The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 86

Startled and terrified, I reflexively yanked my foot back, pulling it out of her grasp with all my strength. 

 

Uncle Gaeddong dashed over, swept me up into his arms, and shouted at the tavern owner.

 

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing? Why are you taking off the child’s socks without permission!”

 

“Ah, why are you gettin’ so suddenly angry? It was wet, so I thought the kid’s foot might end up smellin’ like alcohol.”

 

The flustered tavern owner shrugged her shoulders and trailed off in bewilderment.

 

Then she turned her gaze to me and offered a soft apology.

 

“Little one, I was feelin’ good today and got a little drunk, so I made a mistake. I’m sorry. Hmm? I’ll wash this clean and give it back to you.”

 

“Whoa! This person, really…!”

 

Just as Uncle Gaeddong was about to lose his temper again, I hurriedly grabbed his sleeve and shook my head.

 

“It’s okay, Uncle.”

 

I wasn’t sure if it was really okay. But judging by the smell of alcohol coming from her, there was a high chance it was a genuine mistake.

 

Besides, if a big commotion broke out, it would only draw more attention. 

 

‘…It does bother me a little that the pattern on the top of my foot was seen. But it’s better not to get into a fight right now.’

 

I tugged hard on Uncle Gaeddong’s sleeve as if to say we should go quickly, and shook my head side to side.

 

Only then did Uncle let out a deep sigh and give her a low warning.

 

“Be more careful from now on. If you lay your hands on our Yeong carelessly again, I won’t let your wrist off easy. Got it?”

 

“Oh my, really! I said I got it! I got it! Just take it and go!”

 

The tavern owner grumbled and threw my beoseon carelessly at my uncle, who snatched it mid-air with a sharp glare.

 

“Uncle! I told you I’m weally okay!”

 

I glanced back at her and then carefully patted the back of my uncle’s hand.

 

As I comforted him, I couldn’t erase the anxiety swirling in a corner of my heart.

 

“Let’s go in! Quickly!”

 

“Anyway! Don’t play with that pirate kid, Yeong. I really mean it.”

 

“I—I know! Hurry!” 

 

Feeling strangely uneasy, I urged my uncle, and we hurried our steps into the room.

 

‘Gaon… when will he be back?’

 

I quietly prayed in my heart.

 

That Gaon would return safely and quickly. And that nothing would happen to the Chief at the faraway mountain stronghold.

 

* * *

 

One hour later.

 

“You… how dare you…!” 

 

Gaon silently stared at his father, who was kneeling before him, tightly bound.

 

He had already grasped the size of the private soldiers and the escape routes here as soon as he entered the main gate.

 

So Gaon easily subdued his father, who swung a sword at him.

 

And he was able to subdue without fail the private soldiers rushing at him and even those trying to flee outside.

 

As a result, more easily than expected…

 

He was even able to capture and bring his adoptive mother, who had been hiding and watching the whole situation, to her knees before him.

 

“What should we do?”

 

At his subordinate’s question, Gaon remained silent for a moment.

 

He had inwardly hoped until he arrived here. Please let that child’s words not be true.

 

That the warning not to trust them was a lie. 

 

Perhaps, even though he had completely broken away from them now…

 

There might have been a lingering attachment, a hope that they had considered him a son even for a single moment.

 

But with his father’s actions severing even that shred of expectation, Gaon was able to completely discard even that tiny bit of feeling.

 

“Untie me! Do you think you’ll be safe after daring to do this to your parents! Heaven will not let you be! I will definitely…!”

 

“Gag them.”

 

At Gaon’s order, his subordinates rushed in and shoved cloths into the mouths of Lord Kim Junmo and his wife.

 

Enraged, their bodies trembled as they tried to say something, but the mangled sounds could not easily form into words.

 

“Did you say ‘parents’?” 

 

Gaon spoke in a calm, lowered voice. He reached out and brushed his hand over the wooden floor of the veranda. 

