"I have found Chika."
Silenced followed. Nepgear's ears blocked the noise around her as she tried to process the information. She tried to speak but found no words coming out of her mouth. She kept opening and closing her mouth, as though she were a fish out of water. The maid-like just stood there with the same stoic expression she always wore as she waited patiently for her to form a response.
Finally, she finally managed to utter the first thing that came to her mind. "C-Chika? But how..."
Okay, she admits that this wasn't the best thing to ask, but in her defense, most would have reacted the same if they learned that someone who they thought was dead for many years was apparently alive.
"I had no prior knowledge of this until I received an anonymous call from an unknown individual. They made a claim that Chika was being kept hostage in one of ASIC's hideouts inside Leanbox." She took out a piece of paper and handed it to her. "They even provided me with the whereabouts that I have written down here."
Nepgear glanced at it for a bit until something hit her. "Wait... ASIC, this doesn't sound right."
This triggered all the red flags in her. "I mean... this all could be a hoax just to lure us into a trap. Please tell me you weren't actually planning on going alone to what could be an obvious trap."
"Of course not." Cave's shook her head. "I'm not so foolish to attempt it by my own self. It is for this reason that I came to request your assistance on the matter."
"You can't be serious right now." Nepgear whispered to herself. "Look, I hate to be the one who breaks it to you, but all the signs point to the fact that it's a trap set out by ASIC themselves. Let's review the facts, shall we?" She began counting on her fingers. "We don't have confirmation that Chika is even alive, and then some mysterious caller says she's in Leanbox, a place where ASIC could easily attack us from all sides if we ever step a foot in there. Should I go on?"
"No, I'm well aware of these facts. These are the exact thoughts that occurred to me. However... "She closed her eyes and paused. "If there is even a diminutive chance that she is indeed alive, then we ought to attempt at least." She looked at her with pleading eyes. "I implore you, Nepgear. I implore you that you assist me in rescuing Chika as a comrade."
"Cave... I'm telling you it's—"
"I will not be able to live with myself if I don't!" Cave interjected. Her voice was sharp and firm. She made it known that she wouldn't back down. Nepgear, not pleased, pointed her finger at her and matched her tone. "You won't be alive if you go there! Just... think about this, please." She softened her tone as she gave her friend one last pleading look.
"I'm sorry... but I cannot." Nepgear's hands dropped to the side. "I have to insist. I have failed Chika once as a friend, and I will not let it happen twice, even if the cost means my own life. "Nonetheless, I'm going whether or not you decide to accompany me or not." Nepgear watched her friend turn around and leave.
Nepgear shook her head. "There's no stopping you, is there?"
"As I stated just now, I will go regardless if you decide to accompany me or not." Cave stopped and gave her a side eye. "Have you made your choice yet?"
Nepgear stood there, her eyes looking back and forth, until finally she let out a sigh. "Fine... I'll come with you."
"Are you certain?" Cave perked up.
"Yeah... and you're right, we're gotta try at least. Besides, I won't let another friend of mine die on my watch, no matter how stubborn they might be." The last remark was obviously directed at the maid-like girl, which made her crack a small smile.
"I know. It's one of my specials." She nodded in appreciation. "You have my gratitude, Nepgear. I'm truly indebted to you."
"No problem, but... if we're doing this, then we should proceed with caution and plan ahead."
"Fret not. I know the ins and outs of Leanbox like the back of my weapon. Sneaking will be a non-existing issue. We'll meet at night, just outside the gates, when night rolls in. I advise that we do it alone; the two of us can handle it. Less people, the better."
"Okay, sounds good. I have some work with my friend in the city at the moment."
"Very will. We shall meet at the arranged time, as we have agreed. I bid you farewell." Cave turned and left, leaving the sounds of heels behind, followed by a door closing. Leaving Nepgear alone with her thoughts.
I didn't think I'd be returning to Leanbox so soon.
ASIC remnants, the librarians, Rei. sudden disappearance, and now this? It was one thing after another, wasn't it? Oh yeah, and there's also Uzume. She almost forgot about her. She doesn't know what to think of her, and she's hard to read and unpredictable. Speaking of which... where is she now? Maybe Histoire knows.
"Nepgear?" Speaking of which... here comes Histoire with her impeccable timing as usual. "Was that Cave I just saw leaving now?"
"Ah, Histoire, great timing." She turned around and faced the small girl on a flying book. "Yeah, she came to ask me to help her on a mission—a rescue mission."
"Again?" Histoire wrinkled her brow. "Who are you rescuing?"
"Apparently Cave got wind of information from an unknown source that Chika is allegedly alive and being held in an ASIC hideout in Leanbox." This made her tiny eyes widen, but she quickly regained her composure. "Chika, you say? Hm, that could prove to be good news if the information is to be trusted."
"Well, Cave is hell-bent on going, even if it's most likely a trap. So, I'm going with her to make sure she makes it out in one piece."
"I see... Will you two be okay?"
"Of course, Cave is a capable woman, and the two of us can manage it just fine." Nepgear tried reassuring her fairy mother figure, who didn't look convinced. Histoire let out a sigh. "Very well. I trust your capability, but I can't help but worry; it's my nature to do so."
