Gun of Ashes

”The problem lies within those mists; you’ve been in a high concentration of hallucinogen all along.”

Red Falcon heard Lorenzo’s explanation of the story and couldn’t help but say.

”Yes, that’s the reason behind the strangeness of Valley Town. Doesn’t it sound cliché, like a thrilling and suspenseful murder case ending with the truth that the perpetrator is mentally ill?”

As if anticipating everyone’s reaction, Lorenzo continued.

”And this is the most unique and impressive part of the entire mission.”

”When facing the unknown, we continuously imagine, and established knowledge causes us to misjudge. Everything influences us bit by bit, making it difficult for us to uncover the most obvious and simplest truth.”

”Even if you keep absolute rationality, as long as there’s a hint of doubt, we may fall into this seamless trap.”

Lorenzo recalled the eerie feeling he had.

”A gloomy and isolated town, the crazy believers, the cruel rituals, the symbols guiding fear... Even today, the result of your reckless contact would still be like this.”

He glanced at the audience, ”Even having Geiger Counters, you may be more easily misled... It was misleading and hints from the very start, causing our thoughts to collapse.”

”The whole Valley Town is a trap leading people to madness.”

Lorenzo looked at the young demon hunters.

”But such things are just that; when the unknown becomes known, it loses all its intimidation.”

Suddenly, a voice arose.

”If you are a determined atheist, then the ghosts and gods can’t harm you. But when your will wavers, hesitates, it gives them an opportunity.”

Bluebird spoke slowly, with words that surprised Lorenzo, coming from this devout believer.

Lorenzo looked at him curiously. This wasn’t something a believer would typically say, yet he still affirmed.

”Exactly, they have been trying to shake our minds... They almost succeeded.”

But Bluebird didn’t follow Lorenzo’s words; instead, he asked.

”So, if you don’t acknowledge them, do ghosts and gods truly not exist?”

Lorenzo was stunned, not expecting Bluebird to ask that. He pondered past the story of Valley Town and answered.

”That depends on your perception. In my perception, ’God’ isn’t some noble, aloof, great being saving all.”

Although he often called himself a priest, Lorenzo had no reverence for God.

”What’s your perception of God then, Mr. Holmes, coming from a place of origin for faith, yet denying its existence?” Bluebird asked.

”Aren’t you the same, Bluebird? You are a knight of the Purification Mechanism; you attempt to quantify all unknowns with formulas and values, yet you believe in that ambiguous God.” Lorenzo continued.

”In my view, God is merely a form of life.”

”Life?”

”Yes, life, an eerie and powerful life form that is difficult for an ordinary mind to understand or describe, like humans a hundred years ago seeing today’s steam technology. All the myths and strengths are just misunderstandings.”

”It’s like that ’pressure of cognition,’ so-called God is merely life that we haven’t understood yet, just like Demons; back in that dark, oppressive era, humans cowered behind walls... Demons, such powerful and terrifying creatures, in a sense, aren’t they another ’God’?”

The blasphemous words were deadly, and Bluebird’s complexion slightly changed. He said.

”You sound like a leader of a heretical group.”

But Lorenzo confirmed, ”Exactly, that’s recorded in the Demon Hunting Order. Many heretical groups emerged by chance after obtaining powers from Demons.”

”For instance, an unlucky soul encountered a Demon but wasn’t killed, or perhaps contracted an extremely erosive pollution source… Consider this thing like Pandora’s box; after you pass through the first stage of erosion, your body starts to gradually demonize... Those of us who’ve learned about Demons will be aware of approaching death, but those ignorant ones?”

Words like chilling frost dispersed over every listener’s heart; the Purification Mechanism was founded not long ago; they hadn’t experienced the darkest ages of fighting Demons; they still knew very little about the filthiest, darkest, most evil anomalies.

”Bluebird, think about it, if you’ve endured pressure and pain, and as a result, gained bodily strength...”

Lorenzo guided him to consider, to ponder the terrifying outcome.

Bluebird turned pale.

”It’s like this; the ignorant aren’t afraid of these fears. It’s like the gift from God; some grind is always needed before receiving it, hence heretical groups keep appearing; they regard Demons as God, and if they survive the psychological fear and suppression, they would ascend to such powerful existence.”

”Actually, they are just demonizing into beasts.” Lorenzo said disdainfully.

”Don’t disbelieve, these all come from Demon Hunting Order’s records; with erosive pollution sources, a glib tongue, plus conditions like Valley Town’s isolation and a group of fools... Many heretical groups formed like this, and we’ve eradicated countless over the past years.”

Like a lecturing teacher, Lorenzo’s tone was stern.