Endless Debt

The research on the Alchemy Matrix didn't last long. After completing the preliminary data collection, Teda buried his head on the workbench, writing and sketching, calculating something that Bologue couldn't understand anyway.

Free now, Bologue didn't disturb Teda. Instead, he returned to the small outpost, lay on his single bed, and both thought about the recent discussion and shaped the rough metal blank in his hand.

Initially, multitasking like this was difficult for Bologue, but he quickly adapted after overcoming the challenging early learning phase.

The metal in his hand constantly changed and twisted along with Bologue's thoughts.

Since learning about Overlord Xilin's life, Bologue has felt something indescribable inside—like he possesses the same power as Xilin, as if some mysterious heritage has been transferred to him in this strange way.

If possible, Bologue would want to see Xilin again, but after the implant ceremony, those gray-robed men took Xilin away into the Order Bureau. Given Xilin's terrifying power, even after he died and was sealed in a container, the security level was the highest.

Bologue thought that unless he had Nesanel's permission, it would probably be difficult to see Xilin again.

Stopping the shaping of the metal, Bologue placed the rough iron block on a nearby box, then took an Ether Flow Spectacles out of his pocket.

He got this from Teda and was very interested in the kind of thing that could directly observe Ether. Putting on the Ether Flow Spectacles, Bologue looked around.

Deep blue mist filled the room, and faintly visible Ether flows followed their predetermined paths, moving between the walls.

These Ether flows permeated every corner of the Alchemy Workshop; if Bologue opened the door, he would see all the Ether flows converging on the central High Tower, thus maintaining the Void Realm's operation.

Apart from these, the few pieces of equipment placed in the outpost booth had Ether concentrations noticeably higher than the surrounding environment.

A sudden knock interrupted Bologue's observation. He stuffed the Ether Flow Spectacles back into his pocket and called out loudly.

"Come in."

Bologue knew who it was. Though the Alchemy Workshop was big, there were only a few people living here.

The door was slowly pushed open, and Aimou tilted her head in, blinking as she surveyed Bologue with a halo in her eyes.

"Is the work done?" she asked.

"Yes, it's temporarily finished," Bologue replied.

In the research on the Alchemy Matrix, he could offer little contribution and often felt more like an experimental subject under Teda's various tests.

"Oh... Would you like some fruit?"

Aimou entered fully, steadily holding a fruit tray.

"Sure, thank you."

Bologue did not refuse Aimou's offer, taking the tray and placing it on the table. Turning back, he saw Aimou had no intention of leaving but stood in the room, curiously looking around.

Since the outpost was established, this seemed her first time inside, like a wild cat wandering into a new area, eagerly inspecting every new thing.

Bologue had considered that, being in the same room, Teda and Aimou might enter the outpost. Thus, he remained somewhat cautious of them, locking many important things in a safe.

Sitting in the chair, Bologue realized that Aimou still had some differences from real humans, or rather, she had many contradictory aspects.

For instance, Aimou silently surveyed everything within the room, reminding Bologue of a scene from a drama where a mother disregards her child's opposition and tidies up the house.

Aimou did not seem aware of any of this, perhaps because the books she read didn't mention these scenarios.

"Want to... sit down?"

Bologue broke the silence, feeling Aimou standing there wasn't quite right.

"Okay."

Aimou might have felt Bologue was considerate, yet she was entirely unaware of how peculiar her actions seemed.

Fortunately, Bologue had enough patience for this unique life form. Communicating with Aimou bore a special experience, difficult to find with others.

She seemed like a complex contradiction, both innocent and mature, naively yet clearly recognizing everything around her.

Bologue thought Aimou might genuinely need more interaction with humans—at least she should spend more time in human environments, as her entire understanding within this enclosed Alchemy Workshop came from books, and no matter how sufficient theoretical knowledge was, she still needed some practical experience to verify it.

As for why Bologue suddenly thought this, it was because since Aimou sat down, she had been staring at him without shifting her gaze, not even blinking.

Initially, Bologue could tolerate this scrutinizing gaze, naturally eating sliced apple chunks under it, swallowing the fruit, and flipping through documents.

But nearly five minutes passed, and Aimou's gaze had not shifted. Bologue awkwardly ate all the fruit on the tray.

