The Body of Civilization

It was deep in the night, yet for the Lost Homeland sailing at the end of the world, the sky overhead was always a hazy, chaotic gray regardless of day or night—sourceless daylight spread eternally and evenly through the clouds and mist, as if it would never change in the slightest.

The sailor sat blankly on the stern deck, a complicated expression on his gaunt face. He had maintained that posture for a long time, like a statue.

Duncan stood beside him, looking down at the mummified corpse. He suddenly broke the silence. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about that pile of 'last words' of yours?"

"...Not exactly." The sailor shifted awkwardly and muttered, "It's mainly that... I suddenly don't know what I'm supposed to do in the future."

Duncan raised an eyebrow. "The future?"

"...In my original plan, I should have already vanished from this world by now." After several seconds of silence, the sailor spoke calmly and slowly. "I never considered continuing to 'live' after completing this mission. I never considered any possibility like that—I've wandered this world for far too many years, but now I've suddenly found that I need to think about my future 'life.' It's left me a little... at a loss."

Duncan looked at him seriously. "If you don't want to, I can 'dismiss' you—just one instant, and you can have the 'eternal sleep' you wanted."

The sailor's expression immediately turned subtle upon hearing that. He shifted awkwardly again. "Uh... that's not really necessary..."

An imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of Duncan's mouth. Folding his arms, he gazed out over the mist-shrouded sea. "When all's said and done, do you really still want that 'eternal sleep' so badly?"

This time, the sailor fell silent for even longer. It seemed he had never