Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Finding a Bride!
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A railing cluttered with overflowing ashtrays.
I gaze at the mundane cityscape and dial the number again.
"She's really not picking up."
If Lee Kangho doesn't like it, then just don't meet him.
But ignoring my calls too? That's weird.
For times like this, I have an emergency contact on hand.
I make the call, and a middle-aged woman with a hoarse voice answers.
"Hello? Who's this?"
"Hello, this is Kim Juseon, president of Meracle. Are you perhaps Yumia's mother?"
"Meracle... Oh, the marriage agency, right?"
"Yes, exactly. Actually, the gentleman matched with Yumia came looking for her. She hasn't been responding to his calls—"
Yumia's mother sniffled as she replied.
"We don't know either."
"Pardon?"
"We don't know. She just... she suddenly vanished. Sob! We even reported it to the police—!"
What followed was a mother's heartfelt outpouring, like venting her grief over losing her daughter.
Disjointed, emotional, repeating herself over and over.
I was shocked too.
But I listened quietly until the end. That's all I could do.
"My deepest condolences."
There was nothing else I could say.
- Sob, thank you for listening to the end like this.
After hanging up, I stepped back inside and explained the complicated situation.
Hunter Lee Kangho's face paled, and soon he clutched his head with both hands, letting out a pained breath.
"Ah—."
"I can imagine how you feel."
After so many meetings, he'd finally found a good match.
But the world had torn them apart.
"Do you think something happened to her?"
I hand him some tissues as he forces himself to breathe steadily and asks calmly.
"I'm not sure. Her mother said they did file a report, but—"
At my words, Lee Kangho carefully pulls a ring case from his pocket.
Proof of how serious he was about this meeting.
"I was even thinking marriage. And now this..."
One thing to know here.
Marriage agencies charge a 'success fee'.
In simple terms, they get extra money when clients actually marry their matches.
Lee Kangho and Yumia.
Both high-rankers, so the fee would be steep.
Five million won each side.
A successful marriage means ten million won total.
Cup ramen could turn into premium beef in one go.
"Are you just going to give up like this?!"
BAM!
I slam the desk and shout at Lee Kangho to snap out of it.
"Y-Yes?!"
"This is the woman you were thinking of marrying! You gonna quit just because she vanished suddenly?"
"Ah......"
"Let's find her. You two need to get married, Kangho."
Touched by my words, Lee Kangho nods vigorously.
"Yes! Yes!"
"Kim Yang, hold down the fort at the office. If any clients show up, get their contact info."
"Yes, sir! Boss!"
Leaving Kim Yang who salutes playfully, I head down to the first floor with Hunter Lee Kangho.
And there, on the first floor, stands an unexpected familiar face.
"Reneah?"
"Ahem. W-Where are you off to?"
It's been a while since she left in tears last time.
No idea what she's been up to, but being an elf, she doesn't look much different.
"I was so furious, I couldn't sleep. How dare they to an elf—!"
Lee Kangho, following behind, peeks his head out slightly.
"Ah, the elf lady from before."
"Oh, hello, oppa!"
What is this?
Am I dreaming?
"Where are you going, oppa? Can I come too?"
A bubbly smile.
A cute eye crinkle.
Every bit of it reeks of 1,901 years of desperation.
"Uh, well......"
Lee Kangho fumbles, hard to explain, but I jump in right away.
"Actually, we're about to go look for someone. Reneah, if you're okay with it, could you help?"
"Me?"
A flash of annoyance crosses her face.
But I can't let this slip.
"Elves are great at tracking scents on the wind, pros at finding traces. Plus, with spirits, you can even communicate."
"I could, but......"
Right before she says 'too much hassle'.
Lee Kangho steps forward, pleading.
"Really? P-Please! I beg you!"
"Pardon?"
"My girlfriend's gone missing right now. Here's the deal—"
Lee Kangho explains the whole story.
After hearing it, Reneah ponders a moment, then smiles and nods.
"Of course, oppa. I have to help. I'll do whatever I can to the best of my ability."
"Th-Thank you! Thank you so much!"
I was honestly surprised she agreed to help. Looking for another woman? I figured she'd refuse on principle.
"I-I'll go pull the car around. Wait for me!"
Worried she might change her mind, Lee Kangho dashes to the parking lot.
