Chapter 1827: Chapter 1827
Now that he had a clearer picture of his relationship with the Difference Engine, Jenkins pressed on with his questions:
“So, what that machine is doing right now is assimilating the world through its actions underground?”
“Its subterranean, gear-like tendrils are spreading its influence across the entire world. By altering the energy supply, it's turning itself into a steam-powered engine, using the dense fog to broadcast a calamitous power across the land. At the same time, it seems to be planning to turn humanity into its own relay stations—anchors for transmitting spirit. I hope you grasp the meaning of that term. The method appears to involve transforming humans into machines, but I don't know the specifics of how it will act.”
Jenkins knew the specific method: the Mechanized Body Curse.
“That’s how it’s influencing the world, but what does it intend to do in the city right above our heads? This is the final stage of the 18th Epoch; the entire story will unfold here. As the very place its main body is buried, it must have other plans... Spatial anomalies have been appearing near Nolan recently. Are they connected to this?”
“I don't know. It didn't provide me with many specific details. But you're right. To assimilate the world, to transform the entire material plane into a ‘World of Steel’ where only steam and machinery exist, its own power is insufficient. Even becoming a Beast of Calamity and receiving a power I cannot describe wouldn't be enough. It needs to defeat the Savior and bring about the apocalypse to truly change the world. Only a fated doomsday possesses the power to influence the entire material world. Otherwise, no matter how strong an individual becomes, they are ultimately just a mortal.”
“How does it plan to defeat the Savior?”
The conversation had now reached the very heart of the matter. Jenkins had expected the answer to be ‘I don’t know,’ but the machine offered a response:
“By walking the Savior's path in reverse. The question is quite simple, especially for our way of thinking. To defeat the Savior, one must simply reverse his path. It’s an ancient ritual, meaningless to any other creature. It only holds meaning for a madman bent on destroying the world and themself. Have you heard of the Reverser of Fate?”
“The Reverser of Fate is a ritual?”
He asked, almost in a murmur.
“Yes. An immense, complex, and incredibly demanding ritual. In fact, a ritual of this scale can barely be called a ritual by human standards. What is certain, however, is that the Reverser of Fate ritual is the core of that machine's plan. This wasn't a recent development. It began its preparations at the very start of this epoch, when it first planned to achieve true freedom. During that time, while it couldn't walk the surface, the humans assisting it could prepare the necessary conditions. Over the past year, more human collaborators have joined, so the operation has progressed smoothly. During the recent, frequent earthquakes, I've sensed a part of that underground machine extend to the surface. Its structure is exceedingly strange. That is very likely the core component of the Reverser of Fate ritual.”
“What is the principle behind this ritual, and what does it do? Is there any way to stop it?”
The machine’s voice went silent. After a long pause, it finally gave its answer:
“The Reverser of Fate ritual is data stored in my oldest databanks. In the era I was built, that information was deemed useless. So, when I was created, the original intelligent machine underground gave it to me to use as a reserve power source. That section of the gear-library has been damaged.”
“The data can't be read?”
“Yes, it cannot be read.”
“If it were repaired, could the data recorded in the gear array be read again?”
His words came out in a rush.
“Theoretically, if it could be fully repaired, reading the data again would be possible... You seem quite familiar with how I operate.”
Jenkins shook his head, offering no reply. His thoughts turned to the wrench. Since Mason Pisco's death, only two messages intended for him had appeared. It was impossible not to connect the wrench to this situation.
After pondering for a moment, he spoke to the metal altar:
“I will find a way to repair you as soon as possible. I hope you won't let me down. Furthermore, I can make you a promise, in the name of the Savior—if I can defeat the machine underground and save the 18th Epoch, I will give you your freedom.”
“Savior, I believe you.”
The machine declared. As its core retracted, the human face reappeared within the pillar of light:
“But no matter what, I am only a machine. I cannot offer you direct assistance. The human who showed me the pages of the Millstone of Fate also said that no one else is essential to the Savior. The only one who is necessary is you, Redemptor. If this world were a game, only your actions would constitute the main questline. The help of others is merely optional side content. Regardless of how the history of the material world unfolds, you are the only one who decides everything.”
