The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 22

I knew he was going to leave everything he bought today at my adoptive home, but.

 

This, however, I wanted the Chief to keep for himself.

 

If he truly wasn’t sending me away out of dislike… but for my own sake—

 

‘I just hope he keeps it, thinking of it as a precious memory of our short time together.’

 

With that thought in mind.

 

The Chief looked at the cloth with a thoughtful expression for a moment, then carefully took it from me.

 

Ha. And he barely exhaled a breath, as if it took all his effort.

 

‘Now.’

 

Watching the Chief so clearly, I opened my mouth.

 

If today is the last day, I really wanted to say this.

 

Actually, before coming here, I had practiced a lot in secret.

 

“Tha—nk—yoo.”

 

At my words, the Chief asked in a trembling voice, as if he couldn’t believe it.

 

“What…?”

 

“Thank yoo.”

 

I looked at the Chief and said it clearly once more.

 

It was the first time I had truly conveyed it to him. 

 

“Tank you for savin’ me.”

 

“…”

 

“Tha—nk—yoo.”

 

Srrrk.

 

The Chief took the cloth and remained silent for a long while.

 

His expression was complicated… one that couldn’t easily speak.

 

His long black eyelashes trembled slightly.

 

He moved his lips as if deeply pondering how to respond.

 

And then…

 

“Chief, we’re here!”

 

“Did you really buy all of this?!”

 

Gaon and Dupil burst in.

 

They were holding new weapons and daily necessities in both hands.

 

The Chief barely managed to control his expression as he glanced at the two of them.

 

“Alright. Did you also buy paper, ink, and brushes?”

 

“Yes. Of course.”

 

Gaon and Dupil hurriedly took out paper, ink, and a brush and showed them.

 

“Then let’s go. Carry it all.”

 

“No, why is there so much? Chief, huh? What are you holding separately in your hands? Is it for us?”

 

“It’s mine.”

 

As Gaon rushed forward to see, the Chief quickly hid the cloth he had received from me.

 

The movement was so careful, as if he were handling something truly precious, and somehow it made me feel strange.

 

“Don’t go poking at other people’s things; just carry the load.”

 

“…Yees, I understand.”

 

Gaon muttered something under his breath, then quickly teamed up with Dupil to lift the load with ease.

 

The place they headed toward was…

 

Of course, it was right in front of my prospective father’s house.

 

“Wait here. I will write my letter.”

 

The chief plopped down on the ground, set the paper before him, carefully ground the ink, and picked up his brush.

 

Swoosh, swish.

 

Watching him write those elegant characters on the paper, I could hardly believe my eyes.

 

I couldn’t believe it at all—I rubbed my eyes with my hands and looked again.

 

‘A bandit… with handwriting this exquisite?’

 

Since it’s written in Chinese characters, I couldn’t understand every meaning, but one thing was certain.

 

I could not fully understand the meaning since it was in Chinese characters, but one thing was certain: he was the best calligrapher I had ever seen.

 

‘What on earth is his true identity…?’

 

I tried to suppress my pounding heart and thought over and over.

 

‘Ugh… I feel like I’m about to remember something…’

 

At that moment, my train of thought was abruptly cut off as the Chief rose from his seat, having finished the letter. 

 

Then, without a moment’s hesitation, he carefully folded the letter and tucked it under the basket where I was sitting.

 

‘Yeah. We’re not going to see each other again, so what does it matter?’

 

I deliberately tried to clear my mind as I watched the leader smoothly prepare for the final step. 

 

At last, the Chief slid a hefty money pouch among the piles of baby supplies next to the basket. 

 

Swoosh—!

 

Suddenly, he reached out and scooped me up from the basket.

 

Then he lifted me high into the air and met my eyes.

 

“It’s time for us to part ways now.”

 

He gave me a bright, beaming smile.

 

Ah, why?

 

In that moment, it truly sank in that it was finally over between us forever.

 

Perhaps it was because the sunset had bathed everything in its half-glow. 

