Last Gun Alchemist

”The ranking list, from the bottom to the top, was arranged according to the rounds in which the students were eliminated during the Combat Festival.”

Professor Kent Preacher began explaining how the rankings had been evaluated while the names continued appearing on the Holographic Screen.

The list moved quickly at first, displaying one name after another, but its speed gradually slowed as it approached the higher positions.

The students kept reacting differently whenever they spotted their names.

Some looked disappointed, feeling that they could have performed better during the festival. A few had expected to rank higher, and seeing their actual positions displayed before the entire Kingdom was not an easy thing to accept.

Others looked surprised that they had ranked above students they had assumed would finish ahead of them. They exchanged glances with their classmates, checking the screen again to make sure they had read the positions correctly.

There were also students who remained neutral about their results. They accepted their rankings without much reaction, perhaps because they had already expected them or had other things to focus on.

Kent glanced toward the First-Year students before continuing his explanation.

”So, for each student who lost in the first round, the second round, and so on...”

His tone remained almost lazy, as though he were explaining something rather ordinary.

”Their accumulated Academy points from course tests, homework, assignments, the General Test, and other assessments were used to determine the best students among those who lost in the same round.”

He concluded his explanation and allowed the ranking list to continue moving.

Several parents who had expected their children to place a little higher began to understand why the final results differed from what they had imagined.

The round in which a student was eliminated was not the only thing that mattered when comparing students who had reached the same stage. Their accumulated Academy points also played a part in deciding their positions.

Some parents nodded as they looked at the screen, while others continued searching for their children’s names.

A few still appeared dissatisfied, but at least they now had a better idea of how the rankings had been decided.

The list continued moving.

The names appeared one after another, with the positions gradually climbing toward the top.

As the ranking approached the Top Hundred, the speed slowed further.

The spectators began paying closer attention.

People leaned forward in their seats, while several students standing on the platform looked up at the screen with serious expressions. Some had already seen their names appear, but the remaining students were still waiting to discover where they stood.

The Top Hundred appeared.

Then the list continued upward.

The atmosphere grew more tense as the number of remaining names decreased. Conversations that had continued throughout the explanation gradually faded, and even the spectators who had been discussing the ranking system began watching the screen.

Finally, the list reached the positions everyone had been waiting to see.

The Top Ten.

***

First-Year General Royal Academy Ranking.

Tenth. Cyrus Burnwick.

Ninth. Veda Ashenlocke.

Eighth. Selena Galehart.

Seventh. Willow Derlis.

Sixth. Lyra Ashburn.

Fifth. Ravenor Burnwick

Fourth. Diane Bergwyn.

Third. Ezra Ashenlocke.

Second. Maxwell.

First. Vera Ashenlocke.

***

The ranking list stopped once every position had been displayed.

For a brief moment, many spectators simply stared at the screen.

Some looked amused, while others smiled with satisfaction. The results were close to what many had expected, especially among the students who had already made a strong impression during the Combat Festival.

Of course, not everyone was happy.

A few spectators frowned when they saw their favorite students’ positions, while others began comparing the results with what they had witnessed during the battles.

Still, the names at the top had not come as a complete surprise to most of the audience.

Then a Non-Noble gentleman’s cheerful voice rang out from the stands.

”Four Ashenlockes! Haha... Haha... Haha!”

He pointed toward the Holographic Screen, laughing as he looked at the four Ashenlocke names displayed among the Top Ten.

The people seated near him turned toward the screen again, and several began discussing the result.

”Wow, the Ashenlockes truly took this year’s festival by storm.”

”Lady Diane Bergwyn is at the fourth rank? Excuse me?!”

”The Professor did say they used the accumulated Academy points to complete the ranking between students who finished in the same round.”

”Does that mean Ezra Ashenlocke is smarter than Lady Diane Bergwyn?”

”Obviously! He’s the one who created the Phantom Rolls, remember? No hate to Lady Diane Bergwyn, but when it comes to brains, Ezra Ashenlocke is in a league of his own. I’d be shocked if someone called a rising Young Craftsman wasn’t smarter than the Flower of Berg.”

”That’s true. He also created those cool gadgets. Do you know how much calculation, metallurgical science, blacksmithing, and circuit integration you need to create things like those?”

”Not to mention the imagination needed to come up with the ideas in the first place.”

”I’m so happy for the Young Lord of Ash!”

”Justice for Sir Ravenor Burnwick! I can’t believe he’s ranked Number Five!”

”Lady Vera Ashenlocke!!!”

”The Number One student!!”

”The Wild Gun of Ash is above Lady Willow Derlis and Lady Selena Galehart?”

”Glory to Ashenlocke!!”

Hundreds of thousands of voices overlapped as the spectators discussed the rankings displayed before them.

Some people were excited about Vera taking first place, while others were more interested in Ezra’s position. His third-place ranking had also drawn attention because of his inventions and the way he had fought against Maxwell.

There were also spectators who continued arguing about Diane’s fourth-place position and Ravenor’s fifth-place result.

The discussion spread through the stands, with each group finding something different to celebrate or complain about.

On the platform, the students had their own reactions.

The Top Ten had now been revealed, and their positions were no longer a matter of speculation. Some of them had received the results they wanted, while others would have to accept that their present ranking was lower than they had hoped.

Yet they had all earned their places among the strongest First-Year students in the Academy.

Then...

Clap.

Clap.

