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

Waiting for the guest to arrive, I started to feel creeped now that I started to meet foreigners.

I had already fueled my narcissism canister, but it still felt jarring now that I've noticed more than a hundred people leering on my Landship outside. Their imperfect faces, and the opportunistic expression that they made after finding out that there was nothing but women in this giant vessel.

"Everything has already been prepared, Master," Maid-1 confirmed to me.

"Good. Now we only need to watch everything unfold."

The meeting room of the Landship was always a good way to showcase the technological sophistication of our bastion.

The walls shimmered faintly with embedded Neural Alloy conduits, casting a soft, ambient glow across the room.

Holographic displays floated above the central table, detailing maps, data streams, and operational overviews—all fully synchronized with the Cognitive Engine network.

It was an intentional display of our superiority, meant to unsettle the Vandasisimo representatives as they entered.

Evaris Cade, the Vandasisimo leader, entered the room first, his armored frame exuding a mix of confidence and caution.

He was followed by four of his key figures, all clad in hybrid armor that combined Theotech enhancements with ornate, rune-inscribed plating. Presumably enhanced through ohrtending.

Despite their attempts to project an air of authority, there was a palpable tension in their movements as they took in the overwhelming technological power surrounding them.

Kuzunoha had already filled me in on their details, and it only got clearer after I took a glimpse on their spiritual history.

The Vandasisimo were powerful. Many of them have lived for more than a hundred years, and all of them were enamored with Theotech enhancements from head to toe.

Through their prowess alone, they could establish a stand-alone citadel, but they never did. They rely on multiple citadels as their sponsors, but they also don't bow to any of them.

To put it simply, they were akin to a mercenary company.

A highly prestigious one.

Seated at the head of the table, I smiled warmly, the image of poise and hospitality, though my eyes never left them.

Verina and Kuzunoha flanked me, their expressions a stark contrast to my calm demeanor.

Verina leaned casually against the wall, her crystalline musket resting on her shoulder, while Kuzunoha sat with an almost predatory grin, her crimson eyes alight with mischief.

Viviane was on my other side, her calm and calculating presence a quiet reassurance. However, she was also one of the most hard-to-approach individuals in this room because of the animosity that was radiating from her eyes.

Evaris cleared his throat, his voice steady despite the unease that rippled through his group. "Lady Narcissus, I appreciate your willingness to meet with us on such short notice."

I inclined my head slightly, gesturing for him to continue. "Of course, Lord Cade. Let's discuss the matter that brought you here."

He hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering toward the holographic displays before settling on me. "As I mentioned earlier, my group has been tracking the resurfacing of this Theotech Vault for quite some time.

"We recalibrated our navigation systems when the vault's signal became apparent, and we've been making our way here ever since. Our goal is straightforward: to access the vault, recover its artifacts, and return without conflict.

"As such, I wanted your permission to hold our own Expedition alongside yours, Lady Narcissus. The Theotech Vault is one of the largest ones yet, and the content and dangers inside it should be enough for more than one powerful faction to tackle its challenges."

Huh, at least he was seen as a powerful faction.

"And yet, you've arrived at my doorstep with an armed force," I replied evenly, though my tone remained light. "One might question your intent, even with a purpose as pure as yours."

Evaris straightened, clearly aware of the delicate nature of his position. "I assure you, Lady Narcissus, we mean no harm. Our presence is simply a precaution, given the unpredictability of such expeditions."

"And the 200 additional members of your group?" Kuzunoha interjected, her voice laced with amusement. "Equipped with siege weapons and battle puppets? A bit excessive for a precaution, don't you think?"

The tension in the room thickened as Evaris's companions exchanged uneasy glances. Before he could respond, I raised a hand to silence him, my expression soft yet commanding.

"Let's assume your intentions are peaceful," I said. "What exactly do you propose?"

Evaris's jaw tightened briefly before he spoke. "As I've stated, we request permission to conduct our expedition into the vault alongside your own efforts.

"We are prepared to share information and resources if necessary. However, we must insist that we act independently within the vault.

