Chapter 299: Between Obligation and Care

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASH!!!"Hearing the combined voices of many people, Ash froze for a second. His eyes darted toward the wide hall, which was decorated all over.

The sudden brightness revealed a scene that was simple yet filled with warmth. Streamers of soft colors—pale blue, gentle gold, and cream—hung unevenly from the ceiling, clearly put up by hand. A few of them drooped lower than the others, but instead of looking messy, they gave the hall a personal charm, showing the care and effort that went into every detail.

Balloons were tied together in clusters near the corners, their ribbons curling loosely. Some had small hand-drawn doodles on them, as if someone had wanted to leave a private, personal touch, making the decorations feel intimate and heartfelt.

On the walls, banners spelled out his name in bright letters, each one written in slightly different handwriting, as though several people had helped. The strokes were imperfect, yet they carried an undeniable sincerity that made the hall feel alive, warm, and welcoming.

At the center of the room stood a modest table, draped carefully with a white cloth. On top of it rested a cake that was not extravagantly made but beautifully decorated, with uneven swirls of cream and tiny shapes pressed carefully into its surface. Surrounding it were small paper cutouts, folded flowers, and delicate decorations clearly crafted by hand, each one placed with care and affection rather than precision.

Even the lights added to the feeling. Strings of bulbs ran along the ceiling, some brighter than others, casting a soft, golden glow that filled the hall with gentle warmth. It was not the perfection of a professional setup but the kind of heartfelt preparation that spoke of time, effort, and the desire to make this day unforgettable for him.

In front of the cake stood many familiar faces: Instructor Elva, Instructor Leonard, Lyra, Grace, Amelia, Melissia, Irvin, Aurora, and finally, Elysia. There were others too, people Ash did not know personally.

Ash remained frozen in place, his eyes capturing all these details in just a few seconds.

Today is my birthday...?

Then he remembered today’s date. Today was 17th October, his birthday. Ash had forgotten his own birthday because he never celebrated it. After Nancy’s death, the day had become just like any other.

In fact, he had even started to resent his birthday for reasons he could not fully explain. Over time, he had pushed the date from his mind entirely, treating it as unimportant.

But seeing something like this, this sort of decoration and preparation, Ash felt his heart pound. It was strange. He was grateful that Elysia had done all this for him, and he even felt a quiet, instinctive urge to hug her for the effort she had poured into it, and shower her with lots of love.

Yet, deep inside, a part of him resisted. It was not directed at anyone, not even at Elysia. The entire concept of celebrating a birthday felt foreign to him.

His mentality, shaped by years of isolation and Nancy’s death, had changed him in ways he had never anticipated. Festivities and seemingly normal moments of joy felt unnatural. In his previous life, he would rather have stayed cooped up in his room than join any kind of celebration or festival. He preferred reading novels, playing games, or simply resting instead of marking occasions with fanfare or ritual.

Eventually, Ash reached a bitter but clear realization: not everyone wants a loud birthday. Some people only want silence. No grand gestures, no over-the-top wishes, no forced energy. They want the day to belong to themselves. Quiet and still. Perhaps they would listen to music they loved, eat something they enjoyed, or spend time on a private hobby.

It was not sadness; it was simply the need for authenticity.

Some had endured too much, felt too much, to welcome superficial attention. Birthdays could feel hollow—filled with reminders that people only remembered out of obligation rather than genuine care.

Most people only notice the birthday because the date was saved somewhere in their calendar, a small reminder that told them to act. They were not important enough to cross anyone’s thoughts naturally, without a prompt or obligation.

Their existence on that day was acknowledged only to maintain appearances, to keep relationships polite, safe, and orderly, rather than out of genuine feeling or attention. It was a reminder of the difference between being seen and being truly known.

That was why, for some, peace was the best gift they could give themselves.

Ash did not know why this thought had come to him so suddenly, like an epiphany, but he knew it was true. Even though these thoughts were rooted in experiences from his previous life, he pushed them aside to focus on the present.

Even though he felt strangely uncomfortable being around others he had barely interacted with, he still offered a smile to Elysia. He did not want her to feel hurt or disappointed because of him.

Let’s not ruin that smile on her face, shall we...

Ash thought as he slowly moved toward her. She was already walking toward him, closing the distance while he remained lost in his thoughts, a quiet tension lingering in the air, filled with unspoken care and understanding.

"Happy Birthday, Ash..."

Her sweet, melodical voice rang in his ears, making him smile even more. As he looked into her eyes, seeing the warmth and love that radiated from them, Ash felt a pang of guilt for feeling uncomfortable, for not enjoying the celebration of his birthday.

Though he skillfully masked it behind an almost perfect poker face, he replied, "Thank you really, but there was no need to do something this big. I would have preferred something quieter, with some alone time even."

Elysia just shook her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips, and took his hands, pulling him gently toward everyone.

"Huhu, I knew you even forgot your own birthday. It was written all over your face the moment you entered the hall. And don’t get me started..."

Elysia’s chatter continued as she guided him forward, earning soft chuckles from those present. Ash’s gaze flicked briefly toward them, but he ignored most of their attention and focused on Elysia’s words.

Still, a gaze pressed into him, subtle but sharp. Shifting his eyes, he found Amelia looking directly at him. The intensity of her stare made him stiffen slightly; the way she observed him felt almost like she was reading the emotions he had tried to hide.

Crap, is she sensing the discomfort I feel toward celebrating birthdays?

If yes, then it was going to create some misunderstandings.

Ash reminded himself that not everyone would understand his feelings. What seemed normal and enjoyable to others often felt foreign or uncomfortable to him. He knew some might silently judge, but those words were not meant for him, and the opinions of others did not change his own feelings.

Still, Amelia’s stare made him tense.

I just hope she doesn’t do anything reckless... otherwise, I don’t care, even if she is the granddaughter of that old man.

To his relief, nothing happened. Though he did have to talk with everyone, it felt more like gentle guidance, almost as if someone were teaching him how to socialize. His whole body wanted to escape, as Ash had never been fond of interacting with people, yet he realized he had already spoken more that day than in many months.

When it was time to cut the cake, a hush of anticipation fell over the group. Everyone leaned closer, eager to see the moment. Amelia’s gaze remained on him, occasionally glancing at him as if she wanted to say something, but Ash deflected or ignored it.

Melissia, in contrast, remained silent, her quiet presence a strange comfort and, at the same time, a little cruel. Ash wondered why she had come at all, yet the peace of her stillness allowed him a brief respite from social pressure.

Aurora, on the other hand, held his attention with constant conversation. Her words tested him, playful yet persistent, though Ash knew her intentions were not ill.

When the gifts were presented, he found himself appreciating many of them. Instructor Elva gave him a violet-covered grimoire filled with space theories, which instantly fascinated him. Theories were one of the few things that could directly help him improve his spells.

Instructor Leonard’s gift surprised him; he gave him boots that boosted his speed and increased his reaction time. It was practical and useful. Irvin gave him a defensive artifact, Lyra an elixir, Grace a seed filled with her mother’s healing powers, and Aurora gave him a charm, saying it was filled with star luck.

Though he didn’t know what that was, he still appreciated it.

Yet the gift that shocked him the most, the one that made him pause in a way nothing else did, was the present from Elysia.

"How..?"

It was the only thing he could say after seeing what she gave him.