Hands began coming together as many adults applauded the students of the Royal Academy again.

The applause started among a few spectators before spreading through the stands. Soon, the sound filled the arena, and the First-Year students standing on the platform received another round of cheers.

Professor Greg Mayer stepped forward.

”Please, all the Top Ten First-Years, step out to receive your Rank Cards.”

He spoke calmly, his voice carrying through the arena.

Immediately, Vera, Maxwell, Ezra, Diane, Veda, Willow, Selena, Cyrus, Ravenor, and Lyra stepped out from the formation.

They moved toward the front of the platform, maintaining their composure as the crowd grew louder.

The applause became stronger, accompanied by cheers from spectators calling out the names of their favorite Young Alchemists.

The ten students continued forward until they stood in a straight horizontal line, facing the Second-Year students waiting in front of them.

Professor Greg raised a hand and signaled for the Second-Years to move.

The ten older students began walking toward their assigned First-Years, each carrying a small glass box resting on a throw pillow.

They moved according to the rankings.

The Number Ten Second-Year approached Cyrus Burnwick, while the Number Nine Second-Year walked toward Veda Ashenlocke.

The others followed the same arrangement, each approaching the First-Year student whose rank matched the number they held.

The spectators watched as the Second-Years stopped in front of their assigned students.

Inside each glass box was a gold-and-black card bearing the Royal Academy crest. The name of the student and their ranking number had been imprinted on it, making each card a clear mark of the position its owner had earned.

The Second-Years carefully handed the glass boxes to the First-Years.

Each recipient bowed slightly while accepting the card.

Many did so with a calm expression, while few looked more pleased as they held their awards. The boxes caught the arena lights, and the golden details on the cards stood out against the black sections of their designs.

Ezra received his Rank Card from Preston Sailor.

”Congratulations, Ezra Ashenlocke.”

Preston said with a calm smile.

”Thank you, Senior.”

Ezra replied in his usual tone while taking the glass box containing his card.

He looked at the box briefly before holding it securely in his hand.

Preston gave him another small smile before moving his attention away.

Nearby, Matilda Burnwick handed Maxwell his glass box.

After passing it to him, she continued staring at Maxwell for a while.

Maxwell noticed her gaze and began to feel awkward under it. He held the glass box in his hands, uncertain about what he was supposed to do while Matilda continued looking at him.

She did not say anything.

Maxwell eventually looked away, still holding his award.

Clive Morgan approached Vera with her Rank Card.

”Congrats, Lady Vera.”

He said, with a calm expression, looking at her with a gentle smile.

”Thank you.”

Vera replied plainly as she collected her glass box.

Her expression remained composed, and she gave the card a brief glance before holding it at her side.

Clive laughed helplessly before turning and leaving.

Vera paid little attention to his departure, keeping her focus on the award she had received.

Louis Evergrey, the Number Five student in the Second-Year ranking, handed the glass box to Ravenor Burnwick.

He did so calmly, and Ravenor accepted it without any trouble.

Once all the Rank Cards had been handed over, the Second-Year students began leaving the platform. Their part in the ceremony was complete, and there was no need for them to remain in front of the First-Years any longer.

The ten younger students stayed in position, holding their awards as the attention of the arena returned to Professor Greg.

He stepped forward again.

”These cards you are looking at are symbols.”

Greg continued speaking.

”A symbol representing your rank and your status as Royal Academy Top Students. Please be role models and students whom other students can look up to.”

His words were directed toward the ten First-Years standing before him.

The students listened, holding their Rank Cards while the spectators watched from their seats.

The awards represented more than a number displayed on a screen. They marked the positions these students had earned among their peers, and with those positions came expectations from the Academy and the people who would continue watching their progress.

Greg looked at the students for a moment before adding,

”Wield them with all your might, and defend your ranks.”

”Yes, Sir.”

The students replied at the same time.

Their voices carried across the platform.

Greg gave a slight nod before turning toward the Queen, who had now risen from her seat. Her hands rested on the railings in front of her, while a microphone hovered close to her lips.

The next part of the ceremony was about to begin.

Professor Liliana Galehart’s voice echoed from the arena speakers.

”The final awards will be led by the Queen herself.”

The spectators settled down again and turned their attention toward the Queen.

The ten First-Year students remained standing with their Rank Cards, while the rest of the assembled students watched from behind them.

The Queen looked toward the young Alchemists and smiled warmly.

”First, congratulations once again.”

She spoke calmly.

The students listened as she continued, her gaze passing over the group standing on the platform.

”I really enjoyed myself, watching this Combat Festival. This is not my first, and it will not be my last, but to be honest, this might actually be the best Combat Festival I have watched in a while.”

She laughed with satisfaction.

Many of the people seated around her nodded in agreement.

They had witnessed plenty of impressive moments throughout the festival, from the battles that had pushed the students to their limits to the unexpected abilities that had appeared during the later rounds.

There had been more than enough to keep the spectators talking long after each match ended.

The First-Years had displayed many things that could help improve the power of certain Alchemy Paths. Some had shown new ways to use familiar techniques, while others had demonstrated abilities that could open the door to further study.

And among those discoveries were signs of hope for the missing light that Britannia had lost from its ranks of powerful Alchemists.

There was much to consider.

Much to learn.

And much that could still grow from what these young students had shown the Kingdom.

The Queen continued looking at the First-Years, her smile remaining as the ceremony moved toward the final awards.