Last Gun Alchemist

Lucy slowly lowered her hands.

Her tired eyes remained fixed on her palms for several quiet moments.

To anyone else...

They looked like ordinary hands.

Soft.

Clean.

Without a single scar worth mentioning.

Yet...

To Lucy...

Those hands carried memories she could never wash away.

A bitter smile slowly appeared on her face.

"I really..."

She quietly shook her head.

"...did so many things I could never be proud of."

Her voice sounded exhausted.

Not because she was physically tired.

But because every memory she had just recalled felt as though it had reopened old wounds that had never truly healed.

Without realizing it...

Her right hand slowly rested against her lower abdomen.

A complicated emotion quietly surfaced inside her heart.

There was another memory.

One she rarely allowed herself to think about.

When she had finally reached the age where she was considered suitable to entertain guests...

The House of Melody had carried out another procedure.

Not for her sake.

Not for her health.

But for business.

Every entertainer on each floor underwent it.

There would never be unwanted pregnancies.

There would never be complications that interfered with serving guests.

Everything had been planned long before they ever became adults.

Lucy quietly lowered her hand again.

The young woman standing before Ezra...

Would never be able to have children.

Even after escaping that place...

Nothing could undo what had already been done.

Simply remembering it...

Made her chest tighten.

Her mind burned with quiet pain.

Everything...

Everything about her life had been destroyed inside that building.

She slowly raised her eyes toward Ezra.

"I should’ve died back then, Master."

Her voice remained calm.

Almost too calm.

"I should’ve died...when Gwen helped me escape."

She let both hands fall naturally to her sides.

"The year after I started entertaining guests..."

She continued.

"...everything suddenly just happened."

Lucy looked toward the window.

Beyond it...

Snow quietly started falling across Baron Wellston’s estate.

"Two Alchemists suddenly started fighting."

She smiled bitterly.

"I still don’t know why, but they were both powerful. So powerful... that even the House guards couldn’t stop them."

She slowly folded her arms.

"The battle spread from the Gold Floor...all the way to the Nebula Rose Floor and the entire House became chaotic."

People screamed.

Servants ran everywhere.

Guards rushed through the corridors.

The orderly prison she had lived inside for years suddenly collapsed into confusion.

Lucy softly laughed.

"And then...Gwen appeared."

Her smile naturally became warmer.

"It honestly felt like something straight out of a novel. I hadn’t seen her in years. Even though we were living inside the same building...The House was simply too large."

She gently shook her head.

"I still don’t know how she managed to find me."

Her smile gradually faded.

"But..."

Her fingers unconsciously tightened.

"While we were escaping, I found out...Big Sis had already died."

The room became quiet again.

Lucy lowered her head.

"She tried taking revenge."

Her voice became softer.

"Against the man who killed Big Brother. The leader of our Creek."

Back then...

Lucy had finally understood why Gwen used to tease their Big-sis a lot about caring too much about the leader even though their Big-sis cared about everyone in the creek.

Big Sis hadn’t merely respected him.

She had loved him dearly.

Silently.

Without ever telling him.

By the time Lucy learned the truth...

Both of them were already gone.

A lonely smile appeared on her face.

"It hurt. It really hurt. We escaped...But...I knew I’d never see Big Sis again."

She gently rubbed her left palm with her thumb.

It had become an unconscious habit whenever painful memories resurfaced.

"Eventually...They caught up to us."

Her breathing became slightly slower.

"They refused to stop chasing us. No matter how far we ran...They kept coming. They even started shooting at one point."

Her eyes quietly lost focus again.

"I don’t remember where Gwen was shot. It all happened too fast. The only thing I remember was her suddenly pushing me away."

Lucy slowly closed her eyes.

"She threw me into a flowing river. So, I could escape."

Another long breath escaped her lips.

"The next thing I remember...I woke up inside the cargo compartment of a Guard of Ash."

She looked toward Ezra.

"They found me near the riverbank. If not..."

She quietly smiled.

"I would’ve probably become food for monsters around the area."

Silence returned.

After several moments...

Lucy slowly stretched both arms above her head.

"...Ahhh."

She let out a long breath.

Then...

A bright smile finally returned to her face.

"You know... I’m really happy."

She looked directly at Ezra.

"My best friend survived. And... I’m also really happy...that I met you, Master."

Her smile carried genuine gratitude.

Across from her...

Ezra silently looked back.

His blank black eyes never wavered.

The room gradually became awkward.

Lucy scratched her cheek.

She almost wondered whether she had spoken too much.

Then...

Ezra finally answered.

"You did well surviving."

His voice remained flat.

No dramatic comfort.

