Happy Birthday 3
"Putting that Lee Han bastard out of business is nothing. Stirring up the pigs is the easiest part." That's straight-up Ma Gwang-su's voice. Turns out BlazingWarrior, who was trash-talking Lee Han and stirring shit between him and the Saintess, was a Black Moon branch chief lololol. Goosebumps. One of the villain execs was camped out in our gallery manipulating public opinion.
"……."
In the speeding limousine, Isha von Estelle slowly scrolled through the tablet screen. It was filled with posts from Hunter Inside that had been popping up in real-time until just moments ago.
"Saintess."
Johan, the chief priest from the Holy Imperial Church seated in the passenger seat, glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
"Why would a noble one like you stoop to viewing a cesspool where lowlifes gather? Nine out of ten pieces of info there are lies and garbage."
Johan's tone dripped with disgust. Places like that gallery, defiling the Saintess's eyes and ears—he probably wanted to brand them heretics and shut them down on the spot.
Isha indifferently scrolled further.
"Information doesn't care about the nobility of its source."
"But……."
"Even in a pile of trash, pearls can be found. The fact that Ma Gwang-su was manipulating gallery opinion? These folks dug it up in the end."
Isha closed the tablet and gazed out the window.
"Even so, the Holy Imperial Church's intel network is impressive. Lee Han stormed Ma Gwang-su less than an hour ago, and you've already pieced together the full story."
She half-folded the report she'd already skimmed.
"You're too kind. Our intel division is always vigilant for you, Saintess."
Johan puffed up proudly in response. But Isha's thoughts were elsewhere.
Lee Han.
How far ahead was that man seeing? He'd even turned malicious opinion manipulation against himself into a pretext for taking out an enemy exec.
Bzzz.
Her personal terminal vibrated briefly in her pocket. She discreetly checked the screen.
Isha's eyes narrowed. She quietly instructed Johan.
"Turn the car around."
"Pardon? Aren't we heading back?"
"To Han River Park. I want some time alone to clear my head."
***
Overlooking Seoul's nightscape from the Han River embankment. The river scattered the city's lights in a chaotic shimmer.
I leaned on the railing and cracked open a can of beer. The cool river breeze cooled the heat from my fight with Ma Gwang-su.
"I thought you were just saying it in passing."
I spoke without turning around.
Click-clack, click-clack.
The rhythmic heels stopped. Isha von Estelle in a white casual outfit. Without her armor, she looked less like a saintess and more like a fragile beauty on the verge of breaking.
"Broadcasting your location so openly."
Her voice was sharp.
"The Holy Imperial Church could track me down in a heartbeat if they wanted. Since we're meeting anyway, it saves us both the trouble."
"You sure dodged well for someone who called the meet."
"We're not exactly besties."
I took a sip of beer and pretended to offer her the spare can in my other hand. She wouldn't take it anyway—just basic human courtesy.
"I'm fine."
As expected.
"So, why'd you wanna meet?"
"Who knows."
Isha stepped up beside me and leaned on the railing. Instead of looking at me, she gazed at Seoul's glittering night view. Towering buildings, headlights streaming along roads, citizens strolling peacefully. Hard to believe this was the city that nearly fell to a Hell Gate.
"The city... it's pretty, isn't it?"
Her out-of-left-field comment.
"Yeah. You kept it safe. That peace out there."
"Sarcasm?"
"Dead serious. Because you held the line that long, I could do my part."
Isha nodded with a strange expression.
"Enjoy the finishing blow?"
What was she fishing for? So many probes.
"Yeah. Got what I wanted."
"Good for you. Win-win, then."
I took another swig. The cool liquid slid down my throat.
"Here."
Isha pulled a thick envelope from her pocket.
"……."
I didn't open it. I already knew what was inside.
Black Moon 1st Branch precise coordinates and infiltration routes. Top-secret intel Ma Gwang-su could never access—only the Holy Imperial Church's network could uncover the heart of Korea's biggest villain org.
"Whoa, Saintess sure is generous. Handing over something this valuable."
I needed it, but I hadn't even asked—and here she was tossing it my way.
"No second thoughts, even now?"
Isha stared straight into my eyes. Hers didn't waver.
"You took out 2nd Branch Chief Ma Gwang-su, so next is the 1st Branch. Then HQ. You planning to stir up every shadow in this city?"
"Does a janitor need a reason to clean trash?"
"Liar."
She cut me off firmly. I crushed the empty can and said flatly,
"...If that was the plan, I wouldn't have started."
"Got it. I won't ask why."
Unexpected. I shut up for a beat.
Why, huh. Couldn't say.
The seed of the second catastrophe is there.
The demon king's horn hidden at Black Moon HQ. The catalyst for his descent. I had to secure it before anyone else.
