The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 26

With my heart pounding violently, I grabbed my head and sank down onto the floor.

 

‘Wait a minute. So the Chief dies at the hands of the male protagonist a few years later?’

 

What do you mean by the Chief dies?

 

He may have left after having me adopted, but he was still the first person who risked his life to save me.

 

“You are a special child.”

 

He was also someone who spoke to me kindly and warmly.

 

‘No… I can’t just let this happen.’

 

Had I not known the original story, I might not have realized—but now that I knew his fate, I couldn’t just stand by.

 

It’s only natural for a person to repay someone they owe their life to!

 

With my small fist clenched tightly, I made up my mind.

 

‘I have to save the Chief!’

 

But how?

 

With that question lingering in my mind, I recalled the male protagonist I had seen earlier in the marketplace.

 

‘The one who kills the Chief is that child. That means, if I can just stop Park Dohyul… the Chief can live.’

 

Yeah. Up to this point, everything was fine.

 

But there was a very clear problem.

 

Whether I try to change his mind or persuade him, I’ll have to meet him first.

 

‘How am I supposed to meet him again?’

 

I’m a baby just 17 months old, barely able to toddle around.

 

What on earth can someone like me do to meet the boy…?

 

* * *

 

“Waaaaaaah!!!”

 

What could a little child like me possibly do?

 

Other than crying like this!

 

“Give me more!!! Moreee!!!”

 

“No! You’re too heavy! You little rascal!”

 

“Nooooo!”

 

So, what I’m doing right now is…!

 

“Good grief! No, why do you suddenly want to ride piggyback?!”

 

“Waaah, do it! Do it now!”

 

I was currently riding piggyback on Dolsoe’s shoulders.

 

Fortunately, the tiled-roof house I was in was located in the area with the most foot traffic in the district.

 

I knew that most of the main roads all led through this place.

 

I figured that if I stayed on Dolsoe’s shoulders like this, I’d eventually be able to see that boy.

 

“No, what on earth have you been staring at since earlier? Huh? That’s enough now. No more.”

 

“No…!”

 

I grabbed Dolsoe’s hair with both hands and started tugging wildly, kicking off another round of my tantrum.

 

And at that moment.

 

‘Huh? The male protagonist is passing by ahead!’

 

The male protagonist suddenly came into view and then disappeared.

 

There was no way I could have mistaken it!

 

There’s no way I wouldn’t recognize such a distinguished face(?).

 

‘I have to hurry and catch him!’

 

Panicking, I flailed my hands wildly.

 

“Get down, get down, get down!!!”

 

“You can do it, no you can’t.”

 

“Put me down!!”

 

“Good grief, my ears are about to fall off!”

 

Eventually, I grabbed Dolsoe’s poor hair, and he muttered softly before gently putting me down on the ground.

 

‘All right! Let’s go!’

 

Without thinking, I began toddling as fast as I could across the yard!

 

“You’re not supposed to go far? Huh?”

 

Dolsoe called out nervously, but there was no way I was going to listen to him.

 

“Dolsoe, the lady just fell and hurt her back! We need someone to carry her!”

 

Luckily, just in time, my savior Eonnyeon came running hurriedly to take the troublesome Kim Dolsoe away.

 

“But who’s going to watch the baby…!”

 

“It’ll only be for a moment, so hurry!”

 

“Ha, it’s just for a moment, so nothing’s going to happen, right?”

 

Dolsoe glanced back at me once and eventually followed Eonnyeon, disappearing from sight.

 

After seeing that, I hurried my pace even faster.

 

Thanks to all the strength training and walking practice I’d done, I was able to move at a fairly quick pace.

 

“You did very well.”

 

‘If the Chief saw me now, he’d probably praise me, saying I’m doing well, right?’

 

I brushed the bond cloth tightly tied around my wrist for no reason and moved my legs busily.

 

‘I’ll definitely save you, Chief! Just hang on a little longer!’

 

That’s how I arrived at the spot where I had seen Park Dohyul earlier.

