The Pirate King's Daughter - Chapter 63

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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 63
After treating my feet, I’d prepare camp as usual and go to sleep, only to have the next day repeat itself.
Before I knew it, the day I’d agreed to meet Basil had arrived, though we still had one more day’s journey to our destination.
“Tatiana, drink some water.”
During the rest break after the morning’s march, Dilshard held out a water skin.
“Thanks.”
The water went down in gulps, and I felt a bit more revived.
I leaned against a tree and sleep came pouring down on me.
Seven days of walking had worn me down, and my body felt heavy and stretched thin.
“It’s hot and humid, but it’s turning out better than expected, really.”
The moment I closed my eyes, Dilshard started chattering with the others.
The line between reality and dream blurred, and somewhere I heard Pudding’s voice.
“Tatiana!”
My arm seemed to shake slightly.
“Tatiana, wake up!”
Just a little longer, just a little more sleep.
I answered that to myself internally, and then I was out cold.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in an unfamiliar room, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.
“What in the…”
I pushed myself up from the crude bed, and white silk slid down my thigh.
Looking around, I realized the place I was in was a circular domed dwelling—built quite meticulously from wood, large leaves, vines, and other materials.
‘Pudding…’
There was no sign of him. That was definitely not a good sign.
I was debating whether to go out immediately when someone opened the door and entered.
“You’ve awakened.”
I instinctively felt for my thigh, but given that even my clothes had been changed, there was no way my gun was still there.
“Who are you?”
When I posed the cold question, a middle-aged woman who had been setting a water pitcher on the table spoke politely.
“I am Marika, the wife of the chieftain of the Sehar Tribe.”
The Sehar Tribe—one of the native tribes Basil had mentioned.
The one that was said to be very closed off, so it was best not to approach them uninvited.
“Why am I here?”
“We realized that the Goddess Lae’ira has returned to this land and brought you here to be with us.”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
The way she bowed her head in reverence as though I truly were a goddess was absurd.
“I’m not your goddess. I’m just an ordinary person.”
“No. The Goddess Lae’ira has descended into human form. As proof, do you not possess power?”
The chieftain’s wife pointed to my pendant.
‘This precious thing again?’
I honestly had no idea what this power was, and I wanted nothing more than to throw it away right here and now.
“In any case, I’m not a goddess. And even if I were, that wouldn’t justify kidnapping me.”
“Kidnapping? We merely brought the Goddess Lae’ira to our side.”
“You knocked me unconscious and dragged me here.”
“…The scent of the Sleep Herb is harmless to the human body, so there’s no need to worry.”
That wasn’t what I was worried about at all.
“Where are my companions?”
“They awakened before the Goddess and escaped after causing a disturbance.”
I couldn’t take her words at face value.
“Was there anything non-human around me?”
“No.”
The fact that she didn’t ask what I meant by “non-human” made it clear they’d already locked Pudding up somewhere.
“So what’s your purpose in bringing me here?”
“Because you are our goddess.”
There was no reasoning with this.
I gave up on the conversation and walked away with long strides.
When I stepped outside, two powerfully built men stood blocking the entrance.
“We are honored to see the Goddess Lae’ira.”
The tribespeople who witnessed the two men kneeling before me bowed their heads in reverence as well.
I ignored them all and began frantically searching through every dwelling.
“Kyaaah! T-the Goddess Lae’ira…!”
I slammed the door shut and moved straight to the next house.
As I searched with desperate intensity for Pudding and the others, someone appeared and spoke to me.
“Goddess Lae’ira.”
It was an elderly man with dignified bearing, accompanied by others. He handed his staff to the person beside him, then knelt before me.
“I am Saulo, chieftain of the Sehar Tribe, and I am honored to see the Goddess Lae’ira.”
He rose as he spoke.
“Allow me to guide you to the Assembly Hall.”
There was no point in refusing—I had no way to escape. The men guarding the door were following at my heels.
Let’s see what he has to say. Maybe I’ll find an opening.
“Lead on.”
As I entered the Assembly Hall, the chieftain’s wife I’d seen before offered me tea and then left.
