The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 34

A brief silence passed.

 

I couldn’t say a word and simply stared at the man before me.

 

My heart was pounding so hard that even though the room was quiet, it felt as if the whole world had become loud.

 

“…It’s been a while.”

 

A hoarse voice broke the silence.

 

“Hiccup!”

 

With my mouth covered, I breathed rapidly, my shoulders trembling.

 

“Do you remember me?”

 

The question didn’t require an answer.

 

Swoosh—!

 

I threw my arms wide open and leaped into his arms.

 

I felt the chief’s chest stiffen for a moment, as if startled.

 

“…Ha.”

 

But soon, as if answering me, the chief tightly shut his eyes and pulled my small body into a firm embrace.

 

“You came hewe.”

 

The one sentence that finally came to mind reached his ear.

 

“I’m sorry…I took so long.” 

 

The chief whispered softly

 

As he gently patted my back with the same warm touch as always.

 

* * * 

 

The chief then began preparing to take me away.

 

He checked carefully for any injuries, then wrapped me snugly in the black cloth he had brought so I wouldn’t be noticed.

 

Watching the chief move like a lone leopard, I blinked in awe.

 

‘By the way, the chief’s outfit… it looks just like the warrior who brought me here?’

 

It seemed he had disguised himself as a soldier, obtained the key, and sneaked in secretly.

 

No doubt… he must have gone through many hardships sneaking all the way in here.

 

‘Still, the chief really is amazing. Just seeing the Inyeon cloth I left behind and coming straight to save me.’

 

I still felt dazed, and this situation seemed somewhat unreal.

 

“Eup?!”

 

Gasp—!

 

At that moment, the chief suddenly began wrapping me up tightly in the blanket.

 

He made eye contact with me, only my face peeking out, and whispered softly.

 

“From now on, we’re getting out of here. If we go together, we’ll be noticed, so we’ll disguise ourselves with the bedding. Curl up as much as you can.” 

 

Nod!

 

“It’ll be hard to completely avoid the servants’ eyes. We might have to run from the middle of the way, so when that happens, hold on to me even tighter.”

 

Nod, nod, nod—! 

 

When I nodded vigorously as if to say I understood, the chief chuckled softly and patted my head once.

 

He lifted me, wrapped in the blanket, into his arms and turned toward the door.

 

And just then—

 

Drrrk—.

 

At an unexpected moment, the sliding door suddenly opened to the side.

 

The chief quickly dodged to the side, raising his sword high above his head.

 

“!”

 

But soon, seeing the seven-year-old boy in his sight, the chief stopped the sword he was about to strike down.

 

‘Park Dohyul?!!’

 

It was dark, but I could see he was frozen in shock, trembling slightly.

 

Thud!

 

The medicine in the boy’s hand fell to the floor.

 

I only then realized he had stopped by to examine the wound on my ankle.

 

“You didn’t see anything. Do you understand?” 

 

The chief looked intently at Park Dohyul and spoke each word clearly, one by one. 

 

Park Dohyul, who had been staring blankly for a moment, turned his gaze toward me. 

 

Seeing me buried in the blanket, blinking only my eyes, Park Dohyul pressed his lips tightly together.

 

“Go.”

 

The chief let out a faint sigh and tried to pass by Park Dohyul, who was trembling and unable to speak.

 

But then…

 

“You came to save that child?”

 

“…”

 

Ssshk.

 

The chief’s cold gaze fell on Park Dohyul’s hand, which was desperately clutching his sleeve.

 

In the darkness, Park Dohyul’s clear eyes shone clearly.

 

“That must be it. Otherwise, there’s no way that child would stay so still.”

 

“Let go.”

 

“I’ll help you.”

 

“…!”

 

“I know exactly where the servants are. If you just follow me, you can get out safely.”

 

At Park Dohyul’s words, the chief narrowed his eyes slightly.

 

From his furrowed, fierce brows, a trace of anxiety and slight hesitation showed.

 

‘Wh, what is going on here?’

 

Startled, I tensed my chin tightly while still wrapped up like a kimbap in the blanket.

 

‘That Park Dohyul… found the courage.’

 

It was quite shocking to me, who had asked Park Dohyul for help but wasn’t sure he would actually act.

 

‘So… did I change the original story?’

