Last Gun Alchemist

"What’s going on here?"

Selena Galehart stood near the concert area arranged beside the Music Heaven Club booth, looking dumbfounded at the crowd that had gathered there. The place had already been busy before the news of the duel spread, but now even more students and guests had arrived, filling the open space around the small stage and turning the club’s usual concert area into something closer to a public event.

She had heard the reason for the duel, but didn’t expect it to become this much of a spectacle.

The members of Music Heaven looked just as amazed.

Some stood near the stage with their instruments still in hand, while others glanced between the crowd and the two boys preparing for the duel.

"Leofirc, what the hell are you doing, challenging a first-year to a musical duel?"

Preston Sailor, the president of the Music Heaven Club, narrowed his eyes at Leofirc.

Leofirc was already seated on one of the short stools placed beside the piano he would be using. His posture remained straight as he looked toward the stage, and his face carried a serious expression.

"It’s something that must be done."

He replied firmly.

"Ahh..."

Preston raised a hand and pressed it against his face.

The vice president of Music Heaven, however, appeared far less troubled by the situation.

"Well, on the bright side, President, our musical battle event will bring in a lot of money with the number of people who have paid to watch."

She said with a pleased expression.

"It’s not like we weren’t already earning enough from the people who wanted to challenge Lady Selena to a musical battle."

"Yeah... and Lady Selena can finally rest."

One of Selena’s close friends, who usually acted as her aid, spoke calmly.

Selena had been with President Preston when it became their club’s turn to present the Music Heaven Club’s work in the stadium.

After that...

She had continued playing songs from her album for the crowd, almost like a concert for the guests who had come specifically to listen to Selena.

And finally...

There were those who had wanted to challenge her in a musical duel.

So, generally speaking...

Selena had been the busiest member of Music Heaven throughout the entire Club Tournament.

While other club members had found time to leave their booths and enjoy themselves, Selena had remained in the concert area for most of the day, moving from one performance to another without having the chance to properly enjoy the tournament.

Wait... so Sir Leofirc wants to take on Sir Ezra because of Vera?

Selena thought to herself.

Her emerald eyes moved toward Vera, who was seated calmly nearby amongst the crowd of audience with her arms folded and one leg crossed over the other.

Nina stood beside her with a cold drink, which she had handed to Vera, while Lyra stood on her other side and lazily fanned her as though Vera were some important person who had come to watch a performance arranged solely for her.

Vera accepted the attention without even looking uncomfortable.

She simply sat there and watched the scene before her.

Selena’s eyes moved away from Vera.

Then she looked toward Ezra.

He was seated close to the piano, his plain black eyes resting on the keys as though he was simply staring at them without any particular purpose.

Selena’s expression stiffened faintly.

This...

This is bad!

Sir Ezra doesn’t look like he knows how to play the piano, yet he is facing Sir Leofirc, who is at least passably good at it.

Selena’s thoughts immediately became restless.

Wait... if Leofirc wins, then Ezra will have to confess his true feelings for Vera.

Her emerald eyes widened slightly.

Wait... does Sir Ezra actually have hidden feelings toward Vera?

She stared at him.

Then her thoughts immediately moved to another possibility.

Then if he loses...

No... no... no...

Selena, what are you even thinking?

Her fingers quietly tightened against the side of her clothes.

I don’t want to see Sir Ezra lose.

But...

Arghhhh!

What the hell even happened to cause all this commotion in the first place?

Selena’s mind went through one thought after another.

On the outside, however, she remained composed.

A light smile rested on her face.

Her posture remained elegant.

No one could tell that her thoughts had already become a complete mess.

"Then I will ref this match."

She suddenly said softly.

Her simple smile remained in place.

"No... Lady Selena, you don’t need to—"

The vice president tried to stop her.

Another club member could easily act as the referee for the duel.

However...

"I... will ref the duel."

Selena spoke again.

Her voice remained soft, but there was now a firmness beneath it.

The vice president paused.

For some reason, she felt that continuing to argue with her would not be a good idea.

"O-Okay."

She nodded.

Even though she was a third-year student and a Mainline member of the Derlis House, she suddenly felt as though she couldn’t win an argument with Selena Galehart at that moment.

