The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 1

[This morning, serial killer A was arrested by the police. It was revealed that A has a 13-year-old daughter…]

 

It was just three months before I was supposed to enter middle school.

 

It was when I began to be despised by everyone in the world.

 

“Hey, I heard her dad went to prison?”

 

“Ugh, I really don’t like it.”

 

My desk, locker, and school uniform were constantly covered in filth, and there was never a time when the bruises on my body had a chance to heal.

 

And yet, no one tried to stop it—not even the teachers.

 

Why? 

 

‘Because I’m the daughter of a murderer.’

 

My father’s crime became my own.

 

Although it was painful, those were days when I couldn’t speak of the pain.

 

For the families of those who died at my father’s hands, it must have been even more of a hellish existence.

 

‘I hate my father.’

 

All I could do was resent the father who had made me like this.

 

After that, whenever a night came that was so painful I wanted to give up on life, I would repeat meaningless thoughts over and over.

 

‘If my father hadn’t committed any crimes… No, if he hadn’t been my father.’

 

But soon I realized.

 

Nothing guarantees my life, and no one understands my injustice.

 

The original sin engraved in me… is something that will never disappear.

 

And so, I became a detective who catches criminals.

 

To erase the sin of being the daughter of a monster—by catching monsters myself.

 

But cruelly enough, even after becoming a detective, I still couldn’t erase the brand of being a murderer’s daughter.

 

“It’s her, that kid. The murderer’s daughter.”

 

That’s how I lived—like I was atoning for a sin I never committed, for my entire life.

 

I didn’t even dream of anything else.

 

I literally worked, worked, and worked like crazy.

 

“How many medals is that now?”

 

“Leave it. She’s not normal. They don’t call her the Mad Dog for nothing.”

 

That’s how it went on for 20 years.

 

After endless effort, I finally earned the honor of being called the “top detective” and ranked first in performance.

 

Maybe that’s why I was a little excited that day.

 

‘Maybe I can just live as myself now…!’

 

With this much… Maybe I don’t have to live as a sinner anymore, do I?

 

It was around the time I had that thought.

 

Kiiieeeek—boom!

 

A large truck suddenly hit me.

 

“H, heuk..” 

 

When I came to my senses, red blood was blocking my vision.

 

It was hard to breathe and I couldn’t say anything because of the extreme pain.

 

As I felt death nearing, I lifted my head and looked at the truck driver who had killed me.

 

‘That person…?’

 

I knew that face.

 

I couldn’t have not known. It was the face from the case files I had searched through hundreds, no, thousands of times after becoming a detective.

 

So that person is…  

 

‘The bereaved family of the person my father killed.’

 

“Ha, haha….”

 

I realized then.

 

I had spent my entire life repenting, but that time was meaningless.

 

In the end, I was a sinner until the end.

 

The most horrible sinner in this world who deserved to die just for existing.

 

‘I just… wanted to live a normal life…’

 

My body was numb, and tears flowed endlessly from my eyes.

 

As I exhaled my last breath, I reflected on the moments that had passed.

 

A life where my very existence was denied because of the sins committed by my flesh and blood.

 

A life in which I had never been loved, nor had the chance to love, because of that.

 

‘I’m so frustrated. So much.’

 

In the midst of intense sadness and sorrow, I passed away without even being able to close my eyes.

 

* * *

 

That’s how I died.

 

‘…Euph?’

 

Yeah. I’m sure I died, though?

 

Then where on earth am I?

 

I blinked a few times after suddenly opening my eyes, and my blurry vision became clear.

 

And I frowned at the unexpected things in front of me.

 

‘It looks like a mountain…?’

 

Withered tree branches, white snow piled up instead of leaves. The whole world was quiet, and a strong wind swept through, blowing the snow around.

 

Anyone could see that this place was deep in the mountains. And it was a snow-covered mountain range!

 

Whiiing—!

 

I trembled uncontrollably from the intense cold, my teeth clattering together.

