Alright, time to get this show on the road, literally! ;-)

Neptunia Guild Files: Fate/book one

A Hyperdimension Neptunia Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Section 19: Professor Velvet

(Ripper Arc- Begin)

Rider sighed as she drove the SUV down the highway, her usual leather ensemble having been swapped out for a dark blouse and matching slacks. Mordred sat beside her in the shotgun seat, wearing a tube top and jeans, occasionally nodding off. Nero and Tamamo sat in the back seat, also dressed casually, the former staring out the window while the latter was reading a book. "Will we be arriving soon?" Nero asked.

"We're only halfway there!" Rider yelled in annoyance. "Why don't you read a book like Caster?"

"Because reading in a moving vehicle triggers my migraines!" Nero shot back. "And you can only look out at the landscape for so long...!"

"Don't make me use ice magic on you..." Tamamo growled, causing her friend to clam up.

"Hey, what's this Agent Zero guy like, anyway?" Mordred spoke up.

"He's a bit of a cynic, with a gruff demeanor, but his heart's in the right place," Rider expounded. "His main job is working as a professor at the Haneda Magic Academy, but he works for us part-time as a consulting detective of sorts. I heard he helped solve the murder of Olga Marie's magic tutor a few years back, which is how he got recruited..."

"My, getting the deputy director's attention would be more than enough to ensure recruitment into this guild," Nero commented. "Not too different from how we were hired..."

"Slightly different circumstances, but yeah, I guess you could see it that way..." Rider nodded.

"Um, but this guy's a magic professor? I dunno a damn thing about magic!" Mordred said.

"Yes, but he's also been through the school of hard knocks... that's a metaphor, by the way," Rider clarified at seeing the blonde's perplexed expression. "Basically, he went through quite a bit of shit when he was younger, which kinda contributed to his cynical attitude, or so I've heard."

"So you've never met him, mikon?" Tamamo asked.

"Oh, I've met him in passing, alongside Saber and Archer," Rider replied. "My point is, he's more than qualified to educate Mordred in the ways of the world... And you don't need to know anything about magic to learn that. Just make sure you treat him with respect, okay?"

"Right, I'll try to be polite," Mordred sighed, leaning back in her seat.

*Haneda City, Northwest Planeptune*

It was a welcome relief for the passengers to see taller buildings as they finally neared their destination... While advanced technology was still apparent, there were quite a few stone buildings mixed with the sleeker, steel buildings that had composed most of the capital city, which gave Haneda more of a quaint, rustic urban style.

Even the Magic Academy itself was built of brick and mortar, though the fact that it had been in operation for many decades provided the context for such. "Looks like classes are getting over with," Rider said as she observed quite a few young men and women streaming out of the main entrance. "Good, that's perfect timing. I shouldn't need to say this, but make sure you leave your weapons in the van..." It was Guild policy to always have weapons near at hand, just in case crud suddenly hit the fan... but hopefully they wouldn't be necessary this time.

But of course, we all know how that turns out, don't we, dear readers?

*Inside the Academy...*

"It reminds of this old school I went to for a few months, before I changed foster homes again," Nero commented as the group walked down a hallway.

"I was homeschooled, my father didn't want me getting teased because of my ears and tail," Tamamo added, noting that quite a few students were giving her inquisitive looks.

"Whoa, hot pink stuff!" a male NPC called out to Rider.

"Don't get too close, or you might get burned," Rider retorted with a dangerous smile, the student promptly losing his nerve and returning to his locker.

"You have to deal with guys like that when you went to school?" Mordred asked curiously.

"Well, in middle school, I got in a lot of fights with perverts... but I went to a different high school, different district, and the boys there were a bit better behaved," Rider recalled. "Worst I got there was some flirts and a lot of date offers..."

"Any of those dates turn out be perverts?" Mordred pressed.

"Only one or two," Rider shrugged. "But I won't go into detail now..."

"Tamamo, is something wrong?" Nero noticed her friend on high alert.

"A strong magic signature, mikon," the kitsune replied. "I mean, I know it's a magic academy, but I think it's following us..." She abruptly whirled around, fire in the palm of her outstretched hand. "Come on out, you! I know you're there!"

"Whoa, easy there!" A tall, thin boy with short blond hair stepped into view, raising his hands in surrender. "I'm not looking for trouble!"

"Tamamo, stand down," Rider ordered. "I assume you're a student here?"

"Yeah, that's right! I just never seen a fox-girl before!" the young man replied. "I mean, not exactly a common sight around here...!"

"...That's fair enough, I guess," Tamamo sighed, the flame in her hand extinguishing as she relaxed. "So what's your name?"

"Flat Escardos! I'm a prodigy studying under Professor Velvet himself!" the boy exclaimed with a grin.

"What a coincidence, that's just who we were going to see," Rider said. "Would you happen to know where he's at?"

"Hmmm..." Flat closed his eyes and stuck out his tongue as he held up a finger... Tamamo was able to observe the invisible magic energy sparking at the tip. "Ah! Got him! Looks like he's still at his office! Come on, I'll take you there!" He immediately went off at a brisk walking pace, the others hurrying to catch up...

