The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 15
Thump. A wooden plank clattered down, creating a bridge between ship and dock.
The main cast had all assembled.
This was the true starting point. All we had to do was cross this precarious plank swaying with the tide, and a year-long voyage would begin.
“Tatiana, take my hand.”
Serena, walking ahead, turned back and spoke to me.
Strangely, my fear had vanished, leaving only an odd excitement in its place.
“Thanks, aaaah!”
I mistepped on the lurching hull.
“You need to be more careful.”
As I tumbled into Serena’s arms, she effortlessly lifted me and set me down on the deck.
“Hey, I’m kind of excited about this.”
“Excited? You look older than me anyway.”
Serena laughed softly as she stepped onto the deck.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-one. You?”
“…I always thought pretty was good enough for ‘older sister.'”
“Then I guess that makes you my older sister too.”
“Well, I suppose.”
Our female lead really does know how to read people. Honestly, I’m not lacking in looks either.
“Tatiana, would you go into the infirmary first? I’ll apply medicine right away.”
That was when Perian, who had already come aboard, spoke up.
Behind him, I could see Kies inserting a bar into the capstan to raise the anchor.
In the infirmary, I quietly undressed and lay face-down on the bed.
At first it felt awkward, but after repeating it daily, I’d grown used to it. Perian was considerate in his treatment, after all.
The ship began to move slowly, and soon Perian came in.
“It itches a lot, doesn’t it?”
“I want to scratch it raw.”
“The scabs have mostly fallen off now. I think we can move to scar ointment.”
“Do I have to apply that every day too?”
“Yes. Morning and evening.”
Perian examined my back, then went to the desk and retrieved several medicinal herbs, crushing them in a mortar.
I didn’t want to keep depending on him.
“Then since it’s mostly healed, if you make plenty of scar ointment, I can apply it myself.”
“It’s not fully healed yet. And how would you apply it to your own back?”
“I’m quite flexible.”
“Is it uncomfortable having me do it? I’m a physician, so you don’t need to feel shy. I’m going to apply it now, so don’t move.”
When something cold and thick touched my back, my shoulders flinched.
Even though I applied medicine daily, the herbal paste felt strange compared to the modern salves I was used to.
“It’s not that it’s uncomfortable. I could ask Serena, too, you know.”
“Or is it because my family is of lower standing?”
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
So he’d taken those words from our first fight to heart.
‘His family is his weak point.’
He was born a genius into a ruined family, pressured to rise in status, and scorned by those of high birth—like arrogant princesses, for example.
He embodied the strange coexistence of ambition for upward mobility and disdain for the nobility.
“You might not believe me, but personally I think all people, regardless of status, are equally precious.”
“Hmm, that doesn’t sound like the princess I knew.”
“The physician I knew was always gentle too. I didn’t expect him to say someone deserved to be burned at the stake, though.”
“Ha, you’ve got me there.”
The original story was about the main characters returning to the Empire, so I didn’t know what had happened between the false princess and them.
But since Perian seemed much more at ease after leaving the Empire, he probably just silently suffered under the false princess’s hand while there.
“It’s all applied now. Stay still for a bit so it absorbs.”
Perian finished by wiping his hands.
He clearly had no intention of honoring my request for the medicine separately.
‘It’s awkward to keep just receiving help.’
I’d been thinking about it for a while—it felt like I needed to contribute something.
Once Serena, who was far more skilled, took over cooking, my role had vanished. Everyone else had their assigned duties.
‘What would work?’
I was pondering this when a knock came, followed by Serena’s voice.
“Can I come in for a second?”
Perian glanced at me. He seemed to notice I was undressed.
We’re both women anyway, so what did it matter.
“Come in.”
When Serena opened the door and saw me covered in herbal paste, she stopped short.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, Kies is using the bathroom right now. Would it be okay if I used your room to wash up?”
“Sure. From now on, just wash in my room, Serena.”
The bathroom had originally been just one, next to the dining hall on the first floor, but since my room already had a wash basin, Berto had said it would be easy to add one there.
“Thank you.”
After Serena left, I waited for the medicine to absorb, then wrapped myself in bandages and headed to the dining hall.
“Ah, yes.”
My beloved refrigerator.
