Chapter 340

[Seong Jihan, Already Becoming a Constellation? The Daegi Guild is Contacting Players for Willingness to Receive Sponsorship.]

[The First Player Sponsored by Constellation Seong Jihan, Yoon Sejin. When Asked for His Thoughts, He Claims, "I Haven't Felt Much Impact Yet, but Being Officially Recognized as a Constellation Would Have Tremendous Effects."]

[Despite Announced Insignificant Constellation Effects, Majority of Players Express Desire to Be Sponsored by Seong Jihan.]

The next day,

It was revealed that the Daegi Guild had secretly offered Constellation sponsorship to players.

These players were all remarkably talented but lacked a Constellation of their own.

People showed interest as articles poured out on this matter.

-Wow, can you sponsor even as a Constellation candidate? That's intriguing.

-Yoon Sejin said the effects aren't that noticeable yet…

-But it's definitely more trustworthy than the alien Constellations LOL

-Not just aliens. Remember how everyone was brainwashed during Gilgamesh's time… Can't trust a Constellation of human origin either – –;

-Seeing Seong Jihan's leveling speed, he'll become a Constellation soon, better to get sponsored in advance.

-Wow, already level 400? :O

Even if sponsorship seemed minimal for now,

Given Seong Jihan's rapid ascension, it seemed a foregone conclusion he'd become a Constellation soon.

Moreover, despite an improvement in the aliens' perception of humanity,

Most of that positive image was attributed to Player Seong Jihan, with other human players still being undervalued.

Thus, sponsorship by alien Constellations wasn't actively happening.

Amidst this, excluding Yoon Sejin and Lee Hayeon, three slots were quickly filled.

[Seong Jihan Recruits 5 More for Constellation Sponsorship.]

[This Time Targeting Supporters? Offers Sponsorship to Players Responsible for Guild Development.]

Seong Jihan didn't stop at the original five but continued to recruit more sponsors.

This time focusing on players with supporting gifts, mainly those specializing in 'development'.

-Why would he sponsor Supporters? The Daegi Guild is at its peak; isn't it like nurturing someone else's talents for no reason?

-There must be a reason if Seong Jihan's doing it…

-Maybe it's to help humanity develop faster by also nurturing other guilds' Supporters?

-Since when was Seong Jihan so saintly LOL

-Saintly? How dare you compare him — Humanity has benefited immensely from him, far beyond what 100 saints could have achieved.

-Did Confucius ever make me healthy?

Most were puzzled by Seong Jihan's decision to sponsor Supporters from other guilds.

Yet, due to the overwhelming favorable opinions shaped by the race bonuses accrued, most assumed he had good intentions.

"All 5 people, including those Supporters from American First and the People's Association, agreed to receive sponsorship."

"Understood. Let's proceed immediately."

Seong Jihan, after reviewing the list from Lee Hayeon, added 5 more.

Originally intended for five,

He decided to invest in the Constellation shop after seeing how much fame Lee Hayeon could bring.

What he invested in was precisely the sponsorship slot expansion item.

Though 1,000 points of Constellation fame were required for the upgrade,

'It's worth the expenditure.'

Considering that the slot expansion allowed for five more to be taken in, it was a worthwhile investment.

If each could bring even just 20% of what Lee Hayeon could, the investment points would be recouped in a month.

Seong Jihan went further to upgrade the Constellation traits as well.

[Constellation Traits Enhanced.]

[The efficiency of Dominion and Sole Sovereignty traits moderately increases.]

[As levels of Dominion and Sole Sovereignty rise, the efficiency increases significantly.]

[Constellation Traits are in OFF state. The enhancement effects are inactive.]

'No immediate effect since it's upgraded, but it will differ once the traits are ON.'

The enhancement of Dominion and Sole Sovereignty traits.

However, due to their current OFF mode, no significant effects were observed.

