“So it turns out today is my birthday.”

Halloween had just ended on October 31, and now it was November 1.

I was aware of the date itself, but hadn’t connected it to being my birthday.

With so many things to think about, I hadn’t found the time or priority to recall such minor details.

Last year, my classmates had traveled all the way to England to celebrate, which remained a vivid and precious memory.

This year, though someone must have congratulated me, I hadn’t bothered to remember exactly when.

Even as rice cake and neatly wrapped gift boxes were placed before me, it didn’t feel real.

The birthday wishes had the same effect — I barely managed to respond with thanks, and the Tigers started chatting.

“According to Baekho, Jo Yi-shin didn’t even remember his own birthday.”

“I didn’t lie.”

“If you hate what he does, you’ll doubt and contradict even the truth.”

“I really believed he forgot his birthday!”

“Black Tiger, your eyes are half-closed, so just play the birthday song and go to sleep.”

The Tigers who had lived since the Mythic Age were wearing traditional five-colored cone hats.

Red Tiger hadn’t worn his earlier, but it seemed he’d just taken off a red veil.

Instead of spending time with Ungnyeo, he probably lay in wait to avoid seeming unnatural late at night.

And it wasn’t just him—soon after, Kim Shin-rok appeared following Ungnyeo.

“Uishin, this one’s for you.”

Kim Shin-rok placed the cone hat on my head.

Up close, it was clearly made of paper and handmade—it seemed he was the maker.

“We picked and attached the hat strings ourselves!”

“Actually, we tried making the hats ourselves, but after a few injuries, we left it to Shin-rok oppa.”

How could making paper hats cause injuries?

I could only imagine paper cuts, but the descendants said they tried to decorate the hats with otherworldly ores, broke a carving knife, and the snapped blade scratched a hand.

They were so focused on the task they nearly got hurt preparing my birthday party; I was grateful but also a little scared.

It was a pity that all the descendants, inheriting Eunho’s blood that created masterpieces like the divine Joamdogwang, seemed to lack crafting talent.

“Did you get hurt badly? Are you okay?”

While Kim Shin-rok tied ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ the hat strings, the descendants raised their hands, signaling they were fine.

I couldn’t tell if the wounds were minor or if they simply healed fast as descendants.

Then Black Tiger accompanied the birthday song.

Despite sleepy eyes, he played the flute perfectly; the angel clapped her feet to the beat, and the Tigers sang, creating a fantastic performance.

Thinking that such a brief but magnificent show was prepared just for my birthday made me both happy and embarrassed, barely managing to thank them.

“Hahaha! When facing demons, you respond so quickly and speak calmly, but now you can’t.”

Hwang Ji-ho teased, though somehow looked happy.

The other Tigers wore similar expressions.

I heard those words and saw those reactions but couldn’t respond properly.

It was almost better to perform such a ridiculous farce right before the demons.

White Tiger was smirking, seemingly trying to broadcast my thoughts, but fortunately, the moment didn’t last long.

“It’s late; it’s time to put the kids to bed. My son has class tomorrow.”

Among the ‘kids’ was the nearly 5,000-year-old Kim Shin-rok.

From Red Tiger’s perspective, Kim Shin-rok was still a child; even Black Tiger had seen him as a newborn.

Kim Shin-rok flushed slightly, as if to object, but Ungnyeo silently placed a hand on his arm, and he fell silent.

Following the Tigers’ encouragement, everyone went to bed.

I carried the still-nodding angel and the unopened gift boxes to the guest room.

“Jo Yi-shin, especially you need to sleep early. Tomorrow will be very busy once the sun rises.”

It was Monday, so no chance of an easy day.

Instead of responding to Hwang Ji-ho’s obvious words, I simply said “Good night” and passed by.

He looked at me cheerfully.

Though I basically ignored the conversation, he seemed pleased.

Then he reached out, untied my hat strings, and placed the cone hat on the box.

Only then did I realize I had been wearing it all along.

“Good night, Jo Yi-shin.”

After Hwang Ji-ho’s farewell, I went to bed in a daze.

The next morning at the Tiger mansion, seaweed soup was served.

I’d been treated to seaweed soup here a few times before, but now that I realized it was my birthday, I became self-conscious for some reason.

Maybe it was just my imagination, but the menu was filled with my favorites, and even snacks included orange milk crepes.

“Jo Yi-shin still thinks this breakfast menu is a coincidence.”

“Judging by that, you like the menu.”

“Of course. Jo Yi-shin, you should know we spent more than three hours just deciding the menu.”

Maybe it was because Tigers lived so long.

Hearing they’d wasted so much precious time was ridiculous, but it tickled me oddly.

I’d felt this way since the main gate of Eunkwang High.

‘...There’s a flower path laid out.’

From the gate, there was a floral arrangement created by supernatural power.

The flower was western quince.

It was the birth flower for November 1.

Moreover, black snowflakes that looked like the black eyes I had scattered on Christmas Eve decorated the flowers.

‘The path is thin and narrow enough not to obstruct passage, but it’s long.’

Alongside the long flower path leading toward the second-year area were slogans decorated with my name and epithet.

