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

Chapter 219 - 219: Weaving The Neurons

The soft, ever-present sound of dripping water filled the air as the Drowned Revenant and I continued our conversation, the gentle trickle almost hypnotic in its rhythm.

Sitting across from me, she radiated a quiet, dangerous intensity. Her black, oily hair shimmered faintly under the dim, ambient light of the Moment Unfold, and her expression—once fierce and untamed—now held an oddly serene quality, like a tempest quelled but not entirely forgotten.

"It's fascinating," I mused, idly swirling the tea in my cup. "The nature of Qliphoth Objects, I mean. You exist outside the conventions of order or chaos—entropy incarnate, yet still capable of thought and, dare I say, even purpose."

The Revenant's sharp, black eyes met mine, flickering with curiosity. "Purpose…" she murmured, her voice carrying that same abyssal echo. "Such a thing feels alien to me. For so long, I was only a destruction. A force of nature without will, without meaning."

"And now?" I pressed gently, leaning forward. "Do you feel different?"

She hesitated, as though

Brainwashing might be the perfect word in this case, albeit it was still a little bit unfitting since I was essentially weaving an artificial brain-like medium and not an actual human brain.

"There you go. Just follow my lead~"

Every thread of neural energy was woven with precision, each pattern carefully calibrated to align with the desired functions. Like a craftsman shaping an eventual masterpiece, I poured every soul of my focus into the task. The room's ambient hum growed louder with each passing moment.

Kuzunoha observed silently, her techno-patterned fan partially obscuring her face as her eyes followed my every move. Despite her teasing nature, I noticed the genuine admiration she held for my work, her presence a steady anchor in the midst of the overwhelming complexity.

And then after what felt like hours, I finally stepped back, exhaling slowly as I surveyed my handiwork. The giant golden bough that was the Organic Calculator pulsed faintly, its circuits glowing with an almost sentient awareness.

"It's done," I said quietly, signaling to Kuzunoha.

She stepped forward, her fingers dancing over the crystalline console as she captured the neuromorphic schematic into a foundational template. The energy within the room seemed to coalesce, the template forming into a tangible construct that shimmered with potential.

It formed into some sort of an ethereal, translucent tablet the size of an encyclopedia book.

"Perfect," Kuzunoha murmured, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. "With this template, we can begin developing the Cognitive Device and refining an even more complex form of Organic Calculator for integration into Neuro Alloy-based devices."

I nodded, though my focus was already shifting to the next step. "Before that, let's test the template," I suggested. "We'll integrate it into one of your spare puppet vessels, how's that sound?

"I doubt that you still have any purpose for those old spares, no? Not to mention, you still have an enormous amount of them lying around your storage."

Kuzunoha's smile widened, her fan snapping shut with a sharp click. "Ah, the excess puppet vessel. That brings back memories."

I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. "Speaking of which, where did you get all these puppets? And don't think I haven't noticed—there are souls inhabiting the ones that serve as your maids."

Her expression turned mischievous, a glint of amusement dancing in her eyes. "Ah, yes. That was during my collecting days. I stumbled upon a rather… eccentric maniac who was obsessed with creating living dolls. He'd been kidnapping and torturing people, binding their souls to his creations."

I blinked, taken aback by the casual way she recounted such a grim tale. "And you just… decided to take them?"

"Well," she said with a shrug, "I found his work interesting. So, I eliminated him and 'collected' his entire workshop. The means may have been questionable, but the ends? Justifiable." Kuzunoha smirked. "It was worth it, they are a wonderful addition to my collection, and a useful one too~"

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head. "You're more of a thief than a collector, Kuzunoha."

She winked, her fan flicking open again to hide her smirk. "The line between the two is often blurred, my dear. Now, shall we begin?"

We both turned our attention to the puppet vessel as the foundational template pulsed with anticipation.

It seemed like it couldn't wait to occupy a new vessel.