My Tamed Beast Returned with a Dragon Chapter 58 - What? That’s simple!

After earning the Next Stage Free Pass, Eun-sae and her team were on an easy path.

The next place they chose was “Putting a Bell on the Cat’s Neck.” The team members, who would have had to hang bells around their necks while fighting monsters, let out a sigh of relief when the Free Pass was used.

When the ground suddenly collapsed and turned into a slide, they were startled — but soon realized it was actually a shortcut. After sliding down, another set of choices appeared before them.

“It’s a three-way path.”

“This time, trust me.”

While the team hesitated, Seo Ho-rang insisted they should take the middle path. He passionately argued his case, citing ten examples he’d seen in games.

Eun-sae, who was nodding along as she listened, let out a soft laugh.

“Alright. You’re this serious about it, so let’s take the middle path.”

“Hunter Yoo Eun-sae! Who knows what’ll pop out if we listen to him?”

“We have to choose one of the three anyway.”

They had to keep moving forward.
It had already been quite a while since they entered the dungeon, and they were starting to miss the fresh air outside.

The other team members, after some hesitation, didn’t object to Eun-sae’s decision. And so, they moved on to the next stage.

But the moment they stepped into the middle path, the system window flashed with warning lights.

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]

“What is it? What’s happening?”

“Seo Ho-rang messed up again!”

“Ahhh!”

With red warning windows and blaring alarms, the Hunters gripped their weapons, ready for whatever might come.

[You have entered the Sacrifice Stage! Please select three beings (including monsters) to become sacrifices.]

“…What?”

“The Sacrifice Stage?”

Something completely unexpected had appeared. A sacrifice — that meant someone had to be given up.

The team felt like they’d been hit in the back of the head. This was beyond cruel. Compared to this, all the stages they’d barely managed to survive before seemed almost merciful.

Some team members stared at the system window with trembling eyes. The red warning lights continued to blink ominously.

Frustrated, Oh Jong-hwan swung his sword at the air.

“I’d rather fight a monster wave than this!”

“This… this doesn’t make any sense!”

Elena Kim clenched her fists, her voice shaking with anger.

“It never made sense in the first place! Why are we just obediently following whatever the system tells us?”

Her determined words lit a spark in the others.

“She’s right! This is a dungeon! What if the system itself is the trap?”

“And what’s it even doing with sacrifices? Absorbing them or something?”

“Ugh… don’t say that. I’ve read so many fantasy novels that start like that.”

“Seo Ho-rang, just shut up.”

“Either way, we can’t just do what the system says!”

As the team gritted their teeth and raised their weapons, another system message appeared.

[If the system’s rules are violated, sacrifices will be chosen at random.]

“…”

Silence fell. The fire in their eyes went out in an instant. Every Hunter turned to look at Eun-sae, faces full of worry.

Their eyes seemed to ask, What do we do now?

Eun-sae fell deep into thought. She’d been in a similar type of dungeon before, so she stayed calmer than the rest.

“A Sacrifice Stage… who should stay behind for the team’s best chance?”

Eun-sae looked around at her teammates. Realizing what that look meant, several of them swallowed hard.

Seo Ho-rang, feeling guilty for what happened, trembled in fear that he’d be chosen as a sacrifice.

The system hadn’t said what would happen to those who stayed behind. And that uncertainty made it worse.

After organizing her thoughts, Eun-sae finally spoke.

“It’s best if we follow the system’s rules.”

“What?! But Hunter Yoo Eun-sae! We can’t trust the system — and whether you stay or leave, no one could be at ease!”

“Even for you, Hunter Yoo Eun-sae, that decision is—!”

“Calm down. The ones who will stay are…”

Eun-sae looked around and gave a small, pained smile.

“Me, Sir Belquior, and Dodari.”

“…What?”

The team froze in shock at her unexpected choice, then immediately protested.

“Why? Why you, Hunter Yoo Eun-sae?!”

“I’ll stay instead!”

Seo Ho-rang shouted, tears and snot running down his face. He knew Eun-sae was far more important to the guild than he was.

He was terrified of dying — but since this was all caused by his mistake, he felt he should take responsibility. Eun-sae let out a quiet pff, like air escaping from a balloon.

