25 Meracle Is Open for Business

The 5th Floor, Taeguk Yin-Yang Sect.

As one of the prestigious sects with active ties to the outside world, it had become one of the 5th Floor’s most famous tourist attractions.

Naturally, outsiders couldn’t enter the sect, but its buildings, set against the majestic waterfall on the outskirts of the city, made it a popular spot for taking once-in-a-lifetime photos.

“Wow, amazing.”

“Look! They even sell doboks here!”

A young couple visiting from the 3rd Floor laughed as they took pictures.

One thing tourists on the 5th Floor sought out above all was a Polaroid camera.

Since there were no cell towers on the 5th Floor, cell phones were naturally useless.

Of course, you could still take pictures with a phone, but the analog charm was part of the unique appeal of a 5th Floor tour.

What would they do if they got lost or ran into a band of bandits?

There was no need to worry.

The 5th Floor’s tourism industry was more developed than that of any other floor—.

Swish!

The ‘guide (tour guide)’ who had been watching from a distance approached the couple by walking through the air.

Did martial arts skill put food on the table?

Those days were over.

It was a world where even masters had to earn money to live.

As escorts (travel guides), they were making quite a tidy sum.

“Can you see that over there?”

When the guide approached and pointed, a woman could be seen in the building beside the waterfall.

Black hair interwoven with shades of blue. Refined, elegant features. A white dobok.

“That is none other than Baek Yeonhwa of the Taeguk Yin-Yang Sect. She is one of the Ten Great Masters.”

“Wow!”

“One of the Ten Great Masters?”

At the couple’s astonished reaction, the guide nodded with a smile.

“You’re very lucky. The Taeguk Yin-Yang Sect is a sect that values the harmony of yin and yang through balance, as well as tranquility. She must be writing a verse to calm her heart over there.”

“Amazing, amazing!”

“A verse? Wow, I want to see it.”

“Ahem, this is a very precious experience. I’ll take the pictures for you.”

At the guide’s words, the couple took pictures with the distant waterfall and Baek Yeonhwa in the background.

Click!

Bzzzz!

Click!

Bzzzz!

“Wow, you’re really good at taking pictures!”

“I told you we made the right choice with him, didn’t I? His reviews are amazing.”

“Haha, that’s because you two look so good together.”

Even after handing over the pictures, the guide didn’t leave. Seeing him standing there awkwardly, the boyfriend pulled a bill from his pocket and handed it to him.

“Thanks to you, we even got a picture of one of the Ten Great Masters. Thank you.”

“Ahem! Think nothing of it! If I find another good spot, I’ll be sure to show it to you!”

After receiving a tip, the guide promptly disappeared again.

That was their job.

To give travelers the feeling of traveling independently while keeping them safe and ensuring they didn’t miss the key spots, all from a distance.

“They say he’s really money-minded, and I guess it’s true.”

“Well, I heard he’s close to the First-Class realm. He’s worth the money.”

“Still, just like the reviews said, he really is good at taking pictures.”

After whispering, the couple looked toward the waterfall again. Baek Yeonhwa was still elegantly writing out her verse—.

“What poem do you think she’s writing?”

“I know. It must be something that transcends the world and human emotions, right? Like an immortal!”

“That would be so cool!”

Unfortunately, she wasn’t writing a verse like the couple imagined.

Rather than transcending the world and human emotions, she was writing words deeply ensnared in human emotion.

-----

Hero,

I’m sending you my fifth letter today.

You haven’t replied yet because you’re busy, I’m sure.

That’s what I believe.

It isn’t because I’m bothering you or anything, is it?

Letters from the 3rd Floor take some time to reach the 5th Floor, so I’ll consider the waiting part of the joy as well.

But, Hero.

You’re not talking to another woman for too long while I’m away, are you?

I’m not suspicious.

I’m simply curious.

Come to think of it, Hunter Yoo Ye-na came to visit.

She seems to be talking with Lord Azure Dragon about this and that, but she often says things like ‘our Joo Seon.’

Joo Seon.

She calls you by your name so casually, doesn’t she?

I suppose I can call you that too, can’t I?

Mr. Joo Seon?

Hehe. I’m joking.

I’m not jealous or anything.

We share each other’s secrets, after all.

Yoo Ye-na doesn’t know either, does she?

I believe I’m the only one who knows.

Anyway, Hero.

Six months is truly a long time.

It’s only been a week so far.

Hero, please reply as quickly as possible.

At this rate, I’ll really come find you, you know?

I’m joking.

But promise me just one thing.

When your day comes to an end,

I hope my face is the last one you think of.

May you be at peace today as well.

Yours alone, Baek Yeonhwa.

P.S.

I’m enclosing a picture of myself.

There was a very fascinating camera called a Polaroid.

I took it with that.

It’s our secret.

If you wish, I could send something a little more…… daring.

If that’s what you want, Hero—.

But what would you like to do first when we meet?

I want to see your face first.

Have a meal, hold hands, and then…….

* * *

“I-I’ll tell you about what comes after that when we meet in person. I-I’m too embarrassed.”

Meracle’s office.

Kim Yang tilted her head as she looked at the letter sent to Kim Juseon and the picture enclosed with it.

“B-Baek Yeonhwa has already sent five letters as of today. L-Look at the picture.”

Renea, who had been listening beside her, peeked her head in.

