Gun of Ashes

Sacrificing oneself, or killing others to save more people... In fact, this is a problem that's hard to reach a conclusion, filled everywhere with hypocritical dialectics.

Lorenzo quietly gazed at Merlin, feeling that he somewhat underestimated this mysterious Alchemist, whose expression carried far more weight than Lorenzo had contemplated.

"I'm not saying you must sacrifice yourself, Mr. Holmes. What I hope is that you make your own decision. Whether it's killing others, sacrificing yourself, or taking an indifferent stance without bearing any consequences—I don't care. What I care about is your decision, what you would do."

Merlin dismissed Lorenzo's words, as this seemed more like a moral debate than a question.

Actually, if you swap some of the words in all of this, Merlin's meaning becomes incredibly clear.

Would Lorenzo decide for the whole of humanity lying on the train tracks, either by ignoring the Demon's train as it mercilessly runs over, sacrificing others to block the Demon's advance, or placing himself on the tracks to fight the Demon till the last moment.

For humanity, to forever block the Demon, can Lorenzo break away from the constraints of morality, even his own?

Lorenzo took a deep breath, finding the conversation intriguing, then said.

"I'd push that unfortunate guy onto the tracks."

"You mean you'd survive, sacrificing others, right?"

The train whistled past, Lorenzo pushed that unfortunate guy down, blood spread everywhere.

The person was very innocent, having done nothing wrong. The only mistake was being beside Lorenzo, and so he died.

But his death saved the remaining humans, causing the Demon's train to slowly halt. But is that really how it is? Why did he have to die, why him? No one asked his opinion, and just like that, he died.

From an ethical standpoint, Lorenzo killed that person, deciding his fate.

Lorenzo nodded firmly, Merlin on the other side seemed somewhat puzzled, asking.

"Sacrificing others to keep yourself alive, honestly Mr. Holmes, such a choice makes it hard for anyone to see you as a trustworthy person. But I suppose you have reasons for making this decision, care to tell?"

"It's simple, because I'm of greater value."

Lorenzo's tone was extremely cold, as he seriously conversed with Merlin.

"If someone is destined to be sacrificed, then let value decide. I survive, that person dies."

"So why do you think you're of greater value than him?"

"Because I can make decisions."

Lorenzo said once more, looking at Merlin with a disdainful smile.

"Whether it's you or Arthur, or even those high officials hiding behind you, if put in this situation, you're also the one pushing people onto the tracks, and the person being pushed could be Bola or Lancelot."

"When it's all said and done, someone needs to make the decision and bear the suffering and guilt it brings. Compared to sacrificing myself, I believe I'm more suited to make decisions."

"Decisive, cold, merciless, that's how decision-makers are, devoid of any sentiment. Human life is merely a value, pursuing maximum benefit with minimal sacrifice for the survival of the most people."

"So I need to survive, for only someone like me can coldly push one innocent person after another onto the tracks, to sustain humanity's continuation, the silence of Demons."

Lorenzo seemed to recall something, then sneered, saying.

"And not some hot-blooded leader sacrificing themselves one after another. Although it sounds glorious, it's just stupid."

Long silence.

In the deadly quiet, Arthur slowly clapped, with emotions in his eyes resembling admiration, but more so like seeing a kindred spirit.

Merlin spoke, his voice like sharp metal scraping together.

"A very evil answer, sounds like a villain from a story, but in reality, it's just the truth, absolute rationality, making absolute choices."

The hoarse laughter was like a flock of crows softly lamenting, mourning the corpse lying on the tracks.

"Oftentimes, justice doesn't bring good results, but many times, evil can bring about the greatest justice."

"Now you seem like an evil schemer, with a chilling aura left behind."

Lorenzo responded.

"But aren't you the same? The only difference between us is, before those tracks, we're surrounded by people, just like you said, Bola, Red Falcon, Galahad, Lancelot, etc., all can be sacrificed."

Merlin's hollow gaze was like a cage, reflecting Lorenzo's figure in the darkness, as if trapped in that pitch-black space.

"But Mr. Holmes, unlike you, standing beside the tracks, no one's there with you anymore, just you alone. Apart from bravely facing the train yourself, you have no other path to take."

"And that's where our difference lies. Just as you said, we're a group of evil decision-makers controlling others' lives and deaths from the shadows, whereas you...you have only yourself."

Lorenzo stretched out his body, his expression gradually softening, a smirk formed on his lips.

"So you went to all this trouble just to ask these questions?"