Last Gun Alchemist

”Oh... they are here.”

Veda stopped laughing midway, his expression shifting as he turned slightly, his attention already moving toward the direction he intended to go, his body adjusting as if he had been expecting this moment for a while.

”What’s going on?” Ezra asked, his brows narrowing slightly as he tilted his head, trying to follow the change in movement and tone around him.

”The leaders of each group are having a meeting,” Nickolas explained, his voice steady as he stepped forward slightly, his posture straight despite the lingering stiffness in his back.

Ezra turned his face toward where Veda stood.

”Let me guess... you’re the one who brought up the idea,” he said, his tone calm, carrying a quiet confidence.

Veda paused, then turned back looking at Ezra.

A small smile appeared.

”Spot on.”

He didn’t say anything else.

He simply turned again, lifting his hand slightly in a casual wave toward the others before walking off, Nickolas following closely behind him as they both headed toward the meeting point.

”Ezra...”

The second girl among the five stepped closer to him, her footsteps light but hesitant.

”Do you want to go and watch the meeting?”

”Idiot.”

The third boy among the five reacted instantly, his voice louder than needed as he slapped his own forehead lightly in frustration.

”Have you forgotten he can’t, see?”

He shook his head as he spoke, clearly annoyed.

”Ah...” The girl froze, her hand flew up to cover her mouth. ”I didn’t mean...”

Ezra didn’t let her finish.

”It’s okay.” His voice was flat. ”I know she didn’t mean it like that.”

”Okay...” the boy nodded, relaxing slightly.

A brief silence followed, then...

”So... what do you plan to do now?” Ann asked, folding her arms slightly as she leaned her weight onto one leg, watching Ezra carefully.

”Ahh...”

Ezra let out a quiet breath.

”I already said I can take care of myself, so you guys don’t need to pressure yourselves because of me.”

As he spoke, he began walking slowly toward his tent, his steps measured, careful, his hand brushing lightly against nearby surfaces to guide himself.

”But we really do want to help you.”

The second boy suddenly ran ahead, his footsteps quick as he moved to block the entrance of Ezra’s tent, standing directly in front of it.

Ezra stopped right at the entrance, hearing his position clearly.

”Why?” he asked.

”Because...” the first boy stepped forward, his fist tightening as he spoke, his voice carrying frustration directed at himself more than anything else.

”We felt completely useless... when we couldn’t do anything during the second wave.”

”Not us though!”

The third boy and the second girl raised their hands at the same time, speaking together without hesitation.

They were the two Ezra had taken with him earlier to support the front line.

”Quiet.”

Ann raised her hand slightly, cutting them off before turning her attention back to Ezra.

”We all just stood there... watching... while you took down all those Ground Apes by yourself.”

She exhaled slowly.

”At least... let us do this.”

The second boy added, his voice louder now, almost like he was trying to convince himself as much as Ezra.

”No.” Ezra answered immediately.

”It’s not like you didn’t help with the general group work.”

His tone remained steady.

”You all handled the corpses of the Ground Apes yourselves. That already makes you useful.”

He paused briefly.

”See, we all have our own roles to play. I just did mine... and you did yours.”

He stepped forward.

Gently pushing past the boy blocking the entrance. ”So, no one is useless.”

He entered his tent leaving the five standing outside silent and still.

His words lingered heavily in their minds.

Ann let out a long breath.

”I’m going to check how the meeting is going.”

She turned and began walking in that direction.

”I’ll stay back.”

The first boy said, lowering himself to sit near the tent, his head slightly lowered as he stared at the ground.

The second boy and the other girl looked at each other for a moment...Then suddenly ran, following after Ann while the third boy stayed behind.

Standing quietly beside the first.

***

On the battlefield, closer to the forest on the right...

Veda’s group had arranged six benches in a circle, the ground beneath them still uneven, traces of the recent battle visible in the disturbed soil and scattered marks left behind.

One by one, the leaders arrived, most with their members behind them.

Three approached from the left side of the forest while two from the right.

”Hey, hey...”

Priscilla’s voice came out louder than needed as she stepped forward, her gaze immediately landing on the bench assigned to her.

Her brows furrowed.

”Why would I sit on a bench?”

She frowned openly.

”That’s what we have to offer.”

Nickolas replied from behind Veda, his arms folded slightly as he stood beside another boy, a few members of their group positioned behind them.

