The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 72

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————

The Return of an EX-Rank Mage Episode 072
Lee Byung-gyu witnessed it firsthand.
The entry mechanic was truly disabled.
It was hard to believe.
But there was no time to be amazed.
‘What’s the next step?’
Twenty Gates in total.
Only roughly twenty hours remained.
Clearing them all would be a gamble.
What was needed now was cold calculation and focus.
“Based on damage prediction data, we should prioritize Gates analyzed as having significant human and material casualties….”
There was no need for that!
[!South Korea Announcement!]
[■■ Gate ▶▶▶ Mining Gate Conversion Complete]
[The Gate Break deadline for the Mining Gate has ended.]
A Vice-Lord collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
“W-we’re alive.”
[Breaking News: Seoul Guild, Timer Deactivation Successful]
[Breaking News: Gate Break Completely Nullified]
Seoul citizens were swept up in a festive atmosphere.
The Seoul Guild, known as the central force in resolving this crisis, also felt the excitement rising.
However, Lee Byung-gyu could not simply rejoice.
‘We didn’t do anything!’
This was not the time to celebrate ordinarily.
‘Entry mechanic disabled. All timers stopped simultaneously. That was the EX-rank Awakener’s work.’
Now was when the Seoul Guild had to fulfill its true role.
‘High-purity clearing is what matters.’
Such was the nature of Mining Gates.
Depending on how the initial exploration and clearing were conducted, the grade, quantity, and value of the mined resources would be determined.
“Mining Gates are known to place great importance on initial exploration and clearing.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Fortunately, Seoul has experts specializing in Mining Gates.”
Lee Byung-gyu’s eyes sparkled.
Finally, it was time for the Seoul Guild to shine.
‘If necessary, we’ll bring in Incheon and request assistance from Saudi Arabia.’
By any means necessary.
He was now prepared to pull an all-nighter.
“I think I can just clear it myself, though?”
“Pardon?”
All the all-night planning, all the international cooperation.
All preparations became unnecessary.

