Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Chapter 21. An Uncomfortable Gaze

“What... did you just say?”

“Mr. Terry Kang, you passed at C-rank.”

The room began buzzing.

“Did she just say C-rank?”

“Whoa, seriously? Starting at C-rank?”

“Isn't this guy... a pretty big catch?”

C-rank.

Looking at the exorcist industry as a whole, it wasn't anything extraordinary, but receiving that rank the instant you earned your license was a completely different story.

He'd heard that even most of America's top exorcists, the ones now called S-rank, had started at C- or B-rank... Starting at C-rank meant guilds and agencies would line up to recruit you.

While everyone looked at him with envy, Do-jun's head began to ache.

‘Ah... Damn it.’

C-rank.

It wasn't some absurdly high rank, but it was still far more conspicuous than the D-rank he'd originally aimed for.

What confused him even more was—

‘According to the scoring sheet, I should've gotten D-rank.’

Kang Do-jun had deliberately performed at exactly the level needed for D-rank.

He cautiously raised a hand and asked.

“Excuse me, Examiner Rose. May I ask a question?”

“What is it?”

“Why am I C-rank? No matter how I think about it, I don't feel like I performed well enough to deserve that.”

Rose stroked her chin.

“That's a strange question. Usually people complain when their rank comes out too low... They don't ask why it came out higher than expected. You're talking like someone who wanted a lower rank.”

“Haha, nothing like that... I'm just genuinely curious.”

“I gave you quite a few bonus points based on my instincts as an examiner. Your movements were clean overall, and while you used only a few spells, the way you compensated with physical ability showed excellent combat sense. Taekwondo? Or are you trained in kung fu?”

Rose stared at him again with sparkling eyes.

“...Well, I've done a little of both.”

“I knew it! My instincts weren't wrong.”

That woman... was overwhelming.

He appreciated that she liked him, but for someone who didn't want attention, it was almost suffocating.

Still, he decided to look on the bright side.

‘At least it isn't B-rank.’

C-rank wasn't enough to draw overwhelming attention, so if he deliberately kept quiet, he could still reduce the risks.

And logically, a higher exorcist rank would bring plenty of advantages when taking loans or accepting requests.

From anyone else's perspective, this was an enviable situation... The irony was that Kang Do-jun himself couldn't simply enjoy it.

Indeed, when Do-jun turned his head.

“H-Hey, he's looking over here...”

“Eyes down.”

The applicants who had mocked Kang Do-jun moments earlier trembled as though they'd seen the Grim Reaper.

He could only find it ridiculous that gaining a mere C-rank position produced this kind of reaction.

Besides...

《What?! C-rank?! How can they give us C-rank?! With us, even S-rank—no, SSS-rank wouldn't be enough! Mmph! Mmmph!》

The White Tiger Spirit popped out again, jumping around in outrage.

And once again, Wakan Tanka dragged him back inside.

Then Rose spoke again.

“May I make you an offer?”

“An offer...?”

“Would you consider working for the NEA? You've got excellent potential, and I think you'd do well... As a full-time employee, you'd also have a stable income. There are plenty of benefits.”

Ah... so that was it.

Only then did he understand why Rose had been staring at him with such unnerving enthusiasm.

“I'm sorry. I hate being tied down anywhere.”

“Even though the NEA offers some of the best employment conditions among public institutions in America?”

“Haha... I'm not really interested right now.”

Rose persistently continued trying to lure him in.

So this was what supply without demand felt like.

“Haaa, I suppose I can't force you. If you ever change your mind, contact me. If you need a recommendation letter for the NEA... I'll write one anytime.”

“Yes! Thank you.”

Immediately afterward, Kang Do-jun practically fled the NEA.

***

On the outskirts of Brooklyn, an old red-brick building stood at the end of a quiet alley away from the bustling downtown district.

Beside a rusted iron staircase, gold lettering had been printed across the glass door.

【TERRY KANG'S EXORCISM CONSULTING】

Terry Kang's exorcism agency.

The name was so plain it almost looked careless, but the space behind it had an entirely different atmosphere.

Michael Burrard, also known as Clock Rabbit, gestured toward the furnishings with a gloved hand as he enthusiastically explained everything.

“This spot gathers an appropriate amount of yin energy from Brooklyn while remaining just outside the NEA's regular surveillance network. Beneath the building is an abandoned underground waterway from the 1920s, perfect for erasing your trail and escaping in an emergency. The upper floors are ordinary residential units, so blending among civilians will make concealing information even easier.”

“Hmmm... Really? What about rent?”

“I chose somewhere cheaper than the surrounding market rate. After all, I doubt you want this place crowded.”

“That's true.”

Michael's lengthy briefing made his competence obvious.

He hadn't simply found a building; he'd accounted for Do-jun's personality and the dangers he might face in the future.

It was also obvious he'd properly understood Do-jun's desire to conceal his identity as much as possible.

‘The interior is pretty well done too.’