Nevertheless, since this upgrade was essential for advancing the Constellation shop to LV.2,

Seong Jihan viewed it as an investment for the future while perusing the Constellation shop items.

[Constellation Shop LV.1]

Constellation Shop Upgrade – 50000P

Dominion LV.2 – 100000P

Sole Sovereignty LV.2 – 100000P

Constellation Traits Enhancement LV.2 – 50000P

Sponsorship Slot Expansion LV.2 – 20000P

Special Sponsorship Item Creation – 500P

The requirements for points increased significantly as LV.2 became available.

To upgrade these, upgrading the Constellation shop to LV.2 was essential.

'I don't have 50,000 points yet.'

After using his Constellation fame, Seong Jihan didn't have enough points for shop upgrades.

The only remaining item to spend points on was the 'Special Sponsorship Item Creation'.

'Let's try it out.'

500 points.

A significant figure, yet manageable.

With ten sponsorship candidates gathered, Seong Jihan was curious to see what item would appear and clicked on it.

Then,

[A Special Sponsorship Item Will Be Created…]

['Gift Bestowal – Random A-grade (Combat-Type)' item created.]

[This item can only be used on players under Constellation sponsorship.]

With this message, a scroll entered Seong Jihan's inventory.

Using this, could a Constellation give a gift to a player?

'A-grade for 500. It's a waste.'

Most players worthy of Constellation sponsorship already had superior gifts.

For humans, it ranged from a basic S upwards, typically averaging SS grade to even attract the attention of alien Constellations.

Who would receive an A-grade gift?

'It's practically useless. Can it be auctioned?'

Seong Jihan checked if the scroll could be sold, but,

[Special Sponsorship Items cannot be registered in the auction house.]

It wasn't sellable.

A Gift Bestowal Voucher that would simply take up space in the inventory.

'…Should I try one more time?'

After drawing something useless, Seong Jihan decided to generate another special item.

Then,

[A Special Sponsorship Item Will Be Created…]

['Gift Enhancement – 2 Month Voucher' item created.]

[This item can only be used on players under Constellation sponsorship.]

This time, an item that seemed more useful than before emerged.

'Gift enhancement, huh… I have someone in mind for this.'

Seong Jihan eyed Lee Hayeon, who was quietly observing him.

Her SSS-grade development gift had been greatly beneficial to him.

If enhanced, the growth rate bonus would likely increase even further.

'Currently at level 400, I won't benefit from this right now… But, for the overall development of players in the Daegi Guild, let's use it.'

Thinking of further boosting the already maximized growth rate, along with other bonuses, Seong Jihan used the gift enhancement voucher.

Then,

[Special Sponsorship has been granted to the sponsored player.]

[Constellation fame earned from the sponsored player temporarily increases.]

Observing him, Lee Hayeon's eyes widened with surprise.

"Boss I received a Constellation bonus?"

"Thought I'd try it out. How's it?"

"Incredible! It says the gift efficiency increases by 50%!"

"50%?"

Given the 2-month duration, the immediate effects of the enhancement voucher were more substantial than expected.

Regretting not doing this sooner crossed his mind, but,

'I can always draw it again later.'

With the satisfactory results, Seong Jihan turned his attention to the fame Lee Hayeon could now earn.

The fame, which was initially being accrued at 1 to 2 per hour,

Increased to 2 to 3 following the gift enhancement.

'This more than recovers the fame used.'

Though the first attempt was a failure, the second proved fruitful.

Ready to stop after a successful draw, a message caught his attention.

[One more Special Sponsorship Item Creation available in LV.1 shop.]

Knowing this could be his last chance before upgrading the shop,

'Let's use up before upgrading.'

He generated another special sponsorship item.

Then,

['Constellation Power Grant Voucher – Unique' item created.]

[This item can only be used on players under Constellation sponsorship.]

[Can only be applied to stats of Unique grade or higher belonging to the Constellation.]

"Ah…!"

An item worthy of the title 'Special Sponsorship Item' appeared.

