Last Gun Alchemist

"In a situation where the Novice-Rank firearm with the highest combat performance also has the lowest Cognis efficiency, it becomes the most impractical weapon for an ordinary Novice Gun Alchemist who isn’t even a Full Alchemist."

Ezra spoke plainly.

His voice remained calm, carrying neither excitement nor arrogance.

Even so, the confidence behind his words caused many people to continue listening without looking away.

"As he said..."

Vera naturally took over.

The transition between them was still going on smoothly, as though they had rehearsed the timing countless times, which they didn’t even do.

"If a regular Novice Gun Alchemist from our Family were to face a regular Earth Alchemist or Flame Alchemist from another Duke Family of the same rank..."

Her voice remained flat.

"They would lose."

She paused briefly.

"The battle might last for some time because firearms naturally provide range advantages, but in the end...They would still lose. Even if they exhausted every drop of Cognis they possessed and fought with everything available to them...The percentage of victory would still favor the opposing Alchemist."

Vera slowly walked across the stage.

Her pace remained unhurried.

Her blank black eyes quietly swept across the audience, observing the expressions of the craftsmen, Gun Alchemists, Elders, and researchers.

Seeing everyone completely focused, she continued.

"And the reason is simple."

She pointed toward the holographic ranking displaying the combat performance and Cognis efficiency of every Novice-Rank firearm.

"Our Gun Alchemists consume Cognis much faster than their opponents."

The audience remained silent.

Several Novice Gun Alchemists unconsciously nodded.

Because they had experienced exactly that problem countless times during training and real combat.

Vera allowed the silence to settle before speaking again.

"Not every Novice Alchemist possesses an exceptionally high Cognis capacity."

She joined both hands together in front of herself.

"Even if two Alchemists possess similar reserves, Gun Alchemists continuously consume Cognis to create firearms, produce ammunition, reinforce their bodies with Cognis enhancement, and repeatedly reload during battle."

She calmly looked toward the audience.

"When all those factors are added together...They burn through their Cognis much faster while simultaneously losing precious time. And every person in this hall understands that time management is one of the most important factors in combat, especially for Alchemists whose fighting style depends on maintaining combat rhythm."

She lowered her hands.

Without another word, she stepped slightly aside.

Ezra naturally continued.

"This realization eventually led me toward a different conclusion."

With a swipe of his hand, the holographic slide changed.

A completely new diagram appeared.

"Binder-Rank firearms and every firearm developed beyond that stage already share one important concept."

Ezra slowly raised one finger.

"They possess a far more efficient reloading system."

The words immediately stirred the audience.

Many Gun Alchemists blinked.

Soft whispers spread throughout the Council Hall once again.

Several craftsmen exchanged glances.

Researchers immediately began writing notes.

"What does he mean by easier reloading?"

"Is he referring to something similar to the AK-47 magazine?"

A Highline Noble Alchemist who had already reached the Binder Rank stroked his chin thoughtfully.

His eyes narrowed as numerous ideas flashed through his mind.

"But revolvers and pistols are too small."

Another Gun Alchemist frowned.

"Can something that size even contain a detachable magazine?"

Several others shared similar doubts.

Yet before the discussion could continue..

The next slide appeared.

The audience immediately became quiet.

"I would like to introduce the pistol that will change the combat speed of every Novice Gun Alchemist..."

Ezra pointed calmly toward the image.

"...while also improving the effectiveness of our Family’s ordinary soldiers and strengthening Britannia’s military as a whole."

The firearm slowly rotated on the holographic display.

Every detail became visible.

The elegant frame.

The clean slide.

The grip.

The barrel.

Every line looked completely different from the revolvers everyone had grown accustomed to.

"The Colt 1911."

Ezra announced plainly.

***

Colt 1911

Firearm Type: Semi-Automatic Pistol

Alchemy Classification: Novice-Rank Advanced Firearm

Length: 21.9 cm

Barrel Length: 12.7 cm

Weight: 1.1 kg

Magazine Capacity: 7 Rounds

Operating System: Short-Recoil Operated, Locked-Breech

Caliber: .45 ACP Equivalent Alchemic Round

Effective Range: 45 Meters

Maximum Range: 85 Meters

Primary Material Composition:

Carbon Steel Frame Reinforced Steel Barrel Stabilized Internal Components

Special Characteristics:

Exceptional stopping power.

Highly reliable under prolonged combat conditions.

Fast reload speed due to detachable magazine system.

Strong recoil compared to revolvers of similar size.

Excellent structural stability when maintained with Cognis.

***

The moment the name appeared...

The entire Council Hall reacted.

Elder Paul slowly stroked his beard.

"The Colt 1911..."

His eyes remained fixed on the floating firearm.