"Um..."

Bologue couldn't hold back, turning to say something, but Aimou responded faster.

The halo in her eyes quickly contracted, and Aimou's tone sounded like a sudden realization, stepping in front of Bologue and picking up the tray.

"Want some more, right?"

Bologue understood. While feeding him, she conveniently observed him. Yet seeing Aimou's observing manner, he reckoned she might overfeed him.

As an Undead, Bologue has experienced numerous ways to die. If he wanted, he could write a horror novel about it. Yet among all these methods, he hasn't tried dying from overeating.

"No, no, no, I've had enough," Bologue said.

"Huh?"

Hearing that Bologue was full, Aimou seemed a bit flustered, as if Bologue had disrupted some plan of hers.

"What exactly are you trying to do?" Bologue asked seriously, "Say it directly."

Perhaps Aimou was shy, or maybe embarrassed; from her slightly contrived body movements and the restless changes in the halo of her eyes, Bologue could sense it.

Ever since he learned that she uses Alice's Philosopher's Stone as an energy source and potentially influenced by its Mind Projection, Bologue kept observing her every detail.

For example, when the halo in her eyes reflects back as stars, it means she's happy; if it turns into waves, she's feeling uneasy.

"Are you...really an Undead?" Aimou questioned.

"Do you want me to die to prove it?"

As Bologue spoke, he pulled out the Short-barreled Shotgun from his waist, using this thing for suicide would blast his brain to pieces.

"No, that's not it."

Aimou quickly waved her hand in refusal; she felt Bologue was a peculiar fellow, as if death was already mundane for him.

To be exact, both of them were peculiar.

An Undead indifferent to death after having died too many times, and a strange and new life born in this world, odd and exotic.

Bologue and Aimou are too special to be categorized into any specific group of people, even whether they are truly human might be doubted by some.

"I want to know, what does it feel like not to die?"

It seemed like a forbidden secret, Aimou asked cautiously.

"What does it feel like...it doesn't feel like anything."

Bologue didn't know how to answer Aimou; ever since becoming a Condenser, it had been a while since he last experienced death.

"If I had to say what it feels like, it's a heart-wrenching pain, then your consciousness falls into peace, akin to falling asleep, followed by awakening."

Bologue explained without mentioning that he sees that empty and desolate scenery every time he dies.

"Like sleeping?"

Aimou's voice dropped; she didn't comprehend what sleep meant; for an Alchemy Puppet, there is only dormancy.

"Do you think I'm 'alive' then?"

Aimou suddenly asked, Bologue's image reflected in her azure pupils, the halo slightly tightened as if imprisoning Bologue within.

"Probably; for humans, being alive means the brain is thinking, the heart is beating. For you, your Constant Motion Core is running, and your thoughts haven't ceased."

Bologue gradually began to follow Aimou's line of thinking, as this fellow always suddenly discusses some inexplicable issues, one moment talking about what a movie is, the next discussing life and death.

"But my heart isn't beating." Aimou tapped her chest.

"Of course not, you're an Alchemy Puppet." Bologue raised his voice a bit.

Aimou seemed even more puzzled, then suddenly reached out to touch Bologue's face.

Bologue was stunned, and even more unexpected was when Aimou stepped closer, her cold hands grasping Bologue's face, squeezing his expression forcefully under the cold touch.

"Strange."

Aimou seemed to have encountered a problem, and the halo deflated.

"Hmm? So that's how human skin feels..."

Aimou murmured to herself while squeezing, Bologue evidently became the guinea pig in her hands.

After a brief panic, Bologue somewhat understood Aimou's thoughts; human common sense clearly didn't apply to her, and since she gained consciousness, she lived in this isolated Alchemy Workshop, her only contact being Teda, who harbored extreme aversion toward Aimou.

This was Aimou's first intimate contact with a human; she tried to obtain as much information as possible through her rough perception, learning about humans from Bologue.

Suddenly Aimou reached out her hand toward Bologue.

Unlike her torso, Aimou's torso was a transparent gel-like substance, soft like human skin, but her limbs carried a metallic chill as they pressed firmly against Bologue's chest.

Feeling the faint tremor beneath his chest, Aimou muttered.

"Is this...being alive?"