The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 5

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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 005
“I’ll go myself—no, wait, that won’t work.”
Everyone had their eyes on the EX seat.
If a lord moved directly, it would draw attention.
“Send a capable agent from the mid-level ranks—someone competent but inconspicuous.”
“Should we share information with the Player Association?”
The Player Association.
An organization led by a Grand Lord who unified and managed the lords of each region.
If a lord was like a regional guild master based on the Tower, then a Grand Lord was essentially the guild master of all Korea.
“No.”
For now, it was better to trust no one.
This was an EX-Rank Awakening, after all.
No one could remain unmoved with an EX-Rank prize within reach.
Personally, Lee Byung-gyu disliked the Player Association.
“There is a suitable candidate.”
“A suitable candidate?”
“He shares blood relations with Choi Kang-mok. More precisely, he is his older brother.”

* * *
Choi Kang-chul, ace of the Scout Department and section chief.
The moment the assignment came down, he reflexively opened the file.
‘A faint Awakening response near Seoul Tower?’
Could it really be a re-awakening?
The probability was low, but it couldn’t be completely ruled out.
My body trembled.
‘If it’s true, then fortune has finally smiled on Kang-mok.’
I had witnessed my younger brother’s past fifteen years firsthand.
Dreams shattered into fragments, a lonely existence, a heavy reality.
And every time, that face gritting its teeth to endure.
My younger brother’s fifteen years had been hell.
‘They said he’s the only one on Earth.’
The sole EX-Rank Awakened One in existence.
For another EX-Rank to be born, the existing EX-Rank Awakened One would have to die.
‘If it’s true, then Kang-mok is in danger.’
I had to meet my younger brother immediately.
“Ah, hyung. It’s been a while.”
It was awkward.
Whenever we met alone, the atmosphere was always like this.
Without our youngest, Kang Hye, the conversation always felt like it was breaking down.
“Right. I was actually about to call you.”
“Why?”
“To repay the debt.”
“Debt?”
“Yeah. You lent me ten million won back then.”
“…Ah.”
It wasn’t just money he’d lent.
Choi Kang-chul had even vouched for me with the landlord, who was reluctant to rent to an Unawakened.
“You can pay it back slowly.”
“I have the money now.”
Choi Kang-chul was certain.
An Unawakened suddenly coming into money?
Realistically, it was either the lottery or an Awakening.
“You, right?”
“What?”
He didn’t ask further.
Certainty alone was enough.
“Thank goodness it’s Seoul.”
“Hm?”
“The Radars are already estimating your re-Awakening.”
“Already?”
“We’ve already collected and erased all CCTV footage and dashcam recordings containing your image.”
His words about being fortunate it was Seoul weren’t mere pleasantries.
It would take considerable time for the other Lords to identify me.
At least here, within the Seoul Tower Zone, the situation favored the Seoul Guild most.
“We can buy quite a bit of time.”
“The Seoul Guild really does their job well?”
I hadn’t expected much from them, given their lowest Tower rankings.
But their administrative capabilities seemed solid.
Choi Kang-chul didn’t directly ask if I was an EX-Rank.
I didn’t volunteer the information either.
We didn’t need to say it—we already understood. We always had.
Choi Kang-chul spoke.
“The global announcement. You understand what it means, right?”
“Of course.”
It was a dangerously significant announcement for me.
Choi Kang-chul weighed and calculated many possibilities.
Should I immediately join the Seoul Guild and receive their protection?
Or should I keep it secret for now and build my strength?
‘What’s more advantageous for Kang-mok? What’s safer?’
Could the Seoul Guild truly be trusted?
What about the other Lords?
There was no answer.
“Have you thought about joining a guild?”
By joining a guild, I could receive their full support.
In exchange for pledging loyalty to a Lord, I could even receive the Lord’s buffs.
If I joined the Seoul Guild, the Seoul Tower rewards would be amplified as well.
“Not really. Magic itself is just too fun right now.”
“I figured as much.”
Choi Kang-chul knew his younger brother well.
He was probably obsessed with magic alone.
After holding back for fifteen years, it wasn’t strange for his desires to explode like this.
“I haven’t decided yet. Wouldn’t it be better for me to join the Seoul Guild from your perspective?”
“Let’s not join for now.”
“Huh?”
Guild membership had many advantages.
Equipment support, artifacts, mana stones, even magical research funding.
But there was just as much that came with it inevitably.
For instance, mandatory dungeon climbs with a 22% mortality rate.
“Isn’t that dereliction of duty? You’re in charge of the Scout Department.”
“Your safety comes first.”
Of course, eventually I’d have to contract with someone.
As a high-ranking mage, I’d need to consider equipment costs, material expenses, and assistant salaries.
I couldn’t do it alone. No matter how talented, my wallet would die first.
“It doesn’t matter who with. When the time comes to contract, let’s do it on the best possible terms. Build up your market value.”
Two consecutive EX-Rank clears.
What if it became three? What if it became four?
My market value would skyrocket exponentially.
Then it wouldn’t be about overwhelming them with damage—it would be about overwhelming them with salary demands.
“Won’t you get in trouble for coming back empty-handed?”
“Not really.”
I hadn’t even heard the term “EX-Rank seat.”
I hadn’t heard anything about specific abilities.
I’d only confirmed my “re-awakening.”
Right now, the Seoul Guild was in chaos meeting countless “EX-Rank candidates.”
After a moment of awkward silence, Choi Kang-chul continued.
“I trust you’ll do well on your own, but…”
“…”
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Fifteen years ago came flooding back.
My younger brother, barely clinging to life.
My younger brother, who had fallen from that great height and lay collapsed.
“Yeah.”
“I’m heading out.”
“Hey, hyung. Next time let’s grab a meal with Kang Hye.”
“Sure.”
Even in death, he wouldn’t suggest the two of us eating alone.
When all three siblings gathered, things felt natural.
He liked me well enough, but just the two of us felt a bit awkward.
After my brother left.
I stroked my chin thoughtfully. “Hmm.”
“For now, I should focus on personal growth.”