Several Elders immediately began discussing among themselves.

Many of the craftsmen leaned forward.

Craft-Based Alchemists carefully examined every visible component.

Gun Alchemists studied the pistol as though they wished to memorize every detail before them.

Then...

Gasps erupted throughout the hall.

Many people couldn’t hide the amazement on their faces.

"This looks incredible."

Bale spoke excitedly.

He sat in front of Hailey, the Duke’s Second Wife.

"It really does."

Hailey smiled warmly while continuing to observe the pistol.

"A detachable magazine..."

The white-haired young noble seated diagonally right below her rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"I always believed magazines required far more internal space before they could become practical."

Silvia also continued studying the rotating firearm.

"There has to be a special internal arrangement."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Some sort of structural layout that allows something this compact to carry seven rounds."

"The internal engineering is probably the true innovation."

Byron, the Duke’s eldest son, spoke calmly.

His gaze remained fixed upon the holographic projection.

"A structure capable of organizing seven rounds inside something this small isn’t simple."

"But..."

Harlan lazily rested his cheek against his palm.

"I’m not that impressed."

Keith turned toward him with his usual lazy expression.

"Oh? And why is that?"

He was seated at Bale’s left side; his legs folded on the chair he sat on.

Harlan smiled innocently.

His smile looked harmless, but his words didn’t.

"A child like you wouldn’t understand the craftsmanship behind Gun Alchemy."

Keith narrowed his lazy eyes.

"You don’t say."

He answered dryly.

"Unlike the rest of you children who only replicate Alchemy Circles to create firearms..."

Harlan shrugged.

"I’m both a Combat Gun Alchemist and a Craftsman."

Silvia.

Bella.

Keith.

All three simply stared at him without saying anything.

"Ezra is also a Craftsman." Bale immediately countered. "He created the Phantom Rolls."

"I’m not denying that."

Harlan tilted his head.

"I’m only saying this Colt... or whatever it’s called..."

He shrugged again.

"Doesn’t seem worthy of all this excitement."

Before Bale could argue...

"Enough."

Byron spoke firmly.

"Focus on the presentation."

His tone immediately ended the discussion.

Harlan clicked his tongue softly before turning back toward the stage.

Although Bale obeyed, he couldn’t help feeling annoyed.

The firearm hadn’t even been fully explained.

Yet his older stepbrother had already begun dismissing it.

While conversations quietly continued throughout the hall...

Ezra resumed speaking.

"By integrating the detachable magazine concepts used by the AK-47, the FN FAL Battle Rifle, and numerous other firearms that rely on magazine-fed ammunition..."

He pointed toward the internal cross-sectional diagram displayed on the holographic screen.

"...I recreated an internal magazine structure suitable for a pistol while still allowing it to carry seven rounds."

The audience immediately focused on the internal schematic.

Researchers rapidly wrote more notes, while several craftsmen unconsciously nodded again, agreeing with Ezra’s ideology.

The amount of planning hidden inside the pistol gradually became clearer.

"Although the ammunition capacity is relatively small..."

Ezra glanced toward Vera.

Without exchanging a single word...

She smoothly continued.

"The overall combat performance of an average Novice Gun Alchemist improves dramatically."

With a graceful swipe, Vera returned the presentation to the previous firearm comparison slide.

Then she spread both hands apart.

It looked as though she were opening a pair of invisible doors.

The holographic display responded instantly.

The original screen separated into two independent projections.

One displayed the previous Novice firearm rankings.

The second displayed the Colt 1911’s complete performance statistics.

"Now..."

Vera looked toward the audience.

"Let’s compare every firearm together."

The new statistics appeared before the entire Council Hall.

***

Colt 1911 Performance Statistics

Classification: Novice-Rank Firearm (Advanced Tier)

Recommended User: Novice Alchemist (28%–30% Cognis Capacity)

Gun Creation Cost: 34 Cognis

Gun Creation Time: 5.8 seconds

Bullet Cost: 1.7 Cognis per bullet

Magazine Capacity: 7 Rounds

Full Magazine Cost: 11.9 Cognis

Bullet Creation Time: 0.22 seconds per bullet

Full Magazine Creation Time: 1.54 seconds

Magazine Creation Cost: 3 Cognis

Magazine Creation Time: 0.8 seconds

Total Loaded Weapon Cost: 48.9 Cognis

Combat Reload Time: 1.8 seconds

Effective Combat Range: 45 meters

Maximum Effective Range: 85 meters

Fire Rate: Semi-Automatic

Accuracy: High

Damage: High

Construct Stability: Excellent

***

Every craftsman.

Every Gun Alchemist.

Every Elder.

Every researcher.

Immediately began comparing the numbers.

