The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 27

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Return of an EX-Rank Mage Episode 027
Kang Hye was never good at hiding her emotions.
“Pardon?”
“What? Why?”
“Um….”
Protect Korea’s future?
Those words didn’t sound like they could come from Lee Kang-nam’s mouth—a man who would even beat up his own lord.
“What’s wrong? How do you see me?”
“….”
Lee Kang-nam stepped closer.
He didn’t look like a single person, but rather like an ancient gnarled tree with muscles plastered all over it.
“Hey, don’t be scared. Who’s going to hit you?”
“It’s not that. You’re just so overwhelming.”
This was more of an instinctive fear.
Anyone would be frightened if a gorilla approached instead of a person.
“Don’t you know? I’m Lee Kang-nam.”
“….”
“I’m very generous to children, the elderly, and women.”
“…Ah.”
Now that I think about it, he had been quite kind to me.
Though it felt a bit uncool hearing him say it himself.
“Lee Kang-nam.”
“What?”
“So the reason you offered a Black Rune-tier Red Rune was also for the EX-rank Awakener?”
“Yeah.”
It was true.
I wanted to help the EX-rank Awakener in any way I could.
“I need to meet them soon.”
I let out a sigh that could shake the earth.
I’d be the best at protecting them anyway.
But this person refuses to show themselves.
“And it’s my intuition.”
“Yes?”
“The EX-rank Awakener is a woman.”
“…Yes?”
“She will become the mother of Korea.”
I will protect the mother of Korea.
His pectoral muscles rippled.
“I’m serious. My intuition has never been wrong.”

* * *
The London Guild possessed Lily, a master restorer.
An SSS-rank crafter, no less.
At Lily’s own request, her rank had been officially listed as S rather than SSS, but regardless, her abilities transcended imagination.
She lifted the drone wreckage.
A single small metal fragment.
“Don’t worry. This is more than enough. I’ll restore it completely.”
A surveillance drone for lower floors.
A single piece was sufficient.
The structure wasn’t complex—it was a simple artifact, the kind that could be mailed back and forth.
Restoration was a foregone conclusion.
After all, she was undoubtedly the world’s greatest when it came to restoration abilities.
“Hm?”
[Restoration has failed.]
“I’m just not in top form today…”
The next day.
[Restoration has failed.]
She attempted to analyze the cause using her ‘Craftsman’s Spectacles.’
After several attempts, something began to reveal itself.
[Fundamental ■ destruction…]
[F ■ undamental damage…]
It wasn’t until four days had passed that she could understand it completely.
“Fundamental destruction? What the hell is this!”
Lily blinked her eyes repeatedly.
Restoration was impossible because fundamental destruction had occurred.
[Limit damage exceeded…]
She was able to learn more about fundamental destruction.
“It says the limit damage was exceeded. Lord, do you know what this is?”
“…”
Even the London Guild hadn’t grasped this aspect.
This was the moment the concept of ‘limit damage’ was revealed to the world for the first time.
Lily tore at her hair in frustration.
“Why can’t I restore it!”
It was the bitter first failure of an SSS-rank crafter.
The London Guild had lost a high-level strategy guide and 60 billion won.
At this rate, fierce criticism from guild members and London citizens would follow.
“Lily! Is there truly no way?”
“I… I’m not sure. If we had black rune powder or something close to red rune powder of that caliber, I might be able to do something about it…”
Black runes had barely been unlocked anywhere in the world.
No one even knew who owned them.
The only viable option was ‘a rune of comparable grade’.
“I think we might be able to obtain rune powder.”
In the Smithy, a virtual space within the system, runes could be ground into powder.
Runes with poor options were converted to powder and used as enhancement materials.
“It can’t be just anything—it needs to be related to damage or attack power. An amplification rune would be ideal. Preferably at a level similar to a black rune….”
It was a difficult problem.
Finding a red rune of that caliber was hard enough, let alone one comparable to a black rune.
And an amplification rune at that?
Any high-level player would naturally keep one for themselves.
Even if we managed to acquire one, we’d still need to consider whether grinding an amplification rune as material was cost-effective.
“It’s impossible, isn’t it?”

* * *
Han Sang-hyun submitted a report to Lee Byung-gyu.
“The London Lord has sent an urgent email.”
“What’s it about?”
“He’s asking if we can obtain an amplification rune. He says he’ll purchase it regardless of the price….”
“An amplification rune?”
“It appears he intends to use it for drone restoration.”
“Huh.”
Using an amplification rune for drone restoration—and for dungeon footage no less?
That was certainly a decision befitting one of the three major guilds.
In any case, if the restoration succeeded, it would benefit both the Seoul Guild and the EX-rank Awakener.
“It would serve as evidence of the Busan Guild’s scheming.”
Restoration was possible?
It would undoubtedly be advantageous for the EX-rank Awakener as well.
“If there’s an amplification rune in circulation in Korea….”
“Yes. There’s exactly one.”
Lee Byung-gyu’s expression darkened.
“Is it what I’m thinking of?”
“Yes. Lee Kang-nam has it.”
Lee Kang-nam’s demand was singular.
Let him see the EX-rank Awakener’s face just once.
Then he’d hand it over.
“My lord, but hasn’t the EX-rank Awakener already contracted with us?”
Why had Lee Kang-nam been waving around that black-grade rune trying to summon the EX-rank Awakener?
Though not publicly disclosed, it was likely for scouting purposes.
But the EX-rank Awakener had already signed a contract with the Seoul Guild.
Would Lee Kang-nam’s proposal still hold weight in this situation?
“It’s Lee Kang-nam we’re talking about.”
“….”
“Your concept may be over the top, but you always keep your word.”
Still, I couldn’t let Choi Kang-mok meet Lee Kang-nam.
Lee Kang-nam was like a time bomb.
There was no telling what danger he might pose to an EX-rank Awakener.
It was time to use my wits.
“Find a way to bring it here.”
I had to repay the debt.
I wouldn’t let him regret choosing Seoul.
I would make it happen no matter what.

