#38 Happy Birthday (2)
I wasn't in my right mind by that point.
Half the day, I'd justify my existence to myself with thoughts like, I have to live. If I live, I can do anything. The other half, I'd berate myself: Why the hell are you still alive?
Like winter creeping in and nights growing longer, the time I spent tearing myself down stretched out endlessly.
The closer my birthday loomed, the deeper and darker those nights became.
Ever since meeting Jeong Hosan at the orphanage, I'd spent every birthday with him. Even after he became a hunter, that never changed.
With no other family to celebrate with, we always made a point of remembering each other's special days.
Sometimes we couldn't afford a cake or gifts and settled for a single snack, but we never skipped the birthday wishes.
Our promise was that, just for that one day a year—no matter what had happened before—we'd make it fun.
And yet, on the birthday I dragged myself to after Jeong Hosan died because of me, I holed up in the house, defying even Seol Rokjin's orders.
But Seol Rokjin dragged me out anyway and planted me in front of a birthday spread.
Staring at the cake in the middle of the vast conference room, I let out a hollow laugh and shot him a look.
"What the hell is this?"
"It's your birthday, and I cherish you. Can't just let it pass like that."
He was toying with me, but at least he had limits. I clenched my fist tight. God, I wanted to smash that smug face, but I couldn't.
I was scared.
He'd been lenient since that incident, but I knew crossing the line would flip him in an instant. So I held back.
"Forget it. I don't need congratulations."
I couldn't stop the words from spilling out, though. I started to rise from my seat.
"Sit."
His hand clamped my shoulder, forcing me back down. The air was thick with menace. What fresh bullshit was he planning? I bit my lip in anxiety. A gentle smile from Seol Rokjin was always a bad omen.
"Everyone, come in."
At his command, the door opened, and suited figures filed in one by one. They looked as bewildered as I felt.
"Take your seats, one by one."
Exactly twenty people settled around the conference table. I scanned their faces slowly. Most were familiar. A few who always clicked their tongues at me in pity. They'd all been dragged into this farce.
"Today is the birthday of my dear Kang Ishin. Everyone, celebrate!"
Heat rushed to my cheeks. So this was his game—humiliate me.
Parading in a bunch of people who hated my guts for a birthday party.
Their already sour faces twisted like they'd bitten into shit.
But no one dared ignore Seol Rokjin. The room filled with forced applause and birthday cheers.
"Wooo!"
Even cheers erupted. As the clapping died down, Seol Rokjin grinned.
"Now, shall we sing?"
"You're serious?"
My deadpan reaction didn't faze him.
"Of course. It's a birthday party—gotta have a song."
The last thing I wanted was these people singing for me. As usual, my opinion didn't matter.
Under Seol Rokjin's baton, the world's worst rendition of "Happy Birthday" began.
"Happy... happy birthday. Happy birthday to... t-to our dear Kang Ishin..."
When the ridiculous song finally ended, Seol Rokjin spoke.
"Celebrations done. Time for gifts. Luckily, just one of you needs to give our Ishin a present."
His hand rested on my shoulder. What was he up to? Tension locked my muscles.
"No need to fret over what to give. I'll decide. As I said, Kang Ishin here is my most treasured friend. So, the most precious gift."
Seol Rokjin smiled.
"For this birthday? Your life. Nothing's more precious than that."
I blinked. So did everyone else.
No one grasped his words.
"What the hell does that mean? Life?"
Ignoring my mutter, Seol Rokjin strolled to the man seated closest to me.
"Team Leader Lee. Called Ishin a worthless dog fucker, right? Said I had no eye for people. Why keep trash like that around? That I'd lost my mind?"
Lee jolted in his seat. Seol Rokjin pinned him down with a single finger. He moved on casually.
"And Deputy Manager Kim? Said all he could do was kiss ass. Oh, and this: Ishin must've sucked my dick for scraps."
Faces paled. Seol Rokjin's pupils had turned yellow.
That's when I realized—they weren't staying silent out of choice. They couldn't speak. He'd already enthralled them all.
No excuses. No apologies.
Not unless he allowed it.
What they shared: Every one had "sinned" by badmouthing me—or rather, Seol Rokjin's choice in me.
I wanted to snap that gossip wasn't worth this chaos, but the atmosphere choked the words.
Seol Rokjin recited their backstabbing calmly. Some slurs too vile to repeat. They didn't sting anymore. Hell, they weren't entirely wrong...
But the shock? Kim Pil-joon among them. The one guy I'd bonded with here. Talking shit behind my back.
His face went ghost-white as our eyes met.
