Artifact-Devouring Player

Chapter 163: Invitation - (3)

“That’s a meaningful necklace.”

“I know this might sound unnecessary, but please don’t think I can’t distinguish between business and personal matters.”

“Hm.”

“As a Player, I see a lot of potential in you, Sanghyun, and I want to invest in your safety.”

“Thank you very much. Then I’ll hold onto it for the time being.”

“Hoho, alright. I’ll take it back if I ever get a boyfriend. Not that I’m sure that’ll ever happen.”

She smiled bashfully.

Thanks to Do Kyunghye, he was able to obtain a truly important detection device.

The Constellation Devourer was an entity that stood at the complete opposite end of the path from Sanghyun—no matter how he looked at it.

It was only a matter of time. Sanghyun was already thinking that he’d be targeted someday.

“Could you explain a bit more about the necklace’s function?”

“Just a moment. I’ll put it on you myself.”

While Sanghyun asked, Do Kyunghye carefully fastened the necklace around his neck from behind.

It unintentionally turned into a scene like a back hug, but Sanghyun accepted it calmly.

He could only feel her hesitating every time her hand brushed against his neck.

This necklace wasn’t classified as an Artifact, so there was no issue even if it overlapped with an existing necklace Artifact.

“For now, it can detect a Constellation Devourer within 5 meters. It used to be 1 meter, so that’s an upgrade.”

“If they’re that close, it should definitely pick them up.”

Sanghyun nodded.

Someone might say that this device was too limited, but that would be out of ignorance.

Unless the system had created it, making a detection device like this was practically impossible.

Rather, it would be more appropriate to praise Do Kyungsoo and his research and development team for making it possible.

“Yes. It vibrates immediately and the mana it emits from inside points directly at the target.”

“Are there any weaknesses?”

“We had a chance to test it once on two captured Constellation Devourers.”

“Yes.”

“It only works when the target has formed a contract with a completely evil-aligned Constellation. It’s closer to detecting an unhideable demonic aura.”

“So if they’re aligned with a Constellation near the border, or not fully immersed in darkness, there’s a blind spot.”

“Exactly.”

“But it should definitely catch those who are rotten to the core. It seems very useful.”

“Please always be careful. If needed, I can ask my brother to assign you a personal guard.”

“No, thank you. If someone really intends to target me, neutralizing a personal guard would be a piece of cake.”

Unless a top-tier Player was by his side 24/7, bodyguards were nothing more than a comfort.

If a Player was strong enough to be worth targeting, then enemy forces would naturally anticipate protective measures.

Regardless.

Thanks to Do Kyunghye’s concern, he had obtained a useful safety measure.

It couldn’t detect 100% of Constellation Devourers, but the difference between having it and not having it would be huge.

“Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

She asked gently.

Her trembling voice brushed his ears, trying to choose the next dish to cook to suit Sanghyun’s taste.

After resting for an entire day, Sanghyun finally began attending to his planned schedule.

Unlike before, when he moved with lingering fatigue.

Now that he had decided to focus entirely on rest, his body felt so light it could almost fly.

The first person he met the next morning was Lee Gah Hee. She had a message from the Union.

Meeting her not as a neighborhood resident but as an employee of the Union, her vibe was certainly different from usual.

The biggest difference was the size of her eyes, which looked almost twice as big thanks to makeup. The power of transformation?

Seeing the slightly nervous Lee Gah Hee, Sanghyun tossed out a lighthearted joke.

“Somehow, you keep ending up handling face-to-face matters with me, even though it’s outside your department. I owe you. I must be the troublemaker.”

“Hoho. Not at all. It’s nice to have an excuse to show my face! You don’t have to worry so much.”

“Understood.”

“For starters, the Union is really excited about your upcoming challenge. Even the VIPs are paying attention.”

“By VIP, you mean...?”

“The President of the Union. I’ve never met him myself, either.”

President of the Player Union, Yoon Geonchang.

He was a man veiled in mystery.

Not only did he rarely appear in public, but he was also famous for wearing a mask at official events.

There were even conspiracy theorists who claimed that Yoon Geonchang didn’t actually exist.

They believed the Player Union had invented him as a fantasy.

But Sanghyun knew the truth.

He was a real person.

He simply disliked public activity.

He believed the most natural way was for everything to flow as it should.

That’s why he had stepped back from practical matters and left almost all authority to the Deputy President.

In any case, the fact that he was taking an interest said a lot.

“That’s more attention than I deserve. Honestly, I haven’t even started yet.”

“As long as you succeed in the Blood Tower Quest, the base reward alone has been set at 50 billion won.”

500 billion won!

It was by no means a small amount.

In the entire history of the Union, no single Player had ever received that much money.

In fact, it also symbolized just how significant conquering the Blood Tower truly was.

Because the quest was only open to Players under level 200, the difficulty was exceptionally high.

“That’s definitely motivating.”

“In addition, if you succeed, there will be media coverage, of course, and the Union itself will run advertisements.”

“So it’s a good chance to enhance my public image too?”

“Yes! You’d be setting a record under the name of a Korean Player that’s never been achieved before!”