”Relax, Pris.”

Henry said with a light smile as he stepped forward and sat down comfortably on one of the benches, placing one leg slightly forward as two of his close followers stood behind him.

”It’s just to sit.”

Priscilla glared at him, then at the bench.

Before she could react further Nate, standing behind her, pinched her back sharply.

”Ouch! Ouch!”

She stepped forward quickly, turning around with an annoyed expression.

”Stop that!”

”Why are you acting all smug when you’ve been sitting comfortably on benches since this trial started?” Nate whispered to her.

”It’s for presence, idiot,” she shot back, her eyes watering slightly from the pinch.

”Just sit,” he whispered again.

”Argh...”

She rubbed the spot on her back before finally sitting down, though her expression made it clear she wasn’t pleased.

”You two seem close.” Veda said, glancing toward Nate.

Nate looked at him for a moment, then smiled slightly.

”She has helped me a lot.”

”Oh... that’s nice.” Veda nodded.

”Enough of that.”

Priscilla cut in, leaning forward slightly as she looked at the representatives sited on the benches.

”Why are three leaders not present?”

Her gaze sharpened.

”It’s because of the damage our castle sustained during the second wave.”

Fay replied calmly from her seat.

”That’s why Sir Bale stayed behind to oversee the cleanup.”

”Okay...”

Priscilla nodded once, then turned. ”What about you two?” She looked directly at Gareth and Zack.

”It’s the same for us.” Gareth replied. ”Felix wants to focus on cleanup.”

”Huh...”

Priscilla laughed, folding her arms and crossing her legs.

”Do you hear yourself? I can believe Bale’s situation... but a stacked group like yours?”

She leaned forward slightly.

”Does he think he’s above everyone?”

Gareth sighed, shaking his head.

”No... it’s not like that. It’s the truth. Whether you believe me or not... is up to you.”

Priscilla clicked her tongue, then turned to Zack.

”My Lady said she doesn’t want to see any of your faces.”

Zack replied calmly, adjusting his glasses.

”Huh?” Priscilla blinked stunned.

Veda, Fay, Gareth, and Henry laughed.

”I expected that,” Gareth said.

”Too bad,” Veda adjusted his posture slightly. ”I actually wanted to see her.”

”I’ll inform my Lady.” Zack nodded.

”Okay...”

Veda said, his expression turning serious as he straightened his posture slightly, the earlier lightness in his tone completely gone as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees while interlocking his fingers and placing his chin on the back of his hands.

”Let’s get straight to business and end this meeting quickly, since all of us still have a lot to handle back at our bases.”

The small circle of benches grew quiet.

Even the faint sounds from the forest seemed to fade as attention gathered around him.

”I want all of us to agree on a ceasefire.”

His voice was steady.

Everyone listened with no interruption.

”After the third wave... we should all choose to remain in our castles and not attack one another.” He added.

The leaders and representatives sat still, their expressions tightening slightly as they processed what had just been said, each of them thinking through the implications carefully.

Then...

Priscilla raised her hand. ”Why should we do that?” Her tone was calm.

”The fifth trial is not only about defeating the three waves... it is also about stealing the flags of our competitors.”

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes locking onto Veda.

”Why would I choose to give up the opportunity to eliminate one of my rivals?”

Her question was not rushed because she had thought about it carefully.

”It’s because of my selfish desire... to avoid unnecessary deaths.”

Veda replied immediately without second guessing his words.

”Selfish desire?” Priscilla blinked surprised.

That was not the answer she expected.

She glanced sideways at Nate.

He shook his head slightly, just as confused.

”I like the idea, Sir Veda.” Fay spoke up.

Her voice, calm, but carried weight as she adjusted her sitting position slightly.

”Our group suffered heavily during the second wave, and if someone decides to attack us now... we might not be able to defend our flag properly.”

She glanced briefly toward Priscilla before continuing.

”With this agreement, my group will be able to think clearly and prepare properly for the third wave.”

A small smile appeared on her face.

”I agree to this.”

She nodded, satisfied.

”Well... I don’t.”

Priscilla replied instantly, not even giving a moment for Fay’s agreement to settle.

”I find it disgraceful that we are even discussing a ceasefire in a trial meant to determine the strongest.”

Her voice hardened.

”Only the strong survive, and the weak are meant to become stepping stones.”

She leaned back slightly, crossing her arms back.

