The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 31

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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 031
Sometimes, an enemy’s provocation opens new horizons.
Especially for a Player.
‘An inspiration struck!’
Choi Kang-mok entered a state of absolute focus.
In this world, there existed only the enemy and me.
Only the two of us remained.
To the enemy.
To an enemy who dared mock me, I had to demonstrate the ruthlessness of a mage.
In the chaos, fragments scattered indiscriminately, obliterating the lesser minotaurs entirely.
‘Zero-point targeting failed.’
The sudden barrage of Energy Bolts had sacrificed precision for raw power.
Under normal circumstances, I would have learned from this failure and refined my approach.
More elegantly. More accurately. More efficiently against this creature.
But now, everything had changed.
[Skill, Energy Bolt (S) activated.]
Burst.
[Skill, Energy Bolt (S) activated.]
Burst.
[Skill, Energy Bolt (S) activated.]
Burst.
Twelve spheres erupted in a torrential onslaught.
Precision guidance was abandoned entirely.
“If precision proves difficult…”
Whimper?
The minotaur froze, its foreleg raised mid-strike.
It sensed something ominous.
“Then bombardment will suffice.”
The precision trait ensured crude guidance regardless.
I simply needed to blanket this entire space, leaving no room to escape.
A net-shaped mana pressure control?
Unnecessary.
I had resolved to obliterate this world where only the enemy and I existed.
‘My body holds up remarkably well!’
Crackle—!
Twelve Energy Bolts.
It was fortunate I had elevated my stamina and strength.
The indiscriminately fired Energy Bolts collided with one another, shattering into countless fragments.
Now, innumerable mana shards swept across the surroundings.
Whimper—?
Minotaur instinctively thrashed about, desperately trying to evade, but it was futile.
However, Mayo also vomited blood.
-…This is… interception classification impossible.
-Protection impossible…unexpected…
-Calculation values, all…
Crackle crackle—
Mayo’s torso flickered and blurred.
-That’s right, as expected, as expected, Master’s magic is the greatest… Now forget the boss, that fingertip of yours… give it to me…!!
-Even now… flowing out… from the fingertip… the world…hehehehe…
-Slicing, splitting, separating, assembling, destroying, ahahahahaha!!
-Energy structure unidentifiable. Calculation impossible. No logical structure.
Therefore, it is divine!!!
In that moment, notifications flooded in.
[You have defeated Minotaur.]
[!Damage limit exceeded!]
[Minotaur will not revive.]
And I quickly shouted.
“Exit.”
[Exiting the Tower.]
I returned to reality without even checking the clear records or the Hall of Fame.
“I succeeded.”
I had discovered another path.
A strategy that could be useful on floors where you could exit after defeating only the boss.
Defeat it quickly and exit—safety assured.
Thanks to Minotaur’s provocation, a new horizon had opened.
“But my body feels like it’s falling apart.”
Perhaps I needed to invest more in stamina or strength.

* * *
Choi Kang-mok’s clear rating was, unsurprisingly, EX-rank.
───────
[Hall of Fame (10th Floor)]
[South Korea]
1. -(Seoul, EX)
…
───────
Only after exiting could I check my rewards.
‘100 million Diamonds. One EX Point was given as expected.’
And a red exclamation mark was blinking in my mailbox.
‘Excellent!’
[5 EX Points]
[Will you accept the reward?]
I’d obtained an additional 5 EX Points.
The entire progression had been exceptional.
‘But why isn’t the job change window appearing?’
When clearing the 10th floor, a ‘job change fairy’ should appear to guide me through the job change process and grant me a formal class.
Yet the job change fairy never appeared.
My job remained fixed as Damage Dealer.
At least my sub-class was set to ‘Mage’, so it wasn’t entirely unfavorable.
‘I shouldn’t be too greedy about spell numbers.’
The tutorial was complete.
From here on, I could learn a few more spells, but I decided against being ambitious.
‘I still can’t properly handle Energy Bolt.’
Learning advanced magic without mastering the basics would be foolish.
One must walk properly before one can run properly.
‘I need to reach a level where I can convert my spells into scrolls.’
Generally, that’s the threshold at which one is considered to have mastered a spell.
‘I’ll continue like this until level 40.’
From level 40 onwards, I’d learn ‘Curse’, a spell that truly befits a proper mage.
