The Return of the EX-Class Wizard - Chapter 73

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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 073
The pro-EX faction raised their voices.
“We’ve only managed to earn the resentment of the EX-Rank Awakener.”
“We’ve squandered the opportunity to dispatch our miners to the Novaeite Mine.”
“When it comes to the Novaeite Mine, don’t we possess the world’s finest personnel and technology?”
Yet the anti-EX faction was equally formidable.
“The cooperation was already finished from the start.”
“Once we joined hands with Real Madrid, our path was already determined.”
“Why should we concern ourselves with Korea, or worse, a single individual? We are Beijing.”
The word “Beijing” carried weight.
It was pride—the pride of the Middle Kingdom. A palpable tension hung in the air.
In that moment, a fragment of intelligence fell into the conference room.
“An individual presumed to be an EX-Rank Awakener specifically selected the Novaeite Mine from among several options.”
Instantly, the temperature in the conference room dropped noticeably.
“…So they’re aware of us as well.”
“They intend to use the Novaeite Mine as leverage to pressure us.”
“A calculated move. A meticulous strategist.”
No.
I simply needed scroll materials.
“From the EX-Rank Awakener’s perspective, it’s only natural to view Beijing as a threat.”
“It’s a hostile declaration that they’ll walk a different path than us.”
No!
You weren’t even on my mind.
“Continuing to discuss cooperation in such circumstances makes no sense.
Now is the time to discuss countermeasures.”
Silence fell over the conference room once more.
And at that very moment.
A piece of news from Korea arrived.

* * *
Seoul Guild Headquarters.
Choi Kang-mok sat in his room, staring at a newly appeared notification window.
───────
[Mine Master’s Key]
A key symbolizing ownership of the Novaeite Mine.
Receive a percentage of the Novaeite
___
% extracted from the mine.
(However, if your inventory is full, collection stops.)
───────
“Collection stops if the inventory is full?”
Thousands—perhaps tens of thousands—of mining-class Awakeners continuously poured into the Gate.
Even at minimum rates, the inventory would fill quickly.
“Minimum rate.”
───────
[Mine Master’s Key]
A key symbolizing ownership of the Novaeite Mine.
Receive 1%
of the Novaeite
extracted from the mine.
(However, if your inventory is full, collection stops.)
───────
The news struck the entire world.
Especially for the Beijing Guild, which operated the same mine, the blow was severe.
[Beijing takes 80%?]
└And Seoul takes 1%? What, is this a charity organization?
└This is genuinely insane
└I’m seriously preparing to immigrate
└”How to enter Korea” became the #1 search term and got deleted immediately lol
[80% is unconscionable, isn’t it?]
└What are you talking about, that was always standard. Back then they were just wage workers
└At least now they get 20% and still work
└Saudi Arabia takes 100% lol
└But Saudi Arabia’s wages are stronger than most Tower guilds anyway
└Beijing even cut wages this month
The public sentiment was absolutely devastating.
Beijing had to enter emergency response meetings immediately.
“They’re clearly targeting us.”
“They’ve zeroed in on our system.”
A decidedly political maneuver.
Their suspicion had crystallized into certainty.
The pro-EX faction retreated, and the anti-EX faction seized the floor.
“Choi Kang-mok is a man to be feared.”
“He’s methodically following procedures to crush us beneath his heel.”
There was no other choice now.
We had to join hands with Real Madrid.

