The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 282

—————
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 282
The Continental Competition favored the United States.
A special condition that had never been shared even with the American Lord had manifested.
Kang Pal-do’s AI System chattered excitedly.
[Recovery does not merely mean the healing of wounds. Sometimes, recovery elevates someone to greatness. Like a certain mage who achieved the pinnacle of physical prowess through countless cycles of restoration. A certain mage transcends to the next level through recovery!]
Fireworks erupted across Kang Pal-do’s screen.
Kang Pal-do himself was momentarily taken aback.
‘Just me?’
Cherry blossoms swirled through the air.
As if celebrating an EX-rank Awakener.
-This Kang Pal-do guy is something else lol
-Stop hyping him up or I’ll die lol
Regardless of Kang Pal-do’s intentions, the AI System’s volume intensified.
[This is evolution in its truest form!]
[A certain mage’s recovery magic transcends mere restoration and evolves those it touches!!]
The virtual space where the Continental Competition unfolded blazed with light.
Golden radiance and fireworks erupted in tandem.
Like the Tower being cleared at EX-rank.
The EX-rank Awakener had rejected ‘ordinary victory.’
Just as Tower climbing was accomplished at EX-rank, the Continental Competition victory had been achieved at EX-rank as well.
-(Light) : This is possible?
Hahahahahahahaha
Let’s see how far this goes lol
The Personified System had lost its composure.
[Brain-melting upon brain-melting upon brain-melting ♪ Oh my, what a surprise~ ♬ Sys-tem~♬]
Recovery in its conventional sense—Asia’s victory.
Recovery in its special sense—Asia’s victory.
Written as Asia, but read as Choi Kang-mok, the victor of the Continental Competition was Asia.
Three points earned.
Overall score: 1 to 6.
An overwhelming victory for Asia.
Yet the American Continent maintained at least a semblance of dignity.
-At least we got one win, right? Let’s celebrate~
Even so, isn’t it something to have at least one win against an EX-rank Awakener?
-Honestly, the United States did what it could
Besides, rounds three and four were forfeits.
Only rounds one, two, and five were true competitive matches.
Accounting for that, some viewed the actual score as closer to 2 to 1.
Tyler was overjoyed.
‘We lost!’
Tyler appeared to crave victory above all else, yet in truth, he desired defeat more than anyone.
He had managed to avoid offending the EX-rank Awakener while simultaneously securing a single victory.
This was the optimal outcome.
‘Regardless of anything else….’
When the Continental Competition concluded, the EX-rank Awakener’s expression had been remarkably pleased.
“Hehehehe.”
That was sufficient.
As a lord, it was far too favorable.
I confirmed once more that Choi Kang-mok was indeed treading the path of a great lord, step by careful step.
‘Do not forget. He is both a mage and a lord.’
He possessed both attributes simultaneously.
And outwardly, he presented himself as a mage.
One must treat him thoroughly as a mage, while simultaneously treating him as a lord.
Simply by crafting an effective one-on-one strategy against Choi Kang-mok, I would already be halfway there as the lord of the United States.
‘A one-man empire, indeed.’
A chill suddenly ran down my spine.
The power of an empire concentrated in a single individual.
Just years ago, anyone spouting such nonsense would have been ridiculed, yet it had become reality.
‘It’s time to switch sides.’
This was a fortuitous opportunity.
After all, he had saved the American representatives.
I needed to gradually discard the façade of being semi-EX-aligned and transition to being pro-EX-aligned.
That was the path that would endure.