The lighting was decent, and the office furnishings and layout had been arranged carefully enough to make the place feel cozy.

There was also a sparsely populated forest nearby, perfect for training away from prying eyes, and the route between here and the hideout he used as lodging was ideal.

As Do-jun smiled in satisfaction.

Clock Rabbit stopped and asked.

“Now that your NEA license has been issued, Mr. Terry Kang, do you plan to begin taking Association and civilian requests in earnest?”

“No. Only the minimum. I need to maintain a record if I want to keep the agency running. Other than that, I'll prioritize the jobs you bring me.”

As though he'd been waiting to hear those words, some tension left Michael's shoulders.

A relieved breath escaped from behind his mask.

“That's reassuring. I was worried this incident might mark the end of our relationship. Thank you.”

“No need. This is strictly business. With nothing but the sign of an unknown agency, it'll be difficult to land profitable work right away, and if I act too conspicuously just to build a record, I'll only attract attention.”

“So we're maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship.”

“Exactly. I need infrastructure to help handle the cleanup too.”

Clock Rabbit nodded and thought.

‘Just what kind of person is Terry Kang?’

He was overwhelmingly stronger than any exorcist Michael had ever seen, yet even with Clock Rabbit's powerful information network, he hadn't uncovered a single clue about him.

What exactly was the man working toward?

Why did he behave so differently from top exorcists desperate to make their names known?

Every little thing only deepened Michael's curiosity.

He couldn't even imagine how important a figure Terry Kang truly was.

That was why he'd made his decision quickly.

No matter what happened, maintaining ties with Terry Kang was the best choice.

“Do you plan to hire anyone to work here with you?”

“I do. If I were going to handle everything alone, there'd be no point setting up an agency in the first place.”

More precisely... establishing an agency was meant to become a focal point for gathering his own people and building his own organization.

Clock Rabbit quickly spoke.

“I could introduce you to some people. Or I could send someone trustworthy from among those trained at Club Alice.”

“I'll pass. I appreciate the offer, but I've already chosen my first employee.”

“Someone you've already chosen? If you're saying that... they must be rather capable.”

“Well, I make it a rule not to work with incompetent people.”

Terry Kang smiled and shrugged.

Clock Rabbit realized there was no room for him to interfere and backed down.

“Understood. Contact me anytime if you need anything. I'll report immediately once a worthwhile request comes in.”

“Sure. Good work.”

Michael placed a silver business card containing the new location of the reopened Club ‘Alice’ on the desk, then slipped out of the office like a ghost.

Once silence returned, Seolhwi slowly crawled out of the shadows.

《Hey, why didn't you just take one of the people that rabbit offered? Just how amazing is this person you're planning to hire? Do you even know anyone in this land of long-noses?》

“Yes, I do. While you were sleeping without a care in the world... I was running around working hard.”

《Really? Who is it?》

“Don't rush me. Just wait. They'll come here on their own soon enough.”

After that day, Do-jun went back and forth between his hideout and office as he began running the agency.

He reviewed the administrative paperwork he had to handle personally and spent every spare moment training and optimizing the combination of Navajo sorcery and Eastern arts.

‘Rather than wasting time on endless minor jobs, it's far more efficient to swing big once in a while.’

About a week after opening the agency.

Late one night...

Knock, knock.

A heavy, restrained knock broke the silence.

Seolhwi, who had been snoring away on the desk, instantly bristled and let out a low growl.

《Be careful, Kang Do-jun! The energy beyond that door isn't ordinary. It smells wild, rough, and sharp. It might be an evil spirit.》

But Do-jun rose without the slightest tension.

If anything, he looked pleased.

“It's fine. Not an evil spirit.”

《How do you know?》

“Because I'm the one who called them here.”

《What?》

Then Wakan Tanka's voice sounded as well.

《Haha, you've invited an interesting human.》

《Big brother, you know who it is?》

《Of course.》

《Why are you two always plotting things together without me?》

As Seolhwi sulked, Do-jun approached the door and turned the handle without hesitation.

The door opened with a rush of cold night air, revealing a young woman in a worn leather jacket.

Healthy bronze skin, mysterious golden eyes.

Beautiful enough to naturally draw the eye, her entire body radiated spiritual power steeped in the energy of the wilderness.

“Hello, Nana. It's been a while.”

It was Nana—the successor of Hataałii Tso, leader of the Navajo, and the sorcerer who had once fought Kang Do-jun in a fierce battle.

The Catastrophe-Class Exorcist Is Too Strong in America

Author

: Gisigami

Production Date

: September 15, 2026

Publisher

: ACES Media Co., Ltd.

Editor

: ACES Media Editorial Team

Address

: 12F, Urban Bench Building, 325 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Email

: acesmedia9@gmail.com

※ This work was published by ACES Media Co., Ltd. under contract with the copyright holder,

and its contents may not be used in any form or by any means without permission from the company and the author.

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