Last Gun Alchemist

An hour after the Sterling Estate had been reduced to ruins, another disaster struck.

Deep beneath the collapsed mansion, the Steam-Engine Power Core that supplied energy to every device within the estate finally reached its limit.

The damaged machinery groaned one last time.

Then...

BOOM!

A violent explosion erupted from beneath the rubble.

The remaining walls shook.

Broken windows shattered completely.

Flames burst through cracks in the collapsed structure as black smoke rose into the morning sky.

The sound echoed across the surrounding streets of Obsidior, causing many nearby residents to rush outside their homes and stare toward the destroyed Baron estate.

It didn’t take long before the Fire Department arrived.

Steam-powered rescue vehicles rolled through the streets while sirens echoed loudly through the district.

State Alchemists followed shortly after, accompanied by members of the Guards of Ash, also known throughout Britannia as the Ashenlocke Private Army.

The scene quickly became busy.

Orders were shouted.

Firefighters dragged thick water hoses through the estate while Alchemists reinforced unstable sections of the ruins to prevent further collapse.

Medic teams moved back and forth continuously.

Bodies were carried onto large Steam-Medic buses.

Stretchers carried corpses covered with white sheets one after the other.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Even the workers who dealt with disasters regularly couldn’t help glancing at the scale of destruction surrounding them.

Not far from the entrance of the estate, several broadcasting companies had already arrived.

No major news agency would miss a story like this.

A young woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties stood before a camera crew while adjusting her formal attire.

Unlike the ordinary cameras from Ezra’s previous world, this camera was powered through high-grade Alchemy circles.

Light and Darkness Alchemy circles were engraved inside the device as one of the main components in its development, allowing it to transmit live broadcasts across great distances.

Its overall shape remained similar to modern broadcasting cameras, but faint green light flowed across engraved patterns on its metallic surface.

The green glow indicated that the camera was active.

The crest of the broadcasting company was engraved prominently on one side.

The cameraman finished making adjustments before raising a thumb.

The young reporter immediately straightened her posture.

Although her clothing couldn’t compare to noble attire, it was clear she belonged to the upper class of Britannia’s common citizens.

Everything from her neat jacket to her polished shoes reflected the income of someone successful in her profession.

The cameraman nodded and the recording began.

The green glow brightened.

The reporter instantly displayed a professional smile.

”Good morning, people of Britannia.”

Her voice came out clear and energetic despite the tragedy behind her.

”It’s Lara02 here once again, bringing you the latest news from Obsidior.”

She stepped toward the tape line established by the Guards of Ash.

The barrier separated civilians and reporters from the dangerous sections of the estate where rescue operations were still ongoing.

Behind her, smoke continued rising from the ruins.

Several firefighters could be seen directing streams of water toward burning debris.

”On this beautiful morning, an unfortunate news has shaken the whole city.”

Lara slowly turned and pointed toward the devastated estate.

”The entire Baron family of Zavier Sterling has been reported dead.”

The cameraman smoothly shifted the view.

The audience watching across Britannia saw collapsed walls, destroyed courtyards, and sections of the mansion that looked as if they had survived a battlefield.

At that moment, two medics emerged from deeper within the estate.

They carried a stretcher between them.

A white sheet covered the body resting upon it.

The sight immediately drew attention.

”Many lives have been lost.”

Lara’s expression softened slightly.

”At the moment, authorities have not yet confirmed exactly what happened here.”

Despite standing before what resembled the aftermath of a small war, her voice remained steady.

Years of reporting had trained her for moments like this.

She had covered industrial accidents.

She had covered Alchemist conflicts and she had even reported on monster attacks in frontier towns.

This wasn’t her first tragedy.

”From the information currently gathered by the State Alchemists on site...”

The camera shifted again.

This time focusing on the shattered entrance of the mansion.

Two State Alchemists stood nearby discussing something while examining scorch marks spread across the ground.

The cameraman deliberately avoided zooming in too closely.

Professional courtesy still existed.

”The current theory suggests the destruction may have been caused by a catastrophic explosion from the estate’s Steam-Engine Power Core.”

Lara rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

”But that explanation raises several questions.”

She slowly walked to another angle while continuing her report.

Behind her, firefighters moved through burning debris while steam rose from the water striking the flames.

