Artifact-Devouring Player Chapter 39

39
“Ring of Acceleration”

■ Artifact Grade: Platinum

■ Artifact Introduction: Enables explosive acceleration that can surpass the limits of the human body.

At 2x acceleration, it consumes 20 mana per second, at 3x acceleration, it consumes 30, and at 4x acceleration, it consumes 40.

■ Agility +10

The same picture as when Yoon Dae-kyung gave up the Berserker Ring before.

Although the artifact’s effects are attractive, its ability to maintain them is extremely lacking.

Even if you are a level 2, 300 player, if you are not a magic player, your mana will be around 100 at best.

Even if you use the double acceleration ability, it will only last for 3 or 4 seconds at most.

Just when you’re about to get a taste of acceleration, the effect ends due to a lack of mana.

This is why it was inevitable that it would become an artifact that players would not be interested in.

Even if you only look at the additional stats it provides, it is embarrassing to call it a platinum-grade artifact.

‘It’s true that most players find artifacts that consume a lot of mana burdensome.’

I can fully understand why it’s unpopular.

If Sang-Hyeon were to purchase and eat this artifact, the option to consume mana would disappear.

Instead, the system will find a compromise in the form of a cooldown period. That’s probably a good thing.

A number of different scenarios came to mind.

What if you accelerate while the power is built up with a full charge?

Dash speed will be more than doubled compared to before, allowing you to attack enemies in one breath. Power will also increase.

“Ugh. Ugh. Are you going to buy it?”

She spoke first after wiping the sauce off her fingers with a handkerchief.

Sang-Hyeon could tell from her words that she was not a professional salesperson.

Bargaining usually starts with a fierce power struggle, but she already had the nuance of wanting Sang-hyeon to buy it.

It feels like he’s sending a hazy look while pretending not to notice.

The traces of her hands already on the artifact were proof of her longing.

“How much is it?”

“1.2 billion.”

The way he called out the price so naturally and without any hesitation showed an overwhelming greed.

When Sang-Hyeon didn’t answer and just smiled, she was the first to change the subject.

“I would like to sell it for 1.2 billion, but I think 1 billion would be the right price!”

Sang-Hyeon still hasn’t spoken.

In fact, it was an artifact that Sang-Hyeon absolutely needed. The acceleration ability had infinite utility. It had to be there.

When there was no response, she asked urgently.

“Isn’t 1 billion the regular price?”

“I’ll go look around somewhere else.”

Sang-Hyeon turned his head without any hesitation and looked in another direction.

“800 million! That’s a huge discount! Honestly, who sells a platinum artifact for 800 million?”

The fair price that Sang-Hyeon thinks is 700 million won. One more round of bargaining is needed.

In his previous life, Sang-Hyeon was skilled at such bargaining. Didn’t he get involved with all sorts of people and get into all sorts of trouble?

Haggling was a ‘survival skill’ that I had to learn, even though I didn’t want to learn it, in order to save money.

Sang-Hyeon said with emphasis.

“To be honest, it’s still here because no one has accepted it for that price so far.”

Her focus wavered after hearing the words. It was because he had hit the nail on the head. Sang-Hyeon threw a carrot in response.

“I think that the artifact is worth 700 million won. Then I will buy it right away.”

“If it’s really 700 million, call right away?”

“Call. Buy it now.”

Sang-Hyeon answered with a smile. I definitely felt it. She is not a professional tradeswoman. Rather, she is closer to a complete beginner.

* * *

Sang-Hyeon bought two artifacts from her. Both artifacts had good strategic value.

First, the Ring of Acceleration was negotiated to start at 1.2 billion and end at 700 million.

The second bracelet she put up for sale started at 1 billion and was eventually negotiated down to 600 million.

“Bracelet of Potential Enhancement”

■ Artifact Grade: Platinum

■ Artifact Introduction: Consumes 10 mana per second to maintain the wearer’s agility stat increased by 1.5 times.