*Professor Velvet's Office*

"Flat, you better have a good reason for bothering me at this hour," a gruff voice spoke from the cracked-open door.

"These ladies came to see you!" Flat announced. "They even have a kitsune!"

"Kitsune?!" There was the sound of a chair being shoved back, the door swiftly opening, revealing a middle-aged man with long dark brown hair, thick-rimmed black glasses, and a brown suit with a red tie, with a cigar case in his breast pocket. "...Ah, Sharon, was it? I assume you've brought some new recruits?"

"Rider, please," she winced at the use of her proper name. "But yeah, you're mostly correct. This is Tamamo, codename Caster; Nero, codename Red Saber; and Mordred, she's the reason we're here."

"Hello sir," Mordred nodded. "Uh, I mean, Professor..."

"...I assume this has something to do with Artoria, given you've brought me two doppelgängers?" Professor Velvet observed.

"I am only similar to Saber in beauty, as I hail from Lastation originally," Nero clarified. "As does Tamamo here..."

"Ah, then she must be from the Connect fire-dancer troupe," Velvet deduced. "I think I might have actually seen one of your performances on TV a while back..."

"Th-that's right!" Tamamo gasped in surprise. "Wow, I'm shocked anyone knows about me out here, mikon!"

"Well, I watched with a fellow mage, as I had nothing better to do," the professor shrugged nonchalantly. "Ah, but where are my manners? I am Waver Velvet, professor of magecraft and current head of House El-Melloi. My formal title is Lord El-Melloi II, but I do not mind being called professor or teacher."

"Y-you are a noble?!" Nero gasped.

"By adoption, yes," El-Melloi nodded. "Now, I can already sense that miss Mordred here-" he noted the blonde gritting her teeth- "has little potential for magic, which means you've brought her to me for another reason. Did I offend you?"

"I don't like being called 'miss'... makes me feel like a wimpy girl," Mordred grunted. "Just Mordred is fine, Professor."

"Anyway, can we discuss this in private? Without him," Rider indicated Flat, causing his face to fall.

"I understand," El-Melloi nodded. "Flat, run along now, or I'll double your homework."

"Urk! U-understood, teacher! I'll, uh, see you tomorrow then!" Flat bowed, before running off.

"...I hope he wasn't too much trouble for you," El-Melloi said as the group entered his office.

"He was stalking us for a little bit, but nothing major, mikon," Tamamo said, closing the door. "At least he helped us find you."

"Hmm, I see. He has incredible potential, but his disposition leaves much to be desired," El-Melloi said as he sat back down in his chair. "So, would you care to explain the situation with Mordred here?" So the guild members explained to him about the recent altercation with Morgan, and Mordred's origin... "...I see, a homunculus who rebelled against her assigned purpose... so basically she's here to learn the basics, reading, writing, arithmetic."

"Arith-what?" Mordred's face contorted in confusion.

"...what do you know about numbers?" El-Melloi inquired.

"Uh, I can count to ten," Mordred muttered. "And, uh, I can read street signs!"

"Wonderful. So you're not a completely lost cause, then," the professor snarked.

"I would hope you're not too overworked to tutor her," Nero spoke up. "You also work as a detective, I've heard..."

"On occasion, I act in such a capacity," El-Melloi nodded. "On that note, your arrival here is fortuitous. I've been working a local case involving murders of multiple women, including many prostitutes..."

"A serial killer?!" Tamamo gasped.

"Indeed. Unfortunately, this killer is not only excellent at concealing their presence, but also very skilled at dual-wielding knives. My partner in crime-fighting, so to speak, found that out the hard way... thankfully she will recover, though it will be a while. So, this is my proposition: If you assist me in bringing this killer to justice, then I will take Mordred here under my tutelage. Does that sound fair?"

"I accept!" Nero stood to her feet. "I Nero Claudius, shall not rest until this heinous murderer is brought to justice for his actions!"

"There's no need to shout, Miss Claudius," El-Melloi chastised, wincing.

"I apologize for her, she's like that all the time," Tamamo lamented. "But yeah, I'm willing to help out too... My enhanced hearing and night vision should make sure they don't catch us by surprise, mikon."

"My father- er, Saber put me through some harsh training before we left," Mordred stated. "So, I'm sure I can handle any knife-wielding thug!"

"Yeah, we're all in agreement here," Rider finished.

"Excellent. Might I suggest starting by questioning my subordinate at the hospital," Waver stated. "I believe there was one other survivor, you'll want to question them as well. Knowledge is power, as they say."

"Right, just give us directions to the hospital, and we'll head right over there," Rider nodded.

"Fear not, for we shall make that killer rue the day he tried going after those poor, defenseless women!" Nero affirmed.

(This one is even worse than Artoria,) Waver groaned internally, resisting the urge to start rubbing his temples. (I'm definitely going to need a smoke after they leave...)

*To be continued...*

And so a new case begins! Will Rider & co. be able to halt this mystery killer's murder spree? Stay tuned!

(P.S. Don't worry, there'll be a Neptunia character cameo next chapter...)