The Lost and the Bright Stars sail against a uniform off-white background.

The long journey to the ends of the world seemed to be coming to an end—even if Duncan didn't mention it, everyone on board was vaguely aware of the approaching day.

Now, everyone is gathered around the long table in the cabin of the Lost Land, and even Lucrecia has temporarily handed over her ship to the puppets Runi and Rabi the Rabbit.

The "Witch of the Sea" sat on Duncan's side, while Nilou, the little puppet who had recently become an official crew member of the Bright Star, sat obediently on the shoulder of the hostess, who was seen here for the first time, and was now carefully grasping Lucretia by the hair while observing her surroundings curiously.

Shirley looked at the gorgeous three-point doll in a delicate dress with some amusement, and when the latter turned his head to look at him, he suddenly raised his hand and made a frightened voice: "Heha-"

Nilou let out a small exclamation and grabbed a handful of Lucrecia's hair.

Miss Witch was startled, raised her hand and patted the little doll's arm, and Nilou lowered her head aggrievedly and muttered, "Mistress, she scared me." ”

Shirley immediately shrugged her shoulders and turned her head to pretend that she was listening to the captain.

Duncan didn't pay attention to the movement coming from the long table, he just glanced at Shirley casually, and then continued to talk about the current situation in the boundless sea:

“…… The undead move with the living in the city, no one remembers the original role of cemeteries and crematoriums, the dead are confused, and the living are increasingly in a trance, no one dies anymore, and no newborns are born...... In the eyes of the beholder, the distortion of the world is unimaginable, yet no one perceives these anomalies, and all the deviations are subconsciously 'explained' or 'ignored', and this is the 'current situation' of the whole world.

"What is going on over there in the Deep Sea Church...... It's similar to the church of the dead today. The core of their respective teachings is now an unknowable 'blasphemy archetype', and while people are still in ignorance about their 'daily lives', this 'world correction' may not last long. ”

On both sides of the long table, everyone did not speak, even Shirley, who was secretly playing with the little puppet just now, imagined the strange and terrifying scene in the city-state and quieted down.

Duncan's gaze fell on Vanna, who was not far away.

"Are you okay?" He asked softly.

"Cognitive Reconstruction...... It's not that simple," Vanna's face was not very good, she frowned slightly, and shook her head with a wry smile after hearing the captain's words, "I was about to forget about the 'waves', but you suddenly summoned us just now and made me think about all this, which makes me feel ...... It's as if the whole world has been 'torn apart'. ”

Miss Inquisitor took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it, as if she was still struggling to adjust her state, and at the same time continued with a complicated expression: "Now two completely different 'cognitive systems' are still in fierce conflict in my mind, and I clearly know that something 'something' actually exists, but another cognition tells me that it is an incomprehensible thing that never existed, and I know that the former cognition is correct, but I cannot deny the second cognition...... They all took root in my heart, as if ......"

She pursed her lips, but in the end she didn't seem to find the right way to describe it.

"It's like 'hydrophobia,' right?" Duncan asked calmly.

"'Is water poisonous'......" Vana thought for a moment and nodded with a wry smile, "Probably." Compared to the various physical profanities, the cognitive-based puzzle will always be so difficult to deal with. ”

“…… I have hesitated to re-strengthen and stabilize your 'cognition'," Duncan said slowly, his gaze swept around, and as far as his eye could see, the faint green flames were burning silently throughout the cabin, and the light of the fire reflected on everyone, even as if it was soaking their souls, soaking their minds, and stabilizing their 'cognition' on the 'captain' side, "but considering the plans for the future, I must use the flames." Strengthen you, because only in this way can you be my most stable anchor. ”

Hearing Duncan's words, the expression on Lucrecia's face changed slightly, and she seemed to want to say something, but in the end she didn't speak, just stared at her father steadily.

“…… Next, we will arrive at Bartók's 'node,'" Duncan continued to say calmly, as if ignoring the gaze that fell on him with all kinds of emotions, "This will be the last node on the 'outer barrier' made up of the four gods, and after completing the final marking, the Lost will return to the starting point of this 'tour'...... Leviathan.

"Once there, your border journey is over."

