The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 43

It was a clear warning. 

 

A warning that if I didn’t live quietly, like a dead mouse, he would kill me behind the Chief’s back.

 

Just like Pilsuk tried to deceive the Chief and kill me by pretending it was just a cold. 

 

Swoosh.

 

After finishing his warning, Gaon brushed past me without a shred of hesitation, as if his business was done, and walked away at his leisure. 

 

“Hoo-ha—!”

 

Only then did the strength leave my legs, and I collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

 

‘I really thought I was going to die.’

 

My whole body trembled.

 

I thought I’d be safe inside the mountain stronghold for a while now, but…

 

The terrifying killing intent and warning Gaon had just directed at me…

 

…were by no means empty words.

 

Phew. I hugged my trembling shoulders and tried to calm myself down. 

 

Only after my breathing steadied was I able to quickly summon rational thoughts.

 

‘…Let’s try to analyze what kind of person Kim Gaon is.’

 

This is no longer a place where I can just stay for a while and leave like before.

 

Therefore, I must remain cautious of Gaon and find a way to overcome him. 

 

I lined up in my mind all the information I had seen and heard about him so far.

 

‘Surely, he is someone who has loyalty toward the Chief, isn’t he?’

 

When the Chief climbed the ice wall to save me.

 

I heard that Gaon was the only one who tried to follow him up the ice wall.  

 

Not only that, he was also the one who risked his life and acted as bait to save the Chief. 

 

There was no doubt that Gaon liked and respected the Chief that much. 

 

But on the other hand…

 

“This afternoon, Yongpil took the younger ones out hunting, and I heard that they disturbed a snake’s den. It seems the snake had just awakened from hibernation. I discovered and dealt with it promptly, so please don’t worry.”

 

‘Right. During the snake incident… he even lied to the Chief.’

 

In other words, he is loyal to the Chief and cares for him, but he’s not the type to follow the Chief’s orders blindly.

 

‘Wait a minute… how old is Kim Gaon again…?’

 

While Dupil is in his late twenties, Gaon is barely in his late teens. 

 

In other words, he’s at that teenage stage—full of unpredictable anger and rebellious streaks. 

 

‘Huh? Now that I think about it…’

 

A sudden thought popped into my mind, and I froze.

 

[The surviving bandits’ chief. He looked barely in his twenties, and he shot arrows as skillfully as a divine archer.]

 

‘Yeah… now that I think about it, Gaon was definitely incredible with a bow, wasn’t he?’

 

That day, while I was in the Chief’s arms, I caught a glimpse.

 

Of his incredible skill.

 

So much so that the term “divine archer” perfectly suited him…

 

‘I… think I’m getting a feeling about this?’

 

As the original line from the story flashed through my mind, I furrowed my brows and focused intently.

 

Ten years from now.

 

The male protagonist, Park Dohyul, decides to rebel and begins gathering supporters.

 

In the process, he meets the surviving bandits’ leader—the “new chief”—and asks for their forgiveness. 

 

‘The new chief certainly appeared as the male protagonist’s ally and supporting character.’

 

‘Since the character’s face was covered with a mask, it was hard to guess who they were…’

 

Later, while the two of them were raising their cups…

 

There was a scene where the new chief confided his troubles to Park Dohyul.

 

[‘Actually… I have no right to hate you. Perhaps it wasn’t you who put the chief in danger, but me.’]

 

[‘I revealed the location of the mountain village… to the enemies.’]

 

‘… !’

 

That reckless action eventually led to the chief’s death. 

 

That person was…!

 

‘It was Gaon!’

 

The divine archer. 

 

Loyalty to the leader.

 

And even his young age.

 

Everything fell into place perfectly.

 

“Baby! There you are! I’ve been looking for you for quite a while!”

 

At that moment, Bokhee’s urgent voice came from afar.

 

But I couldn’t even look at her, just bit my lip.

 

‘Now I understand. What I must do.’

 

The first thing I must do to protect the Chief and the bandit group!

 

* * *

 

The next day.

 

The moment I opened my eyes, only one thought filled my mind. 

 

‘I have to make a plan—right away!’

 

The crucial information I realized yesterday.

 

‘I have to find a way to stop Gaon’s betrayal!’

 

‘Alright. First, let’s go out and see what I can use.’

 

I hurriedly got up and began getting ready. I slipped my arms into the fur vest and carefully put on the earmuffs I’d received as a gift.

 

Kiiiek.

 

The sliding door slid open with a soft swish, and Malja peeked her head inside. 

 

“Young Miss, the sun is so nice today—would you like to go for a walk in the backyard?” 

 

Normally, I would have dashed out immediately, but right now, I had urgent business to attend to.

 

“Ah, why? Later then?”

 

“Yes?! What’s wrong?” 

 

I flinched at the sudden darkening of her expression. 

 

Since I’m just a little one, it’s hard to say I have something really important (?) to do… what should I do?

 

‘For now… let’s take a quick walk and come back.’

 

I finally nodded.

 

“Kyaa, I like it!”

 

Just as Malja seemed to be leading me behind the barracks, at some point she suddenly covered my eyes.

 

“Baby, I’ll cover your eyes for a moment.”

 

“Mhm? What’s wrong?”

 

Ah, geez… I need to get going and make my plan quickly…!

 

“Wait a moment. Just a little, just a little… here! Now, look!”

 

Malja quickly removed the hand that had been covering my eyes.

 

And there it was!

 

“Ta-da! How’s it, Young Miss!”

 

“We worked hard on this last night!”

 

Bokhee jumped up beside me and laughed heartily.

 

I glanced over at what they had prepared.

 

A swing and a slide, all kinds of handcrafted, nature-friendly toys, and even a small, circular sandbox set up for building sandcastles.

 

“Wow, wow!”

 

My mouth dropped open. I could feel just how much care had gone into preparing everything.

 

‘Of course, there’s no way an adult like me would actually enjoy a playground…!’

 

Still, the fact that they had put so much thought into this just for me was so touching that it made my chest tighten. 

 

“Thank you, weally.” 

 

The moment I greeted them sincerely, Malja and Bokhee giggled.

 

“Not at all! Now, come on, let’s play quickly together, Young Master!” 

 

“Waaaah! Shall we go ride that one first?!”

 

“Aaack!” 

 

Malja suddenly scooped me up and whisked me over to the slide.

 

“I don’t weally like this… ah!” 

 

“Aah! Kyaaaaak!” 

 

“Fuhahaha! I’m going to go one more time! Just one more timeee!” 

 

“Ah, faster! Harder! Harder!”

 

So, I “had no choice” but to spend playtime like a child with them. 

 

…For quite a while.

 

“Shall we go in now?”

 

I wonder how long I played with them.

 

Before I knew it, the evening had come, and the sun was beginning to set.

 

‘Oh no, there’s not much time left!’

 

I have something I absolutely must do today!

 

I picked up a branch and called out energetically to the two of them.

 

“No! I’ll just stay here and draw. You two can’t watch me.”  

 

Thinking I was going to draw them and show it to them, Bokhee covered her mouth with an excited expression.

 

“Oh my!”

 

“Of course, Baby. We won’t look. Absolutely not. We’ll go over there. Later, make sure you draw it beautifully, really beautifully, and show it to us, okay?”

 

So, they sat a little apart from me, passing the time and chatting as they kept themselves busy.

 

Relieved, I turned my head.

 

‘Okay. Now, shall we try?’ 

 

I scribbled Korean letters on the dirt with a stick.

 

[Operation to Save the Bandits!]

 

Just wait and see!

 

The former detective’s full-scale rescue operation to save the bandit gang begins!