The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 72

“What is this?”

 

“An apple! I brought it with me on my way out. Eating something sweet when you’re feeling down makes you feel better, you know?”

 

Damho opened his palm wide and smiled brightly. Then, his teeth, missing one baby tooth, were revealed.

 

On his dark, chubby face, his dimples sank in, completing a mischievous expression.

 

I carefully took the apple from him.

 

“You know. You’re a really amazing person.”

 

Damho blurted out.

 

“Huh?”

 

“Why! Because you saved me. And I’m going to be a very amazing person when I grow up.” 

 

Damho looked at me with eyes full of conviction. Then he reached out and ruffled my small head once.

 

“Just wait a little bit. I’ll let you know just how amazing a person you are.”

 

“What’s that supposed to mean….”

 

As I pouted slightly with a dejected face, Damho lightly placed a hand on my shoulder. 

 

“Anyway, don’t think those thoughts. The people who said they hated you—I don’t know who they are, but I bet they’re already regretting it by now.” 

 

At his serious voice, I tilted my head.

 

“Why?”

 

“Huh? Why ask something so obvious? How could anyone hate a pretty girl like you?”

 

“….!”

 

Wow, to say such cringeworthy things so boldly!

 

As I opened my eyes wide, Damho smiled as if he really meant it.

 

“What… is that… you’re just saying that to make me feel good.”

 

Feeling somewhat choked up, I grumbled for no reason while pressing the apple with my thumb.

 

“Idiot! Pirates don’t lie. I’ll swear on the sea. Happy?”

 

Phew, that damn sea.

 

At his simple attitude without any hidden motives, I couldn’t help but laugh even while feeling down. I smiled softly and spoke as if scolding him.

 

“But still, why is being a pirate so hard? You have to be good at swimming, you can’t lie, and you have to repay all your favors.”

 

“Of course it’s hard! That’s how amazing a person I am. Ahem! So believe me!”

 

“…Believe you?”

 

“If you can’t believe in yourself, believe in me. Because I’m confident!!”

 

He confidently pointed at himself with his thumb.

 

The cave was definitely a bit dim with only the campfire, but I had the illusion that Damho was emitting a sparkling light.

 

“Do you really… think so?”

 

“Of course! It’s my first time seeing a kid as tiny as you shoot a slingshot that well too!”

 

Ugh. Perhaps it throbbed again just thinking about it, he rubbed his forehead.

 

“And, and… making a torch, tying me up, making something weird to get my foot out of that pile of rocks! Knowing medicinal herbs well, it was all amazing.”

 

Damho smiled broadly and lightly patted my back.

 

“Those are all your talents. You’re incredibly amazing!”

 

Hehe. Dam-ho smiled brightly, showing the gap in his teeth. 

 

“I’m glad the first girl my age I met is this amazing and cool! Hahaha!”

 

It felt as though my heart was becoming warm and full. 

 

It was because I could feel that Damho’s warm words… weren’t simply to comfort me, but were sincere.

 

…Just like the Chief always did for me.

 

“So! Don’t doubt yourself anymore…!”

 

Damho, who had been speaking without a pause, suddenly stopped abruptly.

 

I was just looking at the ground, my lips pursed tightly.

 

He gently advised me.

 

“You know, I think it’s right for you to go back to your dad and properly ask him.”

 

“…Ask what?”

 

“If he loves you!”

 

At his straightforward words, I was a little surprised and quickly raised my head.

 

“If he l-loves me?”

 

To me, that was such an unfamiliar word. No matter how much the Chief cherished me, it was also a word he had never said to me.

 

“Yeah! Ask him. Ask him, and if he says he doesn’t love you, it won’t be too late to leave then.”

 

H-How can you say that so easily?

 

I fidgeted in fluster.

 

“I’ve caused trouble for my dad, so how can I ask him that?”

 

“That’s just what you think too. I’m telling you to ask! If your dad is really having a hard time because of you or not.”

 

“Would that… be the right thing to do?” 

 

Honestly, I had only been in this cave for about half a day.

