The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 37

I was reflected in the Chief’s dark, deep eyes—a pitiful sight with tears welling up. 

 

Even so, the Chief’s gaze was endlessly gentle, as if telling me that even someone like me was alright.

 

Nod, nod, nod.

 

Unable to answer aloud, I managed to nod my head several times.

 

“Heuph!”

 

Plop, plop-plop.

 

I tried to hold back, but embarrassingly, tears trickled down.

 

“You’ve become such a crybaby since I last saw you.”

 

The Chief gave a faint smile at my response and then lifted me up effortlessly.

 

Waaaah! The small cheers of the bandits reached my ears. 

 

Cradled in the Chief’s arms, I made a firm vow.

 

‘Absolutely… I won’t let him die.’

 

It can’t yet be said that the course of the original story has completely changed.

 

The Prime Minister I saw with my own eyes would clearly stop at nothing to capture the Chief.

 

Therefore.

 

‘I’ll protect this bandit group—no matter what!’

 

From now on, I’m a bandit’s child!

 

Even if only to survive.

 

I will save the Chief and the bandit group—no matter what! 

 

* * *

 

Not long after the Chief decided to raise the baby within the bandit group, a meeting was held with Dupil and Gaon present.

 

Sitting around a large rock, Dupil and Gaon wore expressions of endless heaviness.

 

“Two people have died as a result of this incident.”

 

The first to speak was Dupil. He tried to keep his emotions in check, but an indescribable sorrow filled his eyes. 

 

“I haven’t gone to retrieve the bodies, fearing that we might be followed.”

 

“…Say what you want to say.”

 

“That child.”

 

At the Chief’s words, it was Gaon who spoke this time.

 

Gaon, with a pale expression, perched like a cat on the edge of a table in the corner.

 

Even though he had volunteered for the most dangerous task as a decoy, true to his innate skill, he had not suffered a single injury. 

 

“Was that child truly more valuable than the lives of those who sought to protect the Chief?”

 

Flash—Gaon lifted his head. 

 

A fleeting trace of resentment passed through his eyes. 

 

“It was reckless. Not only those who were sacrificed… but because of that baby, the Chief nearly lost his life as well. Twice, no less.”

 

“…”

 

“Why do you risk yourself recklessly to save that child? The Chief is a precious person. You haven’t done anything so reckless until now, have you? Have you forgotten everything you’ve done so far?” 

 

Gaon’s anger flared, as if frustrated.

 

“You’ve worked hard to build the mountain hideout without being seen by the Prime Minister… to aid the people. So why are you doing this now?!” 

 

Dupil, unable to hold back any longer, added in a firm voice. 

 

“Moreover, now that you’ve officially accepted the child as family, if the baby’s true identity ever becomes known… the bandits will surely rebel. If division breaks out within, it will be difficult to contain.” 

 

“That’s right. If the child stays here, they can only grow up as a fugitive. Sending them away is the right thing to do—wasn’t that exactly what the Chief himself said?” 

 

“….”

 

“I don’t know exactly why the Prime Minister kidnapped this child… but it’s possible that rumors spread in the villages because the bandits were seen with the child.”

 

The child who was carried around by the bandits.

 

If that fact were to spread, and the baby truly endured such humiliation. 

 

It was certain that the child would continue to be pursued from now on.

 

So…

 

“This baby has become endangered because of us, and it could continue to be so in the future!”

 

Amid the ongoing objections, the Chief, who had been silently listening, quietly opened his eyes.

 

And he spoke softly.

 

“Have you said everything?”

 

The Chief’s voice, lowered even further, carried an unsettling sense of tension.

 

For a moment, the two of them fell silent, unable to respond.

 

In the silent room, the Chief looked at Dupil and Gaon one after the other. 

 

Then, in a heavy tone, he got straight to the point.

 

“Then today, I will tell you why I’ve called you here.”

 

At the Chief’s added words, Gaon paused.

 

He sensed that something was different from usual. The Chief continued in a calm voice, entirely unlike before.

 

“I will send secret letters to our supporters in each region.”

 

“?!”

 

Clank—Gaon leapt down from the table.

 

“With their help, I shall gather the military forces around the borders. That task alone may take several years, as it requires strictly screening and selecting only those who are truly trustworthy.”

 

Swoosh.

 

Dupil and Gaon stared at each other.

 

As is natural when receiving such astonishing news, both of their faces had turned pale.

 

Dupil barely managed to move his trembling lips first.

 

“Th, that means….” 

 

“Yeah.” 

 

The Chief responded.

 

With a sharp gaze, he stared clearly at his subordinates and declared.

 

“I will reclaim my position.”

 

“….!”

 

“….!”

 

Gaon and Dupil’s breathing grew heavy. It was what they had long yearned for all these years.

 

To overthrow this very country. 

 

For the chief—who was meant to become king in the first place—to reclaim his rightful place.

 

However, the chief had postponed making that decision for a long time.

 

He had reasons to hesitate.

 

First, it had been less than a few years since the war had ended.

 

On top of the fact that the wounds of war had not yet fully healed, he believed he could not turn the land of the Great Ho Kingdom into a wasteland once again and cause the people to die all over again. 

 

Second, the current king was his half‑brother, whom he had cherished during his childhood.

 

He was naturally a compassionate person. Out of familial affection, he was reluctant to kill him.

 

“His Majesty… would not have wanted this.” 

 

“He’s merely being manipulated by the Prime Minister.” 

 

“However, if we can just stop the Prime Minister… His Majesty will surely change as well.” 

 

The Chief truly believed so.

 

The only Park clan of Anseong in the Great Ho Kingdom.

 

So even from outside, he tried in his own way to bring prosperity to the people,

 

and hoped that one day his younger brother would realize that he must not oppress the people.

 

But now, he knew.

 

He can’t wait any longer. 

 

“I promised to protect you. So I will gain the strength to keep that promise. I will fight so that you won’t have to live as a fugitive.”

 

“….”

 

“I will fight prepared to die. And by doing so, I will live. I will make others live as well—myself, all of you here, everyone in this place, and even that child.”

 

The Chief’s eyes suddenly shifted to the tent beside him. Inside, the baby was sleeping, breathing softly in peaceful slumber.  

 

Thinking of her, the Chief’s eyes softened for a brief moment. 

 

“So that we no longer have to live as fugitives. So that there will be no more people who starve or are oppressed—I want to create such a world. And when that day comes, I hope we can all say it: that we lived without shame, that we fought without shame.”

 

“….”

 

“Not turning away from that baby was the beginning of it. I will create a different future—for that child, and for all of you. So listen.”

 

The Chief turned to both of them and spoke his final words.

 

“Please lend me your strength.”

 

Dupil and Gaon briefly remained silent.

 

But their hesitation didn’t last long.

 

Without a word, both men sprang to their feet at the same time.

 

“I will… obey your orders.”

 

The two men knelt and swore their loyalty.

 

It was a vow to serve the new king.