The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 51

Dupil’s expression was solemn and strict, like a parent declaring, “I will make you strong.” 

 

“The Chief still considers you a precious child who must be kept safe in his hands. But my thoughts are different.”

 

As expected, as someone who had stayed closest to the Chief the longest, he didn’t hesitate to speak frankly.   

 

“You are still young and small, but you will grow. Nothing strengthens the body and mind like martial arts. So… if you want, I will teach you properly.” 

 

I took a deep breath.

 

Actually, I had never even considered becoming anyone’s disciple.

 

“Can I… get strong really fast?”

 

“Of course. As long as you’re determined.”

 

“Then I’ll do it.”

 

“But, won’t Dad allow it—” 

 

“There’s a way.”

 

“A way…?!”

 

I asked, puzzled, and Dupil gave a sly smile.

 

“I’ve observed the Chief almost my entire life. There’s no one here who knows him as well as I do. The Chief… isn’t someone whose stubbornness can be easily broken. Especially when it comes to you… it will be even harder. So… a special method must be used. I have a method in mind, and if you follow it exactly, it will work.”

 

With a confident expression, Dupil said,

 

“Now then, listen carefully.”

 

He crossed his thick, muscular arms, sat me down, and began his explanation.

 

* * *

 

From that day, Dupil and I officially began our “Persuade the Chief” operation.

 

For the first step, Dupil subtly surveyed the situation.

 

I pretended to be oblivious, lying in a corner of the Chief’s quarters, engrossed in a picture book.

 

“Did you know, Chief? There’s a game that’s been popular lately among the daughters of noble families.” 

 

“…A popular game?”

 

“Yes. It’s called the slingshot game.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“It’s a game where you put a stone in a slingshot and try to hit a target. Unlike arrows, a slingshot isn’t a sharp weapon, and it’s easy to carry around everywhere.”

 

“…I see.”

 

“Yes. And these days, with the world being so dangerous, people even learn it as a form of self-defense!”

 

Dupil nodded earnestly toward me as he continued speaking.

 

‘Now!’

 

As if echoing his words, I nodded and timed it perfectly, opening my mouth and eyes wide in excitement. 

 

“Waaah!!! That looks so fun!” 

 

“Oh? Seolyeong, you want to play the s-l-i-n-g-s-h-o-t g-a-m-e too?”

 

Dupil asked me a question while putting on an incredibly awkward acting performance. 

 

While I faked bouncing around and made a huge fuss to distract the Chief’s attention. 

 

“I really wanna do it, really wanna do it, really wanna do it!!!”

 

“Do you really need to…?”

 

“Hng? Can’t I? Dad?” 

 

I blinked my eyes and tilted my head, unleashing my ultimate move, and the Chief flinched, clamping his mouth shut.

 

Dupil solemnly nodded and continued his act.

 

“Yes, you can’t do that. This is a game for young ladies of noble families—how could you possibly do it?” 

 

“Chief, what are you saying right now? Why are you talking like that…?”

 

“I… I’m… I’m not from a noble family… Dad isn’t a noble either… am I?”

 

I welled up my eyes, following the plan I had agreed on with Dupil.

 

The Chief flinched, his shoulders trembling, and his eyes wavered with a strong reaction.

 

‘Now!’

 

I didn’t fuss any further; I simply lowered my head deeply. 

 

“Huung… then it’s okay. Even if I’m born like this… I’d rather live as Dad’s daughter and do what I want.”

 

Of course, I made sure to press my sleeve against my eyes, pretending to wipe away tears that weren’t even there, acting all forlorn.

 

By now, I figured the reaction should come.

 

“When did I ever say you couldn’t do it?”

 

“…!”

 

This is really going to work!

 

I glanced at Dupil, and he quickly gave a short nod.

 

“Th-then… can I really do it?”

 

The Chief let out a deep sigh.

 

“Kyaa!”

 

I couldn’t hold back and jumped into the Chief’s arms.

 

Hugging him tightly and bursting into a bright laugh, the Chief cleared his throat.

 

“But you must promise that after this, you’ll never do it again. And you have to play in front of this father, understood?”

 

“Hng…?” 

 

As expected, he’s not that easy to deal with.

 

So it wasn’t going to be a simple “yes” right away.

 

“M-mhm!”

 

I nodded vigorously for now, because behind the Chief’s back, Dupil was giving me a signal that it was okay. 

