Despite Kato Asumi’s barbed words, Seong-jun maintained his smile.
“Surely you wouldn’t be stealing artifacts, Miss Asumi? But these are practically a part of me now. I hope you understand.”
Despite Kato Asumi’s repeated requests, Seong-jun didn’t lower his defenses.
“You’re being ridiculous. I flew all the way from Japan just to see you, and you can’t even show me a single artifact? I’m not asking for it—just a quick look, and I’ll give it right back.”
Kato Asumi also refused to back down, pressing Seong-jun again.
Since Seong-jun kept blocking her, she seemed to have concluded that one of those artifacts was continuously canceling her copy skill.
Meanwhile, as the other side raised the pressure, Seong-jun also wiped the smile off his face.
“Normally, when someone refuses, you stop there. But the way you keep insisting on seeing it makes it feel like you have ulterior motives, not just curiosity.”
When Seong-jun erased his smile and spoke coldly, Kato Asumi flared up.
“Ulterior motives? Are you saying that I, known as the Saintess, approached a healer from a small country with ulterior motives? That’s a very rude remark.”
Perhaps she had momentarily lost her composure, as her usual far-right thoughts slipped out of her mouth.
“A healer from a small country, huh. Well, everyone has their own opinions, so I suppose you could think that way. But then why would a so-called healer from a small country be so interested in the artifacts I’m wearing?”
At Seong-jun’s cold response, Kato Asumi quickly regained her composure.
“Hmm, I apologize. I misspoke. I apologize for calling Korea a small country. I got a little carried away and spoke carelessly.”
No matter how much she usually looked down on Korea, she was in Korea now, and she had to be mindful of her image.
But she failed to control her emotions and openly made a remark that dismissed Korea.
Moreover, she had upset the other party, making it even harder to get him to remove the artifacts.
“No, it’s fine.”
Just as Seong-jun said it was fine.
“Oh my!”
Whoosh!
Takahashi Mamoru bumped into Seong-jun, spilling wine on him.
“I-I’m so sorry. I was looking elsewhere for a moment… Just a moment, I’ll wipe it off.”
Hastily pulling out a handkerchief, Takahashi Mamoru wiped Seong-jun’s clothes while pretending, and in that instant, he brought his finger to the back of Seong-jun’s hand.
‘Skill Copy!’
Of course, Seong-jun had already seen through his intentions.
‘Oh, look at this? Nullification!’
Under normal circumstances, being caught off guard by a sudden incident during an argument might have prevented him from responding properly, but Seong-jun never let his guard down in any situation, so he was able to react quickly.
In the end, Takahashi Mamoru’s third attempt was also thwarted by Seong-jun’s swift response.
“It’s fine. I think I need to wash this off. Thank you for arranging such a nice gathering, but I’ll take my leave now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Seong-jun was actually grateful to Takahashi Mamoru for spilling wine on him.
It gave him an excuse to leave.
“Are you leaving already?”
The banquet had only been going on for a little over an hour.
There was still plenty of time before it ended, so she grew anxious at his departure.
“The clothes aside, the wine makes my skin feel sticky. It doesn’t seem like just washing my hands will do, so I think it’s better to excuse myself today and see you again tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of the evening.”
With that, Seong-jun left the banquet hall.
As soon as Seong-jun left, Takahashi Mamoru spoke in a low, cautious voice.
“As expected, it failed again. What could it be?”
At his words, Kato Asumi said with sharp eyes.
“It must be the ability of the artifact he’s wearing. It’s probably either the necklace or the ring—he absolutely refuses to take them off. I hear he doesn’t even remove them when showering or sleeping. How can we make him take them off?”
As she suspected, Kato Asumi believed that the reason Takahashi Mamoru’s skill wasn’t working was due to the artifact’s ability.
“Is that so? Hmm, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do. If it’s the artifact’s ability, no matter how many times I try the skill, it’ll be canceled. In the end, we have to make him remove the artifact… That’s difficult. We still have time, so let’s think it over slowly. And until he removes the artifact, I’ll refrain from using the skill as much as possible. Too much physical contact might make him suspicious. It’s better to handle it in one go at the right moment.”