* * *
The Seoul Guild was acting as the representative of the EX Awakened One.
Lee Byung-gyu made it official.
“This mining incident is the event that best exemplifies the EX Awakened One’s convictions.”
Semi-Awakened Ones.
Those once derided as “inventory-system NPCs” had evolved into the Boddari Union, which now moved the world’s distribution networks.
Next came the miners’ turn.
“The minimum royalty rate for mining Gates is a declaration of sorts, guaranteeing the share of the weak.”
The EX Awakened One extended his hand first to the marginalized.
That single gesture resonated throughout society.
Enrollment in the EX Salvation Corps skyrocketed, and public favor toward the EX Awakened One shattered the ceiling.
“Perhaps this is the world he dreams of.”
Lee Byung-gyu continued his address.
“Seoul—no, South Korea is becoming the world’s platform. The fastest distribution network on Earth, the most exceptional Tower climbing, the sole Golden Labyrinth, and the place where the most Awakened Ones gather.”
People, resources, information.
Everything was converging here now.
Lee Byung-gyu understood the beginning and end of all these currents intimately.
This was not the Seoul Guild’s achievement.
It was the EX Awakened One’s. An individual’s accomplishment.
“The Seoul Guild actively supports and endorses this individual’s convictions.”
Choi Kang-mok, watching the interview video on his phone, sucked on his straw.
The iced Americano was refreshing.
“Did I really harbor such grand aspirations?”
Social underdogs? A global platform?
Well, I didn’t particularly have such intentions.
“Hearing it now, it doesn’t sound bad.”
There was nothing wrong with it.
I felt no pressing need to concern myself with politics.
A mage just needs to excel at magic.
All I had to do was focus on Tower climbing and spellcraft.
And there was nothing wrong with having high public support either.
“Maybe I should head into the 31st Floor soon.”
While party play is possible, I’ve determined that solo play would be more advantageous for now.
One careless mistake and I could end up shooting an ally to death.
[Entry to Seoul Tower 31st Floor has failed.]
“Hm?”
A lock-shaped icon appeared before my eyes.
It meant that unlocking was necessary.
[Tower entry is not possible.]
[You must satisfy specific conditions.]
“What is this?”
I called Kang Hye and asked, and she provided the answer.

* * *
Fortunately, it didn’t take long to uncover the identity of these ‘specific conditions’.
“The London Sovereign said he had something to tell you anyway.”
“The London Sovereign?”
“Yeah. Check your system mail. Didn’t you get anything?”
“Oh, I did.”
I skimmed through the message.
[※If designated as a Labyrinth Master, restrictions will be imposed on Tower climbing.]
It was a short and simple sentence, but it struck at the core of the matter precisely.
The London Labyrinth belonged to the London Guild.
The message stated that its master and current Labyrinth Master, the ‘London Sovereign’, was subject to the exact same conditions.
[From the 31st Floor onward, the Labyrinth must also be cleared before Tower entry is possible. If the same system settings apply to you as they do to me, then Labyrinth clearance must take precedence.]
The linkage operates in units of ’10’.
Clearing Labyrinth Stage 30 enables access to Tower Floors 30-39.
Clearing Labyrinth Stage 40 enables access to Tower Floors 40-49, and so forth.
“Hmm.”
This had become somewhat troublesome.
The Tower could be entered from anywhere, but the Labyrinth required me to physically travel to it.
‘No matter how exposed my identity has become…’
That didn’t mean I needed to expose myself further by acting openly.
‘Is there no way around this?’

