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

The Landship was always alive.

Not in the sense that most places were. Not in the way of cities bustling with movement, nor in the way of ancient ruins humming with residual energies.

No, my bastion was alive in a way that felt almost sentient to me. A constant, pulsing rhythm of thought and machine, its neuromorphic veins stretched through every corridor, linking every part of its vast, impossible structure into a singular, fluid existence.

Everything within it moved with purpose—every mechanism, every vessel, every calculated process.

And all of these were heightened by my heightened perception, making it almost impossible for me to ignore the calming proverbial noise and bickering between one Cognitive Engine to another.

"Maybe a little bit too much bickering."

That aside, I had already finished with my recruiting attempt. Thanks to my amazing charisma, I'm able to get Ishmael into this Landship as her new vessel to voyage with.
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And so far, she seemed to be very grateful and excited.

After that recruitment process, I took two of the available Duolos vessels within the Landship to guide and teach her about everything that needs to be known and enacted as the bastioneer of the Landship.

As an extra note, I also spooked Naosi through a sudden notice that Ishmael will become her assistant after some rounds of preparation.

And I barely answered anything that she asked regarding that.

She eventually accepted that fact soon enough.

Yora had already returned to the Theotech Site, leaving Naosi as the primary bastioneer responsible for Ishmael's integration in the next couple of hours.

I had no particular reason for assigning Ishmael to her, aside from my own whimsy, but perhaps there would be some merit to it. Naosi's erratic yet focused nature might balance out Ishmael's self-deprecating chaos.

Or perhaps it would only accelerate the madness.

A small smirk played at my lips.

"We would see."

But for now—

Naosi had her own matters to attend to.

I entered one of the private lounges within the Landship, where Naosi was already waiting, her usual energetic demeanor subdued by the weight of expectation.

She was seated on one of the cushioned chairs, fidgeting slightly with the strap of her MSU pack as I took my seat across from her.

She had been briefed, of course, but I could tell she still wasn't quite sure what this meeting was about.

I let the silence stretch, just long enough to let her wonder before I finally spoke.

"How have you been faring?"

Naosi blinked, momentarily thrown off by the casual question. "Uh—fine? I mean, good. Great, actually. I love my work, I love my projects, I love my room—" She cut herself off, exhaling sharply. "Why?"

I took a slow sip of my tea before answering.

"This is a counseling session."

Naosi tilted her head slightly, her golden eyes narrowing in curiosity.

"Counseling? What, like… therapy?" She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "I didn't know you did those."

"I don't," I admitted with a playful glint in my eye. "Not in the traditional sense, anyway."

She exhaled through her nose, a lopsided grin tugging at her lips. "So, what's this really about?"

I met her gaze, my expression settling into something more serious.

"I'm confirming your mental state."

Naosi blinked, the grin faltering slightly as the weight of those words settled.

Before she could question it, I continued.

"You will soon be entrusted with knowledge regarding the bastion's Neuromorphic Technology—a level of insight reserved only for a select few." I bombarded her. "This knowledge will place you in a position where you will be responsible for part safeguarding and expanding one of the bastion's most fundamental systems for the near foreseeable future.

Naosi visibly stiffened. "... Me?"

"Yes," I confirmed simply.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again.

For once, she seemed genuinely unsure of herself.

"I mean—I appreciate the vote of confidence, Lady Narcissus, but… are you sure?" She scratched the back of her head, looking uncharacteristically sheepish. "I still haven't even finished the task that Lady Viviane gave me—crafting a 'legendary sword' or whatever. And now you're telling me I'll be handling the development of Neuromorphic Tech more than what I already got my hands on now??"

"Is there a visible problem to my words?"

"No, not at all! But I think that I don't nearly do much for you to integrate me within one of your major projects, Lady Narcissus."

"That is precisely why you were chosen," I replied smoothly. "Your work in crafting is already intertwined with the development of our Neuro Alloy. And if we are to push the limits of what our technology can achieve, it stands to reason that forging a legendary weapon would require an equally legendary medium to create it."

Naosi's brows furrowed as she processed my words.

"So you're saying there's a connection between Neuromorphic Tech and the sword?"

"A possible one," I corrected. "One that will become much clearer once our newest endeavor is complete."

