[Normally, there should have been a grand birthday banquet to celebrate the occasion.
However, at this moment it was just Edward and Elysia.
She would not skip celebrating entirely, but she probably would not put too much effort into it either.]
[After all, as his traveling companion, he could clearly sense her growing urgency.]
[On this matter, Edward was willing to be more understanding.]
[After all, he had been the one who brought the girl out of the forest.]
[She had also accompanied him through his entire childhood.
Back then she was still young and innocent, his only playmate.
They had even gone fishing together in the pond near their home.]
[Although he told himself he did not mind, when he returned to their makeshift tent late at night after buying supplies from a nearby town, he could not help but feel a little lost… as if the girl had forgotten him.]
[Until suddenly, a colorful spark lit up inside the dim tent.]
“Edward, Happy Birthday~?”
The girl’s pink-blue eyes sparkled with captivating colors.
The blessing that left her slightly upturned lips was even brighter than flowers in bloom.
The warm candlelight dispelled the darkness of the night.
A beautifully decorated pink cake appeared before Edward’s eyes.
At first, he could hardly comprehend what was happening.
Even with the candlelight right in front of him, it failed to clear the confusion in his gaze.
It was unimaginable.
He had never considered this possibility.
After all, being unconsciously overlooked by the girl was nothing new.
He was not completely invisible in their daily life, nor did he feel that she disliked him.
He simply lacked a strong sense of presence.
He had even considered keeping his birthday a secret, letting it pass quietly, or buying himself a small cake as a personal commemoration.
A birthday only felt worth celebrating when others bought a cake and sang for the person in question.
If there was no one else, no family, and not even a single person who could spare the time to celebrate with him, then the day lost its meaning.
===
The night breeze slipped through the opening of the tent, causing the bright flames to flicker.
Shadows danced across the thick waterproof fabric in irregular patterns, yet the strong wind could not extinguish the candlelight.
It was as if what burned there was not mere wax, but a flame fueled by emotion.
An eternal fire.
“Hurry and blow out the candles.
The wind is quite strong today.
If someone else blows them out, your wish won’t come true.”
Elysia clasped her hands gently and tilted her head.
She blinked softly, her cute and innocent words as pure and lovely as flowers.
“Is that… really true?”
“Happy Birthday?”
“Happy Birthday!”
Only at that moment, as the breeze blew the flame close to his face and he could feel its warmth directly, did the haze in his mind finally clear.
He stepped firmly into reality.
The boy seemed to awaken from a dream.
He spoke loudly, as if to prove that this moment was real, repeating the words again and again.
His dark eyes still held traces of disbelief and bewilderment.
“Happy Birthday!”
The girl curved her lips into a gentle smile.
Her expression on that flawless face was radiant and playful, without the slightest hint of annoyance or impatience.
She simply watched him quietly, happily doing something meaningless together with him.
There was no urging for him to blow out the candles.
No matter how strong the wind blew, that small flame continued to illuminate the little tent like an unmovable mountain.
The emotions reflected in her star-like jewel eyes seemed to say that no matter how many times Edward repeated himself, she would gladly follow along.
She would never grow tired of it.
In this undisturbed moment, the girl’s eyes were clearer than ever.
Nothing could intrude upon her sight.
Not the flickering candlelight.
Not even the exquisitely made, lavish cake.
Her cerulean, starry eyes could only see him… so close.
His gentle, water-like eyes, the smile on his lips, his outstretched hand.
She saw the boy who had once pushed through the shadowed thicket, cutting through thorns and weeds like a hero, like a prince.
He had faced the light, the leaves, the flowers, and the birds, standing before the dense forest to shield her from the darkness and rescue her.
It seemed as if nothing had changed.
As if Elysia was still the little girl who would reach out her small hand to accept the boy’s sincere invitation.
…
[That evening felt truly dreamlike.]
[It may not have been extravagant, but it was absolutely exquisite.]
[The birthday cake was not large.
It was merely a prelude, yet it had been handmade by the girl herself.
Sweet cream, soft bread, and as its special touch, pink flowers with a delicate fragrance.]
[There was no need for luxury or excess.
The emotions and blessings it carried were far more precious than any material gift.]
[No matter the present, what truly mattered was the sentiment behind it.]
[This was only the first day.
As a coming-of-age celebration, it deserved something grander.
A more exquisite and perfect banquet was already in preparation.]
[This was not merely his imagination.
He had actually seen the invitation left by the girl.
It carried Elysia’s usual style, with a mysterious note on the back that read: ‘This is the biggest surprise prepared just for you.’]
[The feeling of being overlooked earlier had largely faded.
Perhaps Elysia did not dislike him after all.]
[Even if the upcoming surprise might not be entirely pleasant, he would make sure that tomorrow became the happiest day he had experienced so far.]
[After all, even by material value alone, Elysia’s favor was the most precious thing in the world.
With anticipation in his heart, Edward fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, quietly looking forward to tomorrow’s banquet.]
