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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 2 Chapter 1 Part 8

PART 8

–––––– What was that…… Somehow, Belfast felt that something was wrong here……

But then, Belfast’s vigilance was strengthened by a foreign object that had suddenly entered her field of vision.

「Ghost, you say…… Wait, Bel, why would you even bring out such a scary subject all of a sudden……」

Looking at the blue-faced Edinburgh, Belfast approached the cooking table as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Slowly. Casually. Pretending to be ignorant. Pretending that she didn’t actually see the thing that she saw.

She was getting closer and closer to the mysterious black shadow, without it even realizing what was going to happen in just a short while.

And so, Belfast opened her mouth and spoke to Edinburgh while gradually moving forward and forward.

「I haven’t heard any specifics about it either, so I’m wondering if anyone has heard of it before. If you do happen to possess some information about it, then please let me know. I would really appreciate it.」

「–––––– Belfast.」

At that moment Sheffield suddenly turned towards Belfast while speaking up.

「Actually, I might have heard that story somewhere in greater detail.」

That actually managed to startle Belfast. But it was not because of what Sheffield said, but rather the way in which she moved now.

She was still doing her job with cleaning the kitchen, but she was also gradually getting closer and closer to that certain spot that Belfast was also approaching on her own.

Most probably, Sheffield must have also noticed the presence of this strange black shadow.

The black shadow was still holding its breath under the table as it was slowly making its way towards the table with the cake on it.

Maybe the shadow thought that no one was able to notice it, as it started to move faster and more daring than before.

Belfast then shifted her gaze at the rest of the maids currently present in the kitchen and at the kitchen door, at the same time keeping a close eye at the black shadow.

And true enough, the door to the kitchen was left slightly open. That must have been the way through which the black shadow managed to slide its way inside.

「Sheffy, if you don’t mind, could you tell me some more about that ghost maid?」

Continuing to monitor the movements of the black shadow closely, Belfast slowly moved her legs again to get even closer to the targeted table.

「I also only vaguely remembered something about it, come to think of it.」

Sheffield then reached the front of the cooking table.

「Please tell me what you know. It doesn’t matter what it is, every bit of information here is going to be a tremendous help.」

「Even though it might be something really small and insignificant?」

「Yes. I really want to know everything about it. Even the slightest of clues.」

While talking like that to Sheffield, Belfast also arrived at the preparation table.

And seeing Belfast lining up next to Sheffield the way she did, it would seem that both Kent and Suffolk also realized what was going on and started acting as well.

The two maids also became aware of the presence of the black shadow under the table, and so they moved right away in order to apprehend it at once, not wanting to give it a moment to escape.

「I understand. As you wish. I shall tell you everything I know, no matter how small and insignificant it might seem.」

Now being ready to take action, Sheffield grabbed a metal fork that was laying on top of the table.

「You see, to tell you the truth, the Ghost Maid is very bad with her hands. Yes, for example……」

While Sheffield was saying those particular words, the black shadow under the table reached out its small hand towards the portion of the sponge cake that was on top of the table.

「–––––– Just like this!」

Sheffield shouted out loud, swinging down the hand in which she was holding the fork. However, the black shadow managed to dodge it, and swiftly retreated under the table.

「Belfast!」

「Roger that!」

In response to Sheffield’s shout, Belfast tried to catch the black shadow before it would be able to reach the kitchen door and escape into the dining room.

When the black shadow passed Belfast while it was escaping, something in its appearance made Belfast frown her brows on the spot.

「You…… But you are……!」

Belfast let out her voice unintentionally.

Capitalizing on that moment when the Head Maid let her guard down, the black shadow flew under the table once more and then dashed towards the kitchen door.

「Hm? W-What’s wrong?」

Passing by Edinburgh, who was honestly confused as she did not understand the situation, the black shadow rushed out of the kitchen with a tremendous speed.

「That back appearance, that was……!?」

Foxhound cried out loud.

「There’s no doubt about it! That’s the same person who stole our candy from us earlier!」

「I won’t let you get away that easily!」

Belfast gave chase almost right away, followed by Sheffield, Kent, Fortune and Edinburgh.

As for the black shadow, or the thieving ghost maid, she went straight into the dining room and darted forward towards the exit without stopping even for a moment out there.

While Belfast and her group gave chase, the black shadow continued to run away while avoiding the other children by dashing under the tables and chairs in a zigzag manner. However, the difference in speed was obvious here, and it was something that could never be overcome with sheer will alone.

Although the thieving maid was moving forward in a steady manner, Belfast and the other maids were way slower than the one they were chasing after.

「Belfast! If we let this thing go outside, at this rate we will never be able to catch it!」

Sheffield shouted those words to Belfast, who immediately picked up on that.

「Roger that. Everyone! No matter what happens, we must not let this shadow reach the front door and go outside!」

That being said, they could already see the entrance. And right there, there was glowworm, a G Class Destroyer who was casually trying to go outside with a carefree smile plastered onto her face.

「Glowworm! No matter what you do, do not open that door, you hear me!?」

When Belfast raised her voice in the direction of Glowworm with a stern look on her face, the young Destroyed turned her head towards her in apparent confusion, frightened and not knowing what to do.

「Wa, wawawa, wawawawawah! What is it, what is it, what is it, what is it!?」

Even in a state of panic, Glowworm still managed to close the front door in a hurry, and the thieving maid, seeing that her way out had been cut off just like that, immediately changed her route and headed in a new direction, looking for her chance to get away.

Belfast’s group flowed right after the thieving maid, going up the staircase while skipping every second or third step along the way.

The thieving maid arrived at the second floor and rushed further into the depths of the corridor while not even bothering to look back at its pursuers.

Shortly after, Belfast and the rest of the maids have reached the second floor as well.

There, right in front of the thief, there were Nelson and Rodney, both battleships of the Nelson Class.

「Hmm? Is that…… The Maid Corps that I see?」

Nelson stopped on the spot when she saw the thief wearing the maid outfit.

Then Rodney also came to a stop, noticing that Belfast and the other maids were right behind the thief, giving chase.

「Is that Belfast and others coming after that maid? What the hell…… What is even going on here?」

Noticing both Nelson and Rodney, Kent shouted loudly in a hurry.

「Please! No matter what, don’t let that thieving maid get away! I beg of you!」

It seems that Kent’s words were more than enough to make both Nelson and Rodney somehow understand what was going on, for the two of them just nodded their heads at one another.

Both of them then stood straight on the spot, staring at the incoming thieving maid with serious and stern expressions.

「I don’t really get what’s going on, but for the time being you want us to catch her, right?」

「You two! Whatever you do, don’t underestimate her! She’s much more tenacious than she looks!」

But seeing the new roadblock right in front of her, the thieving maid did not slow down and she even picked up her pace.

And when she was right in the faces of the two Nelson Class battleships,

「We’ve got you now you –––––– little…… thief……!?」’

At that time, the thieving maid jumped into the air, and it looked as if she actually flew.

With an acrobatic move like that, the thieving maid managed to dodge the two battleships quite easily.

It was just a testament to the incredible jumping power that she possessed inside of her small body.