My Tamed Beast Returned with a Dragon Chapter 39 - A Man's Intuition?

Choi Youngmin, a reporter from Hunter Dispatch, was lurking around the Dochun Guild. He was the first journalist to break the news of Hunter Yoo Eunsae’s rumored marriage.

Choi Youngmin grew suspicious about the lack of information on the man linked to Yoo Eunsae, and set out to find out for himself.

That’s when he spotted some hunters from the Dochun Guild. Hiding his press badge, he approached them, pretending to be a passerby.

“Excuse me, can I ask you something?”

“What is it?”

“Where’s the bus stop around here?”

“Ah~ you have to go down that way.”

The guild members, who had initially been wary, thinking he might be a scammer, relaxed. Just as they were about to resume chatting, Choi Youngmin smoothly jumped back in.

“By the way, you’re from the Dochun Guild, right? That’s impressive~ Isn’t this the place where S-rank healer Vice Guild Master Choi Mirinae and Korea’s number one, Guild Master Han Woori, are?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Wow, you’re all amazing. Come to think of it, I think I’ve seen some of you on TV?”

“Hahaha! We do get some recognition. Still, we’ve got to work even harder.”

The members of Dochun were full of pride for their guild. Choi Youngmin began to steer the conversation.

“Do you often see Monster Tamer Hunter Yoo Eunsae?”

“Ah~ I get it. You’re a fan of Yoo Eunsae, aren’t you?”

“She’s been coming by often lately. Traveling back and forth from Gangwon Province on her flatfish. Unfortunately, she’s not here today.”

Choi Youngmin pushed up his glasses with a meaningful smile.

“By the way… has that man mentioned in the article ever come to the guild?”

“…Why would you ask that?”

“Hey, hey. Let’s go.”

“You’ve never seen him in person?”

Realizing what Choi Youngmin was up to, the guild members didn’t say another word and walked away. Choi Youngmin persistently followed them, asking a few more questions.

“Tsk. Didn’t get anything out of that.”

Even after that, whenever he spotted someone who looked like a Dochun guild member, he would approach them and ask the same questions.

But.

‘Ha, damn. What kind of tight-lipped training do they have at Dochun?’

No one was taking the bait. Just then, an A-rank hunter named Park Doyoon came into view. He was with people who looked like his teammates.

Choi Youngmin shook his head.

“Not Park Doyoon. He’s way too loyal to the guild. I need someone a bit naive… a rookie…”

Choi Youngmin’s eyes gleamed.

“Yeah, someone like that!”

Next to Park Doyoon was a young guy who looked like he had “newbie” written all over him. Like someone who hadn’t even had a taste of how harsh the world could be.

Choi Youngmin waited until the young guy was alone. Only in the evening did the kid head out, done for the day.

Choi Youngmin immediately caught up and greeted him with a warm smile.

“Hello? You’re with the Dochun Guild, right?”

“Uh? Yeah, I am?”

Seo Horang’s eyes widened. Just like Choi Youngmin guessed, he was a fresh twenty-year-old, new to the workforce.

“I’m Choi Youngmin, a reporter with Hunter Dispatch. I’d like to ask you a few questions about Hunter Yoo Eunsae.”

“I have nothing to say!”

Seo Horang panicked. He was the youngest on A-rank Park Doyoon’s team.

Even a careless comment from him could be taken as official just because he was on a key team within the guild.

And reporters could twist even nothing into something.

Like a snake eyeing its prey, Choi Youngmin’s eyes glinted.

“Come on now, don’t be like that. The public has a right to know, don’t they? Just answer one thing. Is Yoo Eunsae’s partner real?”

“W-What… Are they real? What kind of nonsense… Oh no.”

Seo Horang smacked his own mouth. This mouth. This mouth! Which mouth just spoke?! Which one said that?!

He was one of the people who had actually seen Eunsae, Belquior, and the baby while on security duty at her house. That’s why he slipped up.

“I have nothing to say! Instead of chasing gossip, why don’t you try spreading the truth!”

He seemed to think it was a mic-drop moment, but really, it was clumsy—just like a true beginner in society—and with those awkward words, Seo Horang ran off.

“Gotcha.”

Choi Youngmin grinned, baring his teeth.

 

 

****

 

 

 

[Hunter Dispatch] Hunter Yoo Eunsae’s Man—He’s Real!

“What kind of article is this…?”

We were stunned after seeing the article that broke as a scoop this morning. Mirinae, who had been coming in with a report, snorted when she saw our reactions.

“That came out because there’s so little info on Lord Belquior that some people started speculating he might be a made-up character.”

“A made-up character? That’s kind of funny.”

“People really have wild imaginations. Anyway, looks like the journalist who first reported the marriage rumor is getting backlash. They’re saying he was part of Dochun Guild’s media stunt.”

