Endless Debt Chapter 1176 - 26: Bloody Death Town

Human nature is complex and sometimes contradictory. Bologue considers himself the chosen savior fighting for all of humanity, yet he also sees himself as an unforgivable sinner, often using inhumane means to resolve his enemies.

"The restraints of commandments are meant to prevent our hearts from deteriorating on the path to ideals, turning us into what we once despised. However, commandments are not immutable; they should evolve with the times.

When commandments, meant to protect our nature, begin to slow our progress toward our ideals and become stumbling blocks, we should improve them, or even decisively abandon them."

The priest’s words echoed in Bologue’s ears, overturning doctrines, almost blasphemous. Yet his faith was so devout that even Bologue found it hard to deny the extraordinary divinity in him.

"Faith, commandments, rules, codes, morality... all these things are ultimately to help more people live happy lives. So as long as we achieve this goal, I think it’s unnecessary to care about the different means."

Bologue savored the priest’s words, rarely resonating with another person, and couldn’t help but murmur, "Tools are just tools to achieve the purpose."

Standing in the dark alley, Bologue was immersed in a feeling that slowly surged and rose until Aimou’s voice broke the trance.

"What were you mumbling about?" Aimou asked, utterly puzzled, "Also, what exactly were you talking about with that priest just now?"

"I wasn’t mumbling anything, just talking to myself."

Bologue said offhandedly, "As for the conversation... we were just discussing each other’s values."

"What was the result?"

"We surprisingly got along well."

Bologue praised, "Listening to him talk about good and evil, it was like looking at my own shadow."

"Oh?" Aimou said, "He seems quite unique; you rarely give someone such a high appraisal."

"It’s just a resonance," Bologue’s expression turned serious, "but it’s not necessarily a good thing."

"Why?"

"He’s a lot like me, and I know very well what kind of person I am," Bologue’s voice lowered, "Without those warm redemptions, I would likely have become an extreme lunatic. One person like me is enough."

Bologue breathed a sigh of relief, "Fortunately, he seems to have nothing unusual about him, and I didn’t detect the implantation of the Alchemy Matrix. He’s merely a priest with somewhat extreme ideas and immense devotion."

"But that’s not how you acted just now."

Aimou’s voice was filled with worry, "I could feel a kind of inexplicable hostility from you, even anger. At one point, I thought you’d draw your Blade and slice him."

Bologue tried to recall the emotion just now, but his mind was blank, "Was there?"

"Are you doubting me?"

Bologue fell silent, turning his head to look at the end of the low-rise buildings, the dim, unlit, dilapidated church.

"Are you sure he’s really okay? Your umbilical cord had no reaction at all?"

Due to a high connection with the Devil, Bologue is like a walking evil radar, using the umbilical cord to accurately capture those enemies lurking in the dark. This is also why Bologue is so suited to this patrol work.

"Initially, the cord did react."

Bologue spoke emotionlessly, "It pointed directly at the priest, but then, immediately, its direction shifted, pointing elsewhere."

Lowering his head, the black umbilical cord faintly appeared, like a tentacle breaking through Bologue’s belly, wildly dancing in the air.

"I should say, the direction it’s pointing to is constantly changing. Either there are many enemies connected to the Devil around us, or the enemy I detected is continuously moving."

Bologue looked towards the direction of the Great Rift, uncertainly saying, "It could also be influenced by the Calamity of this world. It’s like a massive pollution source; even here, its eerie influence can permeate the Abandoned Land and reach Gray Stone Town."

Through continuous ascension, Bologue’s Perception has also improved. Only after becoming a Negative Power User did Bologue become adept at controlling the cord, turning it into his perception tool.

"It’s fine," Bologue said, "We have plenty of time to search this town; we’ll find the source of the problem sooner or later."

Bologue turned towards the direction of the new town. The night was deep, he had been walking all day, and it was time to rest.

"This reminds me of a horror movie I watched before." Aimou said.

"Which one are you referring to?" Bologue casually listed a series of chilling movie titles, "’Opus Hammer Murderer’? Or ’Mad Night’?"

"’Bloody Death Town,’" Aimou said, "the one about a group of unlucky people entering a secluded town, only to find the townsfolk were specializing in eating outsiders’ flesh."

Just thinking about the plot of that movie made Aimou sick. She couldn’t understand why Bologue and Palmer enjoyed such things; while others were queasy with disgust, they could watch while munching on chips, thoroughly engrossed, even commenting occasionally.

"If it were me, I could probably do it more efficiently."

"No, no, Bologue. This is not a job for them, but a form of entertainment indulgence. They are doing it the most enjoyable way possible."