"Hehe, I know. So..." Nepgear started. "Have you seen Uzume anywhere recently?"
"Hmm, why, yes. She came yesterday night and asked me if we had a library that she could use, to which I directed her." Histoire then rubbed her chin. "Come to think of it, I noticed that she acted a bit... strange when we talked. "
"How so?"
"Well, for starters, the first thing she asked me was whether I had recognized her or not, to which I replied with no and it seems to take her by surprise. She seems to expect that I do.
"Huh, that's indeed weird." She murmured to herself. "Well, I'm going to ask her directly about it."
"I don't know if that's wise. I'm still a bit weary of her."
"Don't worry, we're in the Basilicom. If anything, she will think twice before she decides to try anything."
"That's true but still, be sure to be on your guard at all times."
"I will." Nepgear nodded before she made her way to the Basilicom's library and made her way inside. The library was fairly dim and quiet, though it was for the reason that there wasn't anyone who used the library, so much so that the books here collected dust. So it wasn't hard to spot the blue-haired girl sitting on one of the tables with stacks of books on them and a small lamp.
"Uzume?"
"Ah, Nepgear." She put the book down, still maintaining that unsettling smile of hers from yesterday. "Lovely morning, don't you agree?"
"It's actually afternoon."
"Is it? Hmm, well, I couldn't tell since there aren't any windows in here."
"Did you... spend all night reading?"
"Why yes, of course. There were simply a lot of interesting things in here that I found myself lost in." She pointed at the many books.
"Good books, I hope?"
"Of course, I enjoyed the history books the most. Notably, the one about the history of the deity of sin and the previous generation of CPUs."
"I see. Listen, I came here to ask you something. It's regarding the strange energy you have inside of you."
Uzume appeared tense for a moment before she quickly played it off. "I have no idea what you are talking about. Would you mind enlightening me about this... strange energy that you are referring to?"
"I'm talking about the negative energy that you have." Uzume's face remained stoic for a while before she let out a dry chuckle. "I see, so you have noticed. I guess I couldn't keep them hidden for long. However, you would have to know that I can't disclose my secrets yet."
"You still need to tell me. Otherwise, I won't have a choice but to apply safety procedures."
"Well, if you're suspecting whether I'm part of ASIC remnants or whatever they are called now," she rolled her eyes while doing a double-air quote. "Then let me put the mystery to rest and say that I'm obviously not."
"Okay, but you know that I just can't take your words for it. I need proof, and I'm sure you know why. It's not everyday that we stumble on someone who has negative energy and has no records whatsoever. It's all so suspicious. However..." Nepgear paused. "I'm willing to give you a chance to clear yourself."
"Hmm..." Uzume let out a hum. "Okay, how about we do a compromise?"
" A compromise?" Nepgear repeated it as she tilted her head.
"I'll tell you everything but only if you can find my lost console. The answers lie within it.
"Huh? I don't understand." Nepgear frowned. "How exactly is a piece of hardware going to prove anything?"
"You'll see. Somethings are best explained by showing rather than telling."
"I'm not sure I follow but okay. Until we find that console of yours, you are not allowed outside the Basilicom without some sort of supervision. Are we on the same page on that?"
"Yeah, sure. It's not like I have anywhere to go."
"Good. "Nepgear nodded before she left. As she was about to make her way, she stopped midway. "This should go without saying, but any attempt to escape will result in a bounty being placed on you."
"Yeah, yeah." She waved her hand dismissively without looking. "Don't you have some other work to do? I'm sure they are more important. I'm going to resume with my reading if you don't mind."
She was right. She does have other matters to attend to and she wasn't keen on keeping IF waiting. She also got that other job with Cave so she has to hurry and finish the first one before night comes. Nepgear left the girl to her peace and left the library. As she made her way out of the basilicom, her thoughts were running wild.
I do wonder if Chika is somehow alive... I guess we'll see.
Author's Notes
Happy New Year, everyone! New year, same me, but at least there is a new chapter, haha. Also, big news: my view count is finally fixed. What a way to start the year! Now I don't have to guess how many people read my story, and I can use it as motivation to write once again. I should mention that the story reached 1,000 views! Thanks to everyone who gave the story a read.
With that out of the way, a shorter chapter than usual, but to be fair, the chapter is called 'A Quick Favor' for a reason. Don't worry, the next chapter will be long. I'll do my best to upload the chapters quickly, but no promises. Here's a funny thing that happened to me. When I booted up one of the Neptunia games on my device to test if they work when I download them for free, I got a message saying that pirating a copy of the game is illegal, which gave me quite a scare. I thought they recognized it as an illegal copy, but I realized it was just a simple, harmless message they put before the game started. Either that or Idea Factory is on to me. Those messages sure are terrifying.
Until next time, stay blessed, and I hope that you achieve all your goals this year.
Next Chapter: Further Inquiry on the Citizen Group Movement
IF and Nepgear go and search for clues around the city for Rei's sudden disappearance.
*Chapter will be posted some time later.