Last Gun Alchemist

Ezra carefully read through the information displayed within the Book of Memories.

The pages of knowledge flowed through his mind one after another while he compared them with the information he had gathered from Britannia’s books. His pen moved across the paper from time to time, jotting down notes whenever he noticed a difference.

Several minutes later, he finally stopped.

”The main difference is the fuel.”

He lowered his pen onto the table and stared at the words he had written.

For a normal steam engine, the fuel used to heat water could be coal, wood, charcoal, or oil.

But...Britannia was different.

Very different.

The fuel used throughout the kingdom was called Novarite.

A faint tapping sound echoed from the wooden table as Ezra lightly drummed his finger against it.

Novarite.

The more information he read about it, the stranger the material seemed.

In the Eastern Continent and parts of the Southern Continent, the mineral was often called the Frozen Sun.

In the Northern Continent, many kingdoms referred to it as Shams Az-Zamharir, the Sun of the Bitter Frost.

Meanwhile, several nations of the Western Continent simply called it the Magic Stone.

Different names.

Different cultures.

Yet all of them referred to the same thing.

The reason behind those names originated from the stone’s unusual properties.

According to countless records and studies conducted by various nations, the energy volume contained within a tiny piece of Novarite was comparable to the heat volume emitted by the sun itself.

Naturally, not everyone accepted such claims at first.

Kingdoms launched research projects.

Alchemists of Britannia performed experiments.

Mages argued for decades.

The deeper they investigated, the more terrifying the truth became.

Many researchers lost their lives.

Many more suffered severe injuries.

The danger hidden within Novarite wasn’t something ordinary people could handle.

Even powerful individuals often approached the stone with extreme caution.

Only a handful of kingdoms that had managed to explore parts of the Realm of Stars were able to confirm some of the theories regarding its true nature.

The Alchemists of Britannia eventually reached a conclusion.

The heat contained within Novarite was so great that conventional methods couldn’t properly measure it.

Ironically, the stone itself showed almost none of those dangerous properties.

A normal person could hold a piece of glowing golden-yellow Novarite in their bare hand without suffering any harm.

It would feel harmless.

Cold, even.

At least until activation occurred.

That was where the danger began.

Friction.

Impact.

Chemical reaction.

The moment any of those conditions were met, the stone would instantly release a portion of its stored energy.

No warning.

No delay.

No gradual increase.

One moment everything would appear normal.

The next...

The surrounding area would be consumed by heat powerful enough to melt all.

Some records even claimed that the release speed surpassed the speed of light itself.

Whether that was true or merely an exaggeration, Ezra couldn’t confirm.

Still, one thing remained certain.

Novarite was terrifying.

And it was the primary fuel source that powered Britannia’s steam technology.

However, Novarite was only one half of the equation.

Ezra flipped through several more pages.

His eyes paused.

”The liquid is different too.”

For traditional steam engines, water served as the medium used to generate steam, but Britannia didn’t use water.

The reason was simple.

The moment Novarite interacted with ordinary water, the water would disappear instantly.

The reaction happened too quickly to produce usable steam.

As a result, Britannia’s Alchemists were forced to search for alternatives.

Eventually they discovered another valuable resource.

Crytalix.

A silver-blue liquid ore considered precious throughout the entire world.

Unlike water, Crytalix possessed a unique property.

It had no known boiling point.

No matter how much heat was applied.

No matter whether the source was stellar plasma, an artificial sun, or Novarite itself.

The liquid never truly boiled.

Instead, whenever Crytalix was exposed to extreme temperatures, it generated steam equivalent to the heat level being applied.

The hotter the source.

The hotter the steam.

Eventually, Britannia’s Alchemists succeeded in creating methods to regulate that reaction.

That breakthrough became the foundation upon which modern steam technology was built.

”No wonder the steam from the exhaust isn’t poisonous.”

Ezra leaned back slightly.

His gaze remained fixed on the pages before him.

The more he learned about Britannia’s technology, the more impressed he became.

