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

Chapter 170: Second-Half Of The Meeting: Black Daffodil's Authority

I blinked, catching the distinct flicker of hesitation in Kuzunoha's eyes. "The Dull Tinkerer? That doesn't sound like any Calamity Object or anything from Carcosa."

"Indeed," she said, lips tightening. "The Dull Tinkerer is not of Carcosa, nor of any recorded myth or legend from this place. She's a particular entity I've encountered before, but… she's best described as human by form and presence, yet carrying a sort of conceptual authority.

"A rare human, one who's seemingly immortal and possesses a knack for meddling where she pleases." She tapped her fingers against the parchment. "I gave Black Daffodil only the barest outline of what I knew, mind you—just enough to satisfy her curiosity.

"And I also planned to keep the rest of the crucial details to myself, especially from you, my love." Kuzunoha cackled. "If you know, then it is only normal to assume that Black Daffodil will know too."

Verina leaned in, brow furrowing. "And how do you know she's satisfied? Maybe she's just biding her time to dig deeper?"

Kuzunoha's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "Oh, my lovely student, I know when someone is biding their time—and our little Black Daffodil knows when I am, too."

"What's clear," I interjected, "Is that Black Daffodil's got a mind of her own and aims to learn things that no echo of Narcissus should know. But what I want to understand is, why the sudden interest?"

I already had my own good guesses of this predicament, but I want to give a chance to everyone on what their idea was.

Isn't that right, Black Daffodil?

I know that you're supervising me 48 hours a day, you might possess the same pattern of thinking since you proved every inch of my emotion and thoughts.

But I know that you know that I know now, meaning that there might be de-sync between our thoughts from now on.

I already had one annoying bastard pranking me through the game's very interactive interface, I don't need you to make my life harder than it already is.

So let's have a temporary truce, shall we?

Kuzunoha settled back in her chair, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "That, my dear, is indeed a question worth asking. And one I don't have an answer for, though I can give you my best hypothesis." She turned her gaze back toward me, something serious and weighty in her expression. "There's a chance, beloved Narcissus, that this presence—Black Daffodil—may find her way outside the soul realm at some point, crossing the boundaries we assumed were firm. After all, I felt a pull, as if she were testing those boundaries, even during our conversation."

Lupina gave a low whistle. "Out in the open? As in, here, in Carcosa? Not just a little glimpse or touch, but fully manifested?"

"Exactly that," Kuzunoha replied. "And that possibility isn't one we should brush off. If Black Daffodil is indeed tethered to Narcissus's psyche but carries her own intent, her own knowledge and ambitions… Well, it might pose a risk not just to Narcissus but to all of us."

"Lovely," Verina drawled. "One more shadow lurking around our charming bastion."

"Wouldn't it be delightful?" Kuzunoha quipped. "Though I'm here to ensure we keep this particular shade in its corner."

"Thank you, Kuzunoha, for the unwavering vote of confidence," I said with a smirk, knowing full well that Kuzunoha said this as a slight warning to Black Daffodil. And seeing how brave she was, she might have some plan in motion. "Still, I'd like to know what we're dealing with a little better. What else did you find notable about the current encounter so far?"

Kuzunoha's gaze softened, losing some of its edge as she thumbed through the papers. "She's… oddly fond of you, to put it simply. It's like a twisted loyalty, an attachment she seems intent on masking behind casual comments and veiled threats. I pushed her on it, and though she never gave me a clear answer, it was evident that she's got a sort of… pride in you. A possessiveness, even."

I raised an eyebrow, glancing at the others. "So I've got a very particular admirer hiding in my mind. Wonderful. Does she fancy herself my guardian or my jailer?"

While Kuzunoha's report was already concise enough, it was important to retake what we read into an interaction with one another, probing unnoticed details and strengthening our memory of this subject of the event.

"Perhaps both," Kuzunoha replied with a shrug. "If I had to wager, I'd say she considers herself a guide—though it's clear that her guidance is far from benevolent."

If that was truly the case, then my zero-sanity vision and dreams were Black Daffodil's doings this whole time.

