Gun of Ashes

Lorenzo picked up the Nail Sword and Winchester.

The slender Nail Sword was like a sharp long nail, without a sword guard, the blade was directly connected to the hilt, with grooves and patterns engraved on its slender blade, resembling a fleeting meteor.

”They say the long nail is a very religious artifact.”

Lorenzo gently stroked the Nail Sword; this wasn’t a Nail Sword plated with Holy Silver, but a replica made by Oscar, identical in appearance and familiar in use, though it lacked the power to suppress Demons. The Nail Sword was made from a metal called Pine Iron, incredibly sturdy.

During the battle with the new Order aboard the Reichenbach, Lorenzo used this Nail Sword. Thanks to its toughness, Lorenzo managed to endure through that high-intensity fight.

”In the ’Gospel,’ the offspring of God was nailed to a cross. Therefore, the long nail was seen as a weapon to slay God, and when we punish heretics, we do the same. The ’Gospel’ also states that Demons are shadows of God and can be understood as His impurities, an inseparable part of God.”

Seeing Hebdo’s curious expression, Lorenzo handed over the Nail Sword.

”Just like we can’t shake off our shadows.”

Taking the deadly weapon, Hebdo whispered.

”Yes, to some Clergy, Demons carry a part of God, thus they craft weapons in the shape of long nails, hoping they possess the power to kill.”

Lorenzo spoke and then laughed dismissively.

”In reality, it’s all nonsense. The Nail Sword effectively slays Demons simply because it’s plated with Holy Silver.”

Lorenzo said while taking another Nail Sword from the guitar case, its blade was astonishingly smooth, like a mirror.

”But sometimes I wonder, could it be that the Nail Sword is indeed a ’long nail’?”

”What do you mean?”

Lorenzo gazed at Hebdo, sharing his speculation.

”Literally, the Nail Sword is a ’long nail’ used to pin something... perhaps referred to as God, onto an even larger cross.”

Hebdo was startled, before he could voice his question, Lorenzo had already moved on with a smile.

”Who says God has to be the same size as humans.”

Seeing Lorenzo like that, everything was just as Arthur had told him, an unpredictable person. Hebdo still remembered Lorenzo’s fierce demeanor when he confessed everything, but now he seemed like his usual self, with the hidden fury set aside.

”Regarding you, all my intelligence comes from Arthur; he has an interesting evaluation of you.”

Hebdo placed the Nail Sword back into the guitar case and spoke to Lorenzo.

Both were waiting for a suitable moment for conversation; the earlier furious scene was inappropriate, but now, in the late night with only the two of them awake, a strange story had opened the situation, and everything felt quite good.

”Let’s hear it.”

Lorenzo dismantled the Winchester, inspecting its components.

”Love and hate.”

”Ah?”

Lorenzo was nauseated by this review.

”He said you’re like a sword hanging above everyone’s heads, chasing Demons to annihilate them completely. Arthur expressed his fear of a future where you kill all Demons, then turn to expel humans who use demons’ power.”

Hebdo described an almost impossible future.

”Not likely, even if I could truly kill all Demons... Actually, I don’t dislike the use of power; what I detest is the misuse of power.”

”Such as... the remnants of Lawrence?”

Hebdo recalled the somewhat unfamiliar term.

”I have witnessed the cost of power misuse, and I won’t allow it to happen again. The tragedy of the Night of the Holy Arrival doesn’t need to be repeated.” Lorenzo said.

”Exactly, the love and hate; Arthur said, in some sense, you are a righteous man, doing everything just to maintain world peace.”

Hebdo was amused by his own portrayal.

”But Arthur is also worried that if the Purification Mechanism further increases its use of Demons, would you choose to stand against the Purification Mechanism? Would you destroy the mechanism that abuses power?”

”Why, am I on the assassination list of the Purification Mechanism?”

Lorenzo asked, actually what Hebdo talked about had already occurred; in Black Mountain Hospital Lorenzo had developed a conflict with the Purification Mechanism, fortunately they united again in the end.

”No, Arthur said he worried for a long time, but suddenly one day he figured it out.” Hebdo recalled Arthur’s words to him, ”He said, if one day Lorenzo Holmes personally comes to kill him, then he deserves it.”

Observing Lorenzo’s reaction, Hebdo continued.

”At the time I didn’t understand what he meant, but after meeting you I suddenly understood, you are the sword hanging over his head. If you resolve to kill him, Arthur must have been enticed by power, obsessed by it.

He said he was glad, glad that Lorenzo Holmes exists in the world.

Humans are easily tempted, even selling souls for ridiculous reasons, but your existence is the world’s bulwark, before those madmen sell their souls, you would first kill them.”

Lorenzo wasn’t greatly affected by the praise, unmoved.

”Let’s talk about you, Hebdo, perhaps your past? I’m truly curious what experiences you had to resonate with that ghost story.”

Thinking of the love story just recounted, Lorenzo found it ridiculous, it should be changed into ’Victoria’s Marvelous Adventure.’

”Actually, it doesn’t really resonate, just long ago someone asked me the same question. In the Viking kingdoms, there is a legend that at the end of the north lies the World’s End, but no one knows what exactly is there.

She was a fine navigator; she said she wanted to see the World’s End. I thought it absurd, just a legend, but she was stubborn, refused to listen, saying she must find it. She told me she needed a sailor, asked if I wanted to join.”

Hebdo’s voice was calm, as if recounting another’s story.

”Later, I refused. I thought it was a meaningless journey, just a waste of time. I felt she would give up, return ashamed, and tell me I was right.

But she never came back, I’ve never seen that ship again.”

Hebdo felt somewhat tired, leaning against the sofa just as Lorenzo usually did.

”A terrible story.”

Lorenzo said as he stood up, still clutching that sharp Nail Sword.

”But it’s a good night, don’t you think? We’ve started to understand each other, a good beginning.”

From now on, Hebdo finally shed his stranger label in Lorenzo’s eyes, which is exactly what Lorenzo wanted; he wouldn’t want to entrust a stranger when slaying Demons.

”Wake the others, stay here.”

Lorenzo said while picking up the Winchester again; while chatting just now he had reassembled the short-barreled shotgun.

”What’s wrong?” Hebdo asked.

”Actually, I also wish for a day where I truly retire, but I always feel it’s unlikely.”

Lorenzo muttered, leaning against the door, the Demon Hunter’s keen senses had long perceived those anomalies.

”We have guests, Hebdo.”

He said, pushing open the door; no one was in the corridor. Lorenzo pressed the switch on the wall, the lights went out one by one, concealing himself in darkness, and just then, faint footsteps arrived belatedly.