My Tamed Beast Returned with a Dragon Chapter 13 - There’s No Reason to Take the Baby Away

Yoo Eunsae was reading a parenting book with a serious expression.

“Hmm… Solid foods start between four and six months, and they should be introduced alongside formula at first.”

She carefully studied the instructions for making rice porridge.

Eunsae had never been interested in cooking, but she was dedicated to learning—for the baby’s sake.

“I need to buy a grinder and a mortar. Order, order.”

She tapped on her phone and smiled satisfied with her purchase.

After finishing her research, she went to change the water for the World Tree branch sitting on the living room table.

The moment she replaced it with fresh, cool water, the branch seemed to glow even brighter.

She then picked up the vacuum cleaner and went around the house.

With so many monsters in the house, it was impossible to keep things clean for long.

Next was sterilization.

She placed all the baby’s toys and pacifiers into the sterilizer and turned it on.

“You never stay still, do you?”

“Ack! When did you get here?”

Eunsae jumped.

Belquior had appeared behind her without a sound.

Since his fight with Dochun Guild, he had been disappearing more often.

She had no idea why.

He barely glanced at her before walking over to the baby.

The baby, who had been napping, stirred and whimpered.

Belquior’s sharp eyes narrowed.

“Strange… How can a human raise a dragon like this?”

“Huh? What about the baby?”

Belquior scanned the baby from head to toe.

The baby had grown noticeably bigger since arriving—his energy was so full it was overflowing.

Then, Belquior glanced at Eunsae.

“He’s healthy.”

“Oh, that’s a relief! That means I’m doing a good job!”

Eunsae clapped her hands cheerfully.

She hummed a tune as she headed toward the kitchen.

“Waaah… Waaah!”

The moment she walked away, the baby flailed his tiny limbs.

Determined to follow her, he flipped onto his stomach and started crawling.

Belquior watched with a bored expression.

“So desperate.”

“Ma! Bwaa!”

“She’ll come back soon. Stop fussing.”

The baby slapped the mattress in frustration.

CRASH! Clatter… Roll…

A loud shatter came from the kitchen.

“What was that?”

Belquior immediately stepped outside.

Eunsae was collapsed on the floor, clutching her stomach.

“Are you okay?”

Her face was deathly pale, and beads of sweat dotted her forehead.

“Ugh… I’m fine…”

She struggled to sit up, forcing a reassuring smile despite her obvious pain.

Belquior frowned disapprovingly.

Just as he was about to say something, he felt a sudden burst of familiar yet ominous energy from Eunsae.

“Tch.”

Before she could completely pass out, Belquior effortlessly lifted her into his arms.

“Ma! Ma! Waaah!”

When they entered the room, the baby immediately panicked at the sight of Eunsae limp in Belquior’s arms.

“Stop crying. She’s not dead.”

“Hic… Hnnng.”

When Belquior placed the baby next to her, the little one snuggled into her chest.

Hearing her heartbeat, he gradually calmed down.

Belquior fell into deep thought.

‘That energy just now…’

Without hesitation, he lifted Eunsae’s shirt.

From her side to her stomach, her skin was blackened.

A curse.

Belquior’s expression hardened.

Eunsae regained consciousness a while later.

Still groggy, she blinked blearily before suddenly remembering the baby.

She snapped awake.

“Huh?”

A warm weight rested on her arm.

The baby was snuggled against her, perfectly content.

“Baby?”

“Haa! Bwaa! Aaaah!”

The baby babbled non-stop, almost like he was scolding her for sleeping too long.

“I know, I know. I’m sorry! You must’ve been so bored.”

“Worry about yourself first.”

“Ah, Father! Did you move me here?”

Eunsae turned to Belquior, feeling a bit embarrassed.

His golden eyes glared at her.

“It’s Arachne’s Curse.”

“Oh…”

Eunsae rubbed her face.

So he noticed.

Belquior had sensed something off about her from the moment they met.

But since she never mentioned it and he wasn’t interested, he had let it go.

Until now.

Because the baby adored her.

And the problem was much worse than she let on.

“Explain.”

“Mm… A few years ago, a dungeon boss cast this curse on me before self-destructing.”

Eunsae tilted her head, reminiscing.

“There were a lot of people there, but for some reason, I was the only one affected. Guess I was just really unlucky.”

“You weren’t the only one.”

“Huh? Really?”

Belquior nodded indifferently.

“Others probably experienced similar symptoms.”

“Then… what happened to them?”

“One thing’s for sure—they didn’t waste their remaining time raising a dragon hatchling.”

Humans didn’t usually handle their own impending death so casually.

Which made Eunsae an oddity.

Suddenly, she whipped her head up, looking nervous.

