The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 247

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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 247
Choi Kang-mok was seized by conflicting emotions.
‘A mage losing concentration?’
Failing at magic?
First came hatred toward the ‘intruder’ who had orchestrated this catastrophe.
But was this truly the intruder’s fault?
Shouldn’t a true mage be able to cast magic without being shaken by external circumstances?
Second came a slight gratitude for being shown this lesson.
Choi Kang-mok asked.
“Why did you rescue me?”
“Pardon?”
“I never requested your assistance.”
Though there was some gratitude in his heart, his tone couldn’t help but be sharp.
After all, the failure of my magic had left me in a foul mood.
Tiger answered with composure.
“Lin Zhiwei, the warlord of China, commissioned me.”
Lin Zhiwei, who had been forcibly teleported here alongside Kang Pal-do, flinched slightly.
Lin Zhiwei was exceptionally skilled at reading Choi Kang-mok’s mood.
This was not the right moment.
“I placed that request quite some time ago.”
A faint sense of crisis washed over her.
What if I’m disqualified as a candidate for empress?
“This was your unilateral decision.”
Though the words were rather sharp, Tiger accepted them.
“Now that I think about it, that does seem to be the case. I received anonymous tips. Guilt over failing to properly complete my previous mission drove me to act. If my assistance was unnecessary, I sincerely apologize, Mage.”
The genuine apology softened Choi Kang-mok’s heart.
Tiger surveyed the surroundings.
“Though it seems my arrival was unnecessary. This place resembles a fortress built to protect you, Mage.”
“I’ve layered defensive magic across the entire space.”
“Indeed.”
A world encircled by defensive magic.
This truly was a fortress.
From an expert’s perspective, there was no gap for an assassin to slip through.
Choi Kang-mok asked.
“You’re a security specialist, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
“From a professional standpoint, what do you make of this?”
“What do you mean?”
“This battle doesn’t feel like a simple fight to me.”
The assassin remained silent now.
He doesn’t seem to be waiting for an opening.
It feels as though he’s deliberately waiting for me.
“This space seems oddly favorable to me.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
Favorable or not.
Tiger’s role is to protect the client.
As long as even a needle’s worth of threat exists, this space can never be favorable to the client.
“It feels as though he’s trying to teach me something.”
It’s strange to say this as a mage, but something beyond magic seems to be speaking to me.
This boss battle wasn’t a simple boss battle—it felt like a boss ‘exchange match.’
‘Mystery beyond magic?’
There’s no way something like that exists in this world.
“I’ve heard that you possess a natural talent for learning, Mage.”
“Me?”
I don’t think that’s quite right.
“Think back to Professor Raymond’s teachings.”
Ah.
I understand now.
“I suppose I might have a bit of talent after all.”
Then, a voice rang out.
“Disciple! Are you holding up alright?”
A triple-headed bald eagle with ‘white feathers’ appeared.
It tore through the cracks of the black world and flew over, flapping its enormous wings.
“Professor Raymond?”
“That’s right, your master has arrived! I’ve brought reliable reinforcements!”
On the back of Raymond, now transformed into a massive eagle, rode a single elf with pointed ears.
Igniasha, sensitive to presences, decided to lose consciousness buried in Red Cat’s fur for a moment.
“This cat cannot bear these existential forces.”
I’m far too exhausted.
My sensitive senses have been worn to the bone.
Why are all these monsters gathering here?
This is no place for a docile familiar like a dimensional beast.
“I shall choose temporary unconsciousness.”
The elf descended to the ground.
She looked back and forth between Tiger and the ‘beast,’ then asked.
“Which beast shall we eliminate first, Professor?”

* * *
A few minutes earlier.
Raymond sensed instinctively that danger was approaching his precious Lucky Mine.
It was thanks to the warning magic he had carefully placed around the Lucky Mine.
The Lucky Mine would manage to evade on its own.
But my disciple?
‘It’s time for me to act.’
I had prepared for this day.
I had invited Pease, a professor of combat magic at the Ayla Advanced Magic Research Institute.
I had even paid for it out of my own pocket.
‘Professor Pease has absolutely no interest in nurturing disciples!’
That was the biggest reason I chose Professor Pease.
He despises teaching disciples.
He views all students admitted to the Magic School as either ‘idiots’ or ‘fools’.
-I break out in hives whenever I teach someone stupid.
Apparently, he actually suffers from such a condition.
“You said you would never teach disciples for the rest of your life, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I break out in far too many hives.”
A harmlessness on an entirely different level from the other professors!
My own disciple—
a pure professor who covets no one else’s.
A lazy professor who refuses disciples hasn’t been dismissed?
His abilities are already proven.
He’s pure, he’s skilled—there’s no reason not to call upon him.
‘And besides, my disciple is wary of combat magic.’
Two birds with one stone.
Even if this pure professor were to covet my disciple’s genius, it would be meaningless.
Unlike other professors, Professor Pease is safe.
My disciple would never desire ‘combat magic’ after all.
“Let us go slay the beast.”
How dare you lay a hand on my disciple?
Perhaps it is our trust—my disciple’s trust in me?
Pease spoke.
“Which beast shall we slay, Professor?”
My disciple, I will protect you no matter what.

