Last Gun Alchemist

”Good afternoon, Young Lord.”

Lucy bowed politely toward Veda, then straightened and turned toward the person standing beside him.

”Good afternoon, Sir Cyrus Burnwick.”

She gave Cyrus a small nod before shifting her attention again.

”Good afternoon, Cole.”

This time, Lucy waved lightly at the butler. Cole returned the gesture with a soft smile, and she stepped aside afterward to welcome all three of them into the house.

”Yo, Miss Maid.”

Cyrus casually raised a hand as he entered.

”Good afternoon, Lucy.”

Veda greeted her politely as well, while Cole followed behind them.

The moment Cyrus, Veda, and Cole stepped inside, the smell drifting from the kitchen became much stronger.

The warm scent of fried chicken and spices had already filled the house, but inside the residence, where there was no cold wind to carry it away, the aroma seemed to cling to the air and follow them toward the living room.

Cyrus suddenly stopped walking.

”Damn...”

He placed one hand against his chest and bent forward as though the smell alone had struck him.

”I can smell it vividly now.”

His knees even bent slightly, as if he were about to fall to the floor from the force of his own reaction.

Lucy narrowed her eyes at him.

”So, the reason you are visiting us for the first time is because of food?”

”No way.”

Cyrus immediately straightened his back.

The movement was so quick that it was obvious he had been waiting for the accusation.

”I already wanted to say hi to Ezra after seeing that he was back from his long training.”

He calmly explained himself.

His right hand moved close to his mouth as he closed one eye, leaving the other slightly open while giving Lucy a look that seemed to say that she was being completely unreasonable.

But Lucy didn’t look convinced.

”And it’s around this time that you decided to come visit?”

Her eyes remained narrowed.

It was obvious that she didn’t believe his explanation.

”You know I can’t do that.”

Cyrus raised his hand and waved it with a dramatic, serious expression.

”I have to let Ezra rest first before I visit him and say hello. So, this time is actually the best time.”

He nodded to himself.

”A polite time.”

Lucy continued staring at him.

”I see. A polite time, huh?”

Her narrowed gaze remained fixed on Cyrus for another second before she finally turned toward the Young Lord of Ash, her expression immediately becoming calm again.

”I’m here to give Ezra this.”

Veda pointed toward the nylon bag Cole was holding, the Ashenlocke Family crest visible on its surface.

”And also...”

His eyes shifted toward the direction of the kitchen.

”I’m interested in eating whatever is going on in there.”

He spoke honestly.

Cole gave a light nod beside him, also being honest with his thoughts.

Lucy lowered her head.

”You are always welcome to join us, Young Lord.”

She said with a soft smile.

”Lucy.”

Ezra’s voice suddenly came from the kitchen.

Lucy immediately turned her head.

”Please take your seats in the living room. I’m sorry, but I have to go.”

She bowed once more before rushing toward the kitchen.

Her footsteps became noticeably quicker.

Cyrus watched her disappear through the corridor.

”What type of person does she think I am?”

He muttered.

Veda glanced at him.

”Really? Polite time?”

”Urgh.”

Cyrus replied feeling embarrassed.

The three of them eventually headed toward the living room.

***

A few minutes passed.

In the dining room...

”Wow...”

Cyrus, Veda, and Cole all opened their mouths slightly as Lucy placed the plates of food onto the table.

The golden-brown spicy crispy chicken immediately caught their attention.

Beside it were neatly prepared fries, while small ceramic bowls of sweet spicy ketchup were placed close to the plates.

The food looked completely different from what they usually ate.

Even before taking a bite, the smell rising from the warm plates was already enough to make their attention stay on the meal.

Ezra entered shortly afterward.

”Good afternoon, Young Lord.”

He lowered his head toward Veda before turning toward Cyrus.

”Good afternoon, Cyrus.”

Both Veda and Cyrus greeted him in return.

”Good afternoon, Mr. Ezra Ashenlocke.”

Cole gave Ezra a polite bow.

Ezra nodded before walking toward his usual seat.

”What is this golden-brown thing?”

Veda asked.

His eyes were completely glued to the spicy crispy chicken.

Then his gaze shifted toward the fries before finally landing on the sweet spicy ketchup.

”It smells so delightful.”

”Miss Maid, was it you who made this new recipe?”

Cyrus asked, looking amazed.

”No.”

Lucy shook her head.

”It is all my Master’s work.”

She pointed toward Ezra with a pleased expression before beginning to serve the young noblemen properly.

