The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 78

If things had gone as they were meant to, the child should have come into the world. 

 

If only the current King hadn’t existed.

 

Both that child and the Crown Princess died at the hands of the current King.

 

And it was the same for Jeon Bongjin.

 

The current King, who ascended to the throne, joined hands with the Prime Minister and committed numerous massacres.

 

One of them was exactly… Jeon Bongjin’s wife, son, and the second child in the womb.

 

They fought together. For their beloved families, to protect the country.

 

And in the end, they protected the country.

 

But even so.

 

He had lost everything. 

 

“Do you remember it all?”

 

As the Chief asked again with emphasis, Jeon Bongjin tightly squeezed his fist.

 

The flower petals inside his hand were crushed.

 

“I remember it exactly as if it were yesterday. How could I forget.”

 

His voice trembled helplessly. The Chief silently watched Jeon Bongjin, then quietly continued his words.

 

“Back then, I went to the battlefield for my wife and child. And it’s the same now. The reason I fight is… because of that child.”

 

Jeon Bongjin was silent.

 

“Even if it’s fine for us… shouldn’t we at least let the children of this land live in a better world.”

 

Only then did Jeon Bongjin speak with difficulty.

 

“That child is… not just any child. How can the current King’s daughter…”

 

“She is my daughter.”

 

Jeon Bongjin closed his mouth again.

 

“Even after losing everything… I have always lived somewhat broken. The existence that made me live is none other than my daughter. You know too. How much… how much I had crumbled.”

 

Jeon Bongjin could not say he didn’t know. He knew better than anyone else.

 

He knew how utterly destroyed the Crown Prince had been upon hearing the news that his wife and daughter had passed away.

 

“It is a dangerous path. There will be people who turn their backs, and people who criticize. But the reason I and the countless people here stood up again is none other than that child. What made us call you again is, in the end, that child too.”

 

Jeon Bongjin recalled the child’s bright smile.

 

As he turned his head, the drawings hung on the wall of the barracks came into view.

 

Drawings that looked like they were crookedly drawn by a young child.

 

In the drawing, the Chief and the child were holding hands tightly and smiling.

 

Truly, they looked happy.

 

“It looked that way.”

 

Thud. Ultimately, Jeon Bongjin confessed his true feelings.

 

As he showed a positive sign, the Chief’s face visibly brightened.

 

“I know it is a difficult path. But please believe in us. Just as I changed thanks to Yeong, she is a child who can change and raise up even more people.”

 

Jeon Bongjin quietly closed his eyes.

 

He couldn’t bring himself to deny it.

 

“And you know too. That you are the strongest person when you are trying to protect someone.”

 

At those words, Jeon Bongjin recalled the battlefield from a long time ago.

 

He was literally a ghost.

 

Whenever he tried to protect his family, he was stronger than anyone else.

 

Even battles that seemed impossible to win, he led to victory numerous times.

 

Those who watched him felt awe itself.

 

“If we claim to fight for the innocent people… yet turn away from a single innocent and powerless child, with what right can we say we are doing a great work?” 

 

The Chief’s last words were quiet but dug deep.

 

“So… you, trust me just this once. Could you consider joining us again?”

 

Jeon Bongjin clenched his fist tightly.

 

And slowly swallowed a sigh. A heavy silence flowed.

 

After the silence, Jeon Bongjin looked at the Chief and quietly said.

 

“I think… I need a little more time.”

 

For him, it was truly a matter that needed time.

 

The Chief’s earnest words and…

 

The child’s smile kept overlapping.

 

His mind was becoming increasingly complex.

 

Jeon Bongjin squeezed his eyes shut and didn’t say anything more.

 

Seeing that, the Chief quietly said.

 

“Very well. I… I hope you will think on it positively. As quickly as possible. Because I too want to join forces with you.”

 

The Chief called for his subordinates.

 

“Listen here! Escort General Jeon Bongjin back to the prison, but make sure he can stay as comfortably as possible.”

 

Jeon Bongjin took a heavy step.

 

Carrying a heart that had become even more entangled.

 

* * *

 

“Get in!”

 

After conversing with the Chief, Jeon Bongjin returned to the prison.

 

“Are you okay? Chief!”

 

“Chief, are you hurt anywhere.”

 

Jeon Bongjin’s subordinates rushed to ask as soon as he returned, and.

 

Jeon Bongjin waved his hand as if to say he was fine.