Until then, I had to master Energy Bolt.
‘Level 40.’
So I decided to focus on leveling and growth up to the 20th floor.
Even if I might appear to be nothing more than a combat mage.
What did appearances matter anyway?
Fundamentals were important in everything.
So I decided to take my time and build steadily.
[10 Consecutive EX-Rank Clears!]
└Seoul Tower is insane lol
└Is that 10% additional buff real?
└Let’s go! To Seoul!
Now I can finally act like a human too.
└EX-rank Awakener is simply radiance itself
└We are living in the age of the EX-rank Awakener
[Seems like overseas still can’t believe it lol]
└Honestly, I wouldn’t believe it either
└The existence of a synthesis ability user is the academic community’s lunch topic lol
└I wouldn’t have believed it either if I weren’t Korean
[What class did they choose?]
└With that much potential, it’s at least a dual class or higher
└Ah, I’m so damn curious
└Regardless of what they choose, reaching the top of that field is just a matter of time
Ten consecutive EX-rank clears.
This was not merely a “consecutive clear.”
[!Achievement: 10 Consecutive EX-Rank Clears!]
[!Hidden setting unlocked!]
A world first.
The hidden setting that unlocks upon achieving ten consecutive EX-rank clears was revealed.
[You may now conquer other city towers.]
Choi Kang-mok’s decision came swiftly.
I had already marked my target tower.
[Conquering Busan Tower floors 1-10.]
This dealt a tremendous shock to the Busan Guild.
“Lord, the tribute from the tutorial section is not accumulating.”
“What?”
Shin Chae-ryung ground her teeth.
All tribute from floors 1-10 was being transferred entirely to the Seoul Guild.
“Lodge a formal protest with the Seoul Guild immediately.”
“The Seoul Guild claims they have the right to command an EX-rank Awakener.”
“Damn it!”
Floors 1-10 were low-level.
Naturally, the quality of tribute was not particularly high.
However, precisely because of that, countless Awakeners challenged them.
The sheer volume made this section a significant source of revenue for the Busan Guild.
“So this is how it’s going to be?”
It was absurd.
I thought she was holding out to have a conversation with me.
And yet I cleared floor 10 already? Without even giving this a second thought?
I was completely disregarded.
“Request mediation from the Grand Master.”
“That’s….”
“What is it?”
“Public opinion is overwhelmingly favorable to the EX-rank Awakener and the Seoul Guild.”
[Huh? The Busan Tower’s quality seems to have improved?]
└The detailed explanation says it’s affected by the Seoul Tower?
└Seoul? That’s a low-tier tower lol
└The drop rate for mana stones in the lower levels of Busan Tower has gotten way better too, it’s insane
└Busan’s become such a goldmine?
The public didn’t care where the tribute flowed.
Whether it went to the Seoul Guild or the Busan Guild made no difference to them.
What mattered was that the Busan region, benefiting from the Seoul Tower’s quality, had seen its own tower quality improve.
[The EX-rank Awakener’s style is insane]
└It was difficult for me to leave Busan due to circumstances, but it went really well.
└I’m a homebody protector and I made 250,000 won yesterday hehehehe
The subordinate towers of Busan Tower.
Rather, this had garnered fervent support from Busan’s citizens.
└Hey, do you guys have no pride? You’re fine with Busan becoming Seoul’s lapdog? Yeah, I’m totally fine with it~ Hehe~
“So even the Grand Master can’t step in carelessly….”
“Insane. The country’s really being run well.”
Shin Chae-ryung clenched her teeth.
No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t bring herself to forgive the EX-rank Awakener.
Now only one thing remained in Shin Chae-ryung’s mind.
“Figure out how to kill this bastard.”
They had crossed a river from which there was no return.
Whether this side died or that side died, someone had to die for this fight to end.
That’s what Shin Chae-ryung believed.

* * *
Choi Kang-mok spoke.
“Yes. I don’t particularly need this.”
What Choi Kang-mok offered was none other than an amplification rune.
A rune that boosted attack power by a full twenty percent without any restrictions.
‘I’m already worried it’s too powerful.’
And now I’d receive the aid of such a rune?
My body wouldn’t be able to withstand it.
It seemed better to put it to more practical use.
Han Sang-hyun clenched his fists tightly.
“Yes. Then I’ll use this to negotiate with the London Lord.”
