The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 100

“By my father’s side, I have long watched countless people suffer without reason. And I believe it is my given destiny to stop it.”

 

Gaon quietly looked at Park Dohyul.

 

A neat gaze unbecoming of his age, an unwavering attitude.

 

Just how difficult and heavy it is to confess to his father’s sins at such a young age… Gaon knew it well too.

 

Nevertheless, he spoke without a single hint of wavering. 

 

“That is why… I secretly formed my own private army. Though the scale is still small, most of them specialize in stealth and information gathering.” 

 

Before continuing his words, Park Dohyul swallowed his dry saliva for a moment.

 

“The information is… regarding my father.”

 

Gaon’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Does that mean the Prime Minister doesn’t tell you everything either?”

 

He needed to confirm the extent of information exchange between the Prime Minister and Park Dohyul.

 

According to the information Gaon knew, Park Dohyul was a genius in military strategy.

 

He knew that the Prime Minister also utilized him as a means for his work and often held strategy meetings together.

 

And for that, he expected there would be basic information exchange.

 

However.

 

“My father does not give me detailed explanations. Most of the time, only instructions are given. Moreover, he spends little time at the residence, and major conversations mostly take place outside. The information I can hear is… not that much.”

 

Gaon nodded.

 

‘As expected of the thorough Prime Minister. It seems he gives his son even less information than I anticipated.’

 

He had heard and knew well that the Prime Minister didn’t entirely trust anyone.

 

Even his son, Park Dohyul, was no exception.

 

“I want to cooperate. However, I must tell you in advance that there is a limit to the information I can obtain.”

 

Gaon instantly realized that Park Dohyul had made up his mind.

 

He wasn’t aggressively confronting his father, but in his own clear way,

 

He was showing his will to cooperate with Seolhwa in the best way he could.

 

‘It’s a deal.’

 

Gaon nodded in satisfaction.

 

“Very well. I will assign someone to contact you secretly.” 

 

“Yes, I will also pass it on immediately if I obtain any important information.”

 

As the conversation was about to conclude, Gaon quietly looked at Dohyul.

 

‘He… resembles me.’

 

In fact, it was what he felt the moment he first saw Park Dohyul.

 

Choosing a path different from his parents’ will, harboring the intention to stand against them…

 

They were so alike.

 

If there was a difference, however.

 

‘I… suffered for a long time even after being abandoned.’

 

Breaking away from the parents who denied him wasn’t easy for Gaon.

 

But Park Dohyul was different.

 

He was solid. At this very moment, he was choosing the ‘belief’ that would surpass his father.

 

“The young son is quite brave. Keeping one’s beliefs secretly from one’s own father couldn’t have been easy.”

 

The captain’s words were right.

 

A mere twelve years old. 

 

At that young age, he organized a private army and risked his life to rescue Yeong.

 

It was a path no ordinary person could easily endure. 

 

Perhaps because of that, Gaon asked unconsciously.

 

“How… could you go this far? Against your biological father, how could you……”

 

Park Dohyul smiled calmly and warmly as he answered.

 

“Yeong told me.”

 

“….!”

 

“To find what I want to do. To do my best for it… and if someone stops it, not to forgive them. Then someday, I could become special.”

 

Somehow, even without seeing it, he felt like he knew how that little child would have said it.

 

“I want to protect people. Yeong, and myself too. So I decided to fight.”

 

He paused for a moment and added quietly.

 

“Then… I think I’ll become special like that child someday too.”

 

Gaon didn’t ask anymore.

 

He quietly approached and placed his hand on Park Dohyul’s shoulder.

 

“You did well. Because today, you saved not only Yeong but everyone in our mountain stronghold.”

 

He was a person who conveyed his feelings through actions rather than words.

 

So, pat pat. He patted Park Dohyul’s shoulder a couple of times.

 

“I’ll thank you as an uncle. Thank you for protecting Yeong.”

 

Park Dohyul widened his eyes.

 

Gaon continued to speak to Park Dohyul.

