Last Gun Alchemist

The holographic screen hovered above the council hall for everyone to see.

Instead of simple illustrations, countless detailed engineering diagrams unfolded one after another.

The complete schematics of the Colt 1911 floated above the Council Hall.

The Frame Assembly.

The Slide Assembly.

The Barrel Assembly.

The Recoil System.

The Trigger Mechanism.

The Firing Mechanism.

The Safety System.

The Magazine System.

And finally...

The Extraction System.

Every individual component was displayed in astonishing detail.

Measurements.

Material placements.

Internal alignment.

The order in which each part connected to the next.

Nothing was hidden.

Since this firearm was being developed for the Ashenlocke Family itself to manufacture and improve in the future, Ezra had no intention of concealing any part of the Colt’s internal structure.

He revealed everything.

The moment the schematics appeared; many Gun Alchemists immediately took out their notebooks.

Some activated holographic recording devices.

Others quickly began sketching the internal arrangement while comparing it with the revolvers they had spent years creating.

The Council Hall gradually became noisy once again.

Conversations erupted from every direction.

"So that’s how the slide locks into place..."

"No wonder the magazine feeds so smoothly."

"The internal layout is much more complicated than a revolver."

"I didn’t expect the recoil system to be arranged like this."

The discussions overlapped continuously.

Even several veteran craftsmen couldn’t stop themselves from exchanging opinions.

Compared to every Novice-Rank firearm currently used within the Ashenlocke Family...

Only the Acu-Vector Mk.I. could even be considered remotely comparable to the Colt 1911 efficiency.

And even then...

Only slightly.

"So that’s why the Cognis consumption remains relatively high."

Elder Tabitha quietly observed the schematics before turning toward Elder Yestin, who sat beside her.

"The entire frame contains far more individual components than a revolver."

Yestin nodded thoughtfully.

"Naturally, reproducing every single piece through Gun Alchemy would require additional Cognis."

His gaze remained fixed on the rotating diagrams.

"But bringing every one of those moving parts together so precisely..."

He smiled.

"That alone is an impressive achievement."

"I agree."

Elder Ivanhoe calmly nodded from Tabitha’s opposite side.

"The amount of planning behind this weapon is far beyond what I expected."

"I disagree."

A cold voice suddenly interrupted.

Elder Fredricks folded his arms as he stared at the floating schematics with a stiff expression.

"There are still obvious questions that deserve proper answers."

He slowly looked toward the surrounding Elders.

"You people are getting carried away by the novelty. I’m simply remaining objective."

"Tsk."

Paul immediately pointed toward him from across the other Elders’ seats.

"You’re just a hater."

Fredricks shrugged without changing his expression.

"I’m stating facts."

"He’s not entirely wrong."

Elder Branthwaite calmly joined the discussion.

Paul immediately rolled his eyes.

"And you think I’d value the opinion of Fredricks’ loyal shadow?"

He mocked.

"You lackey."

Branthwaite’s face darkened.

"Watch your words. I’m an Elder too."

"If all of you have questions..."

Portia’s calm voice suddenly cut through the growing argument.

The Council Hall instantly quieted.

"The appropriate time has arrived."

She slowly looked across every Elder.

"So, stop embarrassing yourselves."

Her voice remained gentle.

Yet no one dared ignore it.

"The Family Head is seated right here, and all of you are arguing like children."

Paul clicked his tongue before folding his arms.

Without another word, he turned back toward the stage.

Branthwaite also looked away, although the frown remained on his face.

Fredricks silently stared at Portia.

His annoyance became even clearer.

She still acts as though she’s the leader of the Elders.

Valentine is my son.

I should be the one leading this council...

Not her.

He silently suppressed his thoughts before shifting his gaze back toward Ezra.

His eyes narrowed.

This Lowline...

How did he even manage to create something like this?

Although Fredricks had openly criticized the Colt moments ago...

He was still an experienced Gun Alchemist and he had personally experienced the Novice Rank for a long time in his younger days.

So, he understood the weaknesses of revolvers better than many younger Alchemists.

Unlike ordinary Novices, however...

He possessed superior Cognis reserves after strengthening his Cognis Star Pool with Ese.

Because of that...

The shortcomings never really affected him as severely as they affected ordinary Gun Alchemists.

His gaze slowly darkened.

Why couldn’t Felix create something like this?

Why did it have to be a Lowline like him?

And...

Why does he keep getting closer to Vera?

The displeasure within his eyes gradually transformed into hostility.

How dare he get close to my Vera?

Meanwhile...

At the center stage...

Ezra continued explaining every section of the Colt 1911.

He carefully described the function of each assembly.

The craftsmen listened attentively.

Craft-Based Alchemists frequently nodded.

Several Gun Alchemists even began discussing possible future improvements while listening.

Only after Ezra finished explaining every mechanical section did Vera naturally step forward.

Without saying anything unnecessary, she swiped the holographic screen.

The previous schematics disappeared.

A new slide immediately appeared.

This one displayed the complete Alchemy Circle required to create the Colt 1911.

Beside it floated another circle.

The dedicated Alchemy Circle for producing the detachable magazine.

