Last Gun Alchemist

For the invention process of the exterior, Ezra chose to make use of normal aluminum.

It was one of the common materials used in the creation of Noble and Royal Steam Carriage exteriors due to its balance between durability and weight.

Of course, obtaining such materials wasn’t something he could have done by himself.

Vera had used her connections to acquire them.

Several large stacks of aluminum sheets now rested neatly inside the workshop.

Beside them were prepared sections of stainless steel.

Those would be used for other portions of the exterior structure.

The next day, close to the afternoon, Ezra finally completed dismantling the original exterior of the Noble Steam Carriage.

Lenny had assisted him throughout the process.

Although the young blacksmith spent almost as much time asking questions as he assisted, Ezra only answered a few of his questions.

Still...

The extra pair of hands sped things up considerably.

By that point, every exterior panel had been removed.

The elegant Noble Steam Carriage now looked almost skeletal.

Only the reinforced framework remained standing.

The Steam Engine had also been removed earlier and carefully placed in a protected section of the workshop to avoid accidental damage during construction.

Meanwhile, Rena had already immersed herself in the Alchemy Circle conversion work.

The large workshop table had become her battlefield.

Sheets of paper covered almost every available space.

Completed sketches.

Discarded calculations.

Half-finished conversion formulas.

Several crumpled papers were scattered nearby after failed attempts and corrections.

The tip of her drawing pen moved steadily across a sheet.

The scratching sound blended with the distant noises of the workshop.

When Ezra approached, she didn’t even look up.

”You’ve already finished with the dismantling?”

Her eyes remained fixed on the Alchemy Circle she was drawing.

”Lenny helped.”

Ezra answered simply.

He carried several completed sheets under his arm.

One of them contained the completed conversion for the front bumper.

The next stage involved finishing the other front exteriors conversion.

”I’ve already started working on the side exteriors sections.”

Rena continued.

Her pen never stopped moving.

Ezra pulled out a chair and sat opposite to her.

An empty sheet was placed before him.

”How many parts have you completed?”

”Hmm...”

This time she looked up.

Only briefly.

Then she slid a thick jotter across the table.

”I’m currently on the eleventh component from the list you gave me.”

Ezra opened the jotter.

It contained every exterior component he listed and categorized.

Some sections already had check marks beside them.

Others still remained unfinished.

The list represented every part that would require mold casting before final production.

”Okay.”

Ezra nodded.

His eyes moved down the pages.

He quickly identified the unfinished sections.

Then he selected several of them.

”I’ll handle the Rear-Hinged Coach Doors, the Wheel Arches, and the Running Boards.”

He pulled several drawing tools closer.

A protractor.

Set squares.

An eraser.

Several measuring instruments.

Although most experienced Alchemists relied heavily on freehand drawing, proper tools significantly increased accuracy and speed during conversion work.

”Alright.”

Rena nodded.

Then returned to her own task.

”I’ll also handle the wheel components.”

Ezra lowered his gaze toward the blank paper.

His pen began moving.

”Since the design is something I’m more familiar with.”

”Yeah.”

Rena replied.

”I noticed.”

Her eyes moved toward some of Ezra’s earlier calculations.

”The formulas look completely different from conventional carriage designs.”

She paused.

”And the wheel material is rubber instead of traditional wood.”

The statement carried genuine curiosity.

Even now, she still found herself surprised by the amount of unusual knowledge hidden inside Ezra’s head.

The workshop gradually fell silent again.

Only the sound of pens moving remained.

Scratch.

Scratch.

Scratch.

Occasionally the silence would be interrupted by the Steam Furnace operating nearby.

The furnace glowed brightly while limestone was processed into materials for the glass windows.

Rogers was the one working on that part with Lucy assisting him and Lenny joining them.

Naturally...

Problems appeared.

”That’s not how you’re supposed to hold it!”

Rogers’s loud voice suddenly exploded from the other side of the workshop.

”I was holding it exactly how you told me to hold it!”

Lenny immediately argued back.

”You weren’t!”

