The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 117

Nearly a month passed since then.

 

“Raise the pillars here!”

 

“Have the roofs all been put up?”

 

“Just a little more and it’s finished! Let’s push through, everyone!” 

 

The group that had come together to the capital, led by the chief and Gaon, were spending extremely busy days building a new mountain stronghold.

 

During the day, they poured their sweat all day long into construction and maintenance, and once the sun went down, they checked their future plans through meetings and continued their military training. 

 

While Dad and the uncles were spending their time like that, of course, I wasn’t slacking off either.

 

“This is a map of the capital. The name of this region is ‘Geoncheon’. It means a town that upholds the heavens. Looking at it historically…”

 

Although Master Dupil, who oversaw my training, was away to establish the southern base, the chief filled his empty spot.

 

“The flow of learning must not be severed. Make sure to read all these books. Do you understand?”

 

“H-however…! This is too much!”

 

“You rascal, you read even more last time…”

 

When I squealed at the massively piled up books, the chief lightly stroked his nose as if finding me cute.

 

“In all my life, I have never seen a child as bright as you. So, you will surely be able to do this much.”

 

“I, I understand.”

 

In the end, I drooped my shoulders, slump, and nodded my head.

 

‘Dad acknowledged me…’

 

Even amidst all that, I couldn’t help the corners of my mouth slightly lifting at the chief’s sincere praise.

 

Even though by the time class ended, homework that would unfailingly make my vision go dizzy was waiting for me!

 

Since the chief was also busy, long classes were difficult, and I had to digest most of my learning alone through books.

 

And so, I….

 

From the history of the capital to the Four Books and Five Classics, the Great Code of Administration and royal court etiquette, literature and composition.

 

I began to step into increasingly diverse fields of study. 

 

And studying wasn’t the only thing I did. 

 

“You mustn’t go too far!”

 

“I’ll just go up to right over there!”

 

During my other free time, I would often go out to explore the surroundings of the new stronghold holding a slingshot.

 

Whenever I did, Aunt Malja and Aunt Bokhee, who followed to take care of me, couldn’t take their eyes off me for even a moment and often broke into a cold sweat.

 

As time flowed like that and the stronghold began to settle into place to some extent.

 

During dinner, Gaon suddenly brought up an important proposal.

 

“I believe it would be good to establish a base in the capital where we can exchange information.”

 

I, who had been sitting on the chief’s lap munching on a rice ball, jerked my head up with rice grains stuck around my mouth.

 

‘An information base?’

 

Gaon’s words certainly had a point.

 

The reason we moved our base near the capital was to closely observe the Prime Minister’s movements and gain the cooperation of noble families who harbored resentment toward him.

 

Yet our current location was excessively remote and rugged.

 

Because we were so disconnected from the outside world that the advantage of being close to the capital paled into insignificance, there were many limitations to exchanging information.

 

“Why is that?”

 

When the chief asked, Gaon carefully continued his explanation.

 

“This place is suitable as a military base. However, it is disadvantageous for activities aimed at gathering and exchanging information. Therefore, we should leave this main base as it is, but establish another secret base inside the capital, and it seems necessary to operate from there while thoroughly hiding our identities.”

 

The chief nodded.

 

“That is a reasonable point.”

 

He too seemed to have harbored the same awareness of the problem.

 

“If so, investigate further into what kind of facility would be suitable to serve as an information base, and how to construct and activate it.”

 

“Yes, Chief!”

 

With that, the meeting from the previous night wrapped up.

 

Early in the morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I came out of the tent, washed my face, and fell into deep thought.

 

‘What should I do from now on?’

 

Up until now, I had persuaded Gaon to change the flow of the original story and save the chief,

 

and even after the secret of my birth was revealed, I went through the process of becoming a ‘family’ with everyone.

 

I also gained reliable friends named Park Dohyul and Damho, and through the alliance and coalition formed with them, our power grew significantly.

 

If so.

 

‘What should I do now?’ 

 

The answer to that question had never changed from the start.

