My Tamed Beast Returned with a Dragon Chapter 45 - A Strange Connection

They drove for quite a while. Dodari and Haneuli were transported in specially made cages.

From the plane to the cages, it had been a tough journey for the magical beasts. But it was unavoidable if they wanted to be prepared for any emergency.

In this case, “emergency” meant something like an unexpected attack from China or a sudden deployment into a dungeon raid.

The car carrying Eunsae, Belquior, Byeol, and Bomi left London and entered a small town.

Rows of small shops lined the narrow streets. Decorations with welcoming messages clung to the windows of the stores they passed by.

The streets were quieter than expected. Along the tree-lined sidewalks were people walking their dogs and pushing strollers.

Even a few middle-aged folks sat leisurely on benches, enjoying lunch.

As they took in the peaceful-looking town, they arrived at a mansion. At a glance, it didn’t look much different from the other houses, but Eunsae and Belquior noticed right away.

A tightly secured defense system. Security personnel stationed all around. Stella Vaughn was considered a highly important figure in the UK, so such measures were natural.

Linda went ahead to open the gate. Once they passed through the iris-scanning entrance, a deep green garden spread out before them.

At the far end of the garden stood an elderly woman, assisted by a staff member. Perhaps sensing their presence, Stella turned her head.

Her cloudy eyes shimmered like a galaxy. The unusual appearance made Byeol shrink back a little.

It was a typical reaction for anyone meeting Stella for the first time.

[Noona, that person feels weird…]

“It’s okay, Byeol. Hello, Miss Stella?”

“Hunter Yoo Eunsae. Welcome.”

As if she had known Eunsae would come, Stella smiled without surprise.

Her eyesight was nearly gone. Feeling her way with a cane, she walked up to Eunsae.

Eunsae stood still, letting Stella approach without moving to help her.

As if she knew offering assistance would be rude.

“Is someone standing next to you, Hunter Yoo Eunsae?”

Eunsae flinched. Stella was looking straight at Belquior.

Due to magic, Belquior’s presence was almost imperceptible. An ordinary person wouldn’t have noticed him at all.

Stella’s words made Linda and the staff finally realize Belquior was there.

Sensing the uneasy atmosphere, Stella let out a quiet laugh.

“Heh. Seems no one else noticed.”

“Um, there’s a Hunter with magical abilities here. But I promise, he won’t harm you. I can assure you of that.”

“I know. He’s a truly noble and spiritual being.”

Eunsae swallowed hard. Stella might not know he was a dragon, but her words seemed to pierce right through to his essence.

Eunsae glanced at Belquior, silently asking what to do. He gave a small nod, as if to say it was fine.

Relieved, Eunsae asked Stella,

“Did you know I would be coming with him today?”

“I knew something had changed around you. And I figured the person beside you played a role in it.”

“Wow, you haven’t changed a bit, Miss Stella.”

Smiling brightly, Eunsae handed Byeol and Bomi to Belquior and linked arms with Stella.

Like a grandmother would to her granddaughter, Stella gently patted the back of Eunsae’s hand—as if to say she had done well, that she had endured much.

“I’ve left my guests standing outside too long. Let’s go in.”

Leading the way, Stella guided her guests inside. With Stella’s approval, Linda didn’t stop Belquior from entering.

Stella took Eunsae and Belquior to a room with a ceiling made entirely of glass. The security team led by Park Doyoon stayed back for now.

It was still day, so sunlight streamed down brightly, but by nightfall, the ceiling would surely be filled with twinkling stars.

Seated with help from Linda and Eunsae, Stella finally spoke.

“I hear you’ve added a baby dragon and a Chinese magical beast to your tamed beasts.”

“Yes. That’s Byeol and Bomi.”

Beep!

Unlike the shy Byeol, Bomi got excited at hearing her name and flew straight to Stella.

She rubbed her head against Stella’s cheek. Stella chuckled and stroked Bomi’s fluffy tail.

“It’s a strange connection. A life that shouldn’t have been born, and a being that shouldn’t have crossed paths.”

“……”

Eunsae’s expression hardened. Stella never spoke empty words.

Her words held weight. She possessed the power of Prophet of the Stars, an ability that understood the laws of the heavens and determined destiny.

In other words, those words meant this was not the original “destined fate” of Byeol and Bomi.

It made sense that Byeol, from another world, wasn’t meant to meet her. But the idea that Bomi wasn’t even supposed to be born—it was heartbreaking.