She leaned forward slightly. "And what exactly is that endeavor?"

I smiled.

"Theosynth."

Naosi blinked. "… Theosynth?"

"Something that I have been working with on the back of my mind as a possible concept. A fusion of principles—attuning and synthesizing the height of existence of a subject into a grander, more refined material. In simpler terms, it will allow us to elevate something beyond its natural state—bringing it closer to divinity."

Naosi stared at me for a long moment.

Then, slowly, a grin crept across her face. "That sounds insane."

"Naturally."

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Is that why Ishmael's been assigned as my assistant?"

I leaned back, resting an elbow on the chair's armrest.

"That was simply a whim."

Naosi let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "Right. Of course. Assigning a socially anxious shipwreck of a girl as my assistant just because it amused you? That sounds like the most 'you' thing ever."

I smirked, resting my chin against my knuckles. "Would you have preferred if I had said there was a grand, calculated reason behind it?"

"Honestly? Kinda, yeah." She exhaled, crossing her arms. "It'd be nice to believe you don't just throw life-altering decisions around like you're picking what to eat for breakfast."

I chuckled. "You'd be surprised how many of my greatest plans have started as whims."

There was a reason why Naosi was one of the bastioneers that I had been relying one for the past many events and interactions, not only because of her specialization for something that could save a lot of my work in the future, but also something that I started to notice in her growing potential.

My charm barely works on her, something that even my confidantes felt hard to resist at times when I ramped it up to the max.

And thus, our bond to one another was more like that of an average employer and her employee. She was nervous whenever she was around me, but she was not particularly charmed or greatly attracted to me like a steel to a magnet.

It felt natural at times, and it was fun to toy around with her in comparison to the psychotic Verina, and the now current powerful version of Lupina who had received her brand new Theotech Vessel.

Before Naosi could laugh at my tomfoolery, something flickered at the edges of my consciousness.

A familiar presence.

The connection slid into place effortlessly—Charis.

She had yet to speak, but I had already anticipated it.

"What is it, my dear?"

The telepathic channel fully established, and Charis' voice came through, steady and composed as ever.

"Father. There is something you need to know."

There was a weight to her words.

One that immediately sharpened my focus.

"Go on."

"There has been a great increase in the appearance of the Foreign Entity dubbed as the Pallid Mermaid within the subterranean depths of the Theotech Site."

My fingers tapped lightly against the armrest.

"I assume you're telling me this because it is of particular importance to me."

"Correct."

A slow exhale left my lips.

"Status?"

"The encounters have been handled efficiently." Charis' tone remained professional, yet there was an undercurrent of something else—approval, perhaps?

"Erika was the first to notice the ambush. She acted swiftly, neutralizing them before they could fully manifest. Some have been suppressed and captured."

"Captured?" My interest piqued.

"Yes. Kuzunoha and Viviane are already performing an appraisal on the site."

That was unexpected.

I had assumed any physical remnants of the Pallid Mermaids would dissolve upon suppression. The fact that they had managed to capture them—intact—was worth noting.

A small smile tugged at my lips.

"Efficient as always."

Naosi, who had been watching me, frowned slightly. "You're getting a report, aren't you?"

I nodded. "Charis. Something of importance."

She leaned forward. "It's about those creatures, isn't it?"

I didn't confirm nor deny it, but the way her expression darkened slightly told me she had already pieced it together.

Before I could say more, the link expanded.

A new presence slipped into the channel.

Kuzunoha.

"Ah, my beloved Narcissus, your timing is perfect! We have results."

Her voice carried that unmistakable lilt of amusement, as if she had been waiting for the moment to announce this discovery with dramatic flair.

I arched a brow. "That was fast. Should I be suspicious?"

A mock gasp. "Oh, please. Do you doubt me?"

"Constantly."

A soft, delighted hum from her end. "Good. That means you're still sane."

Naosi shot me a confused glance, no doubt wondering why my expression had shifted into something both fond and exasperated.

"Enough theatrics," I mused. "What did you find?"

Kuzunoha's playful tone remained, but there was a sharpness beneath it now.

"Well, doubt or not, here it is: the Pallid Mermaid is a native specimen of the Unloving Sea."

The words settled.

A silence stretched between us.

My mind flickered back.

"Tell me everything."