Last Gun Alchemist

Gena stood where she was for several long seconds, quietly looking at Terenza.

No...

She truly looked at her.

The Baroness who had dragged the Miles family into a debt scandal that nearly destroyed everything they had built over generations.

The woman whose greed had pushed Mina to abandon the will to live.

The person who had nearly ruined the lives of every Baron family caught in her scheme.

”Tch...”

A click of annoyance escaped Gena’s tongue.

Without another word, she loosened her grip.

Thud!

Terenza’s body crashed onto the dusty ground.

The Baroness cried out weakly as she landed on her knees before collapsing onto her side.

Gena didn’t even spare her another glance.

She turned sharply and strode toward Ezra.

Each step was faster than the last.

If she remained there for another second...

She knew she wouldn’t be able to stop herself.

One punch.

That is all it will take.

Just one punch aimed at that bitch’s head...

...and everything will end.

The thought lingered inside her mind.

It was tempting.

Far too tempting.

Fortunately...

Reason won.

”T-Thank you...”

Terenza’s trembling voice echoed behind them.

”Thank you...”

She lowered her head until her forehead almost touched the dirt.

Both her arms shook violently.

Her lips trembled so badly that she could barely form complete words.

The proud Baroness who had once looked down on other noble families had disappeared.

All that remained was a frightened woman who had finally realized how close she had come to death.

Lucy quietly watched the scene.

She didn’t speak.

Blake also remained silent.

His eyes slowly moved between Terenza and Gena before finally settling on Ezra.

Ezra simply stood there with his usual expressionless face.

Nothing in his eyes changed.

His calm gaze slowly swept across the ruined construction base.

Collapsed steel platforms lay scattered everywhere.

Twisted beams protruded from piles of broken machinery.

The shattered Steam Furnace continued releasing thick smoke into the night sky.

The orange glow of lingering flames reflected across the broken metal walls.

The smell of burnt oil, hot iron and gunpowder still lingered heavily in the air.

Above them...

The moon quietly illuminated the destruction.

It was almost peaceful.

As though the night itself had ignored the battle that had taken place.

Several moments later...

Ezra turned around.

Without saying anything...

He began walking toward the exit of the construction base.

His footsteps echoed softly across the damaged iron floor.

Lucy naturally followed behind him.

Not because he had ordered her to, but because she simply knew that was where she belonged.

Gena glanced once toward Terenza before letting out another quiet sigh.

Then...

She also followed.

Blake remained standing alone.

His body still hadn’t completely recovered from everything that had happened tonight.

He slowly looked around what seemed to resemble a battlefield.

The collapsed buildings.

The destroyed machines.

Every scene before him felt unreal.

Only a single night had passed.

Yet...

It felt as though he had experienced an entirely different world.

A world hidden beneath the peaceful streets of Velcryon.

A world where people fought with Alchemy.

Where secret organizations existed.

And where death could appear without warning.

The Blake from yesterday...

Would never have believed any of this.

”...”

He lowered his head.

His legs were still trembling.

Even now...

The memory of Gwen pressing the dagger against his neck continued replaying inside his mind.

The image refused to leave.

He clenched both fists.

”No...”

he whispered to himself.

”I’m alright...”

It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself than anyone else.

After taking a deep breath...

He forced his shaking legs to move.

Step by step...

He caught up with the others.

Behind them...

Only Baroness Terenza remained.

Alone.

Surrounded by the ruins created by her own greed.

Nearly three hours later...

”I have this many missed calls?”

Gena scratched her cheek awkwardly as she stared at the screen of her Starlix 13.

The list seemed endless.

Father.

Mother.

Uncle.

Aunt.

Personal maids.

House servants.

Even several senior retainers had called repeatedly.

One notification appeared after another.

She couldn’t help laughing bitterly.

”...They’re definitely going to lecture me.”

Beside her...

Blake also lowered his eyes toward his Para 12.

”...Me too.”

He let out a helpless smile.

”My parents have been calling nonstop.”

He slowly rubbed the back of his neck.

”They’re probably worried sick.”

Lucy smiled gently.

”Of course, they are.”

She looked at both of them warmly.

”You disappeared for half the night. And neither of you answered a single call.”

She laughed softly.

”If I were your parents... I’d probably react the same way.”

Gena scratched her head again before smiling brightly.

”...Yeah, I guess.”

Then...

She slowly clenched one fist, the smile on her face becoming much more genuine.

”But...”

She looked toward Ezra.

Then Lucy.

Finally, Blake.

”We really did it.”

Her eyes sparkled beneath the moonlight.

”The debt nightmare... is finally over.”

She slowly exhaled.

