Kondo was slightly startled.
"Huh? What's going on with everyone?"
The sudden cheers and excitement left him completely confused. Everyone quickly looked away and put on awkward smiles, pretending as if nothing had happened.
Kondo narrowed his eyes suspiciously at them before walking over to the sofa and sitting down.
"People have been acting really weird lately..."
Meanwhile, Sam walked over to Lawine and quietly said,
"I need to tell you something."
Lawine looked at him. The maids standing nearby caught the serious tone in his voice and immediately understood that whatever it was, it probably wasn't good news.
Sam and Lawine headed into a separate room.
Outside, the maids surrounded Kondo, asking him countless questions about what the doctor had said.
Inside the room, Sam told Lawine everything Albert had explained to him.
The moment she heard it, Lawine covered her mouth.
"No... my child won't be able to use magic anymore?"
Sam gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll never let him feel like we love him any less because of that."
Lawine slowly nodded.
Sam continued,
"So we're not canceling tonight's plan. I need to meet His Majesty first. I missed Lady Shuna's gathering yesterday, and the king is probably upset about it. I'll smooth things over and be back before evening."
He looked at her.
"When I return, be ready with everyone else."
Lawine nodded once more.
The two of them left the room and returned to the living area.
The maids were still gathered around Kondo, talking nonstop.
Lawine raised an eyebrow.
"And what's going on here?"
The moment they heard her voice, the maids quickly stepped back.
Sam looked around and said,
"Alright. Everyone be ready this evening. I'm heading to the palace now and I'll be back before nightfall."
Everyone nodded.
Only Kondo remained confused.
Ready for what?
Nobody had bothered explaining anything to him.
Evening eventually arrived.
Sam returned home and immediately announced,
"Alright, everyone. Get ready."
The clock slowly approached half past six.
The entire mansion became busy with preparations.
Lawine wore a beautiful red dress, and her long loose hair only made her look even more stunning.
Sam was dressed in an elegant blue suit.
As for Kondo, he had been put into a black suit.
Inside the room, Lawine was applying makeup while Kondo sat on the bed.
"Mom."
Lawine looked toward him while continuing her makeup.
"What is it?"
Kondo hesitated before asking,
"Where exactly are we going after making all these preparations?"
Without stopping her makeup, Lawine replied,
"We're going to a party. One of your father's friends is hosting it. If we don't show up, he'll get upset with Sam."
However, something continued to bother Kondo.
An uncomfortable feeling had been gnawing at him ever since morning.
"Mom... couldn't we just tell them something came up and we couldn't make it?"
Lawine stopped for a moment and looked at him.
"Why? What's wrong? Why are you suddenly saying that?"
Kondo remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he quietly said,
"I just don't feel like going."
Lawine walked over and placed a hand on his chest.
"You don't feel like going? Are you feeling sick again? Are you alright?"
Kondo gently moved her hand away.
"I'm fine, Mom."
He lowered his gaze.
"But I have a really bad feeling about this."
Lawine chuckled softly and stroked his cheek.
"You're thinking too much."
She smiled reassuringly.
"Nothing is going to happen. You don't need to worry."
Then she pointed toward the door.
"Now go downstairs. Your father is waiting for you. I'll be there in a minute."
Kondo reluctantly stood up and headed downstairs with a gloomy expression.
As Sam saw him descending the stairs, he leaned toward the butler and whispered something into his ear.
The butler nodded.
He then glanced at the maids waiting downstairs and signaled to them.
A moment later, he walked outside, followed by the maids.
Kondo reached the bottom floor.
Sam walked over to him.
"What's wrong, Kondo? Why are you making that face?"
"Nothing, Dad."
Sam looked unconvinced.
"You're not even going to tell your father?"
Kondo hesitated before finally speaking.
"It's not that..."
He lowered his head.
"I just don't feel like going to the party. I have a really bad feeling."
Sam gently rubbed his son's head before kneeling down in front of him.
"Listen, son."
His voice became calm.
"Feelings don't lie."
Kondo looked up.
"But you need to learn how to understand them properly."
Sam smiled faintly.
"Otherwise, you might reject opportunities because of the wrong feelings... opportunities that may never come back again."
Kondo blinked.
"I don't understand what you're trying to say, Dad."
Sam stared at him for a moment before walking over to the sofa and sitting down.
"I probably shouldn't have said that."
He sighed.
"An old thought just slipped out."
Kondo walked over and grabbed his father's hand.
"You can tell me, Dad."
He looked at him seriously.
"What kind of memory hurt you so much that it still affects your feelings?"
Sam couldn't help laughing.
"You're quite the little philosopher, aren't you?"
Then his smile gradually softened.
"Alright. I'll tell you."
His gaze drifted somewhere far away.
"I never got to meet my father."
"When I was born, he was already gone. A few years later, my mother passed away too."
He paused.
"But when I was seven years old, I had a chance to meet my grandfather."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"And I threw that chance away because of my anger."
Kondo quietly listened.
"One day, King Veld summoned me."
"I went to meet him, and he suddenly gave me a large amount of wealth and property."
"I didn't understand why."
"So I asked him."
'Your Majesty, why are you giving all of this to a child like me?'
Sam's eyes lowered.
"And then he told me..."
'Your grandfather died in battle.'
A painful silence followed.
"He was a great man."
Sam looked away.
"A legendary Hammer God."
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
Then Sam continued quietly.
"Sometimes I wonder..."
"What if I had put aside my anger and gone to meet him when I had the chance?"
His voice trembled slightly.
