Sorry for the late update! I'm trying to update at least 2 chapters per week from now on. If I'm not busy, I can publish more chapter! Unfortunately, next week I'm going to have midterm exams. So, I PROBABLY won't publish new chapter next week. I hope you understand ^_^

And again, thank you for the reviews. Don't hesitate to give one. I welcome any kinds of reviews, including critics. Without further ado, enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 3 - Ruin Exploration

"You could've woken me up, you know!"

Lady Neptune shouted at me. Apparently, she wasn't happy about what us leaving her back at home. After she saved us from the huge Dogoo, she kept ranting all the way back to the guild.

"I did want to wake you up, but Nepgear said that I shouldn't do it. I'm sorry." I apologized.

Unfortunately, that apology didn't work. She kept making a disappointed face and seemed a little bit sad. The reason I did a quest was to help her, not to make her angry like this. Giving up, I finally asked her.

"Is there anything I can do to make you happy, Lady Neptune?"

She looked at me with a surprised look. It must've been my imagination, but her face turned bright red for a moment.

"Ah, wha, um…what?" She stuttered.

"I said, is there anything I can do to make you happy? I mean, you're being angry and all…I did the quest to help you, you know. If there is something I can do for you to forgive, please tell me." I said.

Lady Neptune calmed down. She let out a sigh and giggled.

"S-so, that's what you mean. Haha…" She laughed. "I'm not actually angry at you. I just feel frustrated that you didn't tell me about going out. But I can understand, you didn't because Nepgear told you so. That's why, from now on, if you wanna do a quest, you have to take me with you!"

"Huh? But, I'm doing this to help you. If I take you along, then what's the point?"

"I don't care! I don't want to lose my title as the main character just because I let another people to do the job!" She protested. "I know! I will accept your apology if you agree to this!"

She looked so eager. If I said no, she wouldn't forgive me, and I live in the same place with her, that wouldn't be a wise choice. But, if I said yes, she would forgive me and would start following me on my quest. That would negate my purpose. In this case though, I guess I'll let her do what she wants.

"Alright, but please don't do all the work by yourself. I want you to rely on me." I said.

Lady Neptune jumped up and down in happiness. She really became happy just because of that. I thought she didn't like to work. Whatever, if she's happy, that's enough. Once again, I felt something familiar about this. Why am I really eager to help Lady Neptune? Out of debt? No, there's more to this. But I don't know what that is. The purple…I had known it before.

"Azzy, what's the matter?"

Lady Neptune looked at me worriedly. Did I show an unpleasant expression?

"N-no, it's nothing." I said. "By the way, Lady Neptune, where is the ruin located? The one where you found me sleeping inside."

"Oh, that ruin. It's not that far from here, but it would take a long time to get there by foot. You need to travel through some hills. Do you wanna go there?"

"I would like to do that, but it seems that it would take a long time to get there, so—"

"Don't worry! I can take you there! I mean, it's still noon and I don't have anything to do, let's go there! We might find something about you!" She said.

"Would that be alright?"

She gave a peace sign. If she really wants to help, then I guess it won't hurt to give it a shot. Immediately after that, Nepgear came out from the guild. I forgot to mention, while we were talking outside the guild, Nepgear reported the mission and registered the new kind of Dogoo to the guild's database.

"It's finally done. Onee-chan, what are you going to do now?" Nepgear asked.

"Azzy and I are going to visit the ruin. Nepgear, wanna come along?"

"Of course, I—"

A sound came from Nepgear's pocket. She took out a device, probably her phone. She stared at it for a while.

"I'm sorry, but I need to do something at Lastation." Nepgear said.

"Ah, a date with Uni? It can't be helped then!" Lady Neptune said.

"I-it's not a date! Uni wanted my help on something, nothing more! Geez, onee-chan. The one who is going to go on a date is you, not me."

Nepgear's words seemed to hit a string on Lady Neptune. Her face turned bright red once again. I could only give a small laugh.

"Well, Nepgear isn't wrong in a way. It's just you and me that are going to go to the ruin." I said.

My answer seemed to make Lady Neptune even redder. Suddenly, she transformed without any warning. She turned to look at Nepgear.

"Nepgear, I believe you need to go to Lastation, IMMEDIATELY." Lady Neptune said.

