Gun of Ashes

”So, regarding the continuation of alchemists, within our group, it’s a one-on-one apprenticeship system. All the knowledge is recorded in notes, passed down to the next apprentice. Each alchemist has a corresponding cipher book to ensure their skills aren’t obtained by other alchemists. Even if someone gets the notes, they can’t make sense of them.”

”But this also leads to a very serious problem.”

Merlin spoke with a hint of sadness.

”Alchemy is extremely prone to technological discontinuity.”

In the long research process, each alchemist exists independently, mastering different technologies. Yet once a heritage breaks, the lengthy research is reduced to nothing, and even if one or two pages are missing from the notes, the entire alchemy system may collapse.

”Alchemy’s heritage today is like a precarious tower. Each broken heritage pulls out a brick, while modern science shares everything; scholars spend their lives researching different directions, continuously reinforcing the tower.”

”Even if dead books are left behind, some alchemical notes carry varying degrees of erosion due to the knowledge about demons. Research may turn you into a demon.”

Merlin sighed, seemingly having suffered losses.

”Then why not expand recruitment? Facing such a situation, why aren’t you willing to find more apprentices?”

Lorenzo was a bit puzzled; the best way to deal with discontinuity is to find more apprentices, isn’t it?

”I’ve managed to control my greed for knowledge, but what about my apprentices? Moreover, in the construction of alchemy, only a few can reach the extreme.”

Merlin suddenly revealed a peculiar smile, as if everything before was a setup leading to the next topic. Lorenzo felt uneasy sitting on the electrified iron railing.

”And there’s another point: alchemy is destined to be abandoned by the times... You should deeply understand this, Mr. Holmes.”

”Deeply understand? I’m completely unaware of alchemy, Merlin.”

Lorenzo shook his head; after all, the university in Old Dunling doesn’t teach this, and he couldn’t audit even if he wanted to.

”A reminder, the Evangelical Church’s ’Revelation’.”

He smiled.

Lorenzo’s pupils narrowed, with an extremely vigilant gaze.

”You mean it’s actually an alchemical note?”

”No, impossible. I’ve never even seen that book, but it has a fascinating commonality with alchemy—’core technology.’”

Merlin slowly revealed the truth within.

”The Evangelical Church lost ’Revelation’ and thus lost the Secret Blood technology. Once an alchemist dies, the alchemy supporting the entire society breaks... Building a stable society that can resist demons using this as core technology... don’t you think the risk is too high?”

This is the current crisis of the Evangelical Church; when the Night of the Holy Arrival erupted, all the alchemists perished, and the mysterious ’Revelation’ was stolen by Dean Lawrence, leading to the abrupt end of the powerful Secret Blood technology.

”This is why the Purification Mechanism gradually reduces its reliance on alchemy. If I die, or if no apprentice can inherit, it’ll be a similar crisis to the Evangelical Church. But it’s different with modern technology; when I die, multiple excellent universities in Old Dunling keep supplying talent, even the whole Ingwig, the entire Western world.”

This is the advantage of promoting basic knowledge; no matter how terrifying the war, the world won’t regress to that benighted era. Even the most ordinary train conductor will learn basic mechanical repair under long-term exposure.

”And that’s not the reason alchemy is destined to be abandoned. Its productivity was just right in the old times, but now it’s different; this is a new era, the steam era, the industrial era. We have the world’s most powerful production lines, weapons are no longer the meticulously crafted blades of artisans, but modern weapons flowing from production lines.”

”Alchemy is destined to be forsaken; I just accelerated its pace.”

It was like a grand speech, or like a mournful funeral.

The funeral of alchemy, the funeral of the old era.

”Now, let’s talk about the situation where you piloted the Armor of Original Sin.”

For some reason, Merlin once again brought up the Armor of Original Sin, as if it were a deeply dug trap, and now he wanted to push Lorenzo in.

”You know, when you were dragged out of the armor, you were very quiet, with no reaction.”

”Like the appearance of being illuminated by the glory of a completed revolution?”

Lorenzo retorted.

”I couldn’t determine your state, but it felt familiar.”

Merlin ignored Lorenzo’s flippant words, seeing him as trying to change the topic.

”What are you familiar with?”

”Your state seemed like your soul wasn’t there anymore, a diversion or perhaps... ascension?”

Another corner of the truth had its dust wiped away. Lorenzo maintained calm on the surface, but inside he was tumultuous. If Merlin wasn’t bluffing, then clearly, the ’gap’ is related to the extremity of alchemy... ascension.

”Of course, you can’t achieve ascension, and whether ascension truly exists is a mystery.”

Merlin said.

At this moment, the cell door was knocked on. Unknown who was daring enough, Arthur got up and opened the door, accepting a black case.

”Well, Mr. Holmes, it seems the conversation can enter the second stage now.”

”What?”

Lorenzo was a bit dazed; indeed, these people were well-prepared, his coma in the armor merely advanced events.

Arthur put on gloves and opened the case, taking out something very familiar to Lorenzo—a segment of silver spine.

”Silver Binding Bolt... do you know this thing also has alchemical skills?”

Arthur asked.

Lorenzo naturally nodded. Not just the Silver Binding Bolt, the hunter’s authority is all activated via the engraved alchemy matrix.

”Then back to what I mentioned about technological discontinuity; do you know? Mr. Holmes, the alchemy on this Silver Binding Bolt far surpasses what I know, and it also has complex modern mechanics... some components are so precise that even we can’t manufacture them.”

Arthur’s voice carried a trace of fear.

”Do you know what this represents? The modern technology and alchemy of the Evangelical Church, at least in terms of casting technology, are far stronger than it appears.”

”But there’s a contradictory point; the Evangelical Church’s productivity can’t reach this level, its foundational technology doesn’t meet the standards. It’s like placing steam engine schematics hundreds of years back; they understand the principles of it, yet even basic metal smelting is beyond them.”

Arthur deeply looked at Lorenzo, slowing down his speech.

”Mr. Holmes, we decided to re-establish contact with the Evangelical Church, right after the celebration of Divine Birthday.”

”…”

Lorenzo fell silent, somewhat dazedly looking at Arthur, seemingly not understanding why he would do this or explain it to him.

”Wait… you tell me hoping I would join in as well?”

Lorenzo said, unable to hold back laughter; first Medanzo, then Arthur, it’s as if an unnamed force was manipulating fate, throwing him into the vortex’s center.

”I just think, given our cooperation and your connection with the Evangelical Church, it’s necessary for me to inform you. Moreover, you’re a demon hunter; you understand the Seven Hills, and it might come in handy.”

”No, no, no, no way. I’m not going back.”

Lorenzo refused, not even thinking about it much, seeing the cell like a gradually collapsing world.

”I won’t force you, and this is merely information sharing.”

Arthur maintained cold rationality, weighing the pros and cons.

”Well, let’s end it here for today. You don’t need to worry about us taking excessive measures on you; this cell is effective for only 24 hours. We need to ensure your state before letting you leave.”

Standing at the door, Arthur spoke again.

”Goodbye, Mr. Holmes.”