The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 66

“If Your Highness sends that child away, there is still room for negotiation.”

 

“You brat!!”

 

The Chief swung his sword with a furious shout.

 

At that moment, Jeon Bongjin also twisted his body to dodge and drew his sword.

 

Clang—!

 

A sharp metallic sound rang out as the two men’s swords clashed.

 

“Those b*stards! Our Chief…! Attack them at once!”

 

“Waaaaah!”

 

Jeon Bongjin’s group and the Chief’s group tangled together, swinging their swords.

 

Ssssshh—.

 

The rain on the mountainside grew steadily heavier, gradually washing away soil and rock. It was as if it were foretelling the disaster soon to strike. 

 

* * *

 

Gaon hurriedly slipped away from the battlefield.

 

“Gaon!”

 

Running frantically while getting hit by the rain, he hurriedly looked back at the sound of someone calling him.

 

“Deputy Chief.”

 

Dupil was standing there.

 

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of going to find her alone.”

 

“Why are you here? Isn’t the Chief in the middle of a battle?”

 

“Finding Yeongie is also an urgent matter. Where are you going to start looking? What about that guy who said he saw her earlier?”

 

“…He fainted, so I couldn’t hear any more. She probably hasn’t gone far yet, so I plan to search nearby first.”

 

“I taught that child for five whole years. I know every place she might go. Check over there and the back of the fortress first. If she isn’t there, she probably crossed the valley. She knows she has to cross the valley and walk for a long time to reach a private village.” 

 

“Yes. Understood.”

 

“You, follow Gaon and find Yeong. I will help the Chief and follow as soon as the situation is sorted out.”

 

Gaon moved swiftly following Dupil’s advice. Thanks to Dupil attaching a few subordinates to him, they could divide up the directions and search.

 

The subordinates headed toward the front end of the stronghold, and Gaon headed to the back.

 

Then, Gaon stopped in his tracks at an unexpected sight.

 

The far end behind the stronghold.

 

There lay the graves of the stronghold family members who had met their deaths in unfortunate accidents and battles up to now.

 

It was the first time he had visited the graves since returning this time.

 

‘They are very neatly tidied up.’

 

Gaon couldn’t easily take his eyes off them. It was because they were exceptionally well-maintained, unlike before he left.

 

They were clean without a single weed, and flowers were placed in front of each grave.

 

And.

 

“Hah.”

 

There were knickknacks in front of the graves that, to anyone’s eyes, looked like the child had brought them.

 

Things like dolls carved out of wood, or clumsily drawn pictures.

 

“I’ll p-protect this place. So Uncle can come back.”

 

As if to prove that the words the child had said before he left were sincere.

 

‘With those small hands… managing this many graves. Without a single weed.’

 

Even without seeing it, he could clearly picture it.

 

The sight of the tiny thing wandering around pulling out weeds. It wasn’t an easy task for such a young child to do.

 

It would have been absolutely impossible if she hadn’t genuinely cared for them with all her heart for a long time.

 

“I barely managed to find and bury the two family members who died because of you.”

 

The words he had spat out in the past came to mind, and his breath hitched.

 

Gaon took a deep breath and steeled his gaze.

 

“Just why…….”

 

Why was it? At this moment, the past he wanted to forget came to mind.

 

Starting with his biological mother, who was torn limb from limb to her death right before his eyes.

 

“She died because of you.”

 

“Useless brat.”

 

“Such a filthy brat! Look at those disgusting eyes and hair!”

 

The criticism and hatred everyone had poured upon him.

 

The countless condemnations and discrimination, and the sharp-edged violence.

 

Amidst all that, Gaon always craved his father and mother’s love.

 

He had prayed desperately, hoping they would look at him just once.

 

‘If I pass the state examination, will they look at me…?’

 

He studied like that every single day.

 

“I heard you failed the exam because you caught a severe cold of all things.”

 

However, even that fell apart.

 

The moment the sliver of hope was completely severed.

 

“You are useless. Please leave for the sake of our family.”

 

His father and mother threw him out onto the streets.

 

At that time, Gaon was only a ten-year-old child.

