Endless Debt

Under the thick night, the priest's church is not easy to find. It is hidden among a group of low buildings, with a faint light shining through the gaps, like a distant firefly rising in the fields. If you hadn't encountered it on the road, Arriving at the townspeople, without their guidance, it would be difficult for Boluogo to find this place for a while.

Unlike the priest's lofty status in Greystone Town, his church was small and even a little dilapidated. The bricks and stones of the building were full of gaps and notches. The earthquake failed to shake this small church. In the days that followed, The chapel has also not been restored.

This is strange. Along the way, the houses Bologo saw have been restored to varying degrees, and some have simply been rebuilt.

In contrast, the priest's residence seemed to have been forgotten, which puzzled Borrogo.

Bologo said, "People in Old Town said that he lived an ascetic life. It seems that this asceticism is more heavy than I imagined."

"Can anyone really cut off all desires?" Aimu asked.

"I don't know," Bologg continued, "Why don't we ask, if a person loses all desires, will he still be a human being?"

Boluogo's question silenced Aimu. As a scholar, it is Aimu's instinct to explore the unknown.

"I've read studies on similar issues."

"Why do you read that kind of thing?" Borlog asked curiously.

"I just suddenly became curious... After all, if human beings are castrated at the spiritual level and completely eliminate the birth of desire, can the existence of devils be greatly restricted?"

"Spiritual castration? It sounds like it can indeed contain the devils, but human civilization may become lifeless."

Let's not talk about whether mental castration can be performed. Just thinking about such a human society makes Boluogo feel bored.

Aimu expressed his thoughts, "Desire is a double-edged sword. Under good control, it will become the driving force that urges us to move forward, but once left unchecked, it will turn into wildfire and burn us to bones."

"If the priest is really, as the townspeople say, a saint who is extremely pious and abides by the precepts, then he will definitely be able to put an end to all the temptations of the devil."

"Similarly," said Borogo, "if he fails to maintain his virtue..."

"What will happen?" Aimu asked.

“He may give up on himself, slide from one extreme to another, and become a monster with insatiable desires,” Bologo said. “I have experienced such extremes. During that time, I felt that I was no different from a madman. "

Aimu knew about Boluogo's experience. During that time, Boluogo became a nightmare in the shadow of the city, killing demons and criminals wantonly every day. He was never merciful.

"But you're back to normal. I mean, although it's still a bit extreme, you can control yourself instead of becoming a disorderly monster." Aimu said.

"But this process is not easy, Aimu," Bologg said. "When a certain belief or dogma that you firmly believe in is shattered, your first thought may not be to fall, but to drag everyone into your trap." In anger, take them and your broken beliefs and dogmas into the sea of ​​fire."

Boluogo's attitude became slightly more proud, "I can rebuild my own belief, but I don't know if others can achieve the same miracle as me."

After the discussion, the door of the church was pushed open. After a babbling sound, Boluogo walked into the quiet church.

The interior of the church is very spacious, with wooden benches on both sides. Strips of white candlelight sway on the tall candlesticks, emitting a weak flame. The dim light illuminates the entire space, reflecting on the vaulted ceiling. It is small and dilapidated, but it still exudes a solemn and solemn atmosphere.

Boluogo didn't find the priest, but he smelled a trace of blood in the air that he shouldn't have.

Standing there, the etheric perceptions expanded in all directions like flowing water. They rushed along the corridor and penetrated into the gaps between the bricks and stones.

Boluogo didn't notice any etheric reaction. Under this blind-sight perception, a faint sound broke the silence, and weak footsteps came from afar. The footsteps were a bit disordered, as if the other party was injured. The steps were a little staggering.

Holding on to the suitcase, the snake scale liquid was swimming freely. Boluogo looked warily at the shadow between the cracks, and a figure slowly emerged.

"I'm sorry, Father, to disturb you so late."

Boluogo's voice was steady. As he spoke, he walked forward. The smell of blood on the tip of his nose became stronger, and the dripping sound of liquid could be heard.

"Are you injured?"

Bologo stopped a few meters away from the priest. This was a safe distance, whether for offense or defense.

"I...I'm a little hurt, but it's okay."

In the darkness, the figure of the priest gradually became clearer. It was not a good time for Boluogo to disturb him. The priest was naked, his chest was dripping with sweat, and his back was a bloody mess.

"You..." This sight surprised Boluogo.

"Sorry for letting you see this."

The priest pushed up the brown glasses on the bridge of his nose, and then raised the bloody leather whip in his hand.

Different from the murder case that Borlogo suspected, the priest was just self-flagellation, and in this small chapel, there was only a wall between Borlogo and the priest, which disturbed his asceticism.

"If anything happens, please wait for me."

The priest said and disappeared into the darkness again. Bologg heard the sound of water, he should be wiping his wounds, and the sound of clothes rubbing against his body.

"Is this asceticism?" Aimu sighed, "It's so cruel to yourself."

Boluogo said nothing. After waiting for a few minutes, the priest came out again, but this time he put on his iconic clothes with a slightly pale smile on his face. The pain in his back during the movement made him The movements are a little slow.

"Do you always beat yourself up like this?" Boluogo asked first, with a strong and aggressive voice.

"That's what I do whenever desire rises."

The priest was not offended by Bologna's rudeness.

"What desire?" Boluoge still maintained his strength, "Can you, who is so ascetic, still be affected by the desires of the world?"

"It was fine before and I could control myself very well, but recently..."

The priest smiled helplessly and turned to talk about something else. "The best way to control desires is to completely eliminate some influencing factors. Therefore, many monasteries are built in inaccessible and desperate situations. The more involved you are in the world, the easier it is to affected.

