Dante stirred awake to the faint hum of Seoul's morning energy seeping through the villa's windows. As he stretched, a lazy grin spread across his face.
He could hear Raikou's warm chatter downstairs, mingling with the clink of coffee mugs, and the faint scratch of Mikasa's pencil against paper.
Another day, another chance to stir up some fun.
He rolled out of bed and shuffled down to the living room. Raikou sat at a polished wooden table with Hyeonjung, steam rising from their cups.
Mikasa was curled up on a nearby couch, sketchbook open, her pencil tracing the delicate lines of a cherry blossom branch.
Before Dante could grab a seat, the front door burst open, and Jane Yoo strode in, light brownish hair bouncing, towing her younger sister Jenny behind her.
"Morning, sleepyhead!" Jane's voice sliced through the calm, sharp and teasing.
"You and Mikasa are with us today—Seoul's waiting, and I'm not letting you waste it in bed."
Jenny peeked out from behind her, offering a bright, easy smile.
"It'll be fun! There's so much to see here."
Dante leaned against the wall, smirking.
"Only if you two can handle me. Big cities are my playground."
Jane snorted, hands on her hips. "Handle you? We'll run you ragged, city boy."
Raikou was looking at the bickering and laughed softly, sipping her coffee. "Just don't wreck anything. Hyeonjung doesn't need the headache."
Hyeonjung's reddish-brown eyes sparkled with a gentle smile. "I'm used to a little chaos. Go enjoy yourselves—just try not to terrify the locals. It won't be good for my business if any of your faces get pasted in the newspapers for the wrong reasons."
Her tone being a bit playful at the end.
Dante winked at her. "No guarantees, Aunt H." He grabbed his bag and nudged Mikasa. "You in, sis?"
Mikasa closed her sketchbook, standing with a small nod. "Yeah. Let's go."
Hyueonjung found Dante's way of calling her funny as she looked at him going to get dressed.
Around thirty minutes later, they piled into Jane's sleek black car—Jane at the wheel, Jenny up front, Dante and Mikasa in the back.
Jane looked at Dante as she spoke with a tone the final-year bullies spoke to the freshers,
"Our pretty princess took a good time getting ready huh? Bet your prince will be charmed away by you huh?"
Dante smirked as he looked into her eyes through the rearview mirror. "Aaw, you look cute when you get jealous, especially of my handsomeness."
Jane spoke with an annoyed voice, her forehead furrowed. "And your face looks awfully smashable with that grin."
To this Dante smirked once again, but Jane kept her cool as she shrugged and gunned the engine, peeling out of the driveway with a grin.
"Whatever. First up, Gyeongbokgung Palace. Bet Tokyo's got nothing this good."
Dante leaned back, smirking. "Seen flashier. You'll have to try harder to impress me."
Jane glanced at him in the rearview mirror, laughing. "Oh, I'll impress you—by leaving you lost in the crowd."
Jenny turned in her seat, her tone warm but relaxed. "It's really pretty there—old buildings, cool guards. You'll like it, Mikasa."
Mikasa pulled out her camera, nodding. "Sounds nice."
She snapped a quick shot of the blurring streets, and Dante elbowed her lightly. "Already going pro with that thing?"
She shrugged, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Just practice. You'd ruin it with your dumb faces anyway."
He chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Gotta keep the art interesting. You're welcome."
The palace rose into view, its curved roofs and wooden gates standing proud against the modern skyline.
They parked and wandered in, the air crisp with a hint of spring. Jane pointed at the throne hall, smirking. "Check that out—way cooler than your Tokyo shrines."
Dante crossed his arms. "It's decent. Could use some neon—spice it up."
Jenny giggled, walking beside Mikasa.
"It's better with cherry blossoms. You're lucky—they're just starting to bloom."
Mikasa's eyes brightened, her camera clicking as she framed the courtyard.
"Can't wait to see them." Dante peeked over her shoulder.
"That's a solid shot, sis. You're killing it."
She glanced at him, grinning faintly. "Thanks. You're still a terrible model."
"Wounded," he said, laughing. "I'm a work of art."
Next, they hit Myeongdong, the streets buzzing with vendors and the scent of sizzling food.
Jane thrust a stick of spicy tteokbokki at Dante, smirking.
"Try this, tough guy. Let's see if you can take the heat."
He bit into it without flinching, the spice hitting hard and fast. "Easy," he said, grinning through the burn. "You're gonna have to do better than that."
