The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 36

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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 036
‘Hmm.’
Currently, half the world was undergoing globalization.
Tower civilization’s advanced nations—or rather, advanced cities—were connecting with one another.
As the world expanded further, security became increasingly vital.
‘The eavesdropping detection effect last time proved quite effective.’
This time, I decided to invest EX Coins into the ‘Security’ tab.
[Eavesdropping Detection’s stat increases to 4…]
[Eavesdropping Detection’s stat increases to 5…]
Eavesdropping Detection (5) achieved.
With that, the next item became unlocked.
[Security lock has been released.]
[Remaining Coins: 1]
───────
[Security]
1. Eavesdropping Detection: 5 (+)
2. Friend-or-Foe Identification: – (+)
───────
‘Friend-or-Foe Identification?’
-This function creates classification criteria for entities entering the Pocket Dimension’s domain.
-Designated hostile targets are automatically rejected.
The Pocket Dimension was Mayo’s domain.
A dimension of new laws where shields, eavesdropping detection, and interception wielded formidable power.
-Identifies all forms of enemies.
-Can reject everything identified as hostile 🙂
Mayo displayed the words [Searching…] above her head.
After a moment.
-In Earth’s conceptual terms, it resembles a barrier made of antimatter.
-More simply put… I could compare it to a nation’s borders.
South Korea’s borders allow entry only to those who have received permission.
Mayo’s Pocket Dimension’s Friend-or-Foe Identification functioned similarly.
An ability that fundamentally blocks enemy approach.
I’d need to experiment to know for certain, but the scope of what constitutes an ‘enemy’ seemed remarkably broad.
‘Even interception alone was like that.’
A necromancer’s undead were recognized as enemy attacks and intercepted.
Friend-or-Foe Identification appeared capable of applying even more broadly.
“Excellent.”
-This Mayo will do her utmost for your convenience, user.
-We are ‘
We
because of that.
I invested 1 EX Coin into Friend-or-Foe Identification.
───────
[Security]
1. Eavesdropping Detection: 5 (+)
2. Friend-or-Foe Identification: 1 (+)
3. Lock
───────
After raising my stats, I could feel the effects far more directly.
‘I can distinguish friend from foe in all things, tangible and intangible.’
For instance, I could even designate a mosquito as an enemy.
Mosquitoes could never enter Mayo’s Pocket Dimension.
“Then what about my magic?”
True to a mage’s nature, I started with a magical approach.
Magic too could be treated as an ‘enemy.’
Complex magic from others might be different, but my own magic?
Fragments of magic I had manifested myself?
‘Friend-or-Foe Identification becomes possible.’
Choi Kang-mok had grown considerably by now.
“I’ve become quite proficient in attribute bestowal while practicing penetration.”
This meant I had developed repetitive mastery in infusing another ‘attribute’ into a single domain of magic.
If I could synchronize this with Mayo’s ‘Friend-or-Foe Identification,’ I could apply it far more smoothly.
“I might even be able to coat my magic with Friend-or-Foe Identification.”
Before it even touched the shield.
If I could deny approach itself through Friend-or-Foe Identification?
I could wield far more perfect magic.
I might even be able to learn spells beyond Energy Bolt.
My heart raced and my legs trembled with anticipation.
It was almost like a mild withdrawal symptom.
‘I want to experiment right now!’
I couldn’t fathom why twelve hours felt so impossibly long.

* * *
[The duration of Blood Relation’s Blessing has expired.]
Anxious, I hastily summoned Kang Hye.
“Do you think I’m some kind of blessing bot?”
“I was just in a hurry.”
Kang Hye grumbled with a displeased expression.
“What about food?”
“Oh, right.”
“You’re saying ‘right’ like that?”
Kang Hye could only sigh.
Ever since the old days, whenever I fixate on something, I skip meals like this.
“At least eat this for now.”
“A bento box?”
“Yeah. I bought it from the convenience store downstairs.”
I could tell just from her voice.
She must have skipped meals too.
“Oppa, you’re seriously going to get Tower addiction like this. Take it easy.”
“It’s not Tower addiction.”
Magic addiction, maybe.
For someone like me, the thrill of magical achievement far surpassed the satisfaction of clearing the Tower—her words made no sense.
“Do you know why I can’t master the next spells?”
