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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 1 Chapter 4 Part 13

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Translator: Kurehashi Aiko

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PART 13

 

At that time, Belfast could honestly say that for the first time ever, she felt like she had a glimpse of who she really is.

 

And with the incoming performance, she knew that this tiny glimpse would become much clearer of a picture.

 

It was at that moment that the chorus stopped singing from the direction of the stage.

 

In the distance, Belfast could see San Diego leaving the stage, surrounded by thunderous rounds of applause.

 

–––––– I wonder if Master was also watching the performance from somewhere?

 

As Belfast walked forward, her thoughts slowly drifted towards the Commander who assumed his duties over this entire Hope Port a while ago.

 

–––––– By all means, Belfast wanted for the Commander to look at her while she was going to go on that stage soon.

 

And hopefully, when they would look at her giving it her very best at being herself, they would smile at her in that gentle and warm way of theirs, look at me like this and smile gently,

 

[–––––– And now, last but definitely not least! Let’s welcome Belfast-san of the Royal Navy! A warm round of applause as she is about to show us her performance!]

 

When the Head Maid finally made it to the backstage, San Diego was shocked to see Belfast the way she was right now.

 

[Ah! Huh? W-Wait just a minute! But this is ––––––]

 

But before she could finish her sentence, Belfast ran up the stairs leading to the stage and went out.

 

* * *

 

[–––––– Huh!? Wait just a minute here, Edi! Why the hell is Bel dressed up like that!?]

 

Edinburgh was then violently shaken by her shoulders by Elizabeth, who was watching the entire event from the side of the audience zone.

 

Even to Edinburgh, who was Belfast’s older sister and who should understand her best out of everyone in the Home Port, the Head Maid’s decision proved to be a complete and utter mystery.

 

[Even though…… Even though we had that bloody dress prepared for her and everything! So why!? Why is this happening!? This doesn’t make any sense!]

 

[I-I don’t know why, Your Majesty…… But I’m sure that Bel already has a clear idea inside of her head what it is that she wants to do.]

 

Edinburgh answered while fixing her misaligned glasses with a swift gesture.

 

[Because that woman…… Bel would never do anything without giving it a proper thought and preparation. –––––– So even though she’s wearing her usual maid uniform, I’m sure that she is already moving according to some plan that she has conjured in her mind.]

 

Of course, Elizabeth wasn’t the only one who was confused by Belfast appearance.

 

All the shipgirls of the Royal Navy seemed to be stunned by her as well. Because Belfast came out onto the stage while wearing her usual maid outfit instead of the dress that was supposed to have been prepared exclusively for this beauty pageant.

 

At that moment, Belfast opened her mouth with the microphone in his hand and spoke up.

 

[–––––– Just until today, I have been wondering what am I supposed to do here, right on top of this stage.]

 

To those words, the entire venue fell silent all at once.

 

[My good friends and companions from the Royal Navy even went as far as to prepare a beautiful dress for me to wear just for today. But I chose to not wear it for this contest. Because…… I could not possibly imagine myself standing here before all of you while wearing it, and still being able to call myself “myself”.]

 

At that moment, there was a flash of light that shone on the darkened stage.

 

Over the horizon in the distant sea, the sun was about to set.

 

But instead of the darkness, what emerged here were countless stars twinkling high in the night sky.

 

[I am deeply sorry that I caused my fellow maids unnecessary worry. However, the answer that I managed to arrive at is really simple. The one that has been by my side all along.]

 

Seeing Belfast’s smiling expression in the light of the stage, Elisabeth almost unconsciously murmured those words out loud.

 

[Oh my, she’s so……  Incredibly beautiful.]

 

Even Edinburgh could not possibly take her eyes off of Belfast, watching her and feeling as if her radiance managed to completely paralyze her entire body.

 

She had her usual soft demeanor and a pleasant voice.

 

Her gracefully smiling figure would rather lose its brilliance if she was poorly decorated with extravagant clothes like that dress from before.

 

[That is –––––– In order to truly be myself. I stand here as a maid as I always do and serve everyone at the Dormitory. In order for me to be myself, I must never lack that sense of wanting to serve someone else and see them smile. Without that, there would truly be no point to it!]

 

After saying that, Belfast let go of the microphone for a moment and said something to Akashi who was standing right beside the stage.

 

After nodding her head a few times, Akashi immediately retreated backstage.

 

When she returned shortly after, Akashi was holding a simple folding table that had been prepared for the shipgrils who were waiting behind the stage.

 

[Just what is she going to do with that table, I wonder?]

 

Warspite, who was sitting right next to Elizabeth, unintentionally let out her voice as she wondered about that.

 

When Akashi withdrew to the backstage again and came back, the next thing she brought was a single folding chair.

 

Placing it in the center of the stage, Belfast once again brought the mic closer to her mouth.

 

[–––––– Nee-san, can you come to the stage for a moment, please?]

 

It was at that exact moment that the eyes of everyone gathered in the audience turned towards Edinburgh all at once.

 

[…… Huh? HUEAH!?]

 

Pointing a finger at himself, Edinburgh hurriedly stood up while her expression was a textbook definition of panic.

 

[W-W-Why would I…… have to go to the….. stage of all places……?W-why am I on stage… T-T-This is so embarrassing……]

 

[Nee-san, we do not have an entire day for this, so please hurry it up and come to the stage already, why don’t you?]

 

Regardless of just how red with embarrassment Edinburgh’s face was, Belfast still casually told her to hurry it up and come over.

 

[O-Okay, okay, I get it already, I get it…… Why is this happening to me of all people……?]

 

When Edinburgh went up on the stage while trying to avoid the stares of other audience members while mumbling to herself like that, Belfast urged her to sit on the chair right in front of the small table.

 

[… So? What exactly are you going to do, Bel?]

 

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Belfast said to her older sister after removing her hand from the microphone.

 

[I’m going to make tea for you for the time being, Nee-san.]

 

[Making tea? Could it be that this is your method of appealing to the audience?]

 

 

With Belfast gave a slight chuckle and nodded her head a little bit as a form of answer, Edinburgh leaned back in her chair as though she couldn’t quite believe what she was hearing here.

 

[Now I’m seriously amazed…… Why are you doing this? I mean, this is something that you do all the time back at the Dormitory……]

 

[Yes, it’s precisely because of that. This is what I always do, but this will also be the very first time that I am going to do something like this.]

 

After saying something with a whole lot of implications behind it, Belfast turned her face towards the audience.

 

[To tell you all the truth, I have never before made tea for my dear sister in all of my life. So for today, I would like to do just that, serving my older sister, who is also a Royal Maid, while also pouring all of my gratitude for her into that cup. This is ––––––]

 

First glancing at her older sister’s face, Belfast then rose her head and looked somewhere far away into the distance.

 

Edinburgh followed her gaze, and then she suddenly realized something.

 

She was sure that this gaze of her must have been directed towards a certain special someone somewhere in this Academy.

 

[This is who I am. I am Belfast, the Head Maid of the Royal Navy’s Maid Corps, currently serving at the best stage possible in the entire world. Please, burn this image of me giving my best service into your mind –––––– My beloved Master.]

 

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