The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 80

“Jeon Bongjin has escaped!” 

 

“Fire!”

 

At the loud noises, my eyes snapped open.

 

“What? What’s going on…?”

 

I sat up, rubbing my sleepy eyes. 

 

“Young Miss, please put your clothes on just in case. A fire broke out.”

 

“F-fire?!” 

 

Malja was moving busily here and there, gathering things worth taking, and Bokhee hurriedly took out thick clothes and put them on me.

 

‘…It smells like something is burning.’

 

Only then did the acrid smell pierce my nose.

 

“The Chief ordered us to evacuate the Young Miss to the cave first. Let us go, quickly.”

 

I came outside held in Malja’s arms.

 

The outside was already a chaotic blur of loud shouting and flickering firelight.

 

“Move quickly! Quickly!”

 

I watched the people running frantically back and forth. 

 

And what I saw behind them… was a fiercely blazing fire.

 

Fortunately, thanks to the dam I had suggested making before, they could draw water and seemed to have somewhat controlled the flames.

 

“That’s the barracks where the food is piled up…”

 

Even I knew.

 

That it was the place where they stored the precious food they barely managed to bring back from the recent expedition.

 

“How could a fire start there…”

 

While I was looking around in panic.

 

“That Jeon Bongjin escaped!”

 

“His gang set the fire!” 

 

Murmurs leaked out from among the people.

 

Only then did I realize that the grand plaza prison was broken and Jeon Bongjin had disappeared.

 

‘In the end… I couldn’t persuade him. Even after trying so hard….’ 

 

A heavy sense of guilt surged up, pressing down hard on my chest. I covered my mouth.

 

‘Because of me…’

 

I really did my best, but Jeon Bongjin didn’t change his mind in the end.

 

And as a result, everyone was put in danger.

 

“You’re having those useless thoughts again, aren’t you.”

 

Tap, tap.

 

At that moment, along with familiar footsteps, Gaon quickly approached me with fierce eyes.

 

“Huh?”

 

I opened my eyes wide. It was the first time facing him like this since he came to get me a few days ago.

 

Gaon looked straight into my eyes and said.

 

“Don’t worry just in case. The fire is controlled, and this is not your fault. The food isn’t there either. We moved it to the cave.”

 

Huh? You moved it?

 

I wanted to ask more, but the situation looked urgent, and it seemed Gaon had to leave quickly, so I just nodded.

 

Perhaps he was concerned about my condition, he started to turn around but came back and suddenly reached out his hand to ruffle my head.

 

“Gah! My hair…!”

 

I grabbed my head with my small hands and glared at Gaon, and Gaon smiled and whispered softly.

 

“I have something to tell you later. Let’s meet separately. Got it?”

 

His tone sounded like he was hiding something. I tilted my head.

 

‘What does he have to say?’

 

Around the time I tilted my head like that.

 

“Commander! The Chief is calling for you!”

 

A voice calling Gaon was heard from behind.

 

He glanced back, then silently took a piece of cloth out of his chest and threw it to Bokhui.

 

“Cover the kid’s mouth. It’s chaotic here, so go into the cave for now. I’ll let you know when the situation is sorted out.”

 

“Yes. Understood.”

 

“I’m going. See you later.”

 

Gaon raised his index finger and thumb and lightly flicked my forehead.

 

Then he immediately turned around and ran towards where the Chief was.

 

I covered my mouth and nose with the cloth Gaon gave me, mumbling as if talking to myself.

 

‘As expected, he treats me really well.’

 

My heart, which had been heavy until just now, seemed to have lightened a bit.

 

* * *

 

Rustle, rustle!

 

Dupil, who had been hiding in advance predicting the route, quickly started chasing after the escaped Jeon Bongjin.

 

He was more skilled than anyone else at tracking down traces.

 

“Why are you telling us to let Jeon Bongjin go.”

 

“The first priority is to find out his base.”

 

It was an obvious statement.

 

The location of the mountain stronghold was already exposed.

 

Unless they subdued the people on that side, it was only a matter of time before the location was known to the Prime Minister.

 

And.

 

“Only by discovering the location of his home base can we weed out the traitors traveling that path.” 

 

This was also an advantageous condition for uncovering the traitor.

 

Of course, they wouldn’t be able to completely filter them out, but they would definitely be able to secure clear evidence and pick out a large number of them.