A burden that had weighed on her family for months had finally been lifted.

”I feel... really happy.”

Her voice became much quieter.

Almost relieved.

Lucy smiled back at her with a sincere smile on her face.

Blake also smiled.

Although...

His smile wasn’t as bright.

Yes.

The debt scandal had ended.

Justice had finally reached Terenza.

But...

Something else had been lost tonight.

Both Lucy and Blake had watched someone they trusted reveal a completely different face.

Lucy had lost the childhood friend she spent years hoping to find again.

Blake had lost the maid who had stayed beside him since childhood.

Neither wound would disappear overnight.

The cheerful mood slowly quietened.

Only Ezra continued walking ahead.

His pace never changed and his expression never changed.

The night breeze gently moved the edge of his coat as he calmly led the group back toward where the Miles family’s Steam Carriage had been waiting all this time.

After another several hours of walking through the quiet forest paths, the group finally arrived at the place where the Miles family’s Steam Carriage had been waiting.

The guard of Miles who drove them, leaned against the driver’s seat with both arms folded tightly across his chest. The worry on his face had only grown deeper as the hours passed. Every few seconds, the screen of his Para 6 lit up again before another call disappeared unanswered.

His brows twitched.

”Ahhh...”

He let out another long sigh before gently knocking the back of his head against the carriage’s glass window.

The dull sound echoed lightly.

”Did I make a mistake?”

He rubbed his forehead as another call appeared on the screen.

”Should I have stopped them?”

He looked toward the dark road leading into the forest.

”What kind of guard lets four children disappear into the middle of nowhere by themselves?”

Another sigh escaped his lips.

”I swear... I’m going to grow old before my time if this keeps happening.”

”You’ll grow even older if you keep sighing like that.”

A familiar teasing voice drifted over from the side.

The guard stiffened.

His eyes widened immediately as he turned toward the source of the voice.

”Young Lady Gena!”

Relief instantly flooded his face.

Standing a short distance away was Gena, her arms folded confidently across her chest with a small smile resting on her lips.

Although her clothes were stained with dust from the battle, and faint signs of exhaustion remained on her face, she looked safe.

Completely safe.

Behind her...

Ezra calmly walked toward the Steam Carriage.

Lucy followed quietly behind him.

While Blake dragged his tired feet after them, his expression still carrying the weight of everything that had happened tonight.

The guard quickly stepped forward.

Before he could even ask a question...

Lucy bowed respectfully.

Her hands came together politely in front of her.

”I’m truly sorry for causing you so much worry, Sir.”

Her gentle voice carried genuine sincerity.

”We ended up troubling you.”

Blake also lowered his head.

”I’m very sorry, Sir.”

His voice was much quieter than usual.

Even Ezra stopped before the guard.

He placed one hand over his chest before giving a slight bow.

”I apologize for the trouble.”

His tone remained calm and flat as always.

The guard stared blankly at the three children before him.

One was the daughter of Baron Miles.

One was the heir of House Wellston.

One was Ezra Ashenlocke, whose achievements had already shaken Britannia’s Craftsmen Circle.

And beside him stood Lucy, a maid whose status had naturally risen alongside her master’s growing reputation.

Yet...

Every one of them had apologized to him.

To an ordinary household guard.

His eyes slowly became moist.

He quickly rubbed them before anyone noticed.

”It’s alright.”

He waved one hand with a warm smile.

”As long as all of you returned safely... then everything is alright.”

His voice carried the relief of someone who had spent hours imagining countless terrible possibilities.

Seeing every one of them return alive was enough.

Nothing else mattered.

Gena smiled softly.

”Let’s head home.”

She no longer had the energy to joke around.

She simply wanted tonight to end.

One after another...

They climbed into the Steam Carriage.

The guard took his place in the driver’s seat.

He adjusted the controls before instinctively glancing over his shoulder.

Only then did something occur to him.

”...Now that I think about it.”

He looked toward Blake with a puzzled expression slowly appearing on his face.

”Young Sir Blake...”

He looked around the carriage.

Then outside.

Then back again.

”Where’s your maid?”

His question caused the atmosphere inside the carriage to freeze.

Blake lowered his eyes.

The sadness inside them was impossible to hide.

His fingers slowly tightened against his trousers.

The image of Gwen’s cold expression surfaced inside his mind once again.

The dagger against his neck.

Her confession.

The way she had walked away without looking back.

Everything replayed clearly.

The guard noticed Blake’s expression immediately.

His own face turned pale.

”...Don’t tell me...”

His voice became uneasy.

”It’s not that.”

Lucy and Gena answered almost at the same time.

The sharpness of their replies startled even the guard.

