Last Gun Alchemist

”If I may ask...”

Lucy’s face was filled with surprise as she looked at Latisha.

”You just said additional.”

”Yeah.”

Cyrus nodded as well; his brows slightly raised.

”I heard it clearly too.”

Latisha kept her eyes fixed on the holographic member list floating above the Starlix Tablet in her hand. As she scrolled through the names, the smile on her face only grew brighter.

”Yes.”

She nodded.

”I did say that.”

Cyrus looked at the screen before turning back to her.

”Doesn’t that mean people with the same status as us already joined the club before we did?”

”That’s right.”

Latisha raised one finger.

”Kane Casper is one of them.”

”Oh...”

Cyrus blinked as realization finally dawned on him.

Right...

House Casper.

He had met Kane several times during noble gatherings and coming-of-age ceremonies.

Not that he actually remembered much.

Cyrus isn’t the type to keep track of people unless they left a lasting impression.

Most faces simply passed through his memory without staying for very long.

Latisha raised a second finger.

”And then... The two most popular, elegant, and beautiful first-year ladies also joined.”

Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

She hugged the tablet against her chest before proudly announcing,

”Lady Vera Ashenlocke. And Lady Diane Bergwyn.”

For a brief moment...

The room became completely silent.

”...Seriously?”

Cyrus stared at her in disbelief.

Even Lucy blinked twice, unable to hide her surprise.

Ezra’s calm expression remained unchanged.

Only the faint twitch at the corner of his eye betrayed that even he hadn’t expected those names.

”Why would Lady Vera join this club?”

Lucy tilted her head in confusion.

”It doesn’t seem like the kind of place she’d choose.”

”Well...”

Latisha scratched her cheek awkwardly.

”She didn’t exactly join. She’s only a temporary member.”

Lucy blinked.

”A temporary member?”

Latisha nodded.

”She told Professor Nine that she intends to establish her own club later. So, until then... She’ll remain here, and the Professor agreed immediately.”

Cyrus slowly nodded.

That sounded much more believable.

His attention shifted again.

”And Diane?”

Latisha smiled knowingly.

”She only said one thing.”

She straightened her posture before imitating Diane’s calm and tired tone.

’Wherever Vera goes... I’ll go too.’

For a second...

Nobody spoke.

Then Cyrus let out a helpless laugh.

”...I can actually imagine her saying that.”

It certainly sounded like something Diane would do.

He quietly thought to himself.

Ezra, however, finally spoke.

”Is that all Vera told you?”

His voice remained as calm and emotionless as ever.

”Hmm...”

Latisha rested the tablet on the reception desk before placing one hand against her chin.

She thought for several seconds, then her eyes suddenly lit up.

”Oh! I almost forgot.”

She pointed toward Ezra.

”Lady Vera specifically told me to pretend that you were the first special first-year to join our club.”

She laughed awkwardly.

”At the time I couldn’t understand why. I kept wondering... How could Lady Vera possibly know Ezra Ashenlocke would end up visiting our club?’”

She shook her head.

”But...”

She spread both hands helplessly.

”Here we are.”

Lucy quietly stared at Ezra.

Lady Vera knew Master would come here...?

The thought left her even more confused than before.

Standing beside Ezra...

Cyrus also glanced toward him.

Although his expression barely changed...

His thoughts were moving quickly.

Is there some kind of connection between Vera Ashenlocke and Ezra Ashenlocke?

Ezra quietly muttered,

”That girl...”

His hand slowly rose toward his forehead.

Instead of rubbing it...

His fingers covered his eyes for a brief moment before sliding down to his mouth.

He let out a quiet breath.

His dark eyes drifted toward the entrance of the club building.

To everyone watching...

His gaze looked unusually cold.

Almost intimidating.

Yet his thoughts couldn’t have been more different.

It’s obvious.

She’s simply waiting until she has enough members and meets the needed terms to be able to establish her own club.

Until then...

She intends to make herself a nuisance by staying around me.

A faint feeling of helplessness surfaced inside him.

Knowing Vera...

She’s definitely doing this because she finds it amusing.

That conclusion alone explained everything.

Without realizing it...

Latisha met Ezra’s eyes.

For some reason...

A small chill ran across her back.

”...Eh?”

She unconsciously took half a step backward.

”Is...”

She hesitated.

”...is this enough to make you quit the club?”

A trace of worry appeared on her face.

Ezra calmly looked at her.