"That concludes the Colt 1911."

Vera folded her arms behind her back.

She casually glanced toward the Elders seating area.

For a brief moment...

She sensed someone’s gaze lingering on her.

It felt unpleasant, but she didn’t react.

Nor did she care.

Instead...

She simply looked back toward the audience.

"Questions?"

Her single word echoed across the Council Hall.

The audience immediately became lively.

More discussions broke out from every direction.

People compared notes.

Craftsmen debated manufacturing efficiency.

Gun Alchemists discussed combat application.

Researchers quietly listed possible improvements.

Then...

"Vera. Ezra."

Elder Portia slowly rose from her seat.

Her calm voice immediately reduced the noise throughout the hall.

Both Vera and Ezra turned toward her before bowing respectfully.

"You both presented excellently."

A warm smile appeared on Portia’s face.

"I genuinely like this firearm."

She looked toward the Colt’s holographic image.

"I wish for the Colt 1911 to be immediately added to our Family’s Novice-Rank firearm catalogue."

She spoke firmly.

"And I also want news spread throughout Britannia that Ashenlocke’s young inventor..."

She smiled proudly at Ezra.

"...the creator of the Phantom Rolls...has once again astonished the Kingdom. This time...With the Colt 1911."

Several people smiled after hearing her praise.

Portia tightened her fist slightly.

"I’m certain those Duke Families who constantly boast about standing ahead of us won’t be smiling so confidently after this."

A few Elders quietly chuckled.

"Unfortunately..."

She sighed softly.

"My approval alone isn’t enough."

She looked around the Council Hall.

"I’m sure many of you still have questions, and I look forward to hearing them."

She smiled once more.

"But before that...I want everyone to know...I strongly approve of this invention."

With that, she calmly returned to her seat.

"I also agree."

The previously silent Elder Gram slowly raised his hand.

His expression remained serious.

"I like the Colt."

He nodded once toward Ezra.

"Well..."

Elder Fredricks slowly leaned back in his chair after Elder Gram finished speaking.

"I do have a question."

His deep voice echoed through the Council Hall.

"But..."

He lazily waved one hand with a relaxed smile.

"I’ll let the younger generation start first."

The smile on his face looked calm.

However, those who knew him well could tell he wasn’t being generous.

He simply wanted to observe the direction of the discussion before revealing his own thoughts.

The moment he finished speaking...

A hand immediately shot into the air.

"I’ll go first, Elder."

Harlan stood up with his usual harmless smile.

He casually adjusted the sleeves of his coat before looking toward the center stage.

His posture remained relaxed, almost gentlemanly.

Yet the sharpness hidden behind his smile didn’t escape the older members of the Family.

"Like Elder Portia and Elder Gram have already said..."

He slowly spread both hands toward the audience.

"I also agree that this firearm should be integrated into the Family."

He paused briefly.

"But..."

His smile remained.

"Is this truly the breakthrough that will elevate all of our existing Novice-Rank firearms battel efficiency?"

Several Gun Alchemists exchanged glances.

A few slowly nodded.

It wasn’t an unreasonable question.

Many people had been amazed by the Colt’s reloading system, but they hadn’t yet considered every possible drawback.

"My concern..."

Harlan continued calmly.

"...is the weapon’s weight."

He looked directly at Ezra.

"From your presentation, the Colt weighs approximately 1.1 kilograms."

He slowly raised one finger.

"At first glance, that might not seem important to us Alchemists. But..."

He emphasized the word.

"Like you already stated...Every small detail matters."

His tone became steadier.

"The time required to perform Alchemy. The quality of the materials. The structure of the Alchemy Circle. The weight of our combat attire. The balance of our equipment. Everything is carefully calculated."

He walked a few steps forward from his seat.

"As Alchemists, we constantly create strategies before entering combat. We calculate what allows us to move more efficiently. What lets us react faster and what minimizes unnecessary burdens during battle."

His gaze locked onto Ezra.

"So, tell me. Why should a firearm with that weight be treated as something special...when that very weight could reduce a Novice Gun Alchemist’s combat efficiency?"

He lowered his hand.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He believed he had found a weakness that many people had overlooked.

Around the Council Hall, several Gun Alchemists who had been completely fascinated by the Colt’s incredible reload speed unconsciously began reconsidering the firearm.

They quietly looked back toward the statistics displayed on the holographic screen.

Perhaps...

Weight really was another factor.

"Harlan."

Before Ezra answered...

Vera spoke first.

Her arms remained folded across her chest.

She looked at Harlan with the same expressionless face as always.

If anything...

She looked slightly bored.

"Aren’t you supposed to be a craftsman?"

Her voice remained completely flat.

"You work in the Ashcraft Department, and you’re praised as one of the Family’s most promising young craftsmen."

She slightly raised one eyebrow.

"So... Why are you asking this kind of question?"

The Council Hall instantly became quiet.

Harlan’s innocent smile twitched almost invisibly.

"What do you mean, Vera?"

He maintained his smile.

Although...

It had clearly become stiffer than before.

The surrounding audience instinctively looked back and forth between the two.

Everyone present understood Vera’s personality.

