The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 244

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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 244
Choi Kang-mok sensed instinctively that the man before him was no ordinary figure.
He couldn’t speak to other matters, but the fact that he ultimately asked whether I was a mage suggested he possessed common sense.
“That’s correct.”
“I see.”
Leon nodded briefly before posing another question.
“You forcibly cleared the 80th Floor, activated the Red Wing through a robe you obtained, imbued it with Light-attribute magic, and then deployed the White Wing—is that accurate?”
“That’s correct.”
“I see.”
Leon regarded Choi Kang-mok in silence.
A peculiar tension flowed between the two.
“The Red Wing belongs to a formidable flame-attribute authority. Only something like a Flame Legion Commander affected by Requiem could wield such an ability. Were you aware of this?”
Mayo grew wary of Leon.
-A silver-tongued assassin, then.
-His intentions are somewhat unclear.
Red Cat and Igniasha heightened their alertness, observing Leon’s every movement.
Choi Kang-mok pressed back.
“What’s your point?”
“The Red Wing is an ability that only an entity with maximized flame-attribute can barely handle. As you know, fire is not particularly specialized for flight.”
Flame-attribute magic is not a property suited to flight magic.
Typically, to deploy flight magic effectively, one utilizes wind-attribute.
Leon continued calmly.
“In other words, it is an inefficient authority.”
“….”
Choi Kang-mok found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
Impressive.
The assassin before me had identified an aspect I had not considered.
I had been so caught up in the flight magic that I only thought of boasting to Raymond, never truly examining how inefficient this magic truly was.
“If we compare it to magic, it would not be a spell of high completion. Its imperfection is considerable.”
“…Are you belittling my magic?”
“You took such magic and imbued it with Light-attribute, creating a new spell. It is confirmed in the Archive.”
Leon was aware of the Archive’s existence.
He also knew that the creation magic “White Wing” was recorded there.
Leon’s words accelerated subtly.
“With imperfect magic, imperfect magical skill, you created perfect magic. Is this merely coincidence?”
Mayo grew slightly agitated.
-Imperfect magic? Imperfect skill?
-This guy is completely insane.
Yet Choi Kang-mok accepted the opponent’s words with greater humility.
Honestly, what he said was correct.
There is still much ground to cover in terms of magical prowess.
“I had the assistance of the divine beast Light.”
“Your affinity with the Light attribute may have strengthened, but that alone does not grant you the ability to create magic. I would urge you to contemplate what bridge exists between the incomplete and the complete—what made such a thing possible.”
Choi Kang-mok’s thoughts deepened.
‘I thought it was the result of my magical skill….’
I had simply rejoiced, saying magic never betrays, that the fruits of effort were plainly evident. But now, thinking back, it seemed that wasn’t quite right.
There was something I was overlooking.
“Let me ask again. Hundred Benefits is a creation bordering on miracle. What made that miracle possible?”
“….”
Choi Kang-mok could not summon an answer.
Truth be told, I didn’t know.
Leon’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t know, then.”
My pride stung.
Yet I had to acknowledge what deserved acknowledgment.
That was what it meant to be a mage.
“…There is still much I have to learn.”
“So-called mage. From what I can discern, your clearance of the 80th Floor appears to have used a single-floor clear pass. Is that correct?”
Choi Kang-mok found himself drawn into the conversation with Leon.
Leon was not the type to blend into the surroundings.
He pointed out the gaps in one’s understanding.
He was pummeling the body with facts to prevent arrogance.
Sometimes certain lessons came with pain.
“That’s correct.”
“Ordinarily, a single-floor clear pass is fixed to the [lowest grade among existing clear grades].”
I remembered.
───────
Clear Grade: Lowest grade among existing clear grades applied
───────
I used the Seal of Justice to circumvent the system’s manipulation.
───────
Clear Grade: Highest grade among existing clear grades applied
───────
“I resolved that by using the Seal of Justice.”
“Think again. Is applying the lowest grade truly the system’s manipulation?”
“It is manipulation.”
Leon regarded Choi Kang-mok’s confident gaze with composure.
That conviction carried a powerful belief within it.
Leon knew.
‘That is not the system’s manipulation.’
A single floor clear certificate is originally applied as the ‘lowest rank.’
That’s the default setting.
But I used the ‘Seal of Justice’ to change that configuration.
Calling something that isn’t manipulation manipulation itself.
‘Originally, it was impossible.’
The impossible became possible.
This too is a miracle.
Between the impossible and the possible, there exists a link that forged this miracle.
“I see. A clever maneuver.”
“Yes, a clever maneuver.”
“Then I have one final question.”
Meow?
Red Cat’s fur bristled on end.
The atmosphere had shifted subtly.
It felt like the moments before a boss battle.
“According to the invitation, the clear reward is the Flame Legion Commander’s Robe, is it not?”
“Yes.”
A robe wreathed in gentle, dancing flames.
A mythic-grade artifact that absorbs Blink, allowing free manipulation of Blink and six Red Wings simultaneously.
Pallium Praetoris Legionis Ignis
It bore such a grandiose name.
“That would have been the promised clear reward, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Yet Mage, you cleared at EX++ rank.”
Choi Kang-mok felt as though I’d been struck over the head.
‘Wait, hold on.’
I’d overlooked something crucial.
───────
[Hall of Fame – 80th Floor (10 Consecutive Floors Simultaneous)]
[World] [Personal]
1.
Mage (South Korea, Seoul EX++)
(None ←Important!)
───────
Dazzled by such ‘brilliance,’ I’d forgotten the essence of it all.
‘I would have received this robe just for clearing it normally.’
Yet I’d used the Seal of Justice to dismantle the system’s scheme and secured a far higher rank clear.
But the reward remained identical?
Just the same ordinary robe?
Something was wrong here.
‘I’ve been deceived!’
“You must recognize that clearing EX++ rank is an extraordinarily rare and remarkable Achievement across the entire universe. Moreover, you—a mage—have achieved EX++ rank ten consecutive times.”
“….”
“Yet the reward was merely a single Mythic-tier robe.”
Leon’s gaze was questioning.
So, what will you do about it?