If the cause was the artifact, there was no need to waste skill uses.
As long as he was wearing it, the skill wouldn’t work anyway, so there was no point in arousing his suspicion with frequent physical contact.
It was better to wait for the moment he removed the artifact and handle it in one strike.
“Do that. I’ll find a way to get those artifacts off his body, so you wait for that chance and deal with it decisively. Remember, there won’t be a second opportunity.”
“Yes, when the opportunity arises, I’ll make sure to handle it.”
The more things didn’t go as planned, the more obsessed Kato Asumi became with Seong-jun’s skills.
She also wanted to find a temple that matched her divine power and gain her own unique abilities, but that was a distant prospect for now.
She decided that her priority was to take Seong-jun’s overpowered skills right in front of her and be reborn as a true Saintess.
—
Late at night, Takahashi Mamoru left his lodgings and drank heavily at a nearby bar.
He was quite drunk, staggering as he walked.
“Damn world. Some people awaken well and get called Saintess or Saint, while others copy all those amazing skills just to benefit others. Why did I have to awaken as a trash class like this? Seriously, this sucks. Tch.”
He could copy even S-rank skills if he wanted to, but what was the point?
He couldn’t use the skills he acquired himself.
Moreover, his physical abilities were F-rank, barely better than an ordinary person.
It was embarrassing to even call himself an Awakened.
Then why not use that amazing ability to create skill books and auction them off for a fortune?
Of course, he had thought of that and even tried it.
But he ended up making a skill book of someone’s unique skill that didn’t exist as a skill book, and he was traced back and almost killed.
The target was a famous S-Rank Dealer hunter in Japan, notorious for his bad temper.
While fleeing from him, he managed to survive with someone’s help, but this time he got caught.
In the end, Takahashi Mamoru was reduced to copying skills for others in exchange for pocket money.
“Ha, I wish I had re-awakened as a decent warrior class. At least then I wouldn’t be stuck doing this crap, wiping up after others.”
As Takahashi Mamoru lamented his fate and staggered down the street, someone approached him.
“You seem to have a lot of complaints about society.”
At that, Takahashi Mamoru turned his head with a puzzled expression.
“Huh? Who…?”
But he couldn’t see the other person’s face.
Thwack!
“Gah!”
In an instant, a powerful impact hit the back of his head, and he lost consciousness.
The one who knocked him out was none other than Seong-jun.
“Oh my, how much did this guy drink?”
Since the hit was so quick, no one saw it clearly, and because he had been staggering from drunkenness for a while, everyone just thought he had passed out from alcohol.
Supporting Takahashi Mamoru, Seong-jun walked toward his car.
An abandoned factory on the outskirts of Seoul.
—
Inside the empty factory, only a single chair sat alone.
And tied to that chair with ropes was someone.
“Ngh… Where is this…”
The man, who had been slumped over unconscious, slowly raised his head as if coming to.
The man tied to the chair was none other than Takahashi Mamoru.
“Are you coming to your senses now?”
Someone approached him.
When Takahashi Mamoru saw his face, his eyes flew wide open.
“Kugh… Who… Hah! Y-you’re Kim Seongjun?”
“Your drunken lamentations and complaints about the world were quite a sight.”
Realizing he was tied up, Takahashi Mamoru twisted his body and glared at Seong-jun.
“Eeek! What is the meaning of this! Do you know who I am? I’m a member of the Ookami Guild! Untie me right now!”
Watching him struggle, Seong-jun flashed a sinister smile.
“Matsuda Nobuhiro, the administrative manager of the guild? Tch, you’re lying through your teeth. Isn’t that right, Takahashi Mamoru?”
When his real name came out of Seong-jun’s mouth, Takahashi Mamoru was startled.
“Hah! H-how do you know that!”
“I know more than just your real name. I also know why you approached me under a false identity. You tried to copy my skills with that Skill Copy of yours, didn’t you? Planning to turn them into skill books and hand them over to Kato Asumi.”
Not only did he know his real name, but he also knew exactly about his skill and intentions, leaving Takahashi Mamoru bewildered.