“When’s the entry window?”

“3 p.m. Exactly six hours from now. At that time, the East Asian region will be granted access, and our country will participate as previously arranged.”

“Got it. That works perfectly.”

“Are you absolutely sure there’s nothing you need? You said you didn’t require anything during the pre-contact call.”

“I’ve already got everything ready. I don’t need companions, and I’ve stocked up on all the potions I need.”

“We can also provide Artifact rentals.”

“I doubt there’s anything that could replace the greatsword I’m currently using. And I want to do it on my own anyway.”

The Frenzied Demon Sword, which had now fully bonded with him, was a weapon Sanghyun could wield freely, even subconsciously.

And he didn’t feel any need to owe the Union any further favors just to complete the challenge. It was a matter of pride.

“You’re drawing a clear line with the Union, I see.”

“If I put it positively, I’m just keeping boundaries. It really depends on how you look at it.”

Sanghyun said this calmly.

He didn’t dislike the Union’s interest.

But being used by them, or playing the role of a mere figurehead, was something he disliked even more.

“Understood. Then go ahead and proceed when you’re ready! We’ll handle everything that comes after your success!”

He smiled quietly.

Even if not the President, it seemed the executives under him had already drunk the celebratory soup.

Sanghyun hadn’t even succeeded yet and was still preparing nervously—yet they were already talking about post-victory plans.

This was exactly why Sanghyun didn’t want to rely on the Union or get too attached. Their limits were obvious.

Meanwhile.

Before challenging the Blood Tower, Sanghyun used his spare time to meet with reporter Park Jungmin.

They had agreed to publish a detailed article about the recent large-scale raid with Do Kyungsoo.

With Do Kyungsoo already cooperating, only Sanghyun’s interview remained.

Since Park Jungmin’s articles had high credibility and were widely respected in Player media—

The interview offered far more gain than loss, so Sanghyun didn’t refuse and went ahead.

The location was Park Jungmin’s office.

It was on the top floor of a high-end building in a bustling area. He occupied the entire floor.

Inside, there was not only an interview space, but a full studio where photo shoots and broadcasts could be done.

It was practically an entertainment agency’s headquarters—and the entire space belonged solely to him.

It gave Sanghyun a sense of how much wealth Park Jungmin had accumulated while living as both a Player and a journalist.

“You’ve worked hard. Was the trip here alright?”

“Not at all inconvenient. I didn’t expect you to send a car. I came comfortably in a limousine, thanks.”

A level of treatment far beyond what he’d expected.

Of course, considering his new stature, it made some sense—but the scale still surprised him.

“Before we begin the interview, I’d like to have a bit of a personal conversation first. Would that be alright?”

The lighting reflected sharply off Park Jungmin’s glasses.

His expression had become serious—this was clearly not a joke or light remark.

Even if it were just a joke, anything a journalist like him said carried weight. That’s how well-connected he was.

Sanghyun immediately focused.

“Sure.”

“To be honest, I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for me to bring this up so carelessly...”

“Sounds like it’s a sensitive topic.”

“Do you know about the Invitations?”

“Invitations?”

“Yes. In the Player world, the word ‘invitation’ carries a slightly different meaning.”

From his memories of his past life, Sanghyun instantly understood what the man was referring to.

Invitations.

They signified the opportunity to determine the hierarchy among top and upper-class Players.

In other words, through mutual agreement, Players would legally compete—either publicly or in secret—at designated venues.

It was a major event.

Most of the famous Players participated, and refusing to join was seen as a major disgrace.

Those who declined to test their skills against others were labeled cowards or losers.

Some people asked, “Can’t someone refuse to participate based on personal choice?”

But the problem was that the spectators didn’t care about such individual beliefs or intentions.

Since the media treated Invitations as a big issue, anyone who declined was the first to be sacrificed by public opinion.

“I’m aware.”

“It’s been quiet for months, but recently, Mystery seems to have gotten an itch and started moving again.”

Mystery.

The one who sent the Invitations.

And the host of the event.

Sanghyun asked.

“Are Invitations circulating in Korea too?”

“Yes. Mystery’s personal website already lists the names of those who’ve been invited.”

Park Jungmin turned his monitor toward Sanghyun. The screen had already been prepared.

[Sun Guild: Joo Eunhye]

[Sun Guild: Ma Dongho]

Familiar names.

They were ranked third and fourth in the Sun Guild, both formidable talents.

If compared to the Eden Guild, they were in similar positions to Jo Jinho or Shin Taeri—certified elites.

Both of them were also notorious for being highly combative, so their appearance on the list wasn’t surprising.

However.

“The problem is, whether it was a mistake or not, I saw a very curious page when I was browsing the site yesterday.”

Park Jungmin opened a new screen. It contained completely unexpected information.

And that was—

[Korean Player: Shin Sanghyun]

It was no longer visible now.

But in the screenshot Park Jungmin had captured, Sanghyun’s name and photo were unmistakably listed. The rıghtful source is novel⦿fire.net

It wasn’t a lookalike or someone with the same name—it was undoubtedly Sanghyun himself.