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

After the tour around the mansion and introductions to many people, Charis showcased a sign of exhaustion. I told Verina and Lupina to take my sole daughter to her resting chamber as we parted ways yet again.

"Father…" Charis looked me in the eyes. "The absence of your presence worries me."

Just looking at how adorable and childish she was, it was hard for me to decline her hidden intention to have me watch over her as she put herself into slumber. "Next time, I will be there when you venture into the land of dreams. From the beginning and until your journey start anew~

"But for now, I still have some important matters that I need to attend to."

"I understand…" Charis slightly pouted.

"In the place of your dad, I can watch you over full fourty-eight!" Lupina tried to assure her.

"Lupina will do then," Charis' face easened, accepting the companion of others than myself for her first ever rest since her awakening in this mansion.

Lupina had been a bundle of trustworthy individuals, even though our first meeting was not the smoothest.

It made me glad that my decision to preserve her life at the end of the first night resulted in this scenario, where my Charis found another solace amongst those whose words were mixed up with hidden intents.

She inherited Eve's power to see the truth behind words, after all.

Still, I really need to work on finding a new vessel for Lupina. Both Kuzunoha and I tried to give her a new vessel amongst those of the precious troves of collections available in this mansion, but none of them were able to smoothly tune with her rare affliction.

There was a newfound interaction between my Valtherion blood and the soul that was ever-so-clinging to the last bit of its vessel like a person grasping on the rope at the edge of the cliff, and that rare interaction resulted in an entirely new state of existence that allowed Lupina to function normally as a normal human would, but as merely a head.

I wanted to attempt at using my All-Tampering Divine Dexterity to fix the issue but I'm still not as proficient with this new power of mine, and since it was a new situation for Kuzunoha too, I couldn't handle this recklessly.

The only thing that might be able to properly tune with her current state of being is a Theotech Vessel, which didn't exist in this mansion for unlucky reasons.

Because they were extremely precious, Kuzunoha stored all of the Theotec Vessels she stumbled inside one of her main 'museum' that was not accessible at the moment, because of the risk of putting the mansion in a vulnerable state, since its main defensive measure was heavily damaged from Eve's forceful intrusion.

At the moment, this mansion we inhabited was put in a total stealth mode, covering up the fact that it was also defenseless in this juncture of time after using every bit of its energy reservoir to escape into an entirely different branch of the universal void.

It was made known because Eve broke through it, after all.

Attempting to connect with another realm or domains that Kuzunoha possessed would put this mansion back on the universal map in between several worlds and realities. The void-cloaked figure might attempt to attack us if that happens.

Even the Vivianes were developing measures and unorthodox methods to get sent back into their own respective universes without putting the mansion back on the universal map. Hence why they were still here after five Carcosan days worth of time.

Though, I believed that today they had made a breakthrough when it comes to connecting with their own realities. We couldn't apply the same method to reach out to one of the so-called collection museums that Kuzunoha owned, but we were able to use it to get back to Carcosa without any repercussions.

As for the Theotech Vessel, we planned to find a new one in a hunt for a Theotech Vault and Chambers that were still uncovered. Kuzunoha noted that there were still an abundant amount of them in Carcosa, and the recent world-wide calibration of landmass might have caused the majority of the deeply buried one to resurface.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

After we successfully gave Lupina a new vessel, she could finally contribute to the schemes and plans that we're concocting.

She might be an idiot, but she is a trustworthy idiot.

"This is the weight of my sins, huh."

The quiet stillness of the room wrapped itself around me like a silken shroud. The dim lighting, filtered through the crystalline panels of Kuzunoha's mansion, cast rippling reflections on the polished surface of the table where I sat waiting. My fingers tapped idly against its edge as I rehearsed what I was about to say, though no amount of preparation could truly settle the storm in my mind.

The door creaked open, and there she was—Viviane. Her vivid orange hair, styled into those signature twin tufts that flared like horns, gave her an imposing yet regal air. Her sharp orange eyes scanned the room as if appraising its very essence before she stepped inside, her presence commanding without effort.

"Narcissus," she greeted, her tone carrying a blend of familiarity and formality as she took the seat opposite me.

"Viviane," I replied with a faint smile, folding my hands neatly atop the table.

She exhaled softly, the weight of something unspoken settling between us. "The others have been returned to their respective realities," she began, referring to the ten alternate versions of herself who had been instrumental in aiding us during the chaos of the Time of Nihil. "The mansion feels… quieter without them."

"I know," I said, my voice calm yet knowing. "There's a shift in the ripples of existence within these walls. It's subtle, but unmistakable."

Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly, studying me in silence. I could tell she was assessing not just my words but the changes within me—both visible and unseen. Finally, she spoke again, her voice quieter this time.

"You've changed," she said simply. "The aura you carried when we first met—young, ambitious, dangerous—has shifted into something else. I cannot decide if that is a comfort or a warning."

The corner of my lips tugged upward. "Honesty, as always. That's one of the reasons I value you so much, Viviane. You see me for who I truly am, not who I present myself to be."

"And that truth," she countered, "Is precisely why I must remind you that with your ascension comes an even greater responsibility. You are still too unfamiliar with many things in this journey of yours, Narcissus—ambitious, yes, but young."

