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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 1 Chapter 2 Part 3

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Translator: Kurehashi Aiko

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PART 3

 

The two let out a warm sigh as enterprise came out from behind the fountain and walked towards them.

 

[–––––– I see that everyone has their own sense of humor, no matter what it could be.]

 

[Niimi-san. Are you going to be a lecturer here as well for today?]

 

The girl that made her appearance now was Z23, a Destroyer of the Type 1936A Class belonging to the Iron Blood faction. But because of her name was the way it was, everyone around was calling her Niimi for short. And she just so happened to shake her head hearing Belfast’s words.

 

[I-I could never be a genuine teacher if I wanted to. I could never do such a great job like the one that Ranger-sensei here does.]

 

Unlike her usual style and attire, for today Niimi was wearing a pair of glasses on top of her nose, and on top of that, instead of wearing her usual military uniform, she was dressed in a white lab coat, as well as a black shirt and skirt.

 

[But, the thing is…… Actually, I have taught classes here before. And for today, I was told that they need someone who would be able to interact with the other students at a very close distance, so I really had no other choice but to accept.]

 

[Hmm, I see. Well, I personally think that this is a great idea to have.]

 

Hearing Niimi’s words, Ranger nodded her head in agreement, a gentle smile present on her face.

 

[It seems that all of the students are already in the classroom, so let’s go on and start the lesson, shall we?]

 

Saying that, Enterprise cast a quick glance at Belfast.

 

[Together with Ranger here, we are often responsible for carrying out pre-commission lectures like this. Belfast, I have heard that this is actually going to be your very first day teaching others?]

 

[Yes. Since Hood-sama was unable to make her appearance here for today, I was asked by her to become a substitute instructor for her for today.]

 

[Well, if that is the case here, then you should definitely learn all the tricks that are to teaching while observing the contents of our class today.]

 

As the Enterprise walked into the school building, Ranger tapped Belfast on the shoulder.

 

[Who knows? There might be a possibility that you will be called in as substitute teacher in the future as well if you do good today. So it would be best for you to experience as much of a teacher’s life as possible today. After all, everything is all about that experience.]

 

[Experience, you say?]

 

It’s true that it’s important to put things that you have learned into practice, Belfast thought to herself as she followed the other two into the school building and then the group went towards their assigned classroom.

 

***

 

When Belfast’s group arrived at the right classroom and opened its door, there were already four students sitting inside of it and waiting.

 

[Everyone, stand up!]

 

When Enterprise said so, everyone stood up from their seats all at once.

 

Following after Enterprise, the rest of the group entered the classroom as well, with Ranger being up front.

 

[Huh? Niimi-chan?]

 

Seeing Z23 amongst the group that just entered the classroom, one of the students there, the J Class Destroyer named Javelin, stared at her with a stiff, surprised expression on her face. For a moment out there, her expression was really stiff with tension, but all of a sudden it completely managed to relax, as she happily waved her hands Z23 and shouted: 

 

[I knew it! It IS you, Niimi-chan! Here, look right here! It’s me! Javelin!]

 

[F-For today, I am going to be your teacher rather than a fellow student, so I would like you to add “-sensei” at the end of my name instead of “-chan”! Just for today!]

 

Niimi quickly scolded her friend while her face turned beet-red and Ranger, who was watching the exchange between the two, gently put her index finger to her mouth and said,

 

[Yes, Javelin-chan, just for today, I would like you to refrain from any private conversations during class hours. Can you do that for me?]

 

Then, while Ranger stood in the middle of the teacher’s podium, she began the lecture by greeting the students and introducing the additional lecturers that would join the class for the day.

 

[Alright, then first of all, I am going to be your instructor for the duration of the day, my name is Ranger. As you will be participating in the upcoming military commissions soon enough, you need to learn all that there is to know about those kind of activities beforehand. Especially since commissions teams may partner you up with people with which you have never even worked before. But for the sake of this being a learning experience, for the incoming commission we decided to make your group an already pre-determined one. So be sure to pay extra close attention for today, because this is really important!]

 

[Umm, could it be that…… Our group consists of us specifically because of our bad grades……?]

 

It was Cygnet, a C Class Destroyer, who timidly asked that question after raising her arm in the air.

 

Hearing that question, Enterprise slowly shook her head in denial.

 

[No, that’s not what this is all about, so rest assured. Hmm, that’s right. For example, even if you were to be called into action all of a sudden, it is completely natural to expect that someone with no prior knowledge and experience about certain things is not going to be able to act properly and achieve the best possible results, isn’t that right?]

 

[The lectures that are going to be given here are basically first-hand advice from an experienced people, commission veterans, you might even say. Even if they might not be the most accessible or practical, they are held with the aim of sharing knowledge and skills that can be used in the field as much as possible by all of you when the time comes –––––– That’s what this is more or less about.]

 

Hearing Niimi’s explanation like that, Belfast, even though she was not a student, was able to understand the essence of this course for the very first time.

 

–––––– Hmm, I see, I get it. That means that there would indeed BE some kind of knowledge and experience that she would be able to impart onto the students of this classroom.

 

Adapting this particular attitude and approach, it would be something that would clearly let Belfast utilize her experience of teaching the novice maids of the Maid Corps to its fullest potential.

 

And just when she thought that she was finally starting to feel a little bit better about having to teach the upcoming class,

 

[—— Hmph, I see, so that’s how it is.]

 

As soon as those words were said out loud, one student in particular slammed their hands against the desk behind which they were sitting until now.

 

Thinking about those words for a second, that student then thrusted her right hand out in front of her, pompously looking down at all the instructors and grinning fearlessly while she was at it.

 

[So in other words, this course is one of the trials that us sublime souls must face from now on! Yes, I see! Everything is means to invite me to those particular trials of fate!]

 

Belfast tilted her head slightly, seemingly confused by those words.

 

Truth to be told, she had no idea what that person meant by formulating her words in that exact manner. 

 

But it would also seem that Belfast was not the only one in the classroom who was visibly confused. Everyone else seemed to feel the very same way, which was actually reassuring in a sense.

 

They all stood still where they stood for a moment, staring blankly at that one particular student.

 

[Ehh, umm…… Certainly, you must be, just give me a moment……]

 

After about five seconds have passed, Ranger hurriedly looked down at the class roster that had been handed to her in advance.

 

[–––––– Oh yeah! That’s right! York-san! Royal Navy’s York Class Heavy Cruiser!]

 

[No, that’s wrong! It’s York Class’s Magical Heavy Cruiser! Be sure to don’t ever forget that part! It’s really important!]

 

Hearing the Heavy Cruiser York’s response, Ranger only nodded her head in silence, although her expression was clearly stating that she now realized that they have some sort of a nut-job to be dealing with here.

 

[Y-Yeah, right…… I get it, so if you would be so kind as to get down from that desk for now? That would be really great.]

 

When Ranger said so after trying her best to keep her cool, York stepped down from the top of her desk way more obediently than anyone else might have expected her to do so, and remained silent for now.

 

From the content of her remarks, everyone surely thought that she would be the type who would actively oppose the teacher in everything they say or do, but aside from that little quirky bit just now, she seemed to be a genuinely good and obedient girl.

 

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