The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 63

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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 063
A Grand Lord’s Command.
Once per year. The supreme authority issued at the national level.
It was the only power that granted legal binding force to City Lords.
There were only two circumstances under which it could be refused.
1. Orders that posed direct threats to an Awakener’s life.
2. Opposition signatures from all City Lords
This command fell into neither category.
A matter concerning scroll distribution.
Lee Byung-gyu, the Seoul Lord, had no grounds to refuse.
‘He’s digging his own grave.’
Jeon Myung-gyu’s scheming was transparent.
He intended to boost his own popularity and support through this opportunity.
It had always been this way.
He constantly calculated approval ratings and popularity, forever seeking the camera’s gaze.
That was permissible.
But the problem was that it inconvenienced the EX-Rank Awakener.
“As you well know, the Grand Lord is engaging in utterly meaningless actions.”
Recent individual rankings had shifted dramatically.
Positions 2 through 10 were London’s exclusive domain.
Ranks 11 to 20 were divided between Saudi Arabia and New York.
Using identical scrolls yet achieving such disparities meant
the difference lay not in the ‘equipment’ but in the ‘person’ wielding it.
“Having a gun doesn’t make everyone a sharpshooter.”
Moreover, the scrolls had been supplied to the Seoul Guild first.
Yet Seoul’s rankers remained outside the top 20.
“Yes, well.”
Choi Kang-mok gave it little thought.
More precisely, he paid scant attention to what the Grand Lord was doing.
‘I lack the time.’
I was already consumed by magical research and Tower climbing.
Mental energy was finite, and I could focus on only one thing.
“Guild Master, please handle it as you see fit.”
Simply organizing high-ranking spirit attributes was enough to split my skull.
Scroll distribution was beneath my concern.
But Lee Byung-gyu interpreted that indifferent response differently.
‘He won’t even involve himself?’
Daily scroll production: approximately 20 pieces.
Average profit per piece: 200 million Dia. A business moving 4 billion Dia daily.
And most of that profit flowed directly to Choi Kang-mok.
Not a word in a situation like this?
‘He’s showing me his trust.’
As Seoul’s lord, understanding the nature of an EX-Awakened was paramount.
Choi Kang-mok had always been the first to extend his trust.
‘It’s been that way from the beginning.’
He repays those who believe in him, and never betrays their faith.
The fact that he remained in Seoul when it was nothing proved it.
‘No one would simply stand by and watch four billion won slip away.’
Someone would.
A person who chooses to immerse himself in magic rather than chase money.
High-ranking spirit research has been far too captivating lately.
So much so that I forget to eat.
‘If an EX-Awakened shows me trust, I must act accordingly.’
Lee Byung-gyu made his decision.
“The Seoul Guild will purchase half of the scrolls. At a higher price than Saudi Arabia or New York.”
Emily’s assistance was essential for scroll crafting.
Therefore, we sell to London at a more modest rate.
Under these circumstances, I proposed paying more than Saudi Arabia or New York.
“And all the scrolls we purchase will be donated. We plan to distribute them directly to City Guilds across the nation.”
I didn’t want to cause Choi Kang-mok even the slightest loss.
He had trusted and supported Seoul first.
Seoul must do the same.
“A donation? Couldn’t you simply sell them for profit?”
“No. We intend to donate them. It will greatly benefit your image and that of the Seoul Guild.”
As Seoul’s lord, I resolved to do my utmost in supporting the EX-Awakened.
So that he could devote himself entirely to magic.

* * *
Jeon Myung-gyu—Player Association Chairman and Grand Lord.
Of late, he had been called by the latter title far more often.
Accolades poured down upon him.
[Player Association Chairman Celebrates Harmony and Balanced Development!]
[The Grand Lord’s Dignity—A Magnificent Decision!]
“Heh heh.”
The media had packaged him as a ‘wise leader’,
and public opinion converged on the notion that the Grand Lord’s judgment was sound.
