Part 17: Episode 17: Chika’s Secret

Episode 17: Chika’s Secret

U-Um, h-hello ev-
No, you can’t do it like that! Let me do it! Hi everyone! That loser Nepgear had to run off and do something stupid so she said we hadta do this lame update thing.
Last time on Neptune they were fooled by a simple ruse. Now on Neptune…



If we go around and ask people about the Oracle, we’d look like the suspicious ones.
You’ve been traveling the world, right? Did you meet anyone who will answer the call of justice?
My travels were harsh, lonely affairs. My only friend was my coin purse.
No living friends or acquaintances? I guess it would be a tad convenient if you knew someone here. Hmm?
What? Is…that Uni? Hey, Uni!
Huh? Oh, crap. Nepgear.
Crap? Wh-What the goodness! She just said ‘crap’ when she saw me!
Of course I did. What’d you expect? You came charging at me like a raging bull from out of nowhere!
W-Well, I was just surprised. What brings you to Leanbox?

S-So, are you friends with Miss Nepgear?



Aw, come on. Tell me. I want to know.
…
Mmmmmmm…
… Agh, fine, all right already! Just stop staring at me like that.
I’m sure it’s the same reason as you. I thought I’d rake in some shares here and gain power over this nation.
Since there’s no CPU to take them back, it’s like taking candy from a baby.
And how’s that coming along?
To be honest, now well. I’ve gained zero shares in the last few days. I can’t believe they’re letting ASIC run free.
Plus, I hear this CPU-fearing Oracle is the one who removed their restriction. Who’d seriously worship CPUs here now?
I didn’t realize the situation was this bad.
That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on taking the shares here.
I’ll definitely get the majority. Don’t even try to get in my way.
But, Uni! Aww, she left.
Another nation, another Oracle being a nuisance. She’s really sketchy.

O-Of course I’m not. Who’d be friends with someone like that?
See, Rom? She’s an evil jerk, like I said.



How frustrating. We just want solid proof she is conspiring with evil.
I-It’s too early to conclude Lady Chika is such a horrible person.
I smell trouble. We haven’t seen her in a while.
???: Everyone! Listen to my song!
Goodness, what’s going on? Whose voice was that?
Hey, someone’s putting on a concert. Look, they’re performing over there! Why don’t se check it out!?
Do we really have time to bob our heads awkwardly to some music? Whatever. We’re at a dead-end here, anyway.
Sometimes taking a break is good for your complexion.

Wait, are they at a concert? No fair! I want to go to a concert!



This next song is from my new album, never before played live!
Wow, her music is really amazing.
Yes, I can see that everyone here is entranced by her voice.
Witnessing something like this makes it hard to believe we’re in a nation on the verge of succumbing to ASIC.
Ugh, dammit. My shoulders are so stiff. They make me do all this heavy lifting and I’m really not built for that.
And what is all this noise!? The hell is this cacophony of sugar!? This is no time for a concert.
Heh. I’ll go and relieve some of my stress on them. I’ve been under so much pressure since coming here.
Whoa, this song oozes heroism. I’m totally this songstress’s fan!
Amazing. Such great singing. If someone promotes her, she would make mountains of credits.
We’re just enjoying the music, so stop talking about creating an idol. Huh?
What’s up, Iffy?
Ugh. I was in a good mood for the first time in ages, but I saw something really unpleasant. I can’t leave it alone.
Where are you going? The concert isn’t over.
Let’s sing together on the next one, which I’ve titled…

W-Well, if we’d gone along with Miss Nepgear, we’d…
Ugh, no! Not going to happen!



Sorry for being a mouth-breather.
What? Oh, crap! You little tramps are part of this!?
Hey now, it’s rude to spoil such a heroic concert. You’ll receive no quarter from me today!
I can’t believe this. You roaches are, like, everywhere! I’m not here to fight today. Ciao!
Oh, she fled!
Move your asses! I said move!
Audience: Whoa, who are you?
Hey, don’t push me!
I’m sorry, please let us through. Urrrgh, sorry, please…let us through.
Aw, poo. There are too many people. We can’t move even a single step.
Is something amiss? Are you attempting to sabotage the concert?
Cave? Why are you here?
You all… Why are you sabotaging the concert?
She’s the one doing the sabotage! We’re just trying to chase her.
Very well, I understand. Allow me to take care of her. Please do not cause any more trouble.