* * *
[Using ‘Tower Entry’.]
[You have entered Floor 3 of Seoul Tower.]
[Current Level: 3]
Floor 3 of the tutorial section.
The keyword for Floor 3 was ‘Take the hit!’
[Challenge: Survive the giant saw blade for 60 minutes.]
[You may exit at any time using the ‘Exit’ command.]
[60:00]
A giant saw blade materialized.
It rolled slowly toward me.
But the moment of impact would be swift.
Even an elementary school student could dodge it easily, yet my perspective differed slightly.
High-level dealers cleared Floor 3 by destroying the saw blade.
Though without a first-time clear, they wouldn’t receive a rank certification.
‘Can I destroy that thing?’
[Using skill, Energy Bolt (S).]
I fired magic toward the giant saw blade.
‘Surely not.’
Even so, I was only level 3.
To destroy a giant saw blade, a dealer-class player needed to be level 70 or higher and pound away at it seriously.
‘Really?’
I opened my eyes wide and observed the situation.
Crack!
With a burst of light, the giant saw blade exploded.
[The giant saw blade has been destroyed.]
But that wasn’t the end.
“Cough!”
Fragments scattered in all directions.
The debris from the rapidly spinning saw blade hurtled toward me at a speed beyond imagination.
“The velocity is insane.”
I had anticipated the danger beforehand.
The probability of fragments, the trajectory of debris when the blade shattered—all of it.
Theoretically, I had accounted for the situation to some degree.
But the reality felt different from my calculations.
Still, I was fortunate.
Because I’d braced myself in advance, my reaction was slightly faster.
By sheer luck, it only grazed me lightly, but the consequences were far from light.
My arm had broken.
‘Just a graze, and my arm snapped.’
Excruciating pain flooded through me.
My left arm was completely destroyed.
As my arm hung uselessly, I still managed to grasp one thing.
‘If I controlled the collision angle more precisely, I could deliberately guide the direction of the fragments?’
The thought alone was exhilarating.
I’d have to try it on the next attempt.
I set aside my dangling left arm for now.
With my right hand, I formed a seal and decided to use Energy Bolt.
‘Penetration attribute is essential for my Energy Bolt now.’
If I could make the Energy Bolt pierce through like a bullet?
I could destroy it relatively safely.
Attribute infusion.
My nostrils flared with excitement.
“Let’s see. To infuse penetration attribute into Energy Bolt…!”
I continuously visualized a penetrating Energy Bolt in my mind.
I’m getting the hang of it!
‘Regenerate quickly!’
According to guides written by high-level players, the colossal saw blade regenerates a total of seven times.
I’d destroyed it once, leaving six remaining.
I still had opportunities ahead.
On the verge of grasping the technique. A critical moment!
The moment of enlightenment was drawing near.
[Floor 3: Damage threshold exceeded.]
[The colossal saw blade will no longer regenerate.]
“Huh?”
[Congratulations!]
[Floor 3 cleared with EX-Rank rating!]
The opportunity had ended.
“…That’s good.”
I’d cleared an EX-Rank dungeon.
Everything went according to plan.

