"You can take a guess."
Faced with Fu Qian's question, William, the Sin Seeker, was clearly reluctant to answer.
"A riddle, huh? Let me think."
Fu Qian rubbed his chin.
"I've heard of plenty of Death Games like this before."
"Usually, things like this are organized either to satisfy the perverse tastes of those in power, or to provide food for the devils of legend. The negative emotions people feel when threatened with death—pain, despair, anger, and the like."
"In this contest, that special concept was exceptionally conspicuous. It was directly manifested as Sin Fire."
"Considering that obtaining Sin Fire clearly strengthens you, that must be one of your goals."
"There's another question, too. You acted differently before and after."
"Earlier, you really did look like a mindless man in a can. It felt like, in that state, you were merely an image summoned here by some special means, not your complete self."
"If all you wanted was to collect Sin Fire, there'd be no need to go to so much trouble. You could've just come in your current form."
"Can I infer that you can't maintain your current appearance for long?"
Fu Qian watched the enforcer of justice with curiosity.
"That's long enough."
After a long silence, William finally answered.
As I thought. His earlier form was weak, but stable.
That must be why he didn't want to run a marathon with me. He couldn't keep this form up for long.
"So you realized Sin Fire could enhance your strength after you first discovered the statue and underwent purification?"
Fu Qian continued questioning him.
"It was later than that."
As if he'd realized he couldn't do anything to Fu Qian for the time being, William answered honestly.
"For a long time after that, I noticed no changes. Then one