Long Live Yeoeumhoe! The Morning After Drinking with Ophelia and Beloah
“Ah, my head.”
I’d made it to work, but I was slumped over with my face buried in the desk. Beer alone would’ve been fine, but last night we’d seamlessly transitioned to sake, and I’d ended up drinking way too much.
“T-that’s what you get. Y-you should’ve drunk in moderation.”
“You could’ve stopped me.”
“I-I did stop you. Y-you idiot.”
Kim Yang handed me some hangover relief pills from the side, and I swallowed them while piecing together my memories. Right, she had tried to stop me. But the expensive booze we hadn’t had in ages was way tastier than expected, and self-control just flew out the window.
Psst! Psst!
Kim Yang grabbed some deodorizer and sprayed it all over me. I couldn’t meet clients reeking of alcohol, so fair enough. But it felt weirdly awkward all the same.
“Hey, Kim Yang.”
“W-what.”
“You remember what we talked about last night? Yeoeumhoe.”
“……Yeah.”
“We shouldn’t take on their members if we can help it—”
“B-but.”
The reason Kim Yang hesitated was obvious. It tied straight into Meracle’s motto.
“We take anyone. That’s our company policy. So let’s go with this.”
“H-how?”
It was what I’d been mulling over while drinking last night.
“Pair them up only with other Yeoeumhoe folks. From what I saw yesterday, it’ll boost their numbers, right?”
“S-same jar?”
“Exactly. Clean and simple, yeah?”
“C-check!”
Kim Yang clenched both fists tight and nodded. I kept my face on the desk but turned my head.
I’d made it to work, but I needed a little rest.
“……”
“……”
“What. Why are you still standing there? Go do your work.”
“B-boss. D-do work.”
“I’m the boss.”
“D-do your work.”
“I’m the one paying your salary.”
“R-right! S-salary raise.”
I shot up straight away, stretching.
“Ughaaaa! Time to work!”
“W-wanna die?”
“……Kim Yang, I’m in debt right now—”
Clatter!
“Cute and zesty this lady arrives!”
“Bullshit, fuck.”
Aigoo, a curse slipped out unbidden. But Renea didn’t care, grinning ear to ear as she bounded over and latched onto my back.
“Oooong! Boss! You’re in a great mood todayyy!”
“Ah, shit.”
Last night’s drinking marathon had been me, Ophelia, and Renea. The elf had chugged it down eagerly since it’d been ages, declaring how tasty it was. But elves don’t metabolize alcohol as smoothly as you’d think. Sure, it’d be different around trees, but in the city? The buzz was still hanging on.
“Oooong! Boss!”
“Ah, come on. You stink.”
She didn’t actually stink, but the granny rubbing her cheeks against mine was overwhelming. Kim Yang glanced over, shook her head, and got back to her tasks.
“Boss.”
“How’d you even make it to work? Shit…… Here’s some cash—hit the sauna or something.”
I pulled a ten-thousand-won bill from my wallet, and she snatched it with her mouth, grinning as she scampered off.
“What part-time worker shows up drunk?”
“B-boss.”
“What.”
Grumbling as I sat back down, Kim Yang shoved the trash bin from the seat next to hers toward me.
“E-empty it.”
“……Why me?”
“A-alba. Sent her off.”
“And?”
“T-then. B-boss cleans.”
“Doesn’t the logic feel kinda twisted?”
“C-client consultation.”
Kim Yang grabbed her tablet at Raichen’s call from the lobby downstairs and bolted. With a sigh, I decided to empty the bin first.
Why does she change her stockings in the office?
I gathered the office trash, dumped it, and sank back into my seat. Started the day by matching yesterday’s clients and firing off texts. Dealing with the elf granny’s clinginess and the trash had dulled the hangover a bit.
About thirty minutes later, Kim Yang came back in with a vague expression.
“B-boss.”
“What.”
“A-another one. Yeoeumhoe.”
“Huh, more than I thought. And hitting us early morning too.”
I nodded indifferently while working, but my eyes drifted to the CCTV screen nearby.
“Hm?”
Mornings usually saw few walk-ins for marriage agencies. Only reservations or emergencies. Yet another person had come in and was getting consulted in the lobby.
“What day is it today?”
Money’s money for me.
When people think of religion, the first image that pops up is probably church buildings. Folks seek mental and physical training, peace, and comfort in community.
But there’s always a darker side to peek into.
Are people’s faith purely selfless? No, not really. Otherwise, terms like “church oppa” wouldn’t exist in such a blatantly personal way.
