The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 119

“…Pardon?”

 

I blinked and asked back. I couldn’t understand what she meant at all.

 

She smiled quietly once again and added an explanation.

 

“I was very sick a long time ago. Since then, my memories have become blurry. Then about a year ago… I remembered that I lived in the capital and had a family.”

 

‘What’s this? A setup straight out of a makjang drama?!’

 

I subtly clenched my fists. The unexpected development piqued my interest.

 

“Then… what about their faces? Do you remember your family’s faces?”

 

“No.”

 

She slowly shook her head.

 

I instantly lost my energy and dropped my head.

 

“Then what are you going to do? You need clues to find your family…”

 

“Still, since I remembered that I was in the capital… I thought if I go to a place that feels familiar, maybe something more will come back to me.” 

 

She spoke calmly, but her quietly trembling eyelashes made a corner of my heart ache.

 

“Then where and how will you live when you go to the capital?”

 

I asked carefully.

 

I understood her situation, but my worry wouldn’t easily disappear.

 

“You see, I’m from a runaway slave background, right? When I was escaping, if I had made even the slightest mistake, I would have almost died, I tell ya!” 

 

The words I had heard in the past flashed through my mind.

 

Most of the runaway slaves talked so much about how they ‘almost died’.

 

In other words, it meant that if she went to the capital and her identity was revealed, even her life could be in danger.

 

She fell into silence for a moment after hearing my words, then soon smiled and opened her mouth.

 

“To save a stranger like me and even worry for me like this… you are truly a warm-hearted child.”

 

“Hehe.”

 

I smiled, my cheeks flushing slightly. She also gazed at me as if I were adorable, then said casually: 

 

“For now, I plan to visit a bookstore.”

 

“A bookstore? Why there?”

 

When I opened my eyes wide and tilted my head, she quietly nodded.

 

“Because it is the best place to obtain information in the capital. Nobles, commoners, and even people looking for unofficial histories come there.”

 

Continuing her words, she suddenly stopped.

 

Perhaps thinking it wasn’t a story a young child like me needed to know, she carefully closed her mouth.

 

However, my curiosity exploded, and I grabbed her sleeve with sparkling eyes. 

 

“Really? I want to go there too!”

 

“I think I’ve taken up your time by saying useless things.”

 

“No! What do you mean useless things! It was a very, very interesting and helpful story!”

 

I meant it.

 

Because the moment her words ended, I felt like I caught a clue to something.

 

“We must establish an information base.”

 

The very agenda discussed at the meeting just a few days ago.

 

And the ‘unofficial history’ she casually mentioned…!

 

Unofficial history is a story handed down orally or hand-copied among the people, not official records.

 

I knew that because it passed from mouth to mouth, adaptations were often added, and sometimes it remained so interesting that clowns would dress it up and perform it like a play on stage.

 

“I obtained some unofficial histories through the pirates!” 

 

I had also seen Uncle Gaon and Uncle Dupil reading unofficial histories in the stronghold a few times.

 

They said reading unofficial histories was good for knowing the flow of the world, or something like that…

 

Seeing those uncles, Aunt Bokhee and Aunt Malja had whispered as if finding it fascinating.

 

“I hear the mistresses of noble families in the capital mostly read them in secret as a hobby… yet the Vice Chief and the First Commander always make sure to read unofficial histories.”

 

‘Huh…?’

 

In that moment, a plan flashed in my mind.

 

‘Right, a bookstore!’

 

Let’s build a bookstore in the capital and create a space dedicated to unofficial history inside it.

 

If we decorate it so that only women of noble families can enter…

 

‘It’ll be easy to hide our identities, and we can also obtain secret information!’

 

‘This is it!’

 

I mumbled to myself with a triumphant smile. 

 

The thought of wanting to run right away and tell Dad and the uncles this idea welled up.

 

Watching my expression, she wore a curious look. 

 

“Seeing your eyes sparkle, it seems you’ve come up with a good idea?”

 

“Yes! Thanks to you. I really want to go to the bookstore you mentioned!”

 

As I smiled radiantly and answered, she also smiled gently.

