Seong-jun was heading toward the lodging where Kato Asumi’s group was staying, but on the way he changed direction to Speed Detective Agency, where Gyu-taek was.
“Haha, Seong-jun, come on in.”
Gyu-taek offered a seat first, and Seong-jun sat down on the sofa.
“By the way, Hyung-nim, didn’t you say you were moving the office?”
“Ah! Speaking of that, a suitable property came up cheap so I bought it this time. It’s being remodeled right now, and I plan to move as soon as it’s finished.”
Having already made a huge profit through two transactions, Gyu-taek had bought the entire building this time around.
Of course, it wasn’t a building worth hundreds of billions in a central area—it was a building worth tens of billions in a cheap district—but still, it was his own property.
“I see. Anyway, the reason I came to see you is that I have a favor to ask.”
When Seong-jun said he had a favor, Gyu-taek wiped the smile off his face and asked seriously.
“A favor? Tell me. What is it?”
“Do you happen to know Choi Sangjin of Shinwha Group?”
At the unexpected mention of Choi Sangjin’s name, Gyu-taek looked puzzled.
“Huh? Shinwha’s Choi Sangjin? Of course I know him. He’s the second son of Shinwha Group Chairman Choi Kanghoon. Plus, he’s the CEO of Shinwha Electronics. Who in Korea doesn’t know Choi Sangjin?”
Shinwha Electronics was the company closely chasing Mirae Electronics, which held an overwhelming share of the domestic electronics industry.
As such, Choi Sangjin was frequently exposed in various media.
Not every Korean might know him, but it was certain that far more people knew him than didn’t.
“I want to keep an eye on him. Is that possible?”
At the unexpected remark, Gyu-taek looked flustered.
“Uh, huh? You want to monitor CEO Choi Sangjin?”
“It seems he might have another identity besides being the CEO of Shinwha Electronics. Ah! And since it could be dangerous, just check his movements from a distance. For your information, that guy Choi Sangjin is an A-Class Hunter. Of course, he’s an unregistered Awakened.”
Seong-jun informed him that Choi Sangjin was an unregistered Awakened.
Because if the target was a Hunter, it could be dangerous, unlike dealing with ordinary people.
At Seong-jun’s words, Gyu-taek swallowed dryly.
“I can’t say exactly how long, but it won’t take too long. I just need to confirm one thing. And the other side must never notice that we’re watching them. So if there’s any risk of being discovered or danger, tell them to withdraw immediately. It’s fine if we fail to track their movements, but we absolutely must avoid being exposed.”
If those monitoring him were caught, there was a high chance that this side would be completely exposed.
That had to be avoided at all costs, so even if surveillance failed, he said to withdraw immediately if there was a risk of detection.
“Got it. Since the target is who he is, I’ll put our best people on it. And as you said, if anything seems suspicious, I’ll tell them to withdraw right away, so don’t worry too much.”
Before the monster bond and mana stone deals, the main business of Speed Detective Agency was tailing and surveillance.
Of course, most detective agencies did that, but Gyu-taek’s office was particularly skilled in that area.
So even if the target was the CEO of Shinwha Electronics, he judged it was feasible.
Besides, it wasn’t close surveillance—just tracking movements.
“Then I’ll trust you, Hyung-nim. I have an appointment with Kato Asumi, so I think I need to get going.”
Since he had stopped by on the way to the meeting place, he couldn’t stay long.
When Seong-jun stood up, Gyu-taek also rose.
“Alright, go ahead. If any unexpected situation arises, I’ll contact you right away.”
“Yes, then I’ll leave it to you.”
With that, Seong-jun left the office.
As soon as he left, Gyu-taek immediately called his employees.
—
Seong-jun met with Kato Asumi’s group and took them around various places.
At a glance, it might look like Seong-jun, an S-Class and the Saint of Korea, was acting as a mere guide, but Seong-jun didn’t mind.
Because he was certain that by tomorrow, they would be thoroughly deceived and stunned.
And now, they had settled into a bar near their lodging.
