Last Gun Alchemist

Moonlight spread quietly across the forest.

Light snow continued falling from the dark sky, drifting gently through the cold night breeze.

The chilly wind rustled the leaves overhead while carrying the distant sounds of machinery from inside the hidden compound.

The deep rumble of numerous steam engines echoed throughout the construction base.

One after another...

Large steam trucks stood parked inside the compound while workers moved busily between them.

Groups of laborers carried massive sealed metal containers before loading them into the cargo compartments of the waiting trucks.

The entire place remained active despite the late hour.

Smoke continuously rose from several tall chimneys deeper inside the base.

The glowing torch pillars illuminated almost every corner of the compound.

"How are we even supposed to get into this place?"

Gena quietly whispered.

She carefully observed the main entrance from the thick branch where everyone remained hidden.

The gate alone was heavily guarded.

Nearly twenty armed guards stood in different positions around the entrance.

Some remained completely still.

Others slowly patrolled around the perimeter.

Two guards stood atop the watchtowers overlooking the surrounding forest.

Their sharp eyes continuously scanned the darkness.

The group remained perfectly concealed behind layers of leaves.

Not one of them dared expose even a part of their body.

Near the entrance itself...

Three guards slowly walked back and forth.

Two of them firmly held thick chains attached to enormous black and brown Rottweilers.

The muscular dogs continuously sniffed the surrounding air.

Occasionally...

They quietly growled toward the darkness.

Just looking at the animals made Blake shiver.

"...I’m honestly starting to have second thoughts."

He whispered nervously.

His eyes never left the Rottweilers.

Those weren’t ordinary guard dogs.

They looked large enough to tear someone apart.

"Coward."

Gena glanced sideways at him.

Her expression carried obvious displeasure.

"You call yourself the heir of House Wellston... yet you’re scared of something this small?"

Blake immediately narrowed his eyes.

Something this small?

He almost couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

There are giant Rottweilers...

Guards carrying guns...

Watchtowers...

And we’re sneaking into a hidden military-looking base!

How is any of this small?

He quietly tightened his grip around the tree branch beneath him.

"I’m a normal human being."

He whispered back.

"Remember?"

Gwen nodded several times.

For once...

She completely agreed with her young master.

"Young Master is right."

She carefully looked toward everyone.

"It’s already late. We’ve successfully followed Baroness Orvain here."

She spoke gently.

"Wouldn’t it be better if we returned and informed the Barons about everything we’ve discovered?"

She lowered her voice even further.

"I really don’t think we should continue risking our lives."

She couldn’t hide the concern in her eyes.

More than anything...

She simply wanted Blake to return home safely.

Lucy quietly looked toward Gwen.

"You two can stay behind if you want."

Her calm voice sounded surprisingly gentle.

She wasn’t mocking them.

She genuinely meant it.

"We’ll collect the evidence ourselves."

She looked directly at Gwen.

"If we manage to expose Baroness Orvain... your family’s problem will be solved anyway. There isn’t any need for both of you to risk your lives."

She smiled softly.

"I don’t want anything happening to you either, Gwen."

Meanwhile...

While everyone quietly discussed what to do...

Ezra had already taken action.

Without making the slightest sound...

He calmly removed the Barrett M107 from his space bag.

The long rifle silently appeared in his hands.

A suppressor had already been attached to the muzzle beforehand.

He smoothly lay down along the thick tree branch.

His breathing gradually slowed.

His blank black eyes calmly observed the two guards standing atop the watchtowers.

The surrounding sounds seemed to disappear from his mind.

Only the targets remained.

Beside him...

Gena quietly watched without interrupting.

She knew that expression.

Whenever Ezra became that focused...

Something was about to happen.

Ezra gently rested his finger against the trigger.

He calmly exhaled.

Pfft!

Pfft!

Two suppressed shots quietly echoed through the forest.

The sound barely traveled beyond the surrounding trees.

Far away...

The heads of the two guards jerked backward simultaneously.

Both bullets struck perfectly between their eyes.

Neither man even had the opportunity to cry out.

Their bodies instantly collapsed against the wooden platforms before falling completely still.

Clean.

Precise.

And instant.

Before anyone could even process what had happened...

Ezra had already returned the Barrett to his space bag.

His movements never became hurried.

Immediately afterward...

He retrieved another weapon.

His customized Harpoon Gun.

Already loaded.

He calmly aimed toward the nearest watchtower.

Another quiet breath escaped him.