 

Maybe I haven’t completely overturned it yet. But at least, I was certain that my actions had begun to bring changes to the original story.

 

So without hesitation, I lifted my head, stared intently at the chief, and spoke.

 

“You can twust him.”

 

At that moment, the chief’s pupils dilated slightly.

 

He seemed a little surprised when he realized I was able to speak, even if clumsily.

 

And soon, his eyes narrowed slightly.

 

“Do you know the Prime Minister’s son?”

 

“Mhm. He hep me. Aw the time. I got hurt, and he also tweat me.”

 

“…”

 

The chief’s gaze fell on my ankle, peeking out from the blanket.

 

An ankle wrapped in cloth.

 

And even the medicinal herbs Park Dohyul had brought, lying on the floor.

 

“He’s a guud person.”

 

Park Dohyul, unsure of what to do at my words, breathed out somewhat irregularly.

 

With his fists tightly clenched, pretending to be strong, the corners of his eyes had somehow turned reddish again.

 

“Lead the way.”

 

It was just the judgment of a little child.

 

He could have ignored it, thinking it was nothing, but the chief, as if he completely trusted my words, immediately accepted Park Dohyul’s suggestion.

 

Park Dohyul nodded, his expression firmer.

 

“Follow me.”

 

* * *

 

Fortunately, Park Dohyul did not betray my trust.

 

Leading the way, he guided us through places where no one else went, impressively skillful.

 

Of course, there were a few close calls along the way, but each time, the chief noticed first, hid us, and moved cautiously.

 

And then there was another time.

 

“Young Master? What are you doing at this late hour?”

 

“I was just taking a walk. I have an escort with me, so don’t worry and go in.”

 

Park Dohyul displayed his wit and naturally handled the situation. 

 

Thus, avoiding people’s eyes, we safely reached the side with the low wall.

 

“You can go out this way. If you turn left and head to the foot of the mountain, you should be able to get out without being seen.”

 

Park Dohyul calmly guided us, taking in both me and the chief with his careful gaze.

 

With a look of solemn determination, he spoke his final words.

 

“Please, be safe.”

 

The chief silently looked at Park Dohyul and quietly nodded once

 

“…I will definitely repay you for this.”

 

The chief, about to climb over the wall, suddenly hesitated.

 

After hesitating for a moment, he finally turned his head and looked at Park Dohyul once more.

 

“By the way, you’ve been limping quite badly… are you alright?”

 

Park Dohyul, where did you get hurt?! 

 

I was completely unaware because my view was limited, being buried under the blanket!

 

“H, hurt? Where…”  

 

Flustered, I peeked my head out and whispered in a small voice, and Park Dohyul chuckled.

 

“It’s okay. This much is nothing.”

 

He hid it by pulling his legs back.

 

And in a gentle voice, he continued, as if teasing me.

 

“You don’t have to worry about the kid.”

 

How dare you joke in this situation…!

 

“Blood.” 

 

When I pouted in anger, Park Dohyul met my gaze.

 

“Let’s eat strawberries together again next time.”

 

“Mhmm.” 

 

“See you later, Strawberry Baby. I’ll be waiting.”

 

Dohyul’s playful words touched my heart.

 

Nod. I nodded, and he smiled with satisfaction.

 

The Chief, seeming a bit concerned, glanced at the boy once more, then quickly steeled his resolve and placed his hand on the wall. Just as he bent his knees, ready to leap up. 

 

Shot—!

 

“Keugh!”

 

An arrow flew from somewhere and lodged itself in the Chief’s back.

 

It happened in an instant.

 

It happened the moment he tried to embrace me with both hands, so I didn’t even have time to stop it.

 

Seeing the Chief’s back drenched in blood made my whole body tremble.

 

“N, no…” 

 

“Catch him!!!”

 

The shouts of those pursuing drowned out my words. The Chief quickly and firmly held me in his arms.

 

“That’s him! He’s disguised as the lord’s personal guard!”

 

 “Shoot!”

 

It seemed Park Jutaek had brought his soldiers.

 

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!

 

The arrows continued to pour in without a break.

 

However, even while injured, the Chief drew his sword and deflected the incoming arrows with unwavering precision.

 

The Chief held me even closer and leaped outside.

 

Then, like a leopard, he began to run swiftly.