No lengthy speech.

Only one sentence.

Lucy’s eyes slowly widened.

Those four simple words somehow struck deeper than countless comforting phrases ever could.

She couldn’t explain why.

But...

For some reason...

Hearing those words from her master made the weight inside her heart become just a little lighter.

A brighter smile naturally appeared.

"I knew it."

She quietly laughed.

"You really are kind, Master."

Ezra looked away.

"...Whatever."

He lazily pointed toward the wall clock.

"It’s almost midnight. Go to sleep."

Lucy turned.

Only now did she notice the time.

"...I really spent that long talking."

She laughed awkwardly.

Standing up...

She carefully straightened her clothes before giving Ezra a respectful bow.

"Good night, Master."

She raised her head with the same gentle smile.

Ezra casually raised only his index and middle finger.

"Good night."

Lucy couldn’t help chuckling.

That strange little gesture was something new to her.

She quietly left the room.

The door softly closed behind her.

Like that...

Both of them finally went to sleep.

***

Morning arrived.

Sunlight filtered through the frosted windows while servants busily prepared breakfast throughout the mansion.

Not long afterward...

A servant respectfully guided Ezra and Lucy toward the dining hall.

The Baron Family was already waiting.

Baron Wellston sat at the head of the table.

Beside him sat his elegant wife.

Directly opposite them...

Blake impatiently waited.

The moment Ezra stepped inside...

"OH, MY SCHOLARS!"

Blake suddenly shot up from his chair.

His eyes sparkled.

His entire face lit up with excitement.

"It’s Sir Ezra!"

He pointed without hiding his joy.

"It’s really Sir Ezra!"

He looked back and forth several times.

"How? Why? What is going on?"

Lucy blinked.

Blake looked nothing like the son of a Baron.

He looked more like an excited fan who had suddenly met his favorite inventor.

"Blake, dear."

His mother calmly called.

"Manners."

Her gentle smile never disappeared.

Yet...

Blake immediately stiffened.

He swallowed.

"...Yes, Mother."

He quickly sat back down.

He awkwardly cleared his throat before trying his hardest to behave like the noble son he was supposed to be.

Ezra and Lucy approached the table.

Both respectfully bowed.

"Good morning, Baron. Good morning, Baroness."

"Good morning, Child of Ash."

The Baron and Baroness politely returned the greeting with slight bows of their own.

Blake quickly lowered his head as well.

"Thank you for saving me, Sir Ezra."

His voice remained filled with admiration.

Ezra calmly pointed toward Lucy.

"It wasn’t me. It was my maid who saved you."

Every eye immediately shifted toward Lucy.

She froze for a second.

The Baroness smiled kindly.

Blake immediately bowed toward her with exactly the same enthusiasm.

"Thank you very much, Maid of Sir Ezra!"

Lucy hurriedly waved both hands.

"N-No..."

She smiled awkwardly.

"I only followed my Master’s instructions."

At that moment...

Several servants entered, pushing polished serving trolleys into the dining hall.

Silver lids covered each meal.

One after another...

The servants carefully arranged every dish before neatly serving breakfast to everyone seated at the table.

The delicious aroma quickly filled the room.

As everyone prepared to eat...

The Baroness looked toward Ezra.

"Mr. Ezra."

She gracefully picked up her knife and fork.

"I would like to personally thank you once again."

Her elegant smile reflected the upbringing expected of a noble lady.

"Our family is deeply grateful. The fact that you hold our son in such high regard.... means more to us than words can express."

Unlike her husband...

The Baroness still carried herself with remarkable composure.

The family’s decline had certainly affected her.

Yet...

She continued maintaining the elegance expected of the lady of House Wellston.

Baron Wellston smiled gently.

"Let’s eat."

Everyone quietly began breakfast.

Across the table...

Blake repeatedly looked toward Ezra.

His heart raced with excitement.

His parents had already told him everything.

Ezra Ashenlocke...

His idol...

Wanted to evaluate his invention personally.

If he succeeded...

He might even receive a contract.

Everything still felt unreal.

He desperately wanted to start talking.

To ask hundreds of questions.

To immediately show Ezra every single blueprint he had ever drawn.

Unfortunately...

The moment he looked toward his mother...

She quietly smiled.

That innocent smile alone carried enough warning.

Blake immediately lowered his head.

"...Behave."

He silently reminded himself.

For now...

He forced himself to calmly finish breakfast like everyone else.

After breakfast...

The servants quietly moved around the dining hall with practiced efficiency.

One after another, they carefully gathered the empty plates, polished cutlery, and porcelain teacups before placing everything onto the serving trolleys. The soft clinking of dishes echoed gently throughout the room as the pleasant scent of the meal slowly faded away.

