Last Gun Alchemist

The academy grounds had become far livelier than they had been just an hour earlier.

Groups of first-year girls hurried through the broad stone hallways, crossed the open courtyards, and searched every corner of the academy grounds. Some ran through the gardens while others split into smaller groups, determined to cover as much ground as possible.

Their voices echoed one after another throughout the first-year district.

"Sir Ezra!"

"Sir Ezra!"

"Where did he go?"

Every shout carried farther than the last, drawing the attention of countless students who hadn’t been involved moments ago.

Many boys stopped whatever they were doing to watch the unusual scene unfold before them.

One boy leaned against a stone pillar and sighed.

"What a lucky fellow."

His friend folded his arms with a helpless smile.

"That’s Ezra Ashenlocke."

He shrugged.

"This was bound to happen sooner or later."

Another boy clicked his tongue.

"I don’t like it at all. He’s only a Lowline noble. He isn’t any different from the rest of us."

The student beside him laughed bitterly.

"Sure... All you have to do is create groundbreaking inventions, be born handsome, and belong to a Duke’s family."

He spread both hands dramatically.

"Simple. Right?"

"This is so unfair."

The boys could only watch the endless stream of girls continue their search.

Although, not every first-year girl joined the chase.

Some simply watched from a distance with amused expressions.

The daughters of several influential noble families showed little interest in running through the academy looking for someone. Their pride alone was enough to stop them from participating.

Others simply weren’t interested in Ezra.

Some cared little about his current position within House Ashenlocke, while others had no intention of involving themselves in the excitement surrounding him.

Even so...

The number of girls actively searching for Ezra remained astonishingly large.

Far larger than most students had expected.

Hidden far away from the growing commotion...

Ezra quietly observed everything.

He stood atop the thick branch of a tall tree overlooking one of the academy gardens.

His figure blended naturally with the surrounding leaves, making him difficult to notice from below.

From his position, his calm black eyes silently watched groups of girls split into different directions.

Some searched the nearby buildings.

Others moved toward the courtyards.

Several organized themselves into teams before discussing where Ezra was most likely to hide.

He watched all of it happen.

"..."

"I can’t believe I had to use my Cognis for something like this."

Ezra quietly shook his head.

For the first time in quite a while...

He felt genuinely disappointed in himself.

He had always used his Cognis to improve his blood flow and only during combat.

Never...

Had he imagined using it simply to conceal his presence from enthusiastic girls.

His gaze slowly drifted toward the academy paths below.

This round...

Vera had won completely.

Not only had she won...

She had managed to accomplish something very few people could.

She had genuinely annoyed Ezra.

That alone was already an achievement.

The troublesome part wasn’t even today’s chaos.

It was what could come afterward.

Ezra understood Vera well enough.

Today’s announcement was only the beginning.

If he rejected her again...

There was little doubt she already had another plan waiting.

And another after that.

"..."

He quietly let out a breath.

On the bright side...

He leaned lightly against the trunk supporting the branch beneath his feet.

Accepting Vera as my dance partner isn’t really a problem.

He thought about it carefully.

Knowing Vera...

Once she publicly claimed someone, she became surprisingly territorial.

She rarely admitted it directly.

Instead...

She dealt with the problem herself.

If she became his dance partner...

The constant invitations from other girls would probably disappear on their own.

Considering everything that had happened today...

That sounded far more peaceful.

Still...

Ezra couldn’t help sighing again.

His eyes followed another group of girls running beneath the trees.

All of this...

Just because I wanted enough money and a reputation that would help me accomplish my goals.

His expression remained unchanged.

Yet inwardly...

He couldn’t help feeling a little conflicted.

He had expected attention after unveiling his inventions.

Recognition was necessary.

Connections were necessary.

Influence was necessary.

Without those things...

Many of his future plans would never succeed.

However...

No one had warned him that fame also came with this much headache.

Although it wasn’t anywhere near the level of the famous Young Lords and Young Ladies within Britannia...

It was already troublesome enough.

His thoughts naturally drifted toward memories from his previous life.

He remembered celebrities surrounded by endless fans.

Actors.

Musicians.

Athletes.

People who could barely walk through public places without security escorting them.

Back then...

He had simply watched those scenes through a screen.

Now...

He finally understood how they felt.

"...So this is what it feels like."

A faint sigh escaped him.

After remaining there for another moment...

Ezra straightened his posture.

He gently stepped forward before jumping down from the branch.

His body descended smoothly through the air.

Not even the surrounding leaves rustled much as he landed silently upon the soft grass below.

Without wasting time...

He brushed a stray leaf from his shoulder before calmly looking ahead.

Not far away...

A beautifully maintained flower garden stretched across another section of the academy.

Rows of colorful flowers bloomed beneath the afternoon sunlight.

Stone pathways wound peacefully through the gardens, leading toward elegant glass pavilions built with brightly colored stained-glass panels that reflected patches of blue, red, and gold across the ground.

Compared to the noisy academy center...

This place was much quieter.

Many students from influential noble families preferred relaxing here.

It offered privacy away from the crowds.