Duncan spread out his hands and spoke in a low voice, his gaze wandering around the long table, moving from familiar face to face, and finally, his gaze fell on Nina.

The first "human" he knew in this world, his first formal "contact" with this civilization trapped in shelter, his ...... "anchor of humanity".

Nina sat beside him, this girl who had always been sensible always seemed to be able to detect the thoughts of "Uncle Duncan" one step ahead, and even at this moment, she did not show much surprise, but raised her head after a moment of silence: "Do you want to do the next thing alone?" ”

Duncan met the girl's gaze: "...... Right. ”

"Is it dangerous? Is it far away? Nina asked again.

"It's hard to describe 'dangerous' or not 'dangerous', that's a ...... Something that only I can do, but you cannot comprehend the process," Duncan explained after a moment's thought, "and I will go farther away—farther than the end of the world, so far away that even the gods cannot reach it, and all the scales of the world cannot be measured...... Yes, far, very far. ”

"Are you still home, then?" Nina remained steadfast in her gaze at Uncle Duncan—she had asked a question she had asked before.

This time, Duncan didn't hesitate at all: "Yes, go home." ”

His response was so sure and swift that even Nina seemed a little surprised.

"You're not lying?" She frowned and asked with some confusion, as if she hadn't expected such a positive answer.

"Yes, I'm sure—but if you had asked me a few days earlier, I might have hesitated," Duncan said earnestly, "and now, I can be sure that if one day in the future, you are really waiting for me to come home, then I will definitely come home." ”

Nina frowned, and just as she was lost in thought, Maurice's voice came from the side again, "What do you need us to do?" ”

"After the Lost leaves the Lost Country, you will return with the Bright Star," Duncan looked at the old gentleman across the table and nodded slightly, "Agatha will take the 'reflection' of the Lost Country and connect it to the Bright Star, and the sailors will take the helm - in this way, you will be able to activate the 'course' left behind by the Sea Song and return to the Infinite Sea from the Storm Goddess's node."

"After returning to the Infinite Sea, you will have to travel to the city-states of Frost, Purand, and Lighthaven, plus Lawrence, who is currently staying at the western frontier of Faehlon, and I will have the equivalent of having 'eyes' that can see the whole world—you have to wait, wait for my orders, and when I am done preparing for the outside of the world, something will happen...... Event. ”

"A big deal?" Vanna subconsciously frowned.

“…… The end of the world," Duncan said calmly, "I will 'end' the world in an orderly manner, and recover all of the data of this 'mathematical machine' before it collapses completely." ”

He knew that no one on the scene would be able to understand what he was talking about, not even Morris, who would not understand what "information about everything" and "mathematical machines" were, but he still said these words bluntly.

Those present may not know what a mathematical machine is, but they at least understand what "the end of the world" means.

After a moment of silence, Shirley was the first to break the silence: "...... Oh my god......"

But apart from her, the reaction of the others was unexpectedly calm.

"Looks like you all trust me." Duncan looked around, a smile suddenly appearing on his face.

"After all the events of Purand, Frost, and Breeze, what else do we not trust you?" Vana burst out laughing, "There are countless ways you can easily wreak havoc, but in the end, you chose to save everything you could—and now, even if you say you're going to kill me, I'm afraid I'll think it's the wrong way to live for the first time......"

"She'll be sad to hear that to Gemona," Duncan laughed helplessly, "the first time we met, you came over with a jump." ”

Vanna: "...... You said you wouldn't mention it. ”

Duncan smiled and shook his head, waved his hand, and looked at the others.

"The 'end' of the world is a necessary step to ensure that the new world will be born, and that there will be peace for a long time after the birth of the new world, and you can rest assured that I have found a way to preserve everything that exists in this world while the old world ends."

"That'...... And after that? Shirley finally couldn't help but speak, and although she didn't understand most of the topic, she could keenly sense that the captain hadn't finished speaking, "After the world ends...... Where are we? Where are you? That 'new world' you're talking about...... When will it come? ”

Duncan smiled, looking into Shirley's curious eyes.

"You blink."

Shirley blinked curiously.

"For you, the new world will come after that."

Duncan said softly.

(End of chapter)