The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 285

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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 285
Raymond maintained his exacting demeanor.
“Possession of at least a Dimensional-rank decoration.”
1. To be awarded a Dimensional-rank or higher decoration (Deadline: 10 years)
Korean style
Choi Kang-mok felt somewhat satisfied.
It seemed as though his path thus far had been without error.
Preemptive clear magic was executing automatically.
“Possession of 5 or more EX-rank clears. Hmm, you’ve already achieved this as well.”
The conditions were extraordinarily stringent.
“Possession of 3 or more EX+-rank clears. Deadline: 15 years. Passed! Possession of 1 or more EX++-rank clears. Deadline: 20 years. This too is acceptable.”
Strikethrough marks continued in succession as signatures followed.
Before long, even Raymond’s stern expression began to soften.
My disciple, yet truly remarkable.
These are conditions with 20-year deadlines, yet my disciple has already completed them all.
If this isn’t preemptive clear magic, then what on earth could it be?
Yet there remained objectives not yet achieved.
“Conquest of at least 10 Towers.”
Raymond exclaimed.
“This too is approved!”
Choi Kang-mok and Red Cat both flinched simultaneously.
They had not conquered 10 Towers.
With Choi Kang-chul’s assistance, it could be accomplished swiftly enough, but in any case, it remained unachieved.
Choi Kang-mok had no desire to invite unnecessary scrutiny.
The current System AI’s favor toward Choi Kang-mok—how long would it persist?
It could change overnight.
It seemed best to satisfy the conditions as perfectly as possible.
“If you set your mind to it, couldn’t you accomplish it within days?”
Italy, now effectively a vassal state of South Korea, was experiencing an unprecedented era of peace and prosperity.
Superior infrastructure. The finest Towers.
England, not a vassal state but a partner in all but name, was likewise flourishing.
Saudi Arabia too was achieving tremendous prosperity.
Public favor toward Choi Kang-mok had reached its zenith.
There were countless nations hoping to be “conquered” by South Korea.
“In fact, this too can be considered part of preemptive clear magic. Fear not. My magical judgment is exceedingly rigorous. It is founded upon unwavering standards.”
Red Cat flinched once more.
A lie!
Raymond’s only strictness lay in his expression alone.
“As for the other minor details….”
Raymond skimmed through them briefly before signing off on everything.
And Red Cat knew the truth.
‘I only pretended to skim through it?!’
I hadn’t examined it properly at all.
There were no strict criteria to speak of.
In any case, establishing the Magical University had become possible.
“Founding a school is merely the beginning. The true challenge lies in creating an institution that aspiring mages dream of attending. For that, you’ll need an exceptional faculty.”
Raymond subtly extended his business card.
“I’m a professor too.”
I want to be hired.
I want to become a professor here!
Earth is the dimension mages dream of.
Being a lower dimension means fewer restrictions, the Tower quality is excellent, and the System even favors the Headmaster!
With Mega Polis connecting locations worldwide, daily life is incredibly convenient!
And the hot topic among mages—the Mage—is the Headmaster himself.
That alone ignites overwhelming curiosity.
Truly, a paradise for magical professors!
“You can pay me a modest salary.”
After all, Tower quality is the best!
Money is something I can provide for myself anyway.