"Ah, a guide," Lupina chimed in dryly. "A guide who might throw you down a cliff and expect you to figure out how to fly on the way down."

"A lovely metaphor, Lupina," Kuzunoha said, clearly enjoying the morbid humor. "You've captured her intentions quite well."

Verina, however, was not smiling. "Listen," she said, her voice low and serious. "If we're really dealing with something that can come out, something that thinks and acts independently of Narcissus, that also has a tight authority on its own being, then we'd better have a plan. I don't care how clever or mysterious she seems—I'm not going to half-heartedly approach this."

"Spoken like a true protector." Kuzunoha gave Verina an approving nod. "But yes, a plan is in order, though I'd caution against acting rashly. From what I've seen, Black Daffodil is not one to be taken lightly, and she may well be more dangerous than any Calamity Object or threat we've faced thus far."

I tapped my fingers thoughtfully against the table, feeling the weight of her words settle over the room. "Then perhaps our best course is to continue observing and learning, as carefully as we can."

Though, there was one thing that we could do, but I want them to come to that conclusion.

Verina crossed her arms, looking less than pleased with this answer. "Observation is fine, but I still don't like leaving something like this up to chance. If we're keeping this quiet, we'd better make sure the bastioneers are none the wiser."

"That goes without saying," I replied. "And besides, if Black Daffodil wanted to make a grand appearance, I think she'd have done so by now. For whatever reason, she's waiting, and until we know why, there's no sense in raising the alarm."

Kuzunoha gave me a small, approving smile. "Well said, darling. There's wisdom in patience, especially when dealing with the unknown. But I will continue my efforts to gather any information I can, however fragmentary. I have a feeling that she has a few surprises in store, and I'd rather they not catch us unawares."

Hmmm, this might just be me but it seemed like Kuzunoha were doing the same thing—waiting for someone to come into 'that' simple conclusion.

"Uhm, if we are against someone—" Before Lupina could continue, her mouth was shut by Verina's hand.

Verina then glanced at Kuzunoha in a mutual understanding, the two of them then gazed at Lupina, as if trying to make her realize something.

At this point, there were a lot of things that were potentially unraveling, but I closed my ear, shut my eyes, and put my thoughts in a mindless daze.

How is that, Black Daffodil? Can't feel the same thought or experience anything if I didn't think or analyze anything.

Of course, I did this because I care for you, Black Daffodil. You must be overwhelmed by the amount of calculation and strange thoughts in my head, so I want you to have a relaxing occasion time to time~

We're one, after all.

And I'm definitely not gaslighting you.

"Then it's settled," I said, rising from the table. "We'll keep this between the four of us as always, and Kuzunoha, you'll continue monitoring as best you can. If anything changes, you'll tell me first."

"Gladly, my beloved," Kuzunoha replied, giving me a playful salute. "And don't worry, I won't let our resident enigma slip through my watchful eyes."

I allowed myself a small smile at that, feeling a strange sense of reassurance in Kuzunoha's words, despite the uncertainty that lingered.

"And since the day isn't quite over yet…" I said, glancing over at my workshop. "I think it's about time I worked on something interesting."

Verina shot me a suspicious look. "Interesting? Isn't that code for 'dangerous' in your language?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Not this time. Or at least, not any more dangerous than usual."

I remembered the amount of time the workshop almost burned in flame when we were making the engine for my future landship.

And then there was also that time where things would go awry if not for Verina's skill at manipulating heat.

"Good enough for me," Lupina muttered, she seemed to be thinking hard about the thing that just happened..

Kuzunoha chuckled softly. "Just be sure to let me in on your little projects Narcissus. You know how I love a bit of creative chaos."

"Only if you assist me" I said with a smirk.

And as our little gathering drew to a close, I couldn't shake the feeling that this mystery would be one we'd be grappling with for some time. But for now, we had a plan, and I had things to do outside of my eerie hypothesis about the things that were happening outside of my sight.

And I will be saying this for the last time until I need to send a message to you again in the foreseeable future.

Enjoy my tale in the meanwhile, 'Daffodil'.