There were complex reasons why Yeoeumhoe believers were flocking to Meracle.
One: Their leader, Arachino, had banned private gatherings. He only did live broadcasts to raise awareness—no actual meetings.
Two: His tic disorder was why. Arachino believed his cause was righteous, but feared his tics would undermine his credibility.
Three: Mainstream media trashed Yeoeumhoe. Their arguments had pull, but a group demanding war couldn’t win positive spins.
Four: People crave those who share their worldview. But Arachino nixed communities or group chats to avoid tainting the cause.
Then Meracle’s rumor spread.
They take anyone. Even match Yeoeumhoe folks among themselves.
To them, Meracle wasn’t just a matchmaking agency anymore. It was their sole communication channel. A gathering spot for kindred spirits. The one company embracing them amid the world’s scorn.
Exactly one week after the live broadcast.
⊳ Boss, guest to Room 1 right away.
“Got it! Right away!”
Meracle was swamped—no time to sit.
“Scrub-a-dub!”
Renea mopped the lobby furiously, wiping sweat from her brow and scanning around.
“Phew—! Working this hard, full-time status can’t be far.”
Clients waited on the sofas, some even sneaking glances and chatting sporadically. For Yeoeumhoe believers, even waiting was a meetup.
She sidled up to Raichen, now comfy at the computer.
“Ahem, how many clients left? I wanna clean the bathroom.”
“About seven still waiting.”
“Ugh, gotta wait then.”
Renea refused to acknowledge Raichen as full-time out of pride. What rolling stone displaces the boulder? Especially for a 1,900-year-old elf, hierarchy—seniority—mattered deeply.
She plopped into the chair she’d secretly stashed by the lobby.
Raichen, sensing a lull, removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes before asking carefully.
“……Lady Renea, is this really okay?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Yeoeumhoe. I worry if we should keep taking them.”
“……”
“I get their feelings. If I’d heard Master’s voice too…… I might’ve joined them.”
Raichen didn’t know yet that Yeoeumhoe claimed to hear Gellawind. Kim Juseon had sworn them to secrecy—nothing good would come of it.
Renea covered her mouth with both hands to avoid spilling.
“And that’s why I wonder. Is it truly fine? Handling their hearts like this.”
“……The echo of parting still lingers in your breast.”
Renea nodded, arms crossed, after slowly lowering her hands. Raichen, fresh from losing Gellawind, empathized deeply.
“This lady has lived 1,900 years, enduring countless losses. ‘Farewell’ is too pretty a word—‘loss’ fits better.”
“Loss……”
“Think you this lady overcame all that to stand here now?”
Raichen turned slowly, meeting her gaze. He suddenly recalled she’d once been Elf Queen.
“Not at all. How could one? That’s what loss is.”
“Then……”
Memories surfaced of beseeching his master for wisdom—asking just like this when unsure.
“Do you still suffer?”
“I do. Yet we live for the meetings that follow.”
“……”
“Loss and meeting repeat. Pain doesn’t fade, but meetings give strength to go on.”
Her words evoked the World Tree—endlessly regenerating despite wounds. Wise, in a way. But over 1,900 years? Eerie.
Is that why she chases love?
Raichen realized the elf’s depths ran deeper than expected.
“Look now. Even you, full-timer, lost your master—yet live on through Kim Da Jeong.”
“……Indeed, you’re right.”
His eyes widened as the wisdom applied to his own life. For short-lived humans, her words helped.
“So with them. They seek to heal loss’s pain with new bonds. Pitiable souls, no?”
“……”
“Well, the issue is—”
Renea fidgeted her foot, adding sheepishly.
“Yeoeumhoe’s getting too intense…… Some mistake us for their church headquarters.”
“……”
“……”
In front of Meracle. Yu Ye-na stared at Yeoeumhoe folks chatting warmly over rice soup at the first-floor joint.
She turned to the entrance—and there was the blatant promo signboard.
The surest way to meet someone who shares your values.
Beliefs, not tastes.
In countless worlds, we find your miracle.
Hunter specialist matchmaking agency, Meracle.
“Hoo.”
A short sigh. The briefcase in her hand suddenly felt light.
Yu Ye-na pondered, then made a call.
“Yes, Vice President.”
“Bring another briefcase of cash.”
“Pardon? Not enough?”
“……They’ll say it’s not.”
Convincing her crafty ex seemed to demand heavier ammo than expected.