She tossed him another, eyebrow raised. "Big words. Don't cry when it kicks in."
Jenny handed Mikasa a sweet red bean bun, smiling kindly.
"Here, this one's better—not spicy like Jane's torture food."
Mikasa took a small bite, nodding. "Thanks, Jenny. It's good."
Dante swiped a piece from her bun, popping it into his mouth before she could stop him.
"Hey!" she snapped, swatting his hand. He grinned. "What? I'm just sampling."
"You're awful," she muttered, but her smile betrayed her. "Get your own."
Jenny laughed, her cheer light and natural. "You two are hilarious. Like real siblings."
"We are," Dante said, winking at Mikasa. "She just won't admit she adores me."
The group drifted through the stalls, sampling snacks and trading banter.
By afternoon, they reached an arcade tucked into a side street—Jane's idea, her eyes glinting with challenge.
"Time to see what you've got, Dante. Bet I'll crush you at Street Fighter."
Dante smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Bring it on. I don't lose."
Inside, the arcade hummed with flashing lights and electronic beats. Jane beelined for a fighting game, but Mikasa paused at a rhythm game machine, its screen pulsing with colorful arrows.
She slid a coin in, her fingers hovering over the buttons, and started playing. The music kicked up, fast and relentless, and her hands moved like lightning—perfect taps, no misses, her focus razor-sharp.
Dante whistled, leaning over her shoulder. "How long have you been practicing on these moves sis?"
She didn't break concentration, eyes locked on the screen. "Quite some time. You won't trip over the buttons if you do the same."
Dante looked hurt like a baby fed medicine they wanted to spit but were forced to drink. response.
Jenny clapped as Mikasa's score soared, her cheer genuine. "That's amazing! You're so good!"
Jane glanced over, smirking but impressed. "Okay, artsy girl's got skills. Didn't see that coming."
Mikasa finished with a flawless combo, stepping back as the machine blared her high score.
She shrugged, a shy smile creeping up. "It's just timing."
"Timing my ass," Dante said, grinning. "You're a secret pro. Next time, you're on my team."
They moved to Namsan Tower next, taking the cable car up as Seoul stretched out below.
At the observation deck, Jenny pointed out the Han River and Lotte Tower, her voice bright but calm. Mikasa sketched the skyline, her pencil flying, while Dante leaned on the railing beside her. "Better than the postcards already."
She nodded, not looking up. "Maybe. You'd still ruin it with your dumb poses."
He laughed, nudging her. "Gotta keep you on your toes."
Jane had been quiet since the arcade, her usual fire dimmed. She stood apart, staring out at the city, her arms crossed tight.
Dante caught it, frowning. "Yo, Jane—what's up? You're off."
She snapped her head around, eyes sharp. "Nothing's up. Drop it."
Her tone was clipped, colder than usual, and she turned away fast, brushing past Jenny.
Jenny bit her lip, glancing at Dante. "She's… been weird since lunch. Don't push her, okay?"
Dante raised an eyebrow but let it go, filing it away.
'Something's eating at her. Not my mess—yet.'
The sun dipped low as they headed back to the car, Jane cranking the radio to drown the silence.
Dante slouched in the back, groaning at the K-pop blaring through. "This your vibe? Absolute trash."
Jane smirked, turning it louder. "Better than your complaining. Deal with it."
Then it hit—his senses screamed, a massive surge of mana tearing through the air like a thunderclap.
Two colossal energies clashed nearby, S-rank—close and pissed.
He shot upright, voice hard. "Stop the car."
Jane scowled. "What? No—" but he was already moving, Infinity flaring as he teleported out the window, launching into the sky.
He looked down as he spoke, his voice crystal even after such a distance,
"You guys head straight home, tell mom I'll be back by dinner... or morning." with that he disappeared.
The car swerved, Jane yelling, "What the hell?!" while Jenny gasped and Mikasa stared at the place he just was, eyes wide.
Dante rocketed over Seoul's outskirts, zeroing in on the source—a gate... a red gate.
Normally this would be the main focus of attention, but today it was not as outside, two hunters faced off:
Baek Yoonho, his hair gleaming, his beastly aura steady and fierce; and Hwang Dongsoo, grinning like a madman.
Yoonho's voice growled, low and firm. "This gate's mine, Hunter Dongsoo. Walk away."
Dongsoo laughed, cracking his neck. "I don't give a shit, kitty. That hunter Sung is mine to kill and besides, I have been itching for a fight, who's better than a wild cat!"