Gun of Ashes

[Gap] Where does it come from, and what exactly is the Static Holy Temple... is it really just a building?

”What’s wrong, Lorenzo?”

Merlin looked at the suddenly silent Lorenzo. Although he had his head lowered, Merlin still saw the corners of his mouth gradually twisting, as if in a maniacal laugh.

”Huh?”

Lorenzo’s thoughts were interrupted, and he hurriedly put away his somewhat crazy smile.

”No, it’s just, I thought of many things.”

Is this the connection with the darkness? In an instant, many things that troubled Lorenzo were resolved. As for Watson and Medanzo, as long as he returns to the [Gap] and confirms everything with his own eyes, it should be fine.

”When can we start?”

Lorenzo, in contrast to his previous negativity, cooperated very well, which made Merlin a bit stunned, but then he said.

”The Black Angel still needs some adjustments. Any last words? What if you don’t come back?”

Merlin said while sitting beside Lorenzo, with a caring expression on his face.

”What do you want to do?”

”Just talk, to relieve the pressure and doubts in your mind, which can increase your survival rate in the upcoming experiment.”

”Wait, what does survival rate mean?”

”Because of the danger of the Black Angel. We still can’t find answers to its mysteries, and it also integrated the Holy Grail Flesh. You also have a certain proportion of it in you. Who knows what will happen when you enter? Maybe the two Holy Grail Fleshes will fuse and turn into a super demon. It’s hard to say, right?”

”Just kidding, just a joke.”

Lorenzo looked at that face with nerves all dead, as stiff as a brick. Any jokes said with that face had a cold feeling to them.

”Has anyone ever told you, Merlin, that you’re not suited for telling jokes?”

”Hmm... probably not, since I rarely tell them.”

”Now you know.”

The two oddballs sitting together gave off a peculiar atmosphere. Lorenzo occasionally glanced at Merlin out of the corner of his eye. Sometimes, this alchemist and demon hunter had a few similarities, both being misunderstood by ordinary people, and they seemed even more reclusive than demon hunters.

An awkward silence lasted for several seconds before Merlin suddenly asked again.

”Have you considered writing a will?”

”Please stop joking, okay?”

”I’m serious. Haven’t you thought about these things? Lorenzo, I always thought people in high-risk jobs like yours carry a will with them at all times.”

Merlin said earnestly.

”Think about it, Lorenzo. Human life is so fragile. You could slip and fall, hit your head on a protruding rock, and die like that, or get eaten by a demon that suddenly appeared. I know you demon hunters are not that fragile, but you’re not invincible, right?”

Lorenzo looked at him with a puzzled expression, while Merlin continued speaking.

”Like you, every time you kill a demon, you get injured, sometimes passing out... Haven’t you thought about the day you might not wake up?”

Merlin looked at him with an empty gaze, from which Lorenzo could read nothing.

”Haven’t been feeling well lately?”

”What do you mean?”

”Florence, ’Revelation’, etc., although I look like this, I am very sensitive to changes in people. Lorenzo, you’re being cautious of us... What are you afraid of? Let me guess.”

Merlin’s face pulled into a stiff smile. This alchemist was filled with oddity, and Lorenzo suspected that on his path to seeking truth, he had transformed himself into a non-human creation.

”Are you worried we will become the next Demon Hunting Order?” Merlin asked.

”’Revelation’ is not something ordinary people should understand. It brings out humanity’s worst traits, like the Demon Hunting Order. They initially used it to protect the world, then tried to conquer the world with it.”

Lorenzo didn’t answer directly but spoke of something else.

”I’ve thought about these things, Merlin. It’s just that I’ve looked for a long time and can’t find the answers.” He said while looking at Merlin, staring into those hollow eyes.

”Persuasion? Warning? None of these work. Even the Evangelical Church, those who deeply understand the history of demons, succumb to temptation. What about you? And what’s the use of a few people’s persistence?”

These things Lorenzo seemed to have understood long ago, answering calmly.

”You’re an organization, a group. One person’s will can’t change the overall thought. And ultimately, the real decision-maker is Queen Victoria, right? Compared to the interests of all Ingwig, what are demons?”

Merlin asked, ”If something you don’t want to see really happens, what will you do?”

”In my own way, just like before. Demons must be eradicated.”

Lorenzo responded briefly.

”Yes, that’s what I’ve always thought,” Merlin suddenly said.

”What do you think?”

”Humans have no good or evil, only different stances. Like you, Lorenzo Holmes, you want the destruction of demons. Everything related to demons should be buried in a sea of flames. But I’m different. Our stances will ultimately lead us to face each other, until we draw our swords... But in reality, neither of us is wrong, just different thoughts.”

Merlin continued, questioning Lorenzo.

”Do you know the curse of knowledge?”

The alchemist spoke calmly and, without waiting for Lorenzo to answer, began revealing all his secrets bit by bit.