The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 118

‘A person in these deep, secluded mountains?’ 

 

To climb somewhere this rugged, it was impossible without a decent amount of physical stamina. 

 

Furthermore, what I just heard was definitely a woman’s scream.

 

‘I have to go check.’

 

It could be an attack.

 

If I went back to the stronghold to fetch someone now, it might be too late.

 

Having made up my mind, I gripped my slingshot, parted the bushes, and ran at full speed.

 

Squeaaal!

 

A wild boar was puffing hot breath from its snout, stamping its hooves menacingly. 

 

And in front of it stood a masked woman wielding a sword, locked in a desperate struggle. 

 

‘…She’s not a martial artist.’

 

The hand gripping her sword was unstable. Having learned from Master Dupil, I could tell at a single glance. 

 

A properly trained person does not hold a sword like that.

 

‘She’s not a dangerous person. I have to help her!’

 

Looking around, I chose the easiest tree to climb.

 

I quickly grabbed a branch and began to rapidly ascend the tree.

 

While recalling Dupil’s teachings in my mind.

 

“Ranged attacks should be done from high places. If you are confronting an enemy, make sure to stand atop a tree.” 

 

The moment I got up there, I immediately aimed my slingshot. 

 

Wild boars have thick skin. It’s useless to shoot just anywhere. If so…

 

‘The eye!’

 

Thwack! 

 

As the stone squarely struck its eye, the wild boar shrieked and ran rampant.

 

I caught my breath and aimed the next stone. This time, a vital spot.

 

Smaaaack—!

 

“Squeeeaaall!”

 

The stone, flying with immense force, squarely struck the wild boar’s groin.

 

As the pig trembled in pain and rolled its eyes back, the woman charged without hesitation.

 

“Hah!”

 

Holding her sword awkwardly, she pierced right through the wild boar’s abdomen.

 

Thrust—!

 

And just like that, the wild boar collapsed to the ground.

 

“Huff, huff…!”

 

Breathing heavily, the woman finally let go of the sword and slumped to the ground. Her hands and shoulders were trembling slightly.

 

She suddenly snapped back to her senses, looked around, and shouted.

 

“Who’s there!”

 

At her wary voice, I lightly jumped down from the tree.

 

“Hello. I’m Seolyeong.”

 

As always, I placed my hands over my belly button, bowed my head, and offered a polite greeting.

 

Startled, she looked at me with wide eyes.

 

“A child…?”

 

Beneath the mask, her brown eyes were visible.

 

They were warm, yet clear. I could tell just by that.

 

A small, delicately featured face, long eyelashes. Even though only her eyes were visible, an indescribable aura could be felt.

 

‘What a truly fascinating person…’

 

At the end of my gaze unconsciously looking down at her, a wound on her thigh exposed through her torn clothes caught my eye.

 

“Y-you’re hurt…!”

 

I ran over in surprise.

 

She covered her thigh with her hand as if flustered. 

 

“It’s fine. It’s just a little scratch.”

 

“But…”

 

She quietly looked at me, who had raised my head with a tearful face.

 

Just as I found her fascinating, she too seemed extremely puzzled to encounter a young child like me in this rugged mountain.

 

“Thank you for saving me in such a dangerous situation. Thanks to you, I escaped a crisis.” 

 

After first offering me her thanks, she asked what she was truly curious about.

 

“But… how did a child like you come all the way here? Where are your parents?”

 

At her question, I brought out the answer I had already thought of.

 

“I am… an herb gatherer who lives in the mountains!”

 

“An herb gatherer? Then is your father an herb gatherer too?”

 

“Yes! My father is nearby too!”

 

“If by chance you encounter someone in the mountains, you can just say you are an herb gatherer. Do you understand?”

 

The contingency plan for encountering an unknown civilian(?) that the uncles had told me numerous times.

 

‘To think the day I get to use this would finally come!’

 

At the feeling of my heart pounding anew, my cheeks unknowingly flushed.

 

“An herb gatherer, you say…”

 

However, her eyes were still suspicious.

 

‘This mountain is a place even adults find hard to climb… it’s only natural she finds it strange that a child is here.’

 

I, too, became a little hesitant.

