"Speaking of which, can you share your method of purifying pollution? I took in quite a bit of pollution today, and my head still hurts."
Chloe complained as she kicked off her shoes and sat cross-legged on the chair.
Her orange-red hair flickered like a quietly burning fireplace in the dimly lit room.
"That’s a reasonable request, but I can’t do it." Hughes spread his hands. "My ability to purify pollution comes from myself. I don’t even understand why it works. Maybe I’m just special?"
"What’s so special about a mortal? Have you come into contact with some extraordinary power? Performed any kind of ritual?"
"I have something related to the Sirens. But that sort of thing can’t be repeated, and I can’t reveal much about them either. You can ask them yourself and see if they’re willing to tell you."
What he was actually referring to was the Symbiotic Contract.
However, Hughes secretly knew that this purification ability was more likely to come from the Golden Throne.
But that was something he could never say aloud.
Besides, even if he did say it, it wouldn’t be of any use. He couldn’t exactly strap Chloe into the Golden Throne in his place.
"It can’t be repeated?"
"Yes, perhaps only I can possess it."
Well, after all, the Siren’s Symbiotic Contracts were already signed. Even if Chloe wanted to sign one, it was no longer possible.
"Then how exactly does this purification work? You don’t seem to need to perform a ritual every time."
"That’s right. I can directly purify Entity Pollution. You should know that I’ve been stockpiling quite a bit of pollution, right? The moment those things touch me, they’re automatically purified, just like snowflakes falling into my hands."
Chloe’s eyes revealed a hint of envy. "That simple? What’s the price?"
"It doesn’t seem like there is one… Does ’not being able to touch pollution because it gets purified instantly’ count?"
"That’s not a price at all!"
"Then I suppose there isn’t one."
"Ahhh, I’m so jealous, so jealous! Why can’t I have that ability? If I could purify pollution just by touching it, I could read whenever I want and study whenever I want! That would be amazing!"
Hughes recalled his days back on Earth, struggling through massive tomes.
Maybe things were more valuable precisely because they were hard to obtain.
In a world where knowledge was easily accessible, learning might just become a chore.
"Ahem, instead of being jealous, why don’t you try focusing the pollution into one part of your body? If I can touch it, I might be able to purify it for you."
Chloe was stunned. "That’s possible?"
"As long as I can touch it, I can purify it. I haven’t tried it yet, though."
Chloe thought for a moment, then lifted her hair, revealing her forehead.
"My head hurts. Put your hand here."
Hughes hesitated slightly before extending his hand.
Chloe tossed aside her hairpin and nun’s cap, grabbed Hughes’ hand, and placed it on her forehead.
"It seems to help a little… Wait, this only relieved the headache, it didn’t actually purify the pollution."
She kneaded Hughes’ hand, trying to shape it to better fit her forehead.
"The pollution is generated inside my body. I can’t control where it appears, and I can’t really sense it directly, but I can make a rough guess, at least, I have some in my brain."
"In your brain!? Can that even dissipate?"
"Pollution doesn’t dissipate; it only accumulates over time. I remember Nora left you with some medicine, right? The one that purifies pollution? That stuff works by absorbing some of the pollution after you consume it and then expelling it from your body."
Chloe’s face turned a little red. "Maybe it has to be taken inside the body."
Hughes took a sharp breath and quickly pulled his hand back. "You’re not planning to bite off my finger and swallow it, are you!?"
"What nonsense are you talking about!? T-That’s the practice of the Silent Sanctum! I was just giving an example!"
Chloe huffed angrily, only to see Hughes smiling as he extended his hand again.
"Actually, I have another theory, maybe drinking my blood would work too."
"You know Monica, right? That little one, don’t glare at me, I’m not calling you short. What I mean is, she discovered that pollution is afraid of the marks my blood leaves behind."
"Really? That works too?"
"Not sure. Want to give it a try?"
Chloe looked hesitant.
She clutched the hem of her nun’s robe, rubbing it between her fingers.
"You’re a mortal. If you lose too much blood, you’ll die, won’t you? And there’s no guarantee it’ll work."
"Still better than biting off a finger, right? Besides, I can heal myself, so there’s nothing to worry about."
If Hughes had suggested drinking his blood right from the start, Chloe probably would have refused.
But since he first mentioned swallowing his finger, suddenly drinking a little blood didn’t seem so unacceptable.
"...Fine. If you feel uncomfortable, let me know right away, okay?"
"Don’t worry, it’ll be fine."
He had the Symbiotic Contract, nothing could go wrong.
Chloe took Hughes’ hand and hesitated for a moment before gently opening her mouth.
The room was dimly lit, with flickering firelight casting shadows.
Her face was slightly flushed.
This action felt a little intimate, but it was necessary to deal with pollution.
Chloe glanced at Hughes.
His eyes were clear, filled only with a thirst for knowledge.
That inexplicably reassured her, making her feel less nervous.
She lowered her head and looked at Hughes’ hand.
Hughes held out his hand without moving.
Chloe revealed her teeth and slowly bit down.
Her teeth weren’t particularly sharp, but as an Extraordinary, she easily found the right angle and bit through the skin.
Blood began to flow, warm, slightly metallic, with a faint sweetness.
Perhaps she hesitated too much, as the wound wasn’t deep, and the blood only trickled out slowly.
Hughes raised an eyebrow, adjusted the angle of his hand slightly, and pressed it more firmly against her teeth.
Chloe’s expression showed slight surprise.
She felt the warm blood flowing faster in her mouth.
She wanted to say something, but all she could manage was a muffled "Mmmph."
Hughes’ unexpected action caught her off guard.
Her mind began racing, trying to find knowledge that could help her process the situation.
She was a Moth Chasing Fire, knowledge would surely save her!
Hughes, meanwhile, was deep in thought and didn’t notice Chloe’s dilemma.
He focused on the Symbiotic Contract within him, feeling puzzled.
There was no response from the Symbiotic Contract.
Previously, Hughes had tested it, whenever he was injured, the Symbiotic Contract would heal him immediately, regardless of whether he wanted it or not.
During the Monica pollution incident, Ash was injured, and the contract drained his life force to the brink of death.
Ash nearly had to sever the contract just to stop it.
Even then, the contract didn’t stop.
Because of that, Hughes had been worried about whether he could even draw blood smoothly.
But now, despite the wound on his finger, why wasn’t it healing?