 

‘Crawling on this floor, begging to be spared…’

 

The memories of begging them to stop the beatings poured out endlessly.

 

“As the Prime Minister’s lackeys, you always trampled on the people around you. Not just me, but all the weak people.”

 

Gaon slightly turned his head and stared at the family’s slaves and servants.

 

Gaon wasn’t the only one who was beaten like it was a daily meal.

 

Lord Kim Junmo took his anger out on all the servants and slaves in the family whenever he had the chance.

 

He took a deep breath once.

 

“Listen clearly. Neither I… nor the servants and slaves here are people you can look down on, whip, and treat recklessly without cause just because our status is low.”

 

At Gaon’s words, the similarly bound servants raised their heads.

 

Their eyes were trembling slightly. As if recalling the past years of hardship they had endured.

 

Gaon tightly closed his eyes.

 

“I am a little different from others, but I am not wrong. I am…”

 

“Uncle, you are truly amazing.”

 

A clear, refreshing voice that seemed to be heard from somewhere.

 

Encouraged by it, Gaon smiled a little shamelessly but wryly as he continued.

 

“I am a cool… and amazing person.”

 

To the people who had loathed him most in the world, who had trampled him and pushed him to the edge of hell. 

 

To those who made him feel like a nobody, a useless existence.

 

“Therefore, you who tried to carelessly trample on me… are no longer my parents.”

 

Gaon looked down at them with cold eyes.

 

There were no longer any emotions left in his eyes.

 

“You are no longer my family. I will…”

 

“…..”

 

“I will abandon you.”

 

Having finished speaking, Gaon looked back at his subordinates.

 

“The three of you, take the carts with the funds and head out first. And you two, untie the slaves. Loosen their gags so they won’t suffocate.” 

 

It was the last consideration Gaon could give.

 

That was the last consideration Gaon could give.

 

To leave after sparing the lives of those who had attacked him and freeing their people. 

 

Gaon turned his back on his father and adoptive mother and strode away.

 

“Stop right there—!!” 

 

And, a half-hoarse shout rang out loudly from behind his back.

 

The moment he ignored it and took a step again.

 

“You fool! Do you think the Prime Minister’s people are only in noble families?”

 

Stop.

 

Gaon stopped in his tracks for a moment and furrowed his brow.

 

“Do you think there are none among the slaves? Do you really think there are none among the women or the elderly! I assure you…”

 

Spit! Lord Kim Junmo twitched his mouth and spat towards Gaon’s back.

 

“You must have already been tailed by the Prime Minister’s people.”

 

Thump.

 

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over Gaon.

 

From the moment he entered the village, the faces of the countless people he had brushed past came to mind.

 

He had been so focused on hiding his face from the people of the noble class.

 

From arriving at the tavern, eating with Yeong, taking a short break, to coming out.

 

How many common people had he encountered?

 

‘Among them, perhaps…’

 

If by any chance there was someone belonging to the Prime Minister.

 

Although he was properly disguised, if there was someone who noticed his identity due to this unfamiliar appearance that was hard to hide.

 

‘Yeong might be… in danger.’

 

Ring.

 

At the warning sound ringing in his head, Gaon urgently gave an order.

 

A strangely ominous intuition made the hair on his body stand on end, and a chill ran down his spine.

 

“Hurry! Follow me!”

 

Without another word, Gaon immediately turned his body, kicked open the main gate, and started running.

 

Behind him, his subordinates pulling the carts with the funds quickly followed.

 

Only after they disappeared from sight did Lord Kim Junmo begin to chuckle.

 

Then, looking back at the servants standing hesitantly nearby, he raised his voice with bloodshot eyes and scolded them.

 

“What are you doing! Can’t you untie me at once! Do you want to be beaten!”

 

“…..”

 

Glance, glance.

 

The servants and slaves looked at one another, and the light in their eyes began to change slowly. Then, they suddenly clenched their fists tight.