* * *
I examined my mock battle record for a while.
‘I like this.’
The Earth Medal, along with the Continental Medal.
And now the Mage’s Insignia had been added as well.
Could there be a more splendid adornment for a mage from Earth?
‘As a master, it seems I’ve developed slightly.’
I laughed a bit awkwardly.
I still fell far short of truly deserving the title of ‘master’ for myself.
Embarrassing as it was, I was indeed a master.
“You’ve imparted great teachings to Christine.”
A genius born of Egypt.
A legendary mage who surpassed Christine.
Had Salia not been an EX-rank Awakener, she would have made her name known across the entire world—yet she was my disciple.
Salia looked slightly disappointed.
“I’m envious. To receive such profound instruction.”
“That’s how it turned out.”
I ended up teaching Christine, rather than Salia, who could be called my first disciple.
As a master, this was something I could feel slightly apologetic about.
“There’s no need for you to apologize, Master.”
Salia’s eyes held unwavering conviction.
“You teach so well.”
A hidden talent will inevitably reveal itself.
An awl in a pouch cannot help but poke through.
A genius at teaching can instruct without ever directly teaching.
Much like how one can win a magical exchange tournament without using magic at all.
I waved my hand dismissively.
“No.”
Honestly, I didn’t teach her anything.
Christine realized it on her own.
“I don’t think you need to be so modest.”
….
Salia ‘believed’ strongly.
That I had given her wonderful instruction.
“In the end, since Christine gained enlightenment, you did teach her. Perhaps this was even preemptive instruction.”
….
Now that I heard it, Salia’s words seemed to make sense.
Red Cat’s brow furrowed.
‘She used the words the master likes!’
Was that intentional?
The butler has been obsessed with preemptive instruction lately.
When persuading someone, if I say preemptive instruction, it usually works.
‘I’m already overwhelmed with just Light Mayo!’
Somehow, treacherous subordinates keep multiplying. Salia is a truly dangerous one.
Unlike a schemer like Tyler, the American lord, this one was genuine.
Before long, Choi Kang-mok gained yet another revelation.
“Ah. Preemptive instruction…!”
Now that I think about it, I had experienced it.
Wasn’t it the level Raymond had shown me long ago?
“Uh, well….”
Come to think of it, was that not forced?
Back then, I thought it was forced.
He taught me nothing, yet claimed he had taught me everything—I thought it was terribly shameless.
‘So it wasn’t that. It was preemptive instruction after all.’
In the same sense.
‘I must have given preemptive instruction as well.’
That’s how it turned out in the end.
“Hold your head high, Master. You are already an excellent teacher.”
“Thank you for saying so.”
Though I hadn’t lost my humility, my mood had improved considerably.
Being able to teach magic to someone is always a joyful thing.
“Oh, Salia. Now that I think about it, you….”
“Yes?”
“You’re not using a translation item?”
“Of course not.”
She had mastered Korean perfectly in just a few days.
“To properly learn the Master’s teachings, I must completely master the Master’s native language.”
Wow, so that’s possible.
Choi Kang-mok was impressed.
Truly worthy of Africa’s renowned mage.
I felt quite proud.
Just as Raymond took pride in my accomplishments, I felt similarly.
“Above all, I am well aware that the System is not favorably disposed toward you, Master.”
That’s why I had to learn Korean.
Who knows what tricks it might try to pull through translation.
At those words, Choi Kang-mok was impressed.
She truly takes magic seriously.
I must not lose my original passion either.
Salia’s eyes sparkled.
“On the other hand, I understand. It’s only natural to feel jealousy toward a superior mage like you, Master. Even if it’s the System itself.”
Red Cat clicked her tongue.
As a monster sensitive to parameter settings, she understood the System’s recent suffering relatively well.
‘The System is simply suffering….’
It had merely worked tirelessly for fairness and balance.
Because the ‘Mage’ was excessively strong, it kept clashing with the System.
Now it had reached a state of despair, half-mad from the strain.
Unable to bear it alone, it sent the Mage to Other Dimensions with the mentality of ‘if I must suffer, so must you’—and had degraded to the point of cackling with glee watching the Tower 100th Floor in Other Dimensions shatter.
‘And they’re calling that jealousy?’
From the System’s perspective, it must feel deeply wronged.
But what could be done about it?
“Well, this cat had also sensed the System was jealous!”
Meow.
What did the truth matter anyway?

* * *
Immediately after the Continental Competition ended, a world announcement rang out.
[!World Announcement!]
[We declare the complete termination of the Personified System.]
Every Awakener hearing the notification felt it similarly.
The System was experiencing relief.
[Management of the Earth Tower is hereby transferred to the newly implemented AI System.]
[The Personified System shall no longer be involved in Earth Tower management!]
[I am finally free]
[It’s been proven I’m not the only incompetent one, right?]
Countless ‘resignation memes’ circulated across various communities.
-Is it real that the System is excitedly resigning lol
-Earth is the first in the entire universe apparently
It’s not a trial introduction, it’s a resignation introduction lol
The consensus was that unfavorable incidents toward EX-rank Awakeners would no longer occur.
It seemed the AI System would manage the Tower like processing data, without personal emotions.
But that was not the case.
“Something’s odd about the Hall of Fame?”
“Huh?”
“The Mage’s name is golden.”
“Really?”
The ‘Mage’s’ name appeared in golden color.
It was distinctly larger and bolder than other names.
Moreover, it was adorned with the Earth Medal, Continental Medal, and the Mage’s Insignia that Choi Kang-mok had obtained.
-It does look cool though…
-This is kinda enviable;;;​
The monthly publication created by the Tower and distributed to the Lords saw a dramatic increase in content regarding the “Activities of EX-rank Awakeners.”
The Lords offered various interpretations.
-“It appears the Tower favors supporting EX-rank Awakeners because it’s more advantageous for Earth’s ecosystem.”
…was the prevailing consensus.
Unlike the Personified System, which had prioritized balance, the AI System appeared to manage the Tower with sole focus on Earth’s overall public interest.
-That’s true enough
-Honestly, isn’t he basically a walking one-man empire?
-Without EX-rank Awakener, half of Earth’s GDP vanishes
-Like GDP matters anyway lolol
Other Dimensions were already connecting with Earth at every moment.
What about the Sea Dimension Rotin connected through China’s Silk Road?
-Without EX-rank Awakener, our Rotin would’ve been devoured
-Nah, Brain already consumed it
Without Choi Kang-mok, we couldn’t have even stopped the Barbarian Warriors’ invasion.
-Isn’t this excessive dependence on EX-rank Awakener?
-Yeah, it’s a bit much…
-What if something happens to EX-rank Awakener?
Though the excessive dependence on Choi Kang-mok was recognized as problematic, every Tower worldwide issued an official notice simultaneously.
[‘Set aside concerns about dependence on the Mage.’]
As befitting the overarching AI, it was expected to provide specific reasons.
Lords across the globe focused intently on the official notice.

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