But I couldn't tell Isha. Her influence was too vast. If the Saintess moved, it could warp the timeline's causality. Leaks could let villains counter early; worst case, history shifts, spawning unknowns I couldn't predict.
So this fight—had to be mine alone. In the shadows, not the light.
"What? Not gonna pry?"
"No. You have your reasons you can't share."
Isha sighed, brushing back her hair.
"I hate you enough to run you through with my holy sword right now, but at least I know you're not out to end the world."
"Hoo."
"Move fast. Now that you're on the Holy Imperial Church's radar, they might catch wind and relocate."
She turned coolly.
"Why help me?"
Her steps halted at my question.
"Help? Don't flatter yourself."
She glanced back with icy eyes.
"This is a one-time thing. You killed my family, Dessoir—that never changes."
"Sure, sure."
"Next time we meet, it'll be like always. Don't expect mercy like today. Then... I'll really go for your throat."
She walked off, click-clack. Her white figure faded into the dark.
I fiddled with the envelope.
"See you around, Saintess."
Did my mutter reach her? Her retreating steps hitched, just for a moment.
"Lee Han."
A small voice. Nearly lost in the wind.
But clear to me.
"...Thank you."
No object. Saved from the Hell Gate? Taking out Ma Gwang-su? Or bearing the burden in secret?
She quickened her pace and vanished from sight.
I smirked bitterly and opened the envelope. Maps, photos.
And a small memo slip.
/ Happy Birthday. /
"……Ha."
A involuntary chuckle escaped. Handwriting that screamed Isha von Estelle. How deep did she dig on me to know even my forgotten birthday?
"Thought she was petty."
I stuffed the memo in my pocket.
"Not a bad birthday gift."
Seoul outskirts, abandoned factory basement.
"I'm ba……."
Creeeak. Pushing open the rusty iron door, I froze.
The factory interior was pitch black. Normally alive with magic stone processors humming, Adel's yells, Red Skull grunts' groans—it was dead silent.
What? An ambush?
My Intuition skill triggered instinctively. No killing intent. This eerie quiet was...
"Adel? Doki?"
The moment I stepped forward—
Pop!
"Surprise!!"
"Happy birthday, boss!!!!"
"Pffffffft!!"
Fireworks burst in the dark, blinding lights flared.
"Gah!"
I reflexively leaped back. Something white hurtled at my face at blinding speed.
Whoosh.
My B+ physicals and animal senses shone. I tilted my head, dodging the projectile.
Splat!
"Gack!"
Behind me, Doki—my No.1 adjutant, closing the door—took a faceful of white cream.
"……."
Cream dripped down Doki's face. The thrower? Adel, of course, standing dazed with an empty cake tray.
"Ah.... Missed."
"Hey, you crazy mage. What the hell?"
I asked incredulously; she yelled back, indignant.
"No! You're supposed to take it and laugh! Dodging ruins it! My three-tier handmade cake!"
"Who takes a cake to the face? Thought it was an assassination."
"Boss...."
Doki, face pale, licked cream from his lips with a moved expression.
"It's... delicious! To take a cake thrown by Lady Adel myself—such an honor!"
"Whoa, that guy's slave mentality is bone-deep."
I shook my head. The drab factory was decked in colorful balloons and garlands. Central table piled with chicken, pizza, pig's feet—scraped from Red Skulls' meager funds.
"Happy birthday, Lee Han!"
Adel beamed in a party hat. Red Skulls clapped and cheered.
"Happy birthday, boss!"
"Long life and prosperity!"
Rowdy, tacky, chaotic. But something warm swelled in my chest.
"...Birthday, big deal."
I scooped cream from Doki's face, tasted it, and grinned. A distant memory flickered.
Pre-regression life. My birthday then, too.
-Ta-da! Grand Mage Adel’s special gift!
Adel back then prepped a disastrous surprise party like this. Nearly torched the lab with fireworks, cake salted instead of sugared—but she smiled brightest in the world.
And beside her.
-...Loudmouths. Why the fuss over a mere birthday?
Isha stood arms crossed, stoic. She eyed us pitifully but stayed till the end.
After, when all slept, she left a recovery potion and short note at my door.
Same then as now. Nothing changed.
Isha's note in my pocket now, Adel's mess party before me. Poles apart in style, but both thinking of me—identical there.
"Boss! Hurry up and start the party!"
"Lee Han! Come on! Chicken's getting cold!"
Adel and Doki urged me.
"Coming, coming."
I shed my coat and waded into their midst.
Before hitting the 1st Branch, this was my last breather.
This rowdy warmth made the coming fight less daunting.
"Alright, let's drink till we drop tonight."
"Yaaaaah!!"
The factory night deepened, joyful and warm.