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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 2 Chapter 1 Part 10

Also, that was all without even mentioning the problem of cake-making.

Most of the people were afraid that the thieving ghost might visit the kitchen again, which resulted in all the work and preparations coming to a screeching halt.

「At this rate we really are going to be in serious trouble……」

Realizing that, Belfast let out a long sigh.

As for the time, it was already way past noon, and they were late into the afternoon.

Belfast also asked Nelson and Rodney to keep quiet about the Ghost Maid in order to prevent the commotion from escalating even further, but it seems that the candy theft damage was already starting to increase little by little, even among the other factions.

And since the candy thief was at large while being dressed up as a maid, there was no way for the Maid Corps to avoid being falsely accused of stealing.

Just as Belfast was starting to feel that she was at the end of her rope as to what to do with this entire situation,

「–––––– Belfast.」

Suddenly hearing someone calling her name, Belfast turned around in search of the source of the voice.

But even so, she was having trouble recognizing to whom exactly that voice belonged.

Everyone else seemed to be just as concerned as Belfast was, but they seemed to be as clueless about it as the Head Maid was.

「–––––– Here, Belfast. I’m right here.」

At that moment Belfast looked behind her in astonishment.

The one standing behind Belfast’s back was Newcastle. She must have finished her portion of the chores for the time being and was back to receive some more duties to perform.

「Newcastle-san! When did you……!?」

「…… I have been standing here and listening for a while now.」

Belfast thought that this should be surprising, but at this point in time that was really no longer the case.

「There is one thing that I have forgotten to tell you earlier.」

「Something that you have forgotten to tell me?」

「About the Ghost Maid, I mean.」

Not only Belfast, but the eyes of everyone present in the kitchen widened up and they held their breath.

「To tell you the truth, I might have an idea about a person who might be familiar with the Ghost Maid. Originally, the Ghost Maid was the first among the shipgirls who have been affiliated with this Home Port a long time ago.」

Newcastle then opened the wooden door leading to the dining room.

「If you don’t mind, I can tell you all about it as we walk around for a bit…… Now then, what do you want to do?」

Belfast followed after Newcastle without even a moment of hesitation.

「I-I guess I’ll just stay here and watch the house while you are gone, Bel…… Haha.」

Said Edinburgh in a helpless tone, trying to look positive, even though that did not quite work the way she intended it to be, because her face was even more bluish in color right now.

「And we shall resume the cake-making process in the meantime.」

After saying that, Sheffield made her way to the cooking table and began to continue the work on the already finished sponge cake.

「If we were to stop working at this point, it would be really difficult for us to finish the cake before the appointed time. Besides, it would be nice if there was at least one person who could counterattack when the Ghost Maid comes with another unannounced visit.」

「Oh…… Y-Yeah, you’re right. Then we shall help you out with this, as well!」

「Me too! Let me help out, too!」

Seeing that Kent and Foxhound opted to stay behind, it would seem that Belfast had no other choice but to go and listen to Newcastle’s story all on her own.

At that point, Belfast could feel a small hand pinching at the hem of her uniform.

「…… Bel-chan? What’s wrong?」

Bell-chan said to Belfast, after stopping pulling on her dress and shuddering for a second out there:

「I-I want to go as well, Belfast-nee-sama!」

「But Bel-chan, aren’t you afraid of ghosts?」

When Belfast asked her that with a surprised look on her face, Bel-chan replied to her after a brief moment of silence.

「But that would actually be a first time for me if I was able to actually meet one.」

If only that was the case with anyone else, then Belfast’s job would have been a whole lot easier.

Belfast took the hand of her little maid companion and expressed her gratitude.

「Thank you. Thank you so much, Bel-chan.」

In addition to that, it would seem that this small hand was hiding the amount of courage in itself that could even put that of an adult to shame. It was certainly reassuring to have a companion like that.

At that moment Belfast really thought so.

* * *

Newcastle left the Royal Navy’s Dormitory through the back door, unfolded the umbrella that she was holding in her hand, and started to walk ahead. Belfast and Bel-chan followed closely behind her.

「There should be a small detached building not so far away from here.」

Bel-chan suddenly spoke up while the three of them were walking forward.

Right behind the Royal Navy’s dormitory, there was a small hut that even the maids usually wouldn’t go near to.

Even the Royal Maids were instructed that there was no need to clean that place up, even occasionally. So it was left alone just like that. At this point in time, it would hardly be surprising if some thief would make this place into their hideout.

Surely Bel-chan was not the only one who would know about this place, for there were bound to be at least a bunch of children who would try to venture into this area during their playtime, but considered the place to be just a plain and ordinary abandoned house and nothing else.

「Actually, this place was supposed to be an annex for the children’s room back at the dormitory.」

Newcastle started to explain while they continued to walk.

「The ones who were supposed to live here were the people who did not wish to be disturbed by others while they were going about their daily routine. That is also the reason why the Maid Corps was explicitly told to not perform any cleaning in this place, either.」

「Hmm, I see. So that was the reason, huh?」

While listening to the talk that Belfast was having with her senior, Bel-chan said that to herself.

「It seems that we have arrived.」

While saying that, Belfast also gazed at the constructed hut for the first time in a long while.

The hut itself was like a wooden bungalow.

The skeleton of the hut was densely overgrown with ivy, just like any other building on the Home Port island. Combined with just how run-down it looked to be, it looked really eerie and disturbing.

「It looks like a perfect place for a ghost to appear in. Or like a perfect setting for a ghost story.」

Certainly, it was just as Bel-chan said.

It was also an appearance that wouldn’t make it all that surprising if a thief was living here.

「How about we try to go in right away?」

Saying so, Newcastle stood at the entrance of this realistic-looking Horror House.

Seeing the door knocker that was right in front of her while looking from behind Newcastle’s back, Belfast was in shock for a brief moment. That’s because the door knocker was fashioned in the shape of a terrifying demon’s face, with goat-like horns growing from the sides of its head.

What’s more, the one that was installed at the front door had its expression to be fashioned in a really grotesque and anguished way, making placing one’s hand onto the knocker in its mouth feel especially disturbing.

Then there was also a hoof-shaped handle-like protrusion sticking from the door, designed for turning rather than from pressing it down.

「Come to think of it, this is going to be the first time for me to be coming to this place at this time of the year.」

Belfast said that while staring at the uniquely designed door-knocker.

Newcastle took it upon herself to knock onto the door, seeing just how reluctant her junior seemed about it.

As to be expected, there was no reply.

「The door are open, imagine that.」

Newcastle then looked at Belfast while opening the door with a silent sound after twisting the doorknob a little bit.

「Then one that we are looking for is probably inside, so let’s just go inside for now.」

「Are you sure that’s okay?」

When Belfast asked her about that, Newcastle simply nodded her head slowly.

「This here building may be in the middle of the field and might look abandoned and that you cannot enter it, but basically it seems that you can freely come and go whenever you please, with little to no consequence.」

Belfast and the others proceeded through the open door right after Newcastle, wondering if that was really the case here.