The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 40

‘Chief…?’

 

The Chief’s hands and cheeks were bright red, as if he’d been doing something.

 

“Did I wake you?” 

 

“No.”

 

When I waved my hands to say no, the Chief strode over and pulled a cushion closer before sitting down. 

 

The oil lamp in the room flickered, bathing him in a crimson glow.

 

I tilted my head and asked.

 

“Why… did you come?”

 

“Why? Can’t I come?”

 

“N, no, that’s not it…” 

 

When I looked flustered, the Chief let out a short chuckle and then confessed plainly. 

 

“I just came because I wanted to see your face once before going to sleep.”

 

“Hng…?” 

 

As I stared with my eyes wide, the Chief briskly rubbed his hands together, creating friction. 

 

Whoo, whoo.

 

He blew warm breath onto his hands a few times to heat them, then gently placed them on my stomach and began to pat me softly. 

 

“Go to sleep. Now.”

 

Pat, pat.

 

I always think this, but the Chief’s touch was always excessively gentle.

 

Normally, I would have fallen asleep just like this.

 

But today, for some reason, sleep didn’t come right away, and I found myself wanting to look at his face a little longer.

 

“Haah… everything looks good on you, so it’s hard to decide what you should wear on the day of the feast.” 

 

Over the past two or three days. 

 

I had worn all kinds of outfits, and the Chief had nothing but praise for how I looked. 

 

Of course, I was a little tired.

 

‘That was a first for me.’

 

What I wore, what I ate, what expressions I made, how I wore my hair.

 

There had never been anyone who cared about things like that. 

 

“Can’t you sleep?”

 

It was as if he could tell I was lost in thought, as the Chief asked softly.

 

The hand resting on my stomach paused for a moment, and his serious gaze quietly settled on me. 

 

His voice, deeper and more subdued in the night, was somehow pleasant to listen to. 

 

Maybe that was why. My heart… felt a little more at ease. 

 

“Yes. I’m just a littwe nervos.” 

 

“Is it because of the feast tomorrow?”

 

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded carefully. 

 

“Why?” 

 

The Chief gently stroked my hair again and asked in a soft, soothing voice. 

 

‘Somehow… my heart feels all warm and soft… like it’s melting.’

 

I slowly blinked my eyes and carefully let out the feelings I had been keeping hidden.

 

“It’s… nothing.” 

 

“….”

 

“I can’t shoot a bow well like Uncle Gaon… I’m not strong like the uncles either, I’m small and short… and I’m not helpful at all….”

 

Of course, I know the original story. But in their eyes, I’m probably nothing more than a small child. 

 

How long could they keep doting on a helpless little child who was of no help at all… without expecting anything in return?

 

Especially a child who even carries the secret of being the enemy’s daughter.

 

“What if, later on, I keep being useless, and because of that… everyone ends up hating me…” 

 

“You’re pretty.”

 

“…”

 

“I kept thinking that way. Even while you were wearing those clothes earlier… today, yesterday… and ever since the very first time we met.”

 

At his calmly offered praise, I pressed my lips tightly together.

 

“You know what?”

 

The Chief whispered softly.

 

“There are many things in this world that are beautiful and useless. Flowers, the night sky, the wind, laughter… the time spent with you, who always smiles so harmlessly. Things like that. And yet, those things are actually…” 

 

The Chief gently stroked my hair and whispered. 

 

“They keep us alive.”

 

I couldn’t understand all of what he meant, but…

 

For some reason, my chest tightened and my breath caught in my throat.

 

It was because the look in his eyes as he gazed at me was overwhelmingly gentle. 

 

“No matter how difficult, painful, or miserable life becomes, there is only one reason people endure it: because they want to enjoy those beautiful and useless things a little longer. Even at the very moment they close their eyes at the end of their lives, it is those most useless things that come to mind.” 

 

“…”

 

“And yet, who could ever hate you, and for what reason?” 