Beneath each slogan was the name of a junior, classmates, and seniors.

Unbelievably, I also saw unfamiliar organization names cheering for me.

They exaggerated the celebration of my birthday so much it was impossible to deny.

‘They’re congratulating me this much? Are the Tigers just teasing me?’

I hadn’t intended to seek an answer, but White Tiger answered immediately.

“No.”

Right. Of course not.

The Tigers wouldn’t play such pranks as they never did even for a precious descendant’s 100-day celebration.

I stopped at the start of the flower path and asked aloud, wanting a clear answer.

“Did you get permission from the student council for this?”

If it was done without permission, I would have only accepted the sentiment.

Unfortunately, those who planned this were very well prepared.

Hwang Ji-ho glanced in one direction.

It was where the disciplinary committee nominally supervised the school gate.

“Of course. Isn’t that so?”

“Uishin, happy birthday. Don’t worry about that. We didn’t allow fresh flowers, but artificial ones were permitted.”

That day, Cheon Dong-ha, the head of the disciplinary committee, was directing the school gate.

After congratulating me, he briefly explained the permission process and past cases.

Thanks to him, Geum Chansol and Wang Chansol learned unnecessary information—that Jegal Jaegul’s proposed flower path was always denied because it insisted on fresh flowers.

Others were present besides the disciplinary committee, including Mun Saeron, who had been waiting for coverage.

She looked tired and had bloodshot eyes from whatever had happened the night before.

“Sir... I actually have a lot to say, but it’s your birthday today, so I’ll hold back. Please allow filming...”

Though she looked busy and worn out, I couldn’t say no to Mun Saeron, who had obtained information beforehand and came to cover the event.

Before I could respond, Hwang Ji-ho unilaterally gave permission for filming.

When I glared at him as if to ask why he had done so, Hwang Ji-ho understood and smiled.

“Jo Yi-shin, I’m the one managing your invitation. So allowing filming of this event, part of the invitation, is only natural.”

Wasn’t the invitation issue resolved yesterday at the duel?

Thinking that, Hwang Ji-ho casually uttered nonsense.

“The school prepared two parties: one just for our class and another inviting all Eunkwang High students. Now, let’s go!”

Following the flower path, we arrived at our classroom, where a birthday party was indeed set up.

Though I thought I had come early, it seemed Mr. Ham Geun-hyung and the class had arrived earlier, probably informed by Hwang Ji-ho of my arrival time.

Even the homeroom teacher, Yong Jegun, was there.

Bang!

A short firework burst sounded along with Kim Yuri’s cheerful voice.

“Uishin, happy birthday! Thanks for always celebrating our birthdays!”

“Why didn’t you tell me your birthday was today last year? We could have celebrated then too!”

“Ugh, we could have been the first to congratulate you back then...”

“Seulbi and Luis were in England that day? We were there too!”

After Kim Yuri’s greeting, the chatterboxes started talking.

I wasn’t sure if it was wise to scatter hints about causing chaos at the demon auction on Halloween even if I trusted my classmates.

The party with my classmates was brief during homeroom and didn’t last long.

Instead, we rented a gymnasium after school and held a longer party.

Along with my classmates, many other Eunkwang High students attended.

Especially all the juniors in Class 0, without exception.

Among them was Eunho, attending as Cheon Eun-ha.

“Sorry for congratulating you first, Eunho. Wish you’d been at the mansion too.”

After greeting everyone who came to see me, I returned to find the Tigers quietly casting barriers and talking.

Though Hwang Ji-ho wasn’t as forceful as Red Tiger, he seemed to want Eunho to reveal his true identity to the descendants soon.

Eunho must have understood the implication but suddenly changed the subject by mentioning times at Cheonseongheon.

“Among those in this world, I was the first to give the awake Uishin hyung the most birthday wishes. I’m willing to yield my order.”

Hearing Eunho’s words warmed my heart.

Since Cheonseongheon became my junior, he never forgot to celebrate my birthday.

Even during hard family times and when I was dying.

As I prepared to express thanks again to Eunho and Seongheon, White Tiger interrupted.

“I gave the most birthday wishes. Since we exchanged blessings, I never missed a single birthday greeting.”

“But you added the ‘awake’ condition. Until a few years ago, Baekho hyung was just a character in a game to Uishin hyung.”

I wondered why that tiger was like that, but somehow I was thankful.

After losing family, there were times I received no birthday wishes from anyone — though maybe not in dreams.

“Jo Yi-shin, that’s not true. Your acquaintances celebrate you every year in reality too...”

White Tiger stopped mid-sentence and stared in one direction.

Someone was sneaking in silently around the soundproof barrier.

They thought they hadn’t been noticed, but they were very clumsy, so I recognized who it was.

It was Bang Yun-seop.

He dropped a box—probably full of cookies—on top of the gift pile and ran off.

“He refused the invitation but came after all.”

“There are many who want to congratulate Uishin hyung.”

Indeed, more people wanted to celebrate outside school.

At Hwangmyeong Building, many Jin clan members and officials had gathered.