Anyway this concert looks like it was lame anyway.



How can she squeeze between all these bodies so easily?
She’s probably used to crowd hell stuff. Let’s see how she handles things.
Everyone, thank you so much for today! I love each and every one of you!
Audience: Yeeeeah!
The concert has come to a close. We missed the final ballad, thanks to Underling.
Did Cave catch her?
I offer my apologies. I allowed her to escape.
Is that so? I guess that’s fine. We know how fast she gets when she’s running away.
You know of the woman who escaped?
Why, yes. Miss Underling has sabotaged us many times before.
Lowee was almost annihilated due to her tactics.
She goes by Underling, does she?
Yep.
Yes, she does.
I see. A pest such as Underling came all the way to Leanbox…

Y-Yeah, I wouldn’t have had any fun hanging out at a concert like that with Nepgear and her friends.



SADOL…SMD…?
Whoa, a horrible acronym, but a totally awesome title. It’s pure heroic justice.
The name itself, indeed. The reality is more stark. We lack manpower. All we can do is delay the corruption.
I apologize for my sudden request, but could you give us your aid at the Special Mission Department?
Like, first aid? Or CPR?
Your help. I wish to utilize your experience and, pardon my bluntness, the fact that you are a CPU Candidate.
We can only do so much on our own. I am not so stubborn to deny that we will eventually be cornered by our foe.
I understand we must burn the cause at its root, although we have yet to find an appropriate flame.
I’ll do it. I’ll help you find it!
Another hasty response to get us sidetracked. You don’t even know what she wants us to do.
Leanbox is in a bunch of trouble. I can’t just leave it alone.
You’re starting to remind me of someone. Whatever. One of our objectives in coming here is to get some shares back.
We are in your debt. I will accompany you to our headquarters. Once we decide on a tactic, I will ask for your help.
Okay.

This is boring, aren’t we in this episode?
Later.



It was merely another mission. It is rather significant for our people to have an orderly concert venue.
But is it important to the SMD?
The idol known as 5pb. is an indirect supporter of the SMD’s efforts.
She empowers the people with her songs and keeps them from joining ASIC. Therefore, she is often their target.
The SMD always keeps one person around to guard her in response.
I see… There are many ways to fight evil, huh?
My duty’s significance aside, I find myself wishing for her to sing the songs she truly desires to.
In order to grant that wish, order within Leanbox must be restored as soon as possible.

Feinne’s Notes:
There are three new quests this time, they’re spread out between these events but I’ll just collect them here.







Oh, here we are. Finally!

Video- “Everyone is Smarter”

Watch

So I’m popular even in Leanbox, huh? I guess we’re getting pretty famous. Aw, crap! It’s Nepgear.
What the goodness is going on? She said ‘crap’ too… Am I what people call ‘square’?
I like you. I’m happy to see you.
* sniff * Thank you, Rom. I’m surprised to see you in Leanbox.
We just got here. We want more shares.
I see. You’re both working very hard.
Because you work hard, we will, too.
Meh, okay, can you not bother us? We’re kinda busy, y’know!
It isn’t gonna be easy for you to get shares from this nation.
Huh? Why would you say that?
Bootleg restrickshun laws got re-peeled a few days ago. Uh, did you get any of that, Rom?
Uh-uh.
May be too complicated for kids.
D-Don’t make fun of us! I’m taller than you! It means Chika is a bad person, right?
If it were such a simple conclusion, it would be easy to correct. However, Chika’s attitude changed but recently.
It is too early to leap to that conclusion.

So you guys are smarter than Nepgear too, huh?



