbulent.
‘It doesn’t seem like deception, though.’
‘What could it be, truly?’
‘They said those Professors were madmen. Let us not seek meaning in this.’
In any case, Raymond prided himself on understanding his disciple’s heart well.
“You have come a long way. Now let us engage in true [magical exchange].”
The other Professors had fallen out of his disciple’s favor.
At times like this, one must satisfy the disciple’s heart even more.
Unique in the universe. I shall become his devoted mentor.
The eyes of the Neroph Mages widened.
“Wait a moment, Professor.”
“Are these conditions correct? Are you certain?”
Whether it be a national competition, a Guild competition, a continental competition, or even a dimensional and universal competition.
Fundamentally, they are structured around ‘mock battles’.
Mock battles typically establish certain rules through mutual agreement.
‘Twelve versus twelve. A tag-team tournament format?’
The victor continues to face the next opponent.
Up to this point, it was an ordinary tournament.
But the tag-team format had been added.
‘Tag-team?’
‘Participants can be substituted as long as they haven’t been defeated?’
It was an understandable approach.
On Earth, only EX-Rank Awakeners could stand against Neroph.
‘So they intend to use the other eleven as health potions.’
‘Reasonable.’
However, there was something being overlooked.
They could also substitute participants?
‘So we can also make substitutions, can’t we?’
I reviewed the terms once more.
Looking for toxic clauses like ‘Neroph cannot be substituted. Only Earth can be substituted.’
‘There aren’t any.’
‘We can definitely make substitutions too.’
Formally it’s a 12 versus 12 tournament, but in reality it’s a 1 versus 12 fight.
It’s obvious that having 12 people distribute their stamina is more advantageous than having 1 person recover stamina by sacrificing 11 others.
‘As for the other conditions….’
‘Isn’t this far too favorable to us?’
The Neroph Mages stared at Raymond with suspicious eyes.
‘He’s utterly unpredictable.’
At first he appeared as Neroph’s hero.
Then as Neroph’s traitor and deceiver.
Now as a sincere mediator.
Incongruous characters were layering upon one another.
‘He doesn’t seem to be joking.’
‘No matter how I look at it, he’s sincere.’
One mage asked.
“You’re proposing close-quarters combat?”
“Indeed.”
“But an EX-Rank Awakened One….”
Wasn’t he a long-range combat specialist mage?
They didn’t bother voicing that thought.
It was a condition favorable to Neroph.
Another mage hastily interjected.
‘We don’t need to change something that favors us.’
‘We’ll proceed with close-quarters combat.’
‘That’s what we wanted all along.’
From the moment they sent the delegation, they had planned for close-quarters combat.
Long-range combat, they conceded.
But close-quarters would be different.
Long-range and close-quarters combat are entirely different disciplines.
Raymond continued.
“As you’re well aware, Neroph is a higher dimension. Earth is merely a fledgling dimension just beginning its journey.”
Though it was peculiar that a fledgling dimension had something like a nuclear-powered monster.
But overall, what he said was accurate.
“In such cases, for the sake of fairness, I may request certain conditions. Isn’t that so?”
“That’s correct.”
Right. So it would come to this.
Now he was finally revealing his true intentions.
The Neroph Mages remained vigilant, their attention fixed on Raymond’s words.
“Mediator. So, could you procure some grimoires on damage conversion for me?”
Paying a price to the mediator was commonplace.
But the nature of this request was rather peculiar.
‘A damage conversion grimoire?’
‘A grimoire that converts damage and outputs something else.’
In the dimension of combat mages, such grimoires were extraordinarily unpopular.
Setting aside such matters of preference.
‘Damage conversion grimoires are typically worthless.’
‘Why would he want this?’
It was common to use something as a sacrifice to amplify the output of a desired spell.
However, using damage as a sacrifice was rare.
The efficiency was abysmal.
Even if you input 100, you’d expect at least 30 in return, but typically you’d get less than 1 from 100.
This meant the conversion rate of the magic was around 1% at best.
‘Occasionally, variant spells do emerge, but….’
‘In those cases, spell formation becomes difficult.’
There were rare instances where conversion rates exceeded 1%.
But damage being unsuitable as a raw material wasn’t merely a matter of efficiency.
‘In theory, output is possible.’
‘But actual output is impossible.’
Damage possessed an inherent attribute far too dominant.
It resisted coexistence with anything else.
‘The desired output never materializes, and the spell itself has a far higher probability of being destroyed.’
Usually the conversion rate was too low.
If not that, then output simply wouldn’t occur.
Either way, it was a worthless grimoire.
They continued to observe Raymond without lowering their guard.
‘As a mediator… such conditions are certainly necessary.’