 

Straining and grunting, I pushed open the half-open gate.

 

Fortunately, Park Dohyul was walking slowly, chatting quietly with his servant.

 

‘This is my chance!’

 

Watching him from behind, I brought both hands close to my mouth and then shouted with all my might.

 

“Stooop right theeeeere!”

 

At the perfect command, Park Dohyul’s steps came to an abrupt halt.

 

Seizing the moment, I tiptoed quickly.

 

Not knowing when another opportunity might come, all I could think about was reaching him no matter what.

 

And that was the problem.

 

Thud—!

 

I tripped on a rock and fell hard to the ground.

 

“Ouch!!!”

 

Waaah, maybe walking this much was still too much for me after all?

 

With a single scream, I fell onto the dirt, and tears welled up in my eyes.

 

And then.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

A thin, soft, gentle voice came from above my head.

 

I slowly lifted my head.

 

My eyes widened in surprise.

 

‘Wow…’

 

As expected, the male protagonist’s buff was no joke.

 

Even with the sunlight behind him as he reached out his hand to me, his face shone so brilliantly that it was absolutely mesmerizing.

 

“You should get up.”

 

As I stood dazed, Park Dohyul stepped closer and gently took my hand.

 

Then, with a grunt of “Ucha,” he lifted my small body up.

 

Bending his knees slightly to meet my gaze, he asked gently.

 

“Why are you alone? Where are your parents? Do you live nearby?”

 

“Young Master… this baby seems too young. Will she  even understand what we’re saying?”

 

Good, everything is going according to plan!

 

I had already mapped out the entire plan in my head.

 

Just suddenly going, ‘You shouldn’t listen to your father!’ would never work!

 

First, I need to build enough rapport to speak so freely and steer the conversation.

 

“Meee, I get wost!”

 

I had to make time to be with him.

 

“You’re lost?”

 

Park Dohyul furrowed his delicate brows and asked, and I continued my act, sniffling pitifully.

 

“Hngg… I’m wost… I don’t know my way home…”

 

Actually, it’s just thirty steps back, but I’m just a helpless lost child who wouldn’t know that!

 

“Hng.”

 

So immersed in my role, I even wiped my slightly teary eyes with my sleeve.

 

Now then, I wonder how the male protagonist will appear?

 

“Don’t you know your mother and father’s name…?”

 

“I don’t…hngg.”

 

I looked as if I might burst into tears at any moment, my eyes glistening.

 

Park Dohyul frowned at my flawless act. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and then began looking around.

 

“Her parents must be nearby. First, I’ll check the tiled-roof house we just passed to see if any lost children are there.”

 

“….!”

 

No, you rascal!

 

No wonder he’s called a genius—he’s annoyingly clever, isn’t he!?

 

“W, waaaaiiit!”

 

I grabbed onto the hem of Park Dohyul’s clothes.

 

Then, delivering a Hollywood-level performance, I plopped down onto the dirt floor.

 

Resting my chin on my round little belly, I looked pitifully, my eyes brimming with tears.

 

“I’m… I’m hwungry.”

 

Like a poor little kitten that had wandered from home, I looked up at him and gave my tongue a little push.

 

“You’re hungry?”

 

“Uuuh, so so much… and I’m… huwrt.”

 

Swish—!

 

At the same time, I stretched out my twisted ankle forward. Even at a glance, it was visibly swollen.

 

“!”

 

Seeing my ankle, the boy let out a short, startled breath of “Huh.”

 

Alright! To deliver the final blow, I lowered my eyes as pitifully as possible and muttered.

 

“Mee, I don’ have mother.”

 

“….”

 

“Take me home… I’m soooo hungwy…”

 

Hic… Look, I’m pitiful, right? I’m really pitiful! Don’t you want to quickly take me somewhere and feed me?!

 

“Young Master, this child is really small… but speak so well? How is that possible?”

 

The servant tilted their head, looking at me curiously, when suddenly Park Dohyul spoke.