The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 53

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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 53
“It doesn’t bother me at all.”
Perian set down the Pendant without hesitation.
In the subsequent experiments, it was the same. When I held the Treasure while in contact with him, he experienced no effects whatsoever.
“Let’s stop here for now. We can’t determine what the Treasure is right away, and any further experimentation would be dangerous.”
Kies brought the meeting to a close.
Once the gathering dispersed, I followed Berto up the stairs at the stern of the second deck to the Navigation Room.
“You fixed all the doors?”
The walls and fixtures still bore scorch marks from when I’d set fires to rescue Pudding, and things had been broken.
“The Kai Pirate Crew helped us out. They had a solid work organization in place.”
Once inside with the door closed, Berto lit the Magic Lamp despite it being midday.
“Sit over here.”
He pulled out a chair for me at the table in the center.
“You’re not even asking why I followed you?”
“Because you came to find out where we’re headed next.”
I sat down quickly, and Berto drew the Nautical Chart toward us, positioning it so I could see it clearly.
“We’re here.”
Berto pointed to the vast empty sea below the Uninhabited Island where he’d restocked supplies.
Below his index finger, a circle had been drawn in pen to mark the island’s location.
“And this is where we’re headed.”
His thick finger, sweeping across the sea, pointed to South Orphena. Originally we’d been planning to go to North Orphena.
“Labet…….”
It was a city I’d never heard of. One that wasn’t even mentioned in the source material.
Anxiety crept through my body at the thought of what might be waiting there.
“Since it’s a nation that values trade, there won’t be direct naval intervention like there was at Balas Island. Heavy naval involvement would make trade difficult.”
His large hand came up and stroked my head.
“I see. But why do you keep touching my head?”
When I shot him a disgruntled look, Berto spoke as if he were observing a child.
“Good question.”
His answer was absurdly straightforward, and he followed with another question.
“Does it bother you?”
He asked with genuine curiosity in his expression.
‘I can’t figure it out myself.’
I’d thought he was purely stoic and rational, but now that we were closer, I could see he wasn’t.
“It doesn’t bother me, really.”
If I was honest, when that large hand enveloped my head, I felt oddly reassured and at ease.
I’d been anxious about hearing our destination, but now some of that fear had eased.
“Then I’ll keep going.”
But admitting that would wound my pride.
“Don’t overdo it.”
As if reading my thoughts, Berto replied while suppressing a smirk.
“Understood.”
“I’m leaving.”
I was annoyed. Here he was, younger than all my years combined.
“Wait.”
As I headed for the door, Berto caught my arm lightly.
“Kai’s been there before, so don’t worry too much. We’re not real pirates, so there won’t be any problems.”
“Okay.”
At my obedient response, Berto couldn’t suppress his amusement.
When I narrowed my eyes at him as he playfully tapped my head, he laughed out loud and opened the door for me.
“We’re leaving early tomorrow, so get plenty of rest today.”
“You should rest too. Once we start sailing, things will be rough.”
Leaving the Navigation Room, I headed to the Dining Hall, thinking about having an Iced Americano for the first time in a while.
* * *
The golden hair rippled and fluttered in the sea breeze.
The rope was pulled taut and the unfurled canvas gathered the wind, filling with a dull resonance.
The ship picked up speed and surged toward the horizon as the sea split apart with a rushing sound.
While admiring the scenery, I looked down at the Deck below.
“You done tidying up?”
Kies seemed to have just finished arranging the rope.
Setting sail required hard labor and carried danger, so I’d always stayed out of the way.
“Yeah, you can come down now.”
“I have a favor to ask.”
My words made him furrow his brow.
“Help me train.”
I was still far too weak. Even if I couldn’t be much help, I needed to build my physical capabilities enough to survive on my own.
‘Honestly, Berto would be better than the fastidious Kies.’
But since Berto had to handle the Steering, I felt uncomfortable asking him for something so minor.
“Right now?”
“Only if you have time.”
Kies immediately came up to the second deck bow where I stood. Then he looked me over.
“Why?”
“Because of the bandages, I still can’t wear pants.”
“Right.”
“So I’ll have to train in a skirt for now. So…….”
For a moment, Kies’s crimson eyes gleamed with a terrible light, like an instructor observing a lagging trainee.
“Legs apart and stand straight.”
He spoke in a low, stern voice.
‘This is…….’
I think I made a terrible mistake.
“Lower your hips. Lower.”