 

“And you don’t have to struggle so much all by yourself. We won’t unilaterally demand information from you. Because we will definitely protect you so that you won’t be put in danger. Also…”

 

Gaon hesitated for a moment.

 

He wasn’t originally someone good at saying such things. However, perhaps because he saw too much of his own childhood overlapping.

 

He really wanted to convey these words, at least.

 

Just as Yeong had told him.

 

“Because you are special enough, exactly as you are now.”

 

“….!”

 

At those words, Park Dohyul’s eyes faintly wavered.

 

‘Ah, Yeong is… family with people like this.’

 

Something surged deep within his chest. 

 

And at that moment, Park Dohyul was certain.

 

‘As expected, my thoughts were right. These people are right.’

 

“They deserve to die. They are worthless people.”

 

The justice of the world was not in the words his father whispered to him every day, but right here.

 

‘Even though I am young, they listen to my words… and respect the beliefs I have kept.’

 

How could such people be… those who deserve to die.

 

Park Dohyul quietly clutched his chest.

 

‘…It’s all thanks to Yeong.’

 

Being able to stand in this place now might have originated from that single word of comfort on that day.

 

So to me, Yeong is….

 

“Young Master, you must disembark now!”

 

Just then, Seo Taeho’s voice came from outside.

 

‘I must return.’

 

It felt as if he was snapped back to his senses, like waking up from a sweet dream.

 

As if to remind him that the world he lived in was distinctly different from this place. 

 

Clench.

 

He quietly clenched his fists.

 

‘Someday… I, too….’ 

 

Wouldn’t I be able to make a real ‘family’ like that child?

 

A faint light dwelled in Park Dohyul’s eyes.

 

It was a small light, also called hope.

 

* * *

 

“I have a request. Since I don’t know when I’ll be able to see her again… is it alright if I say goodbye to Yeong just the two of us?”

 

Just before the ship reached the land, Park Dohyul made a final request to say goodbye to me alone.

 

“Alright. However, we don’t have time, so you must hurry as much as possible.”

 

“Yes. I understand.”

 

I tilted my head in confusion.

 

Although I couldn’t know what conversation Park Dohyul and Gaon had in the cabin.

 

Gaon readily agreed, stepped back a few paces, and gave us space.

 

“Hmph, what is this… having a conversation just the two of you until the very end!”

 

Damho had a displeased expression, but reluctantly followed Gaon and stepped back a few paces.

 

Only then did we face each other.

 

“It’s another parting now.” 

 

Step.

 

He took a step closer to me and spoke in a low voice.

 

“Yeong, do you remember? You said it. To find what I want to do.”

 

“Huh?”

 

I asked back and lifted my head. His black, straight eyes were filled only with me.

 

“I want to meet you again. You.”

 

“….!”

 

When I widened my eyes in surprise, Park Dohyul looked at me and gave a small smile.

 

“So this time, I’ll promise. Let’s definitely meet again. I’ll come find you. Wherever you are.”

 

“But… if you meet me again, Brother might be put in danger again. Even so…?”

 

“Yeah. Even so.”

 

He spoke with his eyes shining clearly.

 

“So, I’m going to do my best.”

 

“Keep, keep tewwing me! What Brother want to do! And when you think you know…!”

 

“….”

 

“Do it. Wif all your might.”

 

It was a remark that brought to mind the advice I had given him in the past.

 

I stared at Park Dohyul blankly.

 

‘Just like the Chief… a truly upright and strong person.’

 

When I was young, I thought I had to save him.

 

But perhaps that was arrogance, a misconception. 

 

Because he grew up this much through his own will.

 

‘Amazing.’

 

Once again, he looked truly cool.

 

And at that moment, I realized.

 

The male protagonist of this story.

 

To me too, he….

 

Was no longer a ‘variable that might threaten the Chief’.

 

But had stealthily entered my heart as one of the people I liked.

 

“Of course. We must… definitely meet again.”

 

I said with a bright smile.

 

“I promise. This time too.”