The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 49

I lifted the finished product high into the air.

 

‘It’s crude, but… it should work well enough.’

 

It was a ‘slingshot’. 

 

As I carefully fiddled with the rubber band of the slingshot, a memory surfaced in my mind. 

 

“First place again. This year too.”

 

“This isn’t something you learned—it’s talent. Your instincts are on a whole different level from ordinary people.”

 

How I came to be called the best detective, capable of catching even the most elusive criminals.

 

It was because of my innate shooting skill.

 

And perhaps…

 

‘A slingshot works on a similar principle. If I practice, I might be able to get just as good at it as I was with a gun.’

 

It felt like I had finally found the answer.

 

‘In any case, what’s going to happen won’t be for another five or six years.’

 

No matter how hard I trained from now on, I wouldn’t be able to become strong enough to stop the Prime Minister’s soldiers.

 

In that case…

 

‘It would be better to master a skill that’s uniquely my own.’

 

After deciding that, the thing I settled on was a slingshot!

 

Now that I have a weapon, it’s time to start practicing, right?

 

“Hehe!”

 

* * *

 

The next morning.

 

The next morning, I once again slipped out to the cemetery, avoiding Malja and Bokhee’s eyes. I picked up a suitably sized stone and took aim.

 

My young body still lacked strength and my arm felt sore, but I gritted my teeth and tried not to tremble.

 

‘Stay calm.’

 

With that, I pulled the leather strap.

 

Whoosh—!

 

The stone flew through the air and struck the target—a wooden post—with a light tap.

 

‘Good! Let’s try hitting something else this time.’

 

 I crouched down and picked a new target. Through the dry grass I spotted a little twig. 

 

‘There!’

 

Whoosh—!

 

I loaded another stone, pulled the strap taut, and let it fly.

 

Tuk—!

 

“I did it!”

 

I clenched my fist and savored the rush of joy.

 

‘Maybe I should raise the difficulty and try hitting a leaf on the tree!’

 

Filled with confidence, I boldly lifted the slingshot over my head.

 

There was a bit of distance, but I thought I could still do it.

 

‘Aim… and fire!’

 

Whoosh—!

 

This time I aimed at a leaf farther away and launched the stone.

 

Thud—!

 

“Ugh?!”

 

Booom!

 

I sank down with a thud, despair washing over me.

 

I’d been sure I could hit it… but this time, I missed.

 

Frowning deeply in frustration, I let out a long sigh.

 

‘It can’t be helped. I’m just not strong enough.’

 

I looked down at my hands, which were trembling slightly. I’d only fired three shots, yet my arms and shoulders already ached all over.

 

Still, despite that, I felt like I was starting to understand something.

 

‘If I keep at it just a little longer, I’ll definitely be able to improve. Even in my past life, when it came to hitting a target by shooting or throwing something, I was better than anyone else.’

 

I clenched my grip tightly around the slingshot.

 

‘I have to become stronger.’

 

I had made so many promises.

 

To Gaon, I promised that while he was gone, I would protect the mountain stronghold and the Chief no matter what.

 

To Park Dohyul, I promised that I would definitely return.

 

So…

 

“I’m going to practice.”

 

I will put in the effort.

 

To become stronger.

 

To protect, with my own hands, the people here who had saved my life.

 

* * *

 

After that, for several days, I practiced shooting the slingshot with desperate determination.

 

It wasn’t hard to fool the adults—they already knew I liked playing on the back mountain from time to time. 

 

I could practice with the slingshot while pretending to play alone with a toy.

 

Swish—!

 

“It’s done!”

 

The stone flew out and hit the target without much trouble.

 

After just a few days, I was able to hit targets at close range fairly reliably.

 

I even managed to hit a wriggling earthworm on the dirt ground, and then promptly collapsed into a sitting position.

 

‘Ugh, my hands…’

 

My hands were trembling from how many times I’d fired it. Even so, a silly, satisfied grin spread across my face.

 

‘At this level… I’m pretty good, right?’

 

No matter how much talent I’d had in my previous life, this life could have turned out differently.

 

But at this age, being this good? Even Jumong would have to step aside.

 

Heh heh—admiring myself, I gently ran my fingers over the slingshot.

