Theus fell silent. After a while, he finally spoke in a low voice. "Th-this... should count as being undying, right? I thought immortality merely meant having an unlimited lifespan."
Chloe's description of immortality and being undying profoundly shocked him. Recalling Nora's words back then, he only now realized what terrifying undercurrents had been hidden beneath her casual tone.
No wonder Nora had called it a Transcendence curse.
"There isn't such a strict distinction between immortality and being undying. In fact, this world is very generous. Becoming stronger is easy—you get stuffed full of all sorts of abilities. It's just that paying the price isn't nearly so simple," Chloe said softly.
Theus thought it over carefully. It did seem to be true. Cognitive Interference was the simplest example. Want the world to become the way you wished? No problem at all. If you thought soap tasted good, then it tasted good.
But before long, the cruelty of that world warped by one's will would reveal itself.
Pollution poured down from the sky, then surged toward every living thing. With the Banshees' help, Theus had indeed cleared it away easily enough—but what if they had not been there?
Monica had been Polluted that day. If such monsters were everywhere, Castel would become a living hell.
Theus suddenly came to a realization. This world was not merely idealistic; it seemed to harbor a certain malice.
It fulfilled mortals' wishes in twisted ways.
Just like this immortality—after a moment of joy came endless, agonizing torment.
Theus pondered quietly, failing to notice that Chloe had gone silent at some point. Before he could come back to his senses, a sudden change occurred.
Chloe's hand had merely been holding his wrist, but it suddenly clenched tight. Theus felt his wrist being firmly restrained, and he could