Thwack!

The harpoon shot through the darkness at tremendous speed.

It struck the steel framework supporting the watchtower with remarkable precision.

The sharp metal hook embedded itself firmly into the structure.

Ezra immediately pulled the attached cable tight.

After confirming it wouldn’t move...

He securely tied the opposite end around the thick branch beneath his feet.

The cable instantly became a narrow bridge stretching directly toward the watchtower.

Only then...

Did Ezra stand.

"Let’s go."

He calmly spoke.

Without another explanation...

He stepped onto the thin cable.

His body remained perfectly balanced.

Every step appeared natural.

He simply walked forward as though he were crossing an ordinary road.

Not once did he wobble.

Not once did he hesitate.

Behind him...

Gwen stared with her mouth slightly open.

"...You’ve got to be kidding me."

She whispered in complete disbelief.

Blake’s eyes sparkled.

The fear inside him briefly disappeared.

Only admiration remained.

"...Wow."

His voice almost trembled.

"T-This... This is insane."

He slowly sat upright on the branch.

His eyes never left Ezra’s back.

"I really... can’t believe people can do something like this."

He quietly clenched both fists.

Then...

He slowly stood.

"Gwen."

He looked toward her.

"Let’s go."

"Huh?"

Gwen blinked.

She hadn’t expected him to suddenly change his mind.

"Young Master..."

She wanted to stop him.

Unfortunately...

Blake gently shook his head.

"I’m scared."

He admitted honestly.

Even his legs were still trembling as he spoke.

"So scared that I honestly want to turn around and run away."

He forced out a weak smile.

"But..."

He looked toward Ezra again.

"I can’t allow my idol to solve my family’s problem while I hide behind everyone."

His expression gradually became serious.

"I’m the heir of House Wellston. If I can’t even walk this far beside everyone else... then this is as far as I’ll ever grow."

He quietly swallowed.

"Even if I’m not an Alchemist... I still want to see this through."

He laughed awkwardly.

"...Although... I really hope nobody shoots at us."

Gwen quietly stared at him.

"...Young Master."

Her expression softened.

For a brief moment...

She genuinely felt proud.

Then...

Her eyes slowly moved downward.

She looked at Blake’s trembling legs.

Then at his shaking hands.

Then back at his face.

"...Ahhh."

She sighed helplessly.

"This really is ridiculous."

She slowly turned toward Lucy.

Without saying another word...

She simply raised both arms.

Lucy immediately understood.

A warm smile appeared on her face.

"I told you."

She gently lifted Gwen into her arms.

"I’ll protect you."

Then...

Lucy stepped onto the cable.

The rope swayed lightly beneath her feet.

Even while carrying Gwen...

Her balance barely changed.

Months of training under Ezra’s harsh guidance had transformed her control over her own center of gravity.

Combined with the strengthening effect of Cognis flowing throughout her body...

She moved across the cable almost effortlessly.

It looked as though she were walking across solid ground.

Behind her...

Gena reluctantly picked Blake up once again.

"Hey..."

Blake quietly swallowed.

"What?"

Gena coldly answered.

"Don’t look down."

She continued focusing ahead.

"And don’t distract me either, idiot."

Blake nodded repeatedly.

"...I just need to ask one thing."

"What now?"

Gena sighed.

"...Are you really as good as Ezra and Lucy at this?"

He nervously asked.

"I’ve done something similar back home."

Gena calmly replied.

"So, stop worrying."

She finally stepped onto the cable.

The moment her foot landed...

The rope shook noticeably.

Blake nearly screamed, with his eyes widening.

He instantly covered his own mouth with both hands.

Only a muffled sound escaped.

Gena herself immediately felt the instability.

Her body shifted slightly.

She quickly adjusted her center of gravity.

A slow breath escaped her lips.

Then...

She regained complete control.

Without wasting another second...

She continued walking.

Ahead...

Lucy felt the disturbance caused by the shaking cable.

Even so...

Her expression never changed.

She simply adjusted her footing and continued moving.

"You’ve really changed, Lucy."

Gwen quietly said.

Lucy smiled faintly.

"I’m an Alchemist now."

She answered simply.

"But..."

Her eyes remained fixed ahead.

"I also had a really good teacher."

By then...

Ezra had already reached the watchtower.

He patiently waited there without saying anything.

"But Sir Ezra really is amazing."

Blake quietly praised.

He intentionally focused on talking.

Anything...

To stop himself from thinking about the terrifying height beneath them.

