Part 24: Episode 24: Underling’s Boss?

Episode 24: Underling’s Boss?

Goodness! Do we really have time to do this right now?
Obligation to public important to maintain, even in time of trouble. Gust will do it, you all get going. Previously on Neptune, Underling’s weak dragon was defeated. Now, on Neptune…



Oh? You are… What brings you back to Lowee?
You’re pale. Need potion?
My apologies, but I haven’t been able to get much rest the last few days.
You’ve been really busy, huh?
Where are Rom and Ram? Are they okay?
No, we’re not, you dummy.
The CPU Candidates look pale, too.
Just you? Where’s your sister?
Sleeping. Ever since that day, she can barely even play with me.
What caused this?
We have no idea. All we know is that a significant amount of our shares were taken away.
I see. We should look into the cause.
W-Wait, we need to save the twins!
Huh?
Do you have a heroic idea?

Nepgear came up with solution.



Even if we regain shares, our foe can take them away again.
Aww, goodness. That’s true. Mina, do you know how to make Sharicite?
S-Sure, I know of the process?
Then please crystallize the shares immediately as we regain them. You can make tiny ones that way, right?
That’s not what I was thinking, but… Whatever. Just like Neptune, you ignore everyone after you’ve made up your mind.
Really? You’ll help save Rom?
Not just Rom. We’re also doing this for you. We’ll go get some shares right away.
Hold on just a moment. I appreciate your willingness to help, but I can’t ask foreigners to go on such a risky quest.
Don’t worry about it. I want to do this.
That’s not the issue. If we are indebted to another nation, it will affect our independence and political standing.
You…don’t want us to help? Because of politics?
Th-That’s not it at all. Your help is very welcome, of course, but please know both myself and Lowee have pride.
Don’t force yourself to do everything. It’s basic diplomacy to let third parties have their time in the sun.
We need to find a way so everyone can benefit? How could we do that?

But when it comes to commerce, Gust knows best.



So it’s like a trade? That’s easy. Mina, we’ll save Rom and Ram.
However, once they’re better, could you have the twins help us in return? …How’s that?
W-Would that be a fair deal? Taking care of these twins… I think I’m getting all the benefits.
Fine, that’s fine, okay? Just hurry up and save Rom!
O-Oh my, you aren’t old enough to make such a decision…
Then we have a deal. Okay, we’ll go get some shares!
They bum-rushed me… Am I an Oracle or a babysitter?
Am I the only one who thinks Nepgear’s starting to get some sass? It’s weird.
Teehee. I think she’s become more of a woman during this story.

Shares were easy to reclaim, especially when source of loss is so obvious.



Not sure, but we should make another Sharicite before it gets taken away.
We still need to find what caused this. Someone supporting Arfoire drained the nation’s shares by so much…
Right, every team of villains has a mastermind. It’s an annoying trope. Why aren’t we hunting the wrongdoer!?
Hmm?
Chu… Abscond, abscond… Sneak, sneak, chumps…
Mister Mouse? Why is he saying weird things?
I guess we’ve found our link to the mastermind.

Stealth not strong point of giant rat.



Customer: I’ll take one-hell, gimme three!
Score! Now I can totally play all those games I’m too lazy to work a job, earn money, and purchase on my own!
This is the best day of my sunlight-deprived life. Now I can be a troll online and play with my friends.
Whoa, hey, I don’t care about your personal stories chumps. No rush. There’s plenty for everyone.
If any of your friends don’t have one of these things, just let ‘em know where you got ‘em, chump!
I see. That’s the cause.
They’re distributing so many of those things all over the place.
We’ve got to stop their villainy before those chips change people into drooling advocates for Arfoire!
Mister Mouse, please stop this!
Huh? Oh, it’s my sweet angel, Compa!
I must be dreaming, chump. I can’t believe the lovely Compa would come for an Arfoire chip.
That’s definitely not why I’m here. We’re going to confiscate all those chips now, if you don’t mind.
Take ‘em away!? That’s not good… But if it’s Compa, I’d be happier to give her everything and have nothing.
Still, no can do, chump! There are only so many of these things. I can’t do it, not even for you, Compa!
Hey, halt, cretin! Give up already!
He’s so dramatic. Let’s chase him. We can’t let him keep doing this.

Not so good at speed, either. Caught up to him easily.

Video- “Pirachu”

Watch

Mister Mouse, please give us those chips!
No can do, chu, chu! What if I refuse forever?
We’ll scoop you up and bop you on the head!
I don’t want my sweet angel Compa’s head to get chopped off, but…uh… You can’t mix love and work, after all!
Compa will never return my feelings. In that case, I’ll only live for work!

Fighting also isn’t strong suit.



Boss Battle: Pirachu
Pirachu’s tougher than he was last time, but essentially works the same way. He’ll toss out lots of status crap at people and he’s hard to hit. Since I’m doing this without a dedicated healer, everyone has to contribute with items. It’s not a significant issue, though.

Not really sure what the rat does.



If you were a little more seductive, I bet the damn rat would’ve defected.
Huh? Should I try being more…seductive?
Meh. Maybe it’s just not your style. Forget I said anything. Let’s just destroy these chips.
Now we’re talking! Leave it to me!
Gust will break them down into their base mana!
I don’t think they’ll be able to take any more of Lowee’s shares for the time being. Serves them right.
Damn straight. Let’s get to Mina to make some Sharicite.

