During his break, Seong-jun looked for a house and bought a car.
For now, the house was a newly built 30-pyeong apartment; since it was vacant, he could move in at any time.
However, he decided to move in three months later to allow for remodeling.
The car was a domestic SUV.
Fortunately, there was a brand-new, full-option vehicle at the dealership whose contract had been canceled, so he was able to drive it off the lot as soon as he signed the paperwork.
And now, he had arrived at his uncle’s house in his newly purchased car.
“Oh! Is this the new car? It’s nice. Is our Seong-jun finally graduating from the pedestrian life?”
“I’ve been meaning to get one for a while, but I kept putting it off and only just got around to it. Let’s load the luggage first. But Uncle, we’re only staying for one night; why is there so much stuff?”
Despite only staying for a single night, it was a mountain of luggage, as if they had prepared for everything imaginable.
“Don’t even get me started. Even though the pension said they have everything from meat to lettuce for the barbecue, your aunt still insisted on preparing so much. She even made galbi and japchae because she knows you like them.”
The pension Seong-jun had booked was located in Taean with a view of the ocean, and it provided everything needed for a barbecue, starting with the meat.
Therefore, just packing a change of clothes would have been sufficient, but his aunt, Yoo Mi-ran, had packed a massive amount of food, perhaps because it was their first trip in a long time.
“Haha, that’s just like Auntie. I’m going to burst if I try to eat all this.”
“How could we eat all of this? Just eat what you can and take the leftovers with you. Anyway, you said it was Taean, right? I used to go there often with your aunt in the past, but life got so hard that we haven’t been able to visit at all. I wonder if it has changed a lot?”
Just as he thought they had finished loading everything.
“Did you wait long? Let’s load this and head out.”
His aunt, Yoo Mi-ran, said as she came down with one more large suitcase.
“Hmm, I guess that wasn’t the end of it.”
“I’m telling you. Anyone watching would think we’re going abroad for several months. She practically emptied the whole house.”
Lee Seon-jae shook his head as he looked at his wife, Yoo Mi-ran.
At that moment.
Ring, ring, ring!
Seong-jun’s phone rang.
“Hm? I wonder what Gwang-taek is calling for. Uncle, hold on a moment.”
“Oh, right. Gwang-taek is that friend you hunt in a party with, right? Go ahead and answer it.”
At his uncle’s word to answer freely, Seong-jun immediately picked up the phone.
“Hey, what’s up?”
Then, Gwang-taek’s voice came through the phone.
-Nothing much.
I was just bored.
Having a few days off all of a sudden is making me restless.
Anyway, what are you doing?
If you’re free, should I call Yu-seon so we can get together for the first time in a while?
Since they hadn’t gone hunting and were resting for a few days, it seemed he was indeed getting restless.
At the suggestion to meet up if he had time, Seong-jun replied immediately.
“What should I do? I’m on my way to Taean with my uncle and aunt. We were just about to head out. We’re staying overnight, so I don’t think I can see you today.”
As soon as the word ‘Taean’ left Seong-jun’s mouth, Gwang-taek’s voice suddenly gained energy.
-Huh?
Taean?
Ooh!
Taean is great!
If it’s okay, can I join in?
I’m seriously about to die of boredom.
If you tell me which pension it is, I’ll book my own room.
What kind of sudden nonsense was this?
“Ha, haha, you’re coming there? Come on. I’m not going alone; I’m taking my uncle and aunt.”
He was going on a trip with his uncle and aunt for the first time in a while, so why on earth was he trying to wedge himself in?
Just as Seong-jun was about to refuse.
“Why? Does that friend Gwang-taek want to come too? Then tell him to come. It would be nice to see the faces of your party members this time. Ah! That’s right! Didn’t you say you’re active in a three-person party lately? If the other friend can come too, tell them to come. What do you think, honey?”
Lee Seon-jae asked for Yoo Mi-ran’s opinion, suggesting they invite Gwang-taek as well.
“I like it too. I’ve made plenty of food anyway, so tell them to come.”
With even Yoo Mi-ran saying this following Lee Seon-jae, Seong-jun let out a sigh and spoke.
“Sigh, my uncle and aunt said it’s okay. Is it just you coming alone? Or is Yu-seon coming too?”
-I’m definitely going, and I’ll call Yu-seon separately to ask her.
“Okay, we’re heading out now. I’ll send you the location via text, so check it and come. Don’t forget to book your accommodation.”
Having said that, Seong-jun ended the call.
After finishing the call, Seong-jun looked at his uncle with an apologetic expression.
“I’m sorry. I intended for us to have some quiet family time, but an uninvited guest suddenly joined in.”
At Seong-jun’s words, his uncle smiled and spoke.
