Last Gun Alchemist

Monday of the fourth week...

Click.

A soft mechanical sound echoed from the door of Room No. 1120 as it slowly opened, a faint stream of steam escaping from the gap beneath it and spreading across the floor before quickly disappearing into the cold air.

Ezra stepped out of the seclusion room.

He stretched one arm first, then the other, rolling his shoulders slightly after remaining inside for so long.

Compared to the clothes he usually wore for training, Ezra had changed into something far more casual. He wore a navy-blue, long-sleeved cotton shirt tucked neatly into a pair of simple black trousers, with black leather shoes on his feet. The white heat-regulating bandages wrapped neatly around his hands, standing out clearly against the navy-blue color of his clothes.

As he approached the reception desk, Ezra held out his hands while submitting his pass and signing off scanning his student ID card.

The white bandages around his fingers were impossible to miss.

"Thank you."

The receptionist said as she accepted the pass.

Her eyes unconsciously lingered on his hands.

Did he injure himself while training?

She looked up at Ezra again, feeling worried for him.

The boy gave her a small bow before turning away and blending in with the few other students who were also leaving the seclusion center after completing their own training.

The receptionist continued watching his back for another moment.

Or maybe it’s for fashion?

Her thoughts immediately changed.

Young children his age do like trying to look cool, especially teenage boys.

A small smile appeared on her face.

Ezra did look different after dressing casually.

His clothes were simple, yet they suited him well enough that the receptionist couldn’t help thinking that he looked both handsome and cute.

Ah... where are my manners?

She quickly brushed the thought away.

He’s just a teenager. What am I even thinking about?

The receptionist immediately lowered her head and returned her attention to her work.

However...

She still couldn’t stop herself from thinking about it.

His girlfriend must be as beautiful as him.

Then she blinked.

Well, that’s only if he has one.

The receptionist quietly laughed at her own thoughts before snapping back to reality and looking at the next student standing in front of her.

***

Outside the seclusion center...

Ezra walked toward the Noble Steam Carriage he had ordered.

The driver was already waiting beside the door.

Once Ezra entered, the driver closed the carriage door before moving around to the front and taking his seat.

The engine soon started.

The familiar mechanical sound came from the front of the carriage before it slowly began moving away from the seclusion center.

The Noble Steam Carriage traveled through the slightly busy roads of the Royal Academy.

Through the window, Ezra watched the different steam-powered vehicles passing by.

Steam Carriages.

Noble Steam Carriages.

Steam Buses.

Students and academy staff also moved along the walkways, some walking alone while others traveled in small groups. Their breath turned faintly visible in the cold air as snow continued gathering along parts of the road and buildings.

Ezra’s dull black eyes slowly moved away from the passing scenery.

He lowered his gaze toward the white bandage around his left hand while resting his right arm against the side of the window.

This white color of the bandage will definitely mean I’ll have to be washing these bandages all the time.

He thought to himself while examining the heat-regulating bandage.

Ezra then moved his left hand and slowly tightened it into a fist, checking the comfort of the material around his fingers.

Just like these bandages he wore, the bandages with the healing Alchemy System integrated into them didn’t have the rough texture of the normal bandages used at low-class hospitals in Britannia.

Instead...

They were thin and elastic.

The material fit closely around his hands and legs, almost like a second layer of skin.

Which is another reason Ezra made use of the bandage to make the heat regulating invention.

Well, that’s why I made several of them.

Ezra’s eyes briefly moved toward his Space Bag.

Black, black, black... and several white ones.

"I’ll have to get my training clothes washed immediately after I get back home."

He muttered to himself in a dry tone.

The heat stimulation covering his body had reached the perfect balance Ezra wanted.

If someone touched the bandages, they wouldn’t immediately notice any major difference between the temperature of the material and the temperature of his body.

The Alchemy System’s heat program had executed properly.

And during his cultivation...

Ezra had finally been able to push his advancement meditation more effectively.

Of course, he still felt pain.

It was normal for every Alchemist undergoing advancement in their Star Construction to feel pain.

So, Ezra did feel pain.

The sour feeling within his body still hadn’t completely disappeared.

However, compared to the suffering Ezra normally experienced during cultivation, the pain had become far more bearable.

Although, it was still not as comfortable as the cultivation experienced by a healthy Alchemist felt even with the pain.

But it was no longer close to the level Ezra had to previously endured.