His eyes blazed with fervor.
An EX-rank Awakener had given the Seoul Guild an opportunity.
Thanks to the London Guild providing top-tier strategy guides, the Seoul Guild had already cleared floor thirty-seven.
The growth was extraordinary.
“And I’ll transfer all the tribute from Busan Tower to you.”
“No.”
Choi Kang-mok shook his head.
They needed something left over to maintain their motivation.
From what I could see, the Seoul Guild worked quite well.
They were the type to earn three hundred won when given one hundred won in salary.
“There are costs involved in managing and distributing the tribute anyway. You can set a realistic settlement ratio accounting for that.”
In the end, they agreed that the Seoul Guild would take roughly ten percent.
Even that was enough for Han Sang-hyun to bow his head in gratitude.
“I don’t say this lightly, but I’m genuinely grateful that an EX-rank Awaker exists. Truly.”
It wasn’t mere flattery.
‘I’ll repay this debt…!’
They too had to demonstrate their best efforts in return.
Led by Han Sang-hyun, the Seoul Guild entered negotiations with London.
The results were quite favorable.
“It’s a legendary-grade robe.”
A robe inscribed with tiger patterns.
───────
[Sphinkias Robe]
Grade: Legendary
Required Level: 20
A robe crafted from the shed skin of the divine beast Sphinkias.
Options (+See More)
───────
Choi Kang-mok’s eyes widened.
“Items of this caliber can be traded through system mail?”
Small things like runes, sure, I’ll grant you that.
But a legendary-grade robe attached to it?
“There’s a craftsman named Emily on their side. I’d heard she was remarkably skilled, but I never expected work of this caliber. She divided it into five pieces and attached them one by one.”
Sent as ‘Sphinkias Robe 1/5’, fragmented into sections.
And on our end, we reassembled it into one.
“My apologies. Our team’s capabilities proved insufficient, and a minor issue arose during the restoration process.”
“A minor issue?”
“Yes. If you check the options….”
───────
Options:
1) Vitality, Strength +5
2) Blink
───────
“Originally, it was an item with Intelligence +10….”
Han Sang-hyun broke into a cold sweat.
His honest desire was to avoid causing even the slightest harm to the EX-rank Awakener.
“An issue occurred during the restoration process….”
Han Sang-hyun couldn’t find the words to continue.
“I have no excuse, even with ten mouths. We will provide compensation for this damage at the Guild level.”
Choi Kang-mok’s eyes widened as he examined the options.
Intelligence 10 replaced with Vitality 5 and Strength 5?
“No, actually this is better?”
If Intelligence jumped by 10 at this point in time?
The damage would be unmanageable.
An increase in Vitality and Strength was far superior.
However, Han Sang-hyun couldn’t feel at ease about it.
‘There’s no way this could be good.’
It’s genuinely good.
“I’m grateful you see it that way.”
Han Sang-hyun understood well how significant Intelligence +10 was for a mage.
‘The EX-rank Awakener is truly magnanimous.’
Infinitely merciful to his allies.
But did that mean one could take liberties? Absolutely not.
Judging by what the Busan Guild has been enduring lately, they’re practically pitiful now.
‘To his enemies, he’s as sharp as a blade.’
The moment one became intoxicated by that benevolent and merciful demeanor and committed a rudeness, it was clear that a terrifying retribution would descend upon the Seoul Guild as well.
Choi Kang-mok laid bare his true feelings once more.
“I’m sincere. The options are exactly what I wanted.”
Han Sang-hyun’s discomfort deepened at the EX-rank Awakener’s one-sided goodwill.
“Especially this Blink.”
Right. The first option was a bit much.
Han Sang-hyun’s head bowed of its own accord.
“….”
A tiger-striped robe.
It wasn’t exactly my style, but it was acceptable nonetheless.
This option forgave everything else.
───────
[Blink]
Expend a portion of mana to move to any desired location within 10 meters.
Cooldown: 12 hours
※Requires Agility 20, Intelligence 30 or higher
───────
Fortunately, I met all the required stats.
‘If I use it strategically, I can even evade mana shards.’
Combined with Invincibility, it would be invaluable for my future magical research.
It felt like I’d gained an extra life or two.
Not long after, an email arrived from the London Guild.
“Oh? Wait a moment. I’ve received an important message from the London Guild.”

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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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