However, when mana runs out, the strengthened state is automatically canceled.

This was also an artifact that caused serious mana consumption, just like the previous ring.

However, it was a perfect fit for Sang-Hyeon, who was looking for a way to effectively increase his agility stat, because he could eliminate mana consumption.

It seemed clear to me why players who had passed by her stand had turned away.

To handle artifacts of this level without difficulty, you need to be a player of at least level 500.

However, such players are not very interested in platinum-grade artifacts.

“Thank you so much! I thought it would never sell… … . I found a really good buyer!”

She repeatedly bowed her head and expressed her gratitude to Sang-Hyeon.

It’s already been a month since I started selling at the Hyunjeong Market, paying the expensive entrance fee.

It has been touched by hundreds, if not thousands, of players, but no one has ever shown any interest in purchasing it.

She herself felt that there were many penalties for configuring artifacts.

But when Sang-Hyeon showed up like a prince on a white horse and bought me the artifact, I couldn’t help but be grateful.

‘I am the one who should be thankful.’

Sang-Hyeon smiled an invisible smile. It didn’t really matter to Sang-Hyeon how much he had paid for it.

The important thing was the composition of the artifact. The question was how much synergy it could have when eaten.

Sang-Hyeon thought that if he could increase acceleration and agility stats without consuming mana, it would be dozens of times more beneficial.

Although it was only his own gain that no one noticed, he could guarantee that its value was at least hundreds of billions.

“Has the transfer been confirmed?”

“Yes! 1.3 billion won! Wow… … With this, I can buy some delicious food and also help support our daycare center!”

“Daycare?”

An unexpected word came out of her and Sang-Hyeon asked cautiously.

“Yes! There is a daycare center where children who are loved and cherished live diligently. Their friends are also suffering.”

“Ah… … . You’re doing a good job.”

“The happiest moment while working as a player is when I get this much money. I won’t have to worry about operating expenses for the time being!”

Her expression, with its innocent and bright smile, was one of joy that could only come from sincerity.

Pitter-patter. Pitter-patter.

In the meantime, she put another chocolate bar in her mouth and chewed and swallowed the contents diligently.

Then he took out a crumpled business card from his pocket and handed it to Sang-Hyeon.

“My name is Ham Ji-yeon! I have no luck with artifacts, so everything I get has options like this.”

“Are you a shit hand?”

“Haha, that’s right! I’ll contact you next time I get another artifact, so give me your number too!”

The numbers were exchanged in a flash.

I wondered if I would ever buy another artifact like this from Ham Ji-yeon… … but you never know what will happen to people.

“Then I hope we meet again.”

“Thank you for buying it for me! Bye! Oh, excuse me, what is your name? I need to register!”

“This is Shin Sang-hyun.”

The belated statement is over.

* * *

After that, he looked around Hyunjeong Market, but he couldn’t find any artifacts with good price-to-performance ratio that Sang-Hyeon liked.

In other words, there was no trash option that Sang-Hyeon wanted. There was no such thing as a guy who would turn into gold when eaten.

So, after purchasing the artifact from Ham Ji-yeon, I ended my trip to Hyunjeong Market and returned home.

After adding Ham Ji-yeon as a friend on Chat, I looked at her profile picture and I thought I knew what kind of life she lives.

Her profile picture showed her smiling brightly, arm in arm with nearly a hundred children.

Regardless of her circumstances, she would have bought the artifact, but she felt good because it seemed like a meaningful expense.

As soon as he entered the house, Sang-Hyeon immediately ate the two artifacts.

As expected, the foods depicted were a salty pepperoni pizza and a crazy sweet chocolate bar.

Since sweet and salty food was a flavor that Sang-Hyeon also liked, he quickly devoured the food and examined the abilities he had embodied.

“acceleration”

■ Skill Level: Stage 1 (0.0%)

■ Skill Introduction: When using the acceleration skill, acceleration is tripled for 10 seconds.

