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

Chapter 155: Three Friends In Front Of The Bonfire

Verina happily nodded, and Lupina was detached from the harness on her waist, now held with both hands while placed above Verina's lap.

"Verina," I began, glancing at her, "Do you know why you're named as such?"

"I think she doesn't know why," Lupina quipped.

"Regardless, I'm quite proud of that name," Lupina darted a dagger stare at her talking head of a friend, before continuing her speech. "I'm somewhat attached to it too. Why the question all of a sudden, though?"

"Did you know that there was a Verina in the long-forgotten history of humanity—an empress who plotted conspiracies, backstabbing, and political maneuvers all while balancing power with grace?"

Verina raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You're not insinuating that I'm some kind of reincarnation of a puppet master, are you?" she said, though a hint of pride glinted in her eyes.

"Oh, no," I replied, unable to resist the smile creeping over my face. "But I am implying you could command any empire you pleased if you wanted to."

Verina leaned back. "I'd say my empire's already well established here. And I've got the fiercest allies to back me." She glanced at Lupina, whose brow furrowed, trying to decipher where this conversation was headed. "And also the most beautiful fiance that one could ever covet."

For one, I'm surprised that the word 'empire' exists in this world, considering that all civilizations were referred to as citadels.

"Your empire?" Lupina interjected, narrowing her eyes. "Please, Verina, the only thing you've got command over is that oversized musket and maybe... a couple of willing bastioneers. But an empire? That is too early for you, my scheming empress!" She scoffed, though the amusement was evident in her voice.

Verina smirked, tightening her hold around Lupina's head. "Well, I'd say that's one more kingdom than you're presiding over, oh mighty head of state."

"Hey!" Lupina protested, but it was hard to take her seriously, given she was entirely dependent on Verina for movement. "This head still has more power than you realize! I'm a literal visionary now."

That was a horrible joke.

"That is fancy coming from you, Lupina." I said with a chuckle. "You don't have a leg to stand on in this discussion."

Verina burst out trying to hold her laugh, shaking her head out of hilarity "See, Lupina? The queen herself agrees. You're at a slight disadvantage here. Maybe sit this one out?"

Lupina huffed, somehow managing to look indignant with nothing but her expression and tone. "I might be a head, but I'm a determined head! Narcissus, if you ever tire of Verina's endless gloating, remember you still have me. We could form a formidable alliance—you could wield me as the first talking war club in Carcosa!"

"As crazy as that sound, that will definitely make a certain someone very jealous," I replied, glancing over at Verina, who was mock-glaring at her best friend.

"Jealous?" Verina placed a hand over her heart, feigning shock. "Narcissus, the day you choose Lupina over me is the day the entire bastion crumbles."

"Wait, that sounds a little bit extreme, don't you think?" Lupina nervously chuckled. "I'm just joking, you know!?"

"I'm also just joking, dumb-dumb Lupina."

"Gah! It doesn't sound like a joke at all!"

I chuckled, finding it surprisingly easy to be around them, a kind of camaraderie that I rarely experienced with anyone else. It was a small, fleeting reminder of the life I'd known before Carcosa—yet here I was, surrounded by these remarkable and ridiculous people.

"Let's make a pact then," I said, trying to utilize this merry state of conversation to deepen our relationship. "The three of us: regardless of our relationship in the future, we shall promise to survive until the end and help each other out."

After all, a long time camaraderie or friendship would be as weak as any normal relationship without proper initiative and connected established goals.

"Sounds easy enough." Verina happily answered.

"I'll try my best to use my head for that very goal!" Lupina said with excitement.

Verina then extended her hand, and I took it firmly. Lupina, looking determined, attempted to place her forehead against our joined hands, her version of the pact. Verina laughed, and I unconsciously smiled, feeling oddly grounded in this world than ever.

"Shouldn't you two get some rest?" I asked, finally, though I was reluctant to break the moment.

"Not until I get to hear what Narcissus thinks of the name 'Verina' after everything we've been through!" Verina exclaimed for a jest.

