Endless Debt-Chapter 855 - 9: Anxiety

Aimou, as artificial life, inherently possesses a soul, which comes from Alice. The Philosopher’s Stone is embedded in the Constant Motion Core, serving as the foundation for Aimou, covering the Alchemy Matrix of the Shared Chord Body and thus spreading throughout the entire body.

In the chaotic timeline, after receiving the Devil’s blessing, the Philosopher’s Stone shattered and fully integrated into Aimou’s Steel Body, completely sustaining Aimou’s existence.

Before Aimou’s ascension, Belli conducted a comprehensive examination, so thorough that it almost completely disassembled Aimou. Bologue observed the scene like a forensic pathologist dissecting a corpse, with Aimou dismantled to only the basic framework of the core. The head was connected to the mechanical spine, and the cold steel rib cage hung with the heart named the Constant Motion Core.

Through repeated testing, in some sense, this part of the basic framework is where Aimou’s soul resides—essentially her body—while the other parts are merely external mechanical structures.

As a miracle of artificial life, no one knows whether Aimou can ascend like normal humans, even though she possesses everything a normal human does. After Belli’s thorough examination, they began to reassemble Aimou, applying some new technologies to her.

Such as Constant Metal.

With the existing technology of the Sublimation Furnace Core, it is clearly difficult to replicate King Solomon’s miraculous creations, but some imitation can still be achieved. Belli referred to these clumsy replicas as Shielding Metal, which had effects similar to Constant Metal and could block the external influence on the metal itself, protecting the substance beneath the metal.

Shielding Metal is much less effective than Constant Metal in practical efficiency, but it is still considered a technological advancement. Whether facing physical attacks or Ether streams, it provides some defense and can largely obscure Aimou’s own Ether reactions.

Similarly, there are pros and cons. Shielding Metal would also limit Aimou’s own Ether output, but testing showed that Shielding Metal does not affect the Shared Chord Body. According to Belli’s conjecture, when Secret Energy takes effect, the properties of Shielding Metal are twisted and become part of Aimou herself.

Unlike Constant Metal, Secret Energy takes priority over the Shielding Metal itself. Additionally, Aimou doesn’t have the need to release Ether externally, so this iteration of enhancement was eventually approved for application.

After comprehensive checks and iterations, Aimou’s ascension ceremony finally began. The whole process went smoothly, as simple as the ascension of other Condensers, without encountering any confusion or unexpected incidents.

In the subsequent inspections, the only phenomenon that could be called abnormal was that Aimou’s basic framework underwent some changes, with Alchemy Matrix patterns observable, and the metal seemed to undergo some quality transformation, gradually turning into crystals—crystalline like rubies.

The research on Aimou continues. As the first artificially created life capable of ascension, her importance to the Order Bureau is similar to Bologue—one targeting the Devil’s endeavors and the other as the dawn of artificial life.

Aimou took a seat next to Bologue, and Serey served her the same cup of orange juice, according to Serey, underage individuals should not consume alcohol.

As time passed, everything steadily developed, and Bologue and Aimou casually chatted about recent events, while Aimou lamented the swift passage of time.

She still remembers that exactly one year ago, it was around this time that Aimou met Bologue, and then all those chaotic things happened, shaping the current situation.

Bologue shared a similar lament, occasionally muttering, "It’s already the third year."

Time.

Bologue often felt a kind of inexplicable helplessness about the rapid passage of time, as if the familiar world was collapsing before him, gradually losing the sense of recognition of time.

How old am I really?

Bologue often asks himself this, unable to give a precise answer.

A centenarian? Bologue feels that he has nothing to do with being old.

A young person? Bologue also feels that his mentality cannot be as relaxed as a young person’s. He always feels something heavy weighs on his mind, unbearably so. Bologue doesn’t understand what that something is.

Perhaps it is the ubiquitous pressure.

Indeed, pressure.

From distant Devil schemes, the unpredictable future, changing situations, to the nearby Evil Spirit...

The more Bologue thinks, the more chaotic his thoughts become, like thousands of mosquitoes buzzing, making his brow tightly knit and his expression solemn and cold.

"Bologue?"

A voice interrupted Bologue’s contemplation, he turned his head to see Aimou looking at him with a concerned expression.

She hesitated and whispered, "Has it started again?"

Bologue paused, reluctantly nodded, "Yeah, it’s starting to feel like that again, countless thoughts rush in, about to overwhelm a person."

Bologue knows he won’t be overwhelmed; he understands this.

The fracturing of reality triggered numerous aftereffects, and for Bologue, the most severe is knowing too many secrets.

Ethereal Realm, Ether tides, original elements, Devil disputes, Dawn War, Chosen One...

Any single information taken out is enough to detonate the entire Extraordinary World with shocking secrets, yet all these secrets are crammed into Bologue’s mind, making him more aware than anyone of his true place in the world, and that awareness brings considerable unease.

Palmer and Hart laughed loudly, then downed their drinks in one gulp. At times like these, Bologue envies these fools; they need not worry about these matters. As for dragging them into it? Even if regulations permitted, Bologue wouldn’t do such a thing.

What would it matter if fools knew those secrets? Besides getting drunk, they couldn’t do anything. Suitable people do suitable things; these fools have energy to burn, that’s their place. Bologue has a determined heart, so he is troubled by the true visage of the world.

Aimou advised, "Relax a bit, Bologue."

Bologue took a moment to breathe deeper and more evenly, sipping the orange juice—the cold liquid slid down his throat like pouring cold water onto overheated machinery, making Bologue feel considerably better.

"It’s nothing, just the usual... trouble."

Bologue explained, Aimou having undergone a new round of changes, becoming extremely adept at observing others, rendering various micro-expressions incapable of deceiving her. Coupled with a mind rich in knowledge, she seemed like a human lie-detector.

Not long ago, Aimou noticed Bologue in a corner, head down in contemplation, sensing the emotions and expressions flowing over him. Bologue didn’t elaborate his troubles to Aimou, something like this he could only endure alone, but Aimou found ways to help based on the knowledge she learned from books.

"You should see a doctor."

Aimou feels Bologue’s condition might relate to psychological issues. In her view, she never considered Bologue mentally healthy. Although previously Bologue was somewhat twisted, he could at least maintain psychological balance. Now, Bologue seems somewhat worse off.

"No need, I know what those doctors will say."

Bologue is well aware of his situation and the challenges he faces, "Doctors would say I have anxiety or something."

Bologue acknowledges the world’s true and cruel visage, though he lacks the corresponding strength to face the cruelty.

Now Bologue is just an ordinary Prayer Believer; within the Great Rift, he might be powerful, but in the Extraordinary War, he’s merely an insignificant pawn.

Bologue is acutely aware of this, much like his time in the military, where even the strongest soldier in the platoon seems tiny compared to the grand scale of warfare.

The weakness of his own strength contributes to Bologue’s stress, though he has no means to change it, not in the short term. Bologue can’t persuade himself to stop pondering, so he can only relish this pain and find enjoyment in it.

"Are there only us here today?"

Bologue tried to forget those matters, focusing his mind on the gathering.

Aimou said, "Other people are coming."

New friends... that’s right, new friends.

Hart became a communication bridge between the Special Operations Group and the Sixth Group. For this reason, Bologue met many new friends, offering them psychological counseling, and these new friends gradually accepted this odd place, the Undying Club.

Just as they spoke, another knock at the door sounded—they were arriving.