 

‘I… want to protect everyone.’

 

The people who still cherished and loved me.

 

I wanted to protect their futures, their lives, and their smiles. To do so, there was something I absolutely had to do.

 

‘I have to utilize the information I possess.’

 

Of course, many things had changed now, but I still knew the flow of the original story and the futures of the characters.

 

In the original story, the processes of Park Dohyul gathering forces to stand against the Prime Minister were depicted,

 

and I clearly remembered the names of the noble families who offered help within that.

 

‘If they helped Park Dohyul in the future, they might be able to lend a hand to us right now.’

 

The problem was that I couldn’t go to meet them myself.

 

Where we were right now, no matter how close to the capital, was deep in the mountains.

 

As long as I couldn’t move directly, the methods to connect with them were limited.

 

‘Just like Dad said, we really do need to find an information base. Really.’

 

Phew. But I felt completely at a loss as to where to even begin.

 

And just then.

 

Flap—!

 

“Whoa!”

 

I reflexively jumped.

 

The falcon that had been flying above my head had landed in front of me with a letter tied to its long leg.

 

‘It’s Damho!’

 

After checking to see if there were any prying eyes around, I quickly untied the letter and began to read.

 

[Yeong, we have all moved to the strait near the capital. I heard that in the Jehan strait, the navy is mobilizing to wipe us out. I think it’s a really good thing we moved quickly.

 

Along with Father and Mother, we’ve decided to start full-scale military training as well. We’re calling in not only our own but also other pirate factions, and we are currently establishing a system so we can move together on the day of the uprising.

 

I’ll come visit where you are sometime soon. If you ever need help, just tell me anytime.

 

From Damho, who always misses you.]

 

“Damho…”

 

I muttered softly, unable to hide the smile hovering around my lips.

 

An affectionate handwriting, just as expected of Damho.

 

The warm heart conveyed between the words could be felt intact.

 

‘I feel energized thanks to Damho.’

 

And his letter solidified the resolve within me once again.

 

I carefully tucked the letter into my clothes and tiptoed into the tent.

 

‘As inconspicuously as possible…’

 

Because whenever I tried to do something, whether it was the uncles or Dad, they would care excessively.

 

It wasn’t that I disliked it, but rather that it was frustrating that I couldn’t even get a chance easily when I now wanted to help my family too. 

 

Muffling my presence without letting out even the sound of my breathing, I carefully took out paper and charcoal powder from my belongings.

 

Then, steadying my heart, I carefully wrote down a letter.

 

[Damho, thank you for contacting me like this.

 

Our stronghold family and I are doing well. It’s truly a relief to hear that everyone is safe.

 

By the way, can I ask you one favor?

 

We are currently trying to establish a base inside the capital where we can exchange information.

 

Could you perhaps find out where the place with the most people coming and going inside the capital is?

 

It would be great if it was a place where the Prime Minister’s cronies don’t visit often.]

 

Of course, this was also something for Dad and the uncles to decide.

 

But if possible…

 

‘I want to be of a little help too.’

 

If I participate in the construction of the information base, I might get the chance to go directly into the capital.

 

Because then I would be able to use the information from the original story that I know in earnest!

 

Dad and the uncles would try to keep me in the stronghold no matter what, but.

 

The world was moving too urgently for me to stay still.

 

The Prime Minister was definitely still chasing us from somewhere even now.

 

‘Right, I have to move even a little faster. Because we have to join hands with those noble families I know first right now.’

 

I finished writing the letter, folded it small, and carefully tied it to the falcon’s leg.

 

“You have to deliver it well. Promise me.”

 

Quietly holding the falcon in my arms, I headed to a hill a short distance away from the stronghold.

 

Carefully parting the grass and even checking the direction of the wind.

 

“Now, go.”

 

With a resolute look, I released the falcon toward the sky.

 

Flap—!

 

The falcon spread its wings and soared into the sky. It was right then.

 

“Kyahhh!”

 

A shrill scream of a woman rang out from somewhere!

 

“?!”