* * *
Unlike the Tower, which followed relatively standardized patterns, Gates possessed far greater variability.
Consequently, conquest strategies varied widely, but this mining Gate proved remarkably straightforward.
[Please select the type of mine.]
[Upon selection completion, the Gate will automatically clear and the mine type will be confirmed.]
───────
1. Gold Mine.
2. Blue Diamond Mine.
3. Novaite Mine.
4. Luminite Mine.
…
───────
Without question, what captured my attention was ‘Novaite’.
‘That’s something you can’t obtain even with money.’
Ever since the Beijing Guild began controlling supply, it had become difficult to acquire.
Yet Novaite was essential for Emily’s scrolls.
‘I must continue producing them. Eventually, I’ll incorporate high-tier spirits into scrolls as well.’
It was no exaggeration to say that the perfection of magic lay in scroll creation.
One day, I would inscribe even high-tier spirits onto scrolls.
For that purpose, scroll production had to continue.
Novaite was ultimately a resource I absolutely had to secure.
“Novaite Mine.”
Would it actually clear?
[Novaite Mine has been selected.]
[The Gate has been cleared.]
It actually did.
Lee Byung-gyu’s face grew slightly gaunt.
His self-awareness as Seoul’s lord evaporated in an instant.
‘I accomplished nothing again.’
Gangnam.
This was where the largest damage was anticipated.
Then what came next?
‘Determine appropriate priorities based on damage scale to minimize casualties….’
[All ■■ Gates will be corrected to Novaite Mine Gates.]
[Stabilization work has been completed.]
The damage had already been minimized.
A personal notification followed for me.
[The designation of ■■ Key will be changed to Mine Lord’s Key.]
───────
[Minemaster’s Key]
A key symbolizing ownership of the Novaite Mine.
Of the Novaite extracted from the mine,
___
% is collected as tribute.
(However, tribute collection ceases if the inventory is full.)
───────
[Breaking News: Seoul transforms from resource crisis to global resource powerhouse!]
[Breaking News: South Korea enters a new era as a mineral exporting nation!]
Aside from what Emily uses for scroll crafting, Novaite is currently restricted to limited medical applications.
Research has been conducted, but countless technologies remain commercialized.
The reason is simple—it’s far too expensive right now.
But what if mining output increases sufficiently?
[Novaite emits energy at specific wavelengths, promoting cellular regeneration!]
[Radioactive materials and toxic waste decomposition capabilities are exceptional…]
Multifaceted applications become possible.
[Environmental groups: “Novaite will be a game-changer for improving Earth’s environment”]
[Medical community: “Proving potential for accelerated recovery and cellular regeneration”]
A resource revolution originating from Seoul.
People from all walks of life were captivated.
[Breaking News: Minemaster identified as ‘-‘ EX-rank Awakener. What’s the tribute ratio?]
People were ecstatic.
[Is this really happening? We’re actually a resource-rich nation?]
└Patience truly pays off. This is actually working
└I thought our ancestors got scammed on real estate, but apparently not
Incheon did have mining gates, but they were only for domestic consumption.
The output fell far short of what was needed to establish itself as a global exporting nation.
[Isn’t this the first time a mine has been individually owned by the system?]
└That’s right. And there are twenty of them.
└Individually owned mines? That’s insane?
└Korean trait: hype first, ask questions later
If we cut corners like that, it’d probably end up being just some dingy neighborhood convenience store lol
[Exclusive: The Gangnam mine is four times the size of the Beijing mine!]
└Wow, that neighborhood shop is massive
└Four times Beijing’s?
└And there are like twenty of these?
└The largest Novaite mine in existence
Players from the Incheon Guild began requesting transfers to Seoul.
Mining-class Awakeners from Saudi Arabia, London, and New York also flocked in to harvest Novaite.
Even foreign miners who could enter the country all purchased tickets and chose Seoul.
[Thank goodness the borders are only half-open.]
└If they were fully open, Seoul would’ve been completely overrun.
└I’ve never felt anxious about too many foreigners in my entire life until now.
In such cases, security often became a problem.
Indeed, many nations with open borders were experiencing chaos.
But Korea was different.
From the start, only Awakeners carefully vetted and filtered by London, New York, and Saudi Arabia entered the country, so the potential for trouble was minimal.
Those who entered dreaming of the Korean Dream rarely caused incidents.
[Where are those expert analysts who said security would collapse when foreigners arrived?]
└That was nonsense. Seoul’s economy is running like crazy right now.
└GDP is climbing in real-time.
└The country’s really running smoothly (not being sarcastic).
Seoul erupted in celebration.
Massive foreign currency flowed in, and incalculable economic ripple effects spread throughout the nation.
[The EX-rank Awakener effect is absolutely insane.]
└You can literally watch the country getting richer in real-time.
└This was all done by that one EX-rank Awakener, right?
└Now we’ve even become a rare mineral resource nation lol.
└That’s class.
[???: I thought EX-rank Awakeners could only operate in the Tower?]
└Where did all those guys who said they were only powerful in the Tower go?
└I solo cleared the Gate.
└Watching those proof-obsessed fools shut their mouths is disgusting lol.
The nation stirred, and the domestic economy spiraled upward.
But the Seoul Guild couldn’t even smile.
The Tower, the Golden Labyrinth, and on top of that, the mines.
The explosive influx of population left them critically short-staffed.
It was then that a figure appeared, like any other hero.
The head of the EX Salvation Corps and the real power behind the Boddari Union.
Kim Chul-in. He made his move.
“Mine management, Gate operations, distribution oversight—I’m prepared to bring maximum profit to the Seoul Guild.”
Lee Byung-gyu blinked.
“What’s your price?”
“There is none. Seoul must become wealthy and powerful.”
“Why is that?”
“So we can properly support the EX-rank Awakener.”
“Why would you go so far….”
“Most of the Boddari owe their humanity to the EX-rank Awakener’s salvation.”
The EX-rank Awakener had opened a new world.
“Now it’s time to repay the favor.”
That was what it meant to be human.
Kim Chul-in believed this with absolute conviction.
“But, Lord of Seoul…”
“Yes?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Kim Chul-in trailed off mid-sentence.
Yet Lee Byung-gyu’s ears caught the unspoken words: ‘What is the Seoul Guild doing? Live up to the honor you’ve been given.’
“Through this, we intend to pioneer new distribution channels and maximize our influence. Our goal is to dominate the global supply network. Consider it an investment toward that end.”
Kim Chul-in’s ambition had a clear purpose behind it.
“Because it will benefit the EX-rank Awakener. We’ve received intelligence that the failure to secure Novaeite this time has disrupted the EX-rank Awakener’s schedule.”
As the leader of the EX Salvation Corps, Kim Chul-in could not tolerate such a situation.
If the Seoul Guild wouldn’t act, the Boddari Union would.
No one would be allowed to hinder the EX-rank Awakener’s path.
In the end, Kim Chul-in could no longer hold back and spoke his mind.
“The Seoul Guild must also… step up to the plate.”
Kim Chul-in, who had restrained himself until now, finally lost control.
“Interpreting dungeons, clearing them, elevating the Guild’s status, earning foreign currency—I’m concerned that one person alone is bearing far too great a burden, my lord.”
“….”
And then came the decisive blow.
“By the way, according to our intelligence, Beijing Guild and Real Madrid have made contact.”
The Boddari Union, with footholds across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, was expanding its reach across the globe.
Their intelligence network was growing exponentially.
“The Novaeite supply control appears to be orchestrated by Real Madrid’s side.”
“We’ve reached the same conclusion. However… we lack concrete evidence.”
“We’ll investigate that evidence as far as our reach allows.”
And at that same moment.
Within the Beijing Guild, internal conflict was brewing between the pro-EX faction and the anti-EX faction.

—————

This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

—————