Last Gun Alchemist

”So... that’s a wrap.”

Veda brought his hands together in a soft clap, the sound light but clear as he leaned back slightly, a small look of satisfaction settling on his face now that the meeting had ended in his favor.

”Tsk.”

Priscilla clicked her tongue, the irritation in her expression obvious as she stood up abruptly, her chair scraping lightly against the ground.

She didn’t say another word, didn’t even glance back once, she simply turned and walked away.

Her group followed immediately behind her, their steps quick, none of them speaking as they left the circle.

Fay and the members of her group watched them go, their eyes lingering on Priscilla’s back, their expressions mixed with frustration and quiet resentment, each of them holding their own thoughts but not voicing them openly.

”Lady Priscilla is such a bitch...”

Fay muttered under her breath, her voice low but sharp as she exhaled slowly, trying to ease the annoyance that sat heavily in her chest.

Gareth and Zack both stood up at the same time, preparing to leave as well, their movements calm and controlled, but just as Zack turned...

”Zack.” Gareth called out.

Zack paused, turning slightly.

”Yes, Sir Gareth,” he replied, adjusting his glasses with a smooth motion, his tone polite but measured.

”Please greet Lady Vera for me.”

Gareth said, his expression soft, carrying a kind of harmless innocence that made his words feel simple.

Zack stared at him quietly.

Trying to read something deeper behind that expression, but there was nothing, no hidden meaning, no layered intent, just... plain sincerity.

”I will pass your greetings to her.”

Zack finally said, turning fully and walking away with his group, his hand tightened slightly at his side as he walked.

Tsk...I couldn’t read him.

The thought lingered heavily.

Zack had always taken pride in his ability to read people, to understand them and stay ahead.

As an Alchemist, intelligence was a common trait—quick thinking, curiosity, the drive to understand, but among those who had it, there were always those who stood higher than the rest.

Naturally, Vera... stood among the best, one of the most intelligent children of her age, even if she ranked third overall among the dukes and royal children within their generation.

Zack knew his place, he wasn’t at the very top, but he wasn’t at the bottom either because he knew he was above many, even above Veda in terms of raw intellect. At least, that was what he believed.

Zack’s main belief was that with pure bloodline comes massive talent. He accepted that all the children of the mainlines would always be ahead of the highlines while the highline would be ahead of the lowlines, with the amount of advantage they had, why wouldn’t that be.

That’s why he wasn’t surprised when Veda, who was called the trash of Ash, suddenly surpassed everyone’s belief in him.

Zack felt it couldn’t be helped, that instead of trying to aimlessly be better than them, following them from the back and supporting them would be ideal, while amongst his fellow highline, was where he would show his talent to be above the children there and that belief had always supported his pride and confidence, his way of carrying himself, but then...

Ezra appeared and something changed, not because Ezra was simply better.

No...

It was because Ezra proved something else entirely.

That someone from a lower origin...Could surpass him.

Easily.

That realization had cracked something inside him, not completely, but enough.

Enough for a new feeling to grow, inferiority and with that he made a decision.

If he wanted to grow...If he wanted to stand beside the one, he admired...He had to push further.

Past the limits he had never dared to challenge before.

That was why he had tried to read Gareth, to begin testing himself and pushing his talent further against one of the true ”Genius” among them.

He wanted to improve, to sharpen himself, to show Vera...What he was truly capable of, but it would not be easy.

Zack let out a quiet breath.

One hand slipping into his pocket as he adjusted his glasses again, the sunlight reflecting briefly off the lens as he walked ahead of his group.

Behind him, Henry waved casually at Veda before leaving with his people, his relaxed attitude unchanged.

Soon...

Only Fay’s group and Veda’s group remained.

”Sir Veda... you said we should wait a bit.”

Fay spoke, stepping slightly closer, her tone more controlled now.

”Yeah.”

Veda nodded, his expression softening.

”I wanted to understand the situation on your side better... so I can see what I can do.”

His eyes moved across her group, observing their tired looks which didn’t feel like it was only physical but mentally stressed although their posture remained straight and their faces composed, but underneath were cracks, fear, loss and pressure.

The second wave had left its mark and the third wave was coming.

The anxiety in the air was familiar, but much stronger than what his own group had felt before.

Veda stood there feeling it and something inside him pushed.

He wanted to help, not out of pity nor because he wanted something in return, but as an older brother.

”Okay...”

He stepped forward now closer to Fay.

”I’ll come with you to your base.”

”Eh?!”

Fay and Nickolas reacted at the same time, both stepping back slightly in surprise.

”Sir Veda, why would you say something like that?” Nickolas asked quickly, his brows tightening.

”I want to see what advice I can give them,” Veda replied simply, as if it was the most natural thing to say.

”And I’m also thinking of bringing Ezra along.”

”Huh?!” Nickolas froze.

That one hit harder.

”Why him?” he asked, pointing to himself immediately after. ”Aren’t I supposed to be the one following you everywhere?”

”It’s not like that.”

Veda lightly punched his shoulder.

”I need Ezra to help them set up proper trap lines for the next wave.”

”Oh...”

Nickolas blinked, then his eyes widened slightly.

”...oh.”

But then, another thought hit him.

”Wait... isn’t he kind of blind right now?”

He tilted his head.

