“Eunin, welcome! You didn’t expect me to come personally, did you? Surprised, right? The rice cakes here today are ones I made myself. To match the black color, I put in black rice, beans, and sesame seeds, and to fix the flavor, I even added squid ink! And...”

As soon as we entered, Oktoyeon immediately jumped out and started talking at length.

Oktoyeon was proud of her surprise appearance but as soon as she realized the Jin clan was gathered, she immediately guessed that the To clan would have come.

Every time there was a birthday party today, there were Dal Rabbit rice cakes, so she figured they wouldn’t just hand over the cakes and quietly leave.

When she started talking about the rice cakes, she talked so long that my ears hurt—not losing to Jang Nam-wook—but out of gratitude, I listened to all of it.

“Why did you invite Oktoyeon? My ears hurt.”

“I couldn’t help it. Eunho’s descendants and Black Tiger wanted to see her, and rice cakes fitting for Jo Yi-shin’s birthday were needed. Now, it’s time to clear up. Black Tiger, play with Oktoyeon.”

“Huh? Got it!”

Black Tiger, who was choosing rice cakes at the buffet, was summoned.

While Black Tiger shared his thoughts on the taste, I circled around the hall again.

Not long after walking, Yeom Jun-yeol, who had come with the Dragon clan, spoke to me.

“Uishin, happy birthday. You’re wearing hanbok here. If you had told me, I’d have worn mine too.”

I got to see Yeom Jun-yeol in hanbok!

I regretted missing the chance, but Yeom Jun-yeol looked great in his tuxedo as well.

I emphasized that and expressed my thanks, also thanking him for coming twice.

Yeom Jun-yeol had come even for the birthday at school, and though it was troublesome, he made the effort to attend here too, brightening the occasion.

“Uishin, you came to my birthday twice too. If you want, I can come more often. We could even host one ourselves again...”

“If you increase the frequency any more, Jo Yi-shin will get tired. Let’s restrain that.”

“Hwangho, we would never tire Eunin. We’ll prepare a party where he can relax comfortably.”

The immature leaders interrupted Yeom Jun-yeol’s words and argued among themselves.

They kept bickering even after interrupting, but I wasn’t much interested and didn’t listen properly.

Instead, I had a good time talking with Yeom Jun-yeol about Bimu-yeon.

Although Bimu-yeon wasn’t broadcast live outside, later Jeolheukpungrim edited footage and released some parts.

It made it easy to review Bimu, and when the topic of Bimu between me and Joo Su-hyuk came up, Yeom Jun-yeol’s expression darkened slightly.

“Uishin, I’m on your side. I’ll support {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} you.”

“...? Thank you for your support.”

I didn’t know why, but I decided to happily accept Yeom Jun-yeol’s support.

When the conversation paused, at just the right timing to avoid awkwardness, Hwangryong spoke up.

His gentle tone sharply contrasted with the immature leaders butting in with nonsense.

“I’m glad to celebrate your birthday on the surface. I have something to give you today.”

Then a small Yunryong dressed in yellow clothes flew on a cloud and handed me a box bigger than its own body.

Seeing how much it struggled, I hurriedly took the box, and as soon as I did, Yunryong hid behind Hwangryong’s body, peeking only its face toward me.

It seemed worried I might try to return the box.

“Yunryong is heavily influenced by my feelings and will, but as an independent entity, it has a faint self-awareness. Despite knowing the difficulty, it wanted to accompany me.”

As I stared blankly at Yunryong, Hwangryong explained.

Yunryong, a subordinate of Hwangryong, normally only stays within the Dragon Palace where Hwangryong’s energy and the Dragon King’s clouds reside, but this time it came all the way here specially to celebrate my birthday.

So, they selected the most powerful Yunryong representative, who also could barely maintain physical form outside the Dragon Palace.

Thanks to the yellow-tinged clothing imbued with Hwangryong’s power and the clouds made by the Dragon King himself, its body did not disperse.

Thinking of how that tiny body came this far to celebrate my birthday was admirable and heartwarming.

“If you came to the Dragon Palace, Yunryong would be happier and wouldn’t have to make such efforts...”

Grrr...

Hwangryong’s words were interrupted by a low, fierce roar.

Looking for the source of the sound, I saw a genius warrior looking up at me.

Since many Jin clans gathered here today, it was judged that it was inappropriate for Olmu to appear in his usual hyenok (dog-like) form, so he took the form of a genius warrior.

Considering the event hall’s size, his true size was somewhat reduced, but that didn’t diminish Olmu’s dignity.

“Yunryong alone isn’t enough. I understand.”

Hwangryong nodded while looking at Olmu.

I don’t know what he understood exactly, but I was sure one more person recognized our Olmu’s genius.

Hwangryong then urged me to check the box’s contents, which was filled with cardized treasures.

There were pearls generated deep in the Dragon Palace, minerals named after dragons exposed to dragon energy for a long time, and coral that kept shining even after the Dragon Palace relocated to the surface.

I shook my head, refusing to accept, but Hwangryong said firmly:

“Those are already yours. You are the master of the Red Dragon Palace and White Dragon Palace, and everything generated inside belongs to you.”

