The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 93

“Get up. You guys are the ones who saved me both in the past and this time. So there’s no need to kneel. I’m actually the one who’s thankful.”

 

Gaon said with a firm expression.

 

He was definitely grateful in his heart.

 

But recruiting them was another matter, as it involved responsibility.

 

He was currently in the position of preparing for a rebellion under the Chief.

 

Gathering people to train and cultivate them as private soldiers was absolutely necessary, but at the same time, the process of verifying whether they were trustworthy individuals was also essential.

 

To this end, the Chief had established a system of having them undergo verification and training at a separate base, not the mountain stronghold, before finally joining.

 

The location of the fortress was a life-or-death secret that could not be easily granted to anyone.  

 

Recalling such strict principles, Gaon quietly asked them.

 

“If you want to be under me, you have to endure rigorous training and thorough verification. Do you still want to follow me?”

 

“W-we can do it!” 

 

“We will! Without fail!”

 

At their unhesitating answers, Gaon nodded.

 

“Good. Then follow me. However, you must be prepared. Because you have to be able to risk your lives for the Chief I serve and this cause.”

 

“Understood, Young Master! We will do so!”

 

When Gaon made his decision, Chilbok and Maksoe jumped for joy with delighted expressions.

 

“From now on, call me ‘First Commander’.”

 

“Yes! First Commander!”

 

Gaon assessed the surroundings again and sorted out the situation.

 

“First Commander, the remaining enemies have all fled!”

 

“It’s too early to be relieved. They’ll return leading more private soldiers.”

 

Fortunately, as the tide turned due to the overwhelming difference in numbers, the surviving private soldiers of the Prime Minister fled in terror. Most of them either lost their lives on the spot or remained collapsed.

 

Swoosh.

 

Gaon briefly looked down at the faces of the fallen private soldiers one by one, then suddenly frowned as he stared at an arrow stuck to the side.

 

‘The trajectory of the arrow… was somewhat strange.’

 

He didn’t see it clearly, but it was definitely different from the usual direction. A strange feeling of unease washed over him.

 

“We must hurry, Commander Kim Gaon.”

 

Seo Taeho, who had finished emergency treatment with a cloth, approached and urged him carefully.  

 

“First Commander, where do you plan to go?”

 

When Maksoe approached and asked, Gaon answered firmly.

 

“I’m going to the ferry crossing. Because Yeong is there.”

 

“The ferry crossing? If it’s the ferry crossing, we know a shortcut!”

 

Just then, a female slave raised her hand sharply and stepped forward.

 

“A shortcut?”

 

“Yes. It’s a path the women used to take to do laundry, and even though you have to pass through something like a dog hole, it’s much faster!”

 

Her eyes sparkled as if she wanted to be of help.

 

“It would be better to go that way. The main roads will be littered with private soldiers everywhere.”

 

As Seo Taeho also nodded and supported the idea, Gaon gave the order.

 

“You lead the way.”

 

“Yes. Understood!”

 

The female slaves began to move in perfect order.

 

Before leaving, Gaon looked around the inside and outside of the tavern meaningfully one last time.

 

It was a place where blood had splattered and arrows had flown just moments ago, yet it was bizarrely quiet.

 

As if… it wasn’t over yet.

 

Feeling uneasy, Gaon couldn’t take his eyes off for a moment, but soon tilted his head and moved his feet.

 

* * * 

 

“Phew—!” 

 

Only after Gaon’s group left did the captain release the hand covering Damho’s mouth.

 

Damho, who had been constantly flailing his hands asking to be let go, finally gasped for breath with a flushed face.

 

“Father!”

 

With a voice full of complaints, Damho clenched his fists tightly and called the captain.

 

Towards such Damho, the captain quietly spoke with a face completely devoid of a smile, which was rare for him.

 

“Son.”

 

“Yes. Father. But why on earth did you cover my mouth! We could have just gone out and helped…”

 

“Damho.”

 

“…..?”

 

“Listen carefully to what your father says. This is a very important matter in your entire life.”

 

At the firm tone, Damho also naturally became serious. The captain continued his words heavily.

 

“If you choose the path of helping them and standing against the Prime Minister, it means you must fight with your life on the line. You might lose someone precious, and you might not be able to live freely anymore.”

 

The captain stopped speaking and lightly placed a large hand on his young son’s shoulder.

 

“You must have felt it when you were chased by the Kingdom of the Auspicious Qilin group. A life chased by enemies is never easy. From now on, you’ll have to be careful of the Prime Minister’s subordinates as well. You won’t be able to trust anyone, and you might have to hide your identity anytime, anywhere. Do you understand?”

 

At those words, Damho quietly looked at the captain.

 

‘Father… rarely speaks this seriously.’

 

He could feel that his father, who cared for him immensely, wanted to desperately stop him but was hiding his suppressed feelings.

 

Feeling the depth of his father’s love, Damho moved his lips but couldn’t give any answer.

 

A short silence flowed between the father and son.

 

Then the captain knelt down and met Damho’s eyes.

 

“Son, deciding to protect someone sometimes means you have to be prepared to lose everything you have.”

 

“…..”

 

“Will you still be okay with that? Even though you might not be able to do what you want in your life… and sacrifices might follow?”

 

Damho remained silent for a moment.

 

Whether lost in thought, there was no movement on his youthful, young face or his down-turned eyes that looked somewhat gentle. 

 

Then suddenly, with his characteristic mischievous grin, he said,

 

“…Father.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I am a pirate.”

 

Thump, thump. Damho tapped his chest with his fist.

 

“Pirates do not betray loyalty. Even though there are fearful moments, we do not run away leaving behind the ones we want to protect and our beliefs.”

 

At those words, the captain’s eyes narrowed.

 

Bump. Damho lightly bumped his fist against his father’s fist.

 

“Don’t worry! Turning a blind eye to a benefactor and a friend is something a coward does.”

 

“Even if sacrifices follow on that path?”

 

“Yes! If sacrifices follow on the path of protecting that belief, I will endure them. Because that is who I am, and it is my choice!”

 

“…..”

 

“This is all what you taught me, Father. Right?”

 

Grin.

 

At those words, the captain also smiled exactly the same way. The sight of them smiling side by side showed even their eyes resembled each other.

 

“Hahaha! You’ve grown well, my son!”

 

Smack—!

 

The two men’s fists bumped powerfully.

 

“Good. Never forget that resolve. As a captain, I respect the decision of my successor, you.”

 

Swoosh. The captain raised his hand and ruffled Damho’s hair vigorously.

 

“Eek!”

 

At Damho grabbing his hair, the captain laughed even more heartily.

 

“This father of yours will always help you.”

 

“Father…”

 

“I am proud of you trying to act according to your beliefs even when you are afraid, my son. As expected of the son I raised!”

 

“Then let’s hurry and follow them. It’ll be too late even if we follow them now…”

 

“No, son. Pirates have the pirate’s way, don’t we.”

 

Swoosh—!

 

The captain stood up from his spot and his eyes flashed.

 

Then he raised his hand high and blew a long whistle.

 

Fweeeet—! 

 

At the unique sound, a powerful flapping of wings, flap flap, was heard from the sky above.

 

Soon, a large falcon cut through the sky and flew toward the captain.

 

“You’re here.”

 

Whoosh—!

 

The falcon that flew straight in landed on the captain’s forearm. The captain looked at Damho and asked.

 

“Are you ready to set sail?”

 

At those words, Damho jumped up with a grin, as if he understood what it meant.

 

It was time to head to the pirates’ true stage, the water they were most familiar with.