 

‘Of course, I’m definitely not going to let it be just once!’

 

With that resolve, the next day came. 

 

I finally got to play with the slingshot!

 

And, no less, right in front of the Chief!

 

“You absolutely must shoot well. You have to show your full ability. Because… we all respect those skilled in martial arts.”

 

“Even the Chief makes no exception.”

 

Recalling Dupil’s words, I held my breath and focused.

 

‘Stay calm. Aim… and…’

 

Kiiiek! I hooked the stone and took aim.

 

‘Shoot!’

 

Whoosh—!

 

The stone shot forward.

 

Flying in a straight line, it struck the apple dead-on, and the apple tumbled to the ground.

 

At that moment, everyone’s jaws dropped in surprise.

 

“I-It hit!”

 

“You’re a genius! A genius!”

 

“No way… even at such a short distance… for such a tiny child to hit an apple!”

 

“Isn’t it just luck? How is this even possible…!”

 

“We must train them as a martial artist immediately!”

 

“Exactly, exactly!”

 

“Quiet!”

 

At that moment, a familiar voice cut through the commotion.

 

Contrary to expectations, the Chief wore a somewhat conflicted expression.

 

“I’ve long known that Seolyeong is no ordinary child. For their age, their speech is astonishingly quick, and they are remarkably intelligent. But still… a young child handling weapons…”

 

He said firmly,

 

“I absolutely cannot allow it.”

 

“But Chief! The child has already grasped the principles of the slingshot on their own. Leaving them be could be even more dangerous. Isn’t it wiser to provide guidance in advance?”

 

“That’s right, Chief!”

 

One by one, the bandits began to voice their support.

 

“We must train her as a martial artist!”

 

“We cannot let such talent go to waste!”

 

True to expectation, Dupil stepped forward as the atmosphere shifted.

 

“Chief, Seolyeong is now part of our family. If they are to live here, we cannot raise them only as a precious child. Their talent is already remarkable, so shouldn’t we give them the opportunity to learn?”

 

Yet the Chief shook his head firmly.

 

“No. It cannot be.”

 

He took a deep breath and continued.

 

“Do you intend to hand a weapon to someone so young without any thought of protecting them? And besides, there’s no way Seolyeong would even want that…”

 

“I do want to!”

 

In that instant, all the bandits’ eyes turned toward me.

 

This time, it wasn’t Dupil’s prompting.

 

“But I want to be strong, like Dad, like Uncle Dupil…” 

 

The reason I spoke honestly was simple.

 

More important than the surrounding bandits hyping me up was that I wanted to convey my own thoughts directly to the Chief.

 

“….!”

 

The Chief’s eyebrows lifted slightly, as if surprised by my words.

 

He calmly knelt on one knee to meet my eyes, then gently stroked my head with a kind hand.

 

“Seolyeong, you’re still very young. For a child, just eating well and growing up is already a full-time job.”

 

He spoke in a calm, gentle voice, soothingly.

 

“This father will personally teach you later. How about trying some other games, not involving weapons, for now?”

 

I shook my head without a moment’s hesitation.

 

“I want to protect you…Dad.” 

 

“….” 

 

“…Because Dad protects me, I want to protect you someday. When you’re lonely, tired, or struggling, I want to be there for you.”

 

I took a step closer to him and carefully wrapped my arms around the back of his neck.

 

For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words, silent, before finally speaking.

 

“Is that… really what you want?”

 

“Mhm. I want to do it.” 

 

The Chief clenched his hand as if in thought, then slowly released it.

 

After a long moment of contemplation, he finally said,

 

“…Then you may.”

 

“….!”

 

I looked up at him with wide, astonished eyes.

 

He gave a faint, resigned smile and added softly.

 

“However, you may only practice under Uncle Dupil’s watch. Understood?”

 

Nod, nod.

 

The Chief gently brushed the hair from my cheek and whispered softly, 

 

“And… I can see you do have talent. Your heart, wanting to protect me… truly, I am grateful.”

 

His sincere praise left me at a loss for words, and I nodded once more.

 

All I could do at that moment was hold him tightly, so he wouldn’t see the expression on my face.

 

But then…

 

“Alright then. Let me see you protect me—I’ll protect you in return.”

 

At the Chief’s playful words, I let out a small laugh.

 

‘Really… I will protect you.’

 

From now on, I would become much stronger than I am now.

 

With that resolve in my heart, I nodded once again, firmly.