Last Gun Alchemist

”Good evening, Ezra Ashenlocke.”

A female noble first-year student approached Ezra with a polite smile before stopping a few steps in front of him.

She straightened her back and performed the proper greeting posture expected of a noble lady, keeping her movements controlled and respectful.

Ezra returned the greeting.

He slightly lowered his head and bowed with the proper posture of a gentleman.

”Good evening.”

Another voice came from nearby.

A male noble first-year student had also approached him, and after greeting Ezra, he gave a polite bow.

Ezra returned the gesture.

”Good evening.”

He was beginning to notice a pattern.

Ever since his arrival at the Golden Circle mansion had been announced, more and more first-year students had started coming over to greet him.

A few of them were students he recognized from the same Academy district.

Some were even members of the same club as him.

Most of them had probably heard his name before, while others had likely become more interested after seeing him during the first practical test.

”I didn’t think you would join this Faction.”

A second-year Non-Noble male student from the same club as Ezra joined the small gathering.

He gave Ezra a light smile as he stood among the other students.

”It just ended up like that.”

Ezra replied plainly.

He didn’t have much else to say about it.

He had received several invitations from different Factions, considered what each one could offer, and eventually settled on the Golden Circle.

There was no need for him to make the decision sound more complicated than it was.

The second-year laughed lightly at Ezra’s answer.

”I guess that sounds like something you would say.”

The student shook his head slightly, amused by Ezra’s usual way of speaking.

Around them, the atmosphere inside the mansion continued without interruption.

Pleasant music echoed through the large hall, mixing with the sounds of conversations from the different groups scattered throughout the room.

Servants moved between the students and upperclassmen, carrying trays filled with drinks and offering them to the guests.

Most servants were attendants belonging to upperclassmen of the Faction, while others appeared to be servants assigned to the mansion itself.

The large hall was brightly lit, with the warm light from the chandeliers reflecting against the polished floor and the glass decorations placed around the room.

Groups of students stood together, some speaking about Academy life while others were already discussing their families, businesses, recent events, and the people they had met since arriving at the Academy.

Light laughter could occasionally be heard above the conversations.

For Ezra, however, this gathering just felt like a mine for building connections, with the number of influential children from noble and non-noble families.

Then a familiar voice came from the crowd.

”Here’s my favorite person.”

Veda walked out from a crowded section of the hall.

Several second-year students, a few third-years, and some first-years had been gathered together in that area, but Veda left them behind and headed directly toward Ezra.

He wore a bright smile as he approached.

”Greetings, Young Lord.”

Ezra bowed politely.

”Greetings, Young Lord.”

Lucy also performed a proper maid’s bow beside him.

”Hey.”

Veda waved lightly.

His smile widened as he looked at Ezra.

Behind Veda was Cole.

The young butler immediately stopped and performed a proper butler’s bow.

”Greetings, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke.”

He straightened before turning his attention toward Lucy.

”Greetings, Lucy.”

Cole placed one hand against his chest.

”You look really stunning.”

He said it with a soft smile.

Lucy blinked.

”Thank you.”

She replied politely.

Veda placed one hand against his chin and looked at Lucy for a moment as if he were carefully examining her appearance.

”She does look stunning.”

He added.

”Thank you, Young Lord.”

Lucy replied again.

A small blush appeared on her face as she lowered her eyes slightly.

Ezra noticed it but didn’t say anything.

At that moment, a servant approached Ezra.

The servant carried a large tray with numerous glasses arranged neatly across it.

Each glass contained fruit wine with several ice blocks floating inside.

Ezra looked over the selection.

The drinks were clearly meant for the guests, although the stronger wine was only being served to the third-year students.

Ezra reached out instead of simply waving the servant away.

He picked up one of the glasses.

”Here.”

He handed it to Lucy.

Lucy immediately accepted it with both hands and bowed slightly.

”Thank you, Master.”

She said brightly.

Ezra then moved closer to Veda.

The two began walking farther into the mansion hall while Lucy and Cole followed behind them.