She wasn’t someone who intentionally mocked others.

She simply said exactly what she thought.

That was precisely why her words often hit harder than deliberate insults.

Even the servants standing near the walls subtly lowered their heads.

The atmosphere quietly became awkward.

Several younger nobles even swallowed nervously.

"What she’s trying to say..."

Ezra calmly continued.

"...is that the weight issue you’re focusing on doesn’t actually affect the Colt in the way you’re suggesting."

His voice remained flat.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of sarcasm.

He simply stated his conclusion.

Harlan’s smile twitched again.

"So...You mean you don’t care if ordinary Novice Gun Alchemists suffer because of this additional weight?"

His tone became noticeably sharper.

The accusation within his words was obvious.

Ezra looked at him silently for a brief moment.

"I honestly don’t know how you reached that conclusion."

He answered plainly.

"Because it doesn’t work that way."

Without another word, Ezra walked toward the Zphone Tablet resting beside the presentation platform.

Tap.

Tap.

His fingers lightly touched the holographic controls.

A moment later...

Another holographic screen slowly materialized above the stage.

Rows of information immediately appeared.

The audience raised their heads.

A complete ranking of every standard Novice-Rank firearm according to weight unfolded before the entire Council Hall.

The firearms were arranged neatly.

From the heaviest...

To the lightest.

Many craftsmen immediately leaned forward.

Several Gun Alchemists narrowed their eyes.

Even a number of Elders shifted slightly in their seats as they carefully studied the newly displayed rankings.

Only then did Ezra calmly continue.

"The Colt 1911 ranks fourth."

He pointed toward the list.

"In terms of overall firearm weight. It isn’t even among the three heaviest Novice-Rank firearms."

His black eyes calmly met Harlan’s.

"So..."

"The premise behind your question..."

"...doesn’t exist."

***

Heaviest to the Lightest...

Big-4Barrel Revolver — 1.8–2.4 kg

Acu-Vector Mk.I. — 1.2–1.4 kg

Long Revolver — 1.15–1.3 kg

Colt 1911 — 1.1–1.15 kg

Basic Revolver — 0.95–1.05 kg

Horned Pistol — 0.85–0.95 kg

Short Revolver — 0.75–0.85 kg

***

When Harlan saw the newly displayed ranking, his expression didn’t change.

There wasn’t the slightest hint of surprise on his face.

Instead, the faint smile he had been wearing from the beginning remained exactly where it was.

He had expected this.

After all...

He already knew the rankings.

"I already know all of this."

Harlan smiled calmly.

His tone carried neither panic nor frustration.

Instead, it sounded as though Ezra had merely confirmed something he had anticipated.

His relaxed demeanor caused several people in the audience to look back at him curiously.

If he already knew...

Then why did he ask the question?

Harlan slowly folded one arm behind his back while the other rested casually at his side.

"I’m not questioning where the Colt ranks in terms of weight."

He lightly shook his head.

"My point is much simpler than that."

His gaze slowly swept across the Council Hall before finally returning to Ezra.

"If a firearm is going to receive this much praise...If it’s going to replace years of established firearms and become the new foundation for every Novice Gun Alchemist..."

He paused briefly, allowing everyone to absorb his words.

"Shouldn’t it possess a quality that overwhelmingly surpasses every other Novice-Rank firearm we currently have?"

The hall gradually became quiet once again.

Several Gun Alchemists unconsciously nodded.

Not because they agreed completely...

But because they understood the direction Harlan was taking.

He wasn’t arguing about weight anymore.

He was questioning whether the Colt deserved the status Ezra was giving it.

Harlan slowly raised one hand toward the holographic image of the Colt 1911.

"When I witnessed the unveiling of the Phantom Rolls..."

His voice remained calm.

"I felt something."

He looked toward Ezra.

"A revolution."

His smile faded slightly.

"A design that truly separated itself from everything that existed before it."

He slowly lowered his hand.

"But this..."

His eyes rested on the Colt.

"...doesn’t give me that same feeling. It certainly introduces improvements and it certainly has advantages. "But are those advantages truly enough to justify replacing generations of trusted Novice firearms?"

He looked directly into Ezra’s black eyes.

This time, the warmth hidden beneath his harmless smile completely disappeared.

Only a cold, probing gaze remained.

"Ezra Ashenlocke..."

His voice echoed steadily throughout the Council Hall.

"Are you taking the innovation of the Ashenlocke Family’s firearms for granted?"

The moment those words left his mouth...

The atmosphere inside the Council Hall subtly changed.

Many of the craftsmen frowned.

Several Elders narrowed their eyes.

Even a number of the younger Gun Alchemists became thoughtful.

Unlike his previous question...

This one no longer challenged the Colt’s technical performance.

Instead...

It challenged Ezra himself.

His judgment.

His understanding of Gun Alchemy.

And whether someone who had achieved one great invention had begun underestimating the generations of craftsmen who had built the Ashenlocke Family into Britannia’s greatest Gun Alchemist House.

The accusation wasn’t loud.

Nor was it emotional.

But because of how calmly Harlan delivered it...

Its weight settled heavily over the entire Council Hall.