The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 45

Gaon glanced at the basket I held out with a nonchalant expression.

 

“What’s this?”

 

I opened the lid of the basket, revealing the delicious treats I had carefully packed.

 

Even so, Gaon just nodded indifferently and said bluntly,

 

“So, it’s food.”

 

“Mhm! I bwought a ton of dewicious stuff! And also—work…!” 

 

“Put it away.”

 

“…?!”

 

I was startled and looked up at Gaon, clutching the basket tightly.

 

He let out a deep sigh and bent down to meet my eye level, but then shook his hand.

 

“Instead of fussing over someone else.”

 

He frowned and looked down at me.

 

“Just eat as much as you want, shorty.”

 

“Whaaaat?!”

 

In that instant, a little flame of anger flared up inside me.

 

Who does he think he’s calling short?!

 

Even if I’m a baby, I’ve got my own pride!

 

“You know they even check height during our entrance exam, right?”

 

Gaon shrugged and continued indifferently,

 

“Looking at you, you’re the smallest here. If you don’t meet the standard, we might make you leave then, you know?”

 

“Wha—?”

 

Really?

 

I don’t remember hearing anything like that.

 

He openly glanced over the top of my head.

 

“At this small, I don’t think just eating will cut it… Ah, right. Hey, by the way, earlier in the sparring—”

 

He seemed to give up on saying something and shook his head.

 

Then, without another word, he strode off toward the training grounds and disappeared.

 

“Ugh!!!!’ 

 

Left behind, I could only fume in frustration as I glared at the direction Gaon had vanished. 

 

No, no! That guy, seriously! 

 

Why is he bouncing around like that? And why is he messing with my height?! 

 

“Y…Young Miss… are you okay?” 

 

Malja approached cautiously and asked, but I couldn’t hear a word she was saying.

 

Trembling with humiliation, I clenched my teeth and muttered, 

 

“I’ll n-never… g-give… up….”

 

At this point, I started to get stubborn.

 

With my eyes blazing, I shouted,

 

“Just yooou waaaait!”

 

I swear, I will absolutely bring that ill‑mannered jerk to his knees!

 

* * *

 

And so, the final “be‑nice” plan that came to mind was…!

 

“Since when has our Uncle Gaonie been dhis pwetty~?”

 

The so‑called “Praise Makes Even Whales Dance”—the master plan!

 

I sat between the Chief and Gaon, staring intently at Gaon alone.

 

He was currently inside the barrack, going over documents with the Chief, but…

 

“Give me a break. I’ve been like this since I was born. What else would it be?”

 

He replied nonchalantly, arms crossed.

 

But none of that mattered to me. My eyes sparkled even more as I began showering him with praise from the bottom of my heart.

 

“Right? Our Uncle Gaonie’s skin is super white~ and your eye color’s all shiny like a gem. Ah~ you’re sooo pretty!” 

 

Saying it out loud like this is actually starting to feel a little sincere?

 

Honestly, he was a delinquent teen whose every move was endlessly annoying.

 

But maybe because of his mixed heritage, his appearance was so strikingly beautiful that it was mesmerizing every time I looked at him.

 

As Gaon listened indifferently to my words, the Chief—quietly scribbling notes beside us—suddenly asked,

 

“Do you like Gaon that much?”

 

That question snapped me back to my senses in an instant.

 

‘This is my chance! A perfect opportunity to express myself and… charm Gaon!’

 

“Yeees! I loooove him sooo much!”

 

Flinch. I noticed the Chief’s arm and shoulder trembling slightly, but I was too focused on Gaon to care much.

 

And then, Gaon’s expression twisted slightly, looking somewhat displeased.

 

‘Huh? Why? He looks upset again…?’

 

No, this won’t do—I need to give even more praise!

 

“Uncle Gaoni shoots arrows super well! Strong too! Ah! And you run really fast! And… your voice is also really nice.”

 

As my endless barrage of compliments continued, I thought I saw Gaon’s eyelashes flutter in front of me.

 

“What about me?”

 

An unexpected question came from beside me. I widened my eyes and turned to the right.

 

And only then did I realize that something had gone wrong. 

 

It was because the Chief looked extremely displeased.

 

“Th‑that’s not it… I was just saying that Uncle Gaonie is pretty…”

 

“I guess… I’m not pretty, then.”

 

“You are pretty.”

 

Gaon smiled lightly and, without hesitation, casually spat out that ridiculous lie toward the Chief.

 

At that, the Chief ran a hand over his chin as if stroking it thoughtfully.

 

“Lately, staying up late for work has made my face a bit rough… Next time I go down to the village, maybe I should bring something to put on my face…”

 

“You’re already beautiful, amazing, and impressive enough.”

 

‘What… is this conversation? This isn’t what I meant…?’