"He crossed this tiny cable so quickly... without even sweating."

He laughed weakly.

"Oh..."

He suddenly looked toward Gena.

"You’re amazing too."

He forced another smile.

Gena completely ignored him.

Every bit of her concentration remained focused on safely reaching the tower.

A few moments later...

Blake suddenly blinked.

"Wait..."

He looked toward the watchtower ahead.

Lucy had already safely arrived.

"...What about the guards on the towers?"

He frowned.

"If we’re crossing this openly...shouldn’t they have seen us already?"

Finally...

Gena answered.

"They would’ve... if Ezra hadn’t already taken care of them."

She increased her pace now that the tower stood only a few steps away.

"When you and your constantly complaining maid were busy talking about danger... Ezra had already finished dealing with them."

"Huh?"

Blake looked completely confused.

"...Taken care of?"

He repeated.

"What do you mean by that?"

"It’s exactly what you’re thinking."

Gena calmly answered.

The moment she reached the tower...

She lightly jumped onto the platform.

After setting Blake back onto his feet...

She dusted off her clothes before stretching her shoulders.

Nearby...

Ezra remained crouched.

One hand rested against the metal flooring.

His Cognis quietly spread through the surrounding structures once more.

Now that he stood inside the base...

His perception had become far more detailed than before.

Blake slowly looked around.

His heartbeat quietly accelerated.

"...Wait."

He looked toward everyone.

"W-Wait..."

His body visibly trembled again.

"The guards..."

He forced out another swallow.

"...You only knocked them unconscious... right?"

He looked toward Ezra.

Waiting.

Hoping.

Praying.

Ezra slowly turned.

His blank eyes met Blake’s.

He said nothing.

That silence alone...

Answered everything.

Blake instinctively followed Ezra’s line of sight.

Only then...

Did he notice it.

The lifeless body of one of the guards lay against the wooden floor.

Dark blood slowly dripped from the wound in his forehead.

"...Ah..."

Blake’s face instantly turned pale.

His stomach violently twisted.

"Urgh!"

He turned away.

Without any control...

He vomited onto the wooden platform.

Gwen hurried over.

She gently supported his shoulders while softly patting his back.

"There... It’s alright."

Gena simply clicked her tongue.

"Tsk..."

Lucy looked at Blake with concern.

"Miss Gena."

She quietly spoke.

"You know he’s never experienced something like this before."

"Urgh... Cough!"

Blake continued vomiting.

Everything he had eaten throughout the day came back up.

His breathing became ragged.

"Ah... Ah..."

He struggled to calm himself.

"Youth Master."

Gwen continued gently rubbing his back.

"Slowly. Take deep breaths."

"I’m..."

Blake wiped his mouth.

"...I’m alright."

He forced himself upright.

"I’m sorry, everyone."

He weakly smiled.

"This... is my first time seeing something like this."

His face looked exhausted.

Gwen hesitated.

"Maybe we should..."

"No."

Blake interrupted.

He slowly shook his head.

"I’m alright."

He looked around.

Nobody else had reacted.

Ezra remained calm.

Lucy remained composed.

Gena barely cared.

Even Gwen...

Who wasn’t an Alchemist...

Was more worried about him than the dead body nearby.

Blake quietly lowered his head.

I can’t keep acting this weak.

Especially...

Not in front of Sir Ezra and Gwen.

He forced himself to glance toward the dead guard once more.

The nausea returned immediately.

Even so...

He endured it.

Since meeting Sir Ezra...

I’ve realized something.

I still have so much growing left to do.

His fists quietly tightened.

I couldn’t protect Gwen back then.

When those thugs nearly assaulted her...

And I am becoming nothing more than another burden now.

His breathing gradually steadied.

No.

I need to become stronger.

After calming himself...

Blake slowly walked toward Ezra.

The moment Ezra noticed Blake had regained his composure...

He quietly stood.

He looked toward everyone.

Without saying another unnecessary word...

He immediately began descending the watchtower.

The others silently followed behind him.

Step by careful step...

The group climbed down.

Soon...

They reached ground level near the entrance yard.

Everyone remained hidden behind stacked cargo crates.

Ahead...

Several gate guards briefly turned toward the massive entrance.

Their attention shifted away from the inner compound.

Ezra immediately raised one hand.

A simple signal.

Everyone understood.

Without hesitation...

The group moved together.

Following his orders without any complaint...

They quietly infiltrated the hidden construction base.