Crossover Shipgirls: Building a Dimensional Empire from Scratch

The next day.

At the central square of the capital city, Setsuna saw a completely transformed Belfast.

She had traded her usual maid uniform for a light yellow off-shoulder knit top, perfectly showcasing her fair and smooth shoulders while accentuating her enviable figure.

Her lower half was dressed in a black short skirt paired with sheer black stockings, revealing hints of skin beneath. The heels on her feet brought her height closer to Setsuna's, making her just half a head shorter—not too petite, but not overly tall either.

She looked every bit the perfect girlfriend.

"Wow, you look stunning," Setsuna couldn't help but praise. He was used to seeing her in her maid attire, but this casual look of Belfast's was a completely different kind of charm.

"Thank you for the compliment, Commander."

Belfast naturally looped her arm through his, a faint, refreshing fragrance wafting over to him.

"So, where shall we begin?"

"It's entirely up to you, this is your wish."

The two strolled side by side, leisurely walking through the city.

Since Setsuna had personally planned and designed every corner of the capital, he was familiar enough with it to navigate blindfolded.

They walked at a relaxed pace, occasionally stopping at roadside stalls run by Bulins, buying snacks to nibble on as they went.

"This is the first time I've really taken the time to stroll around like this," Belfast said, her tone a little nostalgic as she carefully observed every corner of the city.

She had spent most of her time in the naval base or the administrative center, taking care of Setsuna and the other shipgirls. She rarely went out and almost never had a personal holiday.

"Hmm... I think it's time we set up a rotating vacation schedule for the Royal Maids," Setsuna mused. A proper system for holidays and breaks seemed long overdue.

"Commander? Is that you?"

A group of familiar faces appeared nearby: several newly recruited Spirits, wandering around the city to familiarize themselves with it.

Huddled together, they peeked out from behind a building, sneaking glances at Setsuna and Belfast.

"Didn't Sister Mio say she's the Commander's other half? What's going on here?" Yoshino tilted her head, clutching her rabbit plushie.

"Cheating! An affair! Tsk, absolutely scandalous!"

"They're probably planning to find some secluded spot and then…"

Origami Tobiichi rattled off a string of suggestive phrases, her mind instantly concocting some rather inappropriate scenarios involving Setsuna and Belfast.

"That's just the kind of person Setsuna is," Kurumi Tokisaki remarked, licking her lips with a playful smile, her expression turning mischievous.

"I remember the first day Setsuna met me, he gave me a thorough once-over from head to toe. He knew everything about me, even things I didn't know about myself…"

"Later, on the spaceship, he kept making me call him daddy. Ara, men all seem to have these sorts of peculiar preferences."

Kurumi gently tugged at her neckline, revealing a teasing hint of skin.

"I'm really tempted to walk over there and greet him and that maid of his, then join them for a little fun…"

Her tone carried a mixture of mischief and seduction as she trailed off, letting the imagination linger.

"???"

Yoshino's pupils contracted in shock, clearly startled.

"Is… is that so?! So Kurumi-senpai has already…??"

"Don't cause trouble."

Just as the words left Yoshino's mouth, Mio appeared beside the group.

"You're all still young. Come on, follow me back."

"Eh?! Last time I was halfway through and got caught by Richelieu, and now you're here?!—"

Kurumi barely finished her sentence before the power of the Spirit of Origin enveloped her, giving her no chance to resist as she was unceremoniously sent back home.

"…"

The small commotion behind them did nothing to disrupt the date between Setsuna and Belfast.

The two strolled through the mall, taking in the array of goods, many of which were imported from other worlds or handcrafted by the Bulins.

There were plenty of clothing items on display, along with various handicrafts, furniture, and toys.

"If you see something you like, just take it," Setsuna said with a smile.

With no currency system in the base, the mall's offerings were essentially free. Bartering was allowed, but the Bulins who managed the shops didn't mind if customers simply walked away with items.

"Uh… it feels like something's missing? This is more like picking items out of a warehouse than shopping," Belfast mused, leaning lightly on his shoulder.

"You're thinking of those novel-like scenes where the boyfriend spends extravagantly, buying out the whole store for his girlfriend?"

"Then let's go shopping in the Date A Live or Dragon Maid worlds next time," Setsuna suggested, realizing that Belfast had an unexpectedly girlish side.

After picking out a few casual outfits, the two headed to a restaurant run by Dragon Empery shipgirls for dinner.

Seeing Belfast, Ying Swei, Chao Ho, and Hai Tien were all visibly surprised.

"A rare guest? Maid Head?! Quick, quick, come to the kitchen and learn a few new recipes. Teach you some real cooking—stop making that Stargazy Pie all the time…"

"Look at the Commander, he's practically starving!"

