Chapter 22 “Crew Member’s Article”
This translation is available on bcatranslation.com.
Alice, better known as Miss Doll, hesitated at the entrance to the captain’s private suite. She stood before a heavy, dark oak door bearing the ominous inscription: “Door of the Lost.”
Her gaze fixated on the ornately engraved letters on the door frame. Although this was typical for the strange environment of the Vanished’s captain’s quarters, it stirred a wave of confusion within her. It wasn’t the door or its title that intrigued her, but rather her own sudden ability to read the inscription.
Strangely, she had no memory of learning to read or write. There were no memories of lessons, no journey of intellectual exploration with its trials and errors, and no recollection of any linguistic training. Yet, here she was, effortlessly interpreting the words on the door and understanding the various elements of the room. This knowledge seemed impossible to have acquired merely from her passive absorption of distant conversations while confined in a wooden crate. The origins of her literacy remained a mystery.
Up until now, Alice hadn’t given much thought to this unexplained knowledge. However, her recent conversation with Captain Duncan had ignited a new curiosity within her usually tranquil mind.
The change began when Duncan asked about the origin of her name, “Alice.” Prompted to think about her past, she began questioning the basis of her knowledge, trying to unearth the forgotten history behind her name. This introspection triggered a disconcerting shift in her consciousness.
Uncertain whether this shift was beneficial, Alice felt uneasy. To calm her inner turmoil, she firmly dismissed her doubts and steadied herself at the doorway of the captain’s quarters. Resolved, she reached out, grasped the solid oak handle, and gently pushed.
To her surprise, the door didn’t move.
Alice paused, collected her thoughts, and then pushed harder, but the stubborn door resisted as if it were made of solid steel rather than wood.
Bracing herself for another attempt, she was startled by a voice—gruff and aged like creaking wood—coming from within the room. “The door opens outward, miss.”
It was not Captain Duncan’s voice, which surprised her even more. Quickly recovering, she sheepishly said, “Oh,” and pulled on the door. This time, directing her effort outward, the door swung open easily.
Only then did she recall having seen the captain open the door this way when he first brought her there.
Alice realized that the ‘knowledge of life’ that had inexplicably settled in her mind was merely theoretical, lacking the depth and complexity of real experience. Having remained dormant within a wooden crate for years, she was unfamiliar with such tangible life experiences. As these thoughts crossed her mind, she cautiously peered inside the captain’s quarters.
The room was empty, except for a lone lamp casting a soft, warm glow. This light illuminated the grand navigation table and the chart spread across it. A mysterious mist-like haze hovered faintly above the chart, adding an enigmatic touch. At the edge of the table, a dark wooden carving of a goat head turned its gaze toward her, its eyes, crafted from obsidian, staring blankly at Alice.
“Please enter, miss. The captain is currently occupied, but you may wait here for him,” Goathead said with unexpected politeness. “And might I suggest that you refrain from bobbing your head in and out? It could be seen as offensive by some sensitive individuals aboard the Vanished, and appeasing them can be quite tedious. Moreover, if your head were to come off again, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to help you retrieve it…”
Alice was startled. The wooden sculpture was actually talking!
Although Captain Duncan had mentioned that Goathead on the navigation table could speak, witnessing it articulate so fluently left Alice utterly astonished. After pausing to collect herself, she responded, “Ah, I see. But my head is quite securely attached. Moreover, I took extra precautions last time it was fixed… Hold on, did you say ‘sensitive individuals’ aboard the Vanished? Are there actually…”
Suddenly, Alice understood what Goathead was implying. Her eyes widened with surprise and a touch of anxiety as she glanced nervously around the room. For a brief moment, she felt as if the captain’s quarters, and the entire Vanished, had transformed into a realm as bizarre and unsettling as the talking goat head. “Is it really so strange?” Goathead’s voice echoed in her ears. “Maintaining a ship this size requires many hands. Did you think the esteemed Captain Duncan would be cleaning the decks himself?”
The words of the wooden goat head carried a clear truth. Alice, still adjusting to the surreal reality around her, sensed something amiss but soon found herself nodding in reluctant agreement. “I suppose you have a point… So there are others like you aboard the Vanished…”
Before Alice could finish, Goathead cut in, “As the captain’s most trusted first mate, I am quite unique, while the rest are rather simple-minded. You don’t need to worry about interacting with them—they show little interest in socializing.” Goathead added, “Since you are new here, it’s understandable you’re not familiar with the ship’s rules and customs. As Captain Duncan’s steadfast first mate, second mate… it’s my duty to teach you the essential knowledge needed for your survival on this vessel. The captain certainly wouldn’t bother to personally instruct newcomers… Are you ready to proceed, miss?”