“Hnn—I can’t do this!”
I collapsed onto the blanket face-first.
Following that demonic instructor’s orders any longer and I’d actually be sick.
“You can only manage a Plank for fifteen seconds? How have you even been walking around this whole time?”
At Kies’s mockery, I flipped over and glared at him.
“I walked around just fine without doing any of this stuff.”
On his troubled face, I could see the question: ‘How do I make this pathetic body presentable?’
“What’s going on?”
Berto came up at that moment. The ship had settled into its course and found stability.
Perian, who’d come up earlier with Dilshard and was watching, answered.
“Physical training. I knew she was weak, but it’s pretty bad. Looks like I’ll need to make some nutritional supplements.”
Perian headed straight to the Infirmary.
“Supplements won’t fix this. I’m amazed a person can actually live in a body this frail.”
Dilshard then muttered in wonder.
‘These guys, seriously.’
Here I was, putting in effort, and they couldn’t even offer encouragement.
When I shot a bitter glare at them, Kies sighed, sat down on the floor, and gently began massaging my calves through my skirt.
“This one too.”
When I fluttered my other leg, Kies scolded me.
“And I barely did anything.”
He was so disagreeable even while helping.
Kies gripped both my legs and massaged them.
“Every other day. Rest tomorrow, then we do it again the day after. Honestly, this is something you should do every day, but since this is your first time.”
…….
I lay my hands on my belly and squeezed my eyes shut.
I understood the severity, but the thought of meeting that demonic instructor every other day made me reluctant.
“You’re not answering?”
“……I’d like to try different kinds of training methods. Berto, next time could you do this instead?”
After all, aside from when he’s handling the Steering, he’s got plenty of spare time, so as a crewmate, he should be willing to do at least this much.
The demon, sensing my shameless intent, pressed the matter.
“What different methods? You’ve only done Stretching and Plank.”
“I wasn’t asking you.”
Berto watched me and Kies bicker, then opened his mouth.
“I’ll do it.”
At that calm response, Kies looked at Berto.
It might have been a trick of the eye, but for a moment, the two men’s gazes seemed to intertwine quite sharply.
That’s when Dilshard interjected.
“Want me to do it instead? Those two are Aura Users. How are beings who’ve transcended human limits supposed to handle such a frail body?”
He rose from the sofa, came over, and took one of my legs from where Kies was massaging it, and began working on it himself.
“So you’d…….”
I was about to ask, but Kies cut me off.
“With this body, proper training is impossible anyway. For now, I’ll just have her do simple things like Stretching, Plank, and Squat.”
“The kid’s clearly struggling.”
“If it’s not hard, it’s not exercise.”
Why were they suddenly arguing?
As I lay there, I felt too awkward to move.
“Tatiana, you choose.”
Berto, who’d been quietly observing, spoke.
Instantly, two pairs of blazing eyes bore down on me like a pressure.
“Then…….”
The moment I opened my mouth, the hands gripping my calves tightened.
It hurts, you guys!
“I’ll do it on my own and ask whoever’s nearby if I don’t understand something. Either way, Stretching and Plank are the same.”
…….
Silence fell. The atmosphere had turned as heavy as if we’d been doused in seawater. I quickly pulled my leg away and sat up.
“Since it’s rehabilitation level, maybe Perian would be better.”
Muttering that, I abandoned the three of them and scrambled down to the lower deck.
As the voyage proceeded smoothly, I spent time at leisure, and soon night grew deep.
I lay in bed with every light—Magic Lamp, Candle, every flame I could find—burning bright, and let out a sigh.
Kies had issued a threat. Unless I wanted to be moved around at dawn, I was to sleep quietly in bed.
“Who asked to be moved?”
The room was so cramped though.
Then there came a knock at the door, and Dilshard spoke.
“Tatiana, you awake?”
“Yeah. What’s up?”
I jumped up, and Dilshard entered carrying two Glasses.
“Um, would you maybe like to have a Beer with me?”
He asked hesitantly, eyes averted, as if he feared rejection.
It seemed he was being cautious because of the incident where he’d drugged and kidnapped me.
“Beer sounds great.”
Seeing his pitiful, puppy-like expression, I smiled brightly and moved toward him.
His face brightened.
“What about the others?”
“If Perian found out, he’d stop me from drinking, so I didn’t tell anyone.”
“A wise choice.”
We crept down to the Dining Hall, grabbed the Beer, and headed up to the second deck.

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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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