"Who's making that every day?! Stop stereotyping me! I'm not Cheshire, okay?! And I have been learning French and Italian cuisine!"

Belfast felt deeply wronged by the maids' unfair reputation.

Back when the first batch of Heroic Spirits arrived in the capital, they'd been utterly defeated by the cat-headed fish pie. Since then, every new group of recruits—whether Saber, Jeanne Alter, or Jeanne d'Arc—was educated about the "legendary power" of Royal cuisine.

Over time, the Royal Navy's shipgirls became something akin to urban legends in the eyes of the Heroic Spirits. Rumor had it that eating seven servings of Stargazy Pie would summon the Holy Grail and grant a wish.

Sadly, no one had ever managed to eat that much.

But soon enough, Belfast was utterly absorbed by the exotic delicacies presented by the Dragon Empery shipgirls.

In the evening, the two strolled leisurely through the residential district.

The city's greenery was remarkably well-designed, with rows of neatly planted trees lining the streets, and the air carried the faint fragrance of osmanthus blossoms.

Here and there, lights flickered on in the townhouses, though most of the homes were still unoccupied. Considering the size of the metropolis, a population of just over a million wasn't much. Besides, a significant number of shipgirls and Bulins preferred living at the naval base.

"Imagine how lively this place would be if every house was filled someday," Belfast remarked wistfully.

"That would take millions—maybe even tens of millions of people," Setsuna replied with a smile. "Besides shipgirls, maybe we could add some catgirls. Plus, there are several worlds that have their own shipgirls, and some of their tech trees are… let's say, interestingly skewed."

The two chatted idly, their conversation flowing easily.

Belfast carried a bag of fries in her hand, eating gracefully as they walked. Occasionally, she'd pluck one out to feed Setsuna.

"You seem to be in a pretty good mood today," Setsuna observed, noticing how the maid hummed a soft tune to herself.

"Mm-hmm. It's nice to take a day off every now and then," Belfast replied lightly.

They reached a fork in the road. One path led to the naval base where the shipgirls lived, while the other led to the administrative center in the heart of the city.

As Setsuna contemplated whether to say goodbye and head back to do some extra work, Belfast glanced down at the fry box in her hand.

"Oh no—there's only one left…"

"Want me to get you another pack?" Setsuna asked, puzzled that a Royal shipgirl would be concerned about something as trivial as fries. Didn't they eat them all the time?

"No need. According to tradition, the last fry must be shared," Belfast replied, pouting slightly.

"Royal traditions include this? Just break it in half and give me one then…" Setsuna marveled at her childlike sentiment.

But before he could finish, Belfast placed the last fry in her mouth, holding it between her lips, and looked up at him.

"Commander, one half for each of us."

Her long silver hair flowed elegantly behind her as she gazed at him with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

Under the moonlight and the warm glow of the city's lights, her already stunning features were made even more enchanting.

Perhaps from shyness, Belfast closed her eyes. At such close proximity, Setsuna could even see a faint smudge of lip gloss left on the fry.

"Belfast, you're really something..."

Setsuna hadn't expected Belfast to pull such a classic move. It seemed she'd been reading quite a few shoujo manga from other worlds.

He lowered his head slightly, first tasting the crisp flavor of the fry. As he swallowed it, a soft sensation followed.

Belfast favored mint-flavored lip gloss. Setsuna learned another small detail about her preferences.

"..."

After a few minutes, the maid opened her eyes slowly, nestled in his arms. There was a tender, watery affection in her gaze that could make anyone's heart skip a beat.

"Should I walk you back?" Setsuna asked.

"No, Commander, today's date isn't over yet..."

"Would you like to come and see my ship?"

…

Click—

It wasn't Setsuna's first time boarding Belfast's ship. During the expedition to the Date A Live world, the HMS Belfast had served as the team's base for quite some time.

However, it was his first time visiting the maid's private quarters.

The decor resembled Richelieu's European style but lacked the excessive luxurious furnishings and decorations. It was simple and cozy, a place that allowed someone to unwind and let their guard down.

The usually composed maid appeared slightly anxious at this moment.

"Commander, um, the maid team doesn't have training courses for this kind of thing…"

"I only heard a little from Taihou… If anything's amiss, I hope you'll forgive me…"

Belfast's silver hair spread over the pillow as she wrapped her arms around Setsuna's neck.

Setsuna realized that while Belfast was just a cruiser, she was by no means inferior to the carriers or battleships. No Spirit could quite compare to her.

"It's fine. I've got you."

He gently reassured Belfast.

"Mmm…"

Belfast furrowed her brows slightly, but soon her expression relaxed.

"So this is what Taihou and Richelieu felt back then…"

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