The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 64

Gaon glared at the monk, his expression cold. 

 

“Are you done talking?” 

 

Honestly, even Gaon didn’t fully understand why his insides were boiling like this.

 

Because when he himself had learned Seolyeong’s identity, he had opposed keeping her here more fiercely than anyone else.

 

“We must return her to where she belongs immediately.” 

 

“There is no reason for us to look after the bloodline of our enemy!” 

 

His voice rang with certainty, strong enough to oppose the Chief’s wishes.

 

Was that all?  

 

“That snake… I actually let it go myself.”

 

Gaon had not only threatened that tiny, wriggling child with his sword, he had even released the snake to target her life.

 

He had no right to scold these people.

 

No, in fact, he should have understood and even sympathized with their feelings. Yet…

 

‘Why am I so angry?’

 

The emotion was unbearable, a fire he wanted to throw over everything.

 

Gaon desperately suppressed the rage that kept surging up. 

 

“So, what you’re saying is… if the Chief and I knew about Yeongie’s lineage, we should have just let her die—is that it?” 

 

At the chilling question laced with quiet fury, the monk’s shoulders flinched. 

 

“Th-that’s not what I meant…”

 

“We were organized to save the country and protect the people. But leaving an innocent child to die—doesn’t that go against reason?”

 

“But—!”

 

Thud!

 

Before he realized it, Gaon had shoved the monk against the wall, forgetting his duties in his fury.

 

“Ugh! First Commander!” 

 

“Everyone should know by now that the Chief you follow is not such a heartless man.” 

 

Those had been the Chief’s words to Gaon long ago.

 

Gaon was uttering the exact same words now without even realizing it. 

 

“I don’t know the exact circumstances, but it’s clear Yeongie was abandoned by the King as well. Therefore, Yeongie is clearly a victim! Above all, to you all, Yeongie is…” 

 

Gaon ground his teeth. He swallowed the fury rising in his throat before adding,

 

“No matter what, isn’t she… family… who has been here with you for five whole years?” 

 

He spat out each word, his eyes bloodshot from broken vessels. 

 

“How can I not worry when we’re family…?”

 

That foolish girl…

 

Even though she probably knew this would happen if she slipped up, she had still said things like that and fumbled about…

 

‘Why did she have to trust people so easily?’ 

 

The image of Yeongie’s crying face kept flickering in his mind, driving him mad. 

 

“What exactly did you do to Yeongie?” 

 

When the monk could not speak further, Gaon turned to his subordinates.

 

The subordinate hurried over and bowed his head as he reported.

 

“It wasn’t that anything specific happened… everyone just avoided her and didn’t speak to her, unlike usual.” 

 

Gaon’s eyes turned terrifyingly cold. 

 

“Ev—everyone was just shocked to find out that Yeongie, whom they’ve cherished all this time, is the enemy’s daughter… so please, First Commander, don’t be angry… Hic!” 

 

Grip!

 

Suddenly, Gaon grabbed the subordinate by the shoulder, clenching until his fingers hurt.

 

“The one who’s angry isn’t me, it’s Yeongie. And the person you should be apologizing to isn’t me, it’s her. Do you understand?” 

 

Nod, nod.

 

Gaon pressed the subordinate, who was frantically shaking his head up and down.

 

“So… where is she now?”

 

“Yes, yes. I think she was shocked after hearing the chatter when she came out earlier, and she went back to her barrack… Don’t worry. I saw Bokhee preparing some food for her a moment ago…” 

 

“Get out of my way. I’ll go see for myself.” 

 

As Gaon pushed through those blocking his path, everyone flinched in surprise and backed away. 

 

He did not hesitate and headed straight for Yeongie’s barracks.

 

‘…That ugly little crybaby probably locked herself in and is crying again.’

 

That face of hers, sobbing while saying she was worried about him—it had been so ugly that it used to make him let out a stray chuckle. 

 

But now, he felt like the blood was rushing to his head in reverse.

 

Thud!

 

Gaon reached the child’s barracks and flung the door open.

 

“Hey, don’t tell me you’re crying—” 

 

He stepped inside lightly, as usual, but then froze.

 

‘She’s not here?’

 

Swish!

 

Gaon hurriedly searched every corner of the tent.

 

The only thing left untouched was a single bowl of porridge.

 

There was only one difference.

 

Her slingshot and outer coat—things she carried as if they were her life—were gone.

 

With a chilling instinct, Gaon brushed his hand over the bedding where Yeongie should have been lying. 

 

Seeing that not even a trace of warmth remained, it seemed she had left quite a while ago.

 

“Oh my goodness!”

 

From behind, a sharp female scream pierced the air.

 

When Gaon turned around, she was clutching her mouth, her feet stomping in anxiety. 

 

“I—I definitely told her to stay here and stepped out for a moment… she was here just a second ago… where could she have gone in such a short time?”

 

A foreboding feeling shot through his mind. That child often acted beyond anyone’s expectations.

 

A normal child would have stayed holed up, crying like a fool in this situation.

 

‘She might have taken initiative.’ 

 

For example. 

 

‘…to leave this place.’

 

It was reckless, but not entirely impossible.

 

Despite being so young and small, she had a bold personality—faster than anyone at making her own judgments and putting them into action.

 

Rumble—CRACK!

 

A massive roar of thunder echoed from outside, as if tearing the heavens apart.

 

He had thought the sky was gloomy with dark clouds since a while ago; it seemed a heavy downpour was about to break out for the first time in a very long time. 

 

Normally, rain would have been welcome in the drought, but now, it brought no relief.

 

“A very heavy rain is coming this time. We must prepare, as there might be landslides.” 

 

Because they lived halfway up the mountain, the fortress made it a habit to predict and prepare for the weather. 

 

A few days ago, under the forecast of impending heavy rain, the fortress had already completed its preparations. 

 

And when such heavy rain fell.

 

Most residents of the fortress would evacuate to caves to prepare for any potential emergencies.

 

In other words, simply being outside could be dangerous.

 

“I have to find her.”

 

Gaon shouted urgently, almost without realizing it. His heart thumped with anxiety.

 

Unable to conceal his urgency, he stormed out of the barracks.

 

Lightning was already flashing across the sky, which showed every sign of an impending storm. 

 

Gaon looked around to organize a search party. It was impossible to find someone on this vast mountain with only one or two people. 

 

From slightly away from the barracks, he heard a small group speaking together.

 

“She’s gone?”

 

“Oh dear, if she goes anywhere in this weather, she’ll meet a terrible end.”

 

“But you know…”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Actually… I was over that way earlier and saw her leaving. But I didn’t say a word and just let her go.”

 

“You saw that and just let her go?”

 

“If she wants to leave, why stop her? Maybe it’s better for us… At least we won’t have to see that face again…”

 

CRASH—! 

 

Gaon’s fist flew out and smashed directly into the wooden wall of the barracks. 

 

CRACK!

 

He had struck it with such force.

 

The wood fractured from the powerful blow, making the entire barracks reel and sending debris crumbling down.

 

Drip… drip.

 

Blood ran from Gaon’s hand.

 

“Fi—First Commander! Your hand…!”

 

A subordinate rushed to help, but Gaon raised his hand to stop him.

 

He didn’t flinch, didn’t make a sound.

 

Gaon strode forward, standing before the group.

 

“Fi—First Commander?!”

 

Only then did the men realize his presence, shoulders trembling in shock.

 

Flash—!

 

With rage flickering in his eyes, Gaon spoke with a chilling voice. 

 

“Which one of you b*stards was it?”