Blake quietly bit his lower lip remaining silent.

There were simply too many things he couldn’t explain.

”...Ahhh.”

The guard finally let out a breath of relief.

”So, she’s alright.”

He smiled weakly.

”Then...”

He started the Steam Carriage’s engine.

”...why isn’t she with us?”

The Steam Engine rumbled to life.

A deep mechanical vibration spread throughout the carriage.

Steam hissed loudly from the exhaust pipes before drifting into the cool night air.

The guard gently pushed the accelerator.

The large wheels slowly rolled forward.

The Steam Carriage began its journey back toward the Miles Estate.

Lucy quietly looked out through the window.

”...She left.”

Her answer was simple.

Yet...

A complicated emotion quietly hid beneath the gentle smile she showed the guard.

The guard simply nodded.

He didn’t notice the sadness hidden inside those words.

”I see...”

He focused on the road again.

After several moments, another thought came to him.

”Oh.”

He glanced at Blake through the mirror.

”Young Sir Blake... Your parents sent one of your family’s servants to wait at the Miles Estate. They’ve been worried sick about you all night.”

Blake quietly nodded.

”I understand.”

No one spoke after that.

Silence gradually filled the carriage.

Outside...

The dark forest slowly gave way to the outskirts of Velcryon.

The towering trees became fewer as wide stone roads appeared once again.

Soon...

The familiar lights of the city came into view.

Tall buildings stretched beneath the moonlight.

Rows of smaller houses lined the streets.

Most of the shops had already closed for the night, leaving only a few restaurants and taverns glowing warmly beneath their lanterns.

Steam Carriages occasionally passed them in the opposite direction.

Groups of Local Guards continued their nightly patrols, their torch lights moving steadily through the quiet streets as they watched over the sleeping city.

Inside the carriage...

Everyone was lost inside their own thoughts.

Blake quietly stared out of the window.

His mind refused to leave Gwen behind.

He remembered every conversation they had shared since she appeared to his life.

Every lesson.

Every meal.

Every small smile she had given him.

None of it made sense anymore.

Lucy also lowered her gaze.

The conversation she had with Gwen replayed over and over inside her mind.

Every question.

Every accusation.

Every tear.

Even now...

She still couldn’t decide who was truly right.

Gena had fallen asleep without realizing it.

Her head rested gently against the side of the carriage as the exhaustion from fighting the Male Bone Alchemist finally caught up with her.

Every rise and fall of the carriage only made her sleep more deeply.

While Ezra quietly sat opposite the others.

His black eyes calmly watched the lights of Velcryon passing beyond the window.

The glowing homes.

The busy streets.

The countless families peacefully enjoying another ordinary night.

Without anyone knowing...

A hidden organization had escaped beneath those same lights.

Time quietly passed.

Several more hours later...

The Steam Carriage finally slowed before the gates of the House of Miles.

The estate remained brightly illuminated despite the late hour.

Waiting beneath the pavilion were Baron Miles and Baroness Miles.

Neither of them had changed out of their nightwear.

Neither had gone to bed.

Both quietly waited for the return of their only daughter.

Beside them sat the servant from House Wellston.

Unlike the composed Baron and Baroness...

The Wellston servant looked extremely nervous.

Sitting beside two Barons while waiting for the children to return was enough to make cold sweat gather across his forehead.

The moment the Steam Carriage came to a complete stop...

Blake slowly stepped out.

The cool night breeze brushed against his face.

For the first time since everything had happened, he felt the weight pressing against his chest ease a little.

He had returned safely.

His parents were safe.

The debt that had haunted his family for months had finally come to an end.

Although his heart still ached whenever he thought about Gwen...

A small part of him was genuinely relieved.

Not far away...

Several female guards hurried over the moment they saw Gena asleep inside the carriage.

One of them carefully bent down before gently lifting the exhausted girl into her arms.

Gena didn’t even wake up.

She merely shifted slightly before instinctively leaning against the guard’s shoulder.

The Baroness quietly watched the scene.

A warm smile slowly appeared on her face.

She gently brushed a few loose strands of hair away from Gena’s forehead.

”So tired...”

she whispered.

The sight of her daughter sleeping peacefully after returning home safely was enough to calm the fear she had been suppressing throughout the entire night.

”Take her to her room.”

The Baroness softly instructed.

”Yes, My Lady.”

The female guard respectfully bowed before carrying Gena into the mansion.

The Baron quietly watched until Gena disappeared inside.

Only then did he slowly turn his attention toward Ezra.

His hands rested calmly behind his back.

The night breeze gently moved the hem of his robe as he looked at the young boy standing before him.

”Please tell me...”