[EX-Awakened One, Seoul Guild Donates Scrolls!]
[Seoul’s Lord: “For the Balanced Development of South Korea…”]
Though the focus of praise had shifted somewhat with the unprecedented ‘donation’ initiative, Jeon Myung-gyu was reasonably satisfied with this outcome.
He had achieved his initial objective, after all.
That was what he had believed at first.
[But why isn’t the ranking updating?]
└How would it?
└If it had, Seoul would be on the rankings too
└No matter how good the gun, accuracy is a separate matter
Lol, it doesn’t even make it into the top 100?
└At this point, shouldn’t at least a few be in there?
└Everyone except Lee Kang-nam wiped out
In reality, save for Daegu’s ranker Lee Kang-nam,
the names of Korean players were scarcely visible anywhere on the global rankings.
The city lords all clamped their mouths shut in unison.
Having received the scrolls, they had become the target of ridicule—an incompetent collective that produced nothing in return.
[I heard the profit margin on a single scroll exceeds 200 million?]
└That’s all foreign currency being earned
└The structure causes tens of billions in losses daily
└Ultimately, this policy seems to be a failure
Jeon Myung-gyu had achieved a degree of success in gaining political popularity and public support,
but the city lords’ assessment was quite different.
“Chairman, our situation is beyond salvaging.”
“Ours as well.”
They had reached a point where they could no longer hold their heads up.
“Of all things, Seoul had to be the one making the donation…”
“They’re demanding we sell them instead and at least earn foreign currency if we can’t manage this.”
Only then did Jeon Myung-gyu summon Seoul’s Lord Lee Byung-gyu with a rather sharp tone.
“Seoul’s Lord, why did you donate the scrolls without consulting anyone?”
“Did you consult with me before activating the Grand Lord’s command?”
“What?”
“I understand your predicament, but isn’t it rather petty to criticize a donation?”
“….”
Jeon Myung-gyu found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
“It seems to me that the Seoul Lord must have anticipated this situation unfolding. Am I mistaken?”
“Was I the only one who knew?”
In truth, most city lords of that caliber had foreseen it.
“Seoul was the first city to receive scrolls. Everyone watched to see what results Seoul’s players would achieve.”
Seoul’s promising talents had failed to break into the top hundred.
At best, they appeared sporadically in the latter half of the rankings.
“Everyone already knew. Receiving scrolls alone wasn’t enough.”
“….”
The lords fell silent.
Lee Byung-gyu’s words were true.
Yet they had accepted the scrolls regardless.
As if grasping at lottery tickets, they had thrust scrolls into the hands of their promising talents.
And when the moment came to ask for results, no one could answer.
Lee Byung-gyu’s gaze fixed upon Jeon Myung-gyu.
“If you didn’t know this, then the Grand Lord is incompetent.”
Jeon Myung-gyu’s face flushed crimson with rage.
Lee Byung-gyu continued speaking.
“And complaints are erupting from Saudi Arabia and New York.”
London, which had received priority scroll distribution, fared somewhat better.
London, which had received priority scroll distribution, remained relatively quiet,
but Saudi Arabia and New York had not received their promised allocations.
The responsibility naturally fell upon Jeon Myung-gyu, who had issued the Grand Lord’s decree.
“And?”
“I’m simply informing you.”
I thought silently to myself.
‘Globalization has begun, you fool.’
The Tower Civilization 1.0 era had already passed.
Now came Tower Civilization 2.0,
an age of global connection rather than domestic dominance was dawning.
Yet Jeon Myung-gyu still lived within the laws and order of a bygone era.
Jeon Myung-gyu spoke with somewhat forceful authority.
“Tell the EX-Awakened to create better scrolls.”

* * *
The layers where EX Coins were mined had expanded to twenty-five.
Moreover, EX Coins were now being extracted from the old Busan Tower and transmitted to the Seoul Guild.
The supply and demand of EX Coins had become quite abundant.