“Wait! This curse isn’t contagious!”

“And?”

“None of my monsters have ever been affected. And it won’t harm the baby either, so—”

Belquior raised an eyebrow.

What is she talking about?

“What, are you afraid I’ll take the baby back to my world?”

Eunsae hesitated.

Belquior pressed his fingers against his temple.

‘Even in this situation, she’s thinking about that?’

He let out a long sigh.

“Relax. There’s no reason for me to take him away.”

As long as the baby wanted to stay with her, he had no intention of forcing him to leave.

Belquior stepped away from the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“I’ll be gone for a while.”

With that, he vanished.

 

 

 

****

 

 

 

 

 

Ranking Tournament Finals

The final match of the ranking tournament.

As many had predicted, it was Han Woori vs. Namgoong Sol.

Yuha had finished in 4th place, while Gold Star’s Yuk Jae Hee barely secured 3rd after a close battle.

Although ranking tournament results didn’t directly impact national hunter rankings, since those were based on multiple factors beyond raw combat power—

There was no better event for boosting public recognition.

In the center of the arena, Woori and Sol stood face to face.

“I won’t hold back, Guild Leader.”

“Today, I’ll finally fix that attitude of yours, Namgoong Sol.”

Yet, unlike their usual lively banter, their tones were subdued.

Because they were thinking the same thing.

The helplessness they felt against Belquior.

The burning desire to grow stronger.

They had replayed that battle over and over in their minds.

Even Yuha seemed unsettled.

Belquior had completely redefined how he thought about using abilities.

‘Can I apply my power in more versatile ways?’

‘Stronger, flashier, more overwhelming!’

Their eyes met.

Sparks flew.

[The match begins!]

The referee’s whistle blew.

Woori and Sol exploded off the ground.

In less than a single breath, they had already exchanged dozens of attacks.

After years of fighting together, they knew each other’s moves too well.

Just before Woori activated Gravity Shift, Sol blasted flames into his field of vision to obscure his sight.

A sword cloaked in shadowy blood carved through the air.

Sol amplified her fire, burning away even the toxic aura in Woori’s attacks.

It was an even match.

[W-What’s happening?! Neither side is giving an inch!]

[They’re so fast!]

The commentators shouted in excitement.

The stadium erupted with cheers.

But Sol and Woori heard none of it.

Normally, they would’ve played up the showmanship—maybe even toyed with the fight for fun.

But not today.

Their minds were completely consumed with one goal—winning.

‘Dragons… are completely different from the monsters we’ve fought. We got complacent.’

‘I can do more! If only I had fought like this back then!’

A pillar of fire erupted, twisting into a serpent-like dragon that coiled around Woori.

A single powerful slash tore through the flames.

Woori landed on the arena floor.

“Pouring out raw power doesn’t always make an attack stronger.”

“Oh, shut up! Like you’ve changed at all?”

Woori dragged his blade across his arm.

Bubbles of dark, inky foam frothed from his wound and drifted into the air.

“The hell is that supposed to be?”

Sol swiped at the foam with her spear—

BOOM!

It exploded.

“ARGH!”

The corrosive shadow-blood seared Sol’s skin.

Even the ground where the bubbles landed sizzled and decayed.

“Are you insane?! Were you trying to kill me?!”

“You’re still alive, aren’t you?”

Now, more bubbles floated around the arena—

Like landmines waiting to detonate.

Woori raised his sword.

“Let’s end this.”

“Says who?!”

The tension turned deadly.

Even the waiting hunters watching from the sidelines tensed.

They didn’t get it.

They were guildmates—why were they fighting like this?

Couldn’t they just wrap it up already?

Woori’s blade pulsed.

From the tip of his sword, a black lotus bud blossomed.

Sol’s eyes widened in alarm.

“What the hell is that?!”

“Dark Blooming Lotus.”

The black lotus fully bloomed.

A toxic fragrance spread through the air.

Sol’s vision blurred.

She yanked up her sleeve and covered her nose and mouth.

Veins bulged on her forehead.

“Alright then… LET’S DIE TOGETHER TODAY!”

They clashed.

[In today’s finals, both Han Woori and Namgoong Sol displayed remarkable growth!]

[Both introduced new techniques—Han Woori’s ‘Dark Blooming Lotus’ created poison-laced black flowers that drained the enemy’s power, while Namgoong Sol’s Crimson Flame Dragon—]

“Aigoo, our Guild Leader is out here murdering his own guild members.”

Sol groaned dramatically as Mirinae healed her.

The Hunter Ranking Tournament ended with Woori’s victory.

Mirinae smacked Sol’s forehead.

Her expression screamed disappointment.

“Seriously, why do you always overdo it?”