Finishing with each one's sins, Seol Rokjin spoke.
"I'm disappointed. Didn't I say treat Ishin here like you treat me?"
Silence blanketed the room. Forcing their silence, then asking that—what a twisted mind. I grumbled inwardly when his hand touched my shoulder again.
He leaned in, whispering.
"Who should I kill for you?"
That's when it hit.
His birthday gift: Their lives.
I had to pick one.
Biting my lip hard, nausea surged.
This was his idea of a present?
"No need."
"Really?"
I nodded. My back was soaked with sweat. I hated death. Loathed it. Someone dying on my word? Horrifying.
"You don't refuse a gift from an elder."
"I'm fine. Didn't bother me anyway."
Relief flickered across their faces. Truth be told, I disliked them too. But killing over gossip? Insane.
"How about treating me to the department store instead?"
I forced a smile, playing cute to escape.
"Ah, Ishin. You're too good."
I winced. Praise from his lips always rang false.
"Good people deserve rewards. Everyone knows the golden axe, silver axe story, right?"
He grinned.
His yellow pupils gleamed ominously.
"Good boys get it all."
They yanked open drawers, grabbing knives. Before I could stop them, they plunged the blades into their own throats.
Blood sprayed everywhere.
"Ugh... uurrgh..."
Frozen, I watched the pristine office drown in red.
All twenty dead.
If I'd just chosen one...
No words came.
Amid the carnage, Seol Rokjin sauntered to the center, cut a blood-splattered slice, and offered it with a smile.
Blood-soaked cream cake.
"Happy Birthday."
◈ Accessory · Auxiliary
◈ A ring handmade by a talented necromancer, carved from summon bones.
◈ Transmits the wearer's location and status to the creator.
Ray, peeking into my memory, freaked out.
━Mi... m-madness...
'It wasn't a real birthday party. Just a warning to anyone daring to question Seol Rokjin's choices.'
Even after, he marked my birthdays yearly.
They turned into annual purges of whoever displeased him that year.
I picked the "ones who must die" myself each time. Refuse, and they'd all go—like that day. No choice.
One point of my finger, one life gone.
Guilt haunted me, like I'd killed them.
Sweet cake became my most hated food.
Enough—dwelling on the past just gave me headaches.
━Why follow a monster like that? He killed your friend and pulls shit like this constantly.
'Later.'
Reliving that party had drained my sanity already.
Anyway, "birthdays" were anything but welcome now.
A day that made my teeth grind just thinking about it.
But...
I eyed the snack pile. He'd tried decorating, but it looked like a rock cairn.
Whose genes cursed him with such disastrous crafting skills?
Still, no cake. Small mercy.
"Thanks."
I smiled genuinely.
"Oh, right! Birthday gift too."
"A gift?"
"Yeah. Parties need presents."
Han Seohyun rummaged behind his back and pulled something out.
"This is..."
A black bone ring, polished mirror-smooth—my reflection gleamed. A ring? For me?
Blushing, Han Seohyun stammered.
"Necklaces are bulky, earrings need piercings. So, ring. Has tracking too. Gotta know if something happens to you, Boss."
Not just any ring.
Checking the item info, my jaw dropped.
This was straight-up privacy invasion.
"Wear it always."
Couldn't say no with that black aura swirling behind him.
"Y-yeah. Sure."
I slipped it on my left pinky quietly. Made with me in mind—proud feeling. Parental vibes?
Then Kim Jaeho raised his hand.
"I prepared too."
Kim Jaeho? No expectations, but what? He'd vanished earlier, returning with arms full of wood.
"What's that?"
"You like this."
He'd seen my furniture-making attempts. His gift: Fine lumber.
"More outside. Lots."
His proud face cracked me up.
"Pffft."
Why did my chest ache so?
"You guys."
I ruffled Han Seohyun and Kim Jaeho's hair wildly.
"Hey, what're you doing?!"
Felt good.
"Thanks."
For the first time in ages, I enjoyed my birthday.
"You alive?"
Lighting the candles on the cake, Jeong Hosan gave a bitter smile.
Since that day, he'd searched for Kang Ishin traces—nothing.
Gone, like erased from the world.
He regretted letting him go. Should've grabbed him, demanded answers. Might've spared this worry.
Jeong Hosan still trusted him. Not the type to kill and flee—there had to be a reason.
People mocked his faith as futile, but it never wavered.
Just gnawing fear and worry.
Would he ever see him again?
"Happy birthday, Ishin."
Murmuring to empty air, Jeong Hosan smiled wryly.