Last Gun Alchemist

”I think I can remember now.”

Diane tilted her head slightly as she stared at Maxwell with her tired light-blue eyes, taking a few seconds to properly search through her memory.

Vera folded her arms, looking at her from the side.

”He’s the one whose Alchemy was releasing that immense amount of heat.”

”Oh...”

Diane’s eyes remained on Maxwell.

”He’s strong.”

She said it so straightforwardly that Maxwell blinked.

”But he’s also good at hiding his Cognis level.”

Diane continued staring at him, almost as though she were measuring the amount of Cognis hidden inside his body.

Maxwell finally released the breath he had been holding.

”Finally.”

Relief immediately appeared on his face.

At least they remembered him.

”So, he actually knows them.”

A Non-Noble boy commented from among the gathered students, looking at Maxwell with a little more interest than before.

”It’s not really that he knows them.”

A Non-Noble girl beside him replied firmly, having watched the entire conversation.

”I think he just met them during the Practical Test.”

”Please, everyone.”

Latisha’s voice rose above the growing whispers.

She looked toward the first-years, then toward several students from her own year whose attention had also been pulled toward Maxwell, Vera, and Diane.

”Can we focus over here?”

Her voice remained gentle and polite.

She clearly didn’t want to sound rude toward Vera and Diane, especially when the two girls hadn’t intentionally interrupted anything.

The first-years gradually turned back toward Latisha, although a few whispers continued between them.

Vera didn’t bother saying anything else.

She simply turned around and walked toward the gathering area.

Diane followed beside her without another word, her tired expression already making it seem as though the short conversation had taken more energy from her than the Practical Test itself.

”Ahhh...”

Maxwell sighed.

”Sir Maxwell...”

Cherry’s quiet voice reached him.

She looked at him with a mixture of concern and confusion.

Maxwell watched Vera and Diane leave before rubbing the side of his face.

”Aren’t they supposed to be called the Flowers of Britannia?”

He looked genuinely tired from that single interaction.

”Shouldn’t flowers bring a person peace?”

Cherry stared at him quietly.

She didn’t seem to know how she was supposed to answer that.

The two eventually joined the rest of the first-years.

”Thank you all for your cooperation.”

Latisha brought her hands together with a pleased smile.

Now that everyone’s attention had returned to her, she stepped forward.

”My name is Latisha Grey.”

Her friendly voice carried easily through the reception hall.

”Yes...”

She smiled.

”...from House Grey.”

A few students nodded in recognition.

”I’m a second-year student and also the Vice President of this beautiful club.”

She lightly spread her hands toward the clubhouse around them.

”Hi, Miss Latisha!”

Several first-years greeted her in playful voices.

”Hehehe.”

The second-year students standing nearby immediately laughed.

Latisha’s cheeks reddened slightly.

”Thank you... thank you.”

She waved both hands gently, trying to calm them down.

”Finally in power, Latisha.”

One of the upperclassmen called out with a teasing grin.

More laughter spread through the hall.

Even several first-years who didn’t understand the full joke laughed along after seeing Latisha’s embarrassed expression.

”Alright, alright.”

A male upperclassman eventually stepped in.

”That’s enough.”

He looked toward the students teasing her.

”Stop bullying our Vice President.”

”We’re not bullying her.”

Someone immediately replied.

”We’re celebrating her promotion.”

That earned another round of laughter.

Latisha lowered her head for a moment and released a helpless breath before gathering herself.

When she looked up again, the embarrassment on her face had faded.

”Let’s get back on track.”

She turned toward one of the largest displays in the reception hall.

”As members of the Craft & Research Seekers Club, some of our club activities involve recreating technologies and machines that already exist throughout Britannia.”

She raised one hand and began listing examples.

”Transportation systems, devices, machines, and many other types of technology currently used throughout the kingdom.”

Her hand shifted toward the Streamliner displayed nearby.

The first-years naturally followed her gesture.

”Like this.”

Inside the display stood the strange Streamliner, which several of the first-years had already examined earlier.

”This is a Third-Class Streamliner that past members of our club recreated completely from scratch using only can seals.”

