The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 85

“I’m Yeong’s friend, Damho!”

 

His messy black hair flopped down and then bounced back up.

 

“Friend? With a pirate?”

 

Uncle Gaeddong frowned heavily, crossed his arms, and tilted his head as if he was unhappy about something.

 

“No, wait, thinking back, I don’t think you mentioned it ’cause things were so hectic… Yeong, how did you meet this kid?”

 

“Um, we met by chance?”

 

Since there was no particular reason to lie, I told him the truth. At that, Uncle Gaeddong looked even more suspicious, his eyes narrowing sharply as he muttered. 

 

“By chance? Of all places, there? That’s totally fishy, isn’t it?”

 

“Hey, no it’s not. My meeting with Yeongie wasn’t chance; it was destiny.” 

 

Damho grinned brightly, correcting him as he pleased, and strode right up to me. 

 

It seemed a grand festival was being held in honor of a national holiday.

 

Damho, who knew I was living in hiding, seemed to think I must have my reasons.

 

He didn’t ask any further questions about why I was disguised as a boy.

 

He just praised me calmly with sparkling eyes.

 

But wait a minute.

 

“Fireworks?”

 

I tilted my head.

 

So that was why the people bustling about the market seemed so busy?

 

It seemed a grand festival was being held in honor of a national holiday.

 

“Since things are a bit chaotic right now, it will probably be easier to escape even if you happen to get caught or chased.”

 

So there was a reason Gaon said that when we were coming down!

 

I nodded and vaguely agreed.

 

“Yeah… well, I wanted to see the fireworks too. It’s been a while since I came down.”

 

“It’s so great to see you! I came because Father wanted to buy some things. Let’s watch the fireworks together later!”

 

“Hey! Why would our Yeong watch the fireworks with you?”

 

Uncle Gaeddong stepped forward and blocked my path.

 

I stealthily peeked out from behind his back and asked Damho.

 

“Aren’t you here with other people to watch it too? You didn’t come alone, did you?”

 

“No, well. It’s not like that… Pirates are free by nature. My life is mine to…”

 

“You rascal!!”

 

Thwack-!

 

Suddenly, a loud noise rang out, and a large hand delivered a sharp rap to the top of Damho’s head.

 

“Ouch!”

 

“Who told you to steal your father’s money to buy sweet potatoes and wander around on your own!”

 

I absentmindedly raised my gaze.

 

The man was tall—must have been seven feet—with tanned skin. He had thick features, a bushy beard, and black, mid-length hair.

 

To anyone’s eyes, this was…

 

“Ah, geez! Father! Why did you hit me!”

 

It was Damho’s father, who looked exactly like him!

 

‘Wow, to think they resemble each other this much!’

 

It was like standing a young large dog and a fully grown large dog side by side.

 

“I’m all grown up now too. Just let me wander around on my own! I finally ran into Yeong…”

 

“Yeong?”

 

He slowly turned his head and stared at me.

 

The moment our eyes met.

 

He tilted his head.

 

As if he couldn’t believe it, he tilted his head diagonally, then tilted it in the opposite direction.

 

Then he rested his arm on Damho’s head and muttered in a dubious tone.

 

“He’s a young master?”

 

“Well, yes.”

 

“But he’s cute and pretty?”

 

“Right?”

 

“You’re not just cute and pretty, you’re completely cute and pretty? This is no joke.”

 

His gaze was so intense it felt like my small body would be pierced.

 

Uncle Gaeddong desperately tried to cover me to protect me, but he simply turned his head to the side to look at me, and when Uncle Gaeddong moved, he turned his head the other way to look at me again.

 

“Stop lookin’. You’re gonna wear our Yeong out.”

 

When Uncle Gaeddong finally blocked him with a sharp voice, Damho’s father finally grinned.

 

“Ah, are you the kid’s father?”

 

“I’m her uncle.”

 

“Uncle? Then her father is someone else? Huh…? But your face looks familiar…?”

 

When he stared at Gaeddong’s face deep in thought, Damho, unable to watch any longer, stepped in.

 

“He’s a bandit. Lives in a hidden mountain stronghold. They come down sometimes.”

 

“Uh, oh, oh?! I got it! You were one of the guys behind Chief Kim! What Ddong was it? Anchovy Ddong?”

 

“It’s Gaeddong.”

 

“Right! Ancho… Gaeddong! And I absolutely love dogs. Oh my, he’s so cute. I remember now, I remember. My goodness~ To think I’d see you all here! Wait a minute, then…”

 

Swoosh. Damho’s father turned his head back towards me. Soon, he slapped his knee!

 

“Then you must be that kid, Chief Kim’s daughter! Your disguise as a boy is so amazing I almost couldn’t tell you were a girl!”

 

I glanced around cautiously and finally trotted forward.

 

I placed my hands on my belly button and bowed politely.

 

“Hewwo. My name is Seolyeong.”

 

“Oh, my~ look at you. Goodness, you’re like a little fairy from heaven. Ooh~ I just want to give you a big squeeze!”

 

His gruff face turned red as he repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists.

 

“I am the father of your friend Damho here. And I’m also the captain of a ship that wanders the vast, great sea. Do you have any interest in living a life of free travel on the ocean?” 

 

At the pirate captain’s question, asked with sparkling eyes, Uncle Gaeddong jumped in startlement.

 

“What are you saying! Don’t you dare do anything weird to our Yeong!”

 

At the posture that looked ready to draw a sword at any moment, Damho’s father shrugged his shoulders and blew a sharp whistle.

 

“Hey, what’s with the reaction? I was just saying. Come visit the sea anytime! Pirates always welcome cute kids! Let’s go! Damho!”

 

Pat. He tapped Damho’s shoulder and left.

 

Damho followed him but kept looking back and waving at me.

 

“Yeong, I’ll come back here later! You’re staying here, right?”

 

I absentmindedly nodded, and he grinned as if he liked my answer.

 

“Then see you later!!”

 

At his endlessly bright demeanor, a small chuckle escaped my lips.

 

* * *

 

“What did he say? Come live on the sea? How dare he spout such nonsense?”

 

Uncle Gaeddong, still huffing with an unappeased expression, grabbed my hand and led me into the tavern.

 

“Don’t play with him, Yeong. Even if he comes looking for you later, absolutely don’t pay him any attention. Got it? Huh?”

 

At his pressing, I smiled softly as if troubled and nodded.

 

“No, I think he was just joking…”

 

“You can’t just throw jokes around like that!”

 

“Oh, don’t worry, Uncle. I told you I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stick right by your side… Ack?!”

 

Splash—!

 

It happened while we were chatting and walking toward the room. 

 

Perhaps not looking ahead was the source of the trouble. The tavern owner, holding a bottle of alcohol, stumbled as she passed by me and accidentally spilled it.

 

“Oh my goodness!”

 

Startled, her face turned red as she hastily bent down to wipe my pant legs.

 

“Oh, child… your feet are soaking wet. Your socks are ruined with booze, oh dear.”

 

Pull.

 

There was no time to stop her.

 

The woman, not knowing what to do, brushed the alcohol off the socks with her hands, then suddenly grabbed the end and yanked it off.