* * *
In his current state as a combat mage, I sensed it instinctively.
“The assassin appears to have vanished.”
Tiger, who had been sniffing around the perimeter, spoke as well.
“Yes. It seems they’ve disappeared.”
A tremendous roar erupted from my throat.
I unleashed a punch into the empty air.
My fist collided with the void itself.
A deafening boom—like a cannon’s discharge—shattered the silence.
Red Cat’s fur stood on end from the explosive sound.
Igniasha’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The Pocket Dimension shattered like a glass mirror.
“You’re unharmed, Mage. Thank goodness.”
“Yes, though…”
I frowned slightly.
“My offensive magic training has failed.”
“Pardon?”
Real combat is the finest training ground.
It was interrupted.
“I feel as though my magical exchange match has been disrupted.”
“An exchange match?”
Wasn’t this just a boss fight…?
From Tiger’s perspective, the words were difficult to comprehend.
“I’m grateful you came to rescue me, but opportunities to exchange techniques with an opponent of that caliber are rare.”
Perhaps I could practice with Tiger instead?
Then, a notification chimed.
[You have achieved victory in the forced boss battle, ‘Answered Faith’.]
[Rewards are being granted.]
Astonishing information followed.
Astonishing content followed.

* * *
[The ownership of the Assassin Guild headquarters has been transferred.]
[You have been appointed as the new Guild Master.]
I had become the master of the Assassin Guild located in Italy.
I received all rights as the guild’s owner.
[You have gained access to all records within the Assassin Guild.]
[You can now view all materials.]
I could now identify everyone who had commissioned the assassination of an EX-Rank Awakener.
But that wasn’t all.
[Would you like to hire an NPC?]
───────
[Hireable NPC List]
1. Graduate Student Assassin
…
───────
I was somewhat taken aback.
So assassins attend graduate school too!
The ranks went: Teaching Assistant Assassin, Beginner Assassin, Intermediate Assassin, Advanced Assassin, and Elite Assassin.
‘Intermediate Assassins and above cannot be hired.’
Several conditions had to be met.
However, there was one peculiarity.
───────
[Hireable NPC List]
1. Graduate Student Assassin
2. Teaching Assistant Assassin.
3. Beginner Assassin.
4. Intermediate Assassin.
5. Advanced Assassin.
6. Professor-Rank Assassin.
!!! 7. Elite Designated Assassin – Leon !!!
───────
I let out a dry laugh.
Intermediate, Advanced, and Professor-rank assassins were unavailable, yet the Elite-rank assassin could be hired.
‘The reward for defeating the boss…!’
Moreover,
───────
[Hiring Cost]
Target: Elite Designated Assassin – Leon
1 Diamond/day
30 Diamonds/month
365 Dia/year
10,000 Dia/lifetime (3:00)]
───────
The employment cost was staggering.
Not expensive in an overwhelming way, but cheap in an overwhelming way.
‘Professor-rank mages earn 500 million won per tier?’
I glanced sideways at Raymond.
This might be something I need to reconsider.
In any case, the daily employment cost for a top-tier assassin was 1 Dia.
A lifetime contract cost 10,000 Dia.
Converting to Korean won, it was roughly 10,000 won.
[3:00]
[2:59]
[2:58]
A time limit was in effect.
‘Is there any reason not to do this?’
For 10,000 won, a lifetime contract was absolutely worth it.
[Will you employ a top-tier assassin for 10,000 Dia in a lifetime contract?]
[10,000 Dia will be consumed.]
I had hired Leon, the designated top-tier assassin.
It still didn’t feel real.
Can I really do this? Is this actually possible?
[In 24 hours, the designated assassin employment will be complete.]

* * *
The elf professor remained silent.
Pease, the Combat Magic professor, drew closer to Choi Kang-mok.
Choi Kang-mok flinched in surprise.
‘When?’
He had prided himself on having sharp senses after just facing an assassin.
Yet he hadn’t detected Pease’s presence at all.
“You’ve seen everything?”
“….”
Suddenly speaking in casual speech.
Choi Kang-mok’s expression twisted slightly.
This person seemed connected to Raymond, but their manners were abysmal.
Rudeness deserves rudeness in return.
“Who are you?”
I asked, but I had already figured it out.
This one was a professor-class mage.
Because I was a mage, I recognized another mage.
A subtle hostility emanated from the elf mage.
‘Thanks to my exchange with Leon, I perfected my defensive magic.’
I had learned so much. Thinking back on it, “exchange” seemed like the right word.
I should ask Leon about this in twenty-four hours.
‘Preemptive defense is the right call.’
One mage recognizes another.
In terms of skill, he seemed a step above me.
I designated him as my boss.
I forcibly entered boss battle mode.
The Mythic-rank staff Excalion’s effects applied.
I could deploy magic without limit.
Red Cat muttered helplessly, “So that works?” but I didn’t lose focus.
‘Preemptive defensive magic. Pocket Dimension, Energy Bolt.’
Energy Bolt itself was defensive magic.
The entire ‘boss battle’ arena was drenched in defensive magic.
Pease spoke.
“When are you returning to the Magic School?”
His eyes gleamed with madness.
“My student.”

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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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