Gun of Ashes

”You are still the same, Lorenzo. You know very well that you cannot die yet; your mission has not been accomplished.”

Medanzo said leisurely. He knew Lorenzo too well; there were many things he hadn’t done yet, and he would not die easily until these were accomplished.

”After you left last time, I thought for a long time. I contemplated what the [Gap] really is, what form this bizarre world exists in this world... even what form I am surviving in.”

As Medanzo spoke, he looked at Watson.

”Like her, is she really the person we once knew, or a demon in disguise?”

”Demon!”

Lorenzo shouted sternly.

”But what about me, Lorenzo?”

Medanzo immediately retorted.

”What is the difference between me and Watson? We both died but live in your mind, in this bizarre [Gap]. In reality, Watson and I are the same... just with a slight difference, but can this really distinguish us completely?”

Lorenzo paused slightly, wanting to argue back but unable to say anything.

”You see, Lorenzo, you are still trapped in the Church’s stupidity. Completely discard that so-called God and think with absolute rationality!”

Medanzo said once more.

After a long pause, Lorenzo’s voice finally rang out again.

”So is this why Watson could appear before me? You released her, allowing her to reappear... have you forgotten how great the price we paid was?”

Lorenzo was furious about this.

”I paid the price, Lorenzo!”

Medanzo’s voice was loud and imposing as always, intimidating the soul, but soon after, he didn’t continue; after a brief silence, he spoke softly.

”It seems I have occupied your thoughts, Lorenzo.”

Lorenzo stared at Medanzo. After he reached the [Gap], Watson, who had been almost forgotten, appeared.

Initially, he thought Watson had broken free of her shackles over time or by contacting demons again. But now, it apparently wasn’t the case, with Medanzo’s assistance in it, the one who slew the evil dragon was now aiding it.

”Let us calm down for a moment.”

After thinking for a long while, Lorenzo said slowly, keeping a safe distance, feeling that everything seemed cursed, as if none could be trusted.

Yet he still looked at Medanzo with some reluctance, as if unable to believe it could be like this. He said,

”Give me a reason, Medanzo, a reason I can accept.”

Seeing the possibility of continued conversation, Medanzo heaved a sigh of relief, saying,

”This stems from your departure last time. You should have noticed the bizarre nature of this place. Whether it’s me or Watson, we are trapped here...”

”What are you trying to say?”

Lorenzo asked, but as his voice fell, the whole world started to shift.

The ice field completely shattered, dark blue seawater surged through the cracks, engulfing everything. Lorenzo held tightly onto the ice floe beneath him, rolling amidst the clamorous waves. But as he was about to be crushed by the surging waves, everything fell silent again, as if swept by extreme cold; the roaring sea froze.

Just like a painter’s random stroke brought chaos to the entire painted world.

”This is... a world controlled by us.”

Medanzo’s voice rang out once more, contrasting Lorenzo’s disarray; his position had not changed slightly, as if protected by an unknown force, with neither tides nor shattered ice disrupting it.

”A world controlled by us?”

Lorenzo climbed from the ice surface. This is the [Gap], the deepest connection to darkness, how could it be a world controlled by Lorenzo?

”Indeed, that’s your flaw, Lorenzo. You’re too angry, too angry to try thinking about demons.”

”Thinking about them? I think their existence’s purpose is to be killed and eradicated completely!”

Lorenzo shouted angrily.

”So you were blinded by anger, never realizing the great wealth around you.”

Medanzo said somewhat distressed, Lorenzo was a smart person, but smart people sometimes miss the point altogether.

”We never truly understood demons from the beginning, due to their bizarre corruption, extremely aggressive nature, and the fact that they don’t speak human languages.”

Once more, Medanzo showcased his untimely humor.

”But haven’t you noticed, Lorenzo?”

He glanced at Watson beside him.

”By our side, there is the first demon who can engage in normal interactions without worrying about corruption. She’s from that sacred imitation of the Holy Grail, an artificial calamity, and she was once our best friend.”

Watson’s familiar face bore a faint smile, just like before.

”I should have thought of that earlier.”

Medanzo said toward Watson.

”You’re making a deal with demons! A deal with the devil!”

Lorenzo appeared still unable to accept it, extremely resistant to Watson, as if he had witnessed the burning Saint Nalos Cathedral that night, a fire yet to be extinguished, still burning in his heart.

”But aren’t we Demon Hunters born from demons? Lorenzo, some wrong decisions could lead to the right results.”

Medanzo questioned once again.

Then Medanzo seemed to have figured out something; words were never the best way to convince someone. Only making them see with their own eyes counted. He said to Watson,