“You worked hard today. Thanks to you, we were able to look around comfortably.”
They had a big dinner at a famous restaurant, but Kato Asumi proposed drinking because she didn’t want to part ways like this.
However, Seong-jun was well aware of why she had set up this gathering.
“Don’t mention it. Since we have to head to Jeju Island early tomorrow morning, let’s drink lightly and then part ways.”
The Jeju Island schedule would take a full day.
It seemed that since the entire Jeju Island area had suffered damage, it would take considerable time to go around everywhere.
Seong-jun said they should drink lightly and then part, since they had to move early in the morning.
“Alright then. Shall we drink?”
And so the drinking began.
Contrary to the initial plan of drinking lightly, bottles started piling up.
No matter how much of a Hunter one was, drinking made one drunk.
Seong-jun, trained between heavy drinkers Gwang-taek and Yuseon, still looked fine, but Kato Asumi was showing signs of being rather drunk.
Judging that the mood had ripened, Kato Asumi brought up the artifact topic again.
“Anyway, I’m sorry about yesterday. But is it really that hard to show me? Ah! I’m just asking, so don’t feel pressured.”
Kato Asumi had some tact, so she didn’t intend to press like yesterday.
This remark was just a probe, and she planned to make a proper move tomorrow or the day after.
But then—
Tap!
Seong-jun secretly tapped the leg of Takahashi Mamoru, who was sitting next to him.
Kato Asumi had deliberately seated Takahashi Mamoru next to Seong-jun in case an opportunity arose, but from Seong-jun’s perspective, it made it easier to give a signal without them noticing.
When Seong-jun tapped his leg, Takahashi Mamoru, who was getting tipsy, flinched and stood up.
Bolt!
“Hah! Uh, uh, I, I need to go to the bathroom.”
In fact, Seong-jun had prepped Takahashi Mamoru beforehand.
He told him that if he gave a signal in any way, he should leave immediately and stay away for at least 30 minutes.
And when Seong-jun sent the signal by tapping his leg, Takahashi Mamoru, now completely sober, hurriedly headed to the bathroom.
As he headed to the bathroom, Seong-jun smiled and spoke.
“Are you that curious? Fine. Then I’ll show you.”
When Seong-jun unexpectedly offered to show it, Kato Asumi was momentarily flustered.
She had only been probing on a whim, and more importantly, Takahashi Mamoru was in the bathroom.
So his sudden offer to show it was inevitably surprising.
“What? Haha, I am curious, but you don’t have to show me right now.”
“No. Since this topic might keep coming up during the remaining schedule, I’ll show you now. Here.”
Seong-jun took off the ring and handed it over.
Kato Asumi looked momentarily flustered, but quickly composed her expression and received the ring from Seong-jun’s hand.
“Finally, I get to see this. Ha, haha.”
Kato Asumi received the ring with a smiling face, but inside, she was burning with frustration.
‘Damn it! That bastard picks this timing to go to the bathroom! I need to stall as much as possible. First, I need to check if this ring is real.’
She planned to check the ring’s options, and if this ring really had the skill cancel option, she would try to stall as much time as possible.
So Kato Asumi checked the ring. But then her eyes widened.
“Oh my! SS-grade? And the options are…”
Upon checking the ring, contrary to her original intent, she couldn’t help but be surprised by the ring’s grade and its incredible options.
Just the fact that it greatly increased the efficiency of offensive divine magic, buffs, and healing was amazing, but on top of that, it had two special skills attached.
Not to mention, she didn’t know what “Successor of Ermia Jeylin” meant, but having it provided additional boosts.
“Are your curiosities a bit satisfied now?”
At Seong-jun’s question, Kato Asumi swallowed dryly.
“By any chance, would you consider selling this to me? I’ll pay whatever you want.”
Beyond the skill cancel ability, Kato Asumi genuinely coveted this ring.
“Haah, no. As I said, these are already like a part of my body. I have no intention of selling even if you offer billions. If all your questions are answered, please return it.”