”No.”

His answer came without hesitation.

”I don’t have any problem with it.”

Latisha visibly relaxed.

”Oh... That’s good.”

The smile immediately returned to her face.

Ezra turned toward Lucy.

”Lucy. We’re leaving.”

He politely looked back at Latisha.

”Thank you for your time.”

Lucy immediately performed a proper maid’s bow.

”Thank you very much, Senior.”

”No, no.”

Latisha hurriedly waved both hands.

”I’m the one who should be thanking all of you.”

She leaned closer and lowered her voice.

”As a matter of fact... There has been a rumor spreading among us upperclassmen... and even among some instructors.”

She smiled mysteriously.

”We are saying... that your first-year generation is the beginning of Britannia’s next Golden Age of Alchemy.”

Cyrus quietly repeated her words.

”...The Golden Age.”

Latisha nodded enthusiastically.

”Exactly. For students like me...”

She smiled proudly.

”...who come from Britannia’s Non-Noble class... Being able to build connections with talented young Alchemists like all of you is an incredible opportunity. And if our club continues producing outstanding members...”

She lifted the tablet slightly.

”We’ll also earn plenty of Academy Points.”

Ezra gave a small nod.

”That does sound interesting.”

Cyrus looked at him before smiling.

”You really don’t sound interested though.”

”I’m leaving.”

Ezra simply waved one hand before walking toward the exit.

Lucy hurriedly bowed once more before chasing after him.

Cyrus laughed softly.

”Goodbye, Senior.”

He waved toward Latisha before following the other two outside the club building.

The afternoon breeze greeted them the moment they stepped back into the crowded Club Mix Arena.

”So...”

Cyrus walked beside Ezra.

”I guess our club hunt ends here.”

Ezra became quiet, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.

Lucy slowly moved closer.

”Master...”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

”I know exactly what you’re thinking.”

Ezra looked at her.

His blank eyes didn’t reveal anything.

”I have a feeling...”

She folded her arms.

”...you’re already planning to go home.”

Ezra silently admitted it.

She’s not wrong.

”There isn’t anything left for us to do here.”

He answered honestly.

Lucy froze.

”What?!”

She looked at him as though he had said something completely unbelievable.

Even Cyrus glanced toward Ezra with quiet amusement.

Lucy quickly spread both arms.

”Master. Look around.”

Ezra slowly turned his head.

”What does this place smell like?”

She asked expectantly.

Ezra answered after a brief pause.

”Different perfumes. Cold air. And...”

He looked around at the lively crowd.

”Noise.”

Lucy puffed her cheeks.

”No!”

She quickly lowered her voice, trying not to attract attention as frustration filled her face.

Ezra narrowed his eyes on her.

”...Were you just shouting at me?”

Lucy immediately shook her head.

”N-No... I’m sorry.”

She pouted for only a second before recovering.

”Well... I suppose those things are true.”

She smiled sheepishly.

”Although... Noise doesn’t actually have a smell Master.”

Even Cyrus couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

Lucy pointed toward the bustling arena.

”What I expected you to say... was that this place smells like youth.”

Her eyes sparkled.

She slowly spun around, admiring the lively academy.

”The food stalls... The performances... The clubs... The students, laughing together...”

She looked back at Ezra.

”Now that we’ve already chosen our club... Shouldn’t we enjoy everything else today’s club hunting has to offer? We can explore. We can eat. And maybe even make a few friends.”

Ezra stared at her.

His expression clearly suggested...

That sounds troublesome.

Cyrus finally burst into laughter.

”Hahaha...”

He placed a hand on Ezra’s shoulder.

”You two really are entertaining.”

He wiped the corner of his eye.

”I was honestly thinking about heading home as well. But...”

He smiled.

”After hearing from your maid... I think she’s right. It wouldn’t hurt to enjoy ourselves a little.”

Lucy immediately grabbed Ezra’s sleeve.

”Come on, Master.”

She looked up at him with pleading eyes.

For a brief moment...

Cyrus imagined copying Lucy’s expression himself.

The image that formed in his head immediately made him chuckle.

Absolutely not.

Ezra slowly looked from Lucy...

To Cyrus...

Neither of them looked willing to give up.

After several quiet seconds...

He sighed.

”...Fine. Let’s go.”

”Yes!”

Lucy clenched her fist in front of herself, unable to hide the pleased smile spreading across her face.

Cyrus smiled faintly at her excitement before catching up to Ezra.