Princess Stella simply stood nearby and watched everything happen inside her club.

A trace of interest rested on her face.

After all, the situation concerned someone she had been keeping her eyes on for quite a while.

"Alright, gentlemen."

Selena walked toward the stage.

The crowd parted slightly as she approached, allowing her to move between the two boys seated apart from each other beside the instruments they were about to play.

"This Musical Battle will use the Chaos Theme."

She spoke calmly, first looking toward Leofirc before shifting her emerald eyes toward Ezra.

"The Chaos Theme?"

"This will be more interesting."

"Yeah."

"Sir Leofirc Hawthorne will surely win."

"But Ezra Ashenlocke was confident enough to ask Sir Leofirc Hawthorne for a reward if he wins."

"That’s just a prideful action."

"Yeah... he doesn’t want to look lame after trying to run away from the duel in the first place."

Whispers quickly spread through the crowd.

Selena allowed the noise to continue for a brief moment before speaking again.

"Any questions, gentlemen?"

"Yes."

Ezra’s hand rose almost immediately.

Selena gracefully turned toward him.

"So, what is this Chaos Theme you speak of?"

He asked flatly.

The crowd froze.

Selena froze.

Even Leofirc, who had been sitting calmly beside his piano, paused.

Then...

"Pfft..."

"HAHAHAHAH!"

Laughter suddenly spread through the crowd.

"He really doesn’t know what the Chaos Theme is! Then how is he going to beat Sir Leo?"

"Yeah, just give up."

"He might be a rising Craftsman, but the music world must not be part of his skill set."

The students began speaking among themselves.

Some shook their heads.

Others laughed openly.

Even a few people who had originally been interested in Ezra’s confidence began to doubt him.

Ezra, however, simply remained seated.

His expression did not change.

Foo...

Mm.

Selena had almost thought of something rude to herself, but she stopped before allowing the thought to continue.

She is an elegant noble lady of the Duke House Galehart.

Even though people dare mock her man.

She had to remain elegant.

Maybe if Ezra loses, she would use the chance to advise him that she could be his teacher in learning how to play the piano.

Just two of them alone.

Playing the piano together.

"The Chaos Theme is where the two of you will play a piece of your choice at the same time."

Her voice remained light as she explained the rules.

"Only the one who stands out more than the other will win. The music will begin as a chaotic outpour of two different pieces, and the duel will continue until one performance remains above the other."

"Okay."

Ezra nodded once.

He turned his attention back toward the piano keys.

"No hard feelings, Ezra Ashenlocke. I just want to know the truth and reveal your mask."

Leofirc spoke calmly to him.

Ezra didn’t even look in his direction.

There was nothing else he could say to the airhead.

Now, he could finally understand why Veda had told him that Leofirc was an airhead.

Instead...

Ezra was already reading through the information he had opened on playing the piano.

Perhaps because he had already reached the Adept Alchemist Rank, he could now open two different pieces of information inside the Book of Memories at the same time.

One contained the full information he needed on playing the piano.

The other contained a music piece he could perform.

After quickly reading through the information on how to play the piano, Ezra focused on the music piece he wanted to perform.

This was a piece his Past-self had really enjoyed listening to.

He had enjoyed it enough that he had specifically learned how to play the piano just so he could perform the song himself.

It was a piece that usually calmed his mental exhaustion and eased the troubles that had continued building inside him.

During the many trials he had faced as a soldier...

During the times he had lost friends and comrades again and again...

This song had become one of the things that kept him from completely breaking.

At least...

Until what happened to Claudia.

"Ready, gentlemen."

Selena raised the hand holding the flag.

Leofirc adjusted himself on the stool and placed his hands close to the piano keys.

Ezra also got ready.

However, even as his fingers rested near the keys, he continued reading through the piece inside the Book of Memories.

He had not properly played the piano for a very long time.

In his young time as a son of Sterling, he had only learned the basics, much like dancing.

But with the Book of Memories...

His high-class photographic memory...

His quick thinking...

And his ability to adapt quickly...

This actually felt easy to him.

Ezra’s fingers slowly settled above the keys.

His eyes remained plain.

"What a cheat code."

He muttered quietly to himself.

Selena dropped the hand holding the flag.

"Play!"

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