Hikikomori Quest - Remaking my Life: Part 14/Until the Next Cross.

[Monarda]

Kiku-chan:

>"Some dark energy had taken over her, it changed her, when Niji found her, she was just a shade of the real Orange, that was serving someone even more corrupted by that energy blindly, but from what it seems she somehow broke free, or at least partially."

[Tashi]

Kiku-chan:

>"Some dark energy had taken over her, it changed her, when Niji found her, she was just a shade of the real Orange, that was serving someone even more corrupted by that energy blindly, but from what it seems she somehow broke free, or at least partially."

> "Therefore, we are going to deal with what's left of it. Or at least, we are going to try." Patchouli speaks after you do.
> Meiling blinks, her face buried with surprise. "W-Why...?"
> "... Consider it just as a gift." Remilia shrugs.
> "... T-Thanks..." Meiling smiles faintly and gets up from bed.
> "Is everyone ready? Your silence may prove myself right." Patchouli asks.
> _

[Monarda]

Kiku-chan:

>Nod.
>"If things go badly, my ability should trigger."

[Tashi]

Kiku-chan:

>Nod.
>"If things go badly, my ability should trigger."

> "Don't mess all the room, please. This one is important." Remilia warns you. "And in the high chance that you run wild all over the room, be wary of anyone who isn't your objective. Got it?"
> _

[Monarda]

Kiku-chan:

>"I've been able to control it better than before, and Sakuya-sama can attest that while i do go rather wild, i don't truly harbor the desire to harm anyone for real."

[Tashi]

Kiku-chan:

>"I've been able to control it better than before, and Sakuya-sama can attest that while i do go rather wild, i don't truly harbor the desire to harm anyone for real."

> Sakuya doesn't respond to your statement, however.
> "Good. Hope you keep that." Remilia nods with a frown.
> "... Silence, then?" Patchouli sighs.
> _

[Monarda]

>"Go ahead."

[Tashi]

>"Go ahead."

BGM:
♪ Unknown.

> "Glad you finally made up." Patchouli sighs and approaches to the bed.
> "What kind of ritual is this...?" Meiling asks to Sakuya in a low tone. It doesn't sound like it, though, since the room is right now at complete silence...
> "Not sure..."
> The air of the room changes heavily when the librarian sets the book just below Orange's feet. Did you just felt a breeze under your skirt...?
> The room is, almost surely, filled by strong magic. You don't know what, nor why, nor how, but it just feels like it. Patchouli is showing off some of what she's capable of, surely.
> At Orange's feet, near the borders of the book, very small green magic circles start to materialize. A dozen. Or more...
> _

[Monarda]

>^{_{"I'm glad we managed to find her, Sakura-sama was already losing hope..."}}

[Tashi]

>^{_{"I'm glad we managed to find her, Sakura-sama was already losing hope..."}}

> "S-She really was wo-"
> "Stay silent. Lady Patchouli is conjuring." Sakuya interrupts, glancing at Patchouli.
> Who indeed seems to be conjuring, albeit at a very low voice, some words. The magic circles get more bright bit by bit the longer she conjures.
> Then, from the center of all of this circles, vines slowly start to crept out. Like snakes, they start to make their way up to Orange's body...
> "H-Huh?" Meiling questions in a worried tone.
> _

[Monarda]

>Pat Meiling.

[Tashi]

>Pat Meiling.

> You pat Meiling comfortingly, but she seems to get a bit agitated.
> "W-What are those things going to do-"
> "Silence." Patchouli orders as more vines slowly start to crept under the covers AND above them, crawling up to Orange's body. She seems to shift a bit in her sleep.
> _

[Monarda]

>Wait and see.

[Tashi]

>Wait and see.

> You watch, seeing how the vines slowly start to crawl up Orange's shoulders. T-This is rather disgusting...
> Then, the vines stop.
> "..." Patchouli clicks her tongue. "Like I thought."
> "What?" Remilia inquiries at the sudden irritation of Patchouli.
> "Identification." Patchouli only responds.
> _

[Monarda]

>"Which is ?"

[Tashi]

>"Which is ?"

> "I think I might need to explain..." Patchouli looks over to you. "This spell needs to be conjured inside a closed room, such as this one. High magic resistance, and also-"
> "Go to the point." Remilia interrupts her abruptly.
> "... In the end, this spell needs the identification of those that are inside the room, besides the subject which is being used for this magic." Patchouli explains. "I made my way to have all of us have identification... ... except one."
> The gazes of the group drop on you.
> _

[Monarda]

>"Um... i'm Kiku, but my past name seemed to be Kuro, i'm an Nekomata and i uh... work here."
>Tilt our head.
>"I mean, that's all i need to do right ?"

[Neovereign]

>Do we know of our specifics? Measurements, blood type, etc.