This world had refrigerators too. They ran on Magic Stones and were so expensive only the nobility could afford them, but I’d pushed hard enough to get one.
I brewed drip coffee, grabbed ice from the freezer, and made an iced americano.
“Ahhhh, now that’s the stuff.”
As I gulped it down, the cold enveloped my whole body and hit my head like a hammer.
“I’ll grab a book and head up to the deck.”
Bliss.
I headed straight to my room. The moment I opened the door—
“…”
I locked eyes with a half-naked man in my room.
“Ah, caught.”
The man seemed briefly flustered, then laughed easily.
“Kyaaaaaa!”
The moment I screamed, the wooden floor thundered under running feet as everyone rushed in.
“Tatiana!”
“What’s wrong!”
“There’s a pervert in my room!”
I drew my revolver from its holster and aimed it at the man still standing calmly.
“He’s not a pervert, exactly.”
Berto had drawn his sword, and Kies held me close while shielding my eyes with his hand as he spoke.
“Who are you? When did you board this ship, and what’s your purpose? Speak plainly.”
“Um, wouldn’t it be better if I got dressed first and we talked?”
Despite having weapons pointed at him, the man radiated casual confidence.
But now that I thought about it, his face seemed familiar. The red hair, the drooping eyes—exactly like…
“Serena?”
At my murmur, the man broke into a delighted grin.
“I knew you’d figure it out.”
We gathered around the round table in the dining hall.
“Explain yourself. If I’m not convinced, I’m throwing you overboard.”
Kies spoke coldly, but Serena—or whatever his real name was—kept smiling like this was all amusing.
“Well, where should I start.”
The female lead becoming male—it was confusing.
A reverse harem novel with three male leads, but not a single kiss scene—was this why?
“My real name is Dilshard. I changed my appearance when running cons—being a woman is convenient for that. I got caught by the Expedition Group leader.”
“I’ve never heard of magic like that.”
“That’s because I developed it myself. I’m carrying Magic Stones with the spell engraved on them. Even with a Mana Control Device equipped, it didn’t deactivate.”
So he was talented enough to become a Tower Master, according to the original story. Truly exceptional magic.
“Why did you approach us?”
Kies, whose voice was already naturally low, asked in an ominous tone.
I’d noticed since earlier—despite being faced with the piercing gaze of someone radiating Aura Usage, Dilshard showed no fear whatsoever.
“Tatiana approached me. She’s the one who suggested I come along.”
Suddenly all eyes turned to me.
“I just freed someone from a cage. Don’t blame me for that.”
If Lucas knew about this and didn’t warn me, I’d curse him to the skies.
“Take the Escape Boat and go.”
At Kies’s words, I looked up at him in shock.
“You’re dumping me in the middle of the ocean?”
The female lead being male was unexpected, but I couldn’t leave Dilshard behind.
We’d need Dilshard when journeying back to the Empire and facing the demon.
“We haven’t been at sea long. If you set your course right, you’ll reach land quickly.”
I hurried to defend him.
“Wait. Yes, he’s changed gender, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a problem. At least his intention wasn’t to harm us.”
Kies’s hostile gaze turned toward me.
“You said it yourself. Crossing the world is dangerous. We can’t take aboard anyone we don’t trust. Least of all someone who changes their gender for deception.”
“But…”
I looked around desperately for support, but Berto and Perian seemed to share Kies’s view.
“Tatiana, I don’t want to suspect you anymore. It’s not natural to insist on this person’s joining without a compelling reason.”
“Then let two untrustworthy people disembark.”
Unable to think of any way to convince them, I was opening and closing my mouth uselessly when Dilshard suddenly cut in.
“Watching you three with Tatiana, you all seem to have plenty of problems. Shouldn’t those three be excluded from this journey too? After all, Tatiana has no particular ability.”
What’s this bastard doing—I’m trying to help him, and he’s turning the tables on me? And what do you mean I have no ability?
My body may be weak, but I know everything that’s about to happen.
“What do you say, Tatiana? Leave these fools and come with me. With my abilities, you’ll never go hungry.”
Actually, if the world weren’t in danger, it would be a tempting offer.
I met Dilshard’s relaxed gaze—
Crack.
Something snapped.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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