"Well," I replied, smiling, "Let's just say that any empire with a Verina is bound to have its fair share of wit, power... and delightful chaos."

"That sounds about right." Verina beamed.

As I met her dull yet adorable gaze, a warm calm settled over me. Just as I was thinking this, Lupina, ever the rogue, sighed dramatically. "Alright, lovebirds, if you're going to stare into each other's eyes all night, at least have the decency to let me close mine."

"But weren't you planning to propose to me back then?" I brought out Lupina's fervent attraction to me back when we were trapped underground beneath two Qliphoth Objects duking it out.

Lupina's eyes went wide, her mouth opening and closing in an attempt to deflect. "That was—back then! I've matured since then," she protested, though the faintest hint of a blush tinged her cheeks. "I'm conscious of my own state and position. As if I can make Narcissus happy with only a head and a dream inside this skull of mine…!"

"Giving up already?" Verina laughed, patting Lupina's head with mock sympathy. "It is not like you to give up this easily. You're always the adventurous kind of person."

Lupina groaned, her eyes narrowing in frustration. "I said I'm over it! Can we all just pretend I never had a crush on Narcissus in the first place?" She cast me a quick glance, trying and failing to act indifferent.

"Oh, believe me, I could pretend… if you weren't so terribly obvious," I teased, giving her an amused smile. "And here I thought you were above pretending, Lupina."

Lupina's blush deepened, her defiance wavering. "Fine! Maybe I thought you were, well… magnificent. Back then," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I'm a new person now! A head without burdens," she added, her eyes flashing with a dramatic sense of resignation.

Verina snorted from the sheer amusement. "A head without burdens? You're practically drowning in them, heh. It's okay to admit you're still smitten," she said with a wicked grin. "But I get it. Narcissus is a hard person to resist, I'd say."

"Thank you, Verina," I replied with a half curtsy.

Lupina groaned, rolling her eyes. "You two are impossible! Honestly, I could get whiplash just listening to you flirt so shamelessly." She tried to scowl, but her expression softened with reluctant amusement. "I suppose it's good to know you're both fond of teasing, even if it's at my expense."

"Oh, come on, Lupina," Verina said, lifting her head a bit higher, "You know you're secretly enjoying it. And who knows, maybe one day you'll win Narcissus' heart by sheer persistence alone."

Lupina smirked, managing a defiant look despite her predicament. "Don't count me out yet. After all, I'm a visionary, remember? If anyone's going to change the course of fate, it'll be me—head and all."

I laughed, unable to hide my amusement at her indomitable spirit. "Then keep at it, Lupina. If nothing else, you make life here… entertaining. And who knows?" I leaned in, dropping my voice to a playful whisper. "Maybe you'll find a way to sweep me off my feet yet."

Lupina's eyes widened, her mouth opening slightly in surprise before she quickly looked away, cheeks bright red. "I… I'll, uh, consider that."

Verina chuckled, reaching over to give Lupina's head a friendly ruffle. "Dream on, little visionary."

At this point, I already noticed four people who peeked and eavesdropped on our interaction.

The whiplash of reaction on their face was quite the amusement on their own, and I can't wait to see what kind of conclusion that they would come up with down the line.

It was time for them to know my relationships with my own confidantes, after all.

After that, we fought with some of the common Calamity Objects, albeit in much higher numbers than usual. It was similar to the aggressive swarms of Calamity Objects that happened when the Hollow Star was present in the night.

Before we knew it, we were already close to midnight, preparing for the worst to descend into this selfish world.

[The Ordeal of the Midnight will be approaching in 25 minute_]

[This message will appear invisible to every instances of entities in this world, if you received this sequence of notification, please notify any of the Arbiters to prevent further complications in your immersive playing experience]

Per usual, I already had Kuzunoha to snatch every resource and the very workshop of the bastion into her arcane storage, in case that the entrance of the special Calamity Object would cause a saddening damage towards my lovely working station.

And if it happens to be another Qliphoth Object, then it should be confirmed that I had the worst luck in Carcosa when it comes to the lottery for the Ordeal.