”Since the Sterling Estate has dedicated maintenance workers for the power core.”

She shrugged lightly.

”So, whether this was truly an accident remains uncertain.”

Comments immediately began flooding the live broadcast.

Some viewers expressed sympathy.

Others quickly brought up the recent incident during the Ashenlocke family’s grand event at Castle Hall Grandus.

Opinions began clashing.

Lara continued speaking.

”Another possibility currently being discussed is that the Ashenlocke Family carried out judgment against the Sterling Family after the events that occurred during the Unveiling Party.”

She raised a finger.

”I understand that may sound harsh.”

Her smile became awkward.

”But everyone in Britannia understands the consequences of challenging a Duke Family’s authority.”

The statement immediately caused another explosion of comments.

Lara exhaled softly.

”For now, there simply isn’t enough evidence to reach a conclusion.”

She pointed toward the camera.

”But don’t worry. BNC will continue investigating and bring you further updates as more information becomes available.”

The cameraman lowered the device, the green glow faded and the broadcast ended.

Yet the story had only begun.

Within hours, news of the Sterling Family’s downfall spread throughout Britannia like wildfire.

From large cities to small cities.

From noble estates to even ordinary taverns.

Everyone was discussing it.

Everyone wanted answers.

Yet the most important details remained hidden.

Whether intentionally suppressed by the Ashenlocke Family or simply ignored by the public, nobody could say.

The final piece of the puzzle remained missing.

And perhaps that was because people simply refused to consider the obvious answer standing right in front of them.

After all...

Who would believe that a boy who had only recently become an Alchemist was capable of destroying an entire Baron’s household by himself?

***

In the vast lands belonging to the Dukes of Metallica, deep within the territory of the Ashenlocke Estate, stood a massive castle known as the East of Noir.

Unlike the other castles scattered throughout the estate, this one belonged solely to Vera.

It was her residence.

A place where only Vera and the servants, guards, and attendants personally assigned to her were permitted to live.

At that moment, inside the private training grounds behind the castle...

BOOM!

A figure crashed violently into a stone wall.

The impact shook the entire training ground.

Deep cracks spread across the surface like spiderwebs while chunks of stone broke loose and fell onto the sand-covered floor below with dust exploding outward and small rocks bounced across the ground.

”Lady Vera!”

Nina shouted in alarm.

Her eyes widened as she immediately rushed forward, panic written all over her face.

For a moment, she genuinely thought Vera had been seriously injured.

But before she could even take more than a few steps...

”Stay where you are, Nina Ashenlocke.”

A cold voice suddenly echoed across the training ground.

The words weren’t loud.

They didn’t need to be, since the weight behind them was enough.

Nina froze mid-step.

Her body locked in place instantly.

Cold sweat appeared on the side of her face as her throat tightened.

She slowly turned her head.

Standing not too far away was Astraea.

Her arms were folded and her expression looked calm.

The kind of calm that usually appeared right before something terrible happened.

”And don’t piss me off too.”

The final words came out low.

Nina immediately swallowed.

Her breathing became heavier.

”Master, why are you bullying me today?”

Vera’s voice came out in her usual flat tone.

Dust still surrounded her position as she casually waved her hand through the air, clearing her vision while more small stones continued falling around her.

She looked completely unconcerned about the fact that she had just been launched into a wall.

”I don’t think it’s that time of the month. Cough! Cough!”

A small amount of blood spilled from her mouth.

Vera lowered her gaze.

She stared at the blood resting on her palm.

Her expression remained blank.

Only her eyes narrowed slightly.

Almost as if she were evaluating how much damage she had taken.

”I thought I told you not to use that sharp tongue of yours on me, Vera.”

Astraea cracked her knuckles.

The sound echoed clearly.

Unlike Vera’s calm appearance, Astraea looked visibly irritated with how the veins near her forehead twitched slightly.

”Ah...Hmhm...Mmm.”

Vera cleared her throat, then she straightened her posture.

The movement was so deliberate that Nina immediately felt something awkward was about to happen.

”Guards...” Vera slowly raised her hand. ”Guards...”

She glanced toward the entrance.

”Help me.”

A pause followed.

Then...

”A crazy woman is trying to assassinate me.”

Her voice became unusually dramatic.