Ezra looked around as they walked.

His eyes moved across the different groups gathered throughout the hall.

”So, who are the main figures of this Faction?”

He asked.

His usual plain tone remained, although there was a slight difference in how he spoke because he was talking to Veda, the Young Lord of the Ashenlocke House.

Veda thought for a moment before answering.

”The main figures I have met are the Third Prince Aldric Aethelmont, who is a third-year.”

He raised one finger.

”Then there is his sister, the Second Princess Victoria Aethelmont. She’s a second-year.”

He raised another finger.

”Leofirc Hawthorne is also a third-year, and he’s someone you need to watch out for.”

Veda’s tone became slightly more casual when he mentioned Leofirc.

Ezra glanced at him.

”He’s a suitor of your sister.”

Ezra said.

He wasn’t asking.

Because he could already guess why.

Veda’s expression changed slightly before he shrugged.

”Yeah.”

He nodded.

”Although, Leofirc doesn’t seem to be a bad guy.”

Veda rubbed the back of his head.

”He’s friendly and cheerful, kind of like me.”

He gave a small grin.

”But he can be a complete airhead, especially whenever my sister is mentioned or when something has to do with my sister.”

Veda shook his head as though he had already witnessed that behavior too many times.

”I see.”

Ezra replied plainly.

His eyes moved away from Veda and toward the upperclassmen who were gathered around different groups of first-years.

There were several students who appeared to be receiving a lot of attention.

Some had groups of younger students surrounding them while asking questions or trying to introduce themselves.

Those particular students were obviously from powerful High-Ember, Viscount, Count, and Duke Houses.

Their clothes and mannerisms made their backgrounds easy to recognize.

There were even some Royals among the students being surrounded.

Ezra watched them quietly.

So, these are some of the people who will shape the social groups inside the Academy.

He thought.

He didn’t know most of them yet, but simply being able to observe them was already useful.

Veda suddenly lifted one hand.

”I’m back, guys.”

He waved toward a group of students who were laughing among themselves.

”Veda, you’re back.”

A girl with black hair and pale skin immediately noticed him.

She rushed over and grabbed him.

Her arm slipped around his neck, trapping his head against her side.

She didn’t seem to care that she was wearing a beautiful black-and-white gown decorated with gems running from the chest toward the waist.

”Big-Sis Bella, you’re assaulting me.”

Veda laughed while tapping the arm his elder stepsister had used to lock his head.

Bella didn’t release him immediately.

Instead, she looked toward Ezra.

”Greetings, Lady Bella Ashenlocke. And everyone.”

Ezra bowed respectfully.

Lucy followed with a proper maid’s bow, while Cole once again greeted the people around them.

Bella finally released Veda.

”Ah...”

She looked at Ezra with a calm expression.

”The kid who made the presentation with Vera.”

She pointed at him.

”He’s the one who Sir Harlan tried to bully during the question time of the presentation.”

A Highline member of Ashenlocke who was also a close friend of Bella looked at Ezra from head to toe.

”Yeah, I remember him.”

The Highline member said calmly.

”The first-year who stood there without even looking nervous while Sir Harlan kept trying to pressure him.”

Ezra didn’t respond to the comment.

He simply gave a small nod.

”Hey, Ezra.”

Nickolas greeted him from within the group.

”Hey.”

Ezra replied.

Linda and Tracy also greeted him, while Tracy’s attendant performed a polite bow toward him.

”Good evening, Young Lord.”

”Good evening.”

Ezra replied.

Veda finally managed to free himself from Bella’s grip.

He rubbed his neck before looking at the group with a suspicious expression.

”What did I miss?”

He looked around.

”You guys were laughing.”

Tracy immediately smiled.

”We were just asking Nickolas and his Lady when their wedding date will be arranged.”

The teasing expression on her face became even more obvious.

Ezra’s eyes moved toward Nickolas.

He looked at him properly this time.

That was when he noticed the girl standing beside Nickolas.

Their hands were interlocked.

Ezra’s gaze remained on them for a moment.