"Y-yes ma'am!"

With that, Nepgear transformed and flew away to the distance. I looked at Lady Neptune, who kept staring at the ground for some reason.

"Um, Lady Neptune?"

"Yes?" She immediately answered.

"Should we go now?"

"Of course."

It didn't take long to reach the ruin. Though, the journey from Planeptune to this place was quite awkward. Lady Neptune didn't seem to think that by bringing to this place means she had to carry me along the way. After some moments of hesitation, she finally composed herself and took me by the arm. She didn't say a word along the way. Even now, she's still in her Goddess form. When I asked her why, she didn't answer. Alas, we continued to go inside the ruin.

The place was quite big. Mosses were everywhere, fallen pillars, overgrown vines, and cracked walls. The strange thing was, there's no monster at all. Lady Neptune guided me to one of the corridor. It was a short corridor, and now we've arrived in another room. This room is empty. No other way to enter this room besides the corridor we went through. The only thing lighting up the place was the sunlight from some cracked ceilings.

"I found you right here, with your back to the wall." Lady Neptune said.

I began to check the room thoroughly. I was hoping I could find some clues, but this room was just an empty room. What was I doing in this place? I shook my head after I finished checking.

"No clue, huh? Well, there are some rooms I haven't checked yet. Do you want to check them?" Lady Neptune asked.

"It won't hurt to try."

We walked back to the big room. This time, we entered a hallway through one of the path. We arrived in another room. This room had a pond occupying half of the room. It wasn't big though. I checked the pond and put my hand in it. The water felt cold, and it looked fresh. There were no signs of living creatures in the water. Without any reason to stay in this room, we exited back to the big room. There's only one path left to explore. We proceeded through the path and entered another hallway. After a moment of walking, we finally arrived in another room.

This room resembled a throne room. Pillars on left and right, some of them were destroyed. At the end of this room was a chair, like the ones that kings and queens use. This place was too small to be called a castle. Moreover, this place hadn't got much room. Curious, I checked the chair. Nothing suspicious about it, but I found something intriguing. Beside the chair, there was a sword. I took it and lifted it up to see it more clearly. Lady Neptune was standing beside me and also observed the sword.

There were stains on the blade. I touched the stain to check what that is. It was blood, old enough for it to rust along with the sword. Someone must've used this sword to inflict great wound to somebody. Suddenly, I saw something in my mind. A person…a girl. I couldn't clearly see her face, but she was definitely smiling. A sharp pain hurt my head after that vision. I held my head in response.

"Azzy, are you alright?!" Lady Neptune asked. She held my shoulders in worry.

"I…I think I'm fine." I said.

The pain remained for a short time before it subsided. I let go of my head looked at Lady Neptune. She's directly in front of me right now. Her hands still holding my shoulders. To ensure her, I gave her a smile.

"Ah, good then. What happened?" She asked again.

"When I touched the bloodstain, I saw something in my mind. I think it was my memory. I saw a girl smiling at me. Unfortunately, I couldn't see her face." I explained.

"I see. So you really are related to this place. I wonder who the girl is…" Lady Neptune realized her hands were still holding my shoulders. She quickly let go of me and looked away. "I'm…glad you're fine."

"Thank you, Lady Neptune." I thanked her.

Something caught my attention. A shiny object was lying near the sword. I took it and began to observe it. It was a round red stone. It seemed to glow faintly.

"What is this?" I asked.

"I don't know. I never saw this kind of stone before. Why don't we take it back and let Histy check it?" Lady Neptune said.

"Good idea."

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that, purple Goddess."

A voice suddenly came from the room's entrance. A girl with long white hair was standing with her arms crossed.

"I want you to give the stone to me." The white-haired girl said.

"Who are you and what are you going to do with the stone?" Lady Neptune asked.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any obligation to tell you about that. Just give me the stone and I'll let you leave this place peacefully."

Lady Neptune turned to look at me. I nodded in understanding. I took a few steps back with the stone in my hand, while Lady Neptune stepped forward and summoned her sword.

"I'm sorry, I also don't have any obligation to follow your order." Lady Neptune said.

The white-haired girl let out a laugh and summoned a huge lance. She pointed the lance to Lady Neptune.

"I guess I have to take it by force then."