Alice listened, her mind swirling with confusion. Her original purpose for visiting the captain’s quarters had become obscured in a fog. It seemed that every time Goathead spoke, it unleashed a torrent of words that overwhelmed and unbalanced her. Particularly when it had listed its array of titles earlier, her head felt as though it were filled with a cacophony. When Goathead finally stopped talking, all she could do was nod automatically and murmur, “Ah, yes, okay… I mean, sure?”
Goathead appeared quite pleased with Alice’s response. “Excellent. Let us now review several key rules that every crew member aboard the Vanished must familiarize themselves with. These will help newcomers quickly adjust to their new environment and ensure their protection under both the Vanished and the esteemed Captain Duncan across the treacherous expanse of the Boundless Sea…”
As Goathead swayed its carved figure, it began to recite the rules with an air of self-importance:
“Firstly, Captain Duncan is the absolute ruler of the Vanished. Even if reality seems to contradict his statements, remember that the captain’s judgment is supreme, and his word is law.”
“Secondly, every crew member is restricted to areas explicitly permitted by Captain Duncan. Do not dare venture even half a step into regions declared off-limits by the captain, as these areas are considered non-existent.”
“Thirdly, if you inadvertently enter a forbidden area and miraculously survive for a time, you must stay put. Either wait for Captain Duncan to return or prepare for your inevitable end. Unauthorized retreats are strictly prohibited, as you would not be returning to the Vanished.”
“Fourthly, the Vanished is always on the correct path. Do not question the captain’s navigational decisions. If you see the scenery around the Vanished change unexpectedly or find it entering a ‘deeper’ plane, understand that it is all part of the standard navigational plan.”
“Fifthly, there may be times when the captain leaves the ship, but be assured, he will always return. During the captain’s absence, the Vanished continues its planned course. However, all crew members are strictly forbidden from approaching the ship’s helm at the stern. Without the captain, the helm system becomes anxious, and the ropes at the stern are notorious for strangling any reckless individuals who display ‘usurping’ behavior.”
“Sixthly, all crew members aboard the Vanished adhere to these six fundamental rules.”
“Seventhly, the door to the captain’s quarters swings outward.”
The wooden goat head delivered this “essential knowledge” with practiced ease, as if it had instructed many new crew members before. However, as Alice heard the final two rules, she sensed something was off. “Wait a moment, Mr. Goathead, you stated the sixth rule earlier…”
“Indeed, the sixth rule on the Vanished dictates that all crew members must adhere to six basic rules,” Goathead replied immediately, not missing a beat as it restated the fundamental regulations.
Alice felt her confusion mounting, unsure whether the discrepancy lay with her understanding or the “first mate’s” explanation. “But, you just listed a seventh rule…”
“Correct, the seventh rule dictates that the door to the captain’s quarters opens outwards,” Goathead responded with an air of nonchalance.
Alice peered at the dark wooden carving of Goathead on the table. She found herself questioning her hearing and even doubting her mental faculties. Then, she realized she didn’t really possess a conventional mind, which led her to reconsider, “These rules… They’re not contradictory, are they?”
“Absolutely not.”
Hearing Goathead’s confident reply and staring into its hollow, ink-black eyes, Alice opened her mouth to query further but promptly withdrew her questions.
Silly girl. Since when a rule for specific doors has become a rule of conduct for crew members? They have nothing in common, unless the doors themselves somehow become a crew member or get replaced by a crew member.
Thanks for the chapter!
????, this is a lot like albedo praising ainz
I haven’t read ahead, but the fact that there are only 6 rules can be a measure against outside forces trying to add new rules by pretending to the Captain.
and the fact that there is a 7th rule could mean that outside forces did just that – mess with Vanished to create a hidden room to another dimension
this ability to flatter that this goat head has reminds me of Arrodes xd
So what is the goat head? First thing that comes to mind is something satanic, Baphomet maybe? But a black goat is also associated with Shub-Niggurath, which is more in line with the theme of the story.