Lord: My Shop Connects to Modern Times

A lively and cheerful voice interrupted Lynn's thoughts.

Looking back, not far from the church, a wisp of long golden hair shone brightly in the sunlight, quite eye-catching.

"It's Leah!" Lynn walked out of the church, smiled at her, and asked, "What can I do for you?"

Lia walked quickly to Lynn, her beautiful brows furrowing slightly as she feigned anger.

"Can't I come to you for no reason? Nobles really are so high and mighty."

Despite saying that, there was not a trace of disgust in his tone, only teasing.

Lynn smiled and shook his head, sensing Lia's teasing.

"I've never considered myself a high-ranking nobleman." He paused. "I remember you were helping Martha with population registration and supplies handover, weren't you? What brings you here?"

Since Martha was temporarily taken to Ironstone Castle for work, Lia, who had overcome her previous fear of Ironstone Castle, would occasionally visit her and help Martha with her affairs.

Upon hearing Martha's name, Leah seemed to remember something and lowered her head somewhat shyly.

"I don't understand... all those numbers and records are giving me a headache."

As she spoke, Lia seemed somewhat annoyed.

"Little Martha usually seems a bit slow, how come she's so smart in these areas?"

"Hehe, everyone has their strengths! Just like you, you're not only clever, but also great at gathering intelligence!" Lynn praised the other person.

Lia's face flushed red instantly, and she stammered without saying a word.

Lynn stopped teasing her: "So, what do you want from me?"

"It's nothing, I just... I just wanted to ask when you're going back to Grayrock Town..."

Lia mumbled that she wanted to go back to Grayrock Town. Even without Gavin and the merchants who had bullied her, she didn't want to stay here.

Looking at Lia, who seemed a little down, Lynn suddenly realized something.

"Soon, in about a week. Once things stabilize here and Earl Lehman's group arrives, we can go back."

Since Gavin was unwilling to stay here, and Lynn himself could not stay in Ironstone Castle for long, he had no choice but to write a letter asking Earl Lehman to recommend some people with management skills. So there will be a "Lord Selection of Ironstone Castle" in a few days.

"Count Lehman's group? Who are they?" Leah asked curiously.

"You'll find out when the time comes," Lynn said, keeping everyone in suspense.

"Fine, don't tell me then." Leah pouted, but then quickly remembered something and turned her gaze to the church behind Lynn: "Were you inside just now?"

"Just passing by," Lynn said casually, but after a pause, he added, "But... there's something strange about it."

"strangeness?"

Lynn organized his thoughts.

Lia is a half-elf, so she might have a different perspective on this kind of thing.

"When I was standing inside, I had a... indescribable feeling in my chest. It was very slight, like something was gently vibrating."

Leah blinked, her amber eyes filled with curiosity: "Are all human churches like this?"

"I don't know," Lynn said, spreading her palms.

"To be honest, there's no church in Grayrock Town, and this is the first time I've ever seriously explored a place like this. What about you? Do the elves have similar buildings?"

"We have an altar, deep in the forest," Lia said.

"But not this kind of stone house. It was a circular open space surrounded by living trees, with a moonstone in the center, where the goddess of nature, Iluya, was worshipped. My mother took me there once... when I was very young... but I don't remember it clearly."

Her voice lowered.

Lynn didn't press her about her past, but instead asked, "What's the difference between your goddess of nature, Iluya, and Sovia, the human goddess of light?"

"Hmm..." Lia tilted her head and thought for a moment, "My mother mentioned some things. She said that Iluya is the guardian of the forest and life, her power is gentle and enduring, like spring rain nourishing the earth. Sovia... well, she's more like the sun, with intense light, representing order and protection."

She paused, a little embarrassed, "That's all I know. My mother rarely talked about human deities in detail."

"Then, do the gods still...?" Lynn carefully chose his words, "do they still answer prayers?"

Lia shook her head: "My mother said that it used to be. But now... the gods are silent. She heard from the elders of the elves that a great war took place a thousand years ago, and since then the gods have rarely performed miracles. Only in the oldest holy places, the most devout prayers may receive a faint response—such as leaves suddenly turning greener, or springs rippling inexplicably."

"A great war?" Lynn caught the word.

"Yes, but Mother didn't go into details. She only said it was in the distant past, when five races—humans, elves, dwarves, sirens, and dragons—fought side by side."

Lia recalled, "After that, the gods rarely intervened directly in the world."

Lynn seemed lost in thought. He recalled the faint throbbing in his chest.

If the gods have truly fallen silent, what do they sense in the church? Ancient remnants? Or something else entirely?