”I was!”

”Your brat! Are you questioning your master! I said you weren’t!”

”But I was!”

The argument continued.

Rena’s pen suddenly stopped.

A vein appeared on her forehead.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

Her head turned.

The temperature in the room seemed to drop.

Several seconds later...

Both Rogers and Lenny were receiving a scolding powerful enough to silence the entire workshop.

Of course...

Rogers received the worst of it.

Since he was technically an adult.

While Lenny survived with only minor damage.

After that, peace finally returned.

Like that, the day slowly came to an end.

***

Evening arrived.

The group gathered around the dining table.

Warm light illuminated the room.

The atmosphere felt surprisingly comfortable.

Lucy moved around serving food while Ezra and Lenny helped carry dishes from the kitchen.

Once everything had been arranged, everyone finally began eating.

For a moment...

The scene resembled a family dinner.

The sounds of cutlery occasionally mixed with conversation.

”Ahh...”

Lenny’s eyes widened after taking a bite.

A look of pure happiness appeared on his face.

”Miss Lucy, your cooking is amazing.”

His voice carried genuine admiration.

”My taste buds are celebrating right now.”

Lucy smiled softly.

”Thank you, Lenny.”

She lowered her head slightly.

The praise clearly made her happy.

”He’s right, Lucy!”

Rogers pointed his fork toward her.

”Your food tastes incredible.”

Then his grin widened.

”You’ll definitely make a wonderful wife someday.”

His loud laughter followed immediately.

Rena’s eyebrow twitched.

”Quiet down, Rogers.”

The glare she sent him was enough.

Rogers instantly lowered his volume, his laughter transformed into an awkward chuckle.

Then into a forced one, then disappeared completely.

Lenny nearly laughed.

Watching the old man get disciplined had become one of his favorite forms of entertainment.

Then suddenly...

An idea appeared inside his head.

”Did you know this is actually my first time leaving the workshop and visiting a major city?”

He looked toward Lucy and Ezra.

Both continued eating quietly.

”Ehh?”

Lucy blinked.

”I was actually wondering how you managed to convince Mr. Roger to let you come.”

The moment those words left her mouth...

”Cough! Cough!”

Rogers nearly choked.

His eyes widened.

Several warning glances were immediately directed toward Lucy.

Lucy looked confused.

”Do you need water?”

She started standing.

”No!”

Rogers replied far too quickly, then he forced a smile.

”No need.”

He grabbed a glass cup himself.

”I can pour it.”

The old blacksmith immediately drank several large mouthfuls.

”Why did you need to convince him to let you come?”

Rena suddenly asked calmly.

”PFFT!”

Water exploded from Rogers’s mouth.

Everyone froze except for Ezra who continued to eat unbothered by the chaos happening in front of him.

The table became silent with the other staring at Rogers.

”Rogers!”

Rena slammed her hand onto the table.

The loud sound echoed through the dining room.

”What is wrong with you?”

”Cough! Cough! Cough!”

Roger immediately began coughing again.

The glass cup rattled as he set it down.

Some water spilled across the table.

Lucy quickly rushed over with a cloth.

”Are you okay, Mr. Rogers?”

She looked genuinely worried.

”Yes.” Roger waved repeatedly. ”I’m fine.”

”Fine my ass.”

Rena pointed directly at him.

”Clean your mess.”

Her tone left no room for negotiation.

Rogers immediately obeyed without trying to plead his case.

Lenny on the other hand lowered his head.

His shoulders shook.

He was fighting for his life.

One laugh.

Just one laugh.

And Rena would probably turn her attention toward him next.

Meanwhile...

Ezra simply watched everything unfold.

His face remained blank.

As usual.

After finishing his meal, he stood up.

”I’m heading inside.”

He picked up his plate.

”Good night, everyone.”

Without waiting for a response, Ezra carried the plate into the kitchen.

He washed it, dried it, and placed it neatly where it belonged, then he immediately headed toward his study.

The others remained at the table for a while longer.

Eventually everyone finished eating and went their separate ways.

