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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 1 Chapter 4 Part 12

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Translator: Kurehashi Aiko

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PART 12

 

[So, this is the end of our work for today. Everyone, please enjoy the School Festival to your hearts’ content.]

 

When Belfast said that, the kitchen erupted with shouts of pure joy.

 

The members of the Maid Corps rushed out of the kitchen one after another, leaving only Belfast, Edinburgh, and Sheffield inside.

 

[Aren’t you planning on going to see the School Festival yourself, Sheffy?]

 

When Belfast asked her that, Sheffield shook her head while holding a mop and a bucket in her hands, ready to clean as usual.

 

[When it comes to me, I think that cleaning duty suits me much better than just walking around.]

 

Edinburgh let out a small sigh when she saw Sheffield turn around and leave to perform her duties, her face as expressionless as ever.

 

[I think that Sheffy really thinks that. Not to mention that if you were to take away her cleaning duties from her, she would most probably feel like she was no longer herself anymore.]

 

[Yes, most probably.]

 

Belfast also agreed to that statement, although reluctantly.

 

[By the way, isn’t the Beauty Pageant right around the corner, Bel? And if so, umm, it’s just that, you know…… I was wondering if, umm…… What are you going to do……?]

 

Edinburgh’s words were fragmented and all over the place when she was having trouble putting her thoughts into words, but then Belfast gently held her index finger onto her sister lips, forcing her to become silent for a moment, before she said:

 

「It’s okay, Nee-san. I finally figured it out last night.」

 

When she slowly let go of Edinburgh’s lips with her index finger, Belfast smiled and pushed open the kitchen window.

 

「Until now and all the way into the future –––––– I am Belfast, the Head Maid of the Royal Maid Corps of the Royal Navy.」

 

The leaves of the tree near the window were already turning yellow, giving the feeling that autumn has officially arrived in full swing.

 

Belfast admired the view for a while, continuing to feel the gentle breeze that blew into the kitchen.

* * *

The busy time passed quickly.

 

When the late afternoon sun hit the Home Port, a large number of shipgirls gathered in front of a special stage built in the middle of the Academy, waiting impatiently for that time one time, their hearts beating with excitement at the upcoming big event.

 

「The time if finally here.」

 

Even though San Diego said so, she was still a little bit nervous inside.

 

At the back of the stage, the members of different factions who were about to participate in the Beauty Pageant had gathered. Yamashiro of the Sakura Empire and Deutschland of the Iron Blood were already there and all wrapped up in the costumes prepared by their respective factions, waiting for the signal to appear on top of the stage.

 

「But even so, Belfast seems to be late……」

 

San Diego was genuinely worried about the shipgirl he has met last night, and she was also wondering just how Belfast would perform on the stage when her time would come.

 

Thinking that she might actually withdraw at the last minute, she felt a little lonely even though she knew that the Head Maid was supposed to be her rival.

 

「Alright! Concentrate, San Diego! You need to concentrate!」

 

Slapping her own cheeks a few times to make herself focus on the task at hand, San Diego turned her attention towards the center of the stage.

 

When she thought that she would have to make everyone smile with her live performance, she was starting to feel more and more motivated.

 

「I’m definitely going to win this thing!」

 

At that moment, Akashi’s voice came through the microphone from the center of the stage.

 

「Umm, testing, testing. Alright! Everyone! The time has finally come for the long awaited Beauty Pageant to kick into full swing! Are you ready?」

 

In response to Akashi’s words, the gathered crowd broke into a loud and enthusiastic cheer. The cheers of the audience were so loud that they actually travelled all the way backstage, where San Diego and other contestants could clearly hear them.

 

「Alright, I can see that everyone is in great spirits today. Well then, without any further ago, let’s get this thing started, shall we!?」

 

Akashi then reached out into the pocket of her uniform and started to search for something in there. For a while only the sound of rustling could be heard through the microphone, but eventually Akashi took out a folded sheet of paper.

