Ghost Lighthouse

Outside the window was pitch-black void, with only the occasional glimpse of distant pinpricks of starlight.

There was long since no trace of Hometown.

The exploration ship relied on its installed Connected Relay Station to contact the rear, but now it had already gone far beyond its connection range.

In other words, it was a lone boat adrift.

Bin's voice came through the Wind Mother.

"Everything's normal, brothers. That weird noise from the Connected Relay Station is the base underneath coming loose and rattling in the turbulence. It sounds a bit like knocking, but it's not some void monster paying a visit."

"Old Shelby, you need to fix this thing."

The repairman Shelby's voice was loud. "I'm still checking the Elemental Magic Well. You can find some cork pieces over there. Wedge them in with the wood pieces and it'll stabilize."

"Wood pieces?"

"Of course. Even if I went over, that's what I'd do. This ship doesn't have that many supplies to use. We use whatever we've got... The Plastic Sheet along the edge of the magic well's base has warped. I have to deal with this first."

Bin asked, "Any wood pieces will do?"

"Right."

Inside the Wind Mother, his two colleagues were still talking.

Francis, in the pilot's seat, looked toward the Crystal window. Its crystalline surface reflected his clumsy, heavy work clothes.

Through the Crystal Construct helmet, the white skull inside could be seen clearly, with a Y-shaped crack across it.

This was the birthmark Francis had had ever since he awakened in the [Bone Mound].

He moved his cervical vertebrae, making a soft clicking sound.

Holding a seated posture for long periods would also damage the bones.

As one of the Bone Ancestors, he had to learn to protect his own bones. Healthy bones were