Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

The people around were stunned for a moment, then began to clamor.

”Lord, has something happened?”

”Is there an enemy?”

”Is it those pirates? Are they coming to plunder us?”

”Lord, we are not afraid of pirates. My father was a soldier, and I can fight too!”

”For the Count!”

Hughes stepped into the crowd and raised his arm, shouting, ”Everyone! Please listen to me!”

The people quieted down, their expressions excited as they looked at Hughes, like soldiers awaiting the signal to charge.

”Our vanguard has discovered strange monsters in the sea. They are massive and difficult to stop. More importantly, they are gathering towards us!”

Ash’s investigations had confirmed that those long serpents were consciously extending toward Castel. This small island in the Storm Ocean was blocking their path.

The workers around them grew restless.

The word ”monster” was too far removed from their daily lives.

Some, after realizing the gravity of the situation, couldn’t help but show expressions of fear.

Hughes did not hesitate and immediately spoke loudly, ”People, do you still remember that time when the docks hauled up a monster? Do you remember what I said then?”

The people were momentarily stunned.

Castel wasn’t large, and quite a few of them had been to the docks to witness the event. They also remembered what Hughes had said.

”I said I would build a school for you, to freely grant valuable knowledge to my people, and here it is before you.”

Yes, at this moment, these workers were standing at the entrance of the school.

Beside Hughes was the half-disassembled steam engine. He had fulfilled his promise.

There was a newfound brilliance in the eyes of the people.

”I also said that so-called monsters are merely creatures adapted to special environments. The beings that live naturally in the deep sea become monsters when they reach the surface. Do you remember?”

”The Lord did say that. I was there at the time!”

”I can vouch for it. The Lord truly said so.”

”So that’s how it is. They weren’t really monsters to begin with, right?”

People started murmuring among themselves.

”We have encountered monsters again, but there is nothing to fear. They are just creatures from another place. They exist in the same world as us. As long as we stand united, there is nothing we need to be afraid of.”

”People of Castel, I, your Lord, promise you this, I will lead you to defeat these enemies! Just as we have overcome every difficulty before, I will lead you to victory! We shall triumph, and then triumph again!!”

The crowd erupted into cheers. They didn’t know what the monsters looked like, but they were willing to believe in Hughes.

This lord had already brought them too many miracles. No matter what he said, they were willing to trust him.

Hughes grinned and raised his fist in response to his people’s cheers.

”For Castel!”

”Castel!”

”For Castel!!”

Inside the school behind Hughes, a room had its curtains drawn. From the gap, two eyes peered at the crowd outside.

”Gaia, do you think humans will accept us?”

”Of course they will! Don’t worry about it, Monica.” Gaia squeezed Monica to the side. ”Let me see, what is the Lord saying now?”

”He’s talking about the monsters in the sea.”

”Have you seen those sea monsters before?”

”No, Sister Ash wouldn’t let me get involved at all. They always say I’m too young and have to grow up before I can fight, but growing up takes so long.”

”Growing up isn’t necessarily a good thing. I heard you guys defeated those monsters?”

”Ah, the Lord mentioned that too. The people seem really excited.”

”Of course they are! Those were monsters, and we killed them with the nitroglycerin we made. Do you know what that feels like?”

Gaia clenched her fists excitedly.

She was a student in the advanced chemistry class.

Recently, Hughes had put her in charge of the nitroglycerin production line.

The bomb Nini used that day had been made with her involvement.

Monica looked at her new friend in confusion.

She had met Gaia while sneaking nitroglycerin for experiments.

The two hit it off immediately and discovered many interesting things together, before being punished for blowing up a building.

”I don’t really understand.”

”Think about it, Monica. I grew up hearing so many stories about powerful heroes who risk their lives to save people and drive away monsters. I always wanted to be a hero.”

”But later, as I slowly grew up, I realized that we are all just ordinary people. So growing up isn’t fun at all.”

”But then, suddenly, I heard that something I created had successfully repelled those monsters. It gave me a feeling I can’t describe, like I was one of the heroes in those stories. Ordinary people saving themselves. I’ve never heard a story like that before.”

Monica blinked, then suddenly giggled.

”W-Why are you laughing?”

”Gaia wants to be a hero! Big Hero Gaia!”

”Ah! Keep your voice down! Don’t shout! Ah, don’t run!”

”Zoe, I need your help with something.”

After finishing his speech to the workers, Hughes returned to the school and called for Zoe.

”Is it time to start recruiting soldiers?” Zoe asked expectantly.

She had just heard Hughes’ speech and was feeling her blood boil with excitement.

She wished she could rush to the battlefield and slay a few monsters herself.

She was wearing a long dress. Ever since leaving the manor, she had been working here.

Not only did she teach literacy classes, but she also managed the school’s operations, maintenance, and even funding applications at the city hall.

Recently, with Hughes hiring more people and adding more courses, she had been overwhelmed with work, so much so that she hadn’t had time to write her beloved novels.

”Recruiting soldiers? Well, that’s indeed necessary, but that’s Alexei’s responsibility. I need you to help me write some articles.”

”Articles? Don’t tell me you mean a novel?” Zoe’s eyes instantly lit up. ”No problem, no problem! What kind of story do you want?”

”It’s not exactly a novel, but it’s close enough. Write a story about an advanced student learning and researching alongside a Siren. Uh, you know about Gaia, right?”

”I heard she and Monica blew your manor into the sky?”

”Ahem.” Hughes choked. ”Who told you that? That’s ridiculous. They only blew up a bathroom.”

”Oh! That’s amazing!” Zoe said enviously.

”What’s amazing about that? Do you know how troublesome it was to clean up?” Hughes’ eye twitched.

”Anyway, I need you to write this article and post it. The literacy class students can read it as a test of their learning progress.”

Zoe fell silent, staring at her lord in surprise. ”You’re planning to reveal the Siren’s existence?”

(End of Chapter)