The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 99

Thanks to the lights hung here and there on the ship, Park Dohyul’s expression was clearly visible.

 

Feeling shy for no reason, I scratched my head.

 

“R-right? It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

 

“Yeah. Extremely.”

 

When I stole a glance, Park Dohyul was still looking at me. 

 

With the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile, his head tilted, and his chin resting on his hand.

 

His gaze was not on the sky, nor the stars, but entirely on me.

 

‘Ah, that’s…!’

 

It suddenly came to my mind.

 

That was a look I knew all too well.

 

That is, the expression and look my uncles or the Chief would make when they found me so cute they didn’t know what to do!

 

‘…Has Park Dohyul also become one of the people who cherish me now.’

 

I had become close to none other than the male protagonist of the novel.

 

For some reason, a corner of my heart felt ticklish.

 

‘But why?’

 

Such an expression, such a look, such warmth are not easily shown.

 

No matter how I thought about it, it seemed Park Dohyul really thought of me as someone special.

 

He even saved me twice.

 

Not by mere coincidence, but through clear ‘will’ and ‘determination.’ 

 

Of course, I was grateful to Damho and the captain, but even before them, if it weren’t for Park Dohyul, I wouldn’t have survived.

 

Just like before.

 

‘Just like the captain said… it couldn’t have been an easy choice to turn his back on his father and uphold his beliefs.’

 

Originally, Park Dohyul was supposed to realize the truth much later and turn his back on his father.

 

But that timeline had been moved forward.

 

That wasn’t just because I had said a few words to him.

 

‘Because Park Dohyul… was a solid and strong person from the beginning.’

 

I had been the one to share that beginning with him for the first time.

 

“Brother is a special person too! So, I really hope Brother does what you truly want to do.”

 

“I’ll come save you next time, Brother.”

 

“I will return.”

 

When I met him previously, I promised that I would definitely return.

 

But thinking about it… both then and now, the one who saved me was always Park Dohyul.

 

“Please… do not struggle alone.”

 

The Chief’s words suddenly came to mind.

 

For me, someone who had always taken it for granted to resolve things alone and struggle alone, I had believed that I absolutely had to achieve something this time as well. 

 

But now.

 

Looking at Damho, who convinced his family and rushed over to save me, and Park Dohyul, who returned after growing up significantly in a few years, I realized.

 

‘I’m not alone.’

 

Their solid inner selves were wrapping around me much stronger than I thought.

 

Saving me in unexpected ways at every unpredicted moment. 

 

It felt as if they were telling me.

 

In this life, you don’t have to struggle alone anymore.

 

“Ugh?!”

 

Just then, Damho suddenly squeezed in between Park Dohyul and me.

 

“Wh-what!”

 

Puffing out his cheeks, he spoke with a voice full of complaints.

 

“Let me join in too! Stop talking just between the two of you!”

 

“What, when did I ever talk only with Brother Dohyul…!”

 

“Look! See! Yeong! Why is he ‘Brother’ and I’m just ‘Damho’?!”

 

He pouted his lips and protested with his arms crossed.

 

His appearance was so cute that a small chuckle escaped me.

 

“Because you’re my friend, Damho! It’s a bit weird to call a friend ‘Brother’, isn’t it?”

 

“…Hmm, I guess so. Since I’m your friend!”

 

Quickly convinced, Damho shrugged his shoulders.

 

Swoosh.

 

“Do you mind moving?”

 

Just then, Park Dohyul lightly pushed away Damho’s head, which was blocking his view.

 

Then Damho glared and protested.

 

“Heyyy, why are you pushing me!” 

 

“Because you’re blocking my view?”

 

His tone, which had been endlessly gentle when talking to me, had somehow turned chilly.

 

The contrast was funny yet strange.

 

I peeked my head out between the two and observed the situation with interest.

 

“Would you step aside?” 

 

“Why shouuuuld I? I don’t want to? I don’t waaant tooo—? Blehh, are you mad?” 

 

“I’m Yeong’s friend, you know? I’m closer to her, you know?”

 

“I’m Yeong’s Brother.”

 

“A-A friend is way better than an older brother, you know?” 

 

“Then you will be Yeong’s friend for the rest of your life. I’ll be Yeong’s Brother for the rest of my life.”

 

“T-That is what’s going to happen, but… hey, you! W-W-What is with your incredibly obnoxious way of speaking! After we went out of our way to let you on our ship!” 

 

“Showing off after saving someone’s life is something uneducated people do.”

