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

「Belfast. There is no need for you to worry about and be considerate about the Ghost Maid anymore. After all, this story is nothing else but your own story — the Episode of Belfast.」

And with that, Newcastle gave Belfast a huge wink with one eye.

「And as a Former Head Maid, I hope that your story is going to continue being a happy one.」

Placing her hands on top of Belfast’s shoulders, Newcastle continued to speak in a warm and gentle tone.

「And I am sure that our audience wants that as well. Alright then, with that being said, I will better go now and help Sheffy. After all, we need all the help that we can get right now.」

With that said, Newcastle started to walk away towards the place where the Costume-Making Team was doing their thing.

「Belfast-nee-sama, I will also start heading towards where Amazon-san is.」

Saying that, Bel-chan turned around and she also walked away just as she said she would.

「I am well aware that it is not going to be all that easy of a task, but I would really like for you to be able to help Boo-san out in the same way as you helped the Little Birdie at that time.」

Hearing those parting words, Belfast waved her hand at Bel-chan until she eventually disappeared from her sight.

「This is my story, you say……」

Upon recalling Newcastle’s sudden and unexpected words, Belfast could not help it but to let out a loud and long sigh.

And then,

「Belfast」

She was suddenly called from behind her back and when she turned around, Erebus was standing there.

Belfast thought that after she was done talking about the Ghost Maid, Erebus would be well on her way back to her derelict hut, but she was still here for some reason. This got Belfast to think what could have happened to cause her to stay like that?

「There was one thing I forgot to mention earlier, you see.」

Saying that, Erebus procured a small blue glowing stone from the inside of her pocket. It looked like something that could have been taken out of a pendant or something similar.

「Ever since I happened to see that pendant that Rei-san was wearing in the picture book, I was wondering if there was some sort of theme or motif behind that thing. It seems to be a special material stone that can be found on the islands in the surrounding sea area, but there is actually a little anecdote about this stone in particular.」

「A little anecdote?」

Belfast listened to Erebus as she handed her the stone so that she could inspect it in greater detail.

「In the first place, there is an anecdote regarding the area where you can find it in general, that this “Clear blue stone that you can find in the area surrounding the Home Port possesses the power to grant any wish of whoever ends up finding it”. And apparently there are quite a lot of people who believe that rumor.」

Belfast’s expression hardened upon hearing that.

「No matter how you look at this thing, it does not look like any kind of natural ore that can form on its own, but…… Maybe it would be a good idea to show this stone to Akashi-san later and listen to her opinion on it. So, maybe that way we are going to know more about the Ghost Maid in general ——」

「This stone…… Do you think I could borrow it for a while?」

Upon seeing the stone that was in Rei-san’s pendant in the illustrations in the picture book, Belfast became convinced of something.

It looked exactly like the Wish Granting Stone that Belfast happened to witness during her vacation at the hot springs resort.

When she happened to bring it back to the inn with her in a drawstring bag, it was later recovered by Manjuus, but because Erebus was holding onto the exact same-looking right now, a sudden flash of inspiration flashed through Belfast’s mind.

「I mean sure, I can lend it to you for the time being, but what exactly are you going to do with it?」

「I mean, this stone is said to grant wishes and perform miracles, you know?」

Really, of all the times in the world to get greedy like that.

Even though it’s been a year since that time at the hot springs town, she was still trying to get God to listen to her selfish desires and grant them all.

「… But I am going to have to make you forgive me this one more time. After all, it would seem that everyone is sincerely wishing for a happy ending to this lowly maid right here.」

Belfast grips the pendant with the stone in it tightly and muttered the following words: “Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus.” (What Shall I Give For So Much?)

Those were the words that were always engraved in her heart at all times.

—— What can I do to repay you for all the good things you’ve done for me?

And Belfast continued to pray for the success of the stage play while rushing to the waiting room where Elizabeth was still staying.

「Please, I beg of you. Watch over the future of this stage play until the very end.」

* * *

「We would like to extend the Break Time for approximately five more minutes. We apologize for the delay, and ask you to wait just a little while longer.」

Amazon’s voice could be heard coming from the theater’s speakers, and Bismarck, who was sitting in the audience seats, let out a long sigh in response.

「……It looks to me like the Royal Navy must have encountered some sort of trouble. With that state of affairs, they are most probably in need of tidying up the stage and rebuilding the scenography.」

Mikasa, who was sitting right next to Bismark, widened her eyes in surprise.

「Wait…… Wasn’t all that destruction just a part of the actual performance?」

「Obviously, when the scaffolding behind the stage collapsed, they made sure to ad-lib that part accordingly, but it must have been something completely unexpected.」

No matter how you look at it, you can only think of that part of the play as an unforeseen happening.

Bismarck rested her chin on top of her palm that she had been resting on top of the armrest of her seat until just now. She couldn’t actually help it but to feel disappointed that things turned out like this, even though Elizabeth was so ostentatious about their stage play at the time of the delegates’ meeting.

Despite minor failures here and there, the previous three factions were generally successful in their performances, so it was a huge win for them. It was a pity that the Royal Navy faction had suffered such a tragedy halfway through their performance.

「……Yes, it is most certainly a tragedy that something like that ended up happening.」

「…… Bismarck-dono?」

As if she had not heard Mikasa’s words, Bismarck stared blankly at the hanging curtain right in front of her eyes.

It might actually be a waste of time to keep on watching until the very end.

「I think that I am going to excuse myself here and take my leave.」

When Bismarck stood up all of a sudden, Enterprise, who was sitting right behind Mikasa, called out to her right away.

「Aren’t you going to watch the play until the very end?」

「No, I don’t think I will. There is hardly any point to do that now. I think I will be back with the rest of the Iron Bloods for the evening part of the School Festival. Until then, I think I am going to take it easy somewhere else.」

「Hmmph…… it was certainly a very pleasant stage play, but it’s such a waste that it turned out this way.」

Bismarck waved her hand at Mikasa, who groaned and folded her arms at her chest as she muttered those words to herself.

「I’m sure that Queen Elizabeth did not want us to see what a mess their stage play would turn into after that accident. So with that in mind, it would be wise for us to use our time during the School Festival in a more meaningful way.」

When Bismarck was about to leave the theater for good,

「 ——— Please wait just a moment, Bismarck!

A sudden yell came from the speakers around the theater, causing Bismarck to stop right in her tracks.

The voice just now was not the voice of Amazon that has been making announcements all this time until now.

「……Elizabeth?」

With a dubious expression, Bismarck looked up at the Sound Room above the audience seats.

And surely enough, Elisabeth was right there, holding the microphone in her hand, pompously boasting in her usual tone.