The words came out with enough sarcasm that even Nina almost laughed.

Almost.

No one could tell whether Vera was genuinely trying to seek help or if she simply wanted to annoy Astraea further.

Most likely the second option.

The guards standing around the training ground immediately chose the safest path available.

Ignoring everything.

Some looked toward the sky.

Some inspected their weapons.

Others suddenly found the walls extremely interesting.

None of them moved.

None of them spoke.

Because every single one of them understood a simple truth.

Getting involved in a fight between Vera and Astraea was another way of volunteering for death.

Vera looked toward the guards.

The moment their eyes met hers, they immediately looked away.

One guard even turned his entire body around.

Vera stared at them for several seconds.

Then...

”Cowards.”

She spoke flatly.

After that, she casually stood up, dusting off her skirt, then her black leggings, then her oversized black shirt.

Her movements were calm and orderly, as if she hadn’t just been blasted into a wall moments ago.

”Crazy?”

Astraea raised an eyebrow.

A dangerous smile slowly appeared on her lips.

The smile looked beautiful, but it also looked extremely threatening.

Vera glanced downward toward her left side and sighed softly.

”Sit down.”

Astraea’s voice became colder.

”Yes.”

Vera immediately obeyed.

Without arguing or resisting.

She sat down cross-legged on the sandy training ground.

Seeing how cooperative she suddenly became only made Astraea more suspicious.

”How dare you use me to help that Lowline.”

Astraea immediately got to the point.

Her arms folded tighter and her eyes remained fixed on Vera’s face.

”You think I wouldn’t realize I was being baited?”

She took a step forward.

”After listening to Felix explain everything that happened during the Unveiling Party, and after hearing about the Judgment Order Valentine gave that boy, I started noticing how convenient everything was becoming for the Lowline.”

Her eyes narrowed further.

”It was as if things kept falling into his hands. The opportunity to reveal his whole existence to the whole Britannia, the judgment order that gave him the freedom to take revenge on his own family. Everything.”

Astraea pointed toward Vera.

”And it all started when I got involved in his family matters.”

The training ground became quiet.

Even Nina lowered her head, because she knew exactly who Astraea was talking about.

Vera, however, remained completely calm.

”Wow...” She blinked once. ”I have been caught.”

Her voice remained flat.

The response made Astraea stare at her deeper.

”You are admitting it without fighting back?”

Astraea asked suspiciously.

Most people would at least try to deny it.

Most people would even create excuses, but Vera simply admitted it.

”I don’t feel like it’s a big deal to hide my involvement.”

Vera leaned backward.

Her palms rested on the ground behind her as she looked up at the sky.

The posture looked completely relaxed.

As if they were discussing the weather instead of a scheme involving a Trial Ranker and a noble family.

Astraea’s eyebrow twitched.

”And why would you do that?”

She tilted her head slightly.

Her arms remained folded.

”Especially for a Lowline of all people.”

Her gaze sharpened.

The question finally hung between them.

Even Nina became curious.

Because honestly...

She wanted to know too.

Why is Lady Vera helping Ezra this much?

Nina looked at Vera with a strong curiosity building within her.

”Not telling you.”

Vera replied immediately.

Her tone still remained flat, sharp and direct.

There wasn’t even the slightest attempt to hide her refusal.

Astraea stared at her for a few seconds, then she suddenly bent forward.

The distance between them shortened greatly.

Her face moved close enough that Nina instinctively took a step back.

”Are you in love with him?”

Astraea’s eyes narrowed.

She carefully observed Vera’s face.

Watching and searching.

Trying to find even the smallest crack in her expression.

Unfortunately for her...

Vera’s face remained exactly the same.

Blank and calm.

Almost annoyingly calm.

”Think whatever you want to think.”

Vera shrugged lightly.

”In fact, what if I say I love him?”

Her head tilted slightly. The movement looked casual, yet her eyes never left Astraea’s.

”I could also say I did it because I wanted to mess with Felix.”

A brief pause followed.

Then...

”Or...”

Vera tilted her head a little further with the corner of her lips almost moving.

Almost.

”Maybe I simply did it for the fun of the game.”

She spoke quickly.

Yet despite the speed, her voice remained completely flat.

It was impossible to tell whether she was serious, joking, lying or telling the truth.

