Author: I'm not forcing anyone to read the story, so there's no need to rant or demand according to their taste. I have real life responsibilities, so I won't always entertain the ranting/complaining of an anonymous user. However, I do listen if someone wants to give me tips and advice on story writing since this is clearly not my best department.

Two months after leaving Iron Blood and essentially betraying her own sister, Tirpitz calmly sits on top of her turret while slowly spinning her ice-filled glass of juice. Upon noticing her "companion" upset and confused at the same time, Tirpitz places her glass beside her and gracefully jumps down to the deck.

"I'm still not understanding a bit on how I've been presumed dead for two months" Prinz Eugen shakes her head

"You were in suspended animation for the last few months. During your inactivity, a Prinz Eugen from an alternate timeline replaced you and infiltrated Iron Blood. It's not that hard to understand" Tirpitz crosses her arms

"You explained that to me already, but even if I'm alive everyone else thinks I'm dead. Not to mention, I'm a traitor"

Even for someone like Prinz Eugen, she would be slightly lost if she's unwillingly put in an inactive state only to learn that another version of her died in her place as soon as she reawakens. Although she's not panicking like how other people would react, Prinz Eugen is merely upset at how she's forced in the situation.

"The last time I remembered, I was investigating an unknown shipgirl spotted in our territory. When I came across that shipgirl...it turned out to look exactly like me" Prinz Eugen frowns

"Don't look at me with that face. I'm not the one who planned it. Tyrant's plan was to have someone keep an eye of Iron Blood, but she's dead and so is your alternate version" Tirpitz calmly responds

"How are you calm? You're a fugitive in Iron Blood now, so you can't even go back to your world. The same thing goes for me albeit unwillingly. If we go back, they might execute us for treason and I don't think they can understand the reason anyway"

Prinz Eugen retreats to the ship's safety rails and slightly relaxes her back, annoyed at how both of them cannot return to Azur Lane with Iron Blood searching for Tirpitz while Prinz Eugen can't reveal her current status since she is seen a traitor as well.

"I didn't leave Iron Blood in a whim. Before Tyrant died, I already planned to leave Iron Blood because I have a goal to accomplish" Tirpitz explains

"This is a surprise. You decided to boldly act for the first time and this is probably why Bismarck didn't expect your betrayal" Prinz Eugen chuckles

"Remember Iron Blood's ambitious project when they found an active piece of unknown technology?"

"The one they stuffed the core of some dead monster into an Iron Blood monster?"

"I let your alternate version steal it when I caught her awakening its consciousness"

"That's just great. More reason for Iron Blood to execute me once I walked back in there"

Of course, Iron Blood won't be too kind if they learn the traitor 'Prinz Eugen' is also the same culprit for stealing a top secret project.

"It can't be helped. I'll have to stay here with you because Bismarck isn't going to forgive either of us once we're found"

There's no choice for Prinz Eugen but to live as a fugitive and far away from Iron Blood as possible.

"Wait, why did you leave Iron Blood in the first place anyway?"

"To fulfill my plan, I have to cooperate with the Sirens in rebuilding Orochi. It's a bit of a long story" Tirpitz shrugs her shoulders

"Good grief. Bismarck isn't going to be happy if she learns about this"

"We're in another world, so we can move freely here. There's no threat of Iron Blood or anyone from Azur Lane"

Tirpitz walks towards the bow of the battleship and enjoys the cool sea breeze and the sight of a peaceful and natural island coast in the distance, confident that no one will be pursuing them for treason. Unlike Prinz Eugen, Tirpitz willingly abandoned Iron Blood and doesn't care whether she is marked as a criminal in Iron Blood's eyes.

"I'm not going to force you, so what will it be? Will you be an even bigger traitor, Eugen?" Tirpitz turns her head and sternly asks

"What?"

"I'll let you be if your refuse. I just want to know if you're willing to actually play the part of a traitor like me"

"That's not something I can decide so easily. I just woke up when you told me how I'm a a dead traitor who will actually be dead once I walk back to Iron Blood" Prinz Eugen frowns

"I see, then I apologize for asking so suddenly. Would you like to join me in sightseeing though? We have nothing to do for the time being"

"You know, I'm not sure if you're Tirpitz. Not only you boldly went against Bismarck, you're...enjoying yourself with a satisfied smile on your face"

Prinz Eugen jokingly comments the moment she sees Tirpitz faintly smiling and even cheerfully suggesting to take explore the world since they're "criminals" who fled their world. Tirpitz blinks in confusion and places her fingers right below her chin, unsure to what Prinz Eugen is implying.

"Is it really that unlikely of me, huh. The truth is that I'm concerned to how Bismarck feels right now after what I did. I wouldn't be surprised if she's going chase me here and drag me back to Iron Blood"

"So you're worried about getting caught" Prinz Eugen sighs

"I haven't changed my mind about sightseeing. Why don't you come along too, so I can explain more about what happened while you're comfortably sleeping"

"Don't remind me..."

Before Tirpitz could remind her of that regrettable moment, Prinz Eugen storms off form the deck to possibly retreat to the stern of the ship. Tirpitz has no desire to bother her right now, so she rests her right arm on the railing and closes her eyes to engrave the rare peaceful moment in her memory.

"This is going to take a toll on my body, but I have to endure the burden...until I accomplish my goal. I wonder if this weight on my chest would have been lighter if I had been a little honest to Bismarck" Tirpitz clutches her chest

Even if she runs away to another world, her emotions would always remind her that she forced herself to break her older sister's heart. Tirpitz couldn't mask the guilt in her eyes, but she's serious about her goal...that she's willingly to accept a burden that's a key for the outcome.