My Tamed Beast Returned with a Dragon Chapter 10 - Hunter Ranking Tournament 2

Eunsae firmly reminded her,

“Don’t let your guard down. And don’t fall for their provocations.”

— What do you take me for?!

Sol snapped. But given her history, no one believed her.

Yuha teased her playfully.

— If Namgoong Sol drops in ranking, it’ll be a disgrace to the guild. Ooooh, shame! Leave immediately.

— You’re always looking for an excuse to kick me out! Do you really think that’ll make you second-in-command?

— Are you satisfied being second-in-command? I didn’t think you were such a small-minded woman.

— Just watch. I’m going to crush the guild master’s pride in this ranking match!

— Challenge accepted.

— Why do you two never change, no matter how old you get?

Their bickering continued over the phone.

Eunsae smiled to herself.

“I’ll make sure to watch this time. Take care, all of you.”

— Mm. Wait, no—why did we get sidetracked? We were talking about the baby’s dad! So, you’re really going to keep living with a strange man?

“I’m hanging up now.”

— Hey! Yoo Eunsae!

Click.

Eunsae ended the call without hesitation.

She appreciated her friends’ concern, but it was unnecessary.

Besides, Belquior didn’t seem interested in her at all.

Her attention was entirely on the baby.

“Ma! Ma!”

“Yes, baby?”

The baby lifted his head eagerly while lying on his stomach. Eunsae immediately responded to him.

As the baby squirmed on the rug, the monsters beside him mimicked his movements.

Eunsae grabbed her phone and recorded the adorable scene.

Her album now had over a hundred pictures of the baby.

As she prepared a bottle of formula, a thought crossed her mind.

‘Should I start preparing solid food soon?’

Eunsae always considered nutrition first.

Since the baby could now roll over, it might be time to introduce soft foods.

“Baby, let’s eat. Mam-ma.”

“Ma-mma.”

“That’s right! Here’s your food.”

After feeding him, she carried him to the bedroom and settled him between her legs.

She opened a picture book with bright, colorful illustrations and read it aloud, enunciating each word clearly.

“The squirrel family lives in the forest. Everything in their house is small. Their forks are small, their table is small, and their bed is small. Wow, so tiny! Right?”

The baby, however, was more interested in watching Eunsae’s lips move than looking at the book.

His sparkling eyes fixated on her mouth.

“Knock, knock! As they were eating, someone knocked on the door. ‘Who is it?’ When they opened the door, they saw a big bear. ‘I’m very hungry. May I join you for a meal?’”

Eunsae exaggerated her voice playfully.

The baby burst into giggles.

“The bear’s stomach growled loudly. ‘Come in, kind bear.’ The squirrel family welcomed him warmly. ‘Thank you very much.’”

Eunsae pointed to the bear in the illustration.

“Baby, when someone does something nice for you, you put your hands together like this and say, ‘Thank you.’ Okay?”

“Mm-ma!”

“That’s right! Now, the tiny house was full. ‘Oh no, the bear’s plate is too small! What should we do?’”

“Hwaaahm.”

The baby let out a tiny yawn.

Turning the page, Eunsae gently patted his chest.

“The squirrel family searched for a plate for the bear. The toy box was too full. The vase was too small.”

Completely relaxed, the baby turned toward her and whimpered softly.

His belly was full, and now he was getting sleepy.

“They finally found a big leaf! Now the bear could eat too. What a relief! The squirrel family shared their acorns and nuts.”

As she reached the last page, Eunsae glanced down at the baby.

His eyes were already drooping.

A little more, and he’d be out.

She murmured soothing nonsense while stroking his back.

Before long, he snuggled into her and let out small, peaceful breaths.

Eunsae closed the book, carefully tucked a blanket around him, and quietly slipped out of the bed.

She was about to eat a late meal when Belquior, who had been gone, suddenly returned.

“Where did you go?”

Without answering, he held something out to her.

“What is this?”

“A branch from the World Tree, Yggdrasil.”

“The… World Tree?”

Eunsae’s mouth dropped open.

The branch had a strange blue hue, its leaves emitting a faint glow.

“Keep it near my son.”

“How should I store it?”

“Put it in water.”

“Got it.”

She filled a pretty vase with water and placed the branch inside, setting it at the center of the living room table.

Then, she prepared a simple meal.

“Would you like to eat something?”

“No need.”

“Then I’ll at least get you something to drink.”

After observing him for several days, Eunsae had figured out his preferences.

She handed him a glass of freshly squeezed, 100% pure fruit juice.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

As Eunsae neared the end of her meal, Belquior clicked his tongue.

“You take such meticulous care of my son, yet you don’t take care of yourself properly.”

Eunsae had never been picky about food.

She only put a few side dishes on her plate and ate quickly.

She smiled sheepishly.

At that moment, the bracelet on her wrist caught the light and shimmered.

Belquior’s eyes narrowed.

“That bracelet…?”

“Oh, it’s a poison-purifying item.”

“Poison?”

Belquior frowned.

“Mm. It was a gift.”

She didn’t elaborate.

Belquior stared at her with clear dissatisfaction before murmuring to himself,

“I need to bring back more branches from the World Tree.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

With that, he left for the yard.

Eunsae watched him go, puzzled.

 

 

****

 

 

Ranking Tournament waiting room

Sol was warming up.

