The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 248

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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 248
Choi Kang-mok prided himself on being an exceptionally rational mage.
To be more precise, he believed himself to be a “true mage”—one who embodied what a mage should be.
Because of this conviction, he had grown quite adept at recognizing mages who deviated from convention and common sense. In other words, mages who were “not true mages.”
‘This person is insane.’
Readmission to the Magic School despite never having enrolled?
Claiming to be a disciple despite never having been one?
‘At least Professor Raymond made some pretense of teaching.’
Though it seemed he had actually taught nothing, the results spoke for themselves—I had learned a great deal.
That much should be the bare minimum to even feign being a master.
To suddenly claim a disciple without having taught anything at all was absurd.
Yet the aura emanating from this person was formidable.
Under normal circumstances, I would have dismissed them outright, but I could not afford to do so now.
“Professor Raymond, who is this person?”
Sensing the danger, Raymond spoke hastily.
“A workplace colleague. Deeply devoted to the art of magical combat.”
“…Magical combat?”
“A battle fanatic obsessed solely with magical combat.”
….
Not an orthodox mage, then.
I had sensed as much from the beginning.
Applying magic to combat is certainly impressive.
But to use magic only for combat is a desecration of magic itself.
“So this person is also one of The Professors, then?”
“Indeed.”
Of course it was not true, but Raymond simply agreed.
Now that Pease had begun to covet the disciple, there was no other choice.
‘That wicked mage.’
There was not a single trustworthy mage in this world.
He had claimed to have no interest whatsoever in cultivating disciples, yet the moment he saw one, he began making claims?
This had crossed a line.
Pease stepped forward.
“This space and its magic speak volumes. Disciple. You wish to fight.”
How much longer must I endure this nonsense?
What was spread throughout this space was merely defensive magic.
To observe defensive magic and conclude that one wished to fight was proof that this charlatan was a mage consumed by extraordinary prejudice.
“You do not realize it yourself. How desperately you yearn for combat.”
“…It seems you too are the type prone to misunderstandings.”
Such misunderstandings were familiar to me.
Still, it was a somewhat better misunderstanding than being called the “Emperor of a New Era.”
In any case, he’s treating me as a mage rather than an emperor.
“You are a creature born for combat magic.”
“….”
Choi Kang-mok glanced toward Raymond.
Still, since he was a colleague of my master’s workplace, I was making an effort to be respectful… but how much longer would I have to endure this?
Raymond remained silent, his expression slightly furrowed.
‘Is he the professor’s superior?’
Watching the intermediate-rank mage Owen, I came to understand.
Hierarchy was quite important in that mage world too.
‘He doesn’t seem like it, but the professor is quite diligent with his social life.’
Of course, that wasn’t true.
If anything, Raymond was the more senior one.
From Raymond’s perspective, there was simply no reason to step in, so he didn’t.
If he left things alone, his disciple would only grow to dislike Pease more.
Pease was continuing to dig his own grave.
“Why do you not recognize your own talents?”
Pease was frustrated.
Why did this combat creature reject the natural order and refuse to acknowledge his own gifts?
Space and magic spoke clearly.
This combat creature’s battle prowess was innate.
He should be called a ‘magic combat entity’ rather than a ‘magic anomalous entity’.
“I must grant him enlightenment.”
He had never cultivated a disciple before, but he knew how to grant enlightenment.
Behind his back, 108 fists formed from magical power materialized.
A (physical) magic particularly effective for enlightenment.
Choi Kang-mok, who had considerable skill with physical magic, immediately tensed.
‘The power contained in each single fist is extraordinary.’
In an instant, I ran a simulation through my mind.
What would be the trajectory and angle of those fists?
The speed?
Was the subtlety of space liberation applied?
Other attributes?
Could I handle it with Blink or invincibility?
As all 108 fists proved to be formidable, Tiger stepped forward.
“As long as I stand, you won’t lay a finger on my client.”
He lifted one side of his sunglasses slightly with his fingertip.
Golden heat shimmer rose from Tiger’s entire body.
His muscles swelled, and his suit expanded as though it would tear.
Pease regarded him warily.
“Ah, so it was this beast that needed to be dealt with after all.”
After so long, I finally meet my disciple, yet of all things this irritating beast had to come along.
Truly, fortune abandons me.
Around that time, Raymond stepped forward as well.
“Professor Pease. I do not advocate for physical education through combat magic. Especially not for my disciple.”
Physical education for a disciple?
Cold sweat trickled down Raymond’s back.
Regardless of other matters, physical education carries far greater failure rates than success rates.
‘Though my disciple’s comprehensive magical achievement is still at the crawling stage…’
Combat magic is different.
‘In battle, they surpass even me.’
In any case, as a sensible mage, I harbor no thoughts of physical education whatsoever.
Such things are what only ignorant and malevolent mages like Pease would do.
In that moment, Raymond recalled a certain thought.
‘Wait. If that’s the case, then my disciple’s talent in combat magic truly is innate, isn’t it?’
Professor Pease’s words might not be wrong.
In magical combat, they have already surpassed me.
But I decided to pretend not to notice.
Their talent in combat magic is so extraordinarily innate that it overshadows everything else, yet their other magical talents are equally unparalleled.
My mood improved for no reason.
‘My disciple is a genius!’
Enough that all the professors would covet them.
Even Pease being like that—my shoulders naturally broadened with pride.
No matter how I think about it, I’ve cultivated my disciple exceptionally well.
Meanwhile, Choi Kang-mok had finished preparing his magic.
‘Tiger and the Professor have drawn their attention away.’
Then I have the leeway to attack as well.
One against many was quite familiar to me, but this time we are the many.
It feels reassuring.
Numbers truly are a wonderful thing.
In that instant, Pease vanished.
Light was startled.
-His escape speed is faster than mine?
A small memo fluttered down through the empty air.
Tiger tensed his quadriceps and launched his massive body upward like an arrow.
In mid-air, a trajectory blending the beast’s natural fluidity with human balance sense was traced.
He performed several aerial somersaults.
With a swift motion of his fingertips, he snatched the memo, then landed silently.
That massive body touched the ground without a single sound.
It was a movement difficult for a mage to perform.
“After multiple confirmations in mid-air, there appears to be no danger.”
Tiger handed me a memo.
It contained a teaching from Professor Pease.
[A superior combat mage must know precisely when to retreat. I trust this has been instructive.]
Raymond shook his head in disapproval.
“Tsk, running away and still playing the mentor to the end, I see.”
“….”
“A scrap of paper as a teaching? All the masters of the Universe would weep. Wouldn’t they?”
“….”
I found myself at a loss for words.
Truth be told, I did feel as though I’d learned something.
Professor Pease’s ‘escape magic’ had been extraordinary.
It wasn’t without reason that I’d been startled by Light moving faster than me.
I’d never witnessed an escape so swift and efficient.
‘I can use Light magic myself.’
Regardless of what else one might say, Light is specialized in escape.
And as a spatial mage, his understanding of space is quite considerable.
What if I applied this to my Blink?
‘Could I develop escape magic of that caliber?’
At distance, retreat.
At close range, approach.
Couldn’t I unfold a tier of movement magic superior to Blink itself?
Watching me fall silent, Raymond bit his lip.
‘My student… has learned again.’
This could prove dangerous.