‘I should maintain my standing as a mediator toward Earth as well.’
It seemed he was merely maintaining appearances.
‘Why?’
‘Isn’t he on Earth’s side?’
They decided not to understand.
It was already well-known that the magic professors of Keipahall were madmen.
It was common sense that refraining from logical judgment was actually the easier way to comprehend them.
“Very well. Damage conversion grimoires—ten volumes. We can certainly procure them.”
This was Neroph. The dimension of combat mages.
Compared to other places, research related to damage conversion had been conducted extensively here.
“Yes, we will absolutely secure ten volumes for you.”
“If you wish, I can provide research materials as well.”
Thanks to Raymond’s mediation, the inter-dimensional tournament between Earth and Neroph was decided.

* * *
Raymond was having tea with Choi Kang-chul, the dedicated team leader for EX-Rank Awakeners.
No matter how I thought about it, I was an excellent teacher.
Enough to step forward as a mediator for my sole disciple.
“They were foolish fellows.”
I could read their minds without even resorting to mental magic.
“They viewed the Earth participants as mere stamina potions.”
They must have judged themselves to be in a favorable position.
But reality was different.
The need for ‘player substitution’ had nothing to do with stamina management!
“They didn’t even realize they needed a more durable sandbag, hehehehe.”
Choi Kang-chul, the dedicated team leader for EX-Rank Awakeners, nodded with a serious expression.
Indeed, the Professor’s insight was exceptional.
“I see.”
Choi Kang-chul was somewhat impressed.
His younger brother needed a durable sandbag.
Whenever he tried to practice anything, everything would break, so his training volume was insufficient.
But if the opponent became more durable through appropriate substitutions?
His younger brother would be able to conduct far more practical training.
“It’s only thanks to my disciple’s genius five-star talent that he’s growing. Without that level of genius and my teachings, he wouldn’t have developed this far. Well, to be precise, it’s more like a tenacious sandbag than a durable one.”
“Thank you so much for taking Choi Kang-mok’s place, Professor.”
“No. This is naturally something I must do for my sole disciple.”
Choi Kang-chul smiled warmly.
Imagining his younger brother’s joy made him feel somewhat pleased.
But there was something he was curious about.
“What was your reason for choosing close combat specifically?”
“Well, close combat is more dangerous, isn’t it?”
Raymond felt slightly exasperated.
Having to explain such things one by one.
Conversations with non-mages were indeed quite difficult.
But Choi Kang-chul grasped the essence of it.
“The more dangerous it is, the more one grows, doesn’t one?”
“Oh, that’s quite a mage-like way of thinking?”
“Yes. After all, I am a mage’s older brother.”
Choi Kang-chul knew well what kind of training Choi Kang-mok was undergoing.
‘He’s pushing his body to the limit every day, breaking through his boundaries and growing.’
To survive his own magic.
To survive the overwhelming force that shatters the Royal Castle’s barriers with nothing but magical pressure and ‘killing intent’.
I train day after day, pouring blood and sweat into my cultivation.
Choi Kang-chul understood his younger brother deeply.
‘How grueling must that process be?’
No!
Choi Kang-mok finds it not grueling at all.
Some luck was necessary, and I crossed the threshold of death several times before returning, but it was never grueling.
It was hardly accurate to call it a harrowing effort that grinds bone and spirit.
By casting magic joyfully, my body and magical circuits simply grew stronger—almost by accident.
Raymond continued with a satisfied expression.
“And the most important thing is….”
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
It was Choi Kang-mok himself.
“Professor, thank you.”
“Hehe, you’ve arrived?”
“You suggested a close-quarters duel?”
“Indeed.”
Choi Kang-mok didn’t ask for reasons or explanations.
“Sounds good.”
My mentor truly understands my heart.
“I was just itching for a good fight anyway.”
No matter how I think about it, it’s infuriating.
Not only did they pocket the Earth medal, but they also blocked my rescue magic?
Of course, it was The Professors who blocked the rescue magic….
“They cooperated with those con artists to prevent me from even learning rescue magic.”
I can’t fathom how those scammers manage to interfere every single time.
In my mind, the Neroph Mages and those fake professors were already in cahoots.
It wasn’t true, of course, but Raymond didn’t bother correcting me.
“Con artists always pull the same tricks. Hehe.”
Choi Kang-chul, who had been observing carefully, interjected.
As the dedicated team leader for EX-Rank Awakeners, there were things I needed to verify.
The conversation was interrupted as Kang-mok entered.
“Professor, didn’t you just say there was something important?”
“Ah, yes. But didn’t my disciple already mention it?”
“Pardon?”
Choi Kang-chul paused to think.
What had Kang-mok said?

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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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