“But what a shame. No matter what you do, you can’t copy my skills. You’ve already failed three times, so you must have a rough idea, right? Oh, and you’d better give up any vain hope that someone will come to rescue you. By now, all the Ookami Guild members are sound asleep.”
Finally, Takahashi Mamoru stopped struggling and looked at Seong-jun.
“Fine. You’re right. I was trying to copy your skills and hand them over to Kato Asumi. So? Are you going to kill me now? But whatever my true identity is, officially, I’m the administrative manager of the Ookami Guild. If I go missing or die in Korea, it could become an international issue, and Kato Asumi and Ookami won’t stay quiet.”
Even as he admitted it honestly, he warned that if he disappeared or died, it could lead to serious problems.
Of course, Seong-jun had no intention of killing him.
“Kill you? Why? Ah, sure, if you committed a capital offense, you’d deserve to die, but you haven’t done anything that warrants death, have you? Don’t worry. I’m not going to kill you.”
With that, Seong-jun walked somewhere.
Thud, thud.
Then he picked up a wooden plank and came back.
“W-what are you going to do…”
“I’m not going to kill you, but you pissed me off. You dared to try to steal the skills I worked so hard to develop? Would you be happy in my shoes? So, you’re going to take a beating.”
Saying that, he slowly raised the plank.
“W-wait! Listen to me…”
Even if he was a healer, he was S-rank.
His raw stats alone would be monstrous.
If he swung that plank with that strength, could he survive?
“I haven’t used this in a while, so I don’t know how it’ll go.”
Of course, Seong-jun wasn’t the type to beat someone thoughtlessly.
‘Bludgeon of Reformation!’
A skill that inflicts minimal damage but extreme pain on the target.
That was the punishment Seong-jun chose.
Thwack! Thwackthwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwackthwackthwackthwack!
When he first used the skill, it was barehanded, so he couldn’t achieve maximum efficiency.
Of course, that was enough to make Kang Jae-jun experience extreme fear.
But now he was using it with a blunt weapon like a wooden plank, so it inflicted incomparable extreme pain.
“Guh! Ugh! S-save me… Hack! Kyaaah!”
The plank mercilessly struck Takahashi Mamoru’s entire body.
However, the damage was only 5 per hit.
Moreover, there were no visible scars or bruises.
This skill only inflicted extreme pain on the target.
[Active] Bludgeon of Reformation [1/10]
A Combat Priest’s reformation skill that inflicts terrible pain on the target’s mind and body, forcibly reforming those who show no sign of reformation.
– Can strike up to 500 times consecutively upon activation. [Can be stopped by the caster’s will during the combo.]
– When applying Unarmed Combat, damage fixed at [+1].
– When applying Blunt Weapon Skill, damage fixed at [+5].
– Maximizes the pain inflicted on the target’s body.
– Maximizes the pain imprinted on the target’s mind.
– After 100 strikes, imprints fear of the caster in the target’s mind. [The level of fear imprinted increases every additional 100 strikes.]
– After 500 strikes, imprints an insurmountable terror.
– When applied with Blunt Weapon Skill, grants guaranteed critical pain.
– The target never loses consciousness from the extreme pain.
– If the first strike lands successfully, the target’s will to resist drops significantly.
Casting time: [Instant]
Duration: [None]
Divine Power consumption: [500]
Cooldown: [5 minutes]
Since it was his first time using it after using it on Kang Jae-jun, the level was still 1.
But as his rank rose, the basic options had changed somewhat.
The maximum of 100 consecutive strikes had increased to 500, and when using Blunt Weapon Skill, the HP loss went from 10 to 5 per hit.
That meant he could beat him more safely.
Also, a new option had been added: the target never loses consciousness despite extreme pain.
Even if he wanted to let go of his sanity, he couldn’t; he had to feel the pain fully conscious.
Lastly, after more than 100 strikes, fear of the caster is imprinted in the target, and this level rises every additional 100 strikes.
When all 500 strikes are completed, an insurmountable terror is imprinted.