Elves and dragons are both recognized as long-lived races, and the myths and legends that Lia's mother heard may be more than just legends.

"Want to go in and take a look?" Leah suggested. "Although I don't understand human divine magic, I'm quite sensitive to energy flow. My mother taught me some methods for sensing natural energy."

The two pushed open the door and entered the church. The evening light had already dimmed, making the stone chamber even darker.

Lynn walked to the altar. That feeling returned—a slight throbbing, rising from deep within his chest, like a pebble being thrown into a calm pond.

This time, upon closer examination, he discovered that it wasn't uncomfortable at all; on the contrary, it gave him a... strange sense of security, like standing on a solid foundation.

"How do you feel?" he asked Leah.

Lia closed her eyes and tilted her head slightly back.

Her profile was softly outlined in the dim light, and her pale golden eyelashes trembled gently.

"Very faint... but there is definitely some kind of 'field'. Not a magical fluctuation, but something more fundamental, more... ancient. Like a pulse coming from the depths of the earth."

She opened her eyes and looked at Lynn: "And it reacted to you. Standing here, I could only barely feel a little bit. But as soon as you got close to the altar, the 'field' came alive—though it was still very weak."

Lynn frowned: "What does this mean?"

"I don't know," Lia said honestly.

"Could it be related to your bloodline? Some noble human families are said to have ancient pacts with the gods. But it could also just be that this church is special."

She looked around at the weathered walls: "This building looks quite old."

"Bloodline..." Lynn looked down at his hands.

It's all about bloodlines... Gavin also said that Count Carl and the people behind them approached him because of something in their bloodlines.

Is it possible that even the gods are now related to me?

These unknown things were a complete blank in the original owner's memories.

What secrets does the Cole family, the identity he inherited after transmigrating, hold besides the title of a fallen viscount and a desolate territory?

"Maybe I'm overthinking it," Lynn said, regaining his composure. He didn't want to cause unnecessary panic for Leah.

"It might be because the stone used in this church is special, or because some resonant minerals were added during its construction."

"That's possible," Lia nodded.

"The elves use moonstones for their altars. These stones glow softly during a full moon, which enhances the connection with nature."

She paused, her tone becoming serious: "However, my lord, if you continue to have this feeling in the future, you'd better pay attention. The Human Church... I've heard that some factions are very sensitive to these anomalies."

"sensitive?"

"Yes. Mother said that there is a court in the Temple of Light, which is specifically for dealing with things that they consider blasphemous."

Leah looked worried: "Even if you're just reacting to the old church, what if it's misunderstood..."

Lynn understood what she meant. In this world, supernatural powers exist, but they are strictly controlled.

A lord who acts "abnormally" may attract unnecessary attention.

"I'll keep an eye on it," he said. "But there shouldn't be much of a problem here at Ironstone Castle. Gavin obviously doesn't come to the church often; it's practically abandoned."

Lia breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."

The two walked out of the church. It was already dark, and lights were coming on in the direction of the castle.

"Oh, right," Lynn remembered something.

"Can you teach me the methods of perception that your mother taught you? I want to try and see if I can capture that feeling more clearly."

Lia paused for a moment, then gave a sly smile: "You want to learn elf skills? That's very valuable knowledge."

"Then shall I trade it for some local specialties from Grayrock Town?" Lynn smiled.

"Instant noodles? Chocolate? Or maybe next time I go trading with Earl Rayman, I can bring back some things the elves like?"

"I don't want any of that," Lia snorted, but her eyes held a smile. "However... I can teach you the basics. But only when I'm in a good mood."

"Then it's settled."

On the way back to the main castle, neither of them spoke again. Lynn was thinking about the church, while Leah would occasionally steal a glance at him, lost in thought.

As they parted at the stairwell, Lia suddenly spoke up: "Lynn."

"Hmm?" Lynn was a little surprised; this was the first time the other person had called him by his name directly.

"If... if you really had some kind of relationship with a deity, what would you do?"

This question left Lynn speechless.

He recalled the stories he had read in his past life—chosen heroes, people burdened with destiny.

But those are all stories. The reality is, he's just an ordinary person who wants to survive in this world and make his territory a better place.

"I don't know," he finally admitted honestly. "But whether it matters or not, the things that need to be done still need to be done. Farming, building roads, making weapons, protecting our people. The gods won't do these things for us."

Lia looked at him, her amber eyes sparkling in the dim corridor light.

Then she smiled, not her usual lively smile, but a softer, more genuine smile.

"You're such a strange nobleman," she said, then turned and ran up the stairs.

Lynn stood there until her footsteps disappeared at the end of the corridor.