Basically...

The heat-regulating bandages were already showing results.

However, Ezra understood that they weren’t the complete solution.

He would still need to use the Heat-Stimulating Pills.

Just not as often as before.

The pills would mainly be used before he took a bath or whenever he simply felt like not wearing the bandages.

Plus, there was one other important property of the bandages.

They were generally waterproof.

But Ezra would never take a bath while wearing something that would prevent him from properly washing his body.

Because of how he takes proper care of himself every time.

Time continued passing.

Eventually, the Noble Steam Carriage slowed down before finally stopping outside Ezra’s residence in the East Wing.

Ezra stepped out.

The neighborhood was noticeably busier than usual.

Several students were seated outside the house of a friend who appeared to be hosting a gathering. They sat on the porch while drinking tea and talking among themselves, occasionally breaking into laughter whenever someone said something amusing.

The students who had personal maids and butlers had them standing behind them.

On the other side of the street, a few students continued their training.

Some were seated outside with their eyes closed while meditating in the cold air.

Others walked through the neighborhood in groups, talking as they headed toward different parts of the academy.

Ezra walked toward his own residence.

He opened the door with his key-card before entering.

"Good morning, Master."

Lucy immediately greeted him, with a proper maid’s bow.

"Your senses seem to have improved."

Ezra said, looking at her plainly.

Lucy raised her head and met his gaze.

"You weren’t even trying to be careful with your steps."

She replied with a calm smile.

"The fact that you can tell I wasn’t trying already shows that you have grown."

Ezra studied Lucy.

At the same time, his eyes picked up the fluctuation in her Cognis.

She’s already fully in the gaseous state of her first star.

Ezra couldn’t see Lucy’s cultivated star.

That was normal for Alchemists below the Arcanist Alchemist Rank.

But because of the gaseous state of her first star, he could clearly see the flow of Cognis leaking from her body.

"Catch."

Ezra casually threw something toward Lucy.

Lucy reacted quickly.

She caught it with both hands and immediately held the item carefully, treating it almost like a precious gift from her Master.

Then she looked down.

Her eyes widened.

A Sixth-Grade Ese.

"Master!"

Lucy looked up at Ezra in complete shock.

That was far too much money spent.

A Sixth-Grade Ese practically cost one hundred and fifty million gold coins.

"This will help you enter the Binder Alchemist Rank."

Ezra replied calmly as he walked past the living room and headed toward the corridor.

"Although, it’s not good for an Alchemist to constantly rely on Ese to grow..."

Lucy immediately followed him.

Her hands were held together in front of her as she carefully carried the Sixth-Grade Ese.

"...You can use it during your early Alchemist stages, especially since you haven’t used an Ese more than six times."

"So, does that mean you’ll stop making use of Ese from now on?"

Lucy asked from behind him.

"I can’t use the Fourth to Seventh-Grade Ese."

Ezra paused, then he looked back at her.

"Only the Eighth-Grade, Ninth-Grade, and maybe the Tenth-Grade Ese. Are usable."

He shrugged as he spoke in his usual dry manner.

"All those can only be bought using Dals, Master... Hehehe..."

Lucy laughed softly.

Then her expression gradually softened.

"It’s good to have you back, Master."

She said with a warm smile.

Ezra looked at her for a brief moment.

Then he lazily waved one hand before resuming his walk toward his room.

"Get ready to use the Ese now. I will supervise your advancement before the time the festival starts."

He said calmly.

Lucy nodded without arguing.

She immediately turned around and headed toward her room to prepare.

With Lucy increasing her Alchemist Rank...

Ezra continued walking as the thought passed through his mind.

Her loyalty should skyrocket even more than it already has, just for precaution.

Humans like Lucy tended to take occasional, unexpected kindness to heart.

Especially when that kindness comes from someone they already respected.

Right now...

Ezra thought to himself.

And at the same time...

"Master really does care about me."

Lucy muttered to herself with a pleased smile as she entered her room.

She must be thinking that.

Ezra’s thoughts paused.

Well...

He finally reached the door to his room, remembering how much money he spent getting the Sixth-Grade Ese.

With the slight reveal of a new gun, I’m sure Elder Ivanhoe has already called me numerous times to ask about the assault rifle I used during the fight against the Elder Ghost Crawler.

Ezra placed his hand on the door handle.

A faint pleased smile appeared on his face.

Things are already going as planned.

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