“Haha, it’s always more fun when there are more people at places like that. Actually, I prefer it this way. Anyway, let’s head out.”
Since he had put it that way, what else could he do?
Eventually, Seong-jun got into the driver’s seat and departed for Taean.
***
Taean OO Pension.
Arriving early, Seong-jun unpacked his things and took a walk around the area with his uncle and aunt.
After enjoying the leisure of seeing the ocean, they returned to the accommodation and rested for a bit.
In the meantime, Gwang-taek and Yu-seon arrived and went to their respective rooms to unpack.
Then, evening came.
“Ooh! Why did you prepare so much? This is a feast.”
Gwang-taek and Yu-seon came to the private barbecue area in front of Seong-jun’s unit.
“Welcome. Come on, sit down quickly.”
When Lee Seon-jae gestured for them to take a seat.
“Oh, please speak comfortably to us. Since you’re Seong-jun’s uncle, you’re like our uncle too.”
Gwang-taek spoke jokingly, telling him to drop the formal speech.
At that, Lee Seon-jae laughed pleasantly and spoke.
“Haha, shall I? By the way, your build is impressive. What’s your class?”
“I am a bit on the larger side. Hahaha. I’m a Tanker, and Yu-seon here is a Ranger.”
When Gwang-taek introduced himself as a Tanker, Lee Seon-jae and Yoo Mi-ran looked surprised.
“T-Tanker? Isn’t a Tanker considered a noble class among Hunters?”
Even ordinary people who didn’t know much about Awakened individuals knew that Tankers and Healers were the ‘nobility.’
That’s why they looked so surprised when Gwang-taek introduced himself as one.
“Oh, nobility, my foot. I’m just a meat shield that stands in the front lines taking hits from monsters. The real nobility is Seong-jun. Honestly, we can’t even hunt without Seong-jun. He’s the center and core of our party.”
At Gwang-taek’s words, Yu-seon also added a comment.
“Just like Gwang-taek says, the only reason our party can stay together is because of Seong-jun. If he leaves, we’d probably fall apart immediately. That’s why I’m going to stick to him no matter what. You won’t abandon us, right?”
As both Gwang-taek and Yu-seon praised Seong-jun, Lee Seon-jae raised his glass with a pleased expression.
“Wow, it looks like our Seong-jun has earned some respect within the party. Come on, let’s talk while we have a drink.”
Everyone raised their glasses, clinked them together, and downed the alcohol in one gulp.
The drinking session continued in a harmonious atmosphere, and as the alcohol flowed, the mood grew even more lively.
However, at that moment.
Wiaaaaaaaaang!
Suddenly, the sound of a siren was heard.
“Hm? What is it? A siren all of a sudden at this hour?”
“I know, right? What’s going on?”
At this hour, after the sun had set, there wouldn’t be any training, so everyone was bewildered by the siren that had started blaring so unexpectedly.
Suddenly.
Beep!
Beep!
Beep!
Message notifications rang on everyone’s phones.
And after checking the message, everyone’s expressions turned to shock.
[A B-grade Break Dungeon portal has been confirmed to have formed in Sindu-ri, Wonbuk-myeon, Taean County. Those currently in the vicinity, please evacuate to the nearest shelter. Time remaining until Dungeon Break: 1 hour 35 minutes.]
This was because it was a message stating that a Break Dungeon portal had been created.
“Gasp! A-A Break Dungeon?”
“Sindu-ri, Wonbuk-myeon is right around here!”
The pension Seong-jun had booked happened to be near Sindu-ri Beach.
In other words, a Break Dungeon portal had been created not far from here.
“Since it’s a Break Dungeon, there should be a limit on the number of people who can enter. If the required number of people enters, won’t the break stop for now?”
Dungeons were generally divided into three types: normal dungeons, closed dungeons, and break dungeons.
A normal dungeon was, as the name suggested, a typical dungeon.
A closed dungeon was one that closed as soon as certain conditions were met.
And a break dungeon was one where a countdown began as soon as it was created; if the set time elapsed, it would lead directly to a Dungeon Break.
However, if the required number of people entered, the dungeon would be sealed, and the countdown would stop, much like a closed dungeon.
The problem here was that the required number of people varied for each dungeon, and if the Hunters who entered were wiped out, a Dungeon Break would occur immediately regardless of the remaining time.
“I don’t know how many people are required, but it’s a B-grade dungeon. If you form a team with mediocre ranks, it’ll be a total annihilation. You’d need to form a team centered around at least A-ranks. I wonder if that’s even possible within the time limit.”
If it were a low-grade dungeon, a quick response would be possible, but as the grade goes up, responding becomes difficult.