“Whoa, she’s got some sex appeal... Should I try something similar?”

There was a subtle air of seduction about Baek Yeonhwa as she posed, calling it a secret.

“So did the boss reply?”

“Y-yes.”

“Oh? What did he say?”

“He said she seemed to have gotten the wrong idea. He said he could introduce her to an even better husband candidate.”

“……I don’t think it would be wise to go up to the 5th Floor for a while.”

“I-I told her that too.”

The two women nodded and glanced toward the boss’s seat.

An empty seat.

Kim Juseon hadn’t come to work for two days now.

“Oh my, has he gone there again today?”

“Y-yes. Look at this.”

Kim Yang held out a calendar.

Marked on it was payday, now only three days away.

“I-If he doesn’t pay our salaries—.”

“If he doesn’t?”

“T-The beef we had last time was delicious.”

“……”

“I-I’m going to turn the boss into beef.”

Kim Yang issued a menacing warning.

* * *

It wasn’t bad.

No, it was definitely good.

There are times when money comes in.

I was definitely riding that wave.

That was, until that Azure Dragon bastard showed up.

“Management without sincerity! Compensate us for the stock crash!”

“The security team makes the mistake, but shareholders take the loss? What kind of nonsense is this!”

“Take responsibility for canceling the concert! The fans aren’t playing around!”

A market-wide stock plunge caused by a natural disaster.

Of those, the ‘Wolfguard Tactical Solutions’ stock I had invested in was taking an especially severe beating.

A company that made equipment exclusively for beastkin and also operated a security business.

The problem was its security detail for the famous beastkin singer ‘Owl.’

This time, the Azure Dragon’s lightning strike was written off as a natural disaster caused by sudden climate change, but that didn’t mean there were no aftereffects.

The building Owl was in was, of all places, the one struck by lightning.

Of all things, the electrical equipment was damaged, causing a fire.

And, as luck would have it, the smoke from the fire damaged Owl’s throat.

And to top it all off, Owl had a tour concert scheduled.

A massive stock crash caused by Wolfguard Tactical Solutions’ inadequate security response.

The stock I had bought at 9,800 won had now fallen to 2,100 won.

I couldn’t just sit around in that deserted office. I had simply run over and joined the protest.

Of course, that was true only through yesterday.

I had a slightly different reason for coming here today.

“Have this while you work. It’s cold out.”

With a good-natured capitalist smile, I diligently carried instant coffee to the shareholders.

“Oh my, thank you.”

“You’re such a nice young man, coming all the way here.”

It was called a protest, but there were breaks too. And during those breaks, people gathered and talked about their lives.

“These days, my son—.”

“Sigh, my daughter too—.”

“It’s hard to trust people because—.”

In the middle of their various conversations, I immediately cut in with a smile.

“Your son is thirty? What does he do for a living?”

“My son? He’s just a civil servant. I was overjoyed when he passed the exam, but it’s not like the pay is that good, either. And he has no time, so he never gets to meet anyone.”

“A stable career at thirty sounds fine to me. Do you have a picture of him?”

“A picture? My son’s picture is—.”

“Wow! At this level, he’d get an A-rank rating from my company! With an A-rank rating, I can even match him with a Hunter earning up to 300 million won a year.”

“Huh? My son? No, more importantly, Mr. Juseon, do you run a business?”

A-rank was too generous.

But that was something to worry about later, taking it one step at a time.

At least he seemed good enough for a B-rank rating, so I’d called him one rank higher.

“Ah, I’m this kind of person.”

<Among countless worlds, we find your miracle.>

A matchmaking agency specializing in Hunters, Meracle.

I immediately handed over a business card.

“If it looks like your son won’t be able to get married, give me a call. I’ll find him a good daughter-in-law at a low price.”

“But... he can be matched with a Hunter who makes 300 million won a year?”

“Oh my! Sis! He’s a Hunter! You never know when he might die outside the city!”

That woman?

I cut off the buzzkill’s train of thought.

“A lot of people misunderstand. We’re a company specializing in Hunters. We don’t simply consider income; we assign ratings based on income, each Hunter’s stability, personality, hunting grounds, and so on. In fact, now, when public perception of Hunters is poor, is the perfect opportunity—.”

“No, Mr. Juseon. Could you take a look at my son too?”

“My daughter is—.”

Don’t worry.

I had brought a whole stack of business cards.

“Of course, of course. Go ahead and show me.”

We talked for quite a while like that.

“It’s Owl!”

“I’m a fan! Oppaaaa!”

The shouts of Owl’s fan club came from a distance. He was making his way directly into Wolfguard Tactical Solutions’ headquarters.

Then the crowd split into two factions.

“Shouldn’t you be taking better care of your throat!”

“What kind of singer is he?!”

“Come on! Just say he’s okay, for our sake!”

The people who had come to protest Wolfguard Tactical Solutions’ falling stock price criticized Owl.

“What did our oppa do wrong?”

“The people at fault are the bodyguards!”

“Look at these old fogies taking potshots at anyone!”

Owl’s fan club shouted back at the protesters.

As things grew increasingly noisy, I quietly slipped away.

“Hm?”

The face of the woman guarding Owl was far too familiar.

“Ryu Seoram?”

At my call, Ryu Seoram, one of the Seven Extremes, looked over and tilted her head.

“Hm? Why are you there, Kim Juseon?”

Why are you there?