* * *
Through the London Guild, one fact was announced to the world.
Within the current system, something called ‘damage cap’ existed.
[Necromancer nerf?]
└Undead aren’t infinite? For real?
└Necromancers lmaooo stock crash incoming lol
The concept of ‘fundamental destruction’ had emerged anew.
The idea that complete destruction rendered resurrection and regeneration abilities meaningless.
[But how much damage counts as fundamental destruction?]
└If the London Guild figured it out….
└It’s definitely Christine
[Christine must be the one who discovered the damage cap?]
└A level 98 mage’s firepower is real?
└Humanity’s highest DPS confirmed
Thanks to being the first to discover the concept of fundamental destruction, the London Guild’s reputation skyrocketed.
[Real Madrid can’t even compare to London]
└Not top 3 anymore, now it’s the #1 guild
└If you cross Christine, you’re done for
In the midst of all this, Choi Kang-mok was caught somewhat off guard.
The doorway was completely filled. A massive silhouette.
The pressure hit first.
Mayo reacted as if convulsing.
-Is the target interceptable?
Judgment followed immediately.
-Unarmed status confirmed. No hostile intent detected.
-However, the size is excessive. Unpleasant.
-Given that the line of sight is above the user, there is merit in elimination.
-That is a gorilla!
The Daegu tanker. It was Lee Kang-nam.
Lee Kang-nam was deeply shocked.
“Are you an EX-rank Awakener?”
“….”
Faced with such overwhelming physical presence, Choi Kang-mok flinched slightly.
‘Lee Kang-nam is….’
He was known to possess such an eccentric personality that he even dominated the Lord of Daegu.
‘I can’t afford to look easy to handle.’
“Are you Lee Kang-nam?”
“Speaking informally?”
A brief silence.
Lee Kang-nam laughed inwardly.
‘I like his attitude.’
He approached with a menacing expression.
-The present Mayo thoroughly protects the future Mayo.
The shield was holding firm.
In truth, had Mayo not been here, I would never have met Lee Kang-nam.
Lee Kang-nam reached into his coat.
As if he were about to draw a weapon.
-If an attack begins, interception might just be completed.
-Tear and rend and crush and shatter and scatter everywhere hehehehe good hehehehehehe
Choi Kang-mok tensed slightly as well.
Was he really going to draw a weapon? Did he have no such intention?
“First, take this.”
What he pulled out was not a weapon.
It was an amplified rune.
He placed it in Choi Kang-mok’s hands.
[You have obtained a Red Rune.]
“Ah. And this too.”
A Nightwalker hat. Nightwalker leather gloves. Nightwalker leather jacket. Nightwalker leather pants. Nightwalker leather boots. A complete Nightwalker explorer set.
A unique-grade artifact set that countless promising explorers dreamed of.
Faced with this unexpected turn of events, Choi Kang-mok hesitated.
“Hm?”
“Take it already, does pride put food on the table!”
When someone gives, you simply accept.
“What kind of equipment is this?”
I really needed to have some words with those Seoul Guild bastards.
Why in the world would they dress an explorer in a mage’s robes?
No matter how much of a bottom-tier guild they are, they have no sense.
Ah, what else was I supposed to give?
“Damn it. Where did the ring go?”
There was so much I could have said, so much advice I could have offered, yet the moment came and my mind went blank.
He spoke with a somewhat irritable edge.
“Hey. EX.”
His expression darkened as he continued.
“Tell me what else you need. Right now.”
He was prepared to give this novice everything within his power.

* * *
Mayo spoke.
-There is a significant gap between external appearance and emotional expression.
-In such cases… on Earth’s human dimension, this would appear to be classified as ‘tsundere’.
Though that said.
-However, emotional classification always carries a margin of error.
-Should any unusual aura be detected, immediate interception
will be deployed.
This protocol will execute.
Lee Kang-nam revealed his true nature.
“Hey, I’ll protect you.”
“….”
“Stay by my side from now on. Don’t wander off alone.”
Was he being harsh or kind?
It was still difficult to read his character.
“I don’t think I’ll need your help.”
As Korea’s strongest tank, he might prove somewhat useful, but doubtful.
Besides, he draws far too much attention.
Lee Kang-nam is escorting someone? → Who is that guy? → Turns out he’s just an ordinary person? → Could he be an EX-rank Awakener?
A perfectly predictable chain of logic.
“Stop talking and listen to me. You need protection.”
“….”
“Because you’re Korea’s future.”
An awl kept in a pocket will eventually poke through.
Someday, the EX-rank Awakener’s identity would be revealed.
“You’re being forceful.”
I understood his intentions, but his method rubbed me the wrong way.
Even kindness becomes coercion when imposed unilaterally.
“I’ll show you why protection is necessary.”
[A mock battle request has arrived from ‘Lee Kang-nam’.]

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————