The Baron waited until the servants had almost finished clearing the table before looking toward Ezra.

"So, Mr. Ezra..."

He folded his hands together on the table, his expression becoming more serious than before.

"What do you plan to do first?"

Ezra calmly picked up the white napkin resting beside his plate.

He slowly wiped his hands before neatly placing the napkin back onto the table.

His movements were unhurried, making it obvious that he had already thought about the matter.

"I still want to know..."

He raised his eyes toward the Baron.

"...what truly caused your family’s situation."

His voice remained as flat as ever.

Lucy, who had finished eating earlier, quietly helped one of the servants carry a few used plates onto the serving trolley before returning to her usual position.

She walked behind Ezra and stood respectfully with both hands folded in front of her body.

The Baron nodded.

"I was planning to tell you everything today."

He sighed softly.

"I also wanted to discuss the contract you mentioned regarding my son."

His tone carried both gratitude and caution.

Although Ezra had already expressed interest in Blake, the Baron knew that nothing had been decided yet.

Ezra looked toward him without changing his expression.

"Like I said before...I’ll look at your son’s work first."

Only then did he continue.

"After that...I’ll decide whether he’s worthy of a contract."

His blank black eyes slowly shifted toward Blake.

The young noble immediately stiffened.

That’s...

A lot of pressure.

Blake swallowed quietly.

He tried his best to maintain a calm expression, but his heart was beating much faster than usual.

As expected of Sir Ezra...

He secretly admired him.

He stood in front of the greatest craftsmen in Britannia without looking nervous.

There were even Top Scholars watching him during the presentation...

Yet he looked at every one of them with those calm eyes.

Blake unconsciously straightened his back.

He’s so cool.

I wish I could become someone like him one day.

His imagination had already begun running wild.

Without realizing it, he completely drifted away from the conversation.

"Blake, dear."

The Baroness gently called his name.

Blake didn’t respond.

He continued staring into space while imagining himself presenting inventions before thousands of people just like Ezra.

"Blake."

She called again.

Still...

Nothing.

The Baroness slowly frowned.

Her husband quietly looked away, pretending not to notice.

Lucy also glanced at Blake before trying hard not to smile.

The Baroness finally sighed.

"...Blake."

This time, she lightly tapped the dining table with her fingers.

Tap.

The crisp sound echoed through the room.

Blake immediately jumped.

"Oh!"

He hurriedly looked around.

Only then did he realize his father had already stood up and left the dining table.

"What..."

He scratched the side of his head with an awkward smile.

"...did I miss?"

The Baroness narrowed her eyes slightly.

A gentle smile remained on her face.

However...

Blake immediately recognized that smile.

His back instinctively straightened.

"Please..."

She spoke in the same calm tone.

"Show our guests to your workshop."

She paused briefly.

"And remember...to be on your best behavior."

Her smile never changed.

Even so...

Blake could clearly feel the warning hidden behind those elegant words.

"Yes, Mother."

He quickly stood up.

He straightened his clothes before respectfully bowing.

Then he turned toward Ezra.

"Please follow me."

He pointed toward another exit leading outside the mansion.

Ezra quietly rose from his seat.

Lucy naturally followed behind him as always.

The three of them left through the side entrance.

Cold morning air greeted them the moment they stepped outside.

Snow still covered the stone pathways of the estate, while thin white mist drifted through the gardens.

Not far away...

Another building stood separate from the main mansion.

Compared to the noble residence, it looked much simpler.

It was built close to the servants’ quarters, yet it was noticeably larger than the surrounding structures.

Blake happily pointed toward it.

"My workshop is over there."

He could barely contain his excitement anymore.

As they walked across the snowy path...

He finally gave up trying to stay calm.

"Honestly..."

He laughed happily.

"I still can’t believe you’re actually here."

He looked toward Ezra with sparkling eyes.

"You’re really standing right in front of me."

He rubbed the back of his head before letting out another laugh.

"Ahh...I used to pray for days like this."

His words came out one after another without stopping.

Lucy quietly glanced sideways at her Master.

A playful smile slowly spread across her face.

"A diehard fan..."

She whispered softly enough that only Ezra could hear.

"I see."

Ezra didn’t even react.

His expression remained exactly the same as he continued walking toward the workshop.

Seeing his complete lack of response only made Lucy’s smile grow a little wider.

Meanwhile...

Blake continued enthusiastically talking about Ezra’s inventions, the Phantom Rolls, and how much he admired the young inventor, completely unaware that his idol was listening, but wasn’t interested in what he was saying.