The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 34

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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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Episode 34
Perian’s eyes held not disbelief, but fascination.
“I heard it once at a tavern. The ships of wealthy merchants, especially those carrying high-ranking passengers, don’t get scurvy.”
Perian understood my meaning at once.
“You mean people with iceboxes—those who can consume fresh fruit—don’t contract scurvy.”
“Exactly. Though I’ve no idea what the connection between fruit and scurvy actually is.”
With current medical technology unable to measure internal nutritional states precisely, there was no way to explain vitamins.
“Since it’s all conjecture, I’ll need to observe his condition over the next few days.”
“And you tossed that pirate’s pockets without even being certain?”
“That was compensation for the kidnapping and hostage situation. If he did wrong, he deserves punishment.”
It was definitely scurvy.
Symptoms aside, Perian had already made the diagnosis, and from the look in Kai’s eyes, he’d anticipated it too.
“If we return to the Empire…”
Perian, who’d been busily munching strawberries, stopped mid-chew, his expression hardening.
“Why?”
“No, just. I thought you’d make a fine doctor if properly trained.”
“I’m already grown.”
I knew that wasn’t what he meant, but I gave a vague answer anyway.
He already knew I wasn’t returning to the Empire.
“You two should eat some of this.”
Perian, who’d been staring hard at me, set a basket of strawberries between Keis and myself, then left.
“We should be fine for now.”
Between how well we’d eaten at the Inn, I was gradually getting plumper as the days passed.
“Eat it anyway.”
“Is this some kind of wish of yours?”
“It’s nothing like that.”
I looked down at the strawberry Keis offered, then turned my head away.
“Then I won’t eat it.”
“How old are you, saying things like that?”
“I’m younger than you, and—”
Keis shoved the strawberry into my mouth while I had it open mid-sentence.
* * *
The captain’s quarters of the Jellyfish Pirate Band’s vessel.
“I’m against it!”
Pudding squeaked indignantly. I’d only just finished explaining my plan.
“Against what?”
I lay back against the bed, eyes lifting from the Pendant containing the Treasure Fragment, to look at Pudding.
“Guiding those people all the way to the Empire. Why do you keep getting treated like that and still want to take them there!”
“It’s not like I’ve been treated poorly. Just a bit of suspicion. Besides, look—I get the best quarters, don’t I?”
“You were even threatened with being abandoned!”
“That was more a warning than a threat, really. If I acted like some demon impersonating me, no one could travel with me.”
Sometimes I felt wronged and angry, but it made sense they’d be cautious.
“Why don’t you just tell them the truth? Your relationship with them isn’t that bad except for the timid one.”
“It’s not bad, which is why I won’t scratch an itch. While they’re trying to gauge whether my words are true, this fragile bond we’ve barely built will crumble in an instant.”
I spoke matter-of-factly, and Pudding whined like a stubborn child.
“Let’s not go. I don’t want to go to the Empire.”
“I won’t go either. We’ll part ways at the last port.”
“Don’t you understand what I’m saying? Quit being a guide altogether.”
“And let this world collapse? Then I’d die too.”
Pudding puffed out his already round cheeks even wider.
“Let’s search for treasure on the way. It’ll be hard alone. If you have any conscience, you’ll help me.”
“Where is it?”
“A few days south from here.”
“That’s not on the way. We need to go east, remember? And we don’t even know what this treasure is.”
Pudding said he could sense the location of the most precious treasure of this age. That he’d only know what it was once he held it in his hands.
“Your ability is rather sloppy. Even the fact that the treasure’s been broken apart is ridiculous.”
“Where else will you find a magnificent and powerful jellyfish like me! And no matter how fragmented it is, this treasure is different.”
“Different how?”
“I feel a nobility that’s on a whole different level from some ordinary rock. And it’s only a fragment too.”
“Hmm.”
As I tilted the Pendant, the small fragment tumbled softly inside the transparent glass.
Strangely, holding the treasure made me feel at ease. A sense of calm settling over my mind.
‘It really does seem to be something precious.’
As I was pushing away the whimpering Pudding, someone knocked on the door.
“Tatiana, it’s me.”
It was Dilshad’s voice.
“Come in.”
I sat up and hung the Pendant around my neck as Dilshad entered.