Rena returned to her room.

Before sleeping, she carefully reviewed every Alchemy Circle she had worked on that day.

Checking for mistakes and making corrections when she sees them.

Only after she was satisfied did she finally go to bed.

Rogers slept almost immediately after reaching his room.

Lenny followed shortly afterward.

Lucy spent additional time cleaning the dining room and kitchen.

Only after switching off the lights did she visit Ezra to wish him good night.

Then she retired for the evening as well.

The next day...

Their work resumed, but this time, however, the workshop felt noticeably different.

The glass windows had already been completed.

The stacks of finished glass panels rested neatly against one side of the workshop, wrapped carefully to prevent damage.

Because of that, Rogers, Lenny, and Lucy no longer had any major tasks assigned to them.

For a while, the three simply remained inside the workshop watching Ezra and Rena work.

The scratching sounds of drawing pens moved steadily across paper.

Occasionally, the sound of pages turning could be heard.

Apart from that...

The place remained surprisingly quiet.

Even Roger, who usually couldn’t stay silent for long, seemed unwilling to disturb the concentration of the two people working.

Eventually, both he and Lenny quietly slipped away toward the mansion to find something to occupy themselves with.

Only Lucy remained.

She moved to sit close to Ezra.

Not speaking and not interrupting.

She just sat there simply watching him work.

Every now and then, her eyes would move between the papers, the Alchemy Circles, and Ezra’s hand as it moved steadily across the page.

Time slowly passed.

The morning sunlight shifted.

Then shifted again.

Eventually, Lucy stood up.

Without saying anything, she headed back toward the mansion.

When she returned sometime later, she carried a novel beneath one arm and a tray in her hands.

Several neatly sliced pineapples rested on white flat plates on the tray.

The sweet scent immediately spread through the area.

”You should both eat something.”

Lucy placed the tray on the table.

Rena looked up first.

A smile appeared on her face.

”You’re a lifesaver.”

She said stretching her arms and legs.

Ezra simply nodded.

”Thank you.”

The two accepted the fruit before returning to their work.

Lucy had even prepared them according to preference.

Cold pineapple slices for Rena.

Normal temperature slices for Ezra.

The small detail didn’t go unnoticed.

The workshop returned to silence once more.

Scratch.

Scratch.

Scratch.

The sound of pens moving across paper continued.

Occasionally, one of them would stop to eat a piece of pineapple before returning to work.

After a while...

”You know, Ezra.”

Rena suddenly spoke while spearing another pineapple slice with her fork.

Ezra didn’t look up from the paper.

His pen continued moving.

Still...

It was obvious he was listening.

”The more I work with these formulas...”

Rena glanced at the sheets spread across the table.

Her eyes moved across the completed calculations and conversion pathways.

”...and the more I think about what happens after this invention enters the market...”

She paused briefly.

A small smile appeared on her face.

”...the more amazing I realize your invention actually is.”

This wasn’t flattery.

Nor was it encouragement.

It was a conclusion she had reached after spending days studying every aspect of the project.

At first, she had only admired the exterior design.

Now she was beginning to understand the full impact behind it.

The manufacturing process.

The ease of customization.

The possibility for future variations.

The potential influence on the entire carriage industry.

Everything together made the invention far more frightening than she originally thought.

Rena pointed her fork toward him.

”I would even say this invention might become the second most valuable thought-out work in Britannia.”

A relaxed smile appeared on her face.

”Although it still can’t reach the level of what Andraver created.”

Ezra’s pen stopped.

For the first time in several minutes, he looked up.

”Andraver?”

A faint look of confusion appeared in his eyes. It was the first time he had heard the name and Ezra had already read through historical books on the founding fathers of special inventions and even alchemy related creations, but this man Rena mentioned was never mentioned in the books.

Beside him, Lucy also tilted her head.

”I think I’ve heard that name before.”

Her voice sounded uncertain, because she wasn’t completely sure.

Rena chuckled softly.

”It would be strange if children your age knew anything about him.”