Several first-years immediately looked at the invention differently.

”So, it’s actually a Third-Class Streamliner.”

One boy looked a little closer to the glass.

His eyes moved along the body of the vehicle, examining the strange materials used to recreate its structure.

”Vice President Latisha Grey.”

A female first-year raised her hand.

Latisha immediately looked toward her.

”Yes?”

”Was the Streamliner built with the same dimensions as the original one?”

”Yes.”

Latisha answered without hesitation.

”The dimensions match the original.”

She walked closer to the display, with the first-years following her.

”When judges review a recreated invention, accuracy to the original creation is extremely important.”

She lightly tapped the glass surrounding the Streamliner.

”And that doesn’t apply only to us. It applies to every Craft-based club.”

The female student nodded while listening.

”So...”

Latisha continued.

”...if we’re preparing a Craft-based presentation for the Club Tournament or Showcase Day, we have to remain faithful to whatever we’re recreating.”

She glanced around the group.

”The materials can be different and the methods you use can be different too. That is part of the challenge. But if you’re claiming to have recreated something, then the finished work needs to properly represent the original.”

Several students immediately began looking at the can-seal Streamliner with more appreciation.

Cyrus raised his hand next.

”Can I ask something too?”

”Of course, Mr. Cyrus Burnwick.”

Latisha smiled softly.

”You can ask whatever you want.”

Her gaze moved around the group.

”That applies to everyone.”

Cyrus lowered his hand.

”Does this club only create technology-based inventions?”

He looked toward the displays surrounding the reception hall.

”Because other than the skeletons and biological displays, almost everything I’ve seen so far is some kind of technology.”

Latisha nodded.

”No, we don’t only work on technology.”

She thought for a moment.

”A while back, even before I entered the academy, the club had several other kinds of crafted works on display.”

”Yeah.”

A female upperclassman standing nearby joined the conversation.

”Like the statue of His Majesty that our current third-year seniors showed us when we were first-years.”

She smiled slightly as she remembered it.

”But that was already inside the storage room by then.”

A male upperclassman added.

Latisha nodded.

”From what I was told, the club eventually started focusing more heavily on technology because technology-based crafted inventions generally earned better results than some of the other fields.”

She paused.

”And when Professor Nine took over...”

Several first-years immediately became more attentive at the mention of their club professor.

”...like I’ve already explained to some of you, the club began shifting even further toward research.”

Latisha gestured toward the skeletal displays.

”Although Research was already part of the club before Professor Nine became involved, it became much more important afterward.”

Her eyes moved toward the preserved monster remains.

”You can see that from all the monster skeletons and bone displays around us.”

She smiled.

”Although these days, most of our active research focuses on smaller organisms.”

”Okay. That makes a lot of sense, now.”

Cyrus nodded, with his curiosity, satisfied.

That single question seemed to give the other first-years confidence.

Another hand immediately rose.

Then another.

Questions began coming one after another.

Some asked about the Club History.

Others wanted to know what kinds of inventions they would be allowed to recreate.

A few were more interested in the research side of the club and asked about the organisms they would be studying.

Latisha patiently answered every question she could.

Whenever a question concerned something she wasn’t directly responsible for, one of the upperclassmen nearby stepped in and explained instead.

The atmosphere gradually became much more comfortable.

By the time the questioning ended, the first-years were no longer standing stiffly around the reception hall.

”Alright.”

Latisha clapped once.

”Now that most of the basic questions are out of the way...”

She pointed toward the deeper section of the clubhouse.

”...let’s actually show you around.”

The tour began.

Their first destination was the research laboratory.

The room was filled with long worktables, glass containers, measuring devices, research equipment, and locked cabinets holding materials that first-years weren’t yet allowed to handle without supervision.

A few upperclassmen were still working inside when the group entered.

Some barely looked up.

Others smiled at the first-years before returning to their work.

From there, Latisha led them into the Science Laboratory.

Although similar to the research laboratory, this room contained more equipment meant for testing and analyzing materials rather than storing research specimens.

Their next stop was the Craft Workshop.