* * *

An item capable of granting players a Unique stat, though it came with a prerequisite.

Among the Constellation's powers, only those of Unique grade or higher could be bestowed.

However, for Seong Jihan, this condition wasn't much of a limitation.

'My abilities are all Unique grade or above anyway.'

Martial Soul and Void.

Red and Eternity.

Each one was a spectacular ability, transcending even the Unique grade.

Among these, could he pass on one to a sponsored player?

'Hmm… What to give and to whom? First, what abilities are even possible?'

Seong Jihan decided to use the item to see.

[Which ability would you like to bestow?]

Then, four stats appeared, but apart from Martial Soul.

Void, Red, and Eternity were all marked with an X.

'Can't these abilities be bestowed?'

Eternity, being an incomplete stat, made sense,

But were Red and Void also unsuitable for human players?

Hovering over the X marks, explanations appeared.

[Eternity – Cannot be bestowed due to being an incomplete ability.]

[Void – Cannot be bestowed.]

[Red – Can be bestowed as a 'Dragon flame' stat, but only applicable to the 'Dragon' race.]

Reasons for their unavailability were specified.

'Considering Red would include Dragon Flame… That can't be bestowed, leaving only Martial Soul, huh.'

Seong Jihan gazed at Martial Soul.

[Martial Soul – Can be bestowed as a downgraded 'Martial Power' stat of Unique grade. However, bestowing Martial Power requires a special method.]

Martial Soul, which had been enhanced into a superior version integrating both Force and Martial Power.

However, among these, only Martial Power could be bestowed upon a sponsored player.

Fortunately, the condition to bestow Martial Power wasn't too stringent.

The requirement indicating a 'special method' referred to Dongbang Sak's brush.

'Dongbang Sak's broken brushes were plenty.'

Seong Jihan recalled from his past life.

Possessing the F grade Gift of the Wanderer's Insight, living day by day on bets and meals.

After learning that Dongbang Sak's brush was the condition to acquire Martial Power, he had inquired around for it.

Throughout that investigation, it was clear there were multiple broken brushes of Dongbang Sak.

Looking up Dongbang Sak's brush on the auction house, but,

'Nothing there.'

There were no related items of Dongbang Sak currently listed in the auction house.

Had all the brushes disappeared already?

Or maybe,

'They thought it was too high grade but useless to list on the auction house.'

Seong Jihan found this possibility likely and told Lee Hayeon,

"Make an announcement that if anyone has Dongbang Sak's broken brush, I'll buy it at a high price."

"Dongbang Sak's broken brush… Is that the item name?"

"Yes, it's an A grade."

"Got it. I'll broadcast it widely!"

"Yes, I'll mention it at the promotion match too. I'm buying Dongbang Sak's broken brush."

"Then there's no worry! The whole world will be watching the promotion match, the broken brush will surface soon."

Not satisfied with just joining the Master League,

Aiming for the Grand Master League promotion within a month, Seong Jihan's journey.

Given its significance, attracting global attention to this particular promotion exam was natural.

"Hopefully, the item turns up."

Then, the next day.

[Proceeding with the Grand Master League Promotion Match…]

[Player is a Constellation Candidate.]

[Qualifies for the leagues' stature.]

[Automatically promoted to the Grand Master League.]

"Automatic promotion?"

Automatic promotion for being a Constellation candidate?

Before, they'd assign me particularly tough maps, but now there's none of that for a Constellation candidate.

'I used to get quite the rewards from there.'

While Seong Jihan showed a touch of regret,

[A Special Mission is available for advancement to Space-2 Area.]

[Would you like to undertake the Special Mission?]

A special mission related to the Area was offered to him.

"I'll undertake it."

Might as well.

Accepting it, Seong Jihan was suddenly summoned elsewhere.

And in this altered world, what appeared before him was,

"…Sister?"

Standing petrified yet moving was the Witch of the Void, Seong Jiah.