 

Then, I soon noticed the second strange thing.

 

‘Why can I see the peak of the mountain across so clearly? It’s as if I’m looking from a high place…’

 

I unconsciously lowered my gaze and was terrified.

 

“Whaaang!”

 

A pine tree at a height where falling would surely mean instant death.

 

I was hanging on a tree that was at least 6m tall.

 

In a very precarious state, with the fabric of a burlap sack wrapped tightly around my body, barely clinging to a tree branch for support.

 

‘D, don’t move.’

 

I was so terrified that if the cloth or tree branch broke and I fell, I might die. I couldn’t even breathe properly.

 

“Puh, pya, puh, pya!”

 

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and for a moment, realized that my voice sounded strange.

 

I noticed the strangest thing!

 

“U, ueee? (What is this?)”

 

I realized for a moment that the voice was strange.

 

I looked down and was shocked to see the short, three-headed body wrapped in the burlap sack.

 

The light and short body hanging from the tree branch didn’t look awkward at all. This body was definitely!

 

It was a baby!

 

When I opened my eyes after dying, I had turned into a baby!

 

‘Could this be… reincarnation?’

 

I thought I had experienced just about everything while living as a detective.

 

I had even gone undercover in dangerous criminal organizations and traveled to remote places for investigations, but… for something this absurd to happen to me…

 

‘Anyway, if I stay like this, I’m going to freeze to death.’

 

The moment I realized that my nose was running and my body was trembling uncontrollably, I fully grasped the seriousness of the situation.

 

‘Reincarnation or not, I need to find someone to ask for help.’

 

As I was shaking my head in fear of death to check if anyone was passing by in a hurry.

 

Thud, thud.

 

A line of about 50 men came into view from far away.

 

I was about to raise my voice in desperation but stopped.

 

‘What’s wrong with their clothes?’

 

A tall man with the most imposing presence, leading the way.

 

He was dressed in black armor, something you’d expect to see in the Joseon Dynasty, with a fox fur vest draped over it… His large frame, combined with the sword at his side, made him look incredibly intimidating.

 

That wasn’t all.

 

The people following him were all dressed in attire that resembled bandits from the Joseon Dynasty.

 

And most decisively, the cart being pulled by those at the very back, laden with shining gold and treasures.

 

‘They’re clearly thieves.’

 

I’ve dealt with countless vicious criminals in my past life.

 

I can tell what kind of people they are just by looking at their gait and behavior.

 

I clenched my small hands without realizing it.

 

‘What should I do? Those guys aren’t going to save me. But still, I have to stay alive for now, right?’

 

Step, step. 

 

As I hesitated, the bandits gradually got closer. 

 

They looked even more vicious up close. I bit my lip.

 

‘As expected, I should stay quiet and wait for someone else to come… then…’

 

Yeah, it was better to endure the cold than to ask a criminal for help.

 

And given my location, there was a high chance that the bandits would pass me by without noticing me.

 

I definitely thought so…

 

“Phuu, phuu!”

 

Splash-!

 

A waterfall of snot, uncontrollably sprayed onto someone’s head.

 

I was so surprised that I quickly looked down.

 

“….”

 

The largest and most intimidating man, who stood at the forefront of the bandit group, exuding an overwhelming presence.

 

So, the large man, presumed to be the leader of the bandits, raised his hand and wiped it across his head.

 

Swish.

 

He checked the warm, sticky torrent of snot and, like a grim reaper, slowly lifted his head with a chilling expression.

 

The moment I met his piercing, ominous black eyes filled with murderous intent, my heart felt as if it was being squeezed tight.

 

He exuded a more terrifying aura than any vicious criminal I had encountered in my past life.

 

‘Ah, I’m doomed.’

 

Sensing that I was doomed, I forced a smile, lifting my trembling lips in an attempt to grin.

 

“P, ppyaa!”

 

Hoping with all my heart that they were righteous thieves who would love a baby!