“What is it?”
“Time for lunch.”
Dilshad’s gaze fixed on the Pendant.
“You said that’s the most precious treasure in the world?”
“That’s what I’m told.”
“Is it a ruby, or a garnet?”
“Neither, apparently.”
He’d been curious about it before, and now his stare was practically boring through my neck.
“Would you let me examine it?”
“Really? Is that okay?”
“Of course. You’re good with enchanted stones and you’ve stolen plenty of gems, so you might recognize it if you look.”
“Stolen—but if you’ll trust me with it, I’ll stay up all night if I have to and figure out what it is.”
Dilshad’s eyes gleamed with the fervor of a scientist discovering something unknown to the world.
Even if they’re fraudsters, mages are something else. They’re obsessive like madmen.
In that way, Dilshad and Perian had quite a lot in common. Even their gentle expressions.
“Here.”
I handed the Pendant to Dilshad and moved toward lunch.
“What’s on the menu today? Honestly, I don’t know how you managed when I wasn’t here. Even making enough for four was difficult, yet you handle it so easily…”
I noticed the space beside me had gone empty mid-ramble and turned back to look at Dilshad.
He stood with his back to me, head lowered, staring intently at the Pendant.
“Dilshad.”
He seemed oblivious to my words, lost in urgent desire to begin his research.
Resigned, I turned back and tapped his shoulder.
“Dilshad, let’s eat first.”
Dilshad’s ashen eyes, which had been boring into the treasure, finally came into focus. He slipped the Pendant into his pocket and smiled faintly.
“Right. Let’s go.”
Dilshad and I headed straight to the dining hall, where we found an uninvited guest.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ve got something to tell you. And maybe score some food.”
Kai was sitting at the table, chair and all—apparently he’d brought it with him.
“I have nothing for you.”
At Dilshad’s cold remark, Kai’s mouth twisted into a frown as he looked at me.
“Why are you looking at me? The cook’s right there.”
“I’ve already confirmed there’s plenty of food. You tell me—and give me some rice too.”
“My voice carries the least weight here. Go pester Keis.”
With a sidelong glance at Keis, Kai turned back to me with a ridiculous statement.
“You’re the captain of the Jellyfish Pirate Band—why’s your voice the weakest?”
“Why would I be captain?”
What captain in the world can’t navigate or fight?
“You’re not?”
Kai’s gaze shifted to the others.
“Tatiana did found the Jellyfish Pirate Band.”
“And she uses the captain’s quarters.”
Keis’s words prompted Berto to agree.
“Stop it, our captain is Keis.”
They’re joking, surely, but Perian is sensitive about these things.
I glanced at him sideways—sure enough, his expression had grown serious as he lapsed into thought.
“Here, Captain.”
Dilshad set something before me that was either a fruit pile or a salad—I couldn’t tell which—and spoke.
“Tatiana~”
Kai whined like a child begging for candy.
It almost felt like eating with a visiting friend, except for the part about being treated unfairly with food. That’s what hurt the most.
“Dilshad, just give it to him this once. Kai bought you plenty of alcohol anyway.”
At my words, Dilshad set a bowl down before Kai with a thud. It contained nothing but greens—not a single fruit.
“Thanks, Chef. I’ll dig in.”
Kai laughed cheerfully and grabbed a handful of fruit from my plate with his bare hand.
“So what was it you wanted to say?”
“Oh, right. You were correct. The bleeding has stopped.”
At Kai’s words, Perian knocked his chair over with a clang and shot to his feet.
“Really?”
“Of course—”
Perian bolted from the dining hall before Kai could even finish, apparently heading to see the patient.
“Well, that’s good. Congratulations.”
“I’ll never forget this debt. I’m truly grateful.”
Kai repeated his thanks yet again, several times over.
I found myself wondering suddenly—how could someone develop that kind of bond, the way Kai and his companions had?
‘But I have Pudding, at least.’
I never thought I’d come to rely on Pudding like this.
“Anyway, should we throw a party tonight with all my crew? I’ve already loaded all the supplies I bought, and we’ll set sail tomorrow at dawn.”
“Yes.”
“No more bothersome—wait, what?”
Keis opened his mouth at the same moment I gave my answer, staring at me.

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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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