/jp/ - Otaku Culture

For a split second, she felt annoyance. Sekai had given her a task. She had looked at Patchouli, a figure she considered her mother, and decided that Patchouli needed to do what she said. As if Patchouli wouldn't have known what to do by herself. As if Sekai, who had a sum total of zero time spent alive, knew best. And she'd casually created a book that stored an amount of power that Patchouli couldn't readily calculate, but had been referred to as more than a hundred times what Meiling could amass in a single lifetime, in a few seconds.

...What an impudent brat.

Patchouli reached out and flipped open the book to a random page. The second note slipped out from between the pages and into her fingers, and Patchouli found that she wasn't even surprised. Hata no Sekai had that sort of touch, it seemed. Oh, Patchouli was still very much of the opinion that the brat was still unclear on exactly what she was capable of, but it didn't make her less of a brat.

This one wasn't a letter, but a scant few lines. She raised the note, then snapped her fingers with her free hand to ignite a flame so that she could read it properly.


You'll be strong enough to create a book like this, one day! I'd never accept anything less from one of my parents! Please don't think that I'm underestimating you - I know that you'll succeed.


A second, smaller note slipped out from within the first. Patchouli would have to lecture the foolish child on being more succinct. She moved onto the second one.


I almost included a section on trigger phrases, but I realised that I needed to show my trust in you better. I know that Meiling is far more trusting than you are, after all. The year you spent in the HSE told me that. I'm sure you'll be able to bring this whole book down to a single trigger phase, Mother. Make it a good one, okay?


"A good one..." Patchouli murmured to herself. Oh, it would take some work, but Patchouli Knowledge would die before failing to accomplish a task as simple as that. And then, to her chagrin a third note fell from the book. If this was Sekai's idea of a joke, then Patchouli would be locking her in a room with nothing but books on comedy as soon as she was freed from the HSE. Grumbling to herself, Patchouli picked up the third note and read through that one too.


Mother, I leave this message to you and you alone. I believe that this is a style of writing that will speak to you better. I write this in frozen time. In front of me sit my true father and my true mother, each concealing a wellspring of pain so great that I cannot help but wonder how they can continue. I am afraid, Mother. I am afraid of death. And yet, I am afraid of anyone else dying for me. This is my request to you. Should anything go wrong, it may be my last request. Please save Hong Meiling. I may be unable to see any further than the destruction of the HSE, but I know that she will put my wellbeing before her own. I really love you both. Please don't get hurt on my behalf.


At the bottom of the message, it was simply sighed 'Impudent Brat.'

Patchouli Knowledge stared at the words silently. In her mind, she was clamping down on a feeling that she was struggling to place. Anger, but not directed at the child. Yet, it was directed at the child. Oh, of all the asinine, altruistic, aggravating traits to inherit, Hata no Sekai had ended up with self-sacrifice. A trait that was good in some respects - It had seen Remilia Scarlet save her life at great physical pain - But not when faced with death. No, the impudent brat would not die. No, Meiling would not die. No, none of Sekai's fears would come to pass.

Because Patchouli Knowledge would save them all.

Three notes, each one smaller than the next. It matched Patchouli's patience neatly. The Solstice wasn't far from now, yet it seemed to approach at a snail's pace. She slid the notes to the side of her desk, then thought better of it and hid them from view. She flipped back to the start of the book and began to read.

"Hey, Patchouli! I came to-" Patchouli looked up from the book, wondering what form this new interruption would take. She had reached the part of the book that began to go into detail on the alchemical processes required to construct a body for Sekai, The details weren't exceptionally important for a god, even a childish one. She could refashion herself as she saw fit once she was free, but she still needed a body that she could reside in when she was freed, so Patchouli would need to get to work as soon as possible.