"An observation I cannot refute," I replied lightly. "But your candor is appreciated nonetheless."

A brief silence passed, the tension between us softening as Viviane leaned back slightly in her chair. Her gaze, though piercing as ever, now carried a faint warmth.

"You wanted to speak to me about something," she prompted.

I nodded, choosing my words carefully. "Viviane, as the only person who hasn't been swayed by charm, wit, or charisma, I believe you're uniquely qualified to answer this question. Tell me—what is it about me that others immediately identify as 'fairy-like'?"

Her brow arched slightly at the question, but she answered without hesitation. "Your physical impression," she said plainly. "Specifically, your long ears and surreal beauty. Without those, no one would assume you to be a fairy unless you wielded fae magic in an overt manner."

I chuckled softly, the tension lifting for a moment. "So the long ears are the giveaway? That seems… disappointingly shallow."

Viviane's lips twitched in the faintest hint of amusement. "There's history to it," she said. "Once, a particularly vain fairy declared that having long and sharp ears was a privilege exclusive to fae kin. They used their magic to alter reality itself, ensuring that no other race could naturally possess such a trait."

"That's even more absurd than the fact that people associate fairies with long ears in the first place," I remarked with a wry smile.

She nodded, her tone turning thoughtful. "Since that time, no human or mortal-born race has been naturally born with such ears. It has become, in essence, a marker of your kind."

I tapped a finger against my chin, considering her words. "Then… what if I were to change my ears to that of a human's? Would that violate this 'rule' of reality?"

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "The restriction only applies to the natural birth of mortals. A transformation, especially one initiated by a higher being, would have no repercussions. But why would you do such a thing?"

I straightened slightly, my tone softening. "Because I'm not a fairy."

The statement hung in the air, its weight settling between us like a stone dropped into still water. Viviane's eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in contemplation.

"Explain," she said, her voice calm but edged with curiosity.

I took a slow breath, gathering my thoughts. "The truth is, I wasn't born a fairy. In fact, I wasn't born into this world at all. I was once a man—a mortal named Lothair—who lived in a place called Earth, far removed from the realities of Carcosa. An unfortunate encounter with the supernatural led me here, into the body and mind of Narcissus."

I proceeded to fill in all of the necessary information.

The kind of person that I was back then, and the thriving motivation that allowed me to move forward relentlessly like a blind deer who chased after the blinding light at the end of the tunnel.

Viviane's expression shifted subtly—surprise flickering briefly across her features before she settled into a thoughtful calm. "That… is a plausible explanation," she said slowly. "Absurd, perhaps, but plausible. Carcosa has seen stranger things."

I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh, though it carried a hint of unease. "I wasn't sure how you'd take it, but I'm glad you're so understanding. Honestly, Viviane, I wasn't certain how to bring this up."

"After several millennia of existence," she replied, her tone wry, "you stop being surprised by much. This revelation is hardly the most bizarre thing I've encountered."

Her response brought me a mix of relief and exasperation. "You're truly a wellspring of wisdom, Viviane."

"I try," she said dryly, though there was a faint warmth in her tone. "Though, your history is much more wild than I expected firsthand when you mentioned your former identity. I guess fate is really playing you by the strings when they give you a perfect face to accommodate your unhealthy obsession."

"Unhealthy is an understatement."

"At least you're conscious of it."

"I expected you to watch me with disgust, you know?"

"Why would I?" Viviane smirked. "I did worse."

"... And here I am, thinking that you're the upright adjudicator of justice."

"I still am~ That's how amazing I am~"

At this point, she was really trying to make me reconsider why I deem her as a respected figure.

"The jest aside." I leaned forward slightly, my voice turning more earnest. "Viviane, I see you as an elder figure—someone I look up to, someone whose wisdom and unwavering ideology have helped me shape my own perspective. That's why I wanted to come clean with you. I felt it was important to seek your approval before making this change."

She regarded me for a long moment, her sharp orange eyes seeming to pierce straight through me. "You've given this a great deal of thought," she said finally. "And I can see that this isn't a decision you're taking lightly. I respect that."

I inclined my head in gratitude. "Thank you, Viviane. That means more to me than I can express."

Her gaze softened slightly, and for the first time, there was a hint of a smile on her lips. "Narcissus, you saved me from an eternity of ennui, tied to an ancient role that had long since lost its meaning. Whether you choose to keep your facade as a fairy or shed it entirely, know this: I am already aboard the ship you sail. For better or worse, my path is now intertwined with yours."

Her words resonated deeply, and I allowed myself a moment of quiet reflection before speaking again. "Then I suppose there's nothing more to say."

Raising my hands to my ears, I closed my eyes, focusing my intent. A faint warmth spread through my fingertips as the transformation took hold. When I lowered my hands, my reflection in the crystalline panels revealed the change—my once-long ears now replaced by the rounded shape of a human's.

The room fell silent for a moment before I turned back to Viviane, offering her a small, sincere smile. "Thank you, Viviane. Truly."

She nodded once, her expression steady but her eyes carrying an unmistakable glimmer of approval.