 

But I already missed the Chief and was worried about him.

 

“That’s just what you think.”

 

If that’s really the case.

 

If the Chief really considers me important enough to think that other things don’t matter.

 

If so.

 

“Listening to you, I definitely think it’s right to meet him… ask him properly, and then leave.”

 

Only then did Damho chuckle out loud and point outside with his finger.

 

“Look. The rain has died down a bit. We can probably go home soon.”

 

He was right.

 

Just as Damho said, only a drizzle was falling outside.

 

As if opening a path for me.

 

Feeling somehow relieved as if a blockage in my chest was cleared, I muttered quietly.

 

“Talking to you makes it feel like a really simple thing…”

 

“It is a simple matter. Ask! If not, it’s over! Why do you have so many worries over such an easy thing?”

 

“Ooh, seriously… usually it’s a difficult problem, you know?”

 

“Then I’ve solved a difficult problem for you, haven’t I? In other words, you owe me!”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Repay it by being my friend!”

 

Just as I was choosing my words, not knowing what to answer.

 

Tap, tap, tap, tap!

 

I heard urgent footsteps running this way. Damho and I stood up at the same time and picked up our respective weapons.

 

Not long after, familiar people rushed into the cave.

 

“…Uncle Gaon?”

 

As soon as Gaon saw me, thud, he dropped the sword he was holding in his hand.

 

He approached without a word.

 

Grab—!

 

And hugged me tightly in his arms just like that.

 

Wh-what’s wrong with him all of a sudden?

 

“Eeeh!?”

 

Flustered, I flailed my arms, but Gaon tightened his grip as if it didn’t matter.

 

“U-Uncle? How did you get here? Your body is all wet!”

 

Coming to my senses, I asked while checking on him. Someone came in hesitantly from behind.

 

They were…

 

“!”

 

The Four Ddong uncles.

 

The ones who had definitely turned a blind eye to me…

 

They looked pale and their hands were covered in clotted blood, showing just how much they had struggled to reach this place.

 

“Yeong-ah.”

 

They called my name and stood at the entrance like sinners, hesitating and hanging their heads low.

 

As the silence continued like that.

 

Gaon, who discovered Damho secretly trying to sneak out, glared at him fiercely.

 

“Who are you? Who are you to be alone with Yeong in a dim place like this?”

 

“Uh, huh? First Commander! That, doesn’t that kid’s face look familiar?”

 

“Ah! Th-That pirate kid!”

 

“I think that’s him?”

 

“Why would a pirate be in a place like this?”

 

“Don’t tell me he was trying to harm our Yeong…!”

 

Before I could say anything, Damho turned around quickly first.

 

“Hey! Sirs! It’s nothing like that.”

 

Speaking slyly, he bowed politely in greeting.

 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yeong’s close! Friend.”

 

“….?”

 

Gaon and the Four Ddong uncles looked at each other with expressions of not knowing what was going on.

 

“We met here by chance, and I owe her a debt. Hahaha! I survived thanks to her. I’ll make sure to repay this favor next time!”

 

Right before leaving the entrance, Damho looked at me and smiled brightly.

 

“Let’s meet again, Yeong-ah.”

 

After finishing his words, he turned around and walked away without lingering.

 

Gaon stared at Damho with wary eyes until he disappeared.

 

Only then did I look back at the Four Ddong uncles and Kim Gaon and carefully ask.

 

“Uncles… how did you get here…?”

 

“How can you even ask that….”

 

Gaon stopped speaking and let out a short sigh.

 

As if pressing down and swallowing his emotions, he spoke quietly as if muttering.

 

“I came to get you.”

 

“….”

 

“Let’s go back. Home.”

 

He wasn’t trying to scold me, nor was he trying to corner me about anything.

 

It seemed he had just genuinely come to get me.

 

“Ask him. Ask him, and if he says he doesn’t love you, it won’t be too late to leave then.”

 

The words Damho had said before leaving came to mind. And…

 

“Okay…”

 

I tightly grasped the hem of Gaon’s clothes and gave a small nod.