A moment later, Lucy happily skipped after the two of them.

Just like that...

The three began wandering through the Club Mix Arena once again.

This time, however, they weren’t searching for another club to join.

Instead...

They simply wanted to enjoy the various entertainment displays and activities the upperclassmen had prepared for Orientation Week.

Every section of the arena seemed filled with something different.

Some clubs demonstrated inventions.

Others held competitions to attract attention.

Laughter, applause, and conversations blended together into a lively atmosphere that made the academy feel more like a grand festival than a place of learning.

Their first stop was a large viewing area.

Rows of chairs had been arranged neatly before a gigantic floating holographic screen.

Most of the seats were already occupied by first-year students, while more continued arriving every minute.

The holographic screen displayed a live chess match taking place inside the Chess Club.

One of the club’s core members sat across from Felix Ashenlocke.

Both players remained completely focused.

Neither spoke.

Only the occasional sound of a chess piece being placed echoed throughout the quiet viewing area.

Ezra, Cyrus, and Lucy found three empty seats before quietly taking their places among the audience.

Around them...

Soft conversations continuously rose and fell.

Students whispered their opinions without disturbing the match.

”That opening was brilliant.”

”He really sacrificed that piece on purpose.”

”No... watch carefully.”

”He’s controlling the center.”

”I think Felix planned that several moves ago.”

Every move placed upon the board immediately sparked another discussion.

Some students admired the positioning.

Others quietly debated possible counterplays.

The atmosphere gradually became more tense as the match approached its conclusion.

Even those who barely understood chess found themselves unconsciously holding their breath.

Ezra quietly observed the board.

His black eyes calmly followed every move Felix made.

The more the match progressed...

The more impressed he became.

Felix wasn’t simply moving pieces.

Every move subtly pressured his opponent into making only one or two acceptable responses.

Without realizing it...

The entire pace of the match had gradually fallen under Felix’s control.

Cyrus also watched with genuine interest.

Although he wasn’t particularly passionate about chess...

He still enjoyed watching two skilled players compete.

Lucy, on the other hand, understood almost nothing.

Her eyes wandered between the floating screen and the excited audience.

She couldn’t understand why everyone seemed so absorbed by people moving wooden pieces across a board.

Even so...

The tension spreading through the crowd slowly infected her as well.

Without knowing why...

She found herself staring at the match just as seriously as everyone else.

Several more minutes passed.

Then...

”Winner...”

The referee’s excited voice echoed throughout the viewing area.

”Felix Ashenlocke!”

Cheers and applause immediately erupted from the surrounding audience.

Felix slowly rose from his seat.

A smug smile naturally appeared on his face.

It was the exact expression everyone expected from him after his victory.

”That senior could’ve won if she hadn’t made that mistake.”

One first-year student shook his head with obvious regret.

Another student sitting nearby immediately disagreed.

”Even if she hadn’t made that mistake...”

He confidently looked toward Felix.

”Sir Felix still would’ve won. His position had already become overwhelming.”

Several nearby students quietly nodded in agreement.

”The next match...”

The referee’s voice echoed once more from the holographic screen.

”It will begin shortly.”

Ezra calmly stood from his seat.

Seeing him move...

Cyrus and Lucy also got up without another word.

The three quietly left the viewing area and continued exploring the Club Mix Arena.

Before long...

They arrived at the Botanical Research Club.

Unlike the excitement surrounding the Chess Club...

This section of the arena felt peaceful.

Long rows of carefully arranged flower displays stretched across the exhibition area.

Flowers of every shape and color bloomed inside beautifully crafted wooden planters and glass displays.

Some released soft fragrances into the air.

Others glowed faintly under the artificial lighting produced by small alchemical devices placed around the exhibition.

Several flowers looked ordinary at first glance.

Others possessed petals that shimmered with different colors whenever the wind brushed against them.

The calm atmosphere immediately slowed the pace of everyone who entered.

Ezra, Cyrus, and Lucy quietly stepped inside the club building.

A welcoming club member greeted them with a polite smile before guiding them through the exhibition.

As they slowly walked past each display...

The senior patiently introduced each flower by name, explaining where it naturally grew, its unique characteristics, and the role it played in medicine, alchemy, perfumes, and botanical research throughout Britannia.

Even Lucy, who normally became excited by almost everything she saw, found herself speaking more quietly as she admired the carefully maintained displays that filled the peaceful hall.

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