Tea gatherings.

Private discussions.

Family meetings.

Even small social events were often held inside the elegant pavilions.

Ezra quietly walked along one of the stone paths.

The gentle fragrance of fresh flowers drifted through the air while cool shade from nearby trees covered parts of the garden.

His footsteps remained unhurried.

For the first time since Vera’s announcement...

Everything finally felt peaceful again.

Then...

"Ezra!"

A familiar voice suddenly called out.

"What a coincidence!"

Ezra stopped walking.

He slowly turned toward the direction of the voice.

***

A few minutes earlier...

A young girl with short brown hair and light brown eyes slowly paced along one of the quiet stone pathways within the flower garden.

In one hand, she held her Zphone 14, while a holographic screen floated above it, projecting the image of the person she was talking to.

Her brows were tightly knitted together.

Clearly...

She wasn’t happy.

"What do you mean, fine?"

Fatima Drakes asked in a whining voice.

She stopped walking altogether before glaring at the holographic screen.

"I just told you that I’m about to dance with someone who isn’t you."

She pointed at the screen with her other hand.

"And you’re this relaxed? What’s wrong with you?"

On the holographic screen...

Bale scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Fatima..."

His voice was gentle, almost cautious.

"You’re getting the wrong idea."

"Bale!"

Fatima immediately cut him off before he could continue.

She puffed out her cheeks in frustration.

"How can you call yourself my Lover... and stay this calm after hearing that your Lover is going to hold hands with another boy?"

Her tone carried both annoyance and disbelief.

She simply couldn’t understand how someone could react so calmly.

Bale looked even more awkward.

"I mean..."

He hesitated for a moment before carefully choosing his words.

"Isn’t it Big Brother Starke who’s dancing with you?"

His voice became slower and quieter near the end.

He had already learned from experience.

Whenever Fatima became upset...

The safest option was to speak carefully.

Otherwise...

Things usually became much more troublesome.

Fatima stared at him in complete disbelief.

"...So..."

She slowly opened her mouth.

"Because it’s my brother... that’s why you aren’t worried?"

She sounded genuinely shocked.

"I can’t believe this."

She sighed dramatically before shaking her head.

"I actually called you because I thought you’d be worried. What a waste of my time."

Her voice became noticeably more sarcastic near the end.

Without warning...

Another face suddenly appeared beside Bale’s.

"Don’t mind my friend."

Keith casually rested his head on Bale’s shoulder while looking directly at Fatima through the holographic screen.

"He’s just a coward hiding what he really feels."

Bale’s eyes widened.

"What the hell are you saying?"

He immediately leaned away.

"And why are you even here?"

The sudden movement caused Keith to lose his balance.

"Whoa..."

He fell backward onto the bed behind them.

Rather than trying to stop himself...

Keith simply allowed himself to flop onto the mattress.

"I thought you said you were going to sleep."

Bale looked at him with an annoyed expression.

"Hehe..."

Keith let out a lazy laugh.

Rolling onto his side, he rested his head against his right palm while comfortably supporting himself with his elbow.

A mischievous grin slowly spread across his face as he looked toward Fatima.

"Sister-in-law..."

He spoke as though he were about to reveal a great secret.

"This idiot was actually worried."

He lazily pointed a thumb toward Bale.

"He practically begged Sir Starke."

Keith deliberately exaggerated his expression.

"He looked like he was about to cry while asking him to dance with you."

The more he spoke...

The happier he became.

"Keith!"

Bale reacted instantly.

Without thinking, he lunged forward.

He wrapped an arm around Keith’s neck while quickly covering his mouth with his hand.

"Shut your lazy mouth!"

Bale hurriedly whispered.

"Mmph... N-Never!"

Keith struggled beneath Bale’s grip.

He twisted from side to side, trying to pull himself free.

"He really was worried?"

Fatima’s expression softened almost immediately.

The annoyance disappeared from her face as her bright eyes sparkled with happiness.

Her voice also became much gentler.

Seeing her smile...

Bale froze.

His face gradually turned red.

He suddenly found it impossible to meet her eyes.

"I...I-I...I wasn’t..."

The words refused to come out properly.

His cheeks continued growing warmer until they were completely flushed.

Keith immediately noticed Bale’s grip becoming weaker.

With one quick movement...

He slipped free.

Taking advantage of his freedom, he sat upright before speaking again.

"Of course he was."

Keith’s playful smile disappeared.

For once...

He wore an unusually serious expression.

He even raised one hand as though preparing to deliver an important speech.

"Bale has always believed he isn’t worthy of you."

His tone remained calm.

"He thinks about you all the time."

His eyes drifted toward Bale.

"Even during the Trial of Steel... When we were fighting for our lives... When death was practically breathing down our necks... He still talked about you every single day."

Keith slowly folded his arms.

"He even wrote a letter. A letter he wanted someone to send to you... just in case he died."

The room fell quiet.

Bale couldn’t bring himself to look toward the holographic screen anymore.

His face remained bright red with embarrassment.

Across the screen...

Fatima’s cheeks gradually became just as red.