”What do you mean by wedding?”

Nickolas immediately became embarrassed.

His expression changed as several people around him started laughing.

”I didn’t even say anything about a wedding.”

He tried to defend himself.

But his embarrassment only made the group laugh harder.

Ezra simply stared at them.

His plain black eyes moved from Nickolas to the girl holding hand with him, then back toward the others.

He didn’t understand why the situation had become so amusing.

Beside him, Lucy smiled quietly.

She looked at her master, then at the cheerful group of Ashenlockes and students from the other known families.

The atmosphere around them was relaxed.

There was no hostility.

No one seemed interested in making things difficult for Ezra.

Instead, they were simply enjoying their evening together.

Veda noticed Ezra standing slightly away from the group.

”Ezra, let me properly introduce you to our third-years.”

He reached out and took Ezra’s hand.

Ezra didn’t refuse.

He allowed Veda to pull him farther into the group.

Lucy remained nearby, watching her master interact with the others.

Bella looked at Ezra for a moment before making a light joke about his plain nature.

The comment caused several people around them to laugh.

Ezra simply looked at her.

He didn’t seem offended.

If anything, his expression remained exactly the same.

Nickolas then stepped forward.

”Let me properly introduce her.”

He placed one hand near the girl standing beside him.

”This is Celestina.”

He smiled proudly.

”My girlfriend.”

Celestina gave Ezra a polite smile.

”You already know by now that she is the daughter of one of the executives of the BNC Group.”

Nickolas added.

”It’s nice to finally meet you, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke.”

Celestina greeted him.

”Likewise.”

Ezra replied.

The conversation continued naturally after that.

At first, they spoke about the Phantom Rolls and the Fordliner.

Since the topic had become almost impossible to avoid since the Silver Wheels release.

Several students had already watched the reveal, and many of them had their own opinions about the new Vehicle.

Some thought the Fordliner looked impressive.

Others compared its design with the Phantom Rolls.

A few were still more interested in the mechanical differences between the two Vehicles.

Eventually, the conversation shifted toward the new firearms.

That topic immediately caught the attention of the Ashenlocke members.

The Second-Year and Third-Year Ashenlockes thanked Ezra for helping Vera with the creation of the firearms.

They spoke proudly about the work their younger family members had already accomplished.

They also congratulated the first-year Ashenlockes for ranking well during their first practical test.

”We Ashenlockes of the higher classes were all bragging proudly when the news came that all of you first-years ranked so well.”

Bella said proudly.

Her expression showed how pleased she was with the results.

”The look on those Drakes and Burnwick’s faces.”

Another upperclassman of the Ashenlocke House added.

He laughed lightly.

”They definitely weren’t expecting it.”

”It was definitely surprising.”

Another upperclassman said while nodding in agreement.

The group continued talking about the test.

The first-years hadn’t simply performed well.

They had also managed to make their rival families pay more attention to them.

For the older Ashenlockes, that was something worth celebrating.

Ezra listened quietly.

He didn’t interrupt the conversation unless someone spoke directly to him.

He simply watched the people around him, taking in their personalities and the relationships between them.

The Golden Circle Faction was already proving to be more interesting than he had expected.

Then...

Clank!

Clank!

Clank!

The sharp sound of a glass cup being struck with a spoon echoed throughout the mansion hall.

The music volume was lowered at the same time.

The conversations slowly faded.

Students who had been talking stopped and turned their attention toward the front of the hall.

The sound of another light tap against the glass rang through the room.

Clank.

Everyone became quiet.

A calm, deep voice then echoed from the front of the gathering.

”Greetings, my fellow members of the Golden Circle.”

Ezra’s eyes shifted toward the person speaking.

Veda also turned around.

Bella stopped talking.

Nickolas and Celestina looked toward the front.

Even the servants carrying trays slowed their movements.

Almost everyone in the mansion hall turned their attention toward the person standing at the front of the group.

The pleasant atmosphere of casual conversation gradually disappeared, replaced by the quiet attention of hundreds of students waiting to hear what would be said next.