Gun of Ashes

The scenery outside the window was rushing by, and the slowly falling snowflakes were now speeding up, falling like a heavy rain.

”You seem to have a good appetite.”

Lorenzo propped his chin, watching Selyu as she stuffed bread into her mouth.

This girl had completely cast aside those noble halos, not caring about her image at all.

”It’s just been a long time since I’ve had something like this.”

Selyu swallowed the bread.

”Yawei never lets me eat things from outside, he says they’re all junk food.”

”It shows, you’re the continuation of the Stuart family, he sees you as more precious than anything.”

Lorenzo also picked up a piece of bread and started eating. Although demon hunters have strength and endurance beyond ordinary people, an empty stomach is always uncomfortable.

”But the more he stops me, the more I want to eat it. So sometimes I sneak out.”

”Like when you come to find me?”

Every time Selyu came looking for him, it ended with Lorenzo taking her out for food, and Yawei coming to pick her up.

”Probably.”

Lorenzo recalled his own experiences, and continued speaking.

”Actually, that’s quite understandable.”

”Back when I was in the Order, I often saw those, those holy and noble priests. They openly extolled God, but secretly indulged in bars and casinos.”

”Among them was a priest I once thought to be very devout, but he was the most enthusiastic gambler in the casino. I asked him why he did it, but he said he didn’t understand either. The more forbidden it is, the more it sparks human desire.”

”The doctrine says it’s humanity’s original sin. In face of that terrible temptation, even the firmest faith is vulnerable.”

But curiosity... is the desire to explore the unknown also an original sin?

As Lorenzo thought, he couldn’t help but touch the cigarette case in his pocket, which contained cigarettes with wind tobacco.

”Then one day, I suddenly became enlightened, and understood everything.”

”Sometimes, perhaps people just need this sort of thing.”

”What sort of thing?”

Selyu asked curiously.

”Forbidden pleasures.”

Lorenzo replied mysteriously.

”Mental confinement is temporary. The more you warn, the less fear mankind feels, instead... more curiosity.”

”Like flames.”

Selyu said.

”Yes, I often hear people talk about the issue of educating children.”

Lorenzo thought of Mrs. Van Rudd, who once told him a story.

”No matter how much you warn a child not to approach the fireplace, they can’t resist the curiosity to touch it. Instead of waiting for the event to happen, it’s better to let them feel pain from the start, so the children develop an awe for the flame.”

The voice suddenly paused, and Lorenzo sensed something, like knowing the existence of something, but not knowing what it is, or even how to describe it.

Humans and demons, so much like everything in stories.

Lorenzo seemed to have glimpsed the root source; could it be that demons are this ”forbidden pleasure”?

No matter how much warning there is, it doesn’t work; humans will eventually touch that unknown power. Instead of being caught off guard, it’s better to release it from the start and let humans learn to respect the unknown.

A painful shriek flashed through his brain, as if it was a punishment for Lorenzo perceiving the truth.

He frowned, couldn’t resist lighting another cigarette, but before he could take out the cigarette case, Selyu stopped him.

”Smoking is prohibited on the train.”

Lorenzo paused, put away the cigarette case, his expression slightly fierce.

”I always felt someone like you wouldn’t smoke.”

Selyu said.

”For an ascetic monk, smoking is probably comparable to drinking.”

Lorenzo shook his head.

”It’s just to ease a little pressure.”

”Then you can eat candy.”

Selyu extended her hand, still wrapped in colorful paper, but no one knew if it was that odd-flavored candy inside.

”I usually eat candy when I’m stressed.”

She said it casually, but Lorenzo sharply smelled something off.

”You feel stressed?”

The girl deliberately widened her eyes, then her expression became intense.

”Whoa, Mr. Holmes, when did you become so perceptive?”

Selyu had a look as if she’d seen a ghost.

She elongated her voice deliberately, full of mockery.

”I thought someone like you wouldn’t understand a girl’s mind, but I didn’t expect you to be this perceptive! Is it detective reasoning training? But you don’t seem like a proper detective!”

Lorenzo couldn’t help but halfway cover his face; once she caught onto something, she’d pursue it relentlessly.

”I’m not stupid. It’s important to be aware of the ’hostage’s’ mental state, isn’t it?”

”…”

”Oh.”

Selyu lowered her head and started eating bread again, and the atmosphere fell silent again.

It was true, she felt some stress, the pressure of death.

If what Lorenzo said was correct, this madman wanted to fulfill his great wish, and use her to chop up that rat named Lawrence.

”It’s cramped! Finally arrived!”

A cheerful voice suddenly rang out, presumably belonging to a young and robust fellow. Lorenzo found the voice familiar and couldn’t help but raise his head.

It was a middle-aged man with somewhat greying hair, wearing black sunglasses... actually Lorenzo found it difficult to judge his age because he appeared very old, but his attitude in life was vibrant, incredibly youthful. He greeted every passenger with a smile and greeted the ladies at the entrance of the carriage.

The whole carriage’s atmosphere was lifted by him, like a joyful party.

Lorenzo shifted his gaze back, he began to pray he wouldn’t sit opposite him, such eye-catching guys were the most troublesome.

But then a familiar voice rang out again, and Lorenzo even wondered if he was hallucinating, but then a familiar middle-aged man sat opposite him.

Lorenzo was somewhat stunned, and the man also seemed stunned, as he found Lorenzo somewhat familiar.

”Um... may I ask?”

He hadn’t finished asking when another man sat down, filling all the seats.

Sometimes when you worry about something, it appears; it turned out to be that guy who livens up the atmosphere.

But as he sat down, Lorenzo’s gaze froze, and the guy’s gaze froze too, their eyes meeting like long-lost brothers.

The old man lowered his sunglasses a bit, revealing vibrant eyes.

”Lorenzo Holmes, student?”

Lorenzo also lowered his tea-colored sunglasses a bit.

”Oscar Wilde, teacher?”

Selyu looked at the two suddenly recognizing each other with a bit of confusion, while nearby, the middle-aged man, Director Buscalo, watched Lorenzo’s familiar features with growing panic.

Although outwardly there were no firearms, he knew that damned Winchester was nearby. He wanted to call the conductor, but perhaps due to an accelerated heart rate, he pressed against his chest forcefully, eyes wide, like a duck about to be strangled.