His voice remained composed.

”Why were all of you gone for so long?”

There wasn’t any anger in his tone.

Only concern.

Ezra calmly met the Baron’s gaze.

”We found a clue connected to Baroness Orvain.”

His voice remained as flat as ever.

”So, we decided to follow her.”

Silence followed.

Ezra then placed one hand over his chest before giving a respectful bow.

”I apologize for troubling you, Baron.”

His tone remained unchanged.

Simple.

Calm.

Almost emotionless.

Baron Miles quietly looked at him.

He slowly processed every word Ezra had spoken.

”You found a lead...”

His brows knitted slightly.

”...and instead of informing us adults... you children chose to investigate it yourselves?”

His voice remained gentle despite the seriousness of the question.

Ezra didn’t answer immediately.

The Baron sighed softly.

”Youth...”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

”Young Ezra. You may already be an Alchemist, and you may possess talent far beyond children your age.”

He slowly bowed his head in return.

”But... you’re still a child.”

He raised his head again.

His smile carried the warmth of someone speaking to a younger generation.

”Please... Don’t force yourself into danger like this again.”

His words came from genuine concern.

Ezra quietly listened.

Then...

”We achieved results.”

He answered plainly.

”Please wait until tomorrow.”

The Baron blinked.

”...Huh?”

His expression briefly froze.

”Tomorrow?”

His eyes widened slightly.

”You mean... something actually came from tonight?”

Ezra simply nodded once.

No further explanation.

No dramatic announcement.

Just that single movement.

It somehow made his words sound even more convincing.

Before the Baron could ask another question...

Blake quietly raised one hand.

He gestured toward Ezra and Lucy.

It was time for them to leave.

Ezra gave one final polite bow.

Lucy, standing faithfully behind him, also lowered herself into a respectful bow.

”Thank you for your hospitality.”

She spoke gently.

The two then turned and walked toward the mansion gate.

Baron Miles remained standing exactly where he was.

He silently watched their departing figures.

Even after they disappeared beyond the estate entrance...

He still hadn’t moved.

”...What exactly happened tonight?”

He muttered quietly to himself.

The following morning...

House Wellston.

The peaceful atmosphere inside the mansion disappeared the moment an official message arrived.

A servant hurried through the halls carrying newspaper while voices echoed throughout the estate.

Inside the main sitting room...

Baron Wellston stared blankly at the report in his hands.

”...Impossible.”

He reread the newspaper.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Every sentence remained exactly the same.

Baroness Orvain had personally confessed.

The debt agreements signed by the Baron families had been declared fraudulent.

Every debt created through those contracts had been nullified.

Silence filled the room.

The Baron slowly lowered the papers.

His wife, sitting opposite him, wore an equally shocked expression.

”...It’s over?” she whispered. ”...Just like that?”

The Baron slowly nodded.

”It really is.”

Neither of them could quite believe it.

The nightmare that had consumed countless sleepless nights...

Had disappeared overnight.

Almost immediately...

Both husband and wife thought of the same person.

”Ezra.”

The Baron stood.

”We need to speak with him.”

Unfortunately...

They were already too late.

Ezra had prepared to leave early that morning.

The only person left behind to answer their questions...

Was Blake.

Even then...

There was very little he was allowed to reveal.

Outside the Wellston Mansion...

The morning sun had only just begun rising above the rooftops.

Ezra and Lucy stood near the estate gate, prepared to continue their journey.

Behind them...

Blake folded his arms as he looked at Ezra.

”You really aren’t staying for another day?”

There was a hint of reluctance in his voice.

Ezra glanced back calmly.

”We’ve already spent too much time in this city.”

His answer remained short and flat.

As always.

Blake slowly nodded.

”...I understand.”

For several moments...

He simply looked at the boy he admired more than anyone else.

The inventor who had changed Britannia.

The young Alchemist who had quietly solved a problem countless adult couldn’t.

Finally...

His expression became serious.

”I’ve made my decision.”

Ezra quietly waited.

”I’ll accept the contract...”

Blake looked directly into Ezra’s eyes.

”...Sir Ezra.”

There wasn’t the slightest hesitation left in his voice.

Only determination.

Lucy blinked in surprise.

She had honestly expected Blake to remain shaken for much longer after everything that had happened with Gwen.

Instead...

He had already begun standing back up.

The sadness was still there.

And she could see it in his eyes.

But...

He hadn’t allowed it to stop him from moving forward.

A faint smile appeared on Lucy’s face.

She felt genuinely impressed.

Blake wasn’t as fragile as she had first believed.

Perhaps...

This difficult night had allowed him to grow far more than anyone realized.