[Tashi]

>"Um... i'm Kiku, but my past name seemed to be Kuro, i'm an Nekomata and i uh... work here."
>Tilt our head.
>"I mean, that's all i need to do right ?"

> You don't think you are a Nekomata... Those have two tails, right?
> "That would be sadly easy, right?" Patchouli shakes her head. "I'm afraid that isn't enough."
> "What would be needed?" Sakuya questions.
> "If she has to leave the room, the-"
> "She has to continue the rest of the ceremony herself." Patchouli interrupts Remilia.

>Do we know of our specifics? Measurements, blood type, etc.

> Sadly, you aren't sure about such. Maybe your past memories have them, but currently as you are, you don't have a clue. How could you know your measurements when you only have memories of being trapped inside Daiko's body? You know have a decent chest, but that's about it...
> You feel a bit irritated about this...
> _

[Monarda]

>"Ehm ? I mean... will it need my measurements ? Cause other than that... oh wait, i'm not an Nekomata, i just have one tail, i'm a bakeneko then ? Other than that i just know that i was created artificially and that i am tied to a bunch of other people from many races that were created similarly."

[Neovereign]

Kiku:

>Geez, what a stupid ceremony. It couldn't have been more convenient for us?

[Tashi]

>"Ehm ? I mean... will it need my measurements ? Cause other than that... oh wait, i'm not an Nekomata, i just have one tail, i'm a bakeneko then ? Other than that i just know that i was created artificially and that i am tied to a bunch of other people from many races that were created similarly."

> "Let me tell you something about spell books, Kiku." Patchouli speaks in an eerie tone, yet in her usual way. "They sometimes have their own minds, or some kind of ability that makes them take very specific decision for themselves. If they ask for something we humanoid beings shall give them, they will refuse to cooperate if they aren't pleased. They are just fickle beings."
> "... I didn't knew about that..." Meiling murmurs.
> "And the books is... requesting you, the only one person without 'identification'."

Kiku:

>Geez, what a stupid ceremony. It couldn't have been more convenient for us?

> Why in the world you have to carry this out? Why you, who doesn't have any knowledge of casting, conjuring, or whatever concerning magic?
> You wonder if Patchouli or Remilia planned this up so you could do it... Or is that just some stupid thought...?
> _

[Monarda]

>"Well how am i even supposed to carry this on myself ? That's Tsuru's territory, i am just an bakeneko created on the outside world that was taken here by god knows what, and that sonehow ended up inside Daikoku, i am no mage, i am no witch, i am just an maid with an ability that can grant me absurd capabilities based on my instincts and feelings, if it wants to identify something, identify my damned blood."
>Frown.

[Tashi]

>"Well how am i even supposed to carry this on myself ? That's Tsuru's territory, i am just an bakeneko created on the outside world that was taken here by god knows what, and that sonehow ended up inside Daikoku, i am no mage, i am no witch, i am just an maid with an ability that can grant me absurd capabilities based on my instincts and feelings, if it wants to identify something, identify my damned blood."
>Frown.

> At all moments during your small rant, everyone looks at you with eyes of unamusement. Well, at least Patchouli and Remilia, who are the ones you are facing.
> "... It what the book wants." The magician spoke. "If you don't do it, then there's no way we are going to carry this out. As simple as that."
> _

[Monarda]

>Sigh and approach the tome, then take position.
>"Alright Mister Picky Tome, what now ? Surely you don't expect me to become some arcane prodigy and resume from where Miss Knowledge stopped without some sort intervention."

[Tashi]

>Sigh and approach the tome, then take position.
>"Alright Mister Picky Tome, what now ? Surely you don't expect me to become some arcane prodigy and resume from where Miss Knowledge stopped without some sort intervention."

> You, after expressing your discomfort at the situation, step forward, next to Patchouli.
> You speak to the book, but it doesn't responds. You feel rather dumb for doing that and not receive any answer.
> Instead, the magician by your side steps to the side and-
> Your body feels heavy. So much that you have to bend to endure the height that is being held upon you.
> _

[Monarda]

>"Agh !"
>Endure, what the heck is that ?

[Tashi]

>"Agh !"
>Endure, what the heck is that ?

> You endure as much as you can. It's like ssomeone suddenly throwed at you a flour sack and you had to unwillingly endure its weight without using your arms... but in this case, it's magical-
> "-pressure." Patchouli completes your thoughts. "As unexperienced as you are, it's natural you feel heavily overpowered by the spell's magic."
> "W-What's the point? K-Kiku is not a magical user..." Meiling asks worriedly.
> "You want your friend back, right?" Patchouli looks at the gateguard. "It's up to her to do that. Of course, she can decide not to do it, but that would displease the book, hence probably not letting us borrow its magic for quite a time..."
> _

[Neovereign]

>"Then...what do I have to do to help out? Just... keep this up?"

[Monarda]

>"Because i certainly.... am not gonna give up..."