"Once again, we are holding zero animosity toward your people, and we're hoping for a peaceful collaboration between the two of us when it comes to hunting for the Theotech."

His words were carefully chosen, but the underlying tension was clear.

Despite their polished diplomacy, the Vandasisimo were not used to deferring to others.

Before I could respond, a subtle shift in the room's atmosphere caught my attention.

Verina, who had been silent until now, moved like a shadow. In an instant, she was behind one of Evaris's key figures—a wiry man with sharp features and a faint smirk that hadn't left his face since the meeting began.

Her musket's crystalline barrel was pressed against his temple.

"Interesting," Verina drawled, her tone dangerously calm. "If your group is truly free of hostility, then why is this one leering at Lady Narcissus with such disrespect?"

The man stiffened, his eyes darting to Evaris for support, but Verina's grip on his shoulder tightened, keeping him in place. The other Vandasisimo representatives froze, their hands instinctively moving toward their weapons before stopping themselves.

"Verina," I said softly, my tone a gentle reprimand, though I made no move to stop her. "Let's not escalate unnecessarily."

This was, of course, planned from the start.

Vivianeleaned forward slightly, her orange eyes shimmering faintly. "Allow me," she said, casting a faint wave of fae magic toward the pinned man.

The spell settled over him like a shimmering veil, and his expression twisted in a mix of confusion and dread.

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"I... I…" The man's voice trembled, and then the words spilled out like a torrent. "She's… beautiful. Enticing. I wanted… to conquer her. To take her divine appearance beneath me… to imbue my presence… after claiming her in bed."

Gasps echoed through the room, and even Evaris's composure faltered.

The man's voice broke further as he continued, tears streaming down his face under the spell's compulsion.

"I already sent… two squads to infiltrate this Landship. I thought… it's filled with women… ripe for the taking… to satiate—"

He didn't finish. Verina knocked him to the ground, her musket still trained on him.

The aura of death emanating from the Heavenly Maids and bastioneers stationed nearby became palpable, their eyes fixed on every Vandasisimo present with murderous intent.

The meeting room door slid open, and two Heavenly Maids entered, dragging twenty cuffed and bound individuals behind them. They threw the intruders onto the floor with practiced ease.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"These were caught attempting to infiltrate the Landship," one of the maids reported, her voice icy. "They matched the description provided."

Evaris's face darkened, his posture rigid with controlled fury. Without a word, he drew a lifeline-infused Theotech pistol from his side.

The air in the room grew heavy as he shot the pinned man without hesitation, the sound of the discharge sharp and final.

The Vandasisimo representatives flinched, but none moved to intervene as Evaris turned toward the captured intruders.

One by one, he executed them with the same cold precision, his face a mask of grim determination.

We didn't stop him.

After all, this was also part of the act.

When the last shot echoed into silence, Evaris holstered his pistol and turned to me, bowing his head. "Lady Narcissus, I apologize deeply for the disgraceful actions of these men. I assure you, such filth does not represent the Vandasisimo."

I studied him for a long moment, my smile unchanging. "I appreciate your swift handling of the matter, Lord Cade. However, such misconduct warrants compensation."

Evaris's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Name your terms."

"You may proceed with your expedition," I said, my tone still light. "However, 50% of all Theotech artifacts you recover will belong to my bastion. Additionally, should any further misconduct arise, I will order the eradication of your entire group—not just those here but every Vandasisimo associated with you, wherever they may be~

"Those who you stationed outside of your territory, those who are sent as an envoy to other Theotech Hunter Group, those who have retired and are with their family…" The room seemed to darken as I let my aura of authority seep into the air, a cold and suffocating pressure that left no room for doubt. "Do I make myself clear?"

Evaris met my gaze, his green eyes reflecting a mix of submission and resolve. "Perfectly clear, Lady Narcissus. You have my word."

"Good." My smile widened slightly, though the atmosphere remained tense. "You may return to your camp and prepare for the expedition. I expect no further complications."

With that, Evaris bowed deeply, motioning for his remaining companions to follow as they retreated from the Landship.

The tension lingered in the air even after they were gone, but I knew one thing for certain.

The Vandasisimo would think twice before underestimating us again.