This brief conversation had yielded Jenkins's greatest discovery in six months. The candidate for the Beast of Calamity was all but confirmed, and he now had a clear understanding of his opponent's objective. While motives like world assimilation and domination were cliché, the pressure of facing such an enemy in reality was anything but light.
When the conversation concluded, Jenkins knew exactly what he had to do. He needed the wrench that could repair machinery. He needed to acquire a few more Sin Coins. And he would need the coachman to bring him down here again.
None of these were simple tasks, but if he could accomplish them, he had a high chance of breaking the final deadlock. While the coming of the apocalypse was inevitable, the severity of that doomsday depended entirely on whether Jenkins could defeat the Difference Engine.
This would be his most important and most dangerous undertaking since arriving in this world—perhaps even the very reason he was here. He felt no fear or worry, for he had long been prepared.
After returning to his home from the underground chamber, Jenkins informed the coachman that he would require his services again soon. The coachman agreed, but reiterated that it would not be for free.
Jenkins then left the basement with Chocolate. Since his potion-brewing workbench was in a partitioned section of the cellar, he often spent long hours there. The ladies of the house were therefore not surprised to find him down there so early.
He left after breakfast, his first stop a visit to the delegation from the northern kingdom. Before Salhir II departed for a meeting at City Hall, Jenkins discussed the current situation with him and clarified his stance on Cheslan.
Afterward, he met with Alexia and recounted the morning's events in their entirety.
“What do you plan to do?”
The petite woman asked from the sofa, a book resting in her hands. For origınal chapters go to novel·fıre·net
“We can't do this alone. There isn't enough time. The Black Tower has risen to its third level, and the signs of the apocalypse are multiplying. For this, I have to rely on the Church.”
“You intend to reveal your identity? Your entire... identity?” Alexia asked, surprised.
“Of course not. The identity of a Believer of Lies must be saved for the very end, to forge a grand alliance between the Church and everyone else. I can't reveal it now. I plan to seek the Church's help personally, but as a Believer of Lies, not as Jenkins.”
Alexia nodded, understanding his intention:
“For more information on the Reverser of Fate ritual, we can't rely solely on that machine underground. The Church might be able to help as well.”
“Of course. Mason Pisco only intended to give me partial assistance. I can't rely on a single source of intelligence. The sealed ancient intelligent calculator isn't the only one who might know about the ‘Reverser of Fate’... Ahem, there's one more thing. Next time I go underground, I hope you'll come with me.”
“You need my help to identify the true nature of that machine? You don't trust it?”
“No, I trust it. I mean to say, perhaps the next step in your own progress lies with that machine. Haven't you always been studying this kind of intelligent machinery?”
Alexia's expression immediately softened. She set down her book and rose from the sofa, approaching Jenkins as he stood by the window, staring grimly at the haze outside. She wrapped her arms around him from behind. Just as they were about to kiss, the door swung open. Dolores strode in cheerfully, let out a little squeak, then covered her face and dashed back out.
After leaving Salhir II's residence and declining Dolores's invitation to accompany her to City Hall, Jenkins parted ways with the others at the gate. He pulled his coat tighter and ducked into an alley. When he emerged from a narrow lane two blocks away, he had taken on the appearance of a different person.
It was Monday, and the Twelve Churches Joint Conference had moved to the Evergreen Forest. The main agenda for the day was handling relations with the Pseudo-God Churches and discussing matters such as the preservation of church data before the apocalypse. Jenkins was supposed to attend, but since he was scheduled to merge the World Tree Seedlings the next day, he excused himself, claiming he needed to rest and prepare for any potential eventualities.
He flew directly from the city to the Evergreen Forest on a unicorn, making no effort to conceal his approach. With a composed expression, he landed at the forest's entrance, in the narrowest part of the valley.
Seeing the unicorn descend, the Enchanters on guard immediately ran to spread the word. Jenkins deliberately lingered for a moment, waiting until the first demigod emerged from a path in the woods before he approached with his mount.
“There are some things I wish to discuss with you.”