This was important information. Evil gods could not hear, but they could speak. That trait seemed to be the exact opposite of a Machine Soul.
A Machine Soul could not speak, but it could understand human speech.
Theus could not help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed that Machine Souls and evil gods were not the same thing, though they were indeed similar in certain respects.
Moreover, summoning a Machine Soul would not cause Pollution to descend.
Speaking of Pollution, Theus looked at Chloe.
"How is it? Were you polluted?"
"A little, but it isn't serious. Mm, it seems this really is a good method. Unfortunately, most people can't use it. Not everyone possesses the ability to purify Pollution."
Chloe rubbed her temple and spoke with some delight.
"Then I'll keep guessing. I still haven't figured out what an evil god actually is."
"Again? Honestly, I don't think that's likely. Evil gods may be completely different from what you imagine."
"Completely different? Did I approach this from the wrong angle?"
"..."
"I see. If the direction was wrong, was I misled? For example, summoning an evil god isn't truly summoning it?"
"..."
"Not summoning... There must be some reason why evil gods are born from the flesh of shells, right? Could Transcendents be polluted and become evil gods?"
"Sigh, no."
Chloe sighed.
"Think carefully. You used shells to summon evil gods. In other words, evil gods can be born through a fixed process."
Chloe closed her mouth.
"At the same time, evil gods can also take away Pollution. Evil gods are cultivated from Pollution!"
Chloe shook her head. "Our ability to have evil gods take away Pollution is a unique ritual. It has nothing to do with evil gods themselves. You're getting further and further off track.