Come to think of it, such a number of items had entered my hands at once, but I hadn’t heard any system message about ownership transfer.

It wasn’t just words: the Dragon clan had basically handed over parts of the Dragon Palace to me.

This time I succeeded in reclaiming the Black Dragon Palace, but two out of the five palaces named after dragons were still in my name.

Hwangryong spoke in a slightly sad voice.

“I know you feel burdened. But what you have done for us dragons is never light. Compared to the Dragon Palace and treasures, those were much heavier and more precious tasks. For what you will do from now on, please accept this.”

Although I couldn’t see his eyes because of the blindfold, I felt they were full of guilt.

Hearing such sincere words, I couldn’t easily refuse.

In the end, I nodded.

My consent included calculation for future moves.

“Last year, at least I had time to clear otherworld raids or raid auctions like the Fantasm Auction to replenish funds or items. Lately, I haven’t had such chances. It’s better to accept this.”

I hadn’t needed to spend money or moves because the Tigers always handled it for me.

Still, there was no guarantee a tiger clan member would always be with me.

To prepare for that time, I decided to accept.

As I put the box in my item window, White Tiger standing silently beside me tried to say something, but before that, another Jin clan member interrupted.

“Younger brother, learn from Hwangryong. It’s more effective to touch the heart like that than to throw tantrums.”

“Who said I threw a tantrum?”

“Of course, it’s you.”

Muji threw a punch, but Jecheon Daeseong smiled lightly, caught the punch, and came forward as if they were walking hand in hand.

Muji tried to break free, trying to grab Jecheon Daeseong’s hand with a fierce grip, even kicked his shin, but all in vain.

According to Jecheon Daeseong, it looked like a tantruming child doing whatever he wanted with no effect at all.

“Hwangryong, wouldn’t it be better to discuss important matters more discreetly? Everyone here is connected to Eunin but doesn’t know the dragons’ circumstances.”

“Hwangho attached the finest martial talent of the tiger clan next to Eunin. If an unapproved person approached, they would handle it.”

As Hwangryong looked at the white tiger standing silently next to me, Jecheon Daeseong understood, and Muji nodded.

Still, Yeom Jun-yeol, who had such juniors, seemed to have complicated feelings.

Did he even have such a role?

I thought he was just reading my mind and following me around to smirk at my face.

“That too.”

Did he have to make that so obvious?

Feeling choked up, I looked up, and the Jin clans quietly looked at us and shared their opinions.

They said roughly that we looked close, but hearing that only made my anger rise.

I felt a bit proud of that evaluation, and the white tiger read it all.

“Uishin, it’s harder to see your face than most Jin clans!”

At that moment, Seong Guk-eon appeared.

This period was busy with next year’s budget review and national audit, so it was impressive he made time.

Seong Si-wan was beside Seong Guk-eon.

“Siwan hyung, hello. I’ve heard you two are cousins, but this is the first time I’ve seen you with Seong Guk-eon.”

“Yeah, I wanted to learn from Kuk-eon hyung, so I volunteered as his bodyguard.”

Compared to Jeon Mu-young, Si-wan was more reliable in terms of combat ability.

Whether Seong Guk-eon would sacrifice his cousin Si-wan in an emergency was questionable, but it was the same for Jeon Mu-young, so it didn’t matter.

Both were younger and dear to Seong Guk-eon.

“A congressman like Seong Guk-eon facing the Jin clan... That must be thanks to that kid?”

“Ha, it’s probably similar to how the irregular luncheon meeting’s busybodies showed up.”

Seong Guk-eon probably came to congratulate my birthday and to meet safe Jin clans connected to me.

Seong Guk-eon and Jecheon Daeseong quickly opened up.

The Jin clans showed interest in Seong Guk-eon, the only player congressman in Korea, and after talking once, quickly liked his character and deep meaning.

It was surprising how distant they had kept from Jin clans until now.

I wondered if such a grand party was really necessary, but if it served to connect Seong Guk-eon and the Jin clans, I was willing to endure any embarrassment.

“Not only Seong Guk-eon. Others are greeting and talking as well.”

While Muji led the way to the table where he kept his gift, I saw many Jin clans and pro players.

They had come even from Eternal Lake, and I happened to see Kwon Je-in introducing Kwon Rena to Red Lion team members and other dragons.

Sharing information and distinguishing friend from foe would become an important weapon going forward.

“...Others sent a lot of gifts too. Do you know Gugalan? Doksado? Heukmado? Why did they all send gifts?”

Muji frowned while looking at the names on cards placed on the gifts.

Honestly, I wondered why some Jin clans even sent me gifts.

Then, a Jin clan member who was welcome nowhere appeared.

“Indeed. Everyone just sent gifts instead of delivering them personally. Such lack of sincerity. I came to deliver mine myself.”

When Seodol spoke politely, Muji scowled as if he’d found a bug and stepped back.

Hwang Ji-ho said Seodol wasn’t given an invitation, but no one knew how he came.

“Curious how I was invited? It’s thanks to my outstanding ability. You saw the sleeve of the clothes I made, right?”

Hearing that, everyone understood.

Seodol’s clothes were imbued with the power to sense the presence of eyes.

This time, it seemed he was bringing a different kind of gift.