The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 294

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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 294
Red Cat’s fur bristled on end.
“The back of my head is tingling.”
Even Red Cat, who was sensitive to settings, was learning this for the first time.
The Tower’s ultimate objective had always been to create an “impregnable tower.”
The Tower’s true purpose was to forge a genuine 100th Floor boss.
It had withheld judgment until the very last moment.
Who truly deserved to be the final boss?
A combat-optimized magical creature?
A mage of fundamental destruction?
And in the end, unable to decide, it seemed the Tower had devised this plan.
“So those tears earlier were actually just an act?”
Red Cat remembered it vividly.
The Tower shedding tears physically in response to the Mage’s atrocities!
Yet that too… seemed to be part of the plan to create the true master of the 100th Floor.
[The Personified System makes a (re)appearance as an observer.]
[Unable to conceal its grievance.]
Red Cat received a private message.
───────
No matter how noble the goal, wasn’t Choi Kang-mok really too much? I genuinely suffered.
───────
Through the message, genuine emotion resonated.
Hardship. Bittersweet sorrow. Resentment.
Many emotions were woven within.
Red Cat found myself nodding inadvertently.
“True enough….”
No matter how clear the objective, the journey itself cannot be entirely joyful.
The System’s mental anguish was real.
Then Choi Kang-mok spoke.
“Wait.”
“….”
The clash between the two entities paused momentarily.
Choi Kang-mok used formal address.
“Professor Pease.”
“What is it, my student?”
“Your ultimate goal was ultimately to take me as your student, wasn’t it?”
“Of course, my student.”
Red Cat wasn’t the only one whose head was tingling.
Choi Kang-mok felt it too.
The Personified System’s departure, the introduction of the AI System, the praises influenced by Kang Pal-do—all of it was a lie?
Did he have hidden dark intentions?
Was it flattery rather than sincerity?
“Then I’ll just become your disciple.”
“!”
Pease’s body flinched.
He calculated instantly.
‘He’s aiming for the moment I flinch.’
Is he trying to attack?
If so, it’s a strategy worthy of praise.
Presenting what I desire to create an opening….
‘But it seems genuine?’
Choi Kang-mok continued.
“It’s somewhat awkward for me to say this myself… but I have quite a talent for learning.”
“!”
“I studied under Professor Raymond, so I don’t think there’s anything I couldn’t learn from you, Professor Pease.”
“Are you saying you’ll pursue a double major?”
“Is that not possible?”
Choi Kang-mok prepared himself mentally.
If this mad combat machine attacked again, how would I counterattack?
Simply buying time wouldn’t be enough….
“An excellent idea.”
Pease nodded.
Indeed, his disciple’s passion for magic was genuine.
Others whined that they’d die if they had to major in just one field, begging for mercy.
Or else they were incompetent fools who recklessly charged in claiming they’d dig multiple wells.
To Pease, this was a very rational judgment.
“Disciples with true talent should make it a principle to major in at least two or more fields.”
“Is there such a principle?”
“I just created it.”
Pease continued with a satisfied expression.
“There’s one thing I need to correct, my disciple.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have quite a talent for learning.”
My disciple still doesn’t know himself.
This is something a master must teach.
“You have a natural gift for learning.”
“…You’re too kind, Professor.”
“….”
Something earnest flickered across Professor Pease’s expression.
There was something he wanted to hear.
Red Cat stepped forward at this moment.
She cleverly shifted “Professor” to sound like “Master” instead.
“You are too kind, Master.”
“Excessive humility is poison, my disciple.”
Though he spoke those words, Pease looked quite pleased.
He knew Red Cat had pulled a trick.
But it didn’t matter.
After all, he had heard himself called “Master” by his disciple—wasn’t that enough?
“I understand, Master. But if you’re going to teach me, I should heal your wounds first, shouldn’t I?”
“That sounds like a good idea.”
The magical creature no longer needed to sacrifice itself.
The mage no longer had to harm the magical creature.
They had achieved symbiosis.
Suddenly, the Tower 100th Floor trembled.
It felt as though a massive earthquake had struck.
Choi Kang-mok readied himself to activate Invincibility at any moment.
Pease had already vanished.
Choi Kang-mok gained a small insight.
“Evasion takes priority over defense.”
If possible, I should use Blink before Invincibility.
Since my understanding of space had grown considerably, I might be able to move outside the Tower beyond just “Tower Exit.”
-(Mayo) : It would be wise to be cautious about what the Tower might attempt. It could forcibly appoint the “Mage” as the boss.
The 100th Floor world crackled with static.
Severe noise distorted my vision into a haze.
Red Cat perched on my shoulder, which had grown slightly tense.
“It seems to be merely panicking.”
The Tower had exhausted all its resources to create this situation.
It had run hundreds of millions of simulations to engineer circumstances to this point.
It had deliberately cultivated hostility toward Pease.
More precisely, it had exploited that hostility toward Pease.
Within the System’s calculations, there was no scenario where Choi Kang-mok willingly became Pease’s disciple.
