Gun of Ashes

As he moved forward, the armor on his body fell off one by one, clattering to the ground, revealing the scarred body beneath.

He silently sat down beside 042, leaning against the wall together.

”Is it all done?” 042 asked.

”Yeah.” He replied, ”The out-of-control Demon Hunters have all been dealt with, they are now just bodies not yet cold.”

”What should we do next?” 042 asked again.

The man was silent for a long time, then smiled.

”Just like we planned before, head to Ingwig, head to Old Dunling, Florence is in chaos now, they don’t have the energy to look for us. As long as we take on new names, we can live like ordinary people.”

”Sounds really nice…”

042 said softly.

”Actually, thinking about it carefully now, isn’t freedom a heavy thing?”

Since this burning night began, 042 had been fighting continuously, killing one person after another, one Demon after another. He and the man fought their way out of the Seven Hills, broke through the Holy Hall Knight Order’s encirclement, they seized this departing ship, thinking they survived, but their companions fell into madness one by one.

Constantly killing, killing enemies, killing companions, until they killed themselves.

”But, at least we got it, 042, you never thought about it either, right? That one day we could really leave Florence, freely doing what we want.”

The man also raised his head, looking at that beautiful night sky.

”Yeah… just a bit regretful that 016 can’t see this.”

The man’s expression fell again, with sadness in his grey-blue eyes.

042 also stiffened slightly, he was also very sad, he wanted to comfort the man, but no words came out, after a long while, he said, somewhat helplessly.

”What a terrible night…”

On the road of escape, the two had exchanged information, about those happenings inside the Static Holy Temple, and those things occurring in the dry well.

Many people died tonight, familiar Demon Hunters, those high-ranking figures.

”So I was thinking, if the so-called Golden Era really came, wouldn’t that be great, there would be no Demons, 016 wouldn’t have died, these terrible things wouldn’t have happened.” 042 said.

”The Golden Era… sounds really good,” the man said as he brightened up, ”but don’t think about that, 042, our new life is within reach, think about the good things.”

”Good things, actually I’m not even sure what I’d do in Old Dunling, you know, I’m a bit boring.”

042 said and also started to laugh, the silent deck was piled with corpses, sailing quietly in the solemn world.

”Why not become my assistant then?” the man said.

”Are you really going to open an agency?”

”Of course, how many times have I said it, I’ll open a detective agency, with our Demon Hunter physique and abilities, we’ll make big money.”

”Sounds pretty good.”

”Naturally!”

The man was full of confidence, but then he became deep again, seriously asked.

”But… what do you really want to do? 042, this is my wish, not yours.”

”My… wish?”

”Yes, what do you want to do, 042, everyone has something they are dedicated to, it is those things that keep us going, what supports your wish?”

042 fell into silence, his gaze somewhat empty.