She quietly stared at Bale without saying anything.

At that moment...

All she wanted was to hug him tightly.

Unfortunately...

They were far apart.

Bale remained in Metallica.

While she was still in Eldenford.

The distance between them only made the longing in their hearts grow stronger.

And even if they were together, their relationship was one built on secrecy, that no one knew about.

Keith quietly looked back and forth between the two.

Then...

He puffed out his cheeks dramatically.

"Aww...Aww...I’m so jealous."

He lazily rolled onto his back again.

"The girl I call my own won’t even answer my calls... all because of one stupid argument."

He sighed as though life had completely abandoned him.

Fatima couldn’t help smiling.

"Don’t worry, Keith."

Her voice became warm again.

"I’ll talk to my sister for you. I’ll do my best to help."

Keith immediately lifted his upper body from the bed.

"Oh... really?"

Keith immediately lifted the upper half of his body after hearing her answer.

For the first time in a while, genuine excitement appeared on his usually lazy face.

A bright smile spread across his lips.

"Thank you, Sister-in-law."

The gratitude in his voice sounded completely sincere.

The moment he finished speaking...

The little burst of energy disappeared.

Keith lazily let his body fall backward onto the bed once again.

His smile vanished so naturally that it almost looked as though it had never appeared in the first place.

Bale could only look at him with a helpless smile.

This guy really changes moods fast...

Just then...

Something at the edge of his vision caught his attention.

A familiar figure calmly walked out from one of the stone paths leading through the flower garden.

Bale blinked.

"...Ezra?"

He narrowed his eyes.

Not completely certain of what he had seen, he quietly circulated a small amount of Cognis through his eyes, enhancing his vision.

A moment later...

His eyes lit up.

"It’s actually Ezra!"

He immediately leaned closer to the holographic screen.

Then, without caring whether anyone nearby looked at him strangely, he happily waved.

"Ezra! What a coincidence!"

***

Ezra stopped walking.

He turned his head toward the familiar voice.

"...Bale?"

His calm gaze rested on Bale’s holographic projection before shifting toward the girl holding the Zphone 14.

Fatima quietly returned his gaze.

Ezra’s blank black eyes naturally moved across her academy uniform.

His attention briefly settled on the family crest embroidered neatly over her chest.

The moment he recognized it...

He immediately understood how surprising Bale’s interaction with a Drakes was.

Even so...

Nothing changed on Ezra’s face.

His expression remained as plain as ever.

"Oh..."

Keith suddenly sat upright.

He folded his legs comfortably beneath him before lazily raising one hand toward Ezra.

"Our family’s inventor."

He greeted Ezra with his usual relaxed smile.

Fatima blinked before turning toward Bale.

Then she looked back at Ezra.

"So... This is Ezra Ashenlocke?"

She quietly studied him.

"The creator of the Phantom Rolls... and the person who played such a major role in developing the firearms your family introduced not long ago?"

There was obvious curiosity in her eyes.

Bale immediately nodded.

"Yeah."

A bright smile spread across his face.

"That’s exactly the Ezra I was telling you about."

Ezra quietly observed the three of them through the holographic screen.

His gaze briefly moved from Bale...

To Keith...

Then finally toward Fatima.

"Long time, Bale."

His eyes shifted toward Keith.

"Keith."

He gave the two boys a simple wave.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Then he calmly turned around.

"I’ll leave you two to your business."

Seeing that Ezra was genuinely about to leave...

Bale’s eyes widened.

"Wait! Wait! Wait!"

He hurriedly called out before Ezra could take another step.

Ezra paused.

He slowly turned back toward Bale.

Bale looked at him with an expression full of disbelief.

"You’re not even going to ask why I’m talking to someone from the Drakes Family?"

He honestly couldn’t understand Ezra’s reaction.

If their positions were reversed...

He would have already asked several questions.

Ezra simply looked back at him.

His expression remained completely plain.

Before he could answer...

Keith spoke first.

"You’re worrying over nothing, Bale."

He shrugged lazily.

"Ezra isn’t the type to concern himself with things that have nothing to do with him."

His tone remained casual.

Almost as though he had known Ezra for years.

The amusing part...

Was that he had guessed Ezra’s personality almost perfectly.

Ezra rarely wasted time involving himself in matters unrelated to his own goals.

Keith lazily spread both hands.

"Honestly... Even I would leave the moment I saw something that looked troublesome."

He smiled carefreely.

There wasn’t a trace of embarrassment on his face.

Fatima, however, gently shook her head.

"No."

She interrupted before Keith could continue speaking.

Her voice remained calm but firm.

"I think it’s better to clear up any misunderstandings now."

She looked directly at Ezra through the space between the holographic screen and Bale.

After all...

Their relationship was something they needed to hide...

And she also felt that Ezra seeing a member of the Drakes Family casually talking to someone from House Ashenlocke might leave the wrong impression without an explanation.

So, rather than allowing unnecessary assumptions to form...

She decided it would be better to explain everything herself especially since Ezra was someone Bale respected a lot like a brother.

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