The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 71

“Ugh!”

 

Soddong, who was at the very end holding onto the tree to support it, let out a groan as if it was difficult.

 

Gaeddong hurriedly spoke to Gaon.

 

“First Commander, forgive us for being late!”

 

“I came to find Yeong too!”

 

“We, we…!”

 

As the Four Ddong brothers spoke while shedding tears, Gaon cut them off and shouted loudly.

 

“Enough! Hurry up and pull!”

 

“Pull! Urrgh!”

 

Gaon desperately struggled underwater, and the Four Ddong brothers combined their strength to pull the rope.

 

Going against the fierce current, he slowly headed toward the shallow water.

 

Spitting out the muddy water that had rushed into his nose and mouth, Gaon coughed heavily.

 

“First Commander, we will…”

 

“No. I will go again.”

 

He raised his hand firmly to stop them.

 

At his resolute words without a speck of room for a change of heart, the Four Ddong brothers couldn’t say anything more. Instead.

 

“Yes, understood. Then we will absolutely hold on no matter what happens. Please hurry and go.”

 

They spoke resolutely of their intention to help with hands that were bleeding from holding the rope so tightly.

 

“That’s right. Go with your mind at ease. Even if a landslide happens and we die, we will never let go.”

 

“Please make sure to find Yeongie, First Commander.”

 

Looking at the Four Ddong brothers adding a word one by one, Gaon silently nodded.

 

Every single one of their faces was filled with deep regret.

 

“I… have to apologize to that child. No matter what.”

 

Gaeddong said earnestly with tears in his eyes and a trembling voice.

 

Gaon bit his lip.

 

Because the emotions he felt were no different from theirs.

 

“Alright. Don’t worry. I will cross no matter what happens.”

 

Looking at the swirling current, Gaon tied the knot of the rope around his waist even tighter.

 

Even though he had almost lost his life just moments ago.

 

‘Was the Chief… feeling like this back then too?’

 

He remembered how the Chief had climbed an ice wall for that child a long time ago.

 

Back then, he couldn’t understand the Chief risking his life for the enemy’s daughter.

 

But now…….

 

“Hah.”

 

Gaon let out a short chuckle and swept his wet hair back with one hand.

 

Then he shouted with all his might. 

 

“Hold on tight!!!! I’m going in!”

 

* * *

 

“Mmh…”

 

I blinked a few times as I woke from a nap. My whole body felt languid and relaxed by the comfortable sensation without any shaking.

 

Then, feeling something strange, I sat up and looked to my side.

 

“You’re awake?!”

 

“….!”

 

I jumped, my whole body giving a startled twitch! 

 

Damho was looking at me with a bright smile. 

 

And looking closer… I noticed a strange mark on his shoulder.

 

‘Is that my drool?!’

 

I hurriedly wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. Ugh, how embarrassing is this!

 

“S-Sorry!”

 

“It’s fine. It’s fine. I’m a person of the sea, so I’m used to being damp.”

 

Damho laughed nonchalantly while waving his hand.

 

My face burned with embarrassment, but I tried not to show it and purposely gave a thumbs up.

 

“G-Good! Haha! As expected, a kid who lives by the sea is different!”

 

“Should I call it one of the perks of the sea?”

 

“Pfft, hahaha! What is that!”

 

“I’m serious, though?”

 

Damho giggled and pointed outside.

 

“Still, the rain seems to have died down a bit compared to earlier. It might stop soon.”

 

“Oh, really?!”

 

Gladly, I stood up and checked outside, and Damho asked quietly.

 

“Are you going to return to the mountain stronghold after the rain stops? Come to think of it, your home must be in an uproar too. Since there are so many uncles at the stronghold who cherish you.”

 

As he was speaking, perhaps suddenly feeling something strange, Damho tilted his head.

 

“Huh? But… I came all the way here while being chased by another pirate crew, but how did you end up here?”

 

“Well… somehow…”

 

I tapped my toes and vaguely trailed off.

 

Since there was no need to explain in detail, I tried to gloss over it and move on.