* * *
Tower, 3rd Floor.
Korea’s unshakeable number one in the Hall of Fame was currently Lee Kang-nam, the representative tank of the Daegu Guild.
Using a unique ‘provocation’ method, he’d accelerated the massive saw blades and deliberately accumulated damage while achieving survival.
He’d accomplished Korea’s sole SSS-Rank clear of the 3rd Floor.
It was a rank that barely existed even on the global stage.
As he gnawed at his index fingernail, the robust pectoral muscles across his chest rippled.
“Surely not, right?”
Lee Kang-nam was the ace that the Daegu Guild took pride in.
“He’s supposed to be a dealer, so clearing the 3rd Floor as EX doesn’t make sense.”
Yet that impossible thing had actually happened.
“Another EX?”
He’d been pushed down to second place in the 3rd Floor rankings.
After a long moment, his senses returned.
“What shameless bastard is this?”
I could tolerate the 1st and 2nd Floors. (Lee Kang-nam isn’t first on those floors anyway.)
But taking all the way to the 3rd Floor? That’s crossing a line.
“Lord, find this bastard for me.”
“That’s not as easy as it sounds.”
Identity verification itself was impossible from the start.
Even the Seoul Lord couldn’t find them.
“I’m going to Seoul.”
“Why would you?”
“I don’t know. Just a hunch.”
“So why are you going?”
“It’s irritating.”
“….”
After that, Lee Kang-nam lowered his voice.
“I’ll hire explorers in Seoul and find them myself. I need to see with my own eyes just how impressive this bastard is.”
“….”
“Isn’t that what you want too, Lord?”
“….”
“A prospect of that caliber means we need to recruit them ourselves.”
Eight guilds were already moving behind the scenes.
An information war to secure the EX-Rank seat.
And simultaneously, an assassination war.
“Whoever gets their hands on treasure first claims it.”
The problem was Seoul.
The Daegu Guild and Seoul Guild maintained friendly relations.
If an official Scout Department member made a move, it would invite misunderstanding.
“Me going there is fine. I’m not a scout, and there’s no official pretext anyway. A personal grievance from someone who lost first place on Floor 3? That’s justification enough.”
Publicly, he was a madman who assaulted even lords.
A true alpha male with muscles for brains—Lee Kang-nam.
That was Lee Kang-nam’s image.
Lee Kang-nam came to Seoul in a rage? Yeah, that tracks. He’s capable of it.
“…I’m counting on you, Han-yul.”
“Hey. My name is Kang-nam, I’m telling you.”
His real name was Han-yul.
But he’d changed it to Lee Kang-nam because he wanted to sound stronger.
The alpha male Lee Kang-nam boarded the KTX.
‘Recruitment is one thing, but monopolizing first place crossed a line.’
“Still, I think I’ll need to give him a good punch later.”
Maybe once we get closer, it’ll be acceptable?

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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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