The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 48

“…You?”

 

Breaking the silence, Gaon muttered shortly.

 

Then he casually glanced up and down at my small frame.

 

Ugh!

 

In a surge of unfairness, I clenched my fists tight and stood tall on my tiptoes. I began flailing my arms wildly and let out a scream.

 

“Again, again! Y-you’re saying I’m small again!” 

 

“You are small, though.” 

 

“I still have plenty of growing left! I might end up way taller than you, Gaon!”

 

“…Go ahead. Try me.”

 

Gaon let out a soft chuckle.

 

The curve of his fine eyes twisted just slightly, a hint of mischief flickering across his expression.

 

“Just you wait! I’m gonna get super, super, super stwong soon! Reawwy strong!”

 

I pounded my chest with my fists, as if to say, just trust me.

 

“I’ll protect—everything. I will.”

 

Then I smiled brightly once more.

 

“This place is my home… and you’re my family, Uncle! I’ll protect both my home and my family!”

 

‘Kim Gaon.’

 

I know what kind of person you are. Even though you tried to kill me at first……

 

‘You’ve already saved my life several times.’

 

And even in the original story, falling into that trap was part of a choice you made to protect the Chief. 

 

Lastly, because you’re someone who reflects in the end and risks your life to fight for what’s right.

 

That’s why, truly, I don’t dislike you.

 

“So don’t worry, and come back safely. I’ll stay here, guarding this place, and wait for you.”

 

It was the one thing I absolutely wanted to say.

 

“That’s evewything I wanted to say! I’m going now!”

 

Just as I was about to turn around, rubbing my stiff, frozen hands—

 

Whoosh—!

 

I felt my body suddenly lift into the air, and a rough hand caught me by the back of the neck.

 

I turned around with my eyes wide, and Gaon muttered gruffly,

 

“What about your shoes? Do you want to get frostbite?”

 

“No, I…” 

 

“That’s enough. And from now on, don’t wander around by yourself. Someone like you is just a bite-sized snack for wild animals.”

 

“Then… you’ll take me back?”

 

“I have to. If you die, I won’t have anything to say to the Chief.”

 

“Hehe. Thank you.” 

 

When I grinned at him, Gaon let out a small, wry smile as well. 

 

Then, noticing how I was shivering from the cold, he pulled me more tightly into his arms.

 

“Don’t smile. You’re ugly.”

 

“You’re pretty, Uncle. Hehehe.”

 

“…If only you couldn’t talk.”

 

Step, step.

 

Like that, Gaon walked through the snow-covered path, carrying me back to my barrack. 

 

Thud.

 

When we reached the front of the barrack, Gaon put me down.

 

Then he stood there quietly with his arms crossed, as if making sure I went inside properly.

 

“I’m going in now! Really, bye-bye!”

 

Gaon didn’t respond. But at that moment—

 

“…I’ll be back safely.”

 

A small, quiet voice drifted through the air, almost carried away by the wind.

 

Tap-tap-tap—!

 

By the time I turned my head, Gaon was already running far away, disappearing into the snowstorm.

 

* * *

 

The next day, Gaon left.

 

They said he had left quietly at dawn, without making any commotion.

 

He’d only given brief farewells to the Chief, Dupil, and a few of the bandits.

 

And as for me—

 

Tuk.

 

In the dead of night, when everyone was asleep, I secretly came to the cemetery located behind the stronghold.

 

It wasn’t that there was anything in particular I had to do. Just—

 

“I’ll protect this place and wait here.”

 

Last night, I had made a bold promise to Gaon.

 

And I also wanted to share my resolve with those who had protected me and made it possible for me to be here now.

 

I lowered my head as I looked at the dried flowers placed in front of the grave. 

 

“Hewwo. I’m Seolyeong.”  

 

I had come here once before, quietly. 

 

Back then, I had left some flowers and pulled out as many weeds as I could before heading back.

 

And that was when I realized it.

 

That this place held far more graves than just those of the people who had saved me and left.

 

‘So many people really lost their lives to protect this place.’

 

It struck me all over again—

 

The reason why the bandit group had managed to survive until now. 

 

And how many sacrifices had been made along the way.

 

The Chief was doing everything he could to ensure that their deaths would not be in vain, protecting both the people and the bandits.

 

So then, I would too.

 

“Thank you. For protecting me.”

 

I wanted to protect what the Chief was trying to protect.

 

And I wanted to help him in what he was trying to accomplish.

 

Just like I’d told Gaon—

 

The people here… they’re the first ‘family’ I’ve ever had. 

 

I lifted my head sharply, my eyes shining with resolve.

 

“I won’t let your protection be in vain… I’ll protect them too, no matter what.” 

 

After hearing that Gaon had left, I fell into deep thought.

 

My plan to win him over would have to be put on hold for now, but there was something else I needed to focus on right away. 

 

The Prime Minister. 

 

In the end, the one that the Chief and I would have to stand against was him.

 

Just recalling his terrifying presence made my heart freeze and my whole body tremble. 

 

I squeezed my eyes shut—and then opened them again. 

 

“Just you wait! I’m going to get reaaally, reaaally strong soon!”

 

I was sure of it.

 

I couldn’t afford to remain a child anymore.

 

The Chief had decided to form a rebel force, and eventually, he would have to confront the Prime Minister. 

 

By the time that happened, I had to become strong—no matter what. 

 

‘But how…?’

 

Suddenly, a conversation I’d once had with the Chief came back to me.

 

After he had given me my name, I had casually tested the waters and said—

 

“I wanna be good with a sword too, like Dad.”

 

“I wanna get strong like the uncles too!”

 

I had said it as if it were nothing, but I meant it sincerely.

 

If I was going to keep living in the mountains from now on, I needed to be strong enough to at least protect myself.

 

The problem was that the moment the Chief heard my words, his face went completely pale.

 

“Absolutely not. Never. I will raise you without letting a single drop of blood touch your hands.”

 

“Don’t even dream of it! Just because you’re growing up in the mountains doesn’t mean I intend to raise you roughly. I will make sure you are brought up as dearly and delicately as any noble young lady.”

 

“If anyone dares to put a weapon in your hands, I will personally punish them. Do you understand?! All of you, listen carefully. Never allow Seolyeong to come near weapons. Understood!” 

 

The Chief… opposed it fiercely. 

 

He was so adamant that I felt certain I could never break his stubbornness—even though he was a Chief who had always been soft, and only for me. 

 

‘What should I do? I need to regain at least as much skill as I had in my previous life.’ 

 

I racked my brain desperately. Unlike everyone else, I had knowledge from my previous life.

 

And in that past life, the thing I was good at was—

 

“Ah…!”

 

A sudden idea flashed through my mind, and I quickly looked around me. 

 

And just then, I picked up a fallen branch from the ground.

 

A branch with just the right thickness and sturdiness.

 

Gripping it carefully, I made a silent vow to myself.

 

‘Alright. Let’s give it a try!’

 

I tucked the branch safely into my arms and sprang to my feet with determination!

 

* * *

 

After that, I was extremely busy for several days.

 

First, I secretly went to the plaza and carefully picked up a rusty dagger I had spotted earlier, lying discarded on the ground.

 

The main square often hosted feasts or crafting work, so if you looked around carefully, you could sometimes score a real jackpot!

 

Ssshk, sshk, sshk…

 

Back in the barrack, I squatted down and, whenever I had a spare moment, secretly shaved and smoothed the bark little by little.

 

Once the rough shape had taken form, I found a leather strap and tied it tightly to fasten everything together.

  

“It’s finished!”