 

“Then perhaps we might meet at the bookstore later?”

 

She absentmindedly stroked my head and said quietly.

 

“…It’s strange. I’ve never talked this much about myself before. Being with you makes me feel at ease.”

 

When I tilted my head, she shook her head as if it was nothing.

 

“I should get going now.”

 

She looked up at the sky once and then got up.

 

“I need to hurry on my way before the sun sets.”

 

Although it was a short encounter, thinking about parting ways made me feel somehow regretful. Pouting my lips, I reminded her.

 

“You must crush the herb and apply it to your wound!”

 

“Yes. I will do so. Thank you for worrying about me, our little fairy.” 

 

“The fairy is you, Aunt!”

 

I shouted, spreading my arms wide with all my sincerity.

 

“You really look like a fairy! I can just feel it even without seeing your face!”

 

“Oh my…!”

 

She covered her mouth and laughed.

 

Somehow, every single posture and gesture of hers was so elegant that it was hard to believe she was a former slave.

 

“Since I received such help and even compliments, I want to give you something too.”

 

She pondered for a moment, then opened her bundle and took something out.

 

What she held out was a handkerchief.

 

A handkerchief embroidered with beautiful flowers. It wasn’t high-quality thread, but it was a delicate skill that made the petals look as if they were alive and moving.

 

At the embroidery sparkling in the light, I absentmindedly opened my mouth.

 

“This is…”

 

“I embroidered it myself. I’ll give it to you as a gift.”

 

I awkwardly received the handkerchief. Sweeping my fingertips over the embroidery, I exclaimed in admiration repeatedly.

 

“It’s so… so pretty! Can I really accept something like this?”

 

Contrary to my words, I was already hugging it tightly in my arms.

 

Hwaaa! Unable to contain my joy, I jumped up and down, and the cheeks exposed above her mask blushed slightly like peach blossoms as she smiled faintly.

 

“Huhu, it’s a lacking skill, but seeing you like it so much makes me even happier.” 

 

“C-can I! Can I tie my hair with this…!”

 

Today happened to be a day I didn’t tie my hair using the destiny ribbon.

 

Wanting to use the precious handkerchief well since I received it, I asked, and she folded the handkerchief lengthwise.

 

“Just a moment, would it be alright if I do it for you?” 

 

I nodded and offered my hair to her.

 

With a rustling sound, she braided my hair and tied the handkerchief beautifully to decorate it.

 

“Is it all done?”

 

“Yes. You look truly beautiful.” 

 

I reached out and touched my hair tied with the handkerchief, and smiled broadly in joy.

 

‘Of course, Dad also cherishes me and sometimes ties my hair himself… but this touch somehow feels different.’

 

For some reason, my chest felt tight and an overwhelming emotion rushed in.

 

I whispered softly with a trembling voice.

 

“Thank you so much. I will cherish it.”

 

“I was also happy to meet you today. I was debating whether it was right to go to the capital through this rugged mountain… but I think it was a good thing I came.”

 

“That’s right. It’s a really dangerous place. To come alone, I mean.”

 

At my worried words, she formed a faint smile as if recalling something.

 

“I remember someone… saying that. That this mountain is rugged but leads to the capital, and since people rarely travel through it, it’s the safest path.”

 

She slightly furrowed her brows as if tracing a blurry memory.

 

“Of course, nothing more than that came to mind.”

 

“It’s okay. I’m sure if you go to the capital, you’ll be able to find all your memories.”

 

When I clenched my fists and spoke, she nodded.

 

“Yes. I feel energized. Your father and uncle… they aren’t far away, right? Shall I take you to them?”

 

“N-no! They are nearby! And I am a veeery experienced herb gatherer, so I’m fine, please don’t wooorry!”

 

As I waved both hands and laughed, she too nodded as if deciding not to delay any further.

 

“Then I’ll be on my way. Our little Miss Herb Gatherer, I hope we can meet again if the opportunity arises.”

 

“Yes. Me too! Oh, Aunt Fairy…!”

 

Right before she left, I fidgeted with my hands and asked.

 

“By any chance… what is your name?”