Even though it was only level 1, the Bludgeon of Reformation had undergone many changes as it was adjusted to S-rank.
‘Insurmountable terror, huh. Should I try for the full 500 strikes?’
He thought about stopping after about 100 strikes, but the mention of imprinting insurmountable terror piqued Seong-jun’s curiosity.
What would happen if he went that far?
Thwackthwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwackthwackthwackthwack!
Seong-jun’s relentless strikes forced Takahashi Mamoru to experience excruciating pain both physically and mentally.
Moreover, the moment it passed 100 strikes, he felt his body tremble just at the sight of Seong-jun.
“Kugh! S-save me! C-choke! Please! Stop! Kyaah! S-stop!”
The empty factory echoed only with Takahashi Mamoru’s desperate screams.
How much time had passed?
Thwackthwack! Thwack! Thwackthwackthwack!
“Kugh! Hck! Keck! Ugh!”
Despite Takahashi Mamoru’s desperate screams, Seong-jun’s hand, which had been striking without blinking, finally stopped.
Clack!
“Hoo, hitting someone is work too.”
In the end, he completed all 500 strikes.
When the time was up, Takahashi Mamoru looked like he was having convulsions, only groaning in pain.
Seong-jun suddenly thrust his face close to his.
“So, what do you think now? Can you tell shit from miso? Or do you still have room in your head for international law and all that?”
When Seong-jun suddenly leaned in, Takahashi Mamoru flinched and struggled.
“Eek! P-please spare me! Euaah! Aaah!”
Then the chair toppled over.
Crash!
The bound Takahashi Mamoru fell with it, but he didn’t care; he just kept flailing.
“Tch, shut your mouth and stay still. Or do you want another 500-strike round?”
As soon as Seong-jun finished speaking, Takahashi Mamoru clamped his mouth shut.
“Mmph!”
But his pupils were trembling violently, and his entire body was shaking as if having seizures.
“Just do as I say, and I won’t touch you anymore. Understand? If you understand, nod.”
At Seong-jun’s words, Takahashi Mamoru quickly nodded.
But even so, he subconsciously avoided Seong-jun’s eyes.
Fear of Seong-jun had already been imprinted deep in his mind.
“I’ll give you three days. Copy three of Kato Asumi’s representative skills and make them into skill books. Then bring them to me.”
Since she tried to steal his skills first, Seong-jun intended to take her representative skills and give her a taste of her own medicine.
When Takahashi Mamoru didn’t answer, Seong-jun slightly frowned.
“Hey, answer.”
Startled, his trembling eyes answered hastily.
“Hah! Y-yes, sir!”
“And stop trying to copy skills from me. Even though you can’t copy my skills anyway, it’s damn irritating. I don’t know about others, but whenever you attempt a copy, a notification pops up for me. And hearing that notification pisses me off. If you try copying me one more time, you’ll know what it means to get beaten bloody. It won’t end with 500 strikes. If you do it again, I’ll keep you up all night with 500-strike rounds.”
The 500 strikes alone had been a terrible time to endure.
If he had to suffer that pain all night, he probably wouldn’t be able to stay sane.
“I’ll never try again! I swear!”
“You’d better. Your task is very simple. Copy three skills within three days and bring them to me. Then hide yourself. Get back to Japan. And once you’re there, stay in Korea—don’t think about running to a third country. When the time is right, I’ll contact you.”
Seong-jun had no intention of sending him back to Japan obediently.
The ability to copy was dangerous, but more than that, he never knew where that ability might come in handy.
I Became an EX-Class All-Round Priest
Chapter 102
E-book publication date: 2025.11.14
Author: Kim Hyeon-jun
Publisher: Heo Heung-beom, Park Geon-won
Published by: Poten
Address: [04783] 8, 10F, 11-gil, Yeonmujang, Seongdong-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-6320-8500
Fax: 02-6320-8585
ISBN: 9791175302167
Price: 100 won
â“’ Kim Hyeon-jun 2025
This e-book is a copyrighted work protected by copyright law.
This e-book is published under contract with the author. Unauthorized reproduction, duplication, distribution, or sharing without written consent from both parties is prohibited.