 

He survived day by day by begging and stealing food.

 

Perhaps, if he hadn’t met the Chief then, Gaon would have simply ended his life on the streets.

 

After being abandoned by his family, Gaon had to find his lost ‘usefulness’.

 

The usefulness he found was only one thing.

 

Protecting the Chief and this place.

 

And, getting revenge on the current King, who had ruined him and caused his biological mother to die.

 

That was the reason and purpose of his life. Therefore….

 

‘Why does he cherish such a useless child?’

 

At first, she was just an annoying and incomprehensible existence.

 

Useless things shouldn’t be here.

 

Moreover, that child was the enemy’s daughter. She was a dangerous existence that could become a seed of discord at any time.

 

Such a child was not… welcome to him.

 

But, from what moment was it?

 

“Bwaaah—! Hahaha!”

 

That the child’s laughter no longer felt purely unpleasant.

 

Being carried around by the Chief with a silly expression.

 

The trivial sight of her struggling to stand precariously or crawl began to linger in his mind…….

 

‘She is a child who might put our stronghold and the Chief in danger. If everything is ever revealed someday… I must eliminate that child myself, even if just to protect our stronghold.’

 

He tried to deny the unfamiliar emotions that kept coming to him.

 

However, Gaon often couldn’t stop his thoughts.

 

The child persistently kept approaching him.

 

Toddling over on her short legs to hand him something to eat.

 

Complimenting his eyes and hair color, which he hated the most, as the prettiest in the world.

 

“Go, Uncle Gaon, gooooo!”

 

She even cheered for him.

 

Of course, it was a bit troublesome, but….

 

Before falling asleep at night, when he thought of that child vigorously waving her short arms to cheer for him with all her might.

 

A chuckle leaked out without him even realizing it.

 

That was why.

 

When he received the letter from his family, he thought of the child’s bright face.

 

“If it’s because you made a mistake, don’t worry too much! My dad said that just living well and healthy is doing a good job!”

 

At that` moment he was about to choose to accept his family’s aid out of anxiety that he might become a useless existence to the Chief….

 

Strangely, his mind cleared when he remembered the words she had said with a foolish smile.

 

‘For some reason… I don’t want to do that.’

 

The warm words the child offered became a comfort.

 

‘Even if I’m a little bit useless.’

 

Like the child said… the people here won’t reprimand or abandon me.

 

‘Even if I’m useless, I won’t be abandoned again.’

 

When that thought crossed his mind.

 

Like a lie, his heart calmed down. That night, Gaon wrote a letter of refusal.

 

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

 

When he saw the child awkwardly crying yet worrying about him.

 

‘Ah, damn.’

 

For the first time, Gaon felt a great sense of crisis.

 

‘This… is really dangerous…?’

 

He thought he had locked the latch on his heart.

 

It seemed the child had already been inside it for a long time.

 

“I’m sorry, but we can’t be family.”

 

He spat out words trying hard to distance himself in denial, but Gaon couldn’t sleep that night.

 

‘Family.’

 

The word Seolyeong had said.

 

Because as he repeated that word, his heart fluttered strangely.

 

‘I can’t let her disappear like this, in this way.’

 

Gaon muttered, clenching his fists tightly.

 

Always threatening her, treating her coldly, and saying they couldn’t be family.

 

‘I still haven’t told her… that it wasn’t my true feelings.’

 

Just because she is useless.

 

Just because she is a seed of discord.

 

Even though he knew better than anyone how hurtful it was to push an innocent young child into a corner….

 

‘I have to tell her… that I’m sorry.’

 

Gaon firmed his resolve.

 

At that moment, as he raised his head, he saw a subordinate running towards him.

 

“First Commander! She’s not over there either. It seems she must have crossed the valley.”

 

“Wouldn’t it be better to search tomorrow? Crossing the valley right now is tantamount to suicide!”

 

“I will cross it. Right now.”

 

Gaon said firmly, putting strength into his words.

 

He absolutely had to bring back the child, who might be crying somewhere again right now.

 

Because.

 

“I’m too worried to wait until tomorrow.” 

 

…Because we are family.