Endless Debt

After several discussions, Teda decided to first test Bologue's soul to see if it had returned to stability, leaving the rest for later.

Compared to the ascension ceremony, the Trial of the Triple Law beforehand for the Condenser wasn't considered difficult, just requiring a lot of Alchemy Materials.

Bologue's first trial would be the Trial of Salt, which corresponded to the soul of desire, as well as Bologue's body.

A Condenser who passed this trial would have their physical body significantly strengthened. Alchemists had researched this phenomenon and concluded that as Condensers ascend, they grow closer to Ether until becoming assimilated by it, resulting in bodily transformation or perhaps transcendence.

This is why many Condensers are never afflicted by diseases in their lives, as their shell, protected by Ether, is no longer troubled by illness.

"You're an Undead, which means as long as you keep going, you'll eventually become a Seeker of Glory, right?" Aimou asked.

"I suppose so, it's just unclear how long it will take," Bologue affirmed.

Strangely enough, Bologue sometimes felt a sort of... mission.

He could understand why Nesanel had been so cautious of him before, and why, after accepting him, Nesanel placed such high value on him.

In a future not too distant, he would become a Seeker of Glory, while Nesanel, such a short-lived human, would long be dead.

In some sense, he was now the legacy that Nesanel left for the future, the Watcher of the Order Bureau.

"Maybe one day you'll get in touch with the essence of the 'Secret Source,'" Aimou mused, "I really want to know what the 'Secret Source' is."

"I hope so,"

Bologue nodded in agreement.

From the influence of Ether on Condensers, Alchemists reached another conclusion: the higher the Tier a Condenser reached during ascension, the closer their intimacy with Ether became, culminating in their body, mind, and soul undergoing Etherealization.

Therefore, the closer the connection with Ether, the nearer Condensers were to the "Secret Source."

Currently, the highest Tier in the world is that of the Seeker of Glory, and theoretically, they are the beings closest to the "Secret Source." However, these Seekers of Glory are so mysterious and rarely seen by the world that Bologue has nowhere to verify these unknowns as truth or falsehood.

Bologue walked further, not feeling tired, and Aimou didn't ask where he was going. Eventually, a cloudy mist slowly spread before their eyes.

This was a high cliff. Below the cliff rolled a mist, while brilliant rays of light spilled from the Rift, blurred through the mist into large swaths of halo.

A heavy rumble came from afar, as a light rail slipped like a serpent under the Crossing Abyss Bridge, moving through the light mist. Further skylines loomed indistinctly in the fog, as if a false illusion.

Even with the Constant Motion Core, Aimou's Ether wasn't infinite. More of it could be absorbed from the surrounding environment to alleviate her Ether consumption.

After a night of Secret Energy release, she was struggling to maintain such continuous depletion, eventually disengaging the Secret Energy and separating from Bologue's body.

Bologue sat on the cliff, expressionlessly gazing at the Great Rift below and the distant city. Aimou, having changed, came over and sat down beside him, feet dangling and swaying.

"I found this place during a mission once," Bologue said lightly, "I was chasing a bastard then, not a Demon, but a serial killer, and I couldn't be bothered to hand him to the Sheriff, so I just pushed him off here."

"There's nothing special here during the day, but at night, the scenery isn't bad, and sometimes I come here to daze off."

Bologue didn't continue. Being so close to the Great Rift, after dazing off, he could directly immerse himself in work, slaughtering with a good mindset.

Thinking of this, Bologue couldn't help but let a smile slip across his face.

Aimou obviously didn't understand Bologue enough. She genuinely thought Bologue was just appreciating the scenery but also knew they were near the Great Rift, and tonight's revelry was henceforth concluded.

"You really are interesting, Bologue," Aimou said.

"Are you taking me as the entirety of humanity?" Bologue shook his head, "Humans are complex, I am but a tiny individual among them, don't misapply."

"No, at least among the very few humans I've encountered, you're the first to take me out," Aimou looked towards the hazy light mist, "My teacher refused to take me out, and Belli didn't want me to stay too long... Why did you want to bring me out?"

"Because you wanted to come out, and today is your birthday. Everyone should have a birthday gift," Bologue added after a thought, "Even if you're not considered human, even detectives in movies prepare gifts for Sido, right?"

Aimou laughed heartily, and after the laughter subsided, Aimou fell silent, then spoke shortly.

"Actually, I didn't expect you'd risk taking me out, I've always thought you were a... hm? very strange person."

Aimou racked her brain, unable to find a suitable analogy to describe Bologue.

Hearing Aimou's assessment of him, Bologue felt it was alright. He said, "You thought I wouldn't bring you out?"

"Pretty much, you should be a very rational person."

Bologue pondered for a moment, then turned his head and asked Aimou.

"Aimou, do you think... I'm a good person?"