 

I found myself staring blankly at the Chief’s face, which somehow seemed even more handsome than usual.

 

For some reason, my eyes prickled, and my chest ached sharply.

 

I raised my tiny hand and pressed it firmly against my chest.

 

‘Let’s not do this. I never want to be part of a criminal family again. Never, ever…’

 

I tried to hide my trembling and nodded vigorously.

 

Looking as composed as possible.

 

Just as I bowed my head, trying hard not to meet the Chief’s gaze.

 

Swoosh.

 

The Chief’s fingers brushed against my tiny hand.

 

He grasped my tiny hand gently between his thumb and forefinger, and I instinctively clutched his fingers.

 

The Chief didn’t pull away; he looked at me, and I could see myself reflected in his eyes.

 

‘I… look so pathetic right now.’

 

After being reborn as a baby.

 

When I see my reflection in the eyes of others.

 

I always felt like I was seeing someone else, not myself.

 

But for the first time…

 

I felt as if I were seeing my past-life self, not a sweet, adorable baby.

 

Even though I believed I wasn’t someone worthy of being loved by anyone.

 

In the end, I once again craved someone’s affection, gave them my heart… and wound up alone, on the verge of tears—pathetic as ever.

 

“You’re a special child.”

 

Tuk. Startled by the Chief’s words that cut off the flow of my thoughts, I widened my eyes as much as I could. 

 

I felt so flustered that even the tips of my ears were turning bright red.

 

“I’ve seen many children throughout my life. I never raised any myself, but… I had many younger siblings. I’ve also seen children caught up in war, dying before my eyes. But… a child like you, I’ve never seen before.”

 

“….”

 

“Though you are but a child… it always felt as though you understood everything I said, almost unbelievably so. There seems to be so much thought in that little head of yours. And the way your eyes look at me—there’s so much in them, as if the whole world is contained within you. I cannot tell you how wondrous that felt to me.”

 

Tight.

 

For the last time, he lifted my small body and gently drew me into his warm embrace.

 

Ssrk, srrrk. 

 

The hand that stroked me from my head down to my back was as warm as it had been when we first met.

 

“Habu…” 

 

After that brief yet deep hug ended, he lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled again.

 

“I’m the one who’s grateful you’ve been with me all this time.”

 

He spoke clearly and sincerely.

 

“Tha—nk—yoo.”

 

It was the answer to the final farewell that I had worked so hard practicing and preparing for.

 

“Forget what happened in the mountains. Here, see and experience many things, find what you want to do, achieve it, and live happily.”

 

“….”

 

“You’re a child who fully deserves that.”

 

I stared blankly at the Chief for a moment.

 

Because the way he looked at me somehow seemed filled with regret, yet at the same time, with joy.

 

Because when that mix of emotions reached me, it felt as though my chest was softly aching.

 

“But if….”

 

A subtle murderous aura emanated from the Chief, and the atmosphere became chilling. 

 

“If, by any chance—even the slightest chance—something dangerous happens to you.” 

 

Keugh.

 

He took out a piece of cloth and wrapped it around my small wrist, tying it loosely in a knot.

 

“Throw this in front of the gate.”

 

Swish. I carefully ran my fingertips over the cloth the Chief had tied tightly. 

 

I etched and re-etched the golden patterns engraved on it into my eyes, determined never to forget them.

 

He quietly lifted his head and met my eyes once again.

 

“If that happens, no matter what, I’ll make sure to find out and come to you myself.”

 

Nod.

 

I nodded unconsciously. And then.

 

Sshk.

 

I reached out and clasped the Chief’s fingers tightly.

 

This time, I looked straight at him and nodded deeply.

 

‘Thank you. Sincerely. I hope you’re doing well, too.’

 

Over and over again.

 

I wanted to say that, but I was too small, so I couldn’t.

 

“Wu…” 

 

I couldn’t help but whine out of frustration.

 

Then the Chief seemed about to say something more, his lips parting slightly—but soon he pressed them firmly shut.