Cole also stepped forward to help, making the process faster.

”So, Ezra...”

Cyrus looked toward him with an amazed expression.

”You aren’t only a Craftsman, a good dancer, and a good pianist, but you’re also a good cook. Huh.”

He looked down at the plate in front of him.

”You make someone as average as myself look beyond the word ordinary.”

He spoke playfully as he picked up the fork and knife beside his plate, preparing to start eating.

”Don’t use that.”

Ezra said plainly.

Cyrus paused.

”Huh?”

He looked down at the utensils in his hands.

”Then what should I use?”

”Your hand.”

Ezra replied flatly.

Cyrus’s eyes widened.

”Hand?”

Veda also looked toward Ezra, appearing slightly surprised by the answer.

”Just make sure your hands are properly clean.”

Ezra casually answered.

”Using a fork and knife won’t make the eating experience feel natural.”

He spoke as if this were something they should have already expected.

After saying that, Ezra cleaned his hands inside the water bowl beside his plate before drying them with a white napkin.

Only then did he begin eating.

The others watched him.

Cyrus slowly placed the fork and knife back onto the table.

Veda also looked down at his own hands.

Cole quietly followed Ezra’s example.

The three of them cleaned their hands before preparing to eat.

Ezra picked up the first piece of spicy crispy chicken.

He dipped it into the sweet spicy ketchup.

Then he took a bite.

Crunch.

A soft sound echoed through the dining room.

The coating broke beneath his teeth.

Cyrus and Veda stared at the chicken in Ezra’s hand.

Even Lucy couldn’t help looking at her Master.

Ezra, however, continued eating without any concern for the people silently watching him.

The growing silence inside the dining room became slightly awkward.

”Lucy said you have something to give me, Young Lord.”

Ezra’s voice finally broke the silence.

”Oh...”

Veda blinked.

He seemed to have only just remembered why he had come, but his mind was still occupied.

So, it was chicken coated in something golden-brown.

The realization finally settled in his mind.

”It’s the Adept Gun Alchemy Circle manual sent by the family for you.”

He collected the package from Cole and showed Ezra, before placing it down at his side.

”Thank you.”

Ezra lowered his head slightly.

Minewhile...

Cyrus and Lucy had already begun eating.

”This is really nice.”

Cyrus spoke with a spark in his eyes.

He had already taken another piece of chicken and dipped it into the ketchup.

”Just dipping the coated chicken into the ketchup elevates the entire taste.”

He paused before picking up a few fries.

”And don’t even get me started on the fries.”

He took another bite.

The crunch was lighter than the chicken, but the spices remained clear on his tongue.

”The spice makes me enjoy this meal even more.”

”It is a good meal.”

Ezra replied plainly.

But...

So, this is the taste he had wanted so badly.

Ezra looked quietly at the food.

For a moment, his thoughts returned to his past-self’s life.

Back then, he had struggled for years before finally having enough money to buy the food he had always wanted to try.

However, by the time he reached that point, he had already lost his sense of taste.

Everything he ate had tasted like blood.

No matter how expensive the food was, no matter how carefully it had been prepared, the result remained the same.

Blood.

The memory had ruined many meals for him.

Sometimes, the taste had been so unpleasant that he had vomited everything he had eaten.

Ezra lowered his eyes toward the fries in his hand.

He dipped them into the sweet spicy ketchup.

Then he placed them into his mouth and slowly chewed.

This time...

There was no taste of blood.

Only food.

Normal food.

Maybe it was because, he that stood now, was completely different from his past-self.

But the longing of the pleasant taste seemed to have never left even this present self.

”Before I forget, Ezra.”

Veda’s voice pulled him away from the memory.

Ezra looked up.

Veda cleaned his mouth and hands with a white napkin.

”Your food is really good. I might actually forget this important thing I wanted to tell you.”

He dropped the napkin onto the table before picking up a cup of cold fruit wine.

”What is that, Young Lord?”

Ezra’s plain black eyes moved toward Veda.

”Young Lord...”

Lucy suddenly spoke, her voice coming out faint.

Ezra’s gaze shifted toward her.

Lucy was looking at Veda with a worried expression.

Veda gave her a helpless smile.

”I knew you wouldn’t tell him yet.”

Then he turned back toward Ezra.

”Ezra...”

His expression gradually became more serious.

Ezra remained seated quietly, his eyes moving between Lucy and Veda as he tried to understand what was happening.

”There are wild rumors spreading around about you and my sister.”

Veda spoke calmly.