— South Korea —
In Seoul, nestled on a secluded hilltop, stood a sprawling hanok estate belonging to the Kim family, one of South Korea's most influential and affluent families. This complex housed the main family residence, quarters for servants and guards, and training halls for both family mbers and guards.
Another hall housed a state-of-the-art gymnasium, equipped with the latest exercise equipnt and a dedicated space for martial arts training. Another hanok was reserved for the family's renowned kitchen, where master chefs prepared exquisite als using fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
The resounding voices of guards practicing their Hwando sword techniques in the training grounds spoke volus about the family's strict discipline. The Kim family was renowned for their mastery of physical enhancent spells, particularly in the realm of blade arts.
Their unique swordsmanship relied on an extre state of concentration, allowing them to remain unfazed even when wounded. This unwavering focus enabled swift and precise strikes, capable of cleaving through steel and bone without damaging their blades.
The trade-off for this extraordinary swordsmanship was the ti required to enter the heightened state of concentration, which increased with the hardness of the target material. However, thanks to their expertise in physical enhancent magic, the Kim family mbers could endure attacks without feeling pain, and their bodies possessed remarkable regenerative capabilities.
In the guest house of the sprawling hanok complex, Daniel slept, leaning against the table. He had fallen asleep halfway through reading various reports from his subordinates. A few minutes later, he woke up to a series of beeps from his tablet. Checking it, he saw it was lunchti.
A notification caught his eye, bringing a smile to his face. His points had increased by 12,547. Now he could buy a new box set and a few card boosters. He guessed this sudden increase in points was likely due to the political power change in the Qing Dynasty and the unexpected declaration of a new crown prince.
"Danny, are you awake yet? It's ti for lunch," Koyuki entered the room. She had accompanied him on this trip to Korea.
Daniel had brought his entire family: Koyuki, Envy, Penthesilea, Michaela, little Sylvana, and even Mammon, the chubby yellow iguana. As for Sat, since he's a dog, he had to stay at ho, but Daniel had programd the servant golem to feed him on ti, ensuring he wouldn't miss a al.
"I just woke up. Thanks for coming to get ," Daniel said.
Koyuki approached and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, nudging him affectionately.
"How's little Sylvana?" he asked.
"As usual, she's excited and full of energy. I bet Michaela is just as thrilled; they both love Korean dramas. Coming here with you is a dream co true for them," Koyuki replied with a smile.
"What about Penthesilea? Is she awake yet?" he asked. Since Penthesilea was pregnant with his child, he worried about her second only to his daughter.
"She's already waiting at the table, along with Michaela, little Sylvana, and Envy. You're the only one left," Koyuki inford him.
"Then let's go. We shouldn't keep them waiting," Daniel nodded, and he led Koyuki out of the room towards the dining room in the guest house.
In the dining room, a myriad of food and drink adorned the table. Korean cuisine dominated, but there were also Japanese and European dishes, catering to guests with diverse preferences.
At the head of the table sat Kim Yong-chul, the patriarch of the Kim family, also known as the "Iron Wall." Daniel sat at the other end, as this feast was prepared for guests of the Kim family, naly the Emberweave family.
Kim Yong-chul appeared to be in his early forties, but his true age was 120, halfway through the average lifespan of a mage. He had two patches of white hair at his temples, stood 1.9 ters tall, and possessed a sturdy, muscular build honed by years of training.
Daniel had secretly visited the Kim family a few days prior, accompanied only by Michaela. He discussed the possibility of the Kim family joining the Order of Ember, but the Kim family seed hesitant. They told Daniel they would consider it, but he didn't hold out much hope.
Perhaps fearing to offend Daniel, Kim Yong-chul, noticing Michaela's fondness for Korean culture and her seemingly more-than-professional relationship with Daniel, offered to host Daniel and his family for a few days of leisure in Korea.
Michaela imdiately agreed, forgetting herself, leaving Daniel to helplessly acquiesce since he had already planned to give his family a relaxing vacation in Korea.
This led to the Emberweave family becoming VIP guests of the Kim family.