“I’ve thought it through carefully, so don’t worry. Now, hurry and go. Take good care of Byeol, Bomi, and Haneuli for me.”

“Hunter Yoo Eun-sae!”

[Noona!]

Beep-beep!

As Eun-sae’s teammates tried to stop her, Byeol and Bomi flew toward her at full speed and clung to her tightly. But Eun-sae only shouted into the air.

“System, the ones to be sacrificed are ‘Yoo Eun-sae,’ the ‘Dragon-type Monster,’ and this one.”

[Confirmed.]

A transparent wall appeared between the Hunters and the three left behind — Eun-sae, Belquior, and Dodari. The team tried desperately to break it, but neither physical attacks nor skills had any effect.

Separated from Eun-sae, Byeol and Bomi burst into tears.

[Noona! I don’t wanna go! Daddy!]

Beep—beep!

“Hunter Yoo Eun-sae! Please don’t do this. I won’t be able to face the Guild Master again!”

“It’s fine. Go ahead. I hope you can meet the Mirinae team soon.”

Eun-sae waved her hand gently. She looked so calm that those leaving couldn’t help but cry.

Moments later, the children, Haneuli, and the other Hunters were forcefully teleported away, leaving only the three behind. Eun-sae scratched her cheek awkwardly.

“I hope you’re not mad that I made this decision without discussing it first?”

“Not at all. I would’ve said something if I were. But… why this group?”

“With this team, I figured we could handle whatever happens.”

Belquior looked into Eun-sae’s eyes. She hadn’t given up — nor was she afraid.

Her eyes gleamed with determination, ready to face whatever came next.

“Alright then, System. What happens now?”

[…]

The system stayed silent for a while.

[Time taken to select sacrifices: 3 minutes and 12 seconds.]

Then, warning lights flared again.

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]
[A monster wave is approaching! If you fail to survive, you will wander the dungeon forever.]

“What? That’s simple!”

Eun-sae smiled confidently. Belquior’s golden magic flared to life, and Dodari let out a long, powerful cry.

“I told you, didn’t I? With this team, we’ll be fine no matter what happens!”

Eun-sae gripped the staff of Veil Karas tightly.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team who had moved to the next stage without Eun-sae, Belquior, and Dodari was in utter despair.

Some Hunters cried silently. Others bit their lips, trembling with rage and frustration. Even Park Do-yoon’s eyes turned red from holding back tears.

After a while, Ye-na Lee — tears hanging from the corners of her eyes — stomped over and smacked Seo Ho-rang hard on the head.

“Seo Ho-rang, don’t you ever act up again!”

“Yes… ugh, Hunter Yoo Eun-sae…”

Seo Ho-rang was practically wailing. He cried as if trying to pour every drop of water from his body.

Byeol and Bomi, who had been sobbing uncontrollably after being separated from their guardians, were startled into silence by his loud crying.

As time passed, Byeol started to think more clearly.

‘It’s okay. Noona’s got Dad with her — she’ll be fine.’

But every time the image of Eun-sae pushing them away came to mind, tears filled her eyes again. Seeing Byeol’s watery eyes, Elena Kim gently comforted her.

Bomi, on the other hand, was completely drained after being separated from Eun-sae. Her fluffy pink tail drooped, and her sobs grew so quiet they were barely audible.

Beep… beep.

“Mom…” she whispered weakly, calling for Eun-sae. Byeol, watching beside her, patted Bomi’s back.

[Bomi, don’t worry! Noona will come back soon!]

Beep…?

Bomi turned to her, as if asking if that was really true. Byeol nodded confidently.

[Noona’s strong, and Dad’s even stronger! They’ll be totally fine! She said ‘Go on ahead,’ so she’ll catch up to us soon!]

Byeol’s brave words comforted Bomi. In moments like this, Byeol truly seemed like the older one.

Beep-beep!

At the thought of reuniting with Eun-sae, Bomi perked up a little. Proud of them, Haneuli let out a low grrr and gently licked the children’s faces.

But the Hunters were the real problem. While the children comforted each other and regained their spirits, Park Do-yoon and the rest of the team couldn’t stop replaying that moment of separation in their minds.

Could there have been a better choice?
Was that really the only option?
And what had happened to those left behind?

Those thoughts haunted them endlessly.