Lost at Sea and in Another World

The Real Tyrant

Now then shall we start.....?

Not the slightest sound around Tirpitz or any sound from the battleship herself. Rather than at least enjoy the day and stroll around the base, Tirpitz brooded in one corner where it isn't even a spot of relaxation for shipgirls. Her eyes couldn't even stare at the peacef horizon, just on the bleak and cracked concrete ground.

"Why are you sulking in one corner? Even our Tirpitz isn't this.....depressing"

Warspite, a battleship with the appearance and mannerisms of a refined lady, turned from a corner and coincidentally spotted Tirpitz. The latter's eyes lacked any joy and her expression alone already drew someone who's unsure and nearly surrendered.

"I kept thinking about my past encounters with Tyrant. When I first fought her, I was completely powerless against her. My rigging was under repair that time and I'm the only present at that fjord when she attacked. It was entirely destroyed, but Bismarck said it's not my fault" Tirpitz let out a deep sigh
"Self loathing and frustration, huh. This is because you strive for power as if you're obsessed with your enemy" Warspite sits beside her

Tirpitz knows the Warspite only a few inches away from her isn't the one from Azur Lane, but even her situation right now finds a way to cause her to feel slightly flustered and anxious. That's the same Warspite who is actually much stronger than her elegant lady appears her to be and more experienced even without the slightest scar.

"I wanted to defeat her....but it didn't cross my mind to kill her. Never once I had killing intent towards any shipgirl" Tirpitz raises her head
"Although the resolve to not kill is admirable, it's quite foolish in a war. Bloodshed is what sparks war and bloodshed is what ends it. For the noise to cease, you simply habe to permanently cut off the source....." Warspite intertwines her fingers
"Have you killed another person? You talk as if you're not innocent" Tirpitz straightens her back
".....I could never tell myself as innocent. I manipulated events and tricked people when they simply refuse to listen"
"Then have you killed a human?"
"That depends on who kill someone....."

Warspite's gaze shifts to the sky with slowly drifting clouds and the sun hiding behind them. For a brief moment, Tirpitz believes there's guilt in Warspite's eyes no matter how calmly she forces herself to be.

"Everyone in Iron Blood believes in strength and my older sister is the symbol of our might. I lacked the strength needed for Iron Blood......" Tirpitz expresses her insecurity
"A nation obsessed with pride and glory is no good. That's the kind of nation that sends itself to ruin....when a single block removes itself from the structure"
"Iron Blood being disrupted by one person? It just takes one person to light a match and set everything on fire"

The mere thought of it doesn't cause Tirpitz worry, but she feels her chest racing not because of fear. It's an emotion always there inside there but very unfamiliar to her. She lightly grits her teeth, afraid of the new emotion stirring inside her.

"When Tyrant overpowered my allies, I couldn't do anything. It crossed my mind how I can never beat someone like her....."
"So you just stood there and let your allies get hurt? You could have done something....but you lacked the confidence to do because you always believed tour inferior compared to your sister"

An upset Warspite immediately stands and points at Tirpitz. She begins scolding her since she couldn't bear seeing a weak-willed battleship fighting a serious war for so long. The sight of someone who gives up on herself and finds an excuse for it is a cause of irritation building up on Warspite.

"You don't have any motivation to grow stronger....always afraid you'll never reach her level" Warspite nearly clicks her tongue
"That's - I'm not even sure if I want to surpass my own sister. All I cared about is doing my duty as part of Iron Blood. I never tried my best because...." Tirpitz shook her head
"Don't you have your own goals? You're always thinking about Iron Blood.....but there's only resentment for it"
".......I didn't like Iron Blood the way it is, but I kept bearing it all because it's where I was born and what Bismarck believed in. You want me to admit I'm forcing myself?"
"I never said that, but it appears my hunch is right. You're awfully frustrated and just bottling up your emotions behind that stern-faced facade"