This meant that a large-scale upgrade of Mayo had become possible.
[Space]/[Defense]/[Security]/[Convenience]
Mayo had grown comprehensively across all fronts.
───────
[Space]
1. Domain: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
2. Additional Territory: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
3. Territory Storage: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
───────
After unlocking ‘Additional Territory’, the newly created function was ‘Territory Storage’.
This was a feature that fixed and maintained designated Pocket Dimension territories for a set duration.
During scroll crafting, it proved to be an exceptionally useful effect.
For reference, the Seoul Guild Headquarters also had its territory stored in this manner.
Now the Seoul Guild building had become a structure directly protected by the Pocket Dimension ‘Mayo’,
and as a result, security personnel became entirely unnecessary.
The monthly fee was three hundred million.
Choi Kang-mok pocketed a tidy profit,
and the Seoul Guild could reallocate its personnel toward training and tower climbing.
By any measure, it was a perfect win-win.
Next came defense.
───────
[Defense]
1. Shield: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
2. Interception: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
3. Origin Strike: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
───────
Originally, Mayo could only intercept ‘attacks’ directed at the Pocket Dimension itself.
When magical attacks approached, it would intercept only the magic.
However, now it could even include the mages who wielded magical attacks within its interception range.
───────
[Security]
1. Eavesdropping Detection: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
2. Friend-or-Foe Identification: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
3. Tracking: 10 (Maximum Level Reached)
───────
Most of the functions had reached their maximum levels.
When I tried to raise my level further,
[You have reached your growth limit.]
[A special ‘condition’ is required to break through your growth limit.]
such a notification appeared.
I still had no idea what this ‘special condition’ might be.
“Well then, now would be the right time to invest in convenience.”
I decided to unlock [Convenience], which I had been putting off until now.
[Unlocking ‘Convenience’.]
[Subcategories for ‘Convenience’ are being created.]
───────
[Convenience]
1. Cleaning: 0 (+)
2. -(Locked)
───────
My EX Coins were abundant.
I invested without hesitation.
───────
[Convenience]
1. Cleaning: 10 (Limit Level Reached)
2. Organization: 10 (Limit Level Reached)
3. Waste Sorting: 10 (Limit Level Reached)
───────
–
If we were to express it in Earth terms,
it would be comparable to a first-class son-in-law candidate, so to speak.
-Setting aside its meaning, I quite like the sound of it 🙂
In any case, the ‘Convenience’ function demonstrated revolutionary performance in daily life.
This was far more than a simple function—it deserved to be called a divine power.
‘Cleaning’ was exactly as its name suggested.
It rendered all dust, foreign particles, and impurities within an area spotlessly clean.
Incidentally, Seoul Guild requested that I limit my use of this function.
They wanted to preserve employment for their cleaning staff.
“Wow….”
Choi Kang-mok let out a light exclamation.
The suddenly immaculate surroundings felt more powerful to the senses than any other ability I possessed.
‘Organization’ was even more remarkable.
Some people do pay money for organization services, after all.
-But Mayo here could be called a master of organization.
Mayo arranged every last piece of clutter within the Pocket Dimension in a remarkably efficient manner.
Truly, she deserved to be called an absolute authority in the realm of organization.
“You no longer need to leave the house for waste sorting, Master.”
– 🙂
Belying its name, all the scraps and refuse left behind from organizing were instantly reduced to nothingness right where they lay.
“From now on, please call Mayo the ‘Earth Guardian’ :)”
#WasteSortingMaster #EcoMayo #OneMeterBrushstroke
“I really should have invested in this sooner…”
My quality of life had skyrocketed.
Mayo’s self-introduction as a “one-meter brushstroke” (I still had no idea where that term came from) was remarkably accurate.
Watching Kang Hye roll around on the floor of the An House, rubbing her eyes in amazement, Choi Kang-mok felt a subtle sense of pride.
‘Wait, hold on?’
A thought suddenly crossed my mind.

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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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