The Dochun Guild’s dedicated styling team was checking her outfit and makeup.

With her sharp, fox-like eyes and striking features, Sol was undeniably a beauty.

Her red hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and she wore a leather jacket and pants made from dungeon materials.

Her long, lean limbs moved with fluid agility.

Sipping on barley tea, Mirinae said,

“Do well. Don’t disappoint Eunsae.”

“Of course! I’m Namgoong Sol!”

Sol declared confidently—only to suddenly grimace, as if she had just bitten into something sour.

“If I lose, Eunsae will never let me hear the end of it. Just thinking about it makes my ears hurt. And this year, I will take down the guild master.”

Sol’s fighting spirit flared.

As Woori entered the waiting room, he scoffed.

“You? Maybe in a million years.”

“If I win, the guild master’s position is mine.”

“Go ahead and try.”

Their eyes blazed with competitive fire.

Watching them, Mirinae shook her head.

“The broadcast has started.”

Yuha, who had been quietly watching his phone, informed them.

Just then, a staff member entered to summon Sol to the arena.

“I’m off!”

“Namgoong Sol, if you lose, it’ll be a disgrace to the guild.”

“Win.”

“Good luck!”

“Show Gold Star that they’re no match for Dochun.”

Sol practically leaped onto the stage.

The deafening cheers of the crowd shook the stadium.

“Namgoong Sol! Namgoong Sol!”

“Sol-unni! You’re amazing! So pretty!”

*unni title used by females to address older female friends or sisters.

“Fire Phoenix Empress Namgoong Sol! Burn everything down!”

Sol lived for moments like these.

But as soon as Hunter Baek Chan min stepped onto the stage, the crowd split in half.

“Baek Chan min! Chan min-hyung! Aaaah!”

*hyung used by men to address older male friends or brothers

“The Ruler of Thunder—Baek Chan min!”

“Chan min-oppa! Please wave at us!”

*oppa used by younger women to address older men, such as brothers, male friends, or boyfriends.

Baek Chan min squinted slightly before waving at the audience.

His presence was overwhelming—like that of a white lion.

Sol spat on the ground at the sight of his irritatingly handsome face.

“Well, well. Baek Chan min. Looking awfully relaxed. Must be because you know you’re about to get wrecked?”

Baek Chan min glanced at her, then smirked mockingly.

“Why so cranky? Feeling neglected because you’re not getting enough attention?”

“Who are you calling an attention seeker?!”

Sol snapped.

Baek Chan min shrugged as if to say, Don’t you already know?

“You always pout when you’re not the center of attention. What are you, a child?”

“And you! Acting all mysterious and deadly—it’s unbearable.”

A crack formed in Baek Chan min’s smug smile.

His lips curled slightly, but his gaze turned ice-cold.

“How’s the princess of the monsters? Haven’t heard from her in a while.”

“What’s it to you?”

Sol growled.

Baek Chan min was, of course, referring to Eunsae.

“Or… has she finally left Dochun for good?”

“……”

“That’s great news. What does the princess like? Maybe I should bring her to Gold Star.”

Sol’s eyes blazed.

She recalled her friends’ warnings not to fall for provocations and took a deep breath.

Then, with an expression just as smug as Woori’s had been in the waiting room, she smirked.

“Gold Star? How would you even afford her? Eunsae is way out of your league.”

“What?!”

Baek Chan min’s mask finally shattered.

Sol crossed her arms triumphantly.

“Instead of wasting money on internet trolls, why don’t you save up? Maybe then you’ll actually have a shot.”

“Namgoong Sol.”

Baek Chan min ground his teeth.

His fighting spirit flared.

His title was the Emperor of Lightning. Sparks crackled around him.

Likewise, flames ignited at Sol’s fingertips.

The tension skyrocketed.

[The match begins!]

At the announcer’s call, Sol and Baek Chan min clashed.

The thunderous roar of the crowd filled the stadium.

[Hunter Baek Chan min takes the first move!]

Baek Chan min swung his lightning-infused fists.

Thwack! Pow! Crackle!

The terrifying sound of air being ripped apart echoed.

Sol smirked.

“So reckless.”

She conjured flames, forming a spear to create distance.

Searing fire shards scattered in the air, hurtling toward Baek Chan min.

“Tch.”

Baek Chan min drew the massive great-sword strapped to his back.

Boom! Boom! Crash!

The spear and great-sword clashed with equal force.

Thick black smoke engulfed the arena.

The announcer panicked.

[W-We can’t see anything! What’s happening?!]

Part of the stadium had already been damaged.

Sol increased her firepower.

Her entire body became a living flame.

Baek Chan min let out a breath of disbelief.

“And you’re calling me reckless?!”

He struggled to evade Sol’s missile-like attacks.

He had equipped fire-resistant gear for this match, but even that wasn’t enough to completely block her relentless barrage.

Inevitably, he suffered burns.

Sol was too fired up today.

Baek Chan min clenched his jaw. He couldn’t lose here.

As the guild master of Gold Star, his ultimate goal was to surpass Dochun.

He had tried everything—poaching Dochun hunters, manipulating public opinion, and more.

Industry insiders called him a hyena rather than a white lion.

Until he defeated Han Woori, he wouldn’t back down.

Baek Chan min activated his unique ability—Skybreaker.

Rumble.

The sky darkened as massive thunderbolts rained down on the arena.