 

「For this year’s contestants, we have Yamashiro-san of the Sakura Empire, Deutschland-san of the Iron Blood, San Diego-san of the Eagle Union, and Belfast-san of the Royal Navy. I want everyone gathered here to vote on who you think is the best!」

 

When Yamashiro’s name was called, the large ears on top of her head twitched a little bit in a cute manner, and she stiffened up and headed towards the front of the stage.

* * *

「–––––– Are you really sure about this?」

 

Belfast nodded in response to Illustrious’s question. At the current moment she was able to do so confidently and with conviction.

 

「Yes, I’m sure. This is exactly what I want.」

 

「But…… We even got that dress ready especially for the occasion.」

 

「Unlike my dear sister, I do not exactly put all that much thought into the things that others are going to wear, as long as they feel comfortable in them. That’s just how I am.」

 

Beside Illustrious who was staring at Belfast with a worried expression, Victorious opened her mouth and spoke up.

 

「Well, I think it’s only natural for someone like Belfast, but more importantly than that, what do you think about it, Unicorn?」

 

「……Hueh!?」

 

Hearing that question directed at her, Unicorn’s small shoulders shook and trembled as she rose her face from the fluffy plush of Yuu-chan. For a moment out there she was completely silent.

 

Eventually she looked at Belfast with a somewhat sad look, but then it was clear to see that she managed to gather her thoughts together.

 

「When we were making adjustments and trying the dress on earlier…… Unicorn really though that Belfast-san looked like a genuine princess. Glittering and…… shining like that…… Unicorn was sure that everyone’s eyes would be glued to Belfast-san for sure.」

 

But, while she was saying that, Unicorn raised her face even more.

 

「But…… I then happened to notice something. While Belfast-san was wearing that dress, her thoughts seemed to be somewhere else entirely……. So maybe, just maybe…… Unicorn thought that what Belfast-san wants to show on that stage is fundamentally different from what everyone else wants……」

 

「Unicorn-chan……」

 

Belfast involuntarily let out those words, not really knowing what else she was supposed to be saying here.

 

「And that is why…… That’s okay. Unicorn want to see it with her own eyes…… The thing that Belfast-san wants to do the most while standing on that stage…… That’s what I think.」

 

After saying that much, Unicorn quickly moves away from Belfast and the others, hiding behind Illustrious’s back.

 

「If there is anyone who should be grateful here, it should be me. Thank you, all three of you.」

 

Seeing Bellfast bowing her head so deeply, Illustrious shook her head to the sides quietly.

 

「Think nothing of it. And you don’t have to apologize.  I’m sure that everyone will understand how you feel, Belfast-san.」

 

「But more importantly, isn’t it finally the time for you to go? The contest is about to start.」

 

Hearing Victorious’s words, Belfast looked at her wristwatch. It’s true, the time was almost up for the contest to start.

 

「Yes, that’s right. Well then, everyone, I’m afraid that you’ll have to excuse me here. I really must be on my way.」

 

Belfast immediately headed to towards the beauty pageant’s venue without stopping.

–––––– It’s really strange…… I should have hesitated way more than this.

 

With that thought in her mind, Belfast walked with her skirt fluttering in the wind that was gently blowing from the sea.

 

From the distant stage, she could hear the singing voice of San Diego reverberating across the entire area.

 

Come to think of it, starting from the past six months, which began in spring, almost every single day was filled with something entirely new to her and exciting and fresh.

 

She was really hesitant about consulting her sister Edinburgh on how to brew the kind of tea that she was supposedly unable to brew. She was acting as a substitute teacher for the shipgirls who were about to participate in the military commissions for the first time ever. She even went on a day off trip to a hot springs inn.

 

So much “first times” that she was able to experience. And she was sure that even more of them were to come. But…… But even so……

 

「I…… I want to continue to be a maid who can be useful to everyone around me.」

 

Now that Belfast was thinking about it, maybe she really was way more selfish than she thought?

 

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