Ed stopped writing his novel, one of the few interesting activities he could do on the ship, and closed it.

"Are you writing the next chapter of the novel? Can I read it?" Lucilia asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Ed nodded, opened the notebook, and placed it on the table so she could read. Although he had to help her turn the pages every once in a while, which was annoying, there was nothing he could do. Everyone needed something to pass the time.

"Thanks!" Lucilia floated excitedly toward the table. As if remembering something, she turned her head and asked, "Are you going to continue studying Phodranguth today?"

"I've been studying all morning. I'm not going to look at it again until tomorrow. Anyway, I'm going out for some fresh air. Want to come along?"

"Do I have any other choice? If you leave, I have to go as well," Lucilia said, rolling her eyes as she slipped into the necklace.

As they drew closer to the point of the dark eruption, they ventured deeper into the Dark Region.

Now, Lucilia didn't want to stay away from him for even a second. As soon as he wanted to go out, she hurriedly rushed back into the necklace.

Although the room was protected by runes and completely airtight, she said she didn't feel well. Getting away from her magic mirror seemed to weaken its protection over her, and the darkness outside began to affect her soul.

Although the dark elements carried by the sea breeze had only a minor effect on her, she felt extremely uncomfortable.

In Lucilia's words, it felt like walking through a desert, with the scorching sun burning her naked skin.

While the damage wouldn't be fatal, it would certainly make her irritable, and the discomfort would only worsen over time.

As Ed stepped onto the deck, it remained utterly dark despite the presence of several illuminating stones.

Their destination was in the middle of the Dark Region, still a considerable distance from the core of the darkness's epicenter.

Judging by their speed, they were now roughly halfway there.

The darkness here was so intense that even the illuminating stones struggled to dispel it.

A card appeared in Ed's hand.

As it glowed, a mirror materialized, transforming into a ring under his control and displaying different reflective surfaces.

Ed lit an illuminating stone and placed it in the center, creating a makeshift flashlight.

The mirror's refraction proved surprisingly effective in this pitch-black realm.

"Son, you've arrived," Jason said with a smile from the lookout tower.

"Bastard, is that how you talk to your father? You're looking for a beating. Tonight I'll make sure you don't even have pants left. Now come down, I'll take over the watch."

A lantern appeared on the mainmast's lookout tower, its light sliding down via a zipline.

As it moved closer, Ed saw Jason.

Jason looked listless, his hair disheveled, and his beard long and unkempt. After sailing in darkness for so long, he had begun to neglect his appearance.

He patted Ed on the shoulder. "Sorry, son, but you shouldn't forget your place. How many times have I reminded you that I'm older? That makes me the dad. As for losing at cards, let's see tonight who loses their pants. Now go up; I'm going to rest."

"I don't know where this confidence of yours comes from, but tonight you'll be naked in front of everyone for sure," Ed replied, laughing as he climbed the rope ladder. This is another fun thing he and Jason do for fun, although others found it weird and childish, but they enjoy it, so it doesn't matter what other thinks.

The watchtower on the mainmast was relatively spacious and not cramped.

At the top hung a small bronze bell, about the size of a human head. If anything amiss was detected, it could be rung as a warning.

Normally, core members rarely stood guard. But now they had no choice.

Non-core members couldn't even step onto the deck; the spreading darkness would harm their bodies.

So the main members began taking turns on watch duty.

Although nothing could be seen, the watchtower's spells could sense abnormalities, especially danger near the ship.

"Darkness is truly exhausting," Ed muttered while sighing helplessly.

"It's alright. It's like being in a mirror," Lucilia's voice came from the necklace.

"But you can make yourself fall asleep whenever you want. But others can't, we have to ensure it."

To pass the time, the two start chatting idly. Darkness and loneliness, without someone to talk to, could drive one mad.

Just as they were chatting, a beeping sound suddenly came from below.

Footsteps rushed across the deck.

Ed immediately shone the mirror flashlight downward.

He saw Matt (the ship's cook) and Lipoca (the ship's librarian) struggling to carry Homo toward the infirmary.

Hearing the noise, Vanessa rushed out, grabbed Homo, and carried him inside.

Homo struggled frantically, his mouth moving as if saying something, but the howling wind made it hard to hear.

"He's saying 'stop singing, stop singing,'" Lucilia said, her hearing was unaffected, and seeing that Ed wanted to hear what that ill guy was trying to say.

"Stop singing? We don't have a singer on the ship," Ed said, puzzled. Were they playing some singing game downstairs? Did someone sing so badly that it knocked Hamo out?

"Didn't your captain say before that darkness can cause mental abnormalities? Perhaps that's what's happening to him now."

Hearing Lucilia's reminder, Ed's wandering thoughts snapped back into focus. He nodded in acknowledgment. That made sense. Otherwise, if there were someone of Giyan's caliber on the ship who had a voice powerful enough to knock out people, it would be too overpowering.

But wasn't the ship supposed to be safe? Such problems were supposed to occur only when leaving its protection.

Then again, that warning was for those actively exposed. Ordinary people with weaker constitutions and no magical protection might still be affected aboard the ship, after getting close to such intense dark magic for too long.

However, Ed was on duty. He could only suppress his curiosity and wait for his relief.

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