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Azur Lane: Episode of Belfast Volume 4 Chapter 1 Part 5

A play script that would satisfy not only her own subordinates, but also all the other shipgirls of the other factions as well.

「So what should we do in order to meet that expectation, huh……」

There were still about twenty days left before the start of the School Festival. So in terms of time, Elizabeth had no time to take it easy.

「Anyways, Warspite! First of all, we are going to have ourselves some emergency meeting.」

「An emergency meeting? What does that supposed to mean……?」

Just then, Elizabeth glances at her clock hanging on the wall.

「I just happened to come up with something. I think it would be just about time for her to come back……」

* * *

「—— Hey! Hey, you there! Edinburgh-san!」

A little ‘shipgirl’ who had gone all the way turned around and waved at her two sister ships in that were behind her.」

「Hey now, Echo! I know that you like to get ahead of others, but be sure not to stray too far! You might actually hurt yourself on your own!」

One of the sister ships, the Light Cruiser of the Edinburgh Class, Edinburgh, called out loudly to Echo, to which the other small “shipgirl” of the F Class Destroyers began to circle around in place.

「~~!! But the waves are so calm today, and our surroundings are perfectly safe~! There is nothing to worry about~!」

Hearing that, Edinburgh slumped her shoulders, especially that Echo was humming those words and seemed to completely disregard the warning in her voice just now.

「Goodness gracious…… I know that we are technically in a safe place, since it is the Home Port and all that, but that girl is acting way too relieved and carefree for her own good……」

When Edinburgh let out a long and deep sigh filled with resignation like that, the other “shipgirl” beside her, the other Light Cruiser of the Edinburgh Class called Belfast, the current Head Maid of the Royal Navy’s pride and joy that was the Maid Corps, managed to stay perfectly calm.

「It is the first time that she has completed a mission on her own, so I am relieved to see her in good health upon return. That’s all.」

Belfast and Edinburgh were now on their way back from a few days worth of military consignment.

Originally, the mission given to them was supposed to be an operation under more severe conditions, but this time they were entrusted with the relatively easy task of escorting a transport ship across fairly safe waters.

Although it was actually Echo who was entrusted with the task in the first place, the two of them ended up accompanying her as her assistants, making sure that nothing would go wrong alongside the way.

「It’s like a dream to have Belfast-san, the Head Maid of the Maid Corps, and Edinburgh-san, who I simply adore and love, accompany me on my first mission! Thank you very much for your help! Echo is really grateful to you for teaching me the heartfelt tips and intricacies of military outsourcing!」

When she returned to Belfast and Edinburgh’s side, Echo bowed down her head once more.

「No, no, no. You also did a splendid job out there on your first mission, Echo-san! Even Nee-san said so a mere moment ago. So you can be a little bit more proud of yourself.」

「H-Huh!? H-Hey! Wait a minute, Bel!?」

Belfast only smiled here and winked cutely at Edinburgh who started acting really bewildered upon hearing that.

Edinburgh slowly looked down at Echo, and Echo was staring at her with her eyes twinkling brightly from the highest form of praise that her small body could have possibly imagined.

「……I’m so happy! To think I would be able to hear such praise from my beloved Edinburgh-san! Echo is unworthy of such honor!」

The way in which the young Destroyer was looking at the two was oh so straightforward but dazzling at the same time.

Even though Edinburgh herself was a little bit hesitant seeing Echo looking at her with such a passionate gaze, she eventually nodded her head with a smile on her face.

「Um, umm, this is…… I don’t even know what to say here, you know? But if that’s how it is, then, you know…… Just keep up the good work and continue to do your very best, I guess? Ahaha!」

Belfast chuckled slightly when she saw that Edinburgh was clearly flustered here and did not know what to do about little Echo. It was really delightful to see her fidget on the spot like that, for some reason.

「You must really love my Nee-san very dearly, right, Echo-chan?」

「Yes! That’s right! I love her very much!」

Echo would then reply in a cheerful manner to Belfast’s question.

In fact, she was just a novice ship that has only been on duty for about four or five days thus far.

Of course she still did not know the location of all of the Home Port facilities or the location of such an important place as the armory.

She actually managed to recently lose her way around the port and she wandered back and forth over and over again in the same place.

—— Huh? You there, what’s wrong? Are you perhaps lost? Or in some sort of trouble?

It was actually Edinburgh, who was working as an assistant at a certain other facility at the time, who called out to her, and this was how the two of them met for the very first time.

And when Echo told Edinburgh that she was in fact lost and did not know where to go,

——Shall we go together to the pier with you? My little sister and I, that is?

She said something like that, and then Edinburgh smiled kindly at Echo as she held her hand tightly.

She also had to constantly remind Echo not to run too far off on her own, as the little Destroyer was eagerly striding forward.

It was not at all that hard to imagine just how indispensable the existence of Edinburgh was to Echo at that time, and that she would treat her with adoration because of the help she proposed to her.

「That is why Echo fell in love with Edinburgh-san! Seeing Edinburgh-san at that time, Echo also wanted to become such a gentle ‘shipgirl’ as Edinburgh-san is! It is Echo’s dream!」

After hearing Echo say that all enthusiastically while nodding her head, Belfast also smiled brightly while looking at Edinburgh.

「Oh my, that’s simply wonderful. As expected of my Nee-san. So dependable.」

「I have just arrived at this Home Port island, and there were still many things I did not understand, but now I am full of motivation to learn it all! Because by doing just that, I will be one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming just like my beloved Edinburgh-san!」

Having said that, little Echo once again took the lead and began to move forward at high speed.

This time around, she seemed to be following Edinburgh’s orders and slowing down so as not to get too far away from the two of them.

「She is a pretty energetic girl, I must admit.」

When Belfast said that, for some reason Edinburgh showed a tired expression on her face.

「Hm? What’s wrong?」

「It’s just that…… Being respected is actually a whole lot of hard work, isn’t it? It’s kind of hard to be formal with people around you all the time. Why can’t I just carry on as per usual?」

Edinburgh made a sour expression after saying that.

「You don’t seem to understand, Bel. Being respected can also lead to tremendous disappointment, you know?」

「Now, Nee-san. That’s way too pessimistic of an approach.」

「I’m not pessimistic, just to let you know. It’s just called being realistic, that’s what this is.」

「From my point of view, you really are acting like a respectable senior to that child, Nee-san. Please believe me on that.」

「That’s because I get to really act like an older sister for once. But I’m naturally a clumsy person, so I will definitely cause her some disappointment when I eventually do something poorly!」

Seeing Edinburgh lament over the way she was like that, Belfast could only shake her head in utter disbelief.

「Ah! And there it is! That patronizing expression of yours! You are looking down on me right now, Bel! I know that you do!」

「Oh, please, Nee-san, you are simply misunderstanding. It’s not that. I just thought that this girl really looks up to you, that is all.」

「Huh? And that’s that supposed to even mean? Can you at least explain things in a way that will be easy for me to understand?」

「Edinburgh-san! Belfast-san! I can already see the Home Port island from here! We’re back!」