booknovelhub
Chapter 169: First-Half Of The Meeting: Black Daffodil's Authority
Chapter 169: First-Half Of The Meeting: Black Daffodil's Authority
Hi, everyone, this is Narcissus.
Today, I'm starting my day in a room I built on a whim after I just washed my face and had Kuzunoha cast some arcane spell to maintain my hygiene—it was good that she was also really adamant on my health and cleanliness, since I had become her great donor of Valtherion blood to experiment and consume.
Kuzunoha side, I called this new structure the "meeting chamber," and while it looked suitably dignified, thanks to the increase of variety in the available-plus-yesterday-loot materials, it mostly served as an excuse to build something—and maybe procrastinate a little before jumping into my planned workshop projects.
"The air is different." Lupina could be seen closing her eyes as she sniffed to taste the new environment. "I'm not hating it."
My confidantes were with me in this circle table: Verina sitting and being emotionless as usual. Kuzunoha with her smug, mysterious self, arms folded and eyes gleaming with whatever plans she cooked up on her way here.
And Lupina, well… she lay on the table in her current disembodied state, looking more comfortable than the rest of us mortals who suffered the need to sit on a mortal chair.
Also, related to the subject of the meeting, Verina had now fully filled in every important information into Lupina's head, including the knowledge of Black Daffodil and also my own personal information that was written on the various documents from the last two encounters.
I'm still amazed that Kuzunoha had essentially become both my all-capable secretary and the bastion's personal storage.
"All right, Kuzunoha—what's the report?" I leaned back against the table, folding my arms.
She glanced at me with that usual half-smirk. "Such excitement, my dear Narcissus," she replied, laying down a set of parchments in front of us with the flourish of a performer revealing her latest act. "You'll be pleased to know that our Black Daffodil," she said with emphasis on Black, "Has yet again revealed herself as the enigma she is. And, as usual, she's proving to be as deviously intriguing as ever."
"Why, thank you for bringing us all here to marvel at the secrets of my own mind." I sighed, examining the parchments.
—
Confidential Report: Encounter with Black Daffodil
Filed by: Kuzunoha
Bastion Repository, Septober 6th, 2030.
Overview
This document summarizes my recent encounter with the entity known as "Black Daffodil," found deep within Narcissus's soul. As with my previous entries, I present my findings in two parts: Direct Observations and Hypotheses based on inferences drawn from our interaction.
—
It still feels jarring to realize that Narcissus' brain was overall smarter and faster than the one I had when I was still a man called Lothair. After all, a one second look on the paper was enough for me to scan the whole content and consume the knowledge carried in it.
While everyone was taking their time to read the reports, I eyed on something unexpected and dissimilar to what I had in mind when it comes to Black Daffodil's existence on a whole.
—
Initial Dialogue and Inquiry
Upon arrival, Black Daffodil beckoned me to take a seat, indicating a heightened formality. Her tone was layered with a slight undercurrent of expectancy, as if she had anticipated my arrival. She introduced a line of inquiry into an entity referred to as "The Dull Tinkerer" and proceeded to ask a series of probing questions regarding this figure's purpose, nature, and whereabouts.
Direct Questioning on "The Dull Tinkerer"
Black Daffodil's line of questioning centered around the Dull Tinkerer's essence, her objectives, and where she might be found. When I provided only broad responses—that the Dull Tinkerer is an elusive, near-mythical figure in Carcosa—Black Daffodil responded with quiet skepticism. She pressed further but avoided explicitly revealing why she sought this knowledge. Despite my reluctance, I relayed basic information about the Tinkerer's nature, describing her as a wandering conceptual authority, possibly immortal, who interacts with Carcosa's reality in ways that remain, at best, obscure.
Notably, Black Daffodil did not dispute this description, which may imply prior knowledge of the Tinkerer's enigmatic role.
It is important that I still need to withhold that information virtually to even Narcissus herself, as it also means that Black Daffodil will also get informed due to the one-way synchronized nature of their thoughts, memories, and experience.
Tactical Topic Shift
Upon realizing that I would provide only limited details, Black Daffodil abruptly shifted topics, displaying no overt frustration. This transition was controlled and almost practiced, as though she had anticipated my hesitation and was merely confirming a prior suspicion.
Discussion on Narcissus
Our conversation eventually turned to Narcissus. Black Daffodil offered insights into Narcissus's complex psyche, describing her as "a composite of many selves, unaware of each part." She spoke of Narcissus with a mixture of fondness and detached objectivity, confirming that Narcissus's memories hold fragments from many past lives. Black Daffodil's role appears to be that of a "guide," though her definition of guidance encompasses "unpleasant necessity" as much as typical aid.
Key Quote: "Guidance is not always gentle. Sometimes it must be forced, uncomfortable, or even dangerous."
This comment reinforces Black Daffodil's assertion of an almost protective, though rigidly unsympathetic role over Narcissus. Her purpose may lie more in shaping Narcissus toward a larger goal than in preserving her current sense of identity or continuity.
—
Firstly, the information about Black Daffodil asking something so specific that exists in this world was already bloodcurdling enough, but the fact that the last of their encounters revealed so much of what I had been experiencing so far was the tipping point of this document.
There was also Kuzunoha who somehow managed to land the perfect question about my past. Just how far did she know?
"Anything particularly alarming?" I said, keeping my calm and intrigued facade in check. After all, I'm wearing the mask of Narcissus as of now.
"Alarming?" Verina cut in, "Isn't it already alarming that something else is lurking inside your soul and calling itself a 'Daffodil' like it's a little girl playing dress-up in some uncanny role?"
"Lovely phrasing, Verina, as always," Kuzunoha said, giving her a mock bow. "Though, to be fair, 'Daffodil' was merely my suggestion for clarity. But yes, our little Black Daffodil has donned a new guise—a form that resembles a child in attire, albeit one with as much innocence as a dagger's edge."
"I find it creepy," Verina said with no spice in her tone.
Lupina snorted from her position on the table, not really knowing the content of the report since she had no way of perusing them without the help of someone, and I see that no one intended to help at the moment, "Let me guess, she's not actually childlike?"
"Not remotely," Kuzunoha answered, drawing her chair forward as she read through the report. "More eloquent than ever, demanding and probing—she wanted information, specifically about an entity called the Dull Tinkerer."