 

I tried to say something more, but stopped myself.

 

Somehow, the Chief looked far too downcast.

 

A long, deep sigh escaped his lips.

 

“Seolyeong-ah…”

 

The Chief put down the brush he had been holding.

 

“I heard that this morning you packed some food and went to give it to Gaon.”

 

Startled.

 

“The precious things I… personally picked and brought for you to eat.”

 

I was completely shocked that the Chief knew about what I did this morning.

 

‘Wow… there really are no secrets!’

 

After all, nothing that happens in the mountain base escapes the Chief’s ears.

 

Moreover, he was someone who received thorough reports on everything related to me. 

 

‘What the…? The Chief comes first!’

 

I hurriedly tried to fix things.

 

Without another second’s hesitation, I jumped up and snuggled straight into the Chief’s arms.

 

“No! No! Th‑those were all things I ate!! I swear!”

 

I explained desperately, trying to make him believe me.

 

“And actually, I don’t really like Uncle Gaoni! Seeing him again, he’s… ugly! Dummy butt! Big head, silly! Ant‑butt!” 

 

And I blurted out all sorts of words I thought might cheer the Chief up.

 

‘Ugh, I have no idea what I’m even saying!’

 

Feeling like my eyes were spinning, I squeezed them shut tight.

 

Then I heard the Chief chuckle softly.

 

“Haha, alright. I get it. That’s enough. It’s fine. Yeah, yeah.”

 

Pat, pat.

 

He awkwardly patted my back, then burst into a big laugh again.

 

‘Phew, that was close.’

 

I was trying to win Gaon’s favor to protect the Chief… and almost ended up upsetting him instead!

 

‘Uh-oh… then what about Gaon…?’

 

I glanced at Gaon, my heart pounding with nervousness.

 

And, sneaking a look past the Chief, I met his gaze—sharp and full of killing intent—looking straight down at me.

 

I felt sweat break out all over my body.

 

‘This… I don’t think it’s going to be easy getting close to him?’

 

I shut my mouth tight and rolled my eyes nervously.

 

* * *

 

Having barely succeeded in calming the Chief, I returned to my own tent… and started thinking about my next move.

 

‘I have to somehow win Gaon over!’

 

I had no intention of giving up.

 

Then—

 

Kieeeek. The sliding door opened, and Gaon appeared. 

 

Startled, I spun around.

 

“Haah… haah…”

 

Gaon seemed to be catching his breath, probably having come straight from the meeting with the Chief.

 

He called me over with a slightly tilted posture.

 

“What are you doing?”

 

“What?” 

 

I sprang up quickly, asking cautiously, and Gaon stepped closer to me in long strides.

 

“You’re asking me that because you don’t know?”

 

“Mhm.” 

 

At my nonchalant answer, Gaon clicked his tongue in disbelief and said,

 

“You… you’re deliberately being nice to me.”

 

Oh, finally, he noticed!

 

I clasped my hands together, my eyes sparkling, and looked up at Gaon.

 

“That’s wight!”

 

But my enthusiasm seemed to overwhelm him—Gaon suddenly leaned back, putting some distance between us.

 

Even as he raised his eyebrows in obvious disgust, I didn’t back down.

 

“How? Since I’ve been nice to you, you don’t hate me anymore, right?”

 

“Huh? Were you hoping I’d like you or something? In front of the Chief? Acting like that?”

 

W‑was it really that bad?

 

“Hng… th‑that’s…”

 

“You should stop. You’re just going to make me dislike you even more.”

 

Gaon shook his head firmly as he spoke.

 

The expression on his face said he disliked even thinking about it, and it didn’t exactly make me feel good either.

 

‘Seriously, that jerk…’

 

With a bitter smile, I summoned all my patience. Fine. If he hated the way I was being nice to him, then I could just ask what he actually liked, right?! 

 

“So, what do I have to do so you don’t hate me?”

 

“Hah, I’d hate you no matter what you do…!”

 

Gaon froze for a moment at the sight of my wide, pleading eyes.

 

But it was only for an instant. He let out an exasperated sigh and was about to walk away.

 

“I don’t hate you, though.” 

 

“…”

 

At that moment, I murmured softly.

 

Gaon stopped in his tracks.

 

He seemed to roll his eyes slightly, then replied dryly, as if he couldn’t care less about what I’d said.

 

“…Just hate me too. That way, it’ll be easier for both of us.”

 

“That’s not twue.”

 

“Why?” 

 

“Because I like Dad.”

 

Gaon frowned instantly.

 

“You’re doing this on purpose to get on my nerves, aren’t you?”

 

“It’s not wike that.” 

 

I shook my head seriously.

 

“You… you’re da one who saved my Dad’s life lotsa times. And you save me too.” 

 

Gaon stopped right where he was.