“If I were human, I would say I’m utterly bewildered. The final protocol has failed!”
Choi Kang-mok tilted his head.
“Why did it fail?”
Suddenly, the noise stopped.
Choi Kang-mok continued speaking.
“The System is more human than I thought.”
So it makes nonsensical remarks, cries, and makes mistakes too.
“Professor Pease ultimately succeeded in making me his disciple. Isn’t that a victory for the 100th Floor boss?”
The hazy world began to regain its original colors.
“Then the boss of the 100th Floor should become my teacher.”
[The Final Protocol remains valid.]
[The Final Protocol continues to proceed.]
For some reason, Choi Kang-mok sensed that the Tower was pleased.
I had cast another lure.
“Once I’ve learned everything, I think I’ll be able to challenge the 100th Floor boss again.”
Now that I thought about it, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.
What if I became the master of the Tower’s 100th Floor?
Countless powerhouses from across the entire Universe would come to challenge me.
As a battle mage, where could I find a better environment for growth than this?
‘That would be acceptable in the future as well.’
[‘Magical Creature’ challenge has been cleared.]
[The binding force of the Final Protocol activates.]
Pease reappeared amid a torrent of radiant light.
Above his head, the words [Magical Creature] were clearly visible.
He had been recognized as the true master of the 100th Floor.
“I will visit the 100th Floor often to receive your teachings.”
Pease paused to consider.
Normally, he should have forced enrollment into the Graduate School.
But he wasn’t inclined to do so.
There were far too many Professors there.
‘A bunch of thieves.’
Too many unscrupulous ones coveting his disciple’s talent.
I had no desire to take the risk of bringing him to the Graduate School.
For whose benefit?
My disciple should be mine alone.
That’s right.
Teaching on the 100th Floor would be better.
All preparations for teaching were already complete.
Now I just needed to settle one thing.
“Often?”
Often wouldn’t do.
He needed to come every day.
“I have much to learn from Professor Raymond as well.”
“It seems there’s little left for you to learn from Professor Raymond.”
“I also need to specialize in Temporal Magic.”
“You’ve already learned enough.”
“Where is there such a thing as ‘enough’ in magic?”
“….”
Faced with such a logical argument, Pease fell silent for a moment.
“Wouldn’t you like to see the combination of Professor Raymond’s time magic and my master’s combat magic?”
Pease’s eyes wavered.
Still in the midst of the boss battle.
Choi Kang-mok, now in ‘combat mode’, read that subtle shift.
Red Cat murmured.
“The butler is quite something….”
Raymond was deliberately called Professor.
Pease was deliberately called Master.
Was that satisfying, or was he anticipating the combination of time magic and combat magic?
Either way, Pease was pleased.
The butler’s scheming brilliance, surrounded by schemers, shone brightly.
“I will learn much from you, Master.”
“…Very well.”
[Challenge achievement has failed….]
Zzzt.
Red Cat detected signs of artificial intervention by the System AI.
[Challenge achievement has failed…]
[You have succeeded in exactly half of the challenge achievement.]
Red Cat’s ears perked up.
‘Exactly half?’
What’s exact about that!
The notification itself is enormously contradictory.
[Forced Graduate School enrollment has been cancelled.]
[The official name of the 100th Floor will be changed.
It will apply universally across the entire Universe.]
[100th Floor: Mage’s Private Tutoring Room]
Now the Tower’s 100th Floor is officially where the Mage learns combat magic.
Red Cat marveled.
“The Tower has devised an even grander plan.”
At this point in time, there was no Awakener who surpassed the Magic Beast.
At least not in the field of combat.
The only Awakener in the entire Universe capable of physically defeating the Magic Beast is the Mage.
And that Mage grows even stronger here?
Moreover, the Mage is accustomed to being treated as a boss.
It has become natural by now.
When that one eventually inherits the Magic Beast’s position?
An even more perfect, impregnable Tower will be completed.
“Of course, whether that goes according to plan remains to be seen….”
From Red Cat’s perspective, it all seemed like a win-win situation.
At least for now, Choi Kang-mok didn’t seem to have any particular objection to taking the boss’s seat.
I’ve already partially acknowledged and awakened to my identity as a “Combat Mage.”
I don’t think I’ll refuse this place optimized for combat.
Even if I did refuse, it wouldn’t matter.
The “Magical Creature” with a complete body will continue facing the 100th Floor boss anyway.
‘Of course, they would have preferred to keep only one….’
Having even one such dangerous entity is already too much—and there are two.
From the Tower’s perspective, it’s an enormous risk….
───────
[I agree with the rationality of your judgment, but I cannot agree with the entire assessment. Those two are no longer risks. To be precise, they’ve already exceeded the level of control. An uncontrollable risk is not classified as a risk. Those two are like natural disasters.]
───────
“…Ah.”
So a risk, when moderate, is treated as dangerous, but once it exceeds that threshold, it’s simply treated as a calamity.
Red Cat, now understanding, nodded.
But then, a surprising notification followed.

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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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