A railing with an ashtray overflowing with cigarette butts.
I make another call while looking at the pathetic city view.
“She’s really not picking up.”
If she didn’t like Yi Kang-ho, she could just not meet him.
But ignoring my calls too is strange.
The emergency contact list I got for times like this.
When I called, a middle-aged woman with a hoarse voice answered.
“Hello?
Who is this?” “Hello, this is Kim Juseon, the CEO of Meracle.
Might you be Miss Yu Mia’s mother?” “Meracle…
Ah, the matchmaking agency, right?” “Yes, that’s right.
Actually, the gentleman we connected with Miss Yu Mia has come to see me.
He said he can’t get in contact with her-.”
Yu Mia’s mother answered, sobbing.
“We don’t know either.” “Pardon?” “We don’t know.
Suddenly, suddenly Mia disappeared.
Sob!
We even reported it to the police-!”
What followed was the venting of a mother who had lost her daughter.
Incoherent, emotional, repeating the same things.
I was shocked as well.
But I listened silently until the end.
It was the only thing I could do.
“You must be heartbroken.”
There was nothing else I could say.
– Sob, thank you for listening to me until the end.
After finishing the call, I went back inside and grimly explained the situation.
Hunter Yi Kang-ho’s face turned pale, and he soon covered it with both hands, letting out a pained breath.
“Ah-.” “You must be devastated.”
After so many meetings, he had finally found a good match.
Only for the world to tear them apart.
“Could there have been some kind of accident?”
I hand a tissue to him as he calmly asks, trying to compose his breathing.
“I’m not sure.
Her mother said she reported it-”
At my words, Yi Kang-ho carefully takes out a ring case from his pocket.
Proof of how serious he was about this meeting.
“I was thinking of marriage.
For this to happen.”
There’s one thing to know here.
A matchmaking agency receives something called a ‘Marriage Success Fee.’ Simply put, if a client marries their matching partner, we get extra money.
Yi Kang-ho and Yu Mia.
Both are high-rank, so the fee is expensive.
5 million won from each side.
Meaning, if they get married, that’s 10 million won.
My cup ramen could instantly turn into beef steak.
“Are you going to give up like this?!”
Slam!
I slam the desk and urgently shout at Yi Kang-ho to get a grip.
“Ye-yes?!” “She’s the woman you were thinking of marrying!
Are you going to give up just because she suddenly disappeared?” “Ah…” “Let’s find her.
You have to get married, Mr.
Kang-ho.”
Moved by my words, Yi Kang-ho nodded vigorously.
“Yes, yes!”
*
“Hey, Kim Yang, watch the office.
If a client comes, get their contact info.” “Yes, yees!
Boss!”
Leaving the saluting Kim Yang behind, I came down to the 1st floor with Hunter Yi Kang-ho.
And there on the 1st floor stood an unexpected, familiar person.
“Ms.
Lenea?” “A-ahem.
Wh-where are you going?”
I hadn’t seen her since she left crying last time.
I don’t know what she’s been up to, but being an Elf, her appearance hadn’t changed much.
“I was so, so furious I couldn’t sleep.
How dare you to an Elf-!”
Yi Kang-ho, who was following me, peeked his head out from the side.
“Ah, the Elf I met last time.” “Oh my, hello Oppa!”
What is this?
Am I dreaming?
“Oppa, where are you going?
Can’t I come with you?”
A bubbly smile.
A sweet eye-smile.
I could feel the desperation of a 1,901-year-old in all of it.
“Ah, well…”
Yi Kang-ho tried to mumble his way out of the difficult explanation.
I immediately cut in.
“Actually, we’re going to look for someone right now.
Ms.
Lenea, if you don’t mind, could you help us?” “Pardon?
Me?”
A look of annoyance flickered across her face.
But I couldn’t let this go.
“Elves are good at smelling things on the wind, and they’re pros at tracking, aren’t they?
Besides, well, you can talk to spirits if there are any.” “It is possible, but…”
Just before she could answer that it was a bother.
Yi Kang-ho stepped forward and pleaded.
“Really?
Pl-please!
I’m begging you!” “Pardon?” “Actually, my lover is missing right now.
What happened was-.”
Yi Kang-ho explained the whole story.
After hearing the story, Lenea thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
“Of course, Oppa.
I have to help.
I’ll do everything in my power to help.” “Th-thank you!
Thank you so much!”
I was honestly surprised she agreed to help.
I thought she’d refuse, since we were going to look for another woman.
“I-I’ll go get the car.
Please wait!”
Fearing she might change her mind, Yi Kang-ho rushed to the parking lot.
“I didn’t expect you to agree to help so easily.”
At my question, Lenea glanced at me, then leaned in and whispered.
“If I embrace a man who has lost his lover with the warmth of an older woman, perhaps a chance might arise for me as well.” “What kind of garbage is this?
And you’re calling him Oppa, so why the warmth of an older woman?
Pick one.” “It’s a multi-faceted approach to seduction.
Just say I’m that sincere, alright?” “Heh.” “If it goes well, it’ll count as a match through Meracle, so if I say I’ll pay the fee, will you shut up?” “Of course, Esteemed Client.”