The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 43

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

Episode 43
My hand felt suddenly empty.
Slice—
“Screeeech!”
Dilshad released my grip and bolted forward, severing the Corpse Flower’s stalk with one clean stroke.
The creature shrieked, exhaling the stench of rotting flesh. Then the severed stalk regrew at once, lashing out at Dilshad.
“Dilshad!”
“Run!”
There was no room for debate. If I stayed, I would only be a burden to him.
I spun around and bolted. Forward into the unknown, feet pounding against the earth.
‘Dilshad, please.’
Thump. Thump.
Soon the sound of the Corpse Flower pursuing reached my ears.
……Which meant Dilshad hadn’t killed it.
‘No……’
My legs faltered.
“What are you doing? Keep running!”
That’s when Ben, whom I hadn’t even noticed following, shoved me forward while carrying Lili on his back.
“Are you going to waste your friend’s sacrifice?!”
Thump. Thump.
The sound grew closer.
I gritted my teeth and ran harder.
‘He must have gotten away.’
Dilshad was fast for a mage—he’d be fine.
“There! The exit!”
Ben pointed ahead while we ran, shouting.
I squeezed out every last ounce of strength, my feet hammering against the ground.
Boom! Pow!
Fireworks erupted.
“And so the most boring person in the Maze—comes in first.”
Orde, a madman who kept the Living Armor at his side like a personal guard, emerged from the tent and spoke.
“Finish the game quickly now. At least four should be dead by now, yes?”
Thump. Thump.
Deep in the Maze, the Corpse Flower continued its massacre.
“Aren’t you curious what happened to the lover you abandoned?”
Orde held out a round crystal sphere.
The Crystal Sphere that had been tracking Dilshad and me—it remained with him, not me.
“I know he’s alive. End the game now. If more people die, you’ll have trouble running the game, won’t you?”
“Look at you—such concern, such gratitude, despite being a puppet. Touching.”
Orde issued a command to the Living Armor behind him.
“Bring out all the living humans.”
Moments later, people began to emerge. And then—
“Dilshad!”
The moment I saw him coming through the exit, I ran and threw my arms around him.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
His gentle voice and the warm hand stroking my back nearly brought tears to my eyes.
“Why are you saying my lines? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine. Con artists are good at running away, after all.”
His eyes—warm with affection—softened into crescents.
“Touching reunion observed. Now, shall we move to the awards ceremony?”
At Orde’s voice, I turned back and let out a hollow laugh.
A platform had been set up on the sprawling Grassland. Others sat before it like spectators, waiting to watch us.
‘This is ridiculous.’
Did he think this was some kind of sport?
Clank.
The Living Armor approached to escort us.
“Don’t touch.”
I glared at the Living Armor and pulled Dilshad’s hand toward the platform myself.
“Now then, I shall announce the winner of our first game.”
Orde cleared his throat and took on the tone of a master of ceremonies.
“The champion is none other than Participant Number 200! Everyone, let’s hear it for them!”
The seated onlookers exchanged nervous glances before clapping reluctantly.
Orde approached gracefully, placed a Medal around my neck, and offered me flowers as well.
I snatched them up and spoke.
“You said the Champion gets benefits in the next game. Hand them over.”
“Impatient, aren’t you? I’ll reveal that right before the next game starts. For now, rest here. Tomorrow we’ll do something fun. Take it easy.”
Orde disappeared, taking the Living Armor and the Crystal Sphere with him, leaving only us on the Grassland.
It seemed we were meant to fend for ourselves for the day.
We found the Stream at once, built a fire. Night fell swiftly around us.
“Tatiana, use my thigh as a pillow.”
“What about you?”
“I need to keep watch on them.”
Dilshad gestured toward the group that had claimed the only existing Tent.
Among them was the man I’d seen in the Maze—the buzz-cut thug who’d scarred Dilshad’s forehead.
These men of a kind were demanding that anyone who wanted shelter in the tent had to hand over whatever they’d found in the Maze.
As if they planned to leave tomorrow anyway.
