Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍this Connection, Hughes obtained more information than in all the previous times combined.

First ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of all, he had successfully connected to Beatrice Joanne.

This ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Pope of the Church of Candlelight, the Empire’s newly appointed Empress, greatly interested Hughes. Unfortunately, the last time he connected to her, she had been muttering meaningless ramblings the entire time, making communication impossible.

Hughes ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had even thought something had happened to her and had been preparing to secretly remind Zoe.

Yet ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this time, she had actually recovered.

As ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for what she had said about becoming a 【Named One】 through a Ritual, as well as the matter of Great Sage Bruno… he could only find a way to verify it.

Castel had previously possessed no such records, but the situation was different now. The entire Silent Sanctum was residing within the Church.

Especially Patriarch Ignati, who toured various factories and buildings all day, even dragging Gwen and Nora along with him.

In recent days, Hughes had even heard that priests of the Silent Sanctum had requested a copy of The Imperial Truth from the Church Guard to read.

In any case, as one of the Four Great Churches, the Silent Sanctum would certainly have records regarding the 【Named One】—an existence that had once influenced the entire continent.

Hughes felt a surge of heat in his heart. It seemed that the problem which had troubled him for so long had finally revealed a glimmer of hope. He immediately intended to withdraw, but just as he adjusted to a more comfortable position and closed his eyes, a call suddenly echoed in his mind.

『Wait!』

『Hm?』 Hughes froze. 『You are… Little Gwen?』

『There’s no need to add “Little.” I’ve always been Gwen. Why is it that after that Gwen appeared, I became the little one?』

『Alright, alright, Gwen. What is it? Could it be…』

Hughes’ eyes lit up. Gwen had previously refused to communicate, claiming she needed to control the White Mist and seize authority over the Temple of the Forgetters. Had she finally succeeded?

『How could it be that fast! This is the White Calamity that covers the entire Northlands! The White Calamity! The Silent Sanctum spent hundreds of years unable to resolve it. Even for me, it would take at least a year or more.』

『Oh?』 Hughes dragged out the word. 『So this time you came to—?』

Gwen’s voice paused for a moment before sounding again, tinged with hesitation.

『I ran into Lina.』

『!?』

『In the Northlands. She sought me out on her own. She seemed to know I was here… and that I am a 【Named One】.』

After speaking, Gwen fell silent, uneasy. She did not know how Hughes would treat her after learning that she too was a 【Named One】.

She had also heard Beatrice’s words. The 【Named One】 seemed destined to bring disaster upon this world. She did not understand why the other 【Named One】 were like that, but—

Hughes was, after all, a lord. He had to consider his territory.

Castel did not lack military strength. Gwen believed she could not withstand a volley from a Gatling Gun. To Castel, perhaps she was merely… a burden.

Gwen did not wish to become a burden.

Yet she could not extricate herself now. The only thing she could do was say all of this aloud.

『You—』

She braced herself. She knew Hughes would be shocked upon hearing this. She only hoped she would not lose a friend.

『Are you alright? Did you fight Lina? Although Lina can’t defeat Big Gwen, she’s still dangerous. Where is she? Should I dispatch the Expeditionary Army?』

Gwen: 『…』

『Uh, sorry. I didn’t mean you can’t beat Big Gwen. Little Gwen, you’re very strong too—uh, I mean, Gwen, Gwen, no “little”…』

Gwen: 『…』

Hughes felt troubled. He had never been good at coaxing young girls. Though Gwen was always obedient and often pretended to be mature, he could still sense that deep down she was just a little girl.

『Aren’t you worried I’ll bring disaster? After all, Miss Scepter said that the appearance of the 【Named One】 has always been accompanied by calamity.』

『If that were true, Castel would have fallen into disaster long ago. You’ve been in Blood Harbor for quite some time.』

『But…』

『If Castel cannot even deal with calamity, how can it face greater enemies? The Heretical God, the Churches, even Cognitive Interference… which of these is not a calamity? And which can be avoided?』

『…』

『Besides, compared to calamity, I’m more curious about another question—how did you know what Miss Scepter just said? I didn’t pull you into the Connection, did I?』

『Eek!』

Gwen’s voice immediately grew flustered.

『Th-That’s because you were within this White Mist, so I— I mean actually…』

『I see. You’re unwilling to tell me? Sorry. I thought we were friends.』 Hughes spoke in a tone of disappointment and loneliness, deliberately emphasizing the word “friends.”

『…』

Silence fell between them. After a moment, Gwen’s sigh came through.

『Sigh… alright, I’ll tell you everything. I haven’t mastered the entire White Mist, but this nearby area—around you—is under my control.』

『You mean—』

『Within this White Mist, the Connections you initiate are actually relayed by me. In other words, the center of the Connection is me.』

『So you hold the same identity as me? Then can you directly initiate a Connection?』

『No. Only you can initiate a Connection. But I can assist you, allowing it to connect even within the White Mist. It’s like… like…』

『A relay?』

『What’s a relay?』

『I’ll bring you a copy of The Imperial Truth next time. You can take a look. In any case, from what you described, you function as a relay. Honestly, this Connection is becoming more and more like wireless communication…』

『Mm, fine, I’m a relay. Anyway, I can hear your Connections too. Not that I’m eavesdropping! It’s just that if I’m helping relay, I can’t not hear it!』

『Alright, alright, you’re not eavesdropping. What else did Lina say?』

『She also mentioned Great Sage Bruno. She blamed me for not intervening when Bruno suffered.』

『Then why didn’t you intervene?』

『What do you mean why didn’t I!? Bruno died a thousand—or several hundred—years ago! I wasn’t even born then! I only joined the Connection one or two years ago. I’m not even older than you, okay!?』

Gwen shouted in anger.

『And I don’t even know how I became a 【Named One】. I don’t even know how I became Transcendent. It’s like suddenly my friends could all move. I was startled myself… In short, regarding the 【Named One】, I truly don’t know much more than you do.』

『Alright.』 Hughes nodded. He did not think Gwen was deliberately hiding anything. After all, he had personally witnessed her joining the Connection.

『I’ll find a way to investigate the matter of the 【Named One】. Mm, that group you gave a lesson to—the Silent Sanctum—they should know something.』

『The Silent Sanctum? Right, they’re one of the Four Great Churches too… hm?』

Gwen seemed to think of something and suddenly paused. After a moment, she spoke slowly:

『I might also have a way to obtain knowledge.』

Hughes froze, then reacted. 『The Temple of the Forgetters?』

『That’s right!』 Gwen’s tone grew excited. 『I’m currently analyzing everything within the Temple of the Forgetters. Soon I’ll complete preliminary control! Once that happens, everything within it—especially knowledge and secret histories—I’ll be able to consult freely!』

『That’s great… but I have a small question.』 Hughes sighed. 『How long will it take you to master that knowledge?』

Gwen fell silent. After a while, she spoke awkwardly:

『To fully master the Temple of the Forgetters will take a year or two. Then I’d need to sift through the knowledge and gradually absorb it…』

『Beatrice’s Ritual will begin soon.』

『Beatrice? Is Miss Scepter’s real name Beatrice? Oh, right, speaking of the Ritual—』

Gwen’s tone turned solemn.

『Lina once mentioned that a 【Named One】 cannot advance through a Ritual. As for that Miss Beatrice’s Ritual…』

『I’m afraid there’s something very wrong with it.』