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

Chapter 63: Kuzunoha, The Animaphage

No indicator for gender and true age. And instead of the Biography saying Unaffiliated, it was Unknown.

Not to mention, there was not a single mention of Animaphage within the info dump session that I got when waking up to this world. Something felt really amiss here.

"Oh, darling. There's no need to be so… dramatic. If you're that eager to waste your precious little spells, by all means, try. I could use some entertainment." She takes a step forward deliberately, her mocking gaze sharp and unwavering. "Or, perhaps you'd rather not embarrass yourself in front of me? It wouldn't be the first time."

"Don't shoot, Verina." However, despite the eerie and enigmatic aura, I doubted that this person would perpetuate the first blood spill. "This is the second time I see you brimming with emotion, but I want that attitude to cease before the wrath takes over you."

The first time was when I met her for the first time, being angry at Lupina for messing up everything.

"Do you have an inkling of what that creature truly is?"

Verina was still brimming with disgust and anger, but she stopped pointing her musket toward the fox-eared lady as a sign of non-aggression.

At the mean time, while we were having this moment, that gothic fashioned lady was earnestly waiting for the conclusion of our interaction with a condescending smile.

"Treat me like I knew not a single thing about it."

"That is an Animaphage. To summarize it, they are closer to what a Calamity Object is than to Humanity." Despite her emotionless stare, I could see a shadow of hatred glooming over her eyes. "I met at least two of them in my whole life, and none of those encounters ended up failing to show me their rotten core and debauched mind."

"Two, you say? How quaint. And from that grand sample size, you've decided to judge an entirety of us? How very human of you." Kuzunoha tilted her head slightly, the light catching her eyes as they glinted with amusement. "You speak of rotten cores and debauched minds, yet all I hear is fear dressed up as righteousness.

It's not my fault that some simply can't handle our presence without projecting their own ugliness onto us."

With a dismissive flick of her wrist, she added, "But don't worry. I won't hold your ignorance against you. After all, it's quite common for lesser beings to misunderstand what they can't comprehend…

"Which makes it more ironic, since your ancestors are the one who created us."

I just noticed one thing.

She sure talked a lot.

Actually, I noticed two things.

Despite having a pair of fox-like ears, she didn't have any fox-like tail.

"Your very nature is a mistake… a reminder of our kin's darkest failure. You were never meant to be!" Verina growled, exploding in temperature after those taunting that was done to her.

"Funny, that's what I say about half the people I meet." Kuzunoha incessantly chuckled. "But you don't see me holding grudges about it. Really, you should learn to let go—it's been, what, centuries? Time to move on, don't you think?"

"Verina, she indulge in irritating you, don't take those words at face value," I casually warned.

"... Right." Verina cooled down her temperature after hearing my word of assurance. "This is also the first time out of the three that I met an animaphage that didn't immediately resort to violence—though she talked quite a lot more than I expected, which to be honest, caught me quite off guard…

"It might be too far of me to deem that all animaphages were the same, so that is a great mistake on my part."

"Thank you, finally—you stopped being an utter idiot," Kuzunoha mockingly praised. "You're actually wasting my precious time, but at least it's mildly entertaining."

"Nevermind, I want to shoot that bitch off Carcosa's plane of existence."

And now they reverted back to having a standoff with one another.

"Hate me all you want. I promise, it won't make me vanish into thin air. I'll still be here—better get used to it."

"My hate won't make you vanish, but I promise you—that my flurry of spells will."

"Stop that." I intervened before things could get awry, shoving Verina's musket away from being aimed toward this haughty fox lady. "You don't seem to be intruding our bastion with a shred of malice, otherwise you would have attacked us much earlier. Pray tell your reason, foreign one."

The fake-fox lady stepped forward with an air of regal grace, her black skirt swaying elegantly with each movement.

Holding her ornate black umbrella with a delicate grip, she gave a slight but deliberate curtsy, her crimson eyes locking onto her audience with an amused gleam. The long strands of her scarlet hair cascaded over her shoulders as she bowed her head just enough to acknowledge, yet not submit.

"I am Kuzunoha," she purred, her voice as smooth as silk, "The one whose presence demands reverence, and whose time, I assure you, is far more valuable than any yours." She straightened, her fox-like ears twitching as she surveyed the room, her lips curving into a soft, knowing smile. "I simply exist here because I want to, darling, and I can bring about your doom as easily as well~"

That didn't say anything about why you were here.

"The name's Narcissus," I replied, holding off the annoyed veins that were forcing my face to hint at anger. "And this Kilnalan over here is Verina. She won't most definitely tell her name, so I might as well give you the call for reference."

"Hmm, am I supposed to know either of your names by now?" She said with genuine confusion and mockery. "By all means, keep trying. You'll get there eventually. Maybe."

"This crude abomination-!"

One thing I would say about her characteristic, I agreed with Verina so far.

I want to punch that arrogant face so badly.

"But to ease myself, I might as well announce the reason why I'm here." Kuzunoha pointed a finger at me. "I come here to study you, and hopefully make you mine~"

"No thanks." I turned around and urged a gesture for Verina to do the same. "I feel a little bit hungry, want me to cook lunch earlier than usual?"

"By all means, I'm wanting to cleanse down my palate after that disgusting talk," Verina answered, ignoring the existence of that sole animaphage that was waiting to welcome her.

"I'm thinking of doing some skewers, how about you?"

"A skewer party sounds nice."

We just went back to our bastion and kept on doing what we wanted to do.