Should have been more concerned about where Underling was, though. Two always close by.

Video- “The Creeping Terror”

NSFW NMS MUST WATCH VIDEO

It’s all good now. We used the forces of good and crushed all of them.
They won’t drain your shares anymore.
More importantly, what about Rom? What’s gonna happen to my sister?
Calm down, dear. We have enough here to create a small Sharicite.
So she’ll get better, right? We can keep playing together, right?
Yes, I’m absolutely certain.
Oh yeah? Hehehe, I’m glad.

Was employing tactical espionage action against us. Very unfair.



Made it. Just call me Gaseous Snake, espionage extraordinaire! It’s all right now, sir. Come on down.
???: Very well! Hrrrmph. H-Hold on… I’m stuck. I can’t seem to get through.
Oh, sir, your body is as tremendous as your personality. Pardon my asking, but why are you on a stealth mission?
???: Ah-kekekekeke. An asinine question.
In this very room sleeps a lovely nubile maiden!
I think the only accurate part of that was the fact that she’s sleeping.
???: Mmm, the rumors are true, then! Hnnnggg, I’m dying to leer at her longingly… What’s keeping me stuck!? Ridiculous.
This has to be a case of miscasting.
???: Egads, how frustrating this all is! I shall crumble this ceiling into baby powder and brush it into her face!
Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on, sir! If you make such a ruckus…

Also not very good at it, though, made very loud noise.



Heavens, I can’t rush this sequence. It’s almost done…see? There.
All done! Yay! Yay!
Phew. It looks small, but it contains a very significant amount of power.
Let’s take it to Rom, and-
Um, what was that big boom? Did it come from our room?
That sounded like an explosion. More specifically, a collapsing ceiling.
How do you know that specific sound?
No stinkin’ way! What if something happened to Rom!?

Also ominous hole in room, very suspicious.



???: Consider it how I pre-game before meeting an adorable little girl. Mmm, can something this cute exist!?
C-Can I, maybe, push a strand of her hair behind her ear? Or maybe…I’ll taste test her purity!
D-Don’t get any crazy, lewd ideas! We’ll just do exactly what we’re supposed to and nothing more.
???: Y-You’re right. I could barely contain myself. No need to force myself on her. She’ll be with me forever!
Mmm… What? W-Who are you?
???: Ah-kekekekeke. Don’t be scared, cutie. Look into my eyes…look deep… Stare into the depths of my soul…
Your…eyes? Um… N-N-Noooooo!
???: Excellent. I’ll save this juicy cherry for the end of my meal. It’s just how I roll, you see.
Don’t you dare harm her! In fact, don’t even touch her unless I can watch. Understood!?
He’s…amazing, in a horrible way. Can’t anyone do something about his really disturbing fetishes?
Rom, are you okay!?
Ugh, of course they catch me. What a frickin’ drag.
What’re you planning this time? Get away from Rom!
Heh. Sure, I’ll stay far away from her. I think it’d be better if you told the kid to stay away from us.

And then Miss Rom’s suspicious behavior.



Rom, what’re you saying, you dummy!? You can’t stay with our enemy!
We’re your enemies, are we? Wanna see if she agrees with you? Hey, twerp. Beat up your enemies.
‘Kay.
Whack!
Yeowch! Huh? Rom hit me?
Bwahahaha! Looks like she hated you the most all this time.
What’ve you done to her?
Uh, we brainwashed her, duh. A frail CPU with almost no faith to power her is easy to convert, y’know?
You brainwashed our CPU Candidate? This will not be tolerated!
I care less about what you tolerate than a frozen frickin’ banana. C’mon, let’s go take some shares.
Okay.
Wait! Rom…Rom!
Hey, where do you think you’re going? What can you do if you chase her while you’re an emotional train wreck!?
Lemme go, you stupid tomboy! Lemme go! Me and Rom are always together!

Very unusual, difficult to deal with.



I have no idea. There is no record of a goddess being brainwashed in any of our books.
What if we deliver an axe-kick filled with heroic intentions? Crack!
No way, crazy lady! If you hit her, I’ll never forgive you!
I don’t think I can put it into words, but if we do something to stir her heart…
Underling said it’s easy to brainwash goddess weak from lack of faith.
But that isn’t a real medical condition, is it?
No, but if we reverse symptoms, maybe she gets better if she gains lots of people’s faith.
The people’s faith… Maybe we can use the Sharicite?
I’m not sure we should believe anything that delinquent says without doing a little research on our end.
It is just hypothesis.
Since I don’t see any other way, maybe it’s our best chance.
Okay, no more talking! Let’s hurry up and do it!
They’ve gotten far away by now, but I bet they’ll make their next move soon. Let’s just wait for more information.

Still, we have plan.



And we have to fix it, huh? That was quick. We ready?
We certainly are.
I’ll never forgive that ugly poopface for making Rom do such bad things!

What could go wrong? Next Time, Hyperdimension Neptunia Mark Two: CFW Trick! A new challenger appears?