that "hate" on Kira is interesting because she has the second most progress with MC. her story is quite wholesome overall. though the tsundere part was not necessary.
I don't recall it being that bad either.
Alice was already trying to get attention from MC long before.
Yeah. Pearl's betrayal felt much much worse. Kira's betrayal could be brushed off easily as a formality on the way.
Kira didn't have a deal with the guild. they owed the guildmaster a favor. there was no deal.
and it's not really a betrayal. she had to go see her father. it's like a mandatory formality that they disclose what they are looking for. like all pirates have to go see the pirate king on their way to get loot, so he gets a cut. the bad part was that she wanted her father's approval to get some kind of affection and recognition compared to her sister, but it's quickly replaced by love for MC anyway as she lives that encounter as unfair and useless.
Also Pearl was part of the "deal". She also owed that favor. It's not just Kira. So Pearl shares that betrayal, she knew and accepted. Pearl had heart to heart talks every night with MC, and she didn't say anything at all, not even once. Well all the crew knew. Especially the third pirate girl whose life was saved by MC and didn't tell MC where they were headed, even after sucking his dick everyday on the way...
Pearl's betrayal is far much worse. even if she had a "good" reason, it's still a huge betrayal especially because she knows the stakes for MC and why he is on that quest. it's not like MC wanted the chalice for himself or for monetary gain... and even if her father blackmailed her into it, it's still a selfish decision, she should have spoken up. because it's her sister's life, it's not for Pearl to decide what to do with it. Let Kira decide what to do with her own life. They are pirates. they murdered and pillaged tons of people. it was also more of an emotional blackmail, and it was a gamble. there was a pretty big chance that her father wouldn't do it.
Actually, it could have been pretty interesting to make it a choice where we have to choose between saving Kira or saving Eliza. (even if the overall story resolves it later with the same fight).