”This explains a lot.”

His eyes moved across the stack of books.

”Although, these books don’t explain how the complete engine structure is assembled.”

The silence of the library seemed heavier for a moment.

Sunlight filtered through the tall windows and stretched across the floorboards.

Dust drifted lazily through the air.

Ezra narrowed his eyes.

It’s obviously because they’re hiding production information.

But honestly...

Do they really think someone with enough parts wouldn’t eventually figure out how to build one?

He leaned back in his chair.

The wooden frame creaked softly as he rocked back and forth.

His thoughts drifted elsewhere.

”Although, from everything I’ve read so far, it’s pretty clear how difficult it would be to obtain those two materials. Not that I’m planning to build a car or somethi...”

Ezra suddenly stopped.

The chair creaked softly as he straightened his back.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Thinking about cars...

The word lingered in his mind.

Almost immediately, memories from his previous life surfaced.

Military trucks.

Armored vehicles.

Supply transports.

Heavy engineering carriers.

Machines built not only to move people from one place to another, but also to survive battlefields and carry weapons powerful enough to decide the outcome of wars.

Ezra unconsciously rubbed his chin.

”We definitely don’t have many of those.”

His gaze drifted toward the window as he searched through his memories.

After a few seconds, another image surfaced.

The Unveiling Party.

”Although...”

He tilted his head thoughtfully.

”I do remember seeing a Military Steam-Carriage during the Unveiling Party.”

The image became clearer.

”It looked more like a utility vehicle than an actual combat machine.”

His finger lightly tapped against the armrest of the chair.

The more he thought about it, the more possibilities appeared.

If Britannia’s steam technology could already support large industrial equipment, then creating advanced transportation shouldn’t be impossible.

Of course, that was a problem for the future.

Right now, he wasn’t planning to go big.

Knock.

Knock.

A gentle knock echoed from the wooden door.

The sound came suddenly that it should have pulled Ezra from his thoughts, but he was still vigilant even though his mind stared deep in thoughts, so the knock didn’t surprise him.

”You may enter, Lucy.”

His voice remained calm as he continued organizing the information he had gathered about Britannia’s steam technology.

The door slowly opened and Lucy stepped inside quietly.

Her maid uniform was neat as always, and her posture remained straight despite spending most of the morning working around the house.

”Good afternoon, Master.”

She gave a small bow.

”The workers who came to install the furnace have arrived.”

”Okay.”

Ezra stood up from his chair.

Through the large window behind him, he could already see a plume of white steam rising into the air from somewhere outside the property.

A steam-powered transport truck.

He stretched his arms above his head before closing the books spread across the table.

One after another, he stacked them neatly.

His notes and jotter were placed inside his space bag before he swung the strap over his shoulder.

Only then did he leave the library alongside Lucy.

The two walked through the hallway together.

Soft sunlight streamed through the mansion windows, illuminating parts of the corridor while leaving others beneath gentle shadows.

”Have your maid classes started?”

Ezra asked.

”Yes.”

Lucy nodded.

”They started recently.”

”Hmm.” Ezra glanced at her. ”That’s cool.”

Lucy blinked.

For some reason, hearing such a casual response from Ezra always felt slightly strange.

The two continued walking until they exited the mansion grounds.

Outside, several workers had already begun unloading equipment from a large steam truck.

The sound of machinery echoed throughout the area.

Metal tools clinked together.

Workers carried crates.

Others moved long sections of piping.

Among the workers were several Alchemists in the Half-star Novice rank.

Lucy’s eyes widened slightly when she noticed them.

”It’s my first-time seeing Craft-Based Alchemists.”

Her gaze followed the group curiously.

Unlike combat-focused Alchemists, these individuals carried measuring equipment and specialized tools rather than weapons.

She glanced toward Ezra.

He stood with his arms folded, quietly observing the workers as they moved around the workshop.

”It’s not really surprising.”

His tone remained indifferent.

”The materials came from the Grand Lumithar Shopping Complex.”