“But don’t worry. A stronger fate has overwritten it.”

“O-oh…”

A stronger fate? Eunsae was curious, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

When talking to Stella, asking follow-up questions was off-limits. She only spoke of what she could.

If it were something she could answer, she would have said it already.

Seeing Eunsae fall silent, Stella smiled softly, recalling a distant memory.

“It’s been quite a while since I first met Hunter Yoo Eunsae.”

“It has.”

Eunsae nodded. It was shortly after she awakened as an S-rank hunter, during her first visit to the UK. That’s when she had met Stella.

Even though it was their first meeting, Stella had warmly welcomed her—and secretly warned her of a looming danger.

Thanks to that, Eunsae had narrowly avoided a major accident. Stella was also the first to detect the curse afflicting her.

To Eunsae, Stella was both a savior and a reliable counselor.

Stella reached out and gently took Eunsae’s hands in hers, then spoke slowly.

“My time is running short.”

“Miss Stella! Don’t say that…!”

Linda, standing nearby, cried out in alarm. Eunsae’s mouth fell open in shock.

If Stella—one of the ten most influential hunters in the world—were to die, it would likely bring about tremendous chaos.

“Are… are you okay?”

“Of course I am.”

Eunsae was worried about Stella’s health, but Stella herself remained calm. With a faint smile, she gently patted Eunsae’s hand and said,

“An old woman who lived a full life blessed with a rare ability shouldn’t be greedy for more. I called you here, Hunter Yoo Eunsae, because I have a favor to ask.”

“Please, go ahead. Anything.”

Eunsae leaned forward slightly, showing she was ready to listen.

Stella, staring quietly at her, slowly bowed her head.

“Please… take care of this world.”

“…Pardon?”

Eunsae blinked at the unexpected request. Stella continued, her expression darkening.

“One gear has fallen out of sync, and it’s causing a terrible dissonance. A great storm is coming. Two blades. The stars say… they see a light in you, Hunter Yoo Eunsae—something that will cut through the darkness.”

“B-but… what power do I even have to do that…?”

“You already have more than enough power, Hunter Yoo Eunsae. And… you’re not alone, are you?”

Stella’s head turned gently toward Belquior. Standing at a distance, watching silently, Belquior frowned.

Dragons never acted out of kindness. For them, there was only exchange. The idea that a human dared speak so lightly about such weighty matters—

“Insolent.”

“That’s a rude thing to say to Miss Stella!”

Linda, visibly upset, shouted. Belquior ignored her, eyes cold and sharp. Tension crackled in the air between the three.

Eunsae fidgeted, unsure of what to do with her hands.

“Heh. It’s all right,” Stella said gently. “Of course I understand. I know just how dangerous it is to borrow the strength of one so exalted. But I don’t speak lightly either.”

“……”

Belquior and Stella’s eyes met. She looked directly at him, as if she could truly see him. At that, Belquior’s expression shifted, and the oppressive aura around him faded.

Sensing the change, Stella smiled softly.

“You’ve come a long way. Please rest while you’re here. This place is safer than anywhere else.”

Her face looked tired now. Fixing her gaze on Eunsae again, she gently squeezed her hand.

She knew. She knew that China had their eyes on Eunsae. She knew what the hatching of a Chun-Tien-Der-Yao-Qing might bring.

The staff led Eunsae and her group to their rooms so they could rest. As Belquior followed behind Eunsae, Linda continued to glare at him with sharp eyes.

“No matter how skilled a magic-type hunter he is, he’s a man we know nothing about.”

As Linda voiced her displeasure, Stella rose slowly from her seat.

“After thousands of years… those two have finally met. It is heaven’s blessing for us.”

“Heaven’s blessing? Isn’t that a bit much? Who even is that man? I haven’t even seen his face clearly.”

“You weren’t supposed to. If I hadn’t sensed him myself, you wouldn’t have known he was here until the day he left.”

“He’s that hidden? Even if magic-type hunters are rare, it’s not like their power is that extraordinary. And to treat you that way…”

Looking like she might storm off to confront Belquior, Linda was stopped by Stella shaking her head.

“Don’t be too angry. He is someone worthy of that attitude.”

“Someone? That’s far too respectful a title.”

Linda spoke firmly, but Stella simply smiled again, as if there was no helping it.

With Linda’s support, she walked to a sunlit spot and gazed up at the glass ceiling. Her cloudy eyes wandered the sky.

“Let’s hope… it won’t be too late this time…”