“Backlash? So what happened?”

“The reporter who wrote today’s article is Choi Youngmin from Hunter Dispatch, right? Same guy who broke the marriage rumor. He must’ve been really bitter about it. Word is, he’s been snooping around near the guild building trying to dig something up.”

‘“A source stated: He is undoubtedly a real person, so please refrain from excessive speculation…”’ Who’s the ‘source’ mentioned here?”

“Team Leader Park Doyoon confessed. Said someone on his team slipped up.”

“If it’s someone from Park Doyoon’s team… Ah~ Seo Horang? Yeah, that sounds about right.”

We all nodded. No one looked particularly angry.

Actually, if it was Seo Horang, we could totally imagine him blurting something out accidentally from nerves. He was just that naive.

Mirinae placed the report on the desk.

“I didn’t say anything. Don’t tell Horang I said anything.”

“If you do, he’s gonna whine that he’s hurt and upset.”

“Totally.”

We laughed lightly at Mirinae’s words, then hesitated before continuing.

“By the way, did you ask Eunsae? If he’s… coming to the Hunter’s Night?”

“Lord Belquior? I haven’t gotten a reply yet.”

Mirinae checked her phone messages. There hadn’t been any contact from Eunsae since last night.

She tilted her head.

“Will he come? I mean, it is an important occasion to introduce Bomi, but it’s not like he has to be there.”

“He’ll come. For Eunsae.”

“Is that your ‘man’s intuition’?”

Since Han Woori had stayed by Eunsae’s side for a long time, maybe he was picking up on something. Mirinae, who probably understood his feelings better than anyone else, smiled slyly. Her smug look made us bristle.

“Don’t smile like that!”

“Okay, okay, just approve this already. Thanks to our guild master piling on the work, we’re behind on documents.”

“Hold on! I’ll do it right now.”

Mirinae couldn’t hold back her laughter as she watched us grumble and scramble with the paperwork.

While we were fussing with the forms, Eunsae was facing Belquior.

Fwhoosh.

Golden magic burst from Belquior’s hand and was absorbed into the World Tree. Eunsae, watching blankly, spoke up carefully.

“Lord Belquior, what are you doing the night after tomorrow?”

“If nothing special comes up, I’ll probably be home.”

“Then… would you come to a party with me?”

“A party?”

At the unexpected question, Belquior blinked his sleepy eyes. His golden gaze rolled over to her.

Under that intense stare, Eunsae swallowed hard. For some reason, making eye contact with him always made her nervous.

“Is it the event where they’re introducing the beast that looks like a flower?”

“Yes, Bomi. I, Byeol, and all my beast companions will be out of the house that day. You’d be alone, so I thought… maybe you could come with us instead?”

“Me?”

Belquior silently reflected on her words. That simple “me?” was loaded with meaning.

First of all, as a dragon, attending a party held by humans was absurd. To Belquior, only Eunsae among all beings in this world was special. Other humans didn’t matter to him at all.

So what business did he have at a party for humans?

Besides, being alone wasn’t something that ever bothered him. Whether he was with someone or not made no difference.

Eunsae sensed the meaning behind his indifferent expression and looked a little down.

“Everyone else is going… It would be nice if you came too, Lord Belquior…”

“…”

“I guess it’d be hard for you, huh? That’s too bad…”

Too bad? That was still a confusing concept. But he did find her drooping eyebrows a little annoying to look at.

After a bit of thought, Belquior finally opened his mouth.

“I’ll go.”

“Really?! Yay!”

“I don’t particularly enjoy such gatherings, but… who knows what could happen to Byeol around so many humans.”

Not that any human could really hurt Byeol. It wasn’t about something happening to her, but rather, what she might cause to happen.

“Did you just call her Byeol?”

Eunsae’s eyes sparkled. It was the first time he had called the baby by the name she’d given her—“Byeol.”

Surprised by her reaction, Belquior withdrew his hand from the World Tree and spoke.

“So what?”

“No, nothing! Oh, right, we need to get an outfit ready for you. Let’s head to the department store—”

“That won’t be necessary.”

His current clothes were more than enough. He had no reason to impress humans, and what he wore was already so luxurious and elegant it radiated a sacred aura.

But Eunsae didn’t seem to agree. Her face fell, as if the sky had collapsed. Seeing her brows sink again, Belquior hastily added an excuse.

“No one will recognize me anyway with perception-dulling magic.”

“Ah…”

Eunsae was disappointed. She’d been looking forward to seeing him in modern clothes. Still, for safety’s sake, this might be better.

“That’s okay! I’m just happy you’re coming.”

Shaking off her regret, Eunsae quickly brightened and smiled. Just being able to go with Belquior was enough to make her happy.

Excited, she shared the news of Belquior’s attendance in the group chat on her phone.