“Do you really think we can escape?”
They said that now—with no Crystal Sphere watching—was their only chance.
But someone capable of orchestrating all this couldn’t possibly be so careless.
“We’ll see. I’ll watch for an opening and follow them. If it’s possible, we need to escape too.”
I nodded softly and rested my head against Dilshad’s thigh, lying down.
When I’d asked to lie down, he’d gone still, gazing out at distant mountains.
“If you’re going to leave, wake me up so we can go together. It’s not your burden alone—don’t carry it by yourself.”
Dilshad lowered his head to look at me.
His eyes were heavy with guilt. No amount of reassurance seemed to reach him.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s my fault for giving you the treasure in the first place. No one’s to blame.”
“No. I endangered you. I drugged you, bound you in Shackles, all of it—my doing.”
His hand touched my cheek—a touch so careful, as if handling precious metalwork.
It felt far warmer than the campfire burning to outlast the night.
“It wasn’t your choice.”
“As long as I’m near you, you’ll keep getting hurt. Scars will pile up.”
“But you got a scar on your back while running to save me.”
“Because you kidnapped me here in the first place, and—mmph!”
I pinched his lips between my fingers, cutting him off.
“Is that what you want? For me to blame you? Get angry, hit you, and never see you again?”
With his lips caught, Dilshad shook his head desperately.
Probably because it hurt. I’d grabbed quite firmly, after all.
“Apologize one more time and I’ll really get mad. We’re friends. Even if you were truly at fault, I wouldn’t care.”
His eyes wavered, glistening slightly, looking genuinely pained. I released his lips.
“Tatiana.”
I shot him a glare as he reopened his reddened lips.
“Remember you promised to grant me a wish?”
“You’re bringing that up now?”
“A new wish just occurred to me.”
“What is it?”
Dilshad’s fingers played absently with my disheveled hair resting on his thigh.
“Promise me you’ll survive, no matter what. Even if you have to crush me, betray me—just survive.”
His gaze turned unexpectedly earnest, and something prickled strangely in my chest.
I averted my eyes slightly, speaking with a teasing edge.
“But you said no more betrayal. That I’m the only one you trust?”
As I turned to watch the flickering campfire, I felt his piercing gaze on my face.
“Back then…… I was being manipulated by the treasure. Now it’s different. I’ll survive—throw me to a beast as bait if you must. Understand?”
“I don’t like that. Why does everyone keep making such awful wishes?”
All I’d wanted was to get him to do some cleaning for me.
“……Who else made a wish?”
“Someone did. But you’re worse.”
“Who?”
His large hand found my cheek, turning my face toward his.
“Don’t tell me Kiiis actually proposed?”
Sparks ignited in his ash-gray eyes. That scorching gaze flustered me, and I stumbled over my words.
“W-well, no, that’s not—”
“Then who?”
“Berto.”
“Ha.”
Dilshad let out a snort of derision.
“The quiet ones always scheme from the shadows. What wish did he make?”
I watched the irritation flash across his face, then opened my mouth.
“I’ll grant your wish.”
“That’s a given. I’m asking what Berto wished for.”
“If you survive, I’ll tell you then.”
Dilshad looked as though he hadn’t expected such a response. His eyes blinked, speechless for a moment.
“How’s that?”
When I asked again, he chuckled softly and brought my hair—which his fingers had been idly twining through—to his lips.
“I like it.”
Whether from the heat of the fire or something else, my ears felt warm.
I gave up the fight and closed my eyes, resigned to my fate.
“I’m going to sleep now, so wake me later.”
“All right. Sleep well.”
“Oh, wait.”
A sudden thought made me open my eyes again.
“What?”
I glanced at the people nearby. They were speaking in hushed, covert conversations among themselves.
“Let me borrow your ear.”
Dilshad tilted his head down.
I grabbed his earlobe and pressed my lips close. When he flinched, trying to pull away, I gripped the back of his neck and spoke.
“When Ben falls asleep later, apply a little medicine to Lili’s leg. We’ll need it, so use only a tiny bit. Just a very thin layer, understand?”

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