I felt pieces of confetti sitting on top of my head, but I couldn’t react properly.
Compared to attending the Demon Race’s Halloween party and being entrusted with a treasure from the Tuatha de Dannan, this situation felt more surreal.
Hwang Jiho brought his private plane all the way to England, along with our classmates to celebrate my birthday.
I couldn’t grasp it very well.
What brought me back to my senses was the notifications from my earring-type devices.
A constant “ding-dong” sound was ringing in my ears.
Several people seemed to be sending messages all at once.
“Vice pres’ device is ringing.”
“Take it, Euishin-ah!”
Maeng Hyodon, who was standing near me, must’ve heard the notification sounds.
Kim Yuri urged me to check my messages as if she already knew what they say.
As I floated a hologram, I witnessed several messages piling up in my inbox.
They were all messages wishing me a happy birthday.
[Yoo Sanghoon] HBD.
Yoo Sanghoon’s short message.
[Jang Namwook] Happy birthday, Euishin-ah. For your information, I’m asleep right now and this is a scheduled message. I have to go to bed early for early morning training tomorrow, so I’ll wrap it up quickly. I’ll greet you again after the training. Ah, Shihoo says happy birthday too. I said greetings are meant to be said personally, but Shihoo said you don’t check his messages often, Euishin-ah. I understand how you feel, but I feel sorry for Shihoo too. Why don’t you give him a chance sometimes? Oh, he’s probably sent you a message too.
Jang Namwook’s long message.
He said Shihoo wishes me a happy birthday too, but I’ll put it aside for now.
[Park Seunghyun] Happy birthday.
[Sung Siwan] Happy birthday, Euishin-ah. Are you done with your overseas trip with Gukeon hyung? See you at the dorms.
[Geum Chansol] Happy birthday, Suspicious Vice President-nim. Looks like you and your class are on great terms. Happy b.d.
[Wang Chansol] Happy bdayyyy
Aside from them, Moon Saeron and the others from the newspaper department, batchmates, sunbaes, and hoobaes sent me birthday messages too.
Most of them were from Eungwang High, but others like Hong Gyubin also greeted me.
I got a message from Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong too.
Messages from non-humans were flooding in too.
The two descendants busy with preparing for the entrance exam, Eun Seoho and Eun Iho, as well as the youngest, Eun Jaeho, sent messages too.
[Eun Seoho] Happy birthday, Euishin hyung!
[Eun Iho] Happy birthday! We wanted to have a celebration together, but we heard you’re busy TT Can’t we all hang out next week?
[Eun Seoho] We’ll study and review hard to have more free time TT
[Eun Jaeho] Happy birthday Euishin hyung. We’re waiting for you.
[Eun Jaeho] (Photo)
My senses perked up the moment I saw the photo sent by Eun Jaeho!
The picture showed a genius, no, an angel wearing a colorful cone hat.
Seeing our smart and kind Olmu all dressed up to celebrate my birthday, it finally began to sink in.
It’s really my birthday.
The date and time shown in the photo information was November 1st, midnight.
‘The private jet hasn’t crossed the date line yet, but it must be November 1st in Korea now.’
Everyone sent a birthday message as the first seconds of November 1st came.
I could feel my classmates looking at me with excited faces as I checked my messages.
This is too unexpected, so I wasn’t sure how to react.
Though I know that my classmates are all kind-hearted, it never crossed my mind that they would do all this for me.
“…Thanks for the greetings guys..”
My classmates’ faces looked a bit embarrassed, so they greeted me again.
They guided me to the middle of the table to sit, and I saw the cake they prepared.
It showed a chessboard painted with chocolate syrup, and almost everything except for the chocolate seemed to have an orange base.
As soon as I sat down, Hwang Jiho started lighting the chess-piece-shaped candles.
There were a total of eight candles, one large candle, and seven small candles.
It symbolizes my age, 17.
‘I never thought I’d be celebrated on my 17th birthday.’
Before I came to this world, when I was 17, I couldn’t afford to celebrate my own birthday.
Media attention on me had somewhat cooled off by November, but I didn’t get along well with the same classmates who had suffered because of me at the beginning of their admission.
My relatives, who were in charge of me for the prize money for chess tournaments and broadcast appearance fees, couldn’t have given me a birthday celebration since I already quit chess.
Perhaps because of that experience, I didn’t even think that the day my 17th birthday would be celebrated would come.
“How did you know it was my birthday? Wasn’t it hard coming all the way here?”
“You’ve been doing things for everyone’s birthdays, Euishin-ah. This is the least we could do.”
“Yes, this distance is nothing to us if it’s for you, Euishin-ah!”
After Kim Yuri and Saeum of April, Kwon Lena added a word.
“Haha, we could’ve known by looking at your default nickname. I actually didn’t realize until Yuri told us.”
“What’s with jo2god111? Did you make it when you were a choding? It’s so child—”
“Yours is more childish though, Daesok-ie.”
Min Geurin sided with me before Song Daesok could finish his biting remarks.
…Though I also think that my ID is childish.
It’s just difficult to change since it’s already familiar to me.
I’ve indeed used it since I was in elementary school.
“Thanks for inviting me to the vice pres’ birthday party too! I wanted to greet him in this kind of event.”
“But isn’t it technically October 31st still? We haven’t crossed timezones yet.”
“Well, if we’re to follow the flag principle, that wouldn’t be the case. The Korean Flag is on this plane, so we’re technically in Korea.”