 

“I am fine.”

 

“What did he say? Is he trying to conciliate you again?”

 

“Do not worry. I have handled it.”

 

At Jeon Bongjin’s firm reply, the subordinates nodded with heavy expressions.

 

Like that, Jeon Bongjin spent a day agonizing over his thoughts.

 

And.

 

“…Chief! Wake up. Chief!”

 

Jeon Bongjin, who had fallen into a light sleep for a moment, snapped his eyes open at his subordinate’s urgent voice.

 

And he noticed that something was strange. He scrambled to his feet.

 

One corner of the prison was broken, and familiar faces appeared in the darkness.

 

They were Jeon Bongjin’s subordinates. I mean… the subordinates who hadn’t come here with him.

 

In other words, they were people who shouldn’t have known the location of this place.

 

“You managed to get all the way here.”

 

“Yes! Of course we had to come! Let’s go quickly. Chief! We’ll get caught at this rate! You guys come out quickly too.”

 

At the Vice Chief’s gesture, the subordinates moved in perfect order, and everyone started heading outside.

 

However, only Jeon Bongjin stood there without easily thinking of going outside.

 

“What are you doing, Chief! Hurry!”

 

Despite the Vice Chief’s urging, Jeon Bongjin remained unmoving.

 

“Chief! Come out quickly! A fire has broken out! They’ll notice soon.”

 

“A fire?”

 

Startled, Jeon Bongjin opened his eyes and looked around.

 

The Vice Chief’s words were true.

 

Because the last remaining food storage in the mountain stronghold was on fire.

 

“Don’t tell me. You guys didn’t do this, did you!?”

 

“We didn’t do it. Probably…”

 

“Fire! Intruders!”

 

Right before Jeon Bongjin could continue speaking, his words were cut off by shouts bursting out from all over the mountain stronghold.

 

His gaze turned toward the flames.

 

The startled mountain stronghold family members were rushing out with weapons in hand.

 

He pressed his lips tightly together.

 

I can’t believe this. What kind of bolt out of the blue in the middle of the night is this.

 

At this rate, he would undoubtedly be framed as the ringleader.

 

‘Damn it… I’ll have to clear up the misunderstanding later.’

 

Jeon Bongjin made a judgment in an instant. Turning his body, he spoke briefly.

 

“Let’s go quickly.”

 

He hurriedly exited the prison and started running toward the escape route with his subordinates.

 

“Catch them! They’re running away!”

 

The mountain stronghold family members, having belatedly grasped the situation, chased after Jeon Bongjin’s group.

 

“Stop right there!”

 

Whiz—!

 

Gaon’s arrow flew and narrowly brushed past the shoulder of the subordinate who had come to get Jeon Bongjin.

 

He seemed to have aimed accurately, but he didn’t hit the target.

 

Creak.

 

Gaon, who was pulling the bowstring again, paused for a moment. As if deep in thought, he slowly turned his head.

 

At the end of his gaze stood the Chief.

 

He gave a slow nod with a heavy expression.

 

As if he was a person… who had predicted this entire situation from the very beginning.

 

The time was the night Yeong returned.

 

Under the cover of darkness, a man was moving carefully so as not to be seen.

 

As he approached, the people standing guard nodded and stepped aside.

 

As if they were in the same group, they naturally let him pass and started looking around and keeping watch.

 

The place the man headed to was the wooden prison built in the middle of the grand plaza.

 

Inside it, Jeon Bongjin and his subordinates were locked up.

 

“What is the matter?”

 

Jeon Bongjin, having noticed his presence, opened his eyes wide and glared at the man approaching from beyond the pillars.

 

After quickly looking around, the man placed his index finger on his lips as if telling him to be quiet.

 

Then he whispered in a low voice.

 

“I am called Ji Hakseung. I have something to tell the General… so I have come here urgently.”

 

Jeon Bongjin snorted as if it was absurd.

 

“Hah. You lock me up like this and still say you have something to say.”

 

He crossed his arms and spoke sarcastically.

 

“Fine. Let’s hear it then.”

 

“I apologize. I… have come to inform you of the fact that I am preparing to release the General from this prison.”

 

“…You will release me?”

 

Jeon Bongjin’s eyes turned sharp.

 

He knew well what the current situation meant.

 

These words meant that he would betray the deposed Crown Prince Kim Gangdu.