Gun of Ashes

”You are the link of that meme contamination. As long as you die, all his attempts will fail, but once you are captured, using you as the hub, that erosion will devour countless people.”

”So you risked your life to come back just to kill me?”

Selyu found it a bit amusing.

”Maybe. Maybe I would change my mind and run away with you?”

Lorenzo said, laughing too. He knew very well this was just bullshit. They were dozens of kilometers away from the nearest town— even if Lawrence couldn’t catch them, they would freeze to death in the blizzard.

This was a battleground Lorenzo had carefully selected. Win, and it would be Lawrence’s graveyard; lose, and it would be Lorenzo’s... Selyu would at most be a companion in the grave.

”Of course, or we all die together, taking a bath in the lava of Hell? I wonder whether the baths in Hell are mixed-gender.”

Lorenzo said, sounding somewhat longing.

”I’m going to Heaven, you bastard.”

Selyu cursed angrily.

But what followed was silence, the sound of the wind, the roar of engines, the screeching of the Nail Sword gradually tearing through the carriage, and the heartbeat of the two at that moment.

”Little Nightingale... I need a red rose.”

Lorenzo recalled the words in the story, pleading.

Selyu was Lawrence’s only target, and this was Lorenzo’s leverage to maneuver with Lawrence and find a chance to counter-kill.

Lorenzo slowly raised the Nail Sword.

”Will you hate me, Selyu?”

”Consider it a debt repaid,” Selyu replied. ”Without you, I would have died in Gaulunaro. In comparison, I have to thank you, Mr. Holmes; thanks to you, I’ve been alive for this long.”

She mocked fiercely and sarcastically.

”Oh oh oh! What an honor indeed!”

Lorenzo shamelessly answered.

His voice was very excited, but his gaze was weary. Lawrence was absurdly strong, his hands had long gone numb from the high-intensity sword fight. Lorenzo barely felt his arms and could only keep the Nail Sword in his line of sight to judge that he hadn’t let go of the sword.

”Wanna have a chat? That’s how it usually goes in stories; everyone chats and confesses, then goes off to die bravely.”

”Is it necessary? I’m still a priest, after all, delivering last rites before death is one of my professional skills, though generally speaking, Demons don’t need it.”

Continuing with this nonsense, he made a show of crossing himself on his chest, as if unwilling to let this girl die, speaking a few more words in hopes she might live a few more minutes.

”I...”

Selyu was about to say something but was quickly interrupted by Lorenzo.

”I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

The Priest winked at Selyu; after all these years, he hadn’t forgotten what he learned in the Demon Hunting Order.

”Well, after all, it’s all about connections. There’s no need to go through the process; my sword is fast, you can sleep your way up to Heaven.”

Hearing him say this, Selyu was amused despite herself.

”Are you personally sending me to Heaven then?”

”Then be sure to give me a good review,” Lorenzo said, ”If by chance that God thing really exists, seeing me serving Him, killing Demons for so many years, He might just pull me up to Heaven as well?”

As if he thought of some ghostly thing, Lorenzo patted Selyu on the shoulder, looking like a good brother.

”At that time, everyone can take a bath in the lava... ah no, in the Holy Water!”

The cheerful voice gradually hushed, the nonsense stopped here, and Lorenzo’s expression turned somber and solemn.

Finally, he slowly stood up, the Nail Sword suspended above Selyu’s head.

”Actually... there’s no God, right? Nor is there any afterlife world.”

Selyu asked a bit naïvely.

Lorenzo numbly nodded, repeating what he had once said to Sabo.

”Dead is just dead, there’s no Heaven or Hell, only eternal tranquility.”

He took one last look at Selyu.

”Some things you can only decide when they’re right in front of you... Any last words?”

Selyu said nothing; thinking about it, she truly had no parting words to say, no messages for friends, unfinished ideals, or any regrets.

At this moment, there was nothing left really. She had no family, no friends, the only friend she could count was the demon hunter, who was about to personally send her to Heaven... Selyu couldn’t think of anything, suddenly realizing how utterly alone she was.

Death, which should be so profound and solemn, seemed so ridiculous under Lorenzo’s conduct.

She shook her head, not even having time to say goodbye. Lorenzo wielded the Nail Sword and fiercely chopped down. Selyu squeezed her eyes shut.

All the sounds disappeared for a moment, and the entire world fell silent.

Ear-splitting silence.