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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 1 Chapter 4 Part 7

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Translator: Kurehashi Aiko

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PART 7

Rather, Belfast was confused about the fact that when she told her that, San Diego looked at her with sheer admiration in her eyes. That, and there was also a fact that despite playing the music so loud, the Eagle Union’s Light Cruiser seemed to be fine, as if nothing happened.

 

[At least, if you want to carry on with your concert, you’d best lower the volume of your loudspeaker a little bit.]

 

[But if I do that, then the whole Home Port won’t be able to hear me sing!]

 

[That may be so, but you should also think about the ears of poor souls who are going to be nearby at the time when your concert begins.]

 

At that point, San Diego seemed to finally realize what Belfast was talking about here, and right after that her expression changed to that of pure shock and disbelief.

 

[…… I’m so sorry…… But wait! That’s right! I knew that I happened to see your face somewhere before! It’s from those posters! Are you not the Royal Navy’s representative for this year’s Beauty Pageant?]

 

Crossing her arms on her chest, San Diego said that and then she began to nod her head really fast, as if agreeing with her own words.

 

[Sorry, missy, but I’m definitely going to win this year! I won’t lose to the likes of you even if you actively try to get in my way!]

 

San Diego lashed out at Belfast while she also picked the loudspeaker’s cable off of the ground and then she started to go back towards her makeshift stage.

 

[Bleeh!]

 

Then San Diego turned around one more time, pulling her lower eyelid slightly and showing Belfast her tongue in a child-like gesture.

 

[Haaah……?]

 

Once again for today, a deep and long sigh escaped from Belfast’s mouth.

 

Even though it was unavoidable, it seems that pulling out the cable on her own only managed to upset San Diego and bring her mood down a little bit. But even so, she did not forget about her concert and got back on the stage and started singing once more. What’s more, the expression on her face was still as friendly and energetic, as if that whole exchange did not even happen. This actually surprised Belfast more than anything else.

 

[Can we really hope to win…… especially when facing someone like her?]

 

As the Head Maid of the Royal Navy’s Maid Corps, Belfast naturally had the responsibility of guiding the other maids and correcting their mistakes, but it was actually the first time when she had to bear the expectations of everyone in the Royal Navy solely on her own two shoulders.

 

Belfast then left the place, her shoulders slumped under the pressure she had never experienced before in her entire life and career.

* * *

In the afternoon, Belfast came to the third floor of the Royal Navy’s dormitory and knocked on one of the doors there.

 

[–––––– Oh my, you’re here. Finally, I have been waiting for you.]

 

The one who opened the door was none other than Illustrious herself.

 

As soon as she let Belfast through the door and the Head Maid entered it, she guided her towards the dress that was placed on a mannequin placed at the back of the room.

 

Unicorn and Victorious were also waiting in front of the dress, seemingly all ready to do their job.

 

[For today, all three of us are going to be present here, each one of us doing our share of the job.]

 

Hearing that, Belfast raised her head a little bit, a question written all over her face. Seeing the Head Maid like that, Illustrious let out a small chuckle.

 

[Since it was a dress that we all made while bringing out each other’s characteristics during our work, we decided that we would do the final adjustments together as well. To keep it consistent. That’s why the other two are also going to be present during the measurements taken. I hope it won’t be a problem for you?]

 

While listening to her elder sister’s words, Unicorn got closer to Belfast while hanging her head low.

 

[W-Well then…… I-I’ll be taking your measurements now, is that alright……?]

 

Belfast slowly raised her arms upwards, as instructed by Unicorn who was gently holding onto a tape measure in her small hands.

 

[Yes, please do. I leave myself in your care.]

 

Then, while gently wrapping the tape measure around the Head Maid, Unicorn checked the size of Belfast’s body thoroughly from top to bottom. While she was at it, she would occasionally ask her sisters for help with the areas of Belfast’s body where she was unable to reach due to her small height, and then she carefully measured the Head Maid’s chest and waist circumferences in order to make the dress to be the perfect size possible.

 

After taking all the measurements in more than a few minutes, Belfast looked at the dress again and said:

 

[By the way, I think that everyone would agree that this is a really nice dress.]

 

[You really think so? It’s actually a little bit embarrassing to be praised like that, even though you know it’s your work.]

 

Victorious smiled happily as she said that.

 

[Truth to be told, it wasn’t originally made for the sole purpose of that Beauty Pageant. It all actually started when Unicorn was reading a picture book and suddenly said, ‘I want to see such a wonderful dress in real life, with my own eyes”. Something like that.]

 

Hearing her elder sister tell someone else such an embarrassing story in such a casual tone, the person responsible for the creation of that dress, Unicorn, suddenly turned her head away, looking down at her feet while her face was beet red with embarrassment.

 

[It’s just that…… I really, really wanted to see a dress that would be worth a Princess wearing it in real life.]

 

Unicorn only left that short and simple explanation, and then she remained perfectly silent as she continued to do her work.

 

Taking over after that brief explanation, Illustrious chose to elaborate a little bit in her little sister’s place.

 

[So, as you can see, that’s how it all started. Needless to say, both of us wanted to help, so we got together and got to work right away. And it just so happened that while we were right in the middle of the work, Wales-san came to us and brought up the incoming School Festival. And hearing that, we all decided that we would like to offer that dress to be a part of that idea, a kind of our share of work for the event.]

 

[Ah, I see. So that’s how it is.]

 

Belfast nodded and suddenly noticed that Unicorn was staring at her dress for a while now.

 

[Come to think of it, I was wondering about that ever since I got to witness those promotional posters back outside a while ago, but when did you even have the opportunity to take pictures of yourself like that~?]

 

Victorious then poked at Belfast’s side with her elbow once or twice, a really wicked smile on her face.

 

[Ah. That. Well, I can only say that there were some really special circumstances regarding the time when that picture was taken.]

 

[Hoo~? Care to elaborate a little bit more about what kind of circumstances led to a situation like that?]

 

As if to try and elude Victorious’s question, Belfast opened her mouth and asked her in an almost quizzical way.

 

[W-Which reminds me, I actually asked Her Majesty to take some new, more appropriate pictures for the promotional posters, so I’m afraid I have to go for now. So there you have it.]

 

[Ah! Hey! Wait just a minute!]

 

Belfast then quickly bowed down her head and left the room faster than Victorious was able to move in order to intercept her and get that juicy information out of her.

 

[Fuh…… I think that maybe a little bit more people than I would have liked managed to get a look at those posters.]

 

Just thinking about it made the Head Maid feel utterly depressed.

 

While walking down the corridor, Belfast eventually stood in front of Queen Elizabeth’s private quarters and knocked twice before opening the door herself.

 

[Please excuse me, Your Majesty.]

 

[You’re late! I’ve been waiting for you, Bel!]

 

Elisabeth’s lively voice assaulted Belfast right as she went inside of Her Majesty’s room, which caused the Head Maid to raise her head up, clearly startled.

 

[T-This is……]

 

Once Belfast got to actually see the inside of Elizabeth’s room, she could see that it was completely littered with various sorts of costumes being placed where there was a place to get them.

 

There was a shrine maiden uniform, sailor uniforms, blazer, nurse’s uniform, office lady’s attire, station staff uniform, policewoman uniform, and there were even some animal costumes thrown into the mix. The sheer amount was making Belfast’s head feel dizzy, and that was even without wondering where Elizabeth could possibly get all those items from.

 

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