This is because you must form a team powerful enough to clear the dungeon with a limited number of people, which is not easy.
“Indeed. A-ranks are basically the main force of each guild, so gathering them all within 1 hour and 35 minutes is nearly impossible.”
“Anyway, let’s head to the shelter first.”
If it had been just Seong-jun’s group, they wouldn’t have necessarily felt the need to move to a shelter.
Even if they were B-grade monsters, they would be able to handle a small group with their abilities.
However, Lee Seon-jae and Yoo Mi-ran, who were ordinary civilians, were here.
Since no one knew when or what kind of variables might occur, they decided it was right to head to the shelter first.
“There’s still about an hour and a half left; wouldn’t it be better to just drive up to Seoul?”
Yu-seon suggested that it might be better to just drive out of Taean, but Seong-jun shook his head.
“It’s dangerous. There will be quite a few people thinking like you, Yu-seon. If they all take their cars out onto the road, the roads could become congested in an instant. It’s better to go to a shelter and secure our safety.”
Most people who received the message would think like Yu-seon, and if they all took their cars onto the roads, there was a risk of traffic jams.
What if a Dungeon Break occurred in such a situation?
It could lead to a far more dangerous situation than moving to a shelter.
“That’s true. Then let’s move quickly.”
Ultimately, Seong-jun’s group decided to head toward the shelter.
“Wait, wait a second. Let me pack some bags.”
As Yoo Mi-ran hurriedly tried to pack her things.
“Auntie. Leave the luggage for now. There will be many others trying to get to the shelter besides us, and if they exceed the capacity, we might have to move to another shelter. We can come back for the bags later, so let’s just hurry to the nearest shelter first.”
Each shelter had an appropriate capacity, and once that number was exceeded, they would no longer accept people.
If that happened, they would have to move to another shelter, and if the shelter they moved to was also full, they could end up in a difficult situation.
Therefore, rather than packing bags, the priority right now was to head to a shelter quickly before it reached capacity.
***
Conference Room of the Korean Awakened Association.
Due to the suddenly created Break Dungeon, the Association was in a state of emergency.
“We must deploy personnel immediately! If a Dungeon Break occurs like this, it’s obvious that public criticism will be directed at the Association!”
“Are you even listening to yourself? It’s a B-grade dungeon! Furthermore, the entry limit is exactly 55 people. The number of A-ranks in the country is forty-three, and even if we threw them all in, not enough B-rank Hunters could enter to support them! Even if we somehow managed to clear the ordinary monsters, defeating the boss would be absolutely impossible!”
“We’d be lucky if even all forty-three could go in. Nearly half of them are currently inside other dungeons for hunting. That means there are only about twenty A-ranks that can be deployed right now. Most importantly, the guilds won’t accept this.”
“Are you saying we should just sit here and watch a Dungeon Break happen?”
The Association executives were in an uproar, arguing back and forth.
At that, the Association President, Jeong Tae-hun, scowled slightly.
“Tsk, of all times, this happens when the S-ranks are all abroad.”
There were two S-ranks in the country, but they were currently in the United States at the invitation of the International Awakened Association.
It seemed as if a breakthrough might have been possible if the S-ranks were in the country, but since they had to overcome the situation without them, the outlook was even more dismal.
“Let’s do this instead. Even if we somehow fill the 55 slots while lacking A-ranks, it will be nothing more than a meaningless death. Well, not that there are any Hunters willing to go in anyway. Rather than that, let’s let the Dungeon Break happen and use that time to gather as many Hunters as possible to block the break. If we gather not just A-ranks and B-ranks but as many C-ranks as possible, we might be able to stop it somehow.”
At the words of Jeong Jin-bae, the Director of the Dungeon Management Bureau, Hwang Guk-hyeon, the Director of the Awakened Management Bureau, scowled and spoke.
“There’s only about an hour left. To be blunt, most A-rank Hunters operate in Seoul, and even if they drove from there to here, it would take over two hours. Gathering them? Forget gathering; the Dungeon Break will occur while they’re still in transit.”
Most A-rank Hunters were active in Seoul, and even if they left right now, it would be impossible for them to arrive in time.
Furthermore, since they would need time to prepare, the Dungeon Break might happen before they even set out.
“In the meantime, if we have the Hunters active in Chungnam establish a defensive line and they buy us some time while we move quickly, wouldn’t it be possible? Although there aren’t many A-ranks, there should be quite a few B-ranks.”
Since it was a B-grade dungeon anyway, B-rank Hunters would be able to respond to some extent.
Therefore, they thought there might be a chance if they established a defensive line mainly with them and held out somehow until support arrived from Seoul.