Cooldown: 1 minute.

The ability that was in the Ring of Acceleration was inherited in the form above along with the Agility stat of 4.

Instead of the acceleration being fixed at 3x and 10 seconds, the cooldown is now 1 minute.

‘Psychedelic, I think it’ll have good synergy when combined with full charging. It’ll definitely be useful.’

I like it. The fact that it can be applied in various ways is a definite plus.

『Agility Mastery』

■ Skill Level: Stage 1 (0.0%)

■ Skill Introduction: Only in dungeons and rifts, the permanent agility stat remains increased by 1.5 times. Passive Skill.

And the potential enhancement bracelet was inherited in the form of agility mastery.

It has become a form that is specially activated under special conditions.

A passive skill that does not require you to decide whether to use the skill or not. So, it is actually closer to a title effect.

“There’s still 2.6 billion left.”

Looking at my balance, I still had plenty of money. Of course, if I put my mind to it, I could spend it in a matter of seconds.

“First of all, I need to check my memories of the Black Gate again before meeting Kim Mi-so tomorrow.”

Sang-Hyeon sat down, placed a piece of paper in front of him, and picked up a pen.

A Black Gate strategy where you can definitely obtain an epic-grade artifact.

Since this was a dungeon where teamwork with one’s partner was more important than anyone else, Sang-Hyeon planned to do his best.

If Kim Mi-so and I don’t get along well, Black Gate will become a land of death rather than a place of blessing and opportunity.

Sweep. Sweep. Sweep.

Sang-Hyeon’s hands moved busily as he steadily recalled his memories.

* * *

The next day.

As promised to Kim Mi-so, Sang-Hyeon headed to Gangnam Station, where the Eden Guild’s special training ground was located.

Although Gangnam Station is famous for being expensive, Eden Guild’s building is located right at Exit 1.

And on the opposite side, there was the building of the Sun Guild, which always competed with the Eden Guild for the top 5 ranking among domestic guilds.

The two guilds, known for their rivalry with each other, were competitively buying up buildings in the area.

“Huh? Isn’t that Shin Sang-hyun?”

“I heard you even set up a separate guild, but what’s going on in our building?”

“I bet it was Kim Mi-so who sang it. She said she was really interested in it.”

“Well, it’s amazing that even reporter Park Jeong-min, who is good at sniffing out promising talents, got involved.”

“I heard the Players Association is also interested?”

As soon as Sang-Hyeon entered the lobby, the Eden Guild members who recognized him started gossiping.

As Sang-Hyeon began to gain some fame, there were quite a few people who knew him.

Rather, it is surprising that Ham Ji-yeon did not recognize Sang-hyeon right away at the Hyunjeong Market.

As Sang-Hyeon went through the entrance procedure in the building lobby and entered, a man ran up to him.

He was a large man, similar in height to Sang-hyeon at 185cm, but much larger than Sang-hyeon.

“Mr. Shin Sang-hyun, is this you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Sang-Hyeon recognized him right away.

Jo Jin-ho.

He is one of the top three named players in the Eden Guild’s inspection line.

Prosecutor Sang-Hyeon couldn’t help but know him. Jo Jin-Ho was a defensive prosecutor who specialized in defense rather than offense.

Jo Jin-ho’s nickname was not called the Iron Wall for nothing. It was a shield that was difficult to break through.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Jo Jin-ho from Eden Guild. I have some business to attend to with the chairman right now. I will help you with the guidance.”

Jo Jin-ho carefully opened his mouth.

Sang-Hyeon had met Jo Jin-Ho in his previous life, but he had been completely ignored by him back then.

In the first place, it was a tree that Sang-Hyeon couldn’t even look at because it was in a place he couldn’t reach.

But now it was different.

He, who had never even paid attention to her, became her guide for a brief moment in this life.

‘It’s something you only see if you live long enough.’

It is definitely something to live long and live again and see. I was deeply moved by the relationship that began like this.