Isn’t that principle used to determine whether or not domestic law should be applied?
Anyway, Hwang Jiho seems to want to claim that it’s currently November 1st, even though we’re still flying through the skies.
“And since Jo Euishin is Korean, there’s no issue with him celebrating his birthday based on the date and time in Korea. Alright, let’s get ready to sing him a birthday song. Don’t forget to blow out the candles once it’s over, Jo Euishin.”
Hwang Jiho was speaking to me as if he were talking to a child who was experiencing a birthday party for the first time.
Anyway, we all sang a happy birthday song together, with musical accompaniment.
Kwon Lena took out a violin and Mok Wooram took out a melodica.
The short song was improvised and made into a wonderful performance.
After the song, applause rang out as I blew out the candles.
I somehow kept feeling embarrassed, but I was grateful for the warm hearts of my classmates.
“Let’s cut the cake.”
“Yep! Oh, there’s a white chocolate plate with your name, Euishin. Euishin will eat that part.”
As my classmates requested, the cake was cut and placed on plates one by one and distributed.
Hani, who had been especially quiet, was handed the final cut and the sweetest part of the cake.
We chatted while eating a slice of the orange-flavored cake that the other kids chose themselves.
That’s when I suddenly remembered the existence of a UR-ranked item card in my item window.
‘…My classmates were worried so I should tell them.’
Since the process of retrieving it was complicated, I hesitated whether it would be okay to disclose it here, but I eventually decided to take it out.
Besides, isn’t this private plane property of the Hwangmyeong Group?
The security here is top-notch, and I trust my classmates.
‘They’re not ones to gossip around.’
I waited for a gap in the conversation before speaking.
“About the reason why I went to England…”
As soon as I brought it up, the surroundings turned quiet.
They didn’t ask the reason, but I can sense that they were curious about why I was in England.
I thought Hwang Jiho would stop me, but he was silently eating a cake as if to tell me that I can do what I wish.
‘It would be quicker to show it than explain it with words.’
From my item window, I took out a UR-rank item card, Imoogi’s Exorcism’
I asked the two to hand me Imoogi’s Exorcism in advance since I had a way to bring it to the country without needing to pass through customs.
As soon as she saw the surface of the card, Min Geurin jumped in surprise.
She recognized her own work.
‘…Imoogi’s Exorcism!”
“Where did you find this?”
“Wait, that’s an item card right?”
“A UR-rank item! Woah…!”
“Oh, I’ve seen it reported on TV that it was stolen. It’s a player’s work, so it doesn’t matter much if it becomes a card.”
All the kids were surprised to see Min Geurin’s reaction, which confirmed that the item was genuine.
“So you went to England to search for this… I would’ve come to help if you told me!”
“Me too!”
“Why doesn’t this vice pres guy talk to us?”
The kids were half happy, half disappointed.
Min Geurin looked at me and the item alternately with a grateful expression.
Song Daesok looked happy too, but it seemed to decrease a little when he saw Min Geurin overjoyed as she profusely thanked me.
‘…It will be hard to take it back now.’
I wanted to return Imoogi’s Exorcism to Min Geurin quickly, but that’s not possible.
There’s a clue left in here by the former manager of the Players’ Association – Korea, and I haven’t figured it out yet.
“I still have something to do related to this painting, so is it possible that I hold on to it for now?”
“Huh…?”
My words left Min Geurin puzzled and troubled.
But she didn’t have to contemplate for long.
“Let me and master know what’s going on with the painting first. And then I’ll let you take care of it.”
“…Will it be okay with you?”
“Yep. I’m more assured to leave it to you than to the art museum.”
It’s far from safe since the Demon Race and the Black Screen are interested in this.
Still, since Min Geurin is the creator of the painting, she has a right to know.
I nodded, and Min Geurin’s expression turned brighter.
“I’ll tell master.”
With Min Geurin’s permission, I had the chance to have Imoogi’s Exorcism in my possession.
* * *
We split ways early after arriving at the airport to prepare for Monday.
We spent a leisurely time in the aircraft celebrating my birthday, so I didn’t feel that our time together was short.
I wanted to go with the other dorm kids back to the dorms, but Hwang Jiho’s words made me stop in my tracks.
“Eunho is waiting for you.”
“…Eunho?”
Hearing Eunho’s name made me feel complicated.
I remembered Cheon Sungheon, who never missed celebrating my birthday.
“As you know, it’s difficult to handle my alter egos with precision when my main body is outside Korea. Eunho helped me with my work.”
Hwang Jiho’s additional explanation made me worried about Eunho.
He just woke up, but he’s already helping the clan head with important matters?
As if he read my thoughts, Hwang Jiho added a word.
“Are you worried about Eunho? You should worry about yourself.”
What does that mean?
Hwang Jiho didn’t add anything that would answer my question.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the meaning behind Hwang Jiho’s words was immediately confirmed.
“Happy birthday, Euishin hyung.”
Eunho, who neatly tied his long hair, was waiting for me in one of the mansion’s annexes.
“Did you enjoy your thief activities, Euishin hyung? You left a lot of people who were worried about you, so you should’ve enjoyed your time, Euishin hyung.”
Eunho’s tone was sweet, but I could feel every single cell in my body shrivel.
“No, I guess there’s a better way of addressing you, Euishin hyung. How about, hmm… Red Wall Thief hyung?”