Seong-jun asked for it back, but Kato Asumi still seemed reluctant.
“A set artifact? And SS-grade too! Plus, two special skills attached. Where on earth did you get such an artifact?”
“It turned out well. From the temple ruins I mentioned last time. It was an artifact like fate prepared just for me, perfectly suited. By the way, this is the first time I’ve taken it off my finger since obtaining it. If you weren’t Kato Asumi, I would never have taken it off.”
What could she do?
No matter how much she wanted it, she couldn’t throw a tantrum here.
After all, she was the Saint of Japan, and she couldn’t act unsightly over a single artifact.
“I, I see. Here you go.”
Reluctantly returning it, Kato Asumi’s hand was trembling slightly.
Seong-jun took back the ring and immediately put it on his finger.
“Anyway, I hope this has satisfied some of your curiosity.”
At Seong-jun’s words, Kato Asumi looked at his necklace and asked.
“Is that necklace also…”
“Yes, it’s a set with the ring. They say sets are hard to collect, but I was lucky with this too. It’s SS-grade like the ring.”
The highest grade artifact she possessed was S-grade.
And that was just a single piece.
But Seong-jun was wearing two set artifacts, both SS-grade, no less.
Set artifacts themselves were very rare, and if he had collected two pieces, the set options would also be applied.
So Kato Asumi coveted both the ring and the necklace.
‘Those set artifacts are too precious for a mere healer from a small country to possess. At least someone like me deserves them. By the way, the ring didn’t have the skill cancel option. That means it’s attached to the necklace? The ring had two special skills, so it’s highly likely the necklace also has two. Or maybe the set option gives the cancel skill. In any case, I want them. For now, the ring didn’t have the skill cancel option, which means it’s likely on the necklace.’
So Kato Asumi asked to see the necklace this time.
“Could I take a quick look at that necklace too?”
To that, Seong-jun smiled and said.
“Haha, the necklace another time. Be satisfied with the ring for today.”
Of course, Seong-jun didn’t intend to show it easily.
Since she had already checked the ring’s options, she would surely believe that the skill cancel option was on the necklace, not the ring.
He wanted that belief to last a bit longer.
“Hmm, does that mean you’ll show it while I’m in Korea?”
“If the situation allows. Anyway, let’s get up soon. We planned to drink lightly, but we drank more than I thought. To handle tomorrow’s schedule, I think we should go back and rest. I’m weaker to alcohol than I look.”
In truth, Seong-jun had the highest alcohol tolerance here, but he had no intention of extending the drinking session with them.
When Seong-jun stood up, Kato Asumi looked toward the bathroom and said.
“Our administrative team leader hasn’t come back yet. Let’s wait and go together.”
At her words, Seong-jun nodded.
“Haha, sure. Let’s all get up when the administrative team leader comes out.”
After speaking, Seong-jun downed the drink in his glass.
A moment later, Takahashi Mamoru returned to his seat exactly 30 minutes later, and they immediately ended the drinking session.
—
The next morning, Kato Asumi got up early to handle the schedule and received unexpected news.
Burst!
“G, Guild Master!”
Vice Guild Leader Sasaki Genshiro rushed in through the door. Kato Asumi frowned and asked.
“What is it? Without knocking.”
“A big problem! Takahashi Mamoru has disappeared!”
What kind of nonsense was this?
“What? What do you mean…”
To Kato Asumi, who looked bewildered, Sasaki Genshiro handed her a note.
“Look at this! A note found in Takahashi Mamoru’s room!”
Kato Asumi hurriedly took the note and read it. The note was written in Japanese with a brief message.
[I can’t stand cleaning up after you guys anymore. Let’s end it here. I’m going to lie low in Korea for a few days and then move to another country, so don’t bother looking for me. Let’s never see each other again.]
His handwriting was unmistakable, so Kato Asumi’s face twisted.
“Are you insane! Is this real? He really disappeared? Why?!”
“I think it might be because you pressured him too harshly last night.”