“The current number of B-rank Hunters registered with the Association is 827, and among them, the number of B-ranks active in Chungnam is 77. On the other hand, if a Dungeon Break occurs, the number of monsters pouring out will be over 2,000. Do you think they alone can defend until support arrives?”
“No, then what are you suggesting we do? To stop the countdown, we have to deploy the required number of people into the Break Dungeon, but do you think it’s possible to deploy enough force to clear a B-grade dungeon while adhering to the 55-person limit? Or should we just throw in any low-ranks just to buy time? Would there even be a Hunter willing to accept such a suicide mission?”
Even if there were Hunters who met the requirements, it was impossible for them to enter the dungeon in time because most of them were in Seoul.
On the other hand, if they were to push in low-rank Hunters just to be quick, where would they find a Hunter who would volunteer for a mission where death was certain?
It was a difficult situation either way.
As the seemingly endless arguments continued, the Association President finally stepped forward.
“Sigh, everyone, stop! We don’t have time to be doing this! Even while we are here like this, time is continuing to tick away!”
At the Association President’s scolding, everyone fell silent.
“Ugh…”
“…”
Looking at them, the Association President continued.
“Since this isn’t the time to be picky, we must do everything we can. Immediately contact the top 10 guilds in the country and ask them to move to the Break Dungeon creation area as quickly as possible, and tell the guilds in the Chungnam region to hurriedly dispatch Hunters to establish a defensive line. At the same time, check if there are any Hunters willing to enter the dungeon.”
“What? Hunters willing to enter the dungeon? Would there be any Hunter who would accept such a suicide mission?”
“Whether there are or not, just check first! And tell them we will pay 500 million won each as a reward to any Hunter who enters!”
If they paid 500 million won per person for 55 people, it would be a total of 27.5 billion won, but if they could buy time that way—if they could ensure that support forces from Seoul and other regions arrived to establish a defensive line—it was a more than profitable deal.
Of course, it remained to be seen whether any Hunter would actually respond to such a suicide mission.
***
In front of the Sindu-ri shelter.
As expected, as people flocked to leave Wonbuk-myeon, the roads were instantly blocked.
That didn’t mean the situation at the shelter was any better.
This was because not only were there people trying to leave, but there were also many people flocking to the shelter.
Fortunately, thanks to their quick movements, Seong-jun’s group was able to enter the shelter safely.
“It’s a good thing we took your advice, Seong-jun, and didn’t pack our bags but came straight here. If we had been even a little late, we wouldn’t have been able to get in.”
As Lee Seon-jae said, they wouldn’t have been able to enter the Sindu-ri shelter if they had been even slightly delayed.
This was because a massive number of people had flocked there shortly after they entered.
“We have reached capacity! Everyone, please move to another shelter!”
Eventually, as the capacity was reached, they stopped accepting more people.
“No! What are you talking about! You want us to go somewhere else after we’ve come all the way here!”
“At least let these children in! How much space could children take up?”
“Mom! Waaaaah!”
When they said they could no longer take in people, those who had arrived late protested vehemently.
And among them, there were quite a few parents who had brought young children.
Seeing that, Seong-jun looked at Gwang-taek and Yu-seon.
And as they looked at Seong-jun, Gwang-taek and Yu-seon nodded.
Then Seong-jun spoke as he looked at his uncle and aunt.
“Uncle and Auntie, stay here for now. We’ll go outside and check the situation.”
Lee Seon-jae was startled by Seong-jun’s words.
“What? What are you talking about? You’re going to leave the shelter we just barely got into?”
They had finally managed to get inside; why would they leave?
“We’re Hunters. It’s only right that one more civilian gets to evacuate instead of us.”
“This is a B-grade Dungeon Break! Against a B-grade monster, an F-rank like you is no different from a civilian!”
Since Lee Seon-jae and Yoo Mi-ran were still unaware of Seong-jun’s re-awakening, they still believed him to be an F-rank Buffer.
“Actually, I re-awakened. And it was as a high rank. So you don’t have to worry.”
When Seong-jun mentioned his re-awakening, Lee Seon-jae and Yoo Mi-ran’s eyes widened.
I Became an EX-Grade All-Rounder Priest Episode 33
E-book Release Date 2025.11.14
Author Kim Hyeon-jun
Publishers Heo Heung-beom, Park Geon-won
Published by Poten
Address [04783] 10th Floor, 11-gil 8, Yeonmu-jang, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Phone 02-6320-8500
Fax 02-6320-8585
ISBN 9791175302167
Price 100 Won
c Kim Hyeon-jun 2025
This e-book is a work protected by copyright law. Since this e-book was published by contract with the author, unauthorized transcription, reproduction, distribution, or sharing without the written consent of both parties is prohibited.
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