Before, Greystone Town was still a small place with not many outsiders at all. Everyone was attracted by Oath City and Opos. The place has become cleaner, but recently there have been more foreigners here, and they have brought many colorful things. things, I will inevitably be affected. "

The priest did not hide anything and directly confessed his heart, "This pain is beautiful, but I am very happy."

Bologo continued to maintain a tough attitude, "Why? Feeling happy because of pain? This is too anti-human."

"Bologo, what's wrong with you?"

Aimu interjected in Boluogo's mind. From the beginning, Boluogo's tone was extremely strong, as if he was interrogating the priest. As long as his answer was slightly wrong, Boluogo would draw his sword and chop him. .

Although this is in line with Bologe's style, Aimu feels that Bologe should be more rational, but for some reason, Bologe is unexpectedly impulsive now.

"Asceticism itself is anti-human, and it is precisely because of anti-human nature that we can be liberated from desire."

The priest maintained restraint and calmness, "As for why he feels happy, it is very simple. After the disaster, Greystone Town is ushering in a new round of development, and the townspeople will live a better life. Although this will give rise to many desires, To influence me, but compared to the happiness of the townspeople, my suffering is nothing."

"I am moved by your piety." After Amu's reminder, Boluogo became polite.

"I remember you, the stranger from the sermon, what do you want to see me for?" Only then did the priest ask Boluogo's purpose.

"I am a prospector from Oath City Opos. I think someone has told you of my arrival."

Bologo did not take out his identification this time, but raised the suitcase in his hand. It was made of barrier metal, and contained the Resentful Bite and Brutal Saw Axe. But under Bologo's performance, It's plain like a real toolbox, filled with work tools.

"I want to ask, why do you want to block the iron fence?" Boluogo asked.

"Are you referring to the gray stone rift leading to the Great Rift?" the priest said, "That's right. After the rift appeared, many young people were curious and always wanted to explore along this road. It was too dangerous at the bottom of the big chasm, so I asked people to surround it.”

Everything the priest said was for the sake of the townspeople. He was a little too perfect, so perfect that it felt false.

"But I heard from the guards that the townspeople are having nightmares about the evil power coming from the Great Rift."

Boluogo's eyes narrowed, carefully analyzing any changes in the priest's expression.

"What do you think about this?"

"Evil force?"

The priest's expression was slightly surprised, but he quickly calmed down and still had that kind smile on his face.

"I know this. This rumor caused a lot of panic in the old town..."

"But after your sermon, the power of faith defeated fear?" Bologo interrupted the priest.

The priest's perfection and his own instinct made Boluogo always feel that there was something wrong with the priest, and his previous work experience told Boluogo that in such a closed town, it is most likely to breed ignorant and evil beliefs.

"No," the priest shook his head and laughed twice, "How can faith be so useful?"

Boluogo was stunned. The priest's answer was unexpected.

"I invited a doctor and conducted a series of diagnoses. The doctor said that this may be because the disaster has left such a deep shadow in people's hearts that it has created a psychological shadow panic on a collective level."

Bologger paused, "I thought you would say that it was faith that saved the townspeople."

"If faith could be used so easily, there wouldn't be so much suffering in this world." The priest said meaningfully.

"You are different from many priests I have met."

"What's different?"

"You are much more enlightened than I thought. Logically speaking, devout people like you tend to become very extreme... to the point of being a little stupid. You would rather believe that holy water can cure diseases than inject medicine," Bo Luo Ge praised, "You are sensible, pious and perfect."

"Don't praise me too much, stranger. I just did what I should do. As for what you said..."

The priest thought for a while, "I am different from clergy in the traditional sense. To be precise, I do believe in gods, but I will not let my belief in gods restrict me too much."

Boluogo became interested, "Can you tell me about it?"

At this time, Boluogo was more curious about the existence of the priest than he was aware of the evil craziness. In today's world, there are not many people as complicated as him. On the one hand, he is extremely pious, and on the other hand, he says that he is not. Will be bound by faith.

Borrogo wanted to know what the priest was thinking.

"It's very simple. Suppose there is a person in front of you. He will do evil next, including murder and robbery. In short, he is on the road to depravity.

But now that you know what he's going to do next, what will you do? "

"Kill him and put an end to the possibility of evil happening," Bologo said.

"But your act of killing is itself a sin. In order to prevent one sin, it will lead to another sin. Do you think this is okay?"

"Then I don't have to kill him, I can just knock him out."

"You just postpone the problem, and when he wakes up, he will still fall."

"I'm not a member of the clergy," Bologeau said.

"But I am, I am bound by faith. These actions may be easy for you, but I am different...I have sworn an oath." The priest said.

"Then what do you think we should do?" Bologg asked.

"Influence him, let him receive God's favor, and do good."

"Do you think it would be so easy to change a person?" Boluogo shook his head. "This is too unrealistic, and it sounds... very pedantic and rigid, and it will only be counterproductive."

Boluogo's words aroused the priest's memories. He couldn't help but agree with Boluogo's words and nodded slightly.

"So, if I were faced with this choice, I would agree with you."

"What?"

Boluogo suspected that he had heard wrongly. Such a pious and kind-hearted priest would actually agree with his idea.

"Kill him and nip the crime in the cradle before it happens."

The priest said in a strong voice, "No mercy, no mercy."

"But like you said, you killed someone and took the guilt, and you became a monster like him," Bologo said.

"What's wrong with this?"

The priest shook his head in confusion, "As long as I sacrifice one person, I can save countless potentially innocent people. Isn't this the greatest kindness?"

Boluogo's eyes froze for a moment, showing an expression of disbelief, and then he laughed sincerely.

Bologna began to like the priest.