Ezra nodded toward the workers.

”A complex with connections to major industries and top manufacturing firms isn’t going to send ordinary people for a project like this.”

Lucy thought about it for a moment before nodding.

That explanation made sense.

Ezra glanced at her briefly.

”Besides, I paid over a million gold coins for this furnace.”

His expression remained completely blank.

”It would be stranger, if they didn’t send professionals.”

Lucy immediately found herself agreeing.

A million gold coins wasn’t a small amount by any standard.

The workers all wore matching uniforms.

Whether they were ordinary laborers or Alchemists, every person carried the same company insignia on their clothing.

The company’s crest had been embroidered onto the right side of their chest using silver thread, making it stand out clearly against the darker fabric.

Several workers were already arranging equipment in neat rows while others reviewed documents and blueprints.

Everything looked organized.

Disciplined and professional.

Ezra silently watched the scene unfold calmly and expressionless.

The workers quickly began moving equipment into position as the installation process started.

Large measuring devices were unloaded from the Steam Truck and carried into the workshop. Several workers spread blueprints across portable tables while others began taking measurements of the walls, floor, and ceiling of the space Ezra had designated for the Steam Furnace.

Nothing was done carelessly.

Every distance was measured multiple times.

Every angle was checked.

Every mark made on the walls was carefully recorded.

The purpose of these measurements was because...

The workers needed to determine the exact locations where holes would be drilled through the walls and where the Alchemy Circle would be drawn. Even the slightest error could affect the assembly process later when Joint Alchemy was used to construct the furnace.

The exhaust system had to align perfectly.

The steam pipes had to connect to the proper outlets.

The chimney needed enough space to extend through the building without interfering with the furnace’s operation.

One mistake would force them to dismantle part of the installation and start over.

Or end up with a low grade furnace which meant the life span would be bad.

After the measurements were completed, the workers marked several points across the workshop.

Soon the sound of drilling echoed throughout the area.

Chunks of stone fell from the walls as openings were created for the furnace pipes and exhaust chimney.

Only after everything was prepared did the Craft Alchemists finally step forward.

They carried containers filled with special chalk-like materials.

One after another, they began drawing an enormous Alchemy Circle across the workshop floor.

Complex geometric patterns spread outward.

Symbols connected to symbols.

Lines intertwined with other lines.

Several smaller circles formed around the main formation.

To Lucy, the entire thing looked incredibly complicated.

To Ezra, it was fascinating.

Both of them stood quietly and watched.

For Lucy, it was simply her first-time seeing Craft Alchemists at work.

For Ezra, however, this was a valuable opportunity.

Ever since awakening as an Alchemist, most of the people he had seen perform Alchemy were combat-oriented Alchemists during the Trial of Steel.

Craft Alchemists were different.

They represented another side of Alchemy entirely.

One focused on creation rather than destruction.

As someone who planned to build countless things in the future, observing them now was worth more than reading several books.

Eventually, the final line of the Alchemy Circle was completed.

The workers immediately began transporting the furnace components.

Large metallic sections.

Pressure chambers.

Steam valves.

Pipes.

Internal mechanisms.

And the two important components that powered the engine were carried in a black box.

Every piece was placed inside designated sections of the formation.

The arrangement appeared chaotic at first glance, but Ezra quickly realized there was a pattern to it.

Each component occupied a precise position.

Almost as if the Alchemy Circle itself had already planned where every piece would belong.

When everything was ready, the Craft Alchemists took their positions.

They stood evenly around the formation.

Silence gradually fell over the workshop.

Even the ordinary workers stepped back.

Then...

Clap!

All of the Alchemists brought their hands together at the exact same moment.

The sharp sound echoed throughout the workshop.

A wave of Cognis immediately emerged from their bodies.

However, unlike the explosive surge Ezra or Lucy usually produced when activating Alchemy, this Cognis flowed steadily.

Controlled and disciplined.

Like water being released from a reservoir.

The pressure slowly increased.

More and more gray Cognis flowed outward.

