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

At first, I intended to continue building my landship today, but since the arrival of the recruits, I needed to rework the schematic design that I had in my mind.

I also didn't craft anything personally in the end, so I would be fighting against the ordeal with the clothing that was borrowed from Kuzunoha's wardrobe.

And I needed to give it extra care to ensure that there would be no damage done to the fabric for the whole night…

Well, I definitely built quite the temperature resiliency, and I also no longer had a problem with getting a cold since the Valtherion's Blood appeared to be bolstering my immunity to an immense degree.

"... Let me just go naked—"

It was too bad that a crowd of my confidante and underlings combined were preventing me from fully undressing—though some of them appeared to be hoping that I undressed completely.

It was quite the chaos, and a lot of flustered red on the faces of everyone I knew.

"I couldn't believe that you hate my clothing that much to cause a ruckus about it." Kuzunoha held her migraine as she wryly smiled from amusement and annoyance.

"I don't like the deal that comes with damaging it."

To ensure that I won't do something like that ever again, Kuzunoha outright gave me the outfit with a forceful smile.

"Just, take it."

"Yay!"

Thanks to that, I finally got my second clothing set in my non-existent wardrobe.

When the first stars began to prick the sky, I addressed my bastioneers. "Prepare to hold your ground. Whatever Carcosa decides to throw at us tonight, we will meet it together."

[The Ordeal of the Dusk will be approaching in 5 minutes_]

[However, due to the absence of the Storytellers in this world, the Random Events will be regulated to spawning a regular amount of Calamity Objects]

[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 assigned Verina as the acting commander below me, together with vice commander Lupina who shall be with her all the time, tied to the waist of her friend like a lantern.

For Kuzunoha, I made her focus on keeping an eye on the moving piece of land that we were inhabiting, and to notify me at any moment of potential threat.

"May our will persist amongst the dark."

As for me, I shall become a supporting leader for everyone and supervise every field in this bastion, together with my Fortcracker Mk II, and a Vorrathite Pike of my own that I crafted from the excess ore that we mined back then.

After all, most of my equipment was lost to the Drowned Revenant's realm, like my Emberfang knife.

Thankfully, I still have my Broken Gloamkeeper's Beacon, since I gave it to Kuzunoha for safekeeping before I went toe-to-toe with the seafaring Qliphoth Object.

[Pēdīcābō ego vōs et irrumābō!!@&%]

"Cover the perimeter!" I shouted. "Notify at the moment of finding the special Calamity Object!"

[A special type Calamity Object have been manifesting within the vicinity of your bastion_]

[Attempting to analyze its property and identity_]

"Lady Narcissus!" Yora shouted. "An unidentified structure has been found!"

—

[The Widow's Forge]

[Description: A massive, ancient forge that smolders on its own, surrounded by ghostly, hammering sounds, as if dozens of blacksmiths are hard at work, though none can be seen. The air around it smells of scorched metal and sweat, and weapons and armor forged here appear indestructible but are cursed with terrible hunger for battle.

Anyone who approaches the Forge is drawn to its fire, feeling compelled to craft something with their bare hands. Once crafted, the item binds itself to its creator, refusing to be put down, and drives them to seek violent conflict endlessly. The more they fight, the stronger the weapon grows, but the closer they come to becoming a revenant trapped within the Forge's grasp]

[Hint: Only by submerging the item in a calm river can its curse be broken, but the object will dissolve entirely, which few are willing to accept]

—

"Ah… I see…"

Well, the problem was…

The Widow's Forge exists in a place different from this land.

And as we speak, that forge was moving away from us to the north.

"It looks like there won't be any special Calamity Object for half of the ordeal," Kuzunoha chuckled.

And thus, the start of our daily activity of keeping the pesky Calamity Objects away from taking our lives.

The bastioneers settled back into their positions, casting wary glances at the landscape, the subtle tension of an impending threat still filling the air. Just as I finished a round of checks along the perimeter, Yora called out.

"Lady Narcissus! There's something shifting just beyond the eastern edge!"

—

[The Mirage Harbinger]

[Description: A flickering figure made of shifting desert sand and water vapor, its form barely holding together as it drifts across the land. The Harbinger often appears during moments of intense heat or drought, offering visions of cool oases, safe shelter, or friendly faces.

Anyone who follows it finds themselves led deeper and deeper into an endless mirage, each scene promising something but shifting just as they approach. The Harbinger seems almost benevolent, even protective, until its followers are lost in a mirage of their own desires, unable to find their way back. As they wander, the Harbinger siphons their strength and spirit, feeding off their desperation]

[Hint: The only way to break free from the Harbinger's spell is to ignore every mirage it offers, which becomes increasingly difficult as thirst and exhaustion set in]

—

Across the moving neighbor rocky plains, an indistinct figure emerged, flickering like a mirage, its form wavering in and out of focus. The Mirage Harbinger's body seemed to be woven from desert sand and vapor, drifting closer with each passing second.

Even from a distance, its ethereal glow exuded a strange, tempting warmth, images of distant oases and shelter appearing and vanishing in its wake.