The atmosphere inside the Council Hall quietly shifted once again.

This presentation had already gone beyond introducing a new pistol.

It was now directly challenging years of accepted standards within the Ashenlocke Family.

"With this information, we can now clearly see where the true strength of this pistol lies."

Vera raised her hand toward the holographic screens as she continued explaining.

Her expression remained blank and her voice remained calm.

Yet every sentence she spoke landed heavily in the minds of those listening.

"It doesn’t only possess a powerful stopping force for a Novice rank gun."

She pointed toward the damage statistics before sliding her finger down to the reload section.

"It also reduces the amount of time wasted during combat, making it one of the most suitable firearms for an average Novice Gun Alchemist or even a talented or genius Gun Alchemist in the Novice rank."

Many of the Gun Alchemists quietly nodded, agreeing to this statement.

Several craftsmen narrowed their eyes as they compared the Colt’s statistics against the other firearms displayed beside it.

The differences were becoming more obvious the longer they looked.

Vera continued.

"To make it even simpler..."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Even a crippled person who can still perform Gun Alchemy could defeat an ordinary Novice Gun Alchemist in an Akai match if the opponent used the Basic Revolver and the cripple were to use the Colt 1911 instead."

The statement immediately stirred the audience.

"What?"

Several younger Gun Alchemists frowned instinctively.

Some felt the comparison was exaggerated.

Others immediately began calculating the possibility in their heads.

The older craftsmen, however, remained silent.

They were no longer judging the statement emotionally.

Instead, they mentally simulated the battle Vera had just described.

And the more they thought about it...

The more reasonable it sounded.

"We’re discussing a combat reload speed of only 1.8 seconds..."

Vera calmly continued.

"...against the Acu-Vector Mk.I’s reload speed of 2.2 seconds, which is currently the fastest reload speed among every standard Novice-Rank firearm available within our Family and Britannia."

Many members of the audience immediately looked back toward the comparison chart.

Their eyes naturally landed on the highlighted reload section.

"That is a difference of only 0.4 seconds."

Ezra added calmly.

His voice remained flat.

He didn’t attempt to exaggerate the number.

Instead, he simply stated it as fact.

"You might believe that 0.4 seconds is almost meaningless."

He slowly looked across the Council Hall.

His black eyes met the gazes of Nobles, craftsmen, Elders, researchers, and Gun Alchemists alike.

"But everyone sitting here should understand something."

He pointed toward the combat statistics displayed beside the Colt.

"Alchemy battles aren’t decided only by destructive power. They are decided by rhythm. They are decided by timing. And above all...They are decided by how efficiently an Alchemist manages every second of combat."

The Council Hall gradually became quieter.

No one interrupted.

No one whispered.

Several veteran Gun Alchemists folded their arms while staring thoughtfully at the statistics.

Some nodded, agreeing to Ezra’s words.

Because they had experienced countless battles themselves.

They knew that a fraction of a second was enough to decide whether a bullet was fired...

Or whether an enemy’s blade reached their neck first.

Vera slowly raised one finger.

Although her face remained completely expressionless, there was a faint sharpness hidden within her voice.

"Most people only notice the difference in numbers. They see 0.4 seconds, and they immediately call it insignificant."

She paused briefly.

"But to a combat Alchemist..."

She looked around the hall.

"That difference is another opportunity to fire, another opportunity to reload, another opportunity to reposition, and sometimes...It’s another opportunity to survive."

Silence spread throughout the Council Hall.

The realization slowly settled into everyone’s minds.

Many of the listeners unconsciously looked back toward the Colt’s statistics.

Then toward the statistics of the revolvers they had relied upon for years.

The gap suddenly felt much larger than before.

Vera didn’t interrupt them.

She allowed the audience enough time to think.

Enough time to compare.

Enough time to acknowledge the weakness that had always existed but had gone unnoticed.

Only after several moments did she gently bring both hands together.

Clap!

The crisp sound echoed clearly throughout the massive Council Hall.

The conversations immediately stopped.

Everyone’s attention naturally returned to the center stage.

Vera lowered her hands.

"That concludes the introduction to the Colt 1911."

She stepped back without another word.

Ezra naturally took over once again.

Without wasting time, he casually swiped his hand across the holographic interface.

The previous comparison charts disappeared one after another.

In their place...

A completely new slide slowly unfolded before the audience.

Layer after layer of internal mechanical diagrams appeared.

Every component.

Every spring.

Every pin.

Every section of the slide.

Every structural measurement.

The complete engineering schematics of the Colt 1911 floated above the stage in astonishing detail, causing many craftsmen and researchers to unconsciously lean forward in their seats.

The true heart of the firearm...

Was finally about to be revealed.