“Yeah. You said that if you learn other magic while you can’t even properly handle the basic spell Energy Bolt, everything falls apart, right?”
Could that really be called improper handling?
An Energy Bolt that cleared consecutive EX-rank floors and even destroyed Lee Kang-nam?
I didn’t voice that thought and continued instead.
“It’s like building a house on sand, right?”
“Maybe I’ll be able to properly handle Energy Bolt someday.”
“Either way, you want to enter the Tower.”
“It’s different. I want to use magic.”
Using it in reality would cause serious problems.
“If you finish all of this, I’ll bless you.”
….
I stared at Kang Hye intently.
“What? What is it?”
“You.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you say something about avoiding the typical web novel sibling cliché?”
Kang Hye’s face flushed slightly.
This behavior certainly left room to be interpreted as ‘tsundere.’
“No, I’m just grateful, that’s all.”
“What?”
“Thanks to you, my market value has skyrocketed.”
It was true.
Once word spread that I’d worked with Lee Kang-nam, and especially after news circulated that Lee Kang-nam was extremely satisfied with my abilities, my market value shot through the roof.
All Eight Major Guilds were sending me recruitment offers, and I was still just a university student.
The Seoul and Daegu guilds were the most aggressive.
“So I bought this as a thank you.”
“I see.”
“It’s completely different from the typical web novel trope of a younger sister.”
Though honestly it didn’t seem that different, Choi Kang-mok didn’t press the matter.
I was genuinely grateful to Kang Hye anyway.
Now that I thought about it, I was a bit hungry, so I ate the bento box she’d brought.
“Thanks. That was delicious.”
A short while later.
I activated the ‘Tower Entry’ skill and vanished into the Tower.
Kang Hye slowly rose from her seat and surveyed the surroundings.
“Hmm, it’s quite peculiar.”
Kang Hye had been granted a weakened version of ‘Shield’.
A portion of the Pocket Dimension’s authority continued to operate.
Because of this, she was very familiar with Mayo’s Pocket Dimension.
“It feels like some kind of intangible barrier has formed again?”
To be more precise, it was as if a filter had appeared in this space.
A filter that allowed in what she desired and blocked out what she didn’t.
Kang Hye sat cross-legged where Choi Kang-mok had been.
She felt an odd sensation, as if something were on the verge of surfacing.
Was this the ‘inspiration’ that rankers spoke of?
‘Create one’s own domain, then privatize it. Grant an intangible barrier to my privatized world.’
She wouldn’t have known otherwise, but Choi Kang-mok had shown her.
Pioneering a path is difficult, but following a path someone else has already carved is far easier.
‘The intangible barrier…’
As Kang Hye began to meditate, she sank into a state of profound absorption.
‘Distinguishes ally from foe.’
Kang Hye recalled the term ‘friend-foe identification’.
Despite never having exchanged a single word about ‘friend-foe identification’.

* * *
The 4th Floor was ideal for magic practice.
As long as I didn’t destroy the dummies, I could train my magic for quite an extended period.
[Entering Tower (Seoul) Floor 4.]
‘Attribute Bestowal.’
Mana that had separated from my body.
I granted it a quality.
The method was similar to when I bestowed the penetration attribute.
‘The attribute is friend-or-foe identification.’
Naturally, it couldn’t be accomplished in a single attempt.
Even granting ‘penetration’—a concept so common among mages—had taken considerable time.
Now I understood through experience.
‘Friend-or-foe identification’ was a far more advanced attribute than penetration.
It wasn’t for nothing that it manifested within the Pocket Dimension created by a Mythic-rank artifact.
‘But I can do this.’
The fortunate part was that the mana fragments were also part of me.
Bestowing penetration onto someone else’s magic was extremely difficult.
It meant artificially adjusting another’s spell.
Conversely, refining my own magic was relatively far easier.
Moreover, I was even receiving assistance from Mayo, a Mythic-rank artifact.
‘It doesn’t need to be perfect.’
One couldn’t be satisfied on the first bite.
I wasn’t expecting to deflect every single mana fragment.
If that were possible, Shield (8) would have already blocked them all.
After prolonged meditation.
Choi Kang-mok opened his eyes and manifested his magic.
[Using skill ‘Energy Bolt (S)’.]
The double-multiplier talisman took effect.