After returning to the lodging last night, Kato Asumi had severely scolded Takahashi Mamoru.
The reason was that he had gone to the bathroom just before Seong-jun took off the ring, but strictly speaking, it was just venting her anger.
The exact reason was that she couldn’t stand that a mere healer from a small country possessed two SS-grade set artifacts, which she herself didn’t even have.
So her anger had been directed at Takahashi Mamoru.
Sasaki Genshiro thought that Takahashi Mamoru might have been offended by yesterday’s events and disappeared in a fit of anger.
“If he did something wrong, he deserves to be scolded! Cancel all schedules and find that bastard first! Use any means to find him and make him kneel before me!”
At the order to cancel everything and find him first, Sasaki Genshiro looked flustered.
“But we can’t unilaterally cancel the schedule. I think it’s better to proceed with the fixed schedule while calmly searching for him.”
With the schedule already set, they couldn’t cancel it unilaterally without a proper reason.
They had already prepared everything for the schedule—how could they cancel it all just because one administrative team leader disappeared?
Would the other party understand?
To cancel, they needed a reason commensurate with it.
“A schedule like that! I don’t care! Why did I even come to Korea?!”
‘These damn small-country peninsula people who don’t even reach my little toe!’
What was important was that Takahashi Mamoru guy.
The reason Kato Asumi had swallowed her pride and come to Korea was precisely to have Takahashi Mamoru steal Seong-jun’s skills.
But now that the one with the copy ability was gone, her entire plan had fallen apart.
“What’s so special about him? What is his real identity that you even fabricated a fake position like administrative team leader for him?”
Among the guild members who came to Korea this time, only Kato Asumi knew Takahashi Mamoru’s true identity.
Even the Vice Guild Leader Sasaki Genshiro didn’t know, so he couldn’t understand why she was going this far.
“Tch! You don’t need to know that! Anyway, finding him is the priority over everything else! So hurry up and send people out! Now!”
When Kato Asumi insisted stubbornly, Sasaki Genshiro sighed and shook his head.
“Haah, this is Korea. The Korean Association is watching with wide-open eyes. We can’t just rummage around as we please. He knows that, so he disappeared in plain sight.”
“Are you saying we have to worry about the eyes of a mere small country? Fine! I’ll take full responsibility! First, find that bastard…”
Just as Kato Asumi was raising her voice—
Burst!
Someone opened the door and came in.
“G, Guild Master! Big trouble!”
Big trouble?
What could be bigger than Takahashi Mamoru disappearing?
“What now?!”
“Break dungeons have appeared! In five regions across Japan! We need to return immediately!”
What was this? Break dungeons out of nowhere?
“What? Break dungeons?”
“Yes! Kagoshima and Fukuoka are Grade D and C, so they can be handled, but Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka have B-grade break dungeons! We’re struggling to build defense lines, and the Association has urgently requested we return to the homeland!”
At the guild member’s words, Kato Asumi’s face twisted.
“Damn! B-grade break dungeons in three locations simultaneously? Remaining time!”
“Fukuoka: 1 hour 30 minutes! Osaka: 1 hour 10 minutes! Tokyo: 50 minutes!”
It was already frustrating that break dungeons had appeared in five regions simultaneously, and three of them were B-grade.
The problem was that the remaining time was also tight.
Especially Tokyo had less than an hour, a very urgent situation, so if they didn’t move now, they could miss the golden time.
“Damn it! Of all times!”
For Kato Asumi, this was a checkmate.
She hadn’t achieved her purpose for coming to Korea, and the only copy ability user had disappeared.
She was left with nothing gained, only wasting time before returning to Japan.
So how could she not be furious?
Thus, Kato Asumi’s clenched fists were trembling.
I Became an EX-Class All-Round Priest Chapter 104
eBook publication date 2025.11.14
Author Kim Hyeon-jun
Published by Heo Heung-beom, Park Geon-won
Publisher Poten
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Phone 02-6320-8500
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ISBN 9791175302167
Price 100 won Kim Hyeon-jun 2025
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