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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 2 Chapter 1 Part 11

The inside of the hut also looked to be very old, and it was difficult for them to even see what was under their feet.

But there was also a lantern hanging on the wall right near the entrance. However, when Belfast tried to step in that direction and reach out for it –––

「–––––– I would advise against going there, if I were you.」

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind her, and Belfast stopped dead in her tracks, with one of her legs still hanging in the air.

「……I’m deeply sorry for calling out to you so suddenly. But you see, I was just in the middle of trying to get rid of some evil spirits with the help of a good secondhand book about adapting Feng Shui into the Western structures, so I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t touch anything.」

Along with those words, a new fire was lit somewhere inside of the hut.

And that place happened to be right in front of the place where Belfast and Bel-chan were currently standing.

「You are……」

There she was, a little girl wearing a deep hood while sitting on a big sofa.

Standing right next to her was another little girl with large seams attached to her forehead for some reason.

Belfast looked at the two little girls and then she curtsied towards them with grace and elegance.

「Please pardon the sudden timing and nature of our visit…… Erebus-sama.」

When Bel-chan followed right into the Head Maid’s footsteps and curtsied as well, the small girl adjusted her position while still sitting on the sofa, and then Erebus, the Monitor ship of the Erebus Class, spoke to Belfast with an expressionless face.

「If the maids are coming here, does that mean they are here to clean? Unfortunately, this house isn’t part of the Maid Corps jurisdiction, I’m afraid.」

「Erebus-sama.」

Said Newcastle after aligning herself with both Belfast and Bel-chan, giving a polite bow towards Erebus just like the two other maids did just now. She then spoke up:

「Actually, I have something I would like to ask you. It is in regards to the Ghost Maid subject.」

「…… The Ghost Maid?」

Erebus then cast a glance at the little girl standing right next to the edge of the sofa.

「It’s surely been a long time since we have heard that name. Isn’t that right, Terror?」

Erebus’s younger sister, the Monitor ship Terror of the same Erebus Class, remained silent even after hearing that remark. In addition to the seams that were placed all over her body, she was also making quite the visual impact onto the onlookers, having huge screws protruding from the sides of her head.

Erebus then slammed the secondhand book that she was holding in her hand shut, and squinted her eyes cautiously as she rested her arm on the armrest of the sofa.

「Her presence used to be fairly timid and limited, but lately it has been getting worse and worse. But one has to wonder…… Why would you even want to talk about the Ghost Maid now?」

「That’s because……」

Having no other choice in that matter, Belfast was forced to explain to both Erebus and Terror what events have transpired up until now.

Their expressionless expressions reflected in the flickering light of the candelabra handing from the ceiling were strangely spooky in this particular environment. And while Belfast was telling her story, both Monitor ships were just listening to her without saying a word of their own.

And just like that Belfast arrived at the part of the story where her group was starved for some much needed intel on the Ghost Maid.

「That is why we have come all this way here. We were wondering if you might know something about her, and if you would be willing to share those information with us.」

「Hmm, I see. I think that I understand the situation now.」

Erebus folded her arms on her chest.

「But as unfortunate as that may sound, I do not believe that the problem with which you are currently dealing with is that of a Ghost Maid.」

「…… Huh? What do you mean?」

Hearing those words, Belfast could feel that the expression on her face turned into that of astonishment and surprise. She then cast a quick glance at Bel-chan, who was still holding onto her hand really tight.

「What do you mean that it is not the problem of the Ghost Maid, Erebus-sama?」

As Newcastle asked her that question, Erebus jumped off from the sofa.

「Essentially speaking, the nature of the Ghost Maid is the same as you girls, it was a being that was originally known for “performing good deeds for whoever that needed help” around this Home Port island. Of course, before she became the Ghost Maid, she was also living here in this Home Port. But whether or not she really existed, that I do not know.」

It was at that moment that Terror, who largely remained silent until now, opened her mouth to speak up as well.

「…… For example, finding a solution to a problem that someone might have been struggling with for a long time, or finding something that someone happened to lose and was looking for for the longest time. And every time something unexplainable with a happy ending was happening, people used to look into the distance and say “Thank you for your assistance, dear Ghost Maid”.」

「So in other words, speaking from the standpoint of your Maid Corps lot, the Ghost Maid is supposed to be a good spirit, one of which people are supposed to sing praises exclusively. There should be no way that anyone would dare to speak of its existence in a negative way.」

Hearing that totally unexpected fact, the entire Belfast’s group let out a sigh of surprise all at once.

「I see. So that’s how it is.」

But at the same time, there was still something that Belfast didn’t quite understand.

「But if that is indeed the case here, then what exactly is the identity of that strange monster that we were chasing earlier?」

「–––––– That, I believe, was most probably,」

At that exact time, yet another voice could be heard inside of the hut, and Belfast and others looked in surprise towards a direction that they previously thought to only be an empty space and nothing more.

It would seem that this run-down hut had yet another inhabitant aside from Erebus and Terror. And that person now revealed their presence, while acting somewhat absent-minded.

「Fuaaahhh…… Nmuh. If I remember correctly, you were saying something about that some time ago, right, Erebus? When I listen to that story just now, it sounds awfully like something that a Scarecrow fellow would do, wouldn’t you agree? At least that’s what it looks like to me.」

「Vampire-sama, so you were here as well? I did not even realize.」

「Yes, good morning to you too, Belfast.」

The Admiral V Class Destroyer Vampire raised her hand as if she just woke up and yawned hugely once more, at the same time cracking her neck a little bit.

「I see. I can certainly see that being one of the possible causes of this situation.」

Erebus then made her way towards a heavy-looking book that was sitting on top of a table nearby, flipped it open and once she arrived at a page that she was looking for, she showed its contents to Belfast.

「This is the exact thing that Vampires is talking about.」

「T-This is……」

The illustration that was drawn on the page of the book looked exactly like the image of the Thieving Maid that they encountered not so long ago.

It was an illustration of an apparition with a ghastly-pale skin and a bag put over its head, fashioned to look just like a grotesque version of a human being.

What was also the same as Belfast remembered it, were its hands and feet, looking all rag-like and strangely elongated. According to the explanation provided by the book, the Scarecrow was “A type of monster that was placed in the middle of the fields to scare the birds away, but would grow malicious over time and would hunt people at night, ripping them to shreds”.

「A type of ghost that is way too suitable for Halloween disguise, wouldn’t you agree?」

Belfast shook her head hearing Erebus’s words, whose expression grew strangely warm for some mysterious reason.

「But still…… There is no way that our thief right here is the genuine Scarecrow like that, right? Even if they look the same as in this book.」

「Yes, I would think so, as well. However, it also states in this book that the Scarecrow is not really a thief, but rather an amalgamation of grudges and vengeful thoughts towards human beings. That is why it attacks them almost exclusively.」

「Then that means that most certainly our Ghost Maid is someone in a clever disguise.」

When Bel-chan said that, Belfast slammed the book shut and looked up at the rest of her group.