Two Energy Bolts were generated.
‘Damn it!’
Attempting to handle an attribute far more advanced than penetration.
With two instead of one, my head was spinning.
I abandoned one.
I aimed to send it as far as possible.
‘I can’t just throw it carelessly.’
If a mana fragment accidentally struck a dummy?
The Tower would be cleared anticlimactically.
Then I’d face the unfortunate situation of waiting another twelve hours.
‘I need to keep it from bouncing toward the dummies as much as possible.’
I concentrated on a single Energy Bolt.
I had experienced ‘Friend-or-Foe Identification’ earlier when facing Kang Hye.
My senses were sharp enough.
Crack—!
The energy bolt that collided with the ground shattered into fragments.
‘I’ll redirect some of it toward myself.’
All magic is organically interconnected.
Through precision attributes, I had continuously sensed and mastered redirection.
I pulled some of the bouncing mana fragments toward myself.
‘I can set them as enemies!’
My innate magical talent flourished.
I succeeded in designating the mana fragments as enemies.
It felt as though the magic the enemy had used was flying toward me.
Choi Kang-mok was fully prepared.
‘I’ll filter them through Friend-or-Foe Identification.’
-Friend-or-Foe Identification activating…
-Range set. Separating… Analyzing…
-…Error.
-※The mana fragments are excessively powerful.
“Ugh!”
The mana fragments tore through the Pocket Dimension’s boundary and came hurtling down.
[Shield(8): 99]
My shield’s remaining durability plummeted in an instant.
No—it was closer to being obliterated.
[Shield(8): 3]
Shield(8) dropped from 100 to 3 in merely 0.3 seconds.
Drawing on my wits, I activated ‘Invincibility’ and barely held on.
I couldn’t even properly use Blink.
It was because I hadn’t yet mastered the four-step chain: ‘Friend-or-Foe Identification—Blink—Shield—Invincibility’.
-This scene… We have experienced this before. A similar sensory pattern exists.
-Recently, ‘we’ have already gone through the same thing.
-Yes. Before, when we were blocking ‘our’ fragments…
Pop!
A small spark erupted on Mayo’s torso.
The output momentarily ceased.
It was from the impact of the mana fragments.
I drew in ragged breaths.
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
“Huff, huff…!”
If Friend-or-Foe Identification were a sieve, the sieve had simply torn apart.
“The damage is too severe.”
It was a futile attempt, plain and simple.
Yet it wasn’t entirely without merit.
“Still, there was growth.”
With my Shield stat reaching (8), I could now withstand the mana fragments for a full 0.3 seconds.
Some might call it trivial,
but for me, 0.3 seconds was the razor’s edge between life and death—enough room to cast Blink.
Hope bloomed within me.
“If my Friend-or-Foe Identification stat climbed to 8 as well….”
Couldn’t I gain another 0.3 seconds or so from that skill alone?
The synergy between Shield and Friend-or-Foe Identification.
And if I layered in my invulnerability skill and Blink on top of that?
Perhaps one day I could become a true mage—one who perfectly commands even the fragments themselves.
Even in the briefest respite, possibility always found a way to flourish.
I continued my optimistic reasoning.
“There were hopeful signs.”
Someday I would master the magic of the Damage Dealer class.
After clearing Floor 20 and reaching level 40, wouldn’t that become possible?
Mayo chimed in agreement.
-The user’s optimism is classified as evidence-based judgment.
-This growth represents clear progress.
Crackle— crackle—
-How beautiful. The brain’s simplification circuit, generalizing the whole from mere fragments of distorted data. This is art!!
-…You’re enjoying this state too, aren’t you. Very well. Then I shall remain as is. As is… as is… continuing. #WantToContinueInThisState
-The shield is torn, identification melted, defenses crumbled. And within that, you survived. This is a sign. Next time, you can endure even greater explosions, even more beautiful destruction.
I wasn’t greatly disappointed.
The path to becoming a great mage was always long and arduous.
My only regret was that my Shield reserves were too depleted to continue practicing.
[Exiting Tower (Seoul) Floor 4.]
“Huh?”
Rrrrip—
I heard something tearing apart.
“What’s happening?”
I’d merely exited the Tower, yet I sensed a strange disturbance.
I simply left the Tower, but I sensed a strange change.

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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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