That was the frustrating thing about Vera.

Most people hid their thoughts, but Vera simply buried hers so deeply that nobody could tell where the truth even started.

Astraea continued staring at her and Vera stared back, neither looking away.

The training ground fell silent, even the wind seemed quieter.

Nina stood nearby, shifting her gaze between the two women.

One looked like a dangerous predator trying to uncover a secret.

The other looked like someone calmly watching a play while refusing to reveal the ending.

Several minutes passed.

Then...

”Ahhh...”

Astraea finally sighed, rubbing her forehead.

A look of helplessness appeared on her face.

”This is exactly why I like you so much.”

She pointed at Vera.

”But you also manage to piss me the fuck off sometimes.”

Astraea shook her head.

”Then somehow I end up liking that part too.”

A faint smile appeared on her lips.

It wasn’t like the dangerous smile from earlier.

This one looked more genuine.

Her eyes carefully studied Vera’s face.

”Your face reminds me a lot of Aurora.”

Her voice softened slightly.

”But you don’t have her gentle nature.”

Astraea stroked her chin thoughtfully.

”Not even close.”

Vera nodded.

”As expected.”

Then she stood up from the sand, the movement was smooth.

She brushed the remaining dust from her clothes.

”It’s because we’re in a toxic relationship.”

Her voice remained completely serious.

As if she had just stated an undeniable fact.

Astraea stared at her for several seconds.

”Shut up.”

She answered immediately.

Nina immediately lowered her head.

Her shoulders shook slightly, because she was trying very hard not to laugh again.

To her rescue...

”Lord Astraea!”

A frustrated voice suddenly echoed from the entrance of the training ground.

Everyone turned.

A woman wearing the normal Ashenlocke military outfit quickly walked inside.

Her long journey was obvious.

Dust covered parts of her boots.

Her breathing was slightly uneven.

Her expression looked as though she had spent the entire day suffering because of someone else’s actions.

Rowan.

Astraea’s personal guard.

The moment she spotted Astraea; her eye twitched.

”Ah...”

Astraea waved casually.

”Rowan.”

The relaxed greeting only made Rowan look even more frustrated.

”My Lord.”

Rowan stopped before her and bowed quickly, then she immediately raised her head.

”We have to leave now.”

Her voice was firm.

”We were in the middle of an important mission when you suddenly abandoned the ship and travelled all the way back to Metallica.”

She crossed her arms.

”The other Commanders have been asking for you relentlessly.”

Rowan looked genuinely exhausted.

”I had to rush all the way back here as fast as possible.”

She pouted slightly.

The expression looked surprisingly childish for someone who normally maintained a strict professional attitude.

Astraea immediately rolled her eyes.

”Argh.”

She stretched her neck.

”Those old people are really annoying.”

Her complaint came out instantly.

”They complain about everything.”

Rowan’s eyebrow twitched.

Astraea raised both hands.

”Fine. I heard you. We’ll leave now.”

She waved dismissively.

Then she suddenly turned toward Vera.

At some point during their conversation, Vera had already moved beside Nina.

The younger girl still looked shaken from Astraea’s arrival.

Vera casually rubbed Nina’s head.

The action looked surprisingly natural.

Nina’s expression immediately softened.

She looked like a puppy receiving attention from its owner after being frightened.

Astraea stared at the scene, then pointed directly at Vera.

”And you.” Her eyes narrowed. ”Stop giving Felix such a hard time.”

Her finger remained aimed at Vera.

”And I won’t look too deeply into your little schemes.”

The warning was clear.

Vera looked at her, then politely lowered her head.

The gesture appeared respectful.

Too respectful.

Astraea knew better than to trust it.

Still...

She decided to let it go.

For now.

”Hmph.”

Astraea turned around.

”Let’s go, Rowan.”

”Finally.”

Rowan sighed in relief.

The two women left the training ground together.

Their figures gradually disappeared through the large gates.

The moment they were gone, the atmosphere instantly became lighter.

The guards secretly relaxed.

Several servants who had been pretending not to listen quietly resumed their work.

Nina released a long breath she didn’t realize she had been holding.

Vera watched Astraea’s departing figure silently.

Her expression remained unchanged.

Calm.

Blank and Unreadable.

As always.