Industrial Cthulhu, starting from the island lord

Chapter 317 Oh no, his identity has been exposed.

The room was empty; nothing had happened.

But in Gwen's eyes, semi-transparent figures appeared around her.

These are all her friends, her imaginary friends.

“Hey, Gwen, here to play with us again?” a pure white horse said, nuzzling her face. Its white mane rippled like ocean waves, and its wings were covered in fluffy feathers.

"Hmph, she only summons us when she's in trouble." The girl next to her crossed her arms and snorted coldly.

The girl looked almost exactly like Gwen, except she was much taller, with long white hair that fell to her waist, a perfect figure, a cold face, and wore a set of silver-white armor, carrying a long sword.

Like a quietly burning glacier.

This is Gwen's imagined version of herself as an adult.

A group of children nearby started laughing and joking.

"Wow, little Gwen, don't say that. Can't I just think about you all?" Gwen had an exaggeratedly sad expression, as if she was about to shed tears, but her eyes were full of happiness and contentment.

Gwen is very happy to have so many friends by her side.

At first, these imaginary friends only existed in my imagination: cute pets, a cool version of myself when I grew up, and playmates who were always there for me whenever I called.

Whenever she felt lonely, in pain, or starving, she would fantasize about having a group of friends who cared for her, helped her, and did the things she wanted to do but didn't dare to.

She knew perfectly well that these were fantasies, yet she couldn't stop herself from indulging in them.

But once the link was established, everything changed.

The Captain's advice saved her life, the Fries' encouragement gave her courage, and the Scepter...
The knowledge of the scepter made her friends come true.

When Gwen was weak and on the verge of death, her friends in the link gave her a lot of advice.

For example, how to distinguish different kinds of wild vegetables, how to find food, and how to approach the sea of ​​ignorance.

Gwen still remembers that time when the group was discussing something in the link—

Captain: "Do you still have that weed?"

Scepter: "Wait, I have a good idea, but it might involve the supernatural."

fries:"!!!"

The Scepter: "Don't worry, it's not about making her a superhuman, but simply bringing her closer to the Sea of ​​Nothingness. Superhumans have far stronger physiques than ordinary people precisely because they are exposed to the waters of the Sea of ​​Nothingness for extended periods."

The scepter: "As long as you haven't officially entered the Sea of ​​Ignorance, you're still safe—this is the most important point; never cross the line."

The Scepter: "Although we don't know the origin of this link, the fact that we can communicate through it shows that we possess a sufficiently strong will—or, for mortals, a powerful desire."

The Scepter: "Is there something you desperately want to do, something you absolutely must do, so intensely that it distorts and makes you ignore reality?"

What I want.
Gwen hesitated for a moment, then said somewhat shyly, "I want friends."

Scepter: 『.』

The Scepter: "Good, remember this wish. It is the embodiment of your will. Now, you must hone it like a knife, sharpening it day by day until even the high walls of reality crumble before it."

The Scepter: "To place one's will above reality is to transcendence, but if you do not cross that line, you will wander on the shores of ignorance."

French Fries: "What is the Sea of ​​Ignorance?"

The Scepter: "It is the beginning and the end of the extraordinary, the birthplace of the world, and the final resting place. Those who step into it unprepared will only become twisted monsters."

Captain: "And if we're prepared?" Scepter: "We'll become a less twisted monster, that is, a superhuman. There's no way to completely avoid the corruption of the Sea of ​​Ignorance. All the various superhuman paths only preserve a part of you; the rest will still be twisted, thus becoming a superhuman through different paths."

The Scepter: "The Sea of ​​Ignorance is very dangerous, but as long as you can resist temptation and not step into it, you will be safe."

French Fries: "Wait, there's something I don't understand. If simply tempering one's will allows one to enter the Sea of ​​Ignorance, wouldn't those with unwavering willpower easily become monsters?"

The Scepter: "No, to enter the Sea of ​​Ignorance, one needs not only a will that transcends reality, but also to know the path."

French fries: "The road?"

The Scepter: "Yes, if you don't know where the Sea of ​​Ignorance is, no matter how strong your will is, it's useless."

French Fries: "I see. So what exactly is this so-called road?"

The scepter: "You already know."

French Fries: "Huh?"

The scepter: "The will that transcends all can enter the sea of ​​ignorance," and knowing this is the path to it.

fries:"."

French Fries: "Wait, let me think... You mean, once you know how to get in, you can go in?"

The Scepter: "Yes, that's why knowledge is considered pollution, and this is one of the reasons why major churches suppress supernatural knowledge."

The scepter was still explaining things, and none of them noticed that Gwen hadn't spoken for a long time.

Thinking of this, Gwen sighed inwardly.

That's when her fate changed.

Sister Scepter meant well, but she probably didn't expect that the moment she mentioned entering the Sea of ​​Nothingness, Gwen would already be drowning in it.

Gwen had crossed the line before she even heard the next warning.

Her parents died, her friends died, and even the neighbor who watched her grow up and talked to her with a smile died.

The village quieted down, then gradually became deserted, and finally fell into ruin.

She stayed in the basement, relying on the food and water her parents had prepared in advance, and on imaginary friends, to get through countless days and nights.

The moment the sound of the scepter echoed in her mind, her friends appeared beside her.

No one expected that her desire was so strong, so strong that it had already surpassed reality. Just knowing that there was still a way forward was enough to tear down the high walls of reality.

By the time she realized what had happened, it was too late to undo the damage.

Her consciousness sank deeper and deeper into the boundless deep sea.

Until a beam of light appeared before her, a soft light that connected her like a rope, leading into the distance.

As Gwen was about to drown, she used her last bit of strength to grab onto the light, which pulled her all the way back from the sea of ​​ignorance to reality.

From that day on, she could always see a thread coming out of her body, and she didn't know where it went.

Not long ago, she saw this same thread in another person.

It was a brown-haired girl wearing boots, stepping into the muddy water of the lower town.

(End of this chapter)