* * *
Choi Kang-mok, who had been briefly deliberating over the matter of entering the Labyrinth, shook his head.
“I should focus on what I can do right now.”
“You’re planning to craft talismans, aren’t you?”
“Yeah.”
It was July 7th.
This day was also when countless Awakeners synthesized various items.
The so-called day of crafting, synthesis, and enhancement.
Though there was no scientific basis for it, rumors circulated that fortune favored synthesis and enhancement on this day.
Choi Kang-mok retrieved a talisman fragment.
The moment he pulled it out, a notification followed.
[Your inventory is full.]
“Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?”
“The Novaeite tributes are piling up too much.”
It was a funny thing to say, but he meant it sincerely.
Despite only a 1% collection rate, his inventory had filled up like crazy.
At this rate, I couldn’t store anything else.
I might even miss out on rewards that get sent to the inventory.
Lately, it was a rare problem—”rich man’s stress.”
‘I need to find a proper solution for this too.’
For now, I decided to synthesize the talisman fragments.
[Talisman fragments are being synthesized.]
“Please be a good talisman!”
Kang Hye also clasped her hands in prayer.
“Please give us something good!”
Soon the synthesis was complete.
Choi Kang-mok’s eyes narrowed.
‘Please!’
───────
[Replica Talisman]
Grade: EX
Copies and uses your own skills.
───────
“….”
“What, what came out?”
“A material.”
“Ah, but what kind? Don’t tell me….”
“Replica.”
“….”
My disappointment was as great as my expectations had been.
Duplication Talisman.
It was called EX-rank, but in substance, it was nothing more than ‘Skill Book material’—nothing less, nothing more.
What was so good about duplicating my own skills?
I already possessed them anyway.
Kang Hye blinked her eyes rapidly.
“Wait, today is July 7th, right? The lucky day?”
“….”
“How could my brother be such a failure? This can’t be right?”
“It can be.”
In any case, the Duplication Talisman had dropped.
For the first time in ages, it was a disappointing day.
‘Wait.’
This wasn’t the time to wallow in disappointment.
A theoretical approach had just occurred to me.
“If I express duplication as a function…”
“You lunatic. Why would you express it as a function!”
“The domain, the codomain, the operational structure—they all match. It’s literally a worthless repetition of F(x)=f'(x).”
“….”
Kang Hye fell silent.
My monologue time—after fifteen years of learning this alien language from my brother.
She decided to just listen.
“By applying minor topological perturbations or parameter substitutions, I can alter the output values. It’s not mere duplication but transformation into derivative magic. You could say it’s an expansion into a neighborhood function family within function space.”
“You’re talking about modifying the magic.”
“Topologically speaking, it’s a subtle positional shift within the same magical system. From a vector field perspective, it’s a projection in a different direction.”
“East Sea waters and~ Mount Baekdu shall~ wear away and crumble~”
“What if I could perform a modified duplication by converting the structural formula of Entry-class magic into a Labyrinth-phase topology? And conveniently, I have a master craftsman beside me who excels at creation and understands me deeply.”
“So you’re saying you’ll transform and duplicate Tower Entry into Labyrinth Entry to create a [Labyrinth Entry Skill Book]? And you’re asking Emily to handle the Skill Book creation.”
Choi Kang-mok smiled wryly.
“The Duplication Talisman wasn’t garbage—it was a numerical stepping stone for designing derivative magic structures.”
It was absolutely worth attempting.
Everything was proceeding according to plan.

* * *
A Novaeite Mine had appeared in Korea.
A dream mine boasting an impressive yield rate of 1%.
The miners erupted in joyous cheers, genuinely crying out the Korean Dream.
And there was one person who joined that cheering with extraordinary enthusiasm.
“Novaeite! It’s Novaeite!”
It was Emily, dispatched from England.
Emily cradled the Novaeite in her arms and chuckled with delight.
She sniffed at the fist-sized Novaeite, inhaling its scent deeply.
“This is paradise!”
She had always been an excessive consumer of Novaeite.
Every time she crafted, she wanted to add more and more, endlessly—a desire she’d had to suppress with all her might.
Materials were always scarce, preventing me from demonstrating my true abilities, but now those shackles were broken.
“I couldn’t show my real skills because I had to be so stingy with it!”
Then a commission came her way.
“A commission from EX?”
Emily’s eyes sparkled.
As a member of the EX Salvation Corps, this was top priority.
“An EX-Rank Duplicate Talisman?! You’re going to grind it up as material?!”
Emily was immediately guided by Christine to the Seoul Guild Headquarters.
The moment she stepped through the door, she dropped to her knees in the middle of the living room.
“Long live! Long live! Long, long live!”
“….”
Choi Kang-mok and Choi Kang-chul fell silent simultaneously.
At the unfamiliar greeting, they merely exchanged a subtle glance.
Had the translation pendant malfunctioned?
“I was taught that respect, admiration, and reverence are expressed this way!”
She had learned Korean etiquette in a rather peculiar manner.
In any case, Emily’s greeting was quite elaborate.
“I am Emily, Crafting Executive of the EX Salvation Corps. It is an honor to meet you, Leader!”
Christine nudged her in the ribs.
“Could you introduce yourself as a Master Craftsman of the London Guild instead?”
“That? That’s just a side job.”
Emily adjusted her glasses and spoke seriously.
“That’s merely a secondary occupation.”
She paused for a beat, then made her declaration.
“My primary identity is as a Crafting Executive of the EX Salvation Corps. Remember that well, you London sorcerer.”

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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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