Mythos Of Narcissus: Reborn As An NPC In A Horror VRMMO

The soft, ever-present sound of dripping water filled the air as the Drowned Revenant and I continued our conversation, the gentle trickle almost hypnotic in its rhythm.

Sitting across from me, she radiated a quiet, dangerous intensity. Her black, oily hair shimmered faintly under the dim, ambient light of the Moment Unfold, and her expression—once fierce and untamed—now held an oddly serene quality, like a tempest quelled but not entirely forgotten.

"It's fascinating," I mused, idly swirling the tea in my cup. "The nature of Qliphoth Objects, I mean. You exist outside the conventions of order or chaos—entropy incarnate, yet still capable of thought and, dare I say, even purpose."

The Revenant's sharp, black eyes met mine, flickering with curiosity. "Purpose…" she murmured, her voice carrying that same abyssal echo. "Such a thing feels alien to me. For so long, I was only a destruction. A force of nature without will, without meaning."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"And now?" I pressed gently, leaning forward. "Do you feel different?"

She hesitated, as though searching for an answer within the endless void that shaped her being. "I… do," she finally admitted. "This existence—this state of being—has changed me. The chaos within me has not disappeared, but it feels… quieter. As though it sleeps, waiting."

"Perhaps," I said with a soft smile, "That's a sign of growth. You're no longer bound by pure instinct. You've found a balance, even if it's only the beginning."

Her gaze lingered on me, and I could see the faintest flicker of something unfamiliar: hope. "And you think there's more?" she asked, her tone cautious but curious.

"Oh, absolutely," I replied with enthusiasm, carefully layering my words with subtle undertones of encouragement and trust. "Your existence is proof that Qliphoth Objects are not inherently doomed to their destructive nature. With the right guidance—the right allies—there's no telling what you could achieve."

Her expression softened slightly, the corners of her lips curving into the faintest of smiles. "You speak as though you know the path ahead," she said.

"I don't know it," I admitted, "but I intend to find it. Together, we could uncover the truth of your kind—and perhaps even reshape the narrative surrounding Qliphoth Objects entirely. Imagine a future where beings like you aren't feared but understood. Where you're seen not as harbingers of entropy but as forces of transformation and renewal."

Her fingers tightened slightly around the handle of her teacup, the oily liquid within rippling faintly. "That… would be a future worth fighting for."

"And you won't be fighting alone," I added smoothly, allowing my voice to carry a note of reassurance. "Kuzunoha and I are here to ensure that. We're your allies, your connection to something greater. Together, we'll build a foundation that benefits not just you, but perhaps even other Qliphoth Objects who might follow in your footsteps."

The Revenant's gaze burned with a quiet intensity as she absorbed my words. For hours, we spoke, our conversation weaving through topics both profound and mundane. I carefully steered the dialogue, planting seeds of loyalty and trust with every subtle nudge. She listened intently, her simplified mind—a side effect of Kuzunoha's intervention—absorbing my words with the fervor of a sponge soaking up water.

By the time we concluded, nearly five hours had passed. The Revenant seemed almost reluctant to see me go, her expression a mixture of gratitude and quiet determination as she rose to escort me to the shimmering gateway.

"Thank you," she said simply, her voice carrying an unfamiliar warmth. "For everything."

I offered her a soft smile, inclining my head slightly. "We're just getting started," I said before stepping through the gateway, the surreal realm of the Moment Unfold dissolving behind me.

The transition back to Kuzunoha's mansion was seamless, the familiar halls greeting me with their quiet opulence. Kuzunoha herself was waiting just beyond the gateway, her crimson eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and expectation.

"Five hours," she remarked with a teasing lilt. "I was beginning to think you'd decided to move in with her."

"Oh, you know me," I replied, brushing past her with a smirk. "I'm just that charming~"

Her laughter was light and melodic as she fell into step beside me. "Well, your charm aside, the preparation is ready. Shall we?"

I nodded, my pace quickening as we made our way to the special chamber Kuzunoha had prepared.

