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

Instead of using her so-called arcane spell or giving us Theotech that could revive Lupina directly, Kuzunoha pushed a roundabout method.

The fact that the Potion of Healing exists—in a world where ohrtending exists, means that any method of fast-healing outside of interacting with Calamity Objects was outright scarce.

For someone as self-centered as Kuzunoha to offer an indirect Xenogene Injector method, it held many meanings.

One, she also had no reliable method for healing, and now offered this Xenogene Injector to a sacrificial lamb that would become the target of many future factions in Carcosa to fight over.

Then again, it could be just me being hyperbolic.

Second, she suggested this as the result of her underlying curiosity and goal for entertainment. Those two reasons alone were enough justification to deem that there could be something shady with that Xenogene Injector.

"You said 'culture', meaning that the genetic modification will take a gradual turn instead of instantaneous, am I wrong?"

"Nothing in this world is ever truly instantaneous. Everything has a reason to exist. Every reason has endings to fulfill." Gracefully walking forward, Kuzunoha handed over the Xenogene Injector to my hand. "Will you bear the honor to be the first one to enjoy this privilege?"

"... You need a lifeline to survive, am I right?" I asked with an unimpressed face.

"Yes. Why the question?"

"How do you consume the lifeline?"

"By savoring them through an exquisite wine glass~"

"... You just want to see how someone with a bodily liquid akin to a panacea will taste like when you drink their blood, am I wrong?"

Kuzunoha immediately made a face that screamed 'I got caught!' for a split second before returning back to her usual composed self. "I need this to study you, per the agreement of the contract~!"

The whole time, Verina was holding back an amused laughter behind her disgusted stare after realizing what was up.

"I see, is this Xenogene Injector also going to add an unsaid modification to my body? Like, say, a genetic trait that forces me to obey your every command?"

For a split second, Kuzunoha's expression faltered once again, only to be quickly replaced with her signature amused smirk.

"Oh, my dear, are you truly suggesting that I, of all people, would be so crass as to deceive you? Even with the contract binding us?" Kuzunoha tilted her head, her voice dripping with mock offense as her lips curled into a teasing smile. "How deliciously insulting~"

"The contract doesn't exempt you from attempting to perform an ill-conceived experiment on my body." I pushed my face forward with a kind, gentle smile. "I've read it thoroughly, including the parts you thought were hidden, my darling."

"That is… quite unexpected," Kuzunoha responded, her smile faltering ever so slightly. It wasn't the confident one she usually wore, and that, in itself, was telling.

After this, I immediately ushered our first modification to the contract that we once agreed, instead of the first modification on my body.

Standing on the opposite side of each other within the dinner table inside the living room of my wooden cabin, Kuzunoha did her arcane tinkering.

"Is there a reason why you didn't call out the contract when you first read it?" Kuzunoha asked with a wry smile as she was tinkering with the content of the contract under my supervision.

"I just want to see how much trust I can put on you." I smirked. "I hope you do your best to regain all of those trusts back after this cheeky stunt of yours."

"And what makes you think that I want to do that?"

"Of course you want to do that. Otherwise, there is no reason to bind yourself into a contract to convince me, if you can just make me your lifelong underling, am I wrong?"

For someone in the possession of possibly multiple Theotech to go far in order to have me in her acquisition, it must mean that there must be something that she must grasp no matter what, right?

I won't belittle or even mention much of that fact. She already knew it. I'm letting that fact process in her mind, swirling and swirling without a proper conclusion.

It was important to manipulate those who think that they have the upper hand to believe that they have a lower hand.

While I were handling my matter with this tailless fox lady, I sent Verina to go somewhere to either continue her rest or train her ohrtending in the context of preparing a contingency against Kuzunoha's next misfit.

I also already assured her that I was more than capable to fight the battle of tongues with this animaphage.

"I see." Kuzunoha lightly giggled. "It seems that in a way, you're still half-sidedly unaware of the amount of threat that lies within you."

"And I'm more than welcome to allow you to conduct research on it." I rested my cheek on my fist, playfully twirling my Emberfang knife around. "Instead of needlessly trying to find a way to make me your thrall, you can safely experiment with me under my consent."

"Which means abolishing the lies between both of us." Kuzunoha snickered. "Well. I suppose that is hardly an issue for me. After all, having a test subject that doubles as a partner makes an intriguing journey to pave forward~"

Looks like she started to think better of me.

"So tell me, what did you do to my body back then?" I immediately pressed the important questions, now that she was willing to be a little bit more honest. "How are you able to survive? And lastly, how did you manage to find me?"

"I planned to tap into your soul directly and spirit your unconscious body away to my lair." Kuzunoha twirled the arcane needle between her fingers, her eyes lazily watching the prismatic light flicker off the contract. As she continued, her voice held its typical unhurried elegance. "Yet, something within your soul resisted—quite violently, I might add."

"I take it you're as clueless as I am about what that is?" I chuckled, catching the brief flicker of irritation in her fox-like eyes.

"There's no enigma too tangled for me to unwind," she replied smoothly. "We'll get to the bottom of it, eventually."

"I have no doubt we will. Especially with you working alongside me."

Her lips curled in amusement. "Ah, you're far too generous with your praise, darling~"

For someone of her caliber to not know what she was actually encountering, it must be something related to one of my Highlighted Traits.

[Mysterious Past: This individual has a history shrouded in secrecy and enigma, with unknown origins and untold experiences that often intrigue and unsettle those around them. Their past may hold hidden skills, powerful connections, or dark secrets that influence their present actions and decisions]

It might also be the reason for those visions I got when my Sanity reached zero.