”How is he supposed to help lay out traps?”

”Well...”

Veda thought for a moment.

”Considering why he left the medic tent in the first place... I think he’s trying to train his hearing.”

While the two spoke, Fay and her group stood slightly behind.

Listening.

Trying to process everything the two were talking about.

”...He’s blind?”

”...Ezra?”

”...Trap layout?”

”...What is going on...” One of her members whispered.

”Not sure...” Fay replied under her breath.

”I think he said he wants to help us...” another added quietly.

”I know that.” Fay said, but her eyes shifted toward Veda.

Honestly...Both Older Siblings are amazing.

She felt it clearly, admiration and respect.

Even in a trial where they are rivals, fighting for the same position, he is still willing to help to this extent.

I don’t think many older siblings would do this...

”Honestly... I still wonder why Sir Bale didn’t choose to support one of his siblings instead of fighting them for the heir position...”

Fay muttered quietly to herself, her voice low enough that only she could hear it, her gaze dropping slightly as the thought lingered in her mind, but she remembered the answer he already gave her the time she asked him.

The way he said it, the look on his face at that moment.

She exhaled slowly, letting the thought go.

”So... when do we leave, Sir Veda?” she asked, lifting her head again as she turned her attention back to him.

”Oh...sorry.”

Veda turned toward her, blinking once as if he had just returned from his own thoughts.

”I was talking with Nickolas.”

He gave a small smile.

”We’ll go after I gather the main person for our journey.”

Fay nodded.

After that, they began to move.

Taking the route along the right side of the forest, their steps were controlled and deliberate as they avoided the areas where traps had already been reset, each person watching where they stepped, making sure not to trigger anything by mistake.

Branches shifted under their feet, leaves rustled lightly, the air was quiet and peaceful

They reached Ezra’s side.

He was resting on his beach chair.

His body leaned back slightly, one arm resting at his side while the other lay loosely across his lap, his posture calm, but not fully relaxed.

The two who had stayed behind earlier had already left, joining the others who had gone to watch the meeting from afar, leaving this area almost empty.

”Is that Veda?”

Ezra spoke before they fully approached, his head turning slightly toward the direction of their footsteps, his ears picking up the layered sound of multiple people walking together.

”And... you brought more people with you.”

He sat up slowly facing them.

”Ezra...”

Fay lifted her hand instinctively, waving before stopping midway, remembering.

”I know you can’t see me... but, long time no see.”

”Fay... right?”

Ezra tilted his head slightly, his tone calm as he matched the voice to memory.

”Yes.”

She nodded.

Her eyes moved around his setup—the tent, the beach chair, and then, his coat.

”Still wearing a coat, I see.”

She pointed it out casually.

”The weather is cold.” Ezra replied with a straight face, meaning he wasn’t joking.

Fay paused, so did the others behind her. They all looked at each other, then slowly raised their heads looking up at the sky.

The sun was out, the air...Warm.

Isn’t it hot...?

None of them said it, but the thought passed between them awkwardly.

”What do you need, Veda?” Ezra asked, turning his face toward him directly.

”I know this might sound like I’m asking too much, especially since you’re still recovering...”

Veda stepped forward slightly, bringing his hands together in front of him.

”But I need your help... with setting up trap lines at Bale’s castle.”

”Veda, you don’t need to plead...”

Nickolas stepped in quickly, trying to stop him, but Veda ignored him.

Ezra remained quiet for a moment. He wanted to refuse, straight and simple, but then another thought came.

The distance, the movement, the chance to train his hearing, to improve it further.

”...I’ll need my bandages changed every day though.”

Ezra said finally.

”That’s why I brought her.”

Veda turned slightly and gestured forward, pulling a girl from the medical team into view.

”She’s already packed and ready to assist you.”

He smiled slightly, confident.

As if he already knew what the answer would be.

”Tsk.”

Ezra clicked his tongue quietly hearing seeing through his confident tone.

”...fine. Let’s go.”

He stood up, picked up the beach chair and folded it neatly, then carried it back into his tent.

The group stayed where they were, watching, listening and waiting for him.

Inside, Ezra moved quickly, gathering a few items, tools and supplies. Things he would need, both for himself and for mapping out the traps.

Three minutes passed.

He stepped out. ”Okay. I’m ready.” One hand held his space bag, the other slipped into his coat pocket.

”Alright...let’s go!”

Veda said, pointing forward with a bit more energy now.

”Wait...what about me?”

Nickolas pointed at himself immediately, his expression shifting.

Veda turned toward him.

”You stay and take care of the group. I’ll be back in about two days, depending on how fast we finish helping them.”

”What about the third wave?”

Nickolas asked again, pressing the question.

”Don’t worry.”

Ezra answered before Veda could.

”The wave won’t come until around the fourth week.”

Nickolas didn’t reply, he just stood there watching them leave.

As Veda, Ezra, and the medic girl began to move, following Fay and her group as they headed back toward their castle base.

Their figures grew smaller, step by step as they walked out of the castle area.

Behind them, Fay’s group lowered their voices, whispering among themselves as they glanced at Ezra.

”How is he able to walk like that...?”

”With his eyes covered...”

”Not even stumbling much...”

”What a strange boy...” One of them whispered.

They stared at him, amazed at how someone who is blindfolded could walk easily without falling.