…
[The birthday celebration you held for Edward successfully raised the boy’s favorability.
Although all the preparations for tomorrow’s banquet were complete, you were still hesitating about what approach to take.]
[Option One: For the boy’s banquet, the only true protagonist should naturally be Edward himself.
After all… as long as you are together with him, that is enough.]
[Option Two: Take a more natural approach.
Since the invitations have already been sent, the banquet could serve as a gathering for everyone to get to know one another.]
The two choices appeared before Elysia, but the girl did not make her selection immediately.
Her pink-blue eyes lingered on the first option.
This option…
Wasn’t it a bit strange?
This cultivation system would not present absurd choices that went against her own thoughts just for the sake of it.
From what she had experienced, every choice offered was rooted in her own psychology.
Yet this particular option still felt off.
How could she possibly be thinking about possessing Edward?
Although she really did not dislike him…
She still had a world to save.
The heavy responsibility ahead could not be ignored.
If Edward tried to keep up with her pace by force, it would only lead to a worse outcome.
Elysia knew this well.
A flicker of doubt crossed her eyes.
Sitting alone in a private room of a coffee shop, the girl gently touched the soft skin where her black thigh-high boots met her hot pants.
Her plump thighs pressed together, leaving alluring marks.
Perhaps her earlier assumptions had been wrong.
The options might occasionally include a playful or mischievous element.
Of course, none of that mattered in the end.
Since this was a cultivation simulation, she only needed to choose the more useful option.
Elysia crossed her arms, her slender forearms pressing lightly against her chest.
She stopped thinking about it any further and twirled a strand of pink hair around her index finger.
“I choose the second one.”
[After careful consideration, you decide to adjust the nature of the banquet for now.]
[You have already invited many outstanding individuals you met during your travels.
It would not be a bad idea for them to become friends with Edward.]
[The atmosphere of a gathering should feel much more relaxed than a simple birthday party, right?]
[At least… that was what you believed.]
===
“Hah… ahhh~?”
Elysia crawled out of her sleeping bag inside the tent.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and let out a big yawn.
The thin blanket slid down, revealing her flat stomach.
An inexplicable drowsiness weighed on her body.
With no way to shake it off, she arched her slender waist and stretched cutely like a cat.
“Mmm-hmm-hmm—” After stretching, she let out a long, lazy breath.
The languid softness gradually left her as she became more energetic.
She pulled open a corner of the tent.
The light of dawn had already broken through the layers of white clouds.
Golden rays drifted gently in the direction of her pink-blue eyes, illuminating the ground washed clean by a night of light rain.
She could still feel the slightly damp sensation on her arms.
The cool moisture had deeply soaked into her.
Sitting in the tent, Elysia could clearly hear the clear, ethereal sound of accumulated rainwater dripping onto the tiles outside.
In the nearby woods, the fresh spring willows carried dewy, jade-green leaves.
A refreshing chill filled the air.
Though it would not cause any real harm, it still felt slightly uncomfortable.
The sound of a clear spring flowing down the hillside mixed with the dripping water after the rain, creating a tranquil scene.
New bamboo and tender willows brimmed with vitality.
Everything was moving forward.
The world, still carrying the last traces of winter’s chill, was gradually embraced by sunlight and the warmth of spring.
Just then, a gentle breeze arrived, sweeping over the short grass and into the trees.
The soft rustling passed by her ears and merged with the deep mountain atmosphere of the dense forest.
The warm spring air awakened the white and purple flowers on the lemon tree, filling the air with lively sounds.
“Today… I need to get up early.”
“I can’t stay in bed any longer.”
“There are important things to do.”
Elysia rubbed her slightly dizzy forehead from staying up late the previous night and forced herself to perk up.
She gently removed her exquisite pink nightgown, which bloomed around her like a fresh flower.
Trying not to wake Edward, who was still sound asleep, she quietly took out the new dress she had prepared for the banquet.
But as her slender arm reached over the boy’s head, a mischievous impulse led her to gently sway near his face.
There were no ulterior motives.
The pure-hearted girl understood nothing of suggestive implications.
She was simply venting the emotions she had suppressed after being forced to stay away from him for so long due to various matters.
Of course, there was no strange scent.
The flawless girl carried a pleasant fragrance everywhere.
After changing into her full outfit, Elysia stared blankly at Edward, who was still sleeping soundly beside her.
She reached into her dress to adjust it, but still felt a bit uncomfortable.
“It seems… I bought it a little too small?”
There was no time to change it now.
When her own birthday came in a few days, she would ask Edward to go shopping for new clothes with her.
Elysia placed the discarded clothes inside the sleeping bag, rubbed her soft cheeks, shook off the last traces of sleepiness, and took a deep breath.
Feeling much more energetic, she carefully stepped out of the spacious tent.
Bathing in the warm sunlight, she could not help but stretch again.
Her slender, soft fingers gently interlocked.
The hands clad in pink silk long-sleeved gloves pressed together and lifted upward in a graceful stretch.