“This is my son, Aso, who is also the tribal leader.”
The only people remaining inside were the chieftain, the tribal leader, and myself.
The tribal leader looked much younger than his wife, who appeared to be middle-aged.
“I understand this must be shocking. I ask only that you remain with us for a few days. We will treat you with utmost sincerity.”
He had some nerve. A few days would turn into years, obviously.
“So you’re the one who arbitrarily declared me to be your goddess?”
“I am.”
The chieftain looked elderly in appearance, but his eyes gleamed with more vitality than any young man’s.
“You’re a Demon, aren’t you?”
“…”
My guess had hit the mark.
An ordinary human would never recognize the power of this pendant.
“I don’t know what lies you fed these people to claim the chieftain’s seat, but if you want to keep your secret, you should let me go.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s revealed. I simply wish for you to remain here and watch over our people with compassion.”
“Why should I?”
“Our numbers dwindle with each passing day, and the humans beyond the forest covet our lands. At this rate, we will not endure much longer.”
He was missing my point entirely.
“What I’m asking is why I should protect your people. And what makes you think I can escape from you but stop the humans outside the forest?”
“In time, you will awaken to the power within you.”
Like an impenetrable shield, he had an answer for everything.
“Even if I do awaken, I have no intention of protecting you. You do it yourself.”
“My blood has grown so thin I’m hardly worthy of being called a Demon anymore. But the Goddess Lae’ira—you will not turn away from us as she did.”
There was no getting through to him. The bottom line was that he had no intention of letting me go.
My only option was to find an opportunity and escape.
“At least let my companions go.”
“They have already departed. We lack the ability to detain those who use Aura.”
If the others truly had escaped, they would be planning how to get me out.
But if what he said was true, Pudding would have to hide and find his way to me.
“Then.”
I stood up, needing to figure out how to find Pudding.
“Let’s see how well you treat me.”
When I exited the Assembly Hall, the same two men from before were waiting for me.
Wearing only loincloths and ornaments across their shoulders, they appeared to be observers under the guise of bodyguards.
‘Assigning such brutes to guard someone as delicate as me.’
They must be terribly anxious.
Regardless of whether they followed, I headed straight back to where I’d first awakened.
I needed to think about how to get out of this situation.
“Ugh! This is so frustrating!”
I flopped down on the bed and screamed.
I couldn’t see any way out.
‘I can’t do this alone.’
I needed someone who genuinely cared for me—or at least someone who wanted me to leave this village.
Maybe I should cause trouble.
“Goddess Lae’ira.”
I was trying to immerse myself in the act once more when I heard Marika’s voice from outside the door.
“Come in.”
She got straight to the point.
“We have prepared a feast this evening to celebrate your arrival, Goddess. We would be honored if you would attend.”
A feast—maybe I should go and flip the table over.
“All right.”
“Then allow me to help you prepare.”
“No, that’s not necessary. How much of the preparation is done?”
I slipped on leather sandals and headed straight outside, with Marika scrambling to follow.
“It’s nearly complete.”
With each step, the soft silk rippled dramatically around me.
The tribespeople stared intensely at me, so different from themselves in appearance, and when our eyes met, they startled and bowed their heads in awe.
‘Why am I being treated like this.’
I felt like crying.
When we reached the Tribal Center, the tribespeople had already gathered, playing music and singing.
“We are honored to see the Goddess Lae’ira.”
The moment I appeared, everyone who had been laughing and chattering immediately knelt.
Silence fell.
“…”
It felt like I’d crashed someone else’s party without an invitation.
“Goddess Lae’ira, I should have come to fetch you myself. Thank you for gracing us with your presence.”
The chieftain, Saulo, approached and spoke.
“Please, come this way.”
He led me to the seat of honor—a wooden table and chairs positioned before a bonfire.
Once I sat, the chieftain took the seat to my right, while the tribal leader and his wife settled on my left.
The table was piled with enough food to feed the entire tribe.
“The Goddess Lae’ira has taken pity upon us and descended to this land. Let all who are prepared to dedicate their souls raise their cups and sing in praise.”

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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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