Which immediately caught the attention of students who had joined primarily for the crafting side of the club.

Tools covered several workbenches.

Pieces of metal and unfinished components were arranged along shelves, while half-completed projects belonging to upperclassmen occupied marked sections of the workshop.

Cyrus looked around with obvious interest.

Even Ezra spent a little more time examining the equipment before following the group onward.

Then they reached the storage room containing the smaller organisms used for research.

The moment Latisha opened the outer entrance, cold air slipped into the corridor.

Ezra stopped walking.

”...”

Cyrus took two more steps before realizing Ezra was no longer beside him.

He turned.

Ezra stood outside the room.

His black eyes stared through the large viewing window built into the wall.

”You aren’t coming?”

Cyrus asked.

”No.”

Ezra answered plainly.

Inside, Latisha was already showing the first-years the different storage sections.

Lucy had followed the others and was looking around with bright eyes, clearly interested in everything being shown.

While Ezra remained outside.

He could see enough through the viewing window.

Meaning, there was absolutely no reason to willingly walk into that cold room.

At least, that was how he saw it.

It wasn’t until an upperclassman noticed him standing outside and returned carrying a full laboratory bodysuit designed to resist low temperatures that Ezra finally changed his mind.

After he put it on.

Cyrus immediately grinned when Ezra entered.

”You really don’t like the cold.”

”Quite.”

Ezra replied plainly.

Cyrus laughed in a low tone.

Lucy quickly returned to her master’s side, as her eyes continued moving around the room as she followed him, taking in the containers and research specimens stored throughout the cold environment.

Once Latisha finished explaining the purpose of the room, the group left.

Their next destination was far more secure.

A sealed iron door stood before them.

Unlike the other rooms, there wasn’t an ordinary Student ID scanner beside it.

Latisha stepped forward.

”Stay back a little.”

The first-years obeyed.

She placed her thumb against the security scanner.

A small needle emerged.

Prick.

A drop of blood appeared on her thumb.

The machine collected the sample before a thin scanning light moved across her hand.

Beep.

A green glow spread around the edges of the iron door.

Click.

Click.

Heavy mechanical locks released one after another.

The sound of gears turning echoed through the corridor.

Then...

Hissss.

Steam flowed from the sides as the sealed door slowly opened.

”Wow.”

Several first-years stared inside with amazed expressions.

Even some who had been casually talking moments earlier became quiet.

Latisha smiled.

”Welcome to the old storage section.”

The group entered.

Rows of glass-sealed displays stretched through the room.

Unlike the clean exhibits in the reception hall, many of these had gathered thin layers of dust after spending years in storage.

Old crafted inventions stood behind the glass.

Skeletal displays occupied another section.

There were even research articles written by previous club members, carefully preserved inside sealed cases so the paper wouldn’t decay.

Ezra’s eyes moved from one display to another.

Some of the inventions still looked surprisingly new despite their age.

”So...”

Latisha spread one hand toward the stored works.

”...we actually sell these older club displays when the Club Tournament begins.”

Several first-years immediately turned toward her.

”Sell them?”

”Yes.”

Latisha smiled brightly.

”One part of the tournament requires every participating club to operate some form of business.”

She began walking slowly between the displays while explaining.

”That business can involve selling products... or providing a service. The club that earns the highest amount during that part of the tournament wins the round.”

That information immediately changed how several students looked at the storage room.

These weren’t simply forgotten projects.

They were potential merchandise.

”So, people actually buy old student projects?”

One first-year asked.

”Of course.”

Latisha nodded.

”Especially when they’re good.”

She pointed toward one of the preserved research works.

”Some people buy them because they’re interested in the research.”

She pointed toward another crafted display.

”Others simply like collecting academy works. And depending on who originally created something...”

Her smile became slightly playful.

”...the price can become much higher.”

A few first-years immediately understood.

If a student later became a famous Alchemist, researcher, noble figure, or inventor, something they had created during their academy years could naturally gain value.

Immediately many first-years understood this.

Many eyes turned to a certain lowline Noble of a Duke family who was busy looking around with his plain eyes, while his Maid with sparkling eyes of amazement followed behind him.