She picked up another slice of pineapple.

The cold fruit crunched softly between her teeth.

”Since most people of your generation don’t know him.”

That answer only made Ezra more curious.

”Did they erase his history because of something?”

He genuinely wanted to know.

After all, if someone was important enough to be compared to his invention, then why had he barely heard the name?

Rena thought for a moment, then shrugged.

”Honestly?”

She swallowed the pineapple.

”I don’t know.”

Her tone was surprisingly straightforward.

”Maybe they did. Maybe they didn’t.”

She leaned back slightly.

”I have no idea what happens among the people at the very top of Britannia.”

That much was true.

Even successful people like her only knew fragments of what occurred within the highest levels of the Kingdom.

Still...

There were certain things she knew.

And Andraver was one of them.

”But I do know quite a lot about the man himself.”

She took another bite of pineapple, then placed the fork down.

The atmosphere unconsciously became more serious.

Even Lucy closed her novel slightly.

Her attention was now completely focused on Rena.

”He was Britannia’s legendary Alchemist.”

Rena folded her arms.

”The man who lived longer than any Alchemist recorded in recent history.”

Her voice remained calm.

Yet every sentence carried weight.

”And he was also the strongest Alchemist ever confirmed to have reached the Alchemist Sage Rank.”

The workshop became quiet.

Ezra’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Alchemist Sage?

The term immediately caught his attention.

From his understanding of Alchemy Ranks.

The Alchemist Sage meant that Andraver had formed Nine Stars of Cognis.

That alone made Ezra’s mind race with questions.

If he was an Alchemist Sage...

Then what kind of knowledge did he hold to be able to reach that level?

Ezra placed an index finger at the of his nose, thinking thoughtfully.

Rena noticed the reaction.

A small smile appeared on her face.

”Surprised?”

”A little.”

Ezra answered honestly, but his expression did not change from its usual blank state.

Although, that alone was enough to make Lucy glance at him.

Since Ezra rarely admitted surprise.

”Well let me tell who he is then”

Rena leaned forward.

One leg crossed over the other.

Her posture became more relaxed.

Almost as though she was telling a story around a campfire.

”Andraver is the creator of the most desired Alchemy Path in all of Britannia.”

She raised the fork in her hand.

Using it almost like a pointer.

”The Alchemy Path of the Sun.”

Ezra immediately focused, even Lucy straightened slightly.

Rena’s smile widened, because she knew exactly what effect those words carried.

”He wasn’t just someone who walked that path.”

Her eyes sparkled faintly.

”He created it.”

The workshop fell silent once again, then Rena delivered the final statement.

”And to this day...”

She pointed upward with her fork again.

”...Andraver remains the first and only Sun Alchemist in the entire history of Britannia.”

***********************************************************

Please Skip this part...

Hi guys,

I just realized that the timer I use to schedule Chapter uploads has been mixing up the Chapter order during the upload process.

This is what caused the recent Chapter placement errors.

I’m very sorry for the confusion and inconvenience. I’ll be keeping a closer eye on the uploads from now on to make sure the Chapters are released in the correct order.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and I apologize once again for the mistake.

********************

on the way they spoke.

The way they held attention.

The timing of their pauses.

The pacing of their presentations.

All of that information remained preserved inside the Book of Memories.

Ezra carefully borrowed those techniques.

Not copying them directly.

But adapting them to fit Britannia’s culture.

The results became obvious.

The presentation steadily improved.

The pacing felt smoother.

The unveiling felt more impactful.

The final product looked increasingly professional.

Eventually...

Everyone agreed they had gotten the perfect version.

Ezra watched the completed video one final time.

The Phantom Rolls appeared on the screen.

The unveiling.

The engine demonstration.

The exterior showcase.

Everything flowed naturally.

Satisfied, he nodded.

Without hesitation, he opened his Linsta account.

Then uploaded the presentation video for the Phantom Rolls.

The moment the upload finished; the invention officially entered the eyes of Britannia.

Now...

All that remained was waiting for the reaction.