* * *
Twenty-four hours later.
[Designated assassin employment has been completed.]
[Former Assassination Guild leader Leon manifests.]
“Trust leader Leon. I meet my employer.”
No hostility emanated from Leon.
Rather, his gaze and demeanor revealed a loyalty toward Choi Kang-mok that was almost reverent.
“It is an honor to enter into a lifetime contract. I swear my allegiance to you, my employer.”
“…Yes. It’s good to meet you.”
Now that the situation had unfolded this way, I felt oddly unsettled.
Just a day ago, we had been fighting tooth and nail….
“There is something I wish to ask you, Leon.”
“Please speak freely. Ask me anything.”
“Did we actually fight?”
No matter how I thought about it, it felt like an ‘exchange’.
“Did you sense something beyond combat?”
“Something like that.”
A mystery beyond magic itself.
There was definitely ‘something’ that could not be explained by magic alone.
“Then that suffices. We did not fight. We [exchanged]. I confirmed my faith, and you confirmed something that cannot be explained by magic alone—a journey of discovery.”
Choi Kang-mok asked no further questions.
From here on, it seemed I would need to understand and master this through my own strength alone.
That was simply the feeling I had.
‘This feeling is peculiar.’
I had hired a top-tier assassin and inadvertently become the guild master of the Assassination Guild.
Position shapes the person, as they say.
At this level, shouldn’t I learn at least one assassination magic?
“Have you ever encountered assassination magic?”
“I have only performed assassinations, never experienced one myself, so I know little. However, having felt your magic firsthand, I believe I can offer one suggestion. It comes from the perspective of a non-mage, so feel free to disregard it.”
“Tell me.”
Sometimes advice from those who are not mages proves invaluable.
It allows one to view magic through fresh eyes.
“You have become capable of controlling the damage output of your magic.”
“That’s right.”
With the completion of this defensive magic, I had nearly perfected damage control.
The process was somewhat mysterious, but it was possible nonetheless.
“You are already skilled at manipulating the form of magic and spatial release.”
“….”
I felt oddly embarrassed by his praise.
Being praised as a mage is truly joyful, yet strangely unfamiliar.
Praise not as an emperor, nor as a combat creature, but as a mage—that was rare indeed.
Truly precious.
“Give me more advice.”
“Furthermore, by expanding your detection capabilities through Light attribute magic and interpreting structural essence, you’ve already laid the optimal foundation as a spatial mage.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s quite that far…”
The corners of my mouth lifted.
“If you were to mold magical form into bullet-like projectiles, minimize damage, and apply the concept of spatial liberation…”
Choi Kang-mok achieved a profound realization.
“Sniper magic.”
True sniper magic would be perfected.
In truth, the previous “sniper magic” had been closer to destruction than actual sniping, making the name feel somewhat embarrassing.
But now? I would finally be able to use sniper magic in its orthodox sense.
Then, a notification arrived.
[Appointment as Assassination Guild Master—non-assassin origin—has been completed.]
I became Guild Master yesterday.
Yet the notification only came now.
[!Special condition satisfied!]
I had a feeling.
Whether it was the author or the system, something fishy was going on.
[Special Quest, “Prove your worth as Guild Master!” has been activated.]
[A quest-exclusive item will be delivered.]
[Please check your gift box.]
I received the quest item.
‘Wow… this is…’
Something extraordinary had arrived.

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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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