Latisha continued leading them deeper into the room.

However, she only showed them roughly half of the storage area.

Several upperclassmen accompanying the tour also stopped at that point.

Whatever was stored farther inside apparently wasn’t something the first-years needed to see yet.

The group eventually left.

The iron door closed behind them with another heavy sequence of mechanical clicks.

Their tour continued.

The next location was far more relaxing.

The chilling space.

It was built within an open courtyard located directly at the center of the clubhouse.

A small park occupied the area, surrounded on every side by the club building.

Paths crossed between patches of grass, while several pavilions had been built neatly throughout the courtyard, giving students places to sit, talk, eat, or simply rest between club activities.

”This is where most members come when they want to relax.”

Latisha explained.

”You can also use it for casual discussions if the meeting rooms aren’t necessary, and when it only revolves around a small group of people who want to discuss important things amongst themselves.”

Several first-years immediately looked pleased.

After seeing laboratories, cold storage rooms, and workshops, having a quiet place to sit suddenly felt important.

From the courtyard, they were taken to the kitchen.

”This isn’t really for serious cooking.”

Latisha explained while opening the door.

”It’s mostly for attendants.”

Several students with attendants naturally looked around.

”They can prepare tea here, or warm meals that were already prepared at your residences before coming to the Mix Arena.”

Lucy nodded thoughtfully.

She was clearly paying much more attention to this room than her Master was.

After the kitchen came the meeting room.

A large table occupied the center, with enough chairs arranged around it for club members to gather whenever important plans needed to be discussed.

”This is where we organize our major club activities.”

Latisha explained.

”Especially when we’re preparing for competitions.”

Their next destination immediately changed the mood.

The butchering room.

Several first-years slowed down upon entering.

Large metal worktables occupied the room.

Tools designed for cutting monster bodies were arranged neatly along the walls, while drainage channels ran through parts of the floor.

”This is where captured monster bodies are dismantled.”

Latisha’s explanation remained casual.

”The flesh is removed from the bones here before anything needed for research is taken to the proper laboratory.”

Some first-years looked fascinated.

Others looked slightly uncomfortable.

Cherry remained especially close to Maxwell upon seeing all these blades and heavy cutting machinery used for dismantling flesh.

Lucy, on the other hand, stared around with open curiosity.

The room beside it was the skeletal assembly room.

Cleaned monster bones were taken there and reconstructed into complete skeletal structures before being moved into displays or used for research.

By the time the tour finished, several hours had passed.

The first-years had seen laboratories.

Workshops.

Storage rooms.

Research facilities.

Relaxation areas.

And specialized rooms they hadn’t expected a student club to possess.

For many of them, the Craft & Research Seekers Club no longer felt like an ordinary academy club.

The building had almost everything they could possibly need.

Then...

Ding Dong!

Ding Dong!

The deep ringing of a large clock spread throughout the Mix Arena.

Students across the different club buildings immediately recognized the signal.

Closing time.

Activity throughout the Mix Arena began slowing down.

Students packed their belongings.

Attendants gathered the items belonging to their masters and mistresses.

And Groups started heading toward the exits while talking excitedly about their first official club day.

The first-years of the Craft & Research Seekers Club were no different.

Most wore bright expressions as they prepared to leave.

”Guys... guys...”

Latisha clapped her hands several times.

The conversations continued.

She raised her voice slightly.

”Please quiet down, everyone.”

A few upperclassmen immediately helped.

”First-years!”

”Listen to the Vice President!”

”Stop talking for a minute.”

The whispers gradually faded.

Latisha waited patiently until enough people were looking at her.

”Okay.”

She smiled.

”Tomorrow, the first thing we’re going to discuss is how all of you first-years will be involved in our club activities.”

Several students immediately became attentive again.

”We’ll also begin discussing our preparations for the coming Club Tournament.”

Excitement slowly returned to her voice.

”So, everyone should come prepared.”

Her smile widened.

”It’s going to be fun.”

Latisha raised one hand high.

”Let’s enjoy ourselves crafting and researching, guys!”

Her energetic voice spread through the clubhouse.