The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 243

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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 243
Unfortunately(?), the assassins never ambushed me.
Choi Kang-mok couldn’t understand it.
“Why on earth?”
How frustrating.
Wouldn’t ambushing while I’m flying be far more advantageous for an assassination?
Are these idiots so incompetent they don’t even know the basics of assassination?
-It would have been such a perfect opportunity to demonstrate evasive maneuvers. What a shame.
-Ah, perhaps it’s jealousy? 🙂
“Jealousy?”
-Yes. It’s quite common for assassins who can’t assassinate to be jealous of mages who excel at magic.
The broadcast is being transmitted across the entire world.
Many people from other dimensions who approached via alternate routes are likely paying close attention as well.
-Making the mage shine even brighter in such circumstances? That’s a mindset they simply can’t tolerate.
“Hmm.”
Thinking about it that way, my frustration eases slightly.
It does seem plausible, somehow.
But the disappointment was real.
“It would have been such a good opportunity to prove that I’m a real mage.”
I said it deliberately, making sure they could hear.
Kang Pal-do’s drone automatically filtered it out, ensuring my voice didn’t make it into the broadcast.
Just as I was growing, Kang Pal-do was growing too.
Kang Pal-do was a broadcaster, skilled at creating content people loved.
And he was someone for whom the truth mattered very little.
‘What good is truth if it doesn’t put food on the table?’
Kang Pal-do knew.
He knew that Choi Kang-mok was truly obsessed with magic.
But he had no intention of correcting people’s misunderstandings.
People regarded Choi Kang-mok as the ‘Emperor of a New Era,’ and Kang Pal-do was more than ready to tell people whatever they wanted to hear.
Occasionally, the Red Cat would interfere and cause strange disruptions, but there was nothing he could do about that.
‘It’s better to just ignore Red Cat.’
He couldn’t afford to upset her.
She’s a pet cat in front of Choi Kang-mok, but she’s a dimensional monster.
The survival-specialized instincts of the Lucky Mine were telling him.
Don’t touch that cat.
‘Anyway, I’ll make you into an incredibly awesome emperor.’
With his capabilities and broadcasting skills, he could certainly manage that deception.
This was revenge.
Revenge against the thief who stole my child!
‘Choi Kang-mok, you will become the Emperor of a New Era and a battle mage that the universe itself fears.’

* * *
In Italy, Spaloti launched fighter jets.
For a moment, Choi Kang-mok, who had anticipated a surprise attack, felt slightly disappointed.
‘So he came to greet me.’
He was getting my hopes up for nothing.
Taking something away after giving it is worse than never giving it at all.
Spaloti’s instincts seemed to have dulled considerably.
Regardless of Choi Kang-mok’s disappointment, the viewers’ reactions exploded.
“lol 7 fighter jets took off”
-That’s NATO-standard ultra-high-ranking dignitary reception protocol, isn’t it?
-The Italian Navy mobilized too
-Destroyers lined up in front of Naples with ‘salute cannons’ prepared
Spaloti did his absolute best.
They controlled part of the highway traffic to commemorate the EX-rank Awakener’s visit? lol
-Why are you blocking the way for someone flying with magic?
-The fact that no one really knows is the academic consensus at lunch
On the airport runway lay a red carpet with holographic letters floating above it.
[Welcome, Mage]
It was in Korean.
Choi Kang-mok took note of those words.
I had felt it before—Spaloti was a ruler who knew how to welcome people.
Humane and truly admirable.
“Welcome, Mage Choi Kang-mok.”
“Yes. It feels like it’s been a while since we’ve met.”
Spaloti offered an apology on behalf of Italy.
“I sincerely apologize for the unintended trouble we’ve caused you.”
“Yes, well.”
Choi Kang-mok harbored no ill will toward Spaloti.
It was merely that a base for assassins had emerged in Italy; Italy itself bore little responsibility.
“We will be more vigilant going forward.”
“Thank you.”
Spaloti nearly wept.
‘He has no intention of holding us accountable.’
I had worried greatly.
When descending from the sky, Choi Kang-mok’s expression had not been pleasant.
‘Fortunately, once we spoke face to face, things improved.’
This is the power of dialogue, is it not?
In any case, I was forgiven.
‘Italy is safe.’
Tonight, I’ll indulge myself as a reward for protecting my homeland.
“The Earth Medal truly gleams magnificently.”
“Does it appear so to you as well, Lord?”
Choi Kang-mok smiled faintly.
Italians have long possessed a refined appreciation for art and aesthetics, after all.
Spaloti’s acknowledgment carried a subtle distinction.
“Yes. I never imagined a spear could be this beautiful.”
“I’m grateful for your kind words.”
“Grateful? We’re the ones who should be grateful.”
The atmosphere was warm and cordial.
And Spaloti had brought far more than mere flattery.
“These are the intelligence files we’ve compiled on their strongholds.”
-Openly on broadcast?
-Lmao isn’t Spaloti gonna get assassinated like this?
-That’s literally picking a fight with the NPCs
Spaloti had made his choice decisively.
The assassins and Choi Kang-mok.
If he had to choose a side between the two, he would stand with Choi Kang-mok.
‘Of course, I may face danger….’
But that was a burden he had to bear as a sovereign of his nation.
His position left him no choice but to consider the interests of his entire country.
Standing with Choi Kang-mok was overwhelmingly advantageous.
“Do you intend to punish those shameless ones immediately?”
Italy had no connection to them.
Rather, they were the victims who had their land stolen.
He maintained this position.
“Yes. That would be best.”