 

At the Chief’s words, I bit down hard on my lip. Seeing my face trembling as I struggled to hold back tears, cheeks puffed out, the Chief reached out and lightly flicked the bridge of my nose. 

 

“Abhu!” 

 

“Anyway, stop thinking about useless things.” 

 

He laughed mischievously and spoke as if scolding me. 

 

“Pfft…”

 

Even I, who had been pouting for a moment, couldn’t hold it in and ended up laughing along.

 

“And why would you be nothing at all?” 

 

“Mhm?” 

 

“I intend to give you a name tomorrow.”

 

“…!”

 

The Chief whispered, as if hinting at a very amusing story. 

 

I opened my eyes wide and placed my hand over my chest. 

 

“Na…me…?”

 

So, I’m going to have a name then?

 

It felt strange.

 

Until then, I had felt like a meaningless existence that belonged nowhere. 

 

But just hearing that I would have a name…

 

It felt as though my existence itself was finally being given meaning.

 

“They say that everything under the heavens that has been given a name carries meaning. So don’t worry anymore.” 

 

When I gave a small nod, the Chief’s eyes softened, as if relieved. 

 

“Go to sleep. I’ll be by your side.”

 

He reached out again and began gently patting my stomach. I quietly closed my eyes.

 

My heart, which had felt heavy all along, suddenly felt light—as if it had all been a lie. 

 

* * *

 

Whoosh—.

 

The night wind blew, and white snowflakes danced across the black void as if swept up in a whirlwind.

 

The intense silence that descends in the mountains at night.

 

In that stillness, a man—Kim Gaon—was struggling to move forward, pulling a cart.

 

On the cart lay the bodies of two bandits, which he had delayed handling for fear their tails might be stepped on, but had finally managed to collect. 

 

Gaon laid them at the very back of the mountain stronghold and reached out to close their open eyes.

 

Finally, he draped a white cloth over them.

 

Tomorrow morning, he would have to report to the Chief that he had found their bodies. 

 

“Commander!” 

 

“How are you so good at archery? Please teach me!”

 

Their living voices rang in his ears.

 

His chest tightened unbearably, and Gaon clenched his fists tightly.

 

“I will reclaim my place.”

 

Although there were sacrifices… in the end, it was certainly meaningful.

 

This incident became the very reason that finally pushed the Chief to make a decision he had long been putting off.

 

‘I don’t like the fact that the Chief made such a difficult decision because of that child.’

 

Now, they would be able to formally organize the rebel forces and stand against the current king and the Park clan of Anseong.

 

And if they win… 

 

There will certainly be sacrifices, but those sacrifices will never be in vain.

 

Perhaps, then, this sacrifice is also a part of that path.

 

But even knowing all of this…

 

“Haa.”

 

Gaon stared silently at the dirt and snow on his hands, and let out a small sigh. 

 

In the air, his white breath broke apart and scattered into nothingness.

 

He then quietly turned away.

 

The place his steps led him to was the child’s barrack. 

 

Standing at the back of the barrack, Gaon took a moment to look around. 

 

A playground for children.

 

A carefully built tent just for the baby.

 

Everything was provided to an almost excessive degree; nothing was lacking. 

 

Thud-

 

Gaon pressed forward, treading through the white snow as if crushing it beneath his feet. 

 

He then hesitated at the door, caused by the voices coming from inside.

 

“Who could possibly hate you, and for what reason?”

 

The Chief’s voice, sweet as a whisper. At that moment, Gaon froze in place.

 

“I intend to give you a name tomorrow.”

 

At the Chief’s next words, Gaon held his breath tightly. 

 

‘As expected… he’s giving more affection than necessary.’

 

Saving a child in danger… that might be acceptable. 

 

The Chief he served was always that kind of person, after all. 

 

But by giving even more of his heart and drawing her close, that child…

 

“….”

 

Whoosh—!

 

In the darkness, Gaon slowly clenched his dirt-stained fist. 

 

His gaze shone colder than ever.