 

“Y-you, I thought you were an interesting guy so I wanted to be friends! You’re completely annoying! Is being handsome everything!”

 

“I don’t particularly want to hear that from you.”

 

The two of them began to bicker, engaging in a strange war of nerves.

 

I thought to myself.

 

‘This… are they going to end up fighting at this rate?’

 

At first, it was funny and entertaining, but at some point, I kept rolling my eyes, wondering if I should stop them.

 

Swoosh-!

 

Then I spotted a shooting star falling from the sky.

 

“Ah! Look over there!”

 

I quickly pointed my index finger and shouted, as if interrupting their conversation.

 

“Another shooting star is falling! Hurry, let’s make a wish!”

 

“Huh?”

 

“They say wishes come true if you make them when a shooting star falls! You guys make a wish too, hurry!”

 

I brought my two hands together and squeezed my eyes shut. And I muttered quietly.

 

“Uncle, Aunties… Dad… please let everyone be happy. And Damho and Brother Dohyul too.”

 

“What’s… with that.”

 

Damho grumbled, then soon brought his hands together and wished vigorously.

 

“Please let Yeong’s wish come trueeeee! And please let me become the best captain!! Please let Yeong be happy! Please let her eat lots of delicious things!”

 

“Just how many wishes are you making.” 

 

Park Dohyul seemed to scold him, but then squeezed his eyes shut and quietly opened them.

 

“Did you make a wish too, Brother?”

 

When I asked out of curiosity, he nodded and answered quietly.

 

“…Mhm.”

 

“What did you wish for?”

 

“That is…”

 

Looking at me with meaningful eyes, Park Dohyul soon smiled brightly.

 

“It’s a secret.”

 

“Whaaat-!”

 

Ugh. I had raised my expectations only to be disappointed, so I pouted, and Damho clenched his fists tightly, looking even more indignant than I was. 

 

“Ah! Seriously! What is it, why won’t you tell us! Why, why! Making us all curious!”

 

“It’s up to me.”

 

Park Dohyul shrugged and answered, and it seemed round two with Damho was about to begin because of it.

 

Click—! 

 

Fortunately, just in time, the sound of the cabin door opening was heard.

 

Gaon and the Captain were coming out, as if they had finished their conversation. 

 

Gaon looked around as if searching for me, then walked straight over.

 

“Uncle!”

 

“Did you have fun playing?” 

 

Pat.

 

Gaon pressed down on my head and stroked it. I nodded excitedly.

 

“Mhm! Did your talk go well, Uncle?” 

 

“Yeah. The captain and your friend are going to come to our base with us later.”

 

“Really?!”

 

“Yeah. If the pirates join us, they’ll be a valuable asset to our forces. It’s all thanks to you making a good friend. Good job.”

 

“It’s really thanks to Damho.” 

 

Damho shrugged his shoulders, and Park Dohyul glanced at Damho as if displeased for no reason.

 

Gaon turned his gaze toward Park Dohyul.

 

“You said your name was Park Dohyul? I’d like to have a separate conversation with you before you leave too.”

 

Park Dohyul nodded as if he had expected it.

 

“Yes. I understand. I actually had something to tell you as well.” 

 

What on earth are they going to talk about…? 

 

Before my question could be answered, Park Dohyul quietly stood up and followed behind Gaon. 

 

Watching the two of them enter the cabin side by side, I could only tilt my head in confusion.

 

“I’ll ask you straightforwardly.”

 

Inside the cabin, as soon as the door closed quietly, Gaon stared directly at Park Dohyul and spoke.

 

“Do you have the intention to continue a cooperative relationship with us in the future?”

 

Gaining the pirates as allies was certainly a welcome development. 

 

But in Gaon’s eyes, an even more important figure than the pirates was the boy standing before him, Park Dohyul.

 

There were many conditions required for a rebellion.

 

A leader’s decisiveness, military might, provisions, support, terrain… all of those things had to be aligned. 

 

But among them, ‘information’ was the most important of all.

 

In other words, Park Dohyul, who was at the center of the enemy and fully grasped their internal situation, was certain to become a very useful card for ‘Seolhwa’.

 

But the problem was…

 

This question could be a somewhat cruel test for Park Dohyul.

 

It was different from merely saving Yeong’s life like this time.

 

Cooperating with Seolhwa meant completely turning his back on his own biological father.

 

“…As for me.” 

 

Park Dohyul, having caught his breath for a moment, finally opened his mouth.