* * *
Small Village Outside Naples.
This was where the Assassin Guild’s stronghold was located.
“Guild Master, are you truly certain about this?”
“Yes.”
The Circular Hall was devoid of any light.
In the darkness without a single candle, the assassins knelt in unison.
A middle-aged man wearing a mask sat upon the highest stone throne in the hall.
Seated on the unadorned stone chair, he continued speaking.
“We are abandoning the Earth stronghold. Everyone is to return to reality.”
“And you, Guild Master?”
“I will hold this position.”
“Guild Master!”
Their opinions diverged sharply.
The loyal ones argued they should instead eliminate the magical anomalous entity here.
Others watched carefully for their chance to slip away.
The Assassination Guild’s official name was [Trust].
An unexpectedly dignified name for an assassination organization, though it hardly mattered.
After all, this name was not known to the outside world.
“I will face the monster here.”
An EX-rank Awakener. A magical anomalous entity. Commonly called a monster, it had to be confronted.
Someone had to remain.
If someone must stay, then the leader stays.
“This is an order. All of you, leave.”
The shoulders of the kneeling assassins trembled simultaneously.
“We obey your command.”
“We obey your command.”
The footsteps were steady and measured.
One by one, they disappeared into the darkness and out of the hall.
Only Leon remained.
He settled into a cross-legged position.
“He comes now.”
I had finished preparing to face the monster.

* * *
I spread my white wings and headed toward the Assassination Guild’s stronghold.
Unlike a typical base, its location wasn’t precisely marked.
-The approximate location seems to be a small village outside Naples…
-It’s likely hidden deep underground.
The easiest method would be to bombard this entire area.
However, for some reason, I wasn’t inclined to do that.
There were two things I was cautious about.
One was not appearing too much like an emperor.
The other was not appearing too much like a combat-specialized mage.
‘If I carelessly demonstrated destructive magic again…’
I’d likely earn the stigma of being a combat-specialized destruction mage.
Of course, I’d consider it as a last resort, but there was no reason to resort to it from the start.
‘Besides, I’ve already showcased my white wings.’
This occasion was also meant to broadly advertise that I was a natural-attribute mage capable of wielding light-attribute magic as well.
Having demonstrated flight magic using light, it was now time to show warning magic utilizing light.
‘Let me try it once.’
To maximize light-attribute magic, it was best to unfold the ‘Light World’.
[Entering the Pocket Dimension, ‘Light World’.]
Flash!
Light erupted outward.
It was as though the sun itself had descended upon this place.
‘The damage is sufficiently controlled.’
Of course, some trees nearby were scorched and rocks crumbled somewhat, but this degree was acceptable.
This couldn’t quite be called destruction.
‘Hmm?’
There was a difference between practice and actual combat.
What a hundred practice sessions couldn’t achieve, a single real engagement might grant.
I was close to being a combat-specialized human, and even more so now.
‘Something feels off…’
Beneath my feet.
There seemed to be some kind of facility underground.
‘Is it thanks to my structural perception ability?’
I’d already grown accustomed to analyzing structures.
With ‘light magic’ added to this…
‘Ah, so the stronghold is concealed using the concept of darkness.’
It wasn’t simply hidden underground.
Not quite magic, but a barrier utilizing darkness was spread across the area.
A blueprint of the structure instantly formed in my mind.
‘It’s not very large.’
It was as if I were projecting an X-ray to peer into the underground.
A circular hall connected to several rooms—a single interconnected space.
The shape of an ant colony, miniaturized.
There was no sign of life within.
‘I can perceive this level of detail?’
It was thanks to the Light that now blanketed this entire area.
Light, resonating with my amazement, conveyed a message.
-Even when pursued by countless poachers and monsters, what I needed was not swift legs, but keen eyes.
Light was in a somewhat exhilarated state.
Light’s radiance had always been a power for escape.
But now?
It exposes and destroys alike.
-My light possessed such power!
The surrounding rocks were being carved away.
Without question, this was the most destructive force Light had ever experienced.
The light that had always been used for flight was so versatile!
-Kugh, I’m glad I was revived…!
Binding myself to this human was an excellent choice.
Though that thief-looking bastard, Kang Pal-do, keeps making those sad eyes, which is rather irritating.
In any case, I agreed that Light was remarkably versatile.
‘Excellent magic.’
The visual effect in particular was extraordinary.
At this rate, people would surely say, “Ah, an EX-rank Awakener? A mage who wields Light?”
No more would they speak of emperors or combat specialists or destruction kings.
Then, I sensed a presence.
‘There’s a person inside.’
I feel it.
The aura of a single being.
Red Cat’s fur bristled sharply.
Today, she conveyed not flattery but a warning.
“Something is amiss.”
Igniasha felt it too.
“The stench of blood is overwhelming.”
Both the dimensional beast and the spirit warned simultaneously.
Whoever was inside was dangerous.
There was no need to enter.
It would be far better to simply collapse the entire base through spatial liberation from here.
In that instant, a fragment of darkness seeped into the world filled with light.
“Welcome.”
An existence through which light could not seep.
A strange figure of darkness stood before Choi Kang-mok.
“I am Leon. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Choi Kang-mok flinched in surprise.
‘When?’
He hadn’t perceived the movement.
The figure had appeared before him without the slightest warning.
Barely affected by Choi Kang-mok’s light magic.
He was deflecting the light itself.
“I must ask. Your name is Choi Kang-mok. An EX-rank Awakener. A magical anomaly. The Emperor of a New Age, a monster—known by many titles… Are you the one commonly called the Mage?”

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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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