 

Of course, compared to those who wielded swords or shot bows, the power of my slingshot was weak.

 

Still, I intended to gather every bit of knowledge I had and develop skills that wouldn’t lose to theirs.

 

And until that day came…….

 

‘Let’s keep it a secret that I’m training.’

 

The Chief’s fierce opposition weighed on my mind, and there was also the chance that people might start to notice something strange about me and grow suspicious—like Gaon had.

 

‘Still… it would be nice if I had a mentor who could teach me properly.’

 

I frowned, deep in thought.

 

Because no matter how much talent one had, there would inevitably come a limit.

 

‘Besides, this world must have its own martial arts and training methods.’

 

I thought that without learning properly, no matter how much of a genius someone was, they would never be able to break past that wall.

 

Having lived a life of struggling and striving on my own even in my previous life, I understood better than anyone what that wall meant.

 

‘Whoo… for now, there’s no other choice. I’ll have to manage on my own somehow.’ 

 

I glanced back and forth between the stone in my hand and the slingshot, then slowly lifted my head.

 

And at that time—

 

Thud.

 

I spotted something and dropped the slingshot and stone I was holding.

 

That was because someone I had never expected to see was standing where I turned my gaze.

 

“U-uncle Dupil…?”

 

Oh my. This is a big problem! 

 

Kim Dupil. He was staring at me with a shocked expression, as if he’d been watching everything I’d done from the very beginning.

 

* * *

 

That morning.

 

Dupil woke up early at dawn and, as always, was about to head to the training grounds with his sword.

 

Today was the day Gaon would be leaving with the Chief’s secret letter to recruit rebel forces.

 

Since he needed to see him off, Dupil planned to start his training earlier than usual.

 

Clack—!

 

“Deputy Chief, I see you are inside.” 

 

Gaon, carrying his pack, had come to see Dupil before dawn had even broken.

 

“Normally, you’re supposed to ask if someone’s inside before barging in. Maybe knock on the door, too.”

 

“Ah.”

 

When Dupil teased him, Gaon grinned and mimed knocking—tknock, knock—with a sly smile.

 

“That’s enough. You’ve always been like this.”

 

Shaking his head with an amused sigh, Dupil gestured for Gaon to come and sit down.

 

“Are you all packed?”

 

“Yes. I’m fully prepared.”

 

“It’ll be a long journey, so make sure you haven’t left anything out.”

 

“Yes. More importantly, I came because there’s something I wanted to tell you separately.”

 

When Dupil looked at him as if to say go on, Gaon let out a faint sigh and spoke.

 

“That child… has been wandering around outside a lot lately.”

 

“You mean Seolyeong?”

 

“Yes. Even last night, she went wandering around on her own and ran into a wolf. I managed to save her by a hair’s breadth, but it was dangerous.”

 

“…!”

 

A flicker of unease passed through Dupil’s eyes.

 

Since the stronghold was located halfway up the mountain, it wasn’t uncommon for wild animals to wander down. Among them, predators like wolves were especially dangerous.

 

As for the bandits, most of them were highly skilled in martial arts, so there was little cause for concern.

 

But that child—Seolyeong—was different.

 

“I’ll have to question the female bandits who were assigned to watch over her quarters.”

 

“That alone won’t be a fundamental solution.”

 

“…?”

 

Dupil frowned as he looked at Gaon.

 

Gaon then added in a calm voice,

 

“You already know, don’t you? That child… she’s not like an ordinary one. The way she sneaks out—it’s more skillful than most grown adults. Even if you try to stop her deliberately, something like this will happen again. That child moves beyond what we can predict.” 

 

“….”

 

Dupil fell silent for a long moment.

 

Because he couldn’t bring himself to deny Gaon’s words.

 

His insight into people was remarkable.

 

The ability to read people and handle them well—sharp yet delicate—was something even the Chief highly valued, which is why he had appointed Gaon as Commander.

 

Gaon had also been entrusted with the critical task of uniting the rebel forces scattered across the nation.

 

“Then I suppose I should report to the Chief and discuss a solution.”

 

“No, we mustn’t.”

 

Dupil raised his eyebrows at Gaon’s firm reply.