Gun of Ashes

First, there was a short doorbell sound, and then the door was slowly pushed open. Lorenzo held his breath, praying it wasn’t some troublesome person.

Lorenzo wanted to relax for a day, lying comfortably in bed wasting time. Although wasting time isn’t a good thing, in a hurried life, even the strongest person would want to rest for a moment.

The door was slowly pushed open, and Joey walked in.

”No way!”

Lorenzo tightly gripped the fork and stabbed it into the dining table.

As expected, whenever these Purification Mechanism guys showed up, it was never a good thing. He didn’t know why Joey was here, but it certainly meant he couldn’t rest at home.

”Good morning, Lorenzo.”

Joey greeted as usual, perhaps because it was dawn and his pessimistic mood from the night had improved.

He greeted Lorenzo, also nodding to Hig and Mrs. Van Rudd.

Joey had been here many times, and gradually became familiar with the others, although not quite close yet.

”So, what’s up this time?”

Lorenzo asked grumpily, continually fiddling with the fork.

”A conversation.”

Joey glanced at the others, as they had nothing to do with the demons. Joey could only reveal this much for now.

Lorenzo thought for a moment, sighed helplessly.

”Wait a moment.”

He said, turning back to his room to change clothes. Resting Lorenzo turned back into busy Lorenzo, arming himself with weapons and blades.

During this, Hig slightly raised his head, looking at Joey with indifference.

Perhaps, just like Joey said, they belonged to different worlds. Joey and Hig got along well, but unfortunately, Joey was involved with demons and didn’t want to implicate innocent people. Hig clearly wasn’t aware of this.

”You... you’re good, nice to see you again.”

Hig said hesitantly. Hig didn’t have many friends, perhaps because he was also troubled by hallucinogens, and he felt Joey was like himself.

”Hmm.”

Joey replied somewhat coldly. It was work time.

Hig wanted to continue speaking, but then the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs interrupted him. Lorenzo came down, wearing the familiar outfit as always, but now with an odd necklace around his neck.

Before Joey could ask, Lorenzo inquired first.

”You two know each other?”

Lorenzo looked at the hesitant Hig, then at Joey.

Of course, they knew each other. After all, they were Lorenzo’s roommates. Joey had come over many times, and there were times he would see Joey. But now it seemed they were no longer just acquaintances but had deeper conversations.

”Met at the Mutual Aid Association.”

Hig answered. Hearing this, Joey didn’t bother to say more, just nodded and urged Lorenzo to leave.

The morning began in a rush. Watching the two leave, Hig paused for a moment before finishing his food and getting ready to leave too.

”Where are you going again?” Mrs. Van Rudd asked curiously.

She was used to Lorenzo’s day-long disappearances. But with Hig recently quitting hallucinogens, despite his recent good behavior, out of a sense of responsibility, Mrs. Van Rudd was concerned about this child she had watched grow up.

”Mutual Aid Association, the White Church is being put back into use. The new doctor wants me to help him more,” Hig said.

...

Riding the pitch-black carriage, just like before, another repetitive and monotonous day, taking on tasks, seeking clues, then drawing swords to slay demons.

The tired Lorenzo leaned his head to one side, his peripheral vision gazing at the scenery outside the window.

”Mutual Aid Association? Hallucinogen Mutual Aid Association?”

After a long time, Lorenzo seemed to suddenly think of something and asked.

He straightened his body, just now realizing the oddity of the situation, looking at Joey with an interrogative gaze.

Joey seemed completely unbothered by Lorenzo’s attitude, or perhaps he didn’t care, simply replying.

”Hmm.”

”Hmm?”

Lorenzo looked at him, his eyes filled with surprise, as if he was about to open his mouth and shout. He grabbed Joey’s shoulders and shook him violently.

”You? Joey! Hallucinogen Mutual Aid Association?”

Lorenzo shouted loudly, looking as if he couldn’t believe it.

”What’s the matter?” Joey had a puzzled attitude, as if such things were normal.

”But you’re an Upper-Rank Knight of the Purification Mechanism! The specialized, key force against demons! And you were also once addicted to hallucinogens?”

Lorenzo seemed overwhelmed with sorrow, almost to the point of weeping.

”You, with your bold eyebrows and big eyes, how could you betray the cause?”

”Huh?”

After several minutes of verbal and physical persuasion, Joey finally managed to calm Lorenzo down. The two returned to their previous positions, leaning back and briefly staring at each other.

”So, you’re saying this is quite common?” Lorenzo asked.

”Probably, it’s partly because of my involvement with demons,” Joey explained.

”Lorenzo, we are merely spiritually specialized, stronger than ordinary people when fighting demons. But after prolonged contact, it’s inevitable to have some mental disorders.”

”Black Mountain Hospital?”

Lorenzo said, having dealt with the Purification Mechanism for so long, he had a rather concrete impression of this vast organization. Due to demon corruption, many frontline knights had a ’service life.’ When their mental strain reached the limit, they would be given time off.