"Maybe he'd still be alive today."
Kondo gently placed his hand over Sam's.
"Dad..."
His voice was soft.
"I'm sorry."
"I didn't know you'd gone through something like that."
Sam laughed and rubbed his head.
"It's alright."
Then he smiled.
"Look at me. I ended up telling my story instead of helping you."
At that moment, Lawine entered the room.
"If the father-son bonding session is over, can we finally leave for the party?"
Kondo looked at her and smiled.
The uneasy feeling in his chest was still there, but he pushed it aside.
"Yeah, Mom."
He stood up.
"We should get going. We're already getting late."
Lawine stared at him in surprise.
Then she looked at Sam.
"What exactly did you say to him? Now he's excited about the party."
Sam immediately stood up.
"Me? Nothing at all."
He quickly headed for the door.
"Come on. We're getting late."
The three of them stepped outside.
Lawine locked the door behind them while Vold waited nearby with the carriage already prepared.
They climbed inside, and the carriage soon began moving.
After some time, Kondo looked at Sam.
"Dad, what's this party even for?"
Sam exchanged a glance with Lawine before smiling.
"You'll find out when we get there."
Kondo narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Something was definitely being hidden from him.
Still, there wasn't much he could do about it.
"...Fine."
The carriage continued forward.
Not long afterward, it finally came to a stop.
Kondo looked out the window.
A large mansion stood before him, beautifully decorated with lights and ornaments.
Sam opened the carriage door and stepped outside.
Kondo followed behind him.
However, the moment his feet touched the ground, his eyes widened.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Standing near the entrance were Kim and Shin, waiting for him.
Shin wore a beautiful blue dress. Her hair had been carefully arranged, and a butterfly-shaped hairpin rested above her ear.
Kim wore a white dress that made her look even more elegant than usual. Her long hair flowed freely behind her.
Kondo stared at them in shock.
"What are you two doing here?"
Shin smiled.
"We were invited too."
Behind him, Lawine quietly placed a finger over her lips, signaling them not to spoil anything.
"Come on," Shin said. "The party already started a while ago."
As soon as Kondo stepped forward, both Kim and Shin grabbed one of his hands.
Kondo blinked.
"What are you doing?"
Kim smiled.
"I'm walking in with you."
"Me too," Shin immediately added.
Meanwhile, Vold drove the carriage away.
"Let's go," Lawine said.
Everyone began walking toward the entrance.
Soon, they arrived before a massive pair of doors.
Two heavily armored guards stood watch beside them.
Judging by their uniforms, they looked like royal guards.
Kondo glanced at them.
The guards briefly looked back at him before immediately returning their attention forward, as if they hadn't seen him at all.
Standing there with Kim and Shin holding his hands, Kondo stared at the doors.
"Will these open by themselves?"
Sam and Lawine stepped forward.
Each grabbed one of the handles.
Then they pushed the doors open.
The instant the doors opened—
Pop! Pop! Pop!
Party poppers exploded everywhere.
Colorful paper filled the air.
At the same time, a loud voice echoed throughout the hall.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUNG MASTER!"
Kondo froze.
Inside stood Butler, Shila, Vain, Hina, Gemi, and many others.
All of them were smiling while holding party poppers.
For a moment, Kondo simply stood there.
Shocked.
Happy.
Speechless.
Lawine walked over and kissed his cheek.
"Happy Birthday, Kondo."
Kondo opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Instead, he looked toward Kim and Shin.
"You two knew about this?"
Both girls simply smiled.
Sam laughed.
"Come on. We still need to cut the cake."
Kim and Shin immediately dragged him inside.
As Kondo walked through the hall, he noticed countless guests.
Some were familiar faces.
Others he had never met before.
Being the center of attention made him a little embarrassed.
He had never expected something like this.
Every birthday before today had been celebrated quietly at home.
Never once had he imagined a celebration this grand.
Kim and Shin led him toward a large table positioned in the center of the hall.
A huge birthday cake sat on top of it.
Dozens of candles illuminated its surface.
Sam placed a hand on Kondo's shoulder before addressing the guests.
"I want to thank everyone who came here today."
A smile appeared on his face.
"Today is my son's birthday. It means a lot to me that all of you came to celebrate it with us."
He bowed his head slightly.
"Thank you, everyone. I hope your blessings continue to stay with my son."
Before he could continue, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
It was Albert.
"Seriously?"
Albert laughed.
"Your son's birthday and that's the speech you prepared?"
Several people chuckled.
"Enough talking. The cake has been waiting long enough."
Sam and Lawine both shot him an annoyed look.
Meanwhile, Kondo couldn't stop smiling.
No—
he was happier than he had ever been in his entire life.
Lawine gently nudged him forward.
"Go on, my precious boy. Cut the cake."
Kondo picked up the knife.
Kim immediately began clapping.
"Happy Birthday to you~"
"God is blessing you~"
"Happy Birthday to you~"
Shin quickly joined in.
Soon, the entire hall followed along.
Their voices blended together into a cheerful melody.
Kondo lowered his gaze toward the cake.
Then he slowly cut into it.
As he did, a thought crossed his mind.
This is the happiest day of my life.
I'll never forget this moment.
I'm grateful for everything.
As long as the people I love stay by my side...
I don't need anything else.
Far away from the celebration...
Six demons stood in the darkness, staring at the brightly lit mansion.
Yina folded her arms.
"So this is the place?"
Dolt's lips curled into a smile.
"Yes."
His eyes remained fixed on the building.
"This is exactly where we need to go."