You think she’s fake?
Yep, a bad person’s pretending to be her. That connects all the dots!
I read that in a book.
Isn’t that a bit too obvious? Wouldn’t you think Cave would notice such a dumb switcheroo trick right away?
No. I somehow doubt I would.
Uh, what?
I am not good with faces. I am rather confident that I would be deceived if they looked even marginally similar.
Maybe that’s the wrong thing to have a lot of confidence in.
If that’s the case…
This sounds worth examining closer.
How can we do that, though? We didn’t even know Miss Leanbox Oracle before she started acting weird.
Wait, there’s Uni! Maybe she met her before the switch.
Let’s hunt the little brat down. I hope she’ll just help us this time.
Would you two like to join us?
Yeah, we wan-
We’re soooo busy! We don’t care about Oracles! Just do it by yourselves, jeez.
Well, okay. I’ll see you both later.
Um… Okay…

Anyway, this was where they came and begged me for help.



Yes. Did you meet Lady Chika a while ago?
Just an obligatory greeting when I first came here. She didn’t really look like someone who’d bend over for ASIC.
Then, in that case, could you please speak with her again and confirm whether or not she’s genuine?
I must beg this of you, as well. Were my recognition skills better, I would not have to rely on you.
N-No way. Why do I have to do a favor for you?
There’s nobody else to ask! Please!
Nobody else…but me? H-Hmph. If it’ll get you to stop begging me like this, there’s no other choice.
So you’ll really do it?
Sure, leave it to me. I’ll tell you who she really is!

Seriously though, how stupid are they? They run into that Underling chick every ten minutes and couldn’t tell it was really her?
U-Um, spoilers. The audience will get mad.



Good afternoon. Oh, you’re here, Lady Chika.
The hell!? No, no…that’s not a good voice. Oh, yes. I’m here.
We finally get to see you again. We thought you skipped town or something after we beat up that ‘easy’ monster.
* gasp * N-No way. Only someone fishy and diabolical would do such a thing.
Oh yeah, you promised to tell us where the mascot character was, right? We almost forgot all about that.
Well, about that, we’re still investigating the stuff and… Huh?
…
Gah! The spoiled bi-I mean, you’re Lastation’s CPU Candidate. Why’re you here, too?
Oh, so you’ve heard of me? I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting you before. I’m honored.
Uhhhh, a-as an Oracle, it’s my duty to remember all the CPU Candidates’ ugly mugs, naturally.
You break character so easily.
I’m really ashamed of myself right now.
She’s probably…

Anyway, this was my masterstroke. Because I am the best.



What!? We did? Make up your damn mind. I have been pretty forgetful lately.
True, it was a long time ago. You’ve already forgotten how handily I beat you up the other day?
Wh-Who’d forget that!? A little snobby runt like you beat me! How can I live down that humiliation!?
Are you…Miss Underling, by chance?
Amazing. How’d you ever guess, Uni?
I’d rather ask how you failed to notice something so obvious. Isn’t her vulgar voice a giveaway?
I didn’t make the connection. I’m a failure as a Guild member.
D-Dammit! My perfect disguise has been shattered. Sucks for you idiots, falling for it all this time!
You were impersonating the Oracle… Where is the real Chika? Answer me!
I’ve got no reason to answer you, ginger. Whatever, I did most of what I wanted. Time for a strategic withdrawal!
Argh, she’s running away again!
Let us pursue her. We must learn Chika’s whereabouts, no matter the cost.
I agree. Get back here!
Hey, wait just a second! You ask me for a favor and then leave me behind? Some friend.
Oh well. I don’t care about her or anything. It’s not like I wanted to go with them.

U-Um, you could have run after them, I think.
No, my character archetype doesn’t allow that! Jeez.
That’s a little on the nose, I think. Next Time on Hyperdumenshun Neptooniya: Rescue! So, are we done here? Where’s my ice cream?
With sprinkles. It was a promise.
What, it was Nepgear that promised you that, not me! Oh, she’s gonna pay for this!