 

Come to think of it, what Uncle Dupil taught me seemed to be what to do when going down the mountain and running into someone…

 

Then, a flash of insight—!

 

As I turned my head as if avoiding her gaze, I spotted an herb growing nearby.

 

I quickly picked it up.

 

“This…! It’s an herb that’s effective when applied to wounds! Apply it!”

 

Although he ultimately betrayed us, it was a moment where the herbal knowledge I learned from Ji Hakseung in my childhood finally shined.

 

“This is… a Haesang herb?”

 

She nodded as if familiar with it. She let out a sigh of relief, her suspicion seemingly somewhat dispelled.

 

“Yes. Thank you.”

 

As soon as she received the herb, she staggered. Perhaps because the tension had released, fatigue seemed to rush in all at once.

 

Sitting on a large rock, she heaved her shoulders and caught her breath.

 

‘Pretty people look pretty even when they’re exhausted!’

 

I scurried over, sat next to her, and unconsciously stared at her blankly.

 

“What brings you… here? It’s not an easy place to come alone.”

 

As I carefully struck up a conversation, she stared blankly at me for a while.

 

Before I knew it, warmth lingered in her eyes as she looked at my brown eyes.

 

“…I was on my way to the capital.”

 

“The capital? But you can go by the flatlands instead of the mountain path. Why take such a difficult path…”

 

“Because there are bad people looking for me. I ended up here while avoiding them.”

 

“Bad people…?”

 

I tilted my head, not knowing the reason, then soon spotted a small brand on her forearm—slightly exposed beyond the torn edge of her clothes.

 

‘It’s a slave brand.’

 

Because many slaves had fled to our stronghold and joined us, I knew better than anyone what a brand looked like.

 

‘She’s a runaway slave.’

 

Feeling a wave of pity for some reason, I bit my lip hard. 

 

Just looking at her, there were small wounds all over her body… and seeing her clothes heavily covered in dirt and dust.

 

The hardships she must have endured climbing up to this mountain could be fully felt.

 

‘Is there anything I can do to help?’

 

For some reason, I kept feeling concerned for her. Ultimately, I carefully opened my mouth.

 

“You seem to be hurt a lot… if it’s alright with you, I’d like to help. My dad and uncles are nearby. If I tell them, they’ll probably help you!”

 

Although I hesitated for a moment, it didn’t seem right to let her go like this.

 

She definitely looked like she needed a warm meal and proper treatment.

 

However.

 

“I appreciate the thought, but it’s fine.”

 

She shook her head with a soft but firm voice.

 

“Because I have to go find my lost family as soon as possible.”

 

Lost family…?

 

If she’s a runaway slave… there’s a high chance she was a slave from birth… so she probably formed a family there.

 

Did her family get taken by someone? Could it be that this person’s family also suffered a terrible fate at the hands of the Prime Minister and the present king’s cronies?

 

I tilted my head and recklessly threw out the questions that came to mind.

 

“If you have family in the capital… then was the capital your hometown? Where did you go before returning to the capital? Did you cover your face because bad people were chasing you too?”

 

I opened my eyes wide, tilted my head, and threw out a barrage of questions in succession.

 

For some reason, I was curious about her.

 

Of course, there were suspicious aspects given that she appeared alone in such deep mountains, but… it was more because of the aura she exuded.

 

Her tone of voice was somehow gentle, and her eyes were affectionate yet lonely.

 

My heart kept being drawn to her.

 

‘Uh-oh, did I ask too many questions too suddenly?’

 

I scratched my head awkwardly and gauged her reaction. Then.

 

“Fufu!” 

 

Fortunately, she didn’t seem offended and let out a small laugh.

 

Although her face wasn’t clearly visible due to the mask, the way her eyes crinkled softly meant she was definitely smiling.

 

“Ask slowly. You’ll run out of breath.”

 

She smiled as if finding me cute, reached out her hand, and carefully tucked my hair, which had become messy from running, behind my ear.

 

That gentle touch somehow made my heart tickle.

 

“Well, actually…”

 

She crouched down and buried her head between her knees.

 

Then she turned her head to the side and looked at me while resting her chin on her hand.

 

“I don’t… remember very well.”

 

She said softly.