The surrounding air seemed to become heavier.

On the signal of the senior Alchemist, all of them simultaneously lowered their hands and pressed their palms against the Alchemy Circle.

The formation lit up.

Gray light spread through the engraved patterns.

The Cognis flowing from their bodies entered the circle like streams joining together into a river.

Thread-like currents intertwined.

Merged.

And expanded.

The entire formation gradually filled with glowing gray energy.

Ezra narrowed his eyes.

Not wanting to miss even the smallest detail.

Interesting...

Their Cognis output isn’t particularly strong individually, since they all are just Half-stars, but the synchronization is almost perfect.

The gray light became brighter.

Brighter.

Then brighter still.

The moment every line within the formation was completely filled, the Alchemy Circle activated.

A deep hum filled the workshop.

The furnace components suddenly trembled.

Then they began to melt.

Lucy unconsciously widened her eyes.

The metal didn’t melt because of the heat, especially since there was no fire.

No sparks.

Or flames.

The solid components simply lost their shape and transformed into liquid metal.

The silver liquid floated above the Alchemy Circle.

Compressing.

Stretching.

Twisting and Reshaping.

Dozens of separate components merged together as if guided by invisible hands.

The process continued for several minutes.

The foundation formed first.

Then the central furnace chamber.

After that came the internal pressure system.

Pipes extended outward and neatly passed through the holes drilled into the walls earlier.

Every connection aligned perfectly.

Every valve settled into position.

The entire structure gradually rose from the floor.

Piece by piece.

Layer by layer.

Until finally...

The Steam Furnace stood, completed.

The Alchemy Circle slowly dimmed.

The pressure in the room disappeared.

Several workers let out relieved breaths, even the Craft Alchemists looked slightly exhausted.

Lucy stared at the completed furnace.

”It feels like I’m watching a different side of Steel Alchemy.”

Ezra silently agreed.

The process had been impressive.

Far more efficient than traditional construction.

Once the installation was completed, testing immediately began.

Workers moved around the furnace, inspecting gauges and pressure valves.

After a final check, one of them activated the machine.

HISSSSS...

A loud burst of steam escaped from the exhaust system.

The entire furnace vibrated slightly.

Pressure gauges moved.

Steam flowed through the pipes.

The machine came to life.

Ezra stepped closer.

His attention focused on every detail.

The flow rate.

The pressure consistency.

The steam output.

The structural stability.

Everything appeared excellent.

The Alchemy Grade of this furnace is surprisingly high.

He observed the structure carefully.

At least Seventh Grade.

Possibly Eighth Grade.

Especially considering how delicate the assembly process was.

His gaze shifted toward the senior Alchemist supervising the project.

”What is the Alchemy Grade?”

The man wiped sweat from his forehead before answering.

”Eight Grade, Sir Ezra.”

Ezra nodded.

That explained the quality.

By then, the workers had already completed their tests and powered down the furnace.

Steam slowly dispersed into the air.

Lucy smiled.

”That’s amazing for a Fourth-Grade Steam Furnace, Master.”

She looked at the machine with visible admiration.

”An Eighth-Grade construction means it should last for a very long time, even if you push it to its limits.”

”Yes.”

Ezra looked satisfied.

”It seems so.”

The senior worker stepped forward.

”We’ll be taking our leave now, Sir Ezra.”

He gave a respectful bow.

The other workers followed shortly afterward.

Soon they began loading their equipment back into the Steam Truck.

One after another, the vehicles departed from the property.

Lucy watched them disappear into the distance.

The fading sound of the engines slowly vanished along with them.

”I wonder how much they’re paid.”

She sounded genuinely curious.

Ezra closed the workshop doors before turning back toward the mansion.

”Not sure.”

He thought for a moment.

Then added,

”But whatever it is...”

A small hint of amusement appeared in his eyes.

”I’m certain it’s measured in gold coins.”

Lucy blinked.

A second later, a quiet laugh escaped her.

The two continued walking back toward the house together.