* * *
Choi Kang-mok ground his teeth.
The system fundamentally possesses a ‘fraud’ attribute.
Such grievances must be contested immediately to have any effect; once time passes, the matter becomes murky and difficult to pursue.
‘And now I don’t even have the Seal of Justice left.’
Obtaining another Seal of Justice would consume more time.
So am I ultimately forced to accept this ordinary robe?
Is there truly no other way?
After a brief silence, Leon spoke.
“Was your talent only worth that much?”
I couldn’t fathom what he meant.
Why speak of talent to a victim of fraud?
“I have taught you much. Now perform a miracle.”
“….”
Leon bit his lip slightly.
His gaze grew fiercer.
“Can’t you?”
Choi Kang-mok replied calmly.
“I am a mage, not one who performs miracles.”
“I see. You were merely an ordinary mage after all.”
Black heat shimmer rose from Leon’s body.
The atmosphere shifted to outright hostility in an instant.
His emotional fluctuations were mercurial.
[Entering the Pocket Dimension, ‘Hall of Eternal Prayer.’]
The Pocket Dimension unfolded.
The Pocket Dimension of Leon, master of the assassination organization Trust.
An endless plain shrouded in darkness stretched before me.
Choi Kang-mok surveyed his surroundings.
Understanding came at once.
‘A world where even the sun has died.’
The sky was vacant.
In this place where no trace of stars remained, a vast chasm stretched across the heavens instead of the Milky Way.
Leon’s voice echoed from the void.
“The god has vanished, leaving only an empty shell to offer prayers.”
Massive ring structures embedded across the plain radiated a heavy vibration.
As ripples like a heartbeat shook the darkness, a low wail stretched forth from the far side.
“Divine one. Why have you forsaken me?”
Beyond the darkness.
In the center of the Small World, a massive black beast revealed its form.
Fur that seemed to flow like darkness covered its entire body.
In the center of its chest, a human face—half-remaining, twisted in anguish—wailed toward the heavens.
“Despair takes on the semblance of a living form.”
Thump! Thump!
The ring’s pulse quickened, and the beast’s stride grew wider.
“Grant me the power to sever every breath of life.”
Thump! Thump!
The ring’s pulse and the beast’s footsteps resonated in unison.
[Friend-or-foe identification has ceased.]
Thump! Thump!
[Shield has been destroyed.]
The Magic Fortress’s functions had been disabled.
[‘Magic Fortress’ enters power-saving mode.]
The moment the beast opened its enormous jaws, a human silhouette appeared within.
It was Leon. His arms and legs were forcibly splayed in a crucifix position, bound by black sinews, and blood streamed from each restrained limb, dripping steadily beneath the beast’s jaws.
[Forced boss battle, ‘Forsaken Faith,’ has begun.]
Assassination anomaly. The assassin.
Phase 1 commencing.
Heavy-tier Writers hostile to magical anomalies erupted in cheers.
───────
Some Writers’ insight that anomalies must be countered with anomalies was astute.
An anomaly—colloquially known as ‘the assassin’—a harmless entity certified as benign to humanity, was designed to clash with a magical anomaly. In the end, it succeeded.
───────
───────
Do we really need to go this far? One of them will die either way. I think this crosses the line. We won’t stand idle.
───────
Harmless entity assassin. Magical anomaly mage.
Just before their battle commenced.
Choi Kang-mok unfurled his White Wings.
‘This space’s fundamental attribute is darkness.’
Darkness and light are absolute opposites.
First, secure mobility with the White Wings.
[White Wings activation has failed.]
Choi Kang-mok’s brow furrowed.
Mayo had lost her function, and I had no idea what kind of attack Leon would unleash.
In this situation, even my white wings became useless?
My flight magic?
“This is a combat situation now.”
Then, I can also, wait, become a combat mage, right?
Harmless entity. The assassin Leon received a notification as well.
[Forced Boss Battle, ‘Combat Mage’ has commenced.]
Magic anomaly entity. Mage.
Phase 2 initiated.

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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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