The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 75

He conveyed his sincere feelings to me calmly, and heavily.

 

“Ah.”

 

I couldn’t bring myself to easily open my mouth and only mouthed the words.

 

“Because I love you.”

 

I certainly knew, but hearing it directly from the Chief’s mouth, I was engulfed in indescribable feelings.

 

The things that happened with him over the years approached me like a tidal wave.

 

The day I first met the Chief.

 

The day he held my hand tightly and helped me learn to walk. The moment he saved my life, the moment he accepted me as his daughter…

 

In the barracks late at night, sitting me on his lap and affectionately teaching me how to read.

 

When he confirmed that all my baby teeth had grown in, he rejoiced as if it were his own business.

 

Every day, he would make a mark on the wooden pillar to show how much I had grown.

 

I remembered the warmth of him silently adding another side dish on top of the rice I was eating without anyone knowing.

 

Everything condensed into a single clear word and pierced my heart.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Before I knew it, silent tears were flowing. Rub, rub. I wiped my wet cheeks with my palms.

 

“People live for those useless and beautiful things.”

 

The Chief’s words, which I had only understood with my head back then… now felt like they deeply touched my heart.

 

I remembered seeing someone say something similar on a TV program in my past life. 

 

“Hating and disliking another person without a reason. That’s actually because that person is hurting.”

 

Back then, I certainly just thought cynically. ‘Then how can they stop hurting?’ I asked.

 

But I finally found the answer.

 

‘The way to overcome the pain… where all one can do is hate and loathe, is love.’

 

Truly loving someone, and making a little effort every day to make a better world for them.

 

…That is what truly makes a person live.

 

So maybe… the mountain stronghold and the Chief, who gifted me ordinary days, might have been my salvation from the very beginning.

 

“Here.”

 

The Chief raised his hand and held out his pinky finger to me.

 

“This is how you make a promise. Here, raise your hand like this and follow me.”

 

Back in the days when the Chief excitedly taught me all sorts of things.

 

He had also taught me how to make a promise. I had learned it while feigning ignorance.

 

Recalling that memory, I gently hooked my finger around his pinky finger.

 

“To promise. That you will never leave like this again. Do you understand?”

 

Swoosh. He seriously met my eyes.

 

With my chin quivering like a walnut, I gave a small nod, promising I would do so.

 

Tight.

 

My small finger and his large finger touched.

 

Only then did I know. That my way of loving was wrong.

 

That love is not just about giving, but about giving and receiving.

 

“D-Dad.”

 

I sniffled and called him foolishly. Truly feeling like I had become a young child.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Dad…”

 

“Yes. It’s okay. It’s okay.”

 

“Dadd… Hic, Dadd!”

 

Crying softly, I threw myself right into the Chief’s arms.

 

The Chief hugged me tightly.

 

“Yes. Yes. It’s okay. It’s all okay. Our mature Yeong. Good Yeong.”

 

Pat, pat.

 

Feeling the Chief’s hand patting my back, I put more strength into the arms hugging him.

 

Promising that I would never hurt him again.

 

* * *

 

“I’m truly sorry, Little Miss. I must have been crazy for a moment…”

 

“The cute Little Miss is still the same Little Miss, yet I foolishly got swept away!”

 

“Yeah, it’s the same for me too! I was terribly sorry. Eat this and let go of your anger a bit. Okay?”

 

“I’ve committed a crime worthy of death, Yeong!”

 

After returning to the barracks, countless people came to apologize to me.

 

Not only the uncles and aunts, but even the Four Ddong uncles dropped by again and apologized several times.

 

Along with that, all sorts of food were piling up in my barracks. Even while there wasn’t much food left…

 

“It’s okay! I understand.”

 

Of course, I was a little… no, actually, I was quite a bit disappointed, but!

 

On the other hand, since it was a fact they had hidden for nearly a few years, I thought the shock must have been immense.

 

Moreover, since I knew almost all of the circumstances that brought each of them to gather at the mountain stronghold, it was rather difficult not to let go of my anger.

 

‘Because there are even people who lost their loved ones or became disabled because of the current King and the Ahnseong Park family…’

 

It was inevitable that their sense of betrayal would be great.

 

Besides, it was true that they had turned a blind eye to me and treated me coldly, but.

 

They hadn’t directly harmed or bullied me.

 

So I also decided to understand and accept their apologies.

 

The problem was.

 

‘Even if they don’t say it to me directly, there are still a few people left who dislike me behind my back.’

 

This was understandable too.

 

Because it made even less sense for everyone to completely open their hearts in an instant.

 

I found out about that fact because of what happened this morning.

 

Opening my eyes wide early in the morning, I rubbed my eyes, which were swollen from crying, and went outside.

 

And I saw people raising their voices and fiercely protesting to Gaon and Dupil.

 

Dash—!

 

I reflexively hid behind a wooden pillar and eavesdropped on what they were saying.

 

“We also know well that the child is innocent. We also admit that we acted hastily, swayed by personal feelings last time.”

 

The men sighed and continued to express their thoughts.

 

“But we can’t help but think about the realistic problems, can we? Yes, those who have watched Seolyeong until now will accept that child. But what about the newly recruited people?”

 

The words they spoke point by point were quite well-founded.

 

“Just look at Jeon Bongjin. Isn’t he still holding out in the prison? What kind of time is this? It’s a time when we have to gather as much manpower as possible to grow our forces. The existence of Seolyeong at such a time is bound to foster discord.”

 

“So what do you want to do?”

 

Dupil spoke bluntly as if it was troublesome, but the man didn’t miss that opening.

 

“We should entrust her somewhere else, not here, at least until the great task we have to accomplish for the country is finished! If it’s because of Prime Minister, can’t we just send her to a place far away from here.”

 

“The Chief would never allow that. Your eyes must be knotholes. Did you not see the Chief cherishing Seolyeong so much yesterday?”

 

“How could we not know that? However, keeping her here is also dangerous for Seolyeong. Where is the guarantee that someone holding a deep grudge won’t secretly harbor the intention to harm Seolyeong.”

 

A few men huffed as if frustrated.

 

Then, they briefly closed and opened their eyes as if recalling something from a very long time ago.

 

“…Just as Go Pilsuk, who was expelled, did.”

 

A very long time ago.

 

Regarding Pilsuk poisoning me.

 

Everyone here had now come to understand the situation, why she had no choice but to act like that.

 

Hah. However, hearing those words, Gaon let out a short chuckle.

 

“Why don’t you stop spouting nonsense when you don’t even know anything?”

 

“What are you saying I don’t know.”

 

“Seolyeong being in danger? She’s not that weak, you know? Shouldn’t you guys, who have seen her training every day for the past five years, know that better?”

 

“However!”

 

“And I’ll personally kill anyone who touches her, so what are you so worried about?”

 

“…..”

 

Flinch, the men trembled their shoulders at the chilling words.

 

Gaon continued, crossing his arms and snorting as if it was no big deal.

 

“And you know. You guys are talking like it’s difficult… but shouldn’t we just persuade the guys who say they don’t like it well? As you know well, I’m a genius at persuasion.”

 

Dupil also gave a small chuckle at Gaon speaking without hesitation.

 

Without stopping at this, Gaon continued his words without pausing.

 

“Listen clearly. What we have to do from now on is to think about how to unite the mountain stronghold. Not plotting to send that child out of here. Got it?!”

 

“F-First Commander…!”

 

“That child is our family and a household member. She is an existence more precious than life to all of us. Therefore.”

 

“…..”

 

“I will absolutely not send her away. Anywhere.”

 

At Gaon’s definitive words, my eyes went wide and I drew in a sharp breath.