 

* * *

 

Around the time Dupil was tailing Jeon Bongjin like that.

 

A meeting between Gaon and the Chief was underway in the mountain stronghold.

 

“We are relocating a part of the mountain stronghold now.”

 

At the Chief’s sudden declaration, Gaon opened his eyes wide in surprise.

 

“Wasn’t relocating the mountain stronghold… something you were planning to consider after General Jeon Bongjin joined us?”

 

In fact, the Chief had been contemplating relocating the mountain stronghold for a long time.

 

The military force was constantly increasing, and above all, accessibility to the capital was the biggest reason. 

 

Ultimately, since the core of the treason was striking the capital, they needed to move their base nearby.

 

They had already scouted a suitable location, and only one problem remained.

 

It was funds.

 

The person who had agreed to solve this problem was Jeon Bongjin.

 

But now, even before receiving funds from him, the Chief had made a decision.

 

“What is the reason you are trying to relocate now?”

 

“It is because the situation has become one where we can no longer trust anyone. We don’t know where information might leak from now. Therefore, until we uncover the traitors, we must first move the reliable personnel.”

 

The Chief’s words certainly made sense.

 

Those who negotiated to expose the base’s location on the condition of releasing Jeon Bongjin.

 

If any of them had contacted the Prime Minister in any way.

 

The mountain stronghold would inevitably be in danger in an instant.

 

In other words, secretly relocating the mountain stronghold and preparing to respond immediately in case of an emergency.

 

Gaon also nodded in agreement.

 

“The problem… would be funds.”

 

“Indeed. Look among the factions that support us for someone who can provide immediate financial support.” 

 

Gaon fell into thought with a darkened face.

 

Naturally, there weren’t many people who could provide emergency funds.

 

However, there was one thing that came to mind.

 

“Chief, I have something urgent to tell you.”

 

* * *

 

“Are you okay? Our Yeongie.”

 

“You must have been very startled by the sudden fire.”

 

“It’s okay now since the uncles are here.”

 

Fortunately, the fire was quickly extinguished, and there was no major damage except for the barracks used as food storage.

 

I, who had taken refuge in the cave for a while just in case, returned shortly.

 

And I could rest sitting on my familiar bedding.

 

Back to the present.

 

I was surrounded by the mountain stronghold family members, including the Four Ddong uncles, since early in the morning.

 

As soon as the fire was controlled, the uncles seemed to have been worried about me.

 

‘They’ve become even more overprotective than before.’

 

Of course, there were still some people who would flinch in surprise looking at me, perhaps recalling the current King’s face.

 

But still. 

 

I could feel that most of them were more determined to cherish me since that day.

 

‘I thought everyone would leave me and hate me once the truth was known…’

 

I felt amazed anew by that fact.

 

During my entire stay here, I hadn’t been able to put my mind at ease for even a single day.

 

Because I couldn’t erase the thought that someday the truth would be revealed and they would turn their backs on me.

 

Maybe that’s why.

 

Now, my heart felt a little lighter. 

 

“I’m fine, uncles. Don’t worry.”

 

I shook my head side to side, stopping their concern.

 

Right then.

 

Clack. Along with the sound of the door opening, a familiar figure entered.

 

“Commander…!”

 

First Commander, Gaon.

 

Leaning somewhat askew against the doorframe, he jerked his chin toward the family members inside.

 

“I need to have a private talk with Yeong for a moment.”

 

At Gaon’s eviction order, the mountain stronghold family members bowed their heads and quietly filed out of the room.

 

The space left with just the two of us.

 

I glanced at him, and he chuckled and said.

 

“What were you doing? Digging a hole again?”

 

“Digging a hole?!”

 

“You’re good at that.”

 

“Digging a hole while going, ‘Uncles… it’s all my fault… wahh….’ Is it because you’re a shorty?”

 

As Gaon teased me while imitating my voice, my face turned red, and I jumped up and shouted.

 

“I didn’t! I didn’t do that!”

 

“Okay. Don’t do that anymore. Stuff like that.”

 

Contrary to my expectation, his tone was serious.

 

“This incident is not your fault, nor is it anyone’s mistake.”

 

“……?”

 

At first, I thought he was just going to tease me.

 

But there was a strange weight to Gaon’s voice.

 

“Because this whole situation… was exactly what the Chief intended.”