"Didn't expect you'd help this easily."
To my question, Reneah glances at me, leans in, and whispers.
"If I wrap a heartbroken man in the warm embrace of an older woman, maybe I'll get a shot too."
"What kind of trash logic is that? And you're calling him 'oppa' but talking about older woman warmth? Pick one."
"Trying all angles to seduce him. Shows how serious I am, right?"
"Jeez."
"If it works out, say it was connected through Meracle, so he has to pay the fee. That'll shut him up."
"Naturally, ma'am."
This is a ten-million-won case, after all.
Perfectly timed, the SsangYong SUV pulls up in front of us.
As soon as I hop into the passenger seat, we set our destination.
"Alright, let's head to her workplace first. Yumia was a nurse, right?"
"Ah, yes! Spot on. I'll guide you. Hop in."
"A man driving is just so sexy!"
"What's with the cutesy act at 1,901 years old......"
I mutter from the side, and Reneah immediately reaches from the back seat to poke me.
"Ease up? I'm a client too, you know?"
"Ahem."
The latest-model SUV rides smooth, with plenty of interior space. As I look around from the passenger seat, Hunter Lee Kangho gives a wry smile.
"Bought it thinking we'd ride together after marriage, with kids."
"Oh my! So family-oriented!"
Do elf girls feel emotions differently from humans?
I glare at her through the rearview mirror, and realizing she'd gone too far, Reneah sheepishly looks down.
Good, maybe it'll stay quiet now.
Midway, an alarm buzzes on my phone—Kim Yang's SNS.
'Told her to watch the office, and she's dancing and posting shorts.'
No me around, so she's filming herself dancing in the office.
We arrive by car outside Seoul.
A makeshift ward stacked from containers, for hunters injured hunting magic beasts.
Not far, really—close enough to touch if you trip—but still, my first time outside Seoul in ages.
"These days, all the magic beasts around here are beast-types, right?"
"Pretty much. But with the cold snap, they haven't been showing up much lately. Hunting's gotten competitive because of it."
"Nothing easy in this world."
Matchmaking's a cutthroat market already—think hunters have it easy?
Just then, a smoking area comes into view.
"Let's have a smoke before heading in."
"Ah, I quit. I'll go inside first and talk to Yumia's coworkers."
With that, Hunter Lee Kangho heads into the container.
I light up and take a drag, then Reneah sidles over, wrinkling her nose.
"Seoul really is a strange place."
"Huh? Suddenly?"
"To an elf, magic beasts are just invaders of the forest. Never thought of hunting, butchering, and selling them for money."
"Well, that's the 4th Floor for you. 3rd Floor folks think about what makes money first and foremost."
Even relationships are bought and sold for cash.
"Speaking of which."
"Yes?"
"Postpaid okay?"
"......"
I stare at her mid-drag, and Reneah hurriedly makes excuses.
"N-No! I saw magic beast hunting pays well! I-I'm pretty good in a fight too? I'm the Elf Queen!"
"To hunt magic beasts in Seoul, you need a hunter license first off. No, you got no money? Then you're not a client."
"......I can get it quick."
"That bow of yours. Super expensive, right? Just sell it."
No honorifics for non-clients.
"N-No, not the bow! Th-That's expensive!"
"What're you on about? Don't you remember whining how pricey it was last time?"
I give her an incredulous look, her face turns beet red, and she digs her own grave.
"O-Old folks forget quick."
"......"
"Dementia. At 1,901, I forget stuff from an hour ago."
I flip her the bird right away.
"Why curse?!"
"You'll forget anyway."
"Humans are so rude—."
"Just you? Anyway, sense anything unusual?"
"Unusual?"
"Elves have sharp senses. Anything off or weird?"
"Jeez."
That sigh was pure 1,901 years old.
Age for advertising now?
Reneah crosses her arms, feeling the chill wind on her skin, and clicks her tongue.
"The place reeks of humans."
"Lots of nurses here."
"Not that."
Reneah's expression hardens.
"It's like... tangled? Scents coming from the same direction, but way too much."
"Too much?"
She's looking out back, where no people should be.
I was puzzled, but no time to dwell.
"President! Reneah! The nurses said they'll talk to us!"
Lee Kangho calls from behind, so we head to the container ward for now.