”So why should we compromise for the weak?”

Her gaze sharpened as she continued.

”I say we fight and see who comes out alive.”

Then she turned her head slightly toward Fay.

”Even my group didn’t come out of the second wave without damage.”

Her eyes narrowed.

”So, tell Bale... to act like a man and fight with everything he has.”

Fay’s expression tightened instantly.

Her hand clenched into a fist, her nails digging slightly into her palm as she held back her reaction, clearly angered by the way Priscilla spoke about Bale in front of her.

”Cut the young boy some slack, Pris.”

Henry said calmly, pointing lightly toward Priscilla.

”At least he’s trying.”

”Tsk.”

Priscilla clicked her tongue and looked away, showing no remorse for what she had said, even though Veda—Bale’s elder brother, was sitting right there.

”I will inform my Lady about your comment regarding her little brother.”

Zack spoke calmly, adjusting his glasses with a slow, deliberate motion.

”Eh?”

Priscilla turned her head toward him, slowly, Zack met her gaze unmoved.

There was a faint hint of smugness in his expression, and Fay’s lips curved slightly as well when she heard his words.

”You think I’m scared?”

Priscilla adjusted her sitting posture, lifting her chin slightly.

”You should be.”

Zack replied immediately.

”I can kill you right now, you know.”

Priscilla’s eyes sharpened, a clear killing intent leaking out as she stared directly at him.

”And who gave a mere highline the right to speak to a mainline like me?”

The pressure in the air shifted.

Zack felt it, the weight of her intent pressing down on him, but he didn’t move nor step back.

Clap!

Veda clapped once, the sound breaking through the tension.

Sharp and clear.

Priscilla’s killing intent stopped, just like that.

”Calm down.”

Veda said, a small, calm smile returning to his face as he looked at her.

”I understand why you don’t want to accept my request, and I have no intention of forcing my ideals on anyone here.”

He straightened slightly.

”So, all of you can make your own decision. The majority will decide the outcome.”

”Okay...”

Priscilla exhaled, calming herself as she leaned back again.

”So, it’s one against two... or are we counting your vote as well?”

She looked directly at Veda.

”No.”

He shook his head.

”I’m the one who brought the idea, so I won’t vote.”

”That makes it one against one.” Henry nodded slowly.

”Then... as long as our agreement still stands...”

He glanced at Veda briefly.

”I agree with your request.”

”Two against one...”

Priscilla clicked her tongue again, clearly annoyed as she turned her gaze toward Gareth.

”I’m sure Felix wouldn’t agree to something like this.” A small smirk formed on her lips.

”Actually...” Gareth smiled softly. ”Felix expected this to be Veda’s request.”

He paused slightly.

”And he told me to agree.”

”Eh?” Priscilla tilted her head, her brows furrowing in confusion. ”Why?”

”That’s none of your concern.”

Gareth replied calmly, then he turned slightly toward Veda.

”Sir Veda, my group agrees to your request.”

”You’ve got to be kidding me...”

Priscilla pressed her hand against her forehead, rubbing it slowly as irritation built up inside her.

”We still have Lady Vera.”

Nate leaned slightly toward her, whispering under his breath.

”Even if it’s three against one... if Lady Vera disagrees, then everything could still be overturned.”

”Three against one...”

Zack glanced toward Gareth from the corner of his eye.

My Lady was right. Sir Felix is definitely on guard... but everything is still within her reach.

A faint smirk appeared on his lips as he adjusted his glasses again.

”My Lady also anticipated this.” He spoke calmly. ”And she instructed me to accept.”

”So, we agree.”

”She agreed?!”

Nate’s voice rose without control, his surprise slipping out before he could hold it back.

”Yes.” Zack looked at him cold. ”Commoner.”

”Wow...”

Nickolas spoke up, unable to hide the slight excitement in his tone.

”I didn’t expect the most difficult group to agree this easily.”

”Wait.”

Nate raised his hand again, his expression turning serious.

”What if someone goes behind everyone’s back and steals another group’s flag?”

The question hung in the air.

Veda stood up slowly.

”As long as the group whose flag is stolen sounds the horn...”

He looked at each of them. One by one.

”Everyone who agreed to this request will unite.”

His voice deepened.

”And we will take that flag back.”

His expression hardened. ”Either they return it willingly...” His eyes narrowed slightly. ”Or we take it with blood.”