* * *
The stronghold reinforcement was complete.
South Korea had now become a nation possessing a Magical University.
[!Global Announcement!]
[The final stronghold, ‘Magical University,’ has been established!]
South Korean citizenship had long since become a privilege.
[All mages with South Korean citizenship are eligible for admission.]
Admission was an easy matter for South Korean citizens.
Graduation, however, was another story.
-Not even surprising anymore lol
-Where did all those people who called it national bias go?
-This isn’t national bias, it’s reality lol
-Still feels unreal
Mages worldwide strived to obtain South Korean citizenship.
-The entrance exam is insanely difficult;;;
-I heard no one has passed yet?
-None from Earth natives
Mages from the Magic Empire Arcsia also took the entrance exam in droves, and some succeeded.
Teaching assistants originally employed at the Ayla Magic Research Institute even began applying for admission to the Korean Magical University.
-Mages are going crazy rushing over here
-Economic effects in the trillions? That’s so last season lol
Mages from across the entire universe had discovered Earth.
The vast majority of them were extremely favorable toward Earth.
-Apparently Earth’s standards are rising because so many higher-dimensional beings keep pouring in
-Environment really does matter after all
Growth is profoundly shaped by the caliber of those you compete alongside.
As elite talents from higher dimensions flooded in, the power levels of Earth’s Awakeners began climbing steadily.
Yet this phenomenon was hardly exclusive to mages.
[!Global Announcement!]
Since Choi Kang-mok’s emergence, global announcements had become frequent.
[Currently searching for an establishment location for Leonhardt’s Training Ground.]
[Currently searching for an establishment location for Iranel’s Prayer Chamber.]
[Currently searching for an establishment location for Dragos’s Arena.]
In the past.
Shenyang in China had housed a magical academy.
That alone had earned it the titles of China’s magical capital and the world’s magical city.
-How will it compare to Shenyang?
-Made by an EX-rank Awakener no less lol
-It’s a different weight class
Nations across the globe.
More precisely, cities worldwide dispatched special envoys to Korea.
“If you would establish Iranel’s Prayer Chamber in our China….”
“Dragos’s Arena in our England….”
“Perhaps Leonhardt’s Training Ground in our Italy….”
Egypt attempted lobbying through Salia.
Though Salia declined their overtures.
Even the United States, which publicly proclaimed itself an anti-EX-rank Awakener nation, had dispatched massive delegations.
Where exactly would these new strongholds be established?
The world’s leaders burned with anticipation.
‘Economic benefits aside….’
‘It’s an excellent opportunity to flaunt connections with an EX-rank Awakener!’
The mere establishment of a facility transformed an Awakener’s approval ratings.
It signified selection by an EX-rank Awakener.
World leaders cast aside all pride and threw themselves into the competition.
However, most of these matters were filtered out at Choi Kang-chul’s level.
‘Kang-mok probably wouldn’t care much about this sort of thing.’
He’d rather spend that time conducting advanced magical research or pursuing his own interests.
As an older brother who understood his younger sibling’s needs precisely, he handled most matters independently.
“Still, you’ll need to give final approval.”
“I could handle it myself.”
“It’s not my power.”
He was the dedicated team leader for EX-rank Awakeners, not an EX-rank Awakener himself.
Choi Kang-chul constantly kept watch over himself and maintained discipline.
I am not an EX-rank Awakener. I am merely a team leader who assists EX-rank Awakeners.
I must not grow arrogant. I must not burden Kang-mok.
The lords of the entire world bow to me not because I am exceptional, but because Kang-mok is exceptional.
I repeat this to myself dozens of times a day, tempering my mind.
“But hyung, does it really have to be installed in a specific city?”
“Hmm?”
Choi Kang-mok possessed a deeper understanding of ‘space’ than most.
He took pride in being a mage who wielded spatial magic—transmutation through meteor manifestation.
“Why not just install it inside the Tower? That would make travel between locations much easier.”
Direct travel from Tower to Tower.
That would make movement between outposts remarkably convenient.
“Can it be installed inside the Tower?”
“It seems like it can be?”
“Really?”
“Yeah. But it looks like you need to match the rank to each outpost.”
Choi Kang-chul tensed slightly.
Match the rank.
Some kind of work would be required.
Then now, it’s my turn to step forward.
To fulfill my role as the dedicated team leader for EX-rank Awakeners….
“You just need to clear EX-rank or higher floors.”
“….”
It was possible on every floor.
There was nothing for him to do as the dedicated EX-rank team leader.
The establishment of outposts also fell within the preemptive magical influence of the [Mage].
Red Cat subtly interjected and added information.
“It was originally hidden information, but the Tower revealed it.”
The information about installing outposts in the Tower was directly revealed by the Tower itself.
Even the hidden conditions.
“The Tower told you?”
“That much is naturally a courtesy.”
At this point, the System was the greatest flatterer.
Red Cat expressed the ‘flattery of a flatterer’ as something rather ordinary and natural.
So that Choi Kang-mok wouldn’t become overly moved by the System’s flattery.
In any case, new outposts were newly established in the Tower.
-Your Majesty, look how fair and impartial you are lol
-In the end, you didn’t give it to anyone
It wasn’t installed for any specific nation.
-Korean citizenship is enviable lol
-Anyone with Korean citizenship can enter
It was installed in the lower levels of the Tower.
Any Korean Awakener or anyone granted permission by the Korean Guild could use the outpost.
-How do I get Korean citizenship?
-Or maybe British or Chinese citizenship instead…
A world where nationality itself had become power and privilege.
Separate from that, Choi Kang-mok felt quite satisfied.
“Magic is certainly a beautiful discipline… but it wouldn’t be good if everything hinged solely on magic.”
The reason Arcsia remained at roughly a mid-tier dimensional level was because they were rooted in the Magic Empire.
Mages need diverse experiences and collaborators.
I had already felt this deeply.
Emily, the master craftsman, and Byun Ha-gu.
Lee Kang-nam, the reliable tank—or rather, the punching bag.
And Kang Pal-do of the Lucky Mine, who offered countless inspirations and insights.
This world doesn’t run on mages alone.
“This environment will actually accelerate magical progress.”
“Your words ring true, Master. You are indeed a mage with a remarkably open mind!”
Red Cat enthusiastically agreed.
And Light, who had entrusted its consciousness to me, had become intoxicated by “Choi Kang-mok fever.”
-(Light): From a weak fugitive to a mighty destroyer! From a mighty destroyer to a creator of civilization! I have been reborn! I have become great! I am the companion beast—no, the companion artifact of the [Mage]! Muahahaha!
-(Mayo): Light. Do you still not understand? Something of this caliber is
[Mage]
nothing remarkable. There’s no need to be so excited. It’s merely simple civilization-creation magic 🙂
In any case, I, who had just broken ground on this new civilization, focused my mind.
‘The long-awaited 100th Floor approaches.’
By the way, after clearing the 95th Floor, the Tower had temporarily refused entry.
It wasn’t a hostile refusal like before.
[We are taking a brief restructuring period to welcome our distinguished guest in a more perfected venue.]
[Please wait a moment.]
To further satisfy the [Mage].
The System was preparing the “ultimate.”
And soon after, a message arrived for me.
[Restructuring is complete.]
After a brief pause.
[We have prepared a magical arena for the Mage. To provide an appropriate venue, we have concentrated the resources needed to generate floors 96-99 into the 100th Floor.]
Floors 96-99 cleared automatically.
First, second, and third place were all recorded as the [Mage].
Clear rank: EX+.
Notifications continued to stream in.
[Welcome.]
[You have reached the 100th Floor.]

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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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