"How is the feast? If there's anything else you need or would like us to prepare, please don't hesitate to ask, Mr. Emberweave," Kim Yong-chul said with a smile.
"More chicken! Like this one, Grandpa!" little Sylvana imdiately shouted, raising her hand showing the fried chicken leg, her mouth ssy with garlic sauce from the Korean fried chicken she had just devoured.
"Be more polite. How about saying please?" Envy gently admonished the little girl, wiping her mouth with a tissue.
"Please, Grandpa," little Sylvana repeated.
"Hahaha! Of course, little lady!" Kim Yong-chul laughed heartily, then called out to the chef standing nearby. "Chef! Bring more fried chicken for this young lady."
"Yes, Patriarch," the chef replied, rushing back to the kitchen to relay the ssage.
"Is there anywhere in particular you'd like to visit?" the Patriarch asked Daniel, who turned towards Michaela, dressed in a hanbok, and nodded.
With her lord's permission, Michaela enthusiastically listed several places she wanted to see, causing the Kim patriarch to smile wryly at her exuberance. It seed that those folks in the film industry had done overly good, making even an archangel a passionate fan of Korean dramas.
Of course, Patriarch Kim was aware of Michaela's true nature due to his sharp senses honed by years of training. He could feel the intense holy power within her, even though she concealed it beneath her human disguise.
As the lively al continued and the Korean fried chicken was replenished, a bespectacled man who resembled a typical office worker, seemingly in his early thirties, entered the dining room. He bowed to Patriarch Kim and nodded politely to Daniel before approaching the patriarch.
"Father, this is the profit report of our business group for this month, as you requested," the man said, handing a file to Patriarch Kim.
The Patriarch received the file, quickly scanned it, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Very good, Chang-wook. The results of your new business ventures are impressive, as always. Aside from Ji-hwan, you are the most reliable," the Patriarch praised his son with a smile.
Daniel noticed a flicker of unease in the man's expression when Patriarch Kim ntioned the na Ji-hwan, though it was quickly masked.
"Father... then... the next heir..." the man started, but Patriarch Kim cut him off.
"Ah, my apologies, everyone. Allow to introduce him," Patriarch Kim turned towards Daniel. "This is my eldest son, Kim Chang-wook. He leads our business group, and I hope Mr. Emberweave can offer him so guidance in the future."
With that, Patriarch Kim introduced his son, who appeared to be an ordinary salaryman, to Daniel.
"Hello, Mr. Emberweave, it's a pleasure to et you," Kim Chang-wook said, shaking Daniel's hand. He then turned to Envy. "You must be Lady Envy. My father speaks very highly of you; he respects you greatly," he greeted Envy, shaking her hand as well.
"Oh! It's nice to et you too," Envy replied with a smile.
"By the way, Chang-wook, when you leave, please call Yuna here. I have a task for her," the Patriarch instructed.
"Yes, father," Kim Chang-wook replied, excusing himself from Daniel and Envy with a nod to the other ladies before leaving the dining room.
A few minutes later, a graceful young woman, seemingly in her late teens, entered the dining room. Still wearing her training attire, sweat glistened on her delicate skin. Her black silky hair was tied in a short bun at the back of her head. She bore a few small scars on her cheek, but they didn't detract from her beauty; instead, they added an air of valor.
"Grandfather, you called for ?" she asked, wiping her sweat with a handkerchief while glancing at the guests.
Seeing his granddaughter, Patriarch Kim nodded proudly before speaking.
"Yuna, please freshen up and change. I need you to guide our guests to various places in Korea," the Patriarch instructed.
She frowned. "Wait... in Korea? Not just Seoul?"
"You heard correctly," the Patriarch confird.
"That will take several days, Grandpa. What about my training? I feel like I'm on the verge of comprehending the next stage of extre concentration," Yuna replied, still frowning.
"When you return, I'll teach you so new techniques and give you sothing that rightfully belongs to you," the Patriarch offered, attempting to bribe her.
"Okay, Grandpa," Yuna replied, resigned to her fate, before excusing herself to follow his instructions.
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