 

However, Damho didn’t let it go like that.

 

“Hmm? Then, I guess this is a place you come to often? By any chance, can I meet you if I come here in the future?”

 

I quietly looked back at Damho. A brief silence flowed.

 

Hesitating whether to tell him or not, I eventually blurted out the truth.

 

“You won’t be able to meet me. Not anywhere around here.”

 

“Hey, there’s no need to go that far. Are you doing this because you don’t want to see me again?”

 

“It’s not that… I’m leaving this place.”

 

“….?!”

 

“As soon as the rain stops, I’m going down the mountain and never coming back.”

 

“No, why, why, why?!”

 

As if completely flustered, Damho jumped up from his seat and raised his voice.

 

To the point where his voice echoed and rang again inside the cave.

 

I shook my head slowly.

 

“Just… because I can’t stay here anymore?”

 

“Does that mean you ran away from home? Did you runaway?!” 

 

“Run away? Could this… even be considered running away?”

 

“You, you, you brat!”

 

Damho suddenly raised his voice in a burst and glared fiercely with wide eyes.

 

As I quietly looked up at him at his absurd scolding, Damho soon started acting awkwardly as if imitating something he had seen somewhere.

 

“You went out again! Again! If you keep going out every day wandering around and worrying your mom and dad like this, I’ll dunk you in the seawater!”

 

“….”

 

“Like that! My dad scolded me every day! Every time I left home! You’ll get scolded like this by your dad too!”

 

Hehehe.

 

Damho laughed innocently.

 

‘He grew up really loved.’

 

For some reason, I found it a bit fascinating.

 

Because his unblemishedly bright, innocent, and confident appearance seemed like a completely different person from me.

 

‘…I wanted to be like that too.’

 

Suddenly, the Chief’s face popped into my mind, and I felt gloomy.

 

As my expression darkened and tears began to well up in my eyes, Damho was startled and wildly flailed his arms.

 

“Hey, hey! Wh-what’s wrong? I wasn’t trying to scold you. I was just saying that’s what happens!”

 

“It’s not that. That kind of thing. Just, just…”

 

I gulped down my irregular breaths.

 

And blurted out my true feelings.

 

“…I just suddenly thought of my dad.”

 

Was it because I felt like it was really all over once I went down the mountain?

 

I felt like taking out the feelings I had always hidden in a corner of my heart and confessing them to someone.

 

“Why? Did you get in trouble with your dad? Is that why you left home?”

 

“It’s not that…”

 

I raised my head and met Damho’s eyes.

 

For the first time.

 

To a pirate kid who I would obviously never see again.

 

‘Maybe it’s okay to tell him?’

 

…Since it’s probably just a passing connection inside this cave, where we’re only staying for a very brief moment.

 

I slumped down on the cave floor and hugged my knees.

 

“I just ran away because I was scared. I didn’t say anything to my dad. Because of me, my dad might… he might end up in trouble.” 

 

Feeling choked up for some reason even as I brought it up, I held my breath tightly.

 

Damho didn’t ask any more questions and quietly plopped down next to me as if telling me to talk more.

 

Fidgeting with my hands, I carefully continued speaking.

 

“You know. I don’t know what you heard about me from the uncles, but… I’m actually a useless kid who isn’t helpful at all. Rather, I’ve only been a burden to my dad. Since I’m not even my dad’s biological daughter.”

 

“….”

 

“Because of me, what my dad is trying to do might go wrong… so everyone said they hate me and dislike me.”

 

I couldn’t confess all the circumstances, but.

 

Just confessing my feelings and situation ramblingly like this… somehow made me feel a little more at ease.

 

‘What is… Dad doing right now?’

 

Ugh.

 

But then, at the face that suddenly came to mind, I bit my lip tightly. It felt like I was going to burst into tears.

 

Damho, who had been staring at me intently, suddenly came right up next to me.

 

“Ah, what the heck! Here, I’ll give you this.” 

 

He suddenly took something out of his pocket and handed it to me.