The room was filled with the essence of magic and technological presence, its walls lined with intricate arrays of conduits and crystalline nodes that pulsed faintly with energy. At its center floated the Organic Calculator in its conceptually prized open form, its network of neuromorphic circuits glowing softly and branching, sprawling open and about like multi-directional trees, and to an extent, the human brain.

I took a deep breath, rolling my shoulders as I stepped forward. "Let's get to work."

With a motion of my hand, I utilized my All-Tampering Divine Dexterity, the air around me shimmering with a faint golden light as I began to weave the intricate patterns of neural electricity.

By common sense, it was a process that defied conventional understanding, a delicate dance of science and absolute miracle as my spiritual influence began meticulously constructing the Organic Calculator's behavior, memory, foundational logic, and evolutionary pathways.

"Ah, it is keeping up with me, trying to develop its own unconstrained, and unregulated behaviour. Well, this won't do."

While I did describe it as 'constructing', it was actually closer to a direct teaching, though still not in a conventional way.

In a sense, it was as if a teacher was opening their student's brain and directly applying knowledge and exemplary behaviour by tinkering with their memory and neural structure.

Brainwashing might be the perfect word in this case, albeit it was still a little bit unfitting since I was essentially weaving an artificial brain-like medium and not an actual human brain.

"There you go. Just follow my lead~"

Every thread of neural energy was woven with precision, each pattern carefully calibrated to align with the desired functions. Like a craftsman shaping an eventual masterpiece, I poured every soul of my focus into the task. The room's ambient hum growed louder with each passing moment.

Kuzunoha observed silently, her techno-patterned fan partially obscuring her face as her eyes followed my every move. Despite her teasing nature, I noticed the genuine admiration she held for my work, her presence a steady anchor in the midst of the overwhelming complexity.

And then after what felt like hours, I finally stepped back, exhaling slowly as I surveyed my handiwork. The giant golden bough that was the Organic Calculator pulsed faintly, its circuits glowing with an almost sentient awareness.

"It's done," I said quietly, signaling to Kuzunoha.

She stepped forward, her fingers dancing over the crystalline console as she captured the neuromorphic schematic into a foundational template. The energy within the room seemed to coalesce, the template forming into a tangible construct that shimmered with potential.

It formed into some sort of an ethereal, translucent tablet the size of an encyclopedia book.

"Perfect," Kuzunoha murmured, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. "With this template, we can begin developing the Cognitive Device and refining an even more complex form of Organic Calculator for integration into Neuro Alloy-based devices."

I nodded, though my focus was already shifting to the next step. "Before that, let's test the template," I suggested. "We'll integrate it into one of your spare puppet vessels, how's that sound?

"I doubt that you still have any purpose for those old spares, no? Not to mention, you still have an enormous amount of them lying around your storage."

Kuzunoha's smile widened, her fan snapping shut with a sharp click. "Ah, the excess puppet vessel. That brings back memories."

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Speaking of which, where did you get all these puppets? And don't think I haven't noticed—there are souls inhabiting the ones that serve as your maids."

Her expression turned mischievous, a glint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Ah, yes. That was during my collecting days. I stumbled upon a rather… eccentric maniac who was obsessed with creating living dolls. He'd been kidnapping and torturing people, binding their souls to his creations."

I blinked, taken aback by the casual way she recounted such a grim tale. "And you just… decided to take them?"

"Well," she said with a shrug, "I found his work interesting. So, I eliminated him and 'collected' his entire workshop. The means may have been questionable, but the ends? Justifiable." Kuzunoha smirked. "It was worth it, they are a wonderful addition to my collection, and a useful one too~"

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head. "You're more of a thief than a collector, Kuzunoha."

She winked, her fan flicking open again to hide her smirk. "The line between the two is often blurred, my dear. Now, shall we begin?"

We both turned our attention to the puppet vessel as the foundational template pulsed with anticipation.

It seemed like it couldn't wait to occupy a new vessel.