Last Gun Alchemist

Chapter 280: Eldenford

At the very heart of Britannia...

Lay the Dukedom of Eldenford.

Unlike the other six Dukedoms that stretched across vast territories filled with countless cities and noble domains, Eldenford occupied the central region of the Kingdom. Although it is the smallest of the seven Dukedoms, no one dared underestimate its importance.

This was the land where the Royal Family of Britannia ruled.

From the very beginning of the Kingdom’s history, the six surrounding Dukedoms had formed a natural defensive ring around Eldenford. Whether by design or through centuries of political development, they served as the Kingdom’s outer shield, protecting the heart of Britannia from invasions by neighboring nations.

Because of that...

Eldenford had rarely experienced the devastation of war or Monster threat.

Generations of uninterrupted development transformed the land into the most technologically advanced region in Britannia.

Steam-powered industries filled its cities.

Modern rail systems connected every district.

Massive airship ports dominated the skyline.

Every invention that represented the highest level of Britannian engineering could usually be found here first.

It was also...

The most expensive place to live in the entire Kingdom.

Only wealthy merchant families, influential nobles, and those with exceptional status could comfortably build their lives within its borders.

Despite its influence...

Eldenford possessed only five major cities.

At the center stood the Royal Capital, home of the Royal Palace itself.

Next came Grandchester, a prosperous city governed by House Casper, the renowned Count family famous throughout Britannia for producing the Kingdom’s finest Flora, Wood, and Herbal Alchemists.

The third great city was Kingswall.

The fourth...

Rivergate.

Finally...

The fifth city stood apart from all the others.

Albioncrown.

Unlike every other city in Britannia...

Albioncrown existed for one reason alone.

The Royal Academy.

The entire city had been planned and constructed around the academy, eventually growing into one of the busiest educational centers in the Kingdom.

Every year...

Thousands of talented young people traveled there carrying dreams of changing their futures.

***

"Final stop! Albioncrown!"

The announcement echoed clearly throughout the enormous station.

A series of mechanical clicks followed.

Then...

Hissssss...

Steam escaped from beneath the massive Senior First-Class Streamliner as its polished doors slowly slid open.

Warm vapor drifted across the platform.

One after another...

Young nobles stepped onto the station platform.

Some wore elegant military uniforms embroidered with their family crests.

Others dressed in refined formal clothing that immediately revealed their noble status.

Walking closely behind nearly every noble was a single attendant.

Some were maids.

Others were butlers or personal servants.

Each faithfully carried their young master’s or lady’s luggage while remaining half a step behind.

Not every arriving student belonged to the nobility.

Children from Britannia’s wealthy industrial families and influential merchant houses also stepped off the train.

Although their clothing lacked noble insignias...

The quality of their attire made it obvious they came from privileged backgrounds.

The station itself bustled with activity.

State Alchemists stood at regular intervals throughout the terminal.

Eldenford Guards maintained orderly lines while directing the constant flow of passengers.

Above them...

Several mechanical surveillance devices slowly rotated.

Their glass lenses reflected the morning sunlight as they quietly monitored every movement within the station.

Security in Albioncrown remained among the strictest in the Kingdom.

Which no one found that surprising.

After all...

This city protected the future of Britannia.

"Ahhh..."

A young boy stretched both arms above his head after stepping off the train.

His dark-brown hair moved slightly beneath the breeze flowing through the station.

Behind him rested two pieces of luggage.

He slowly lowered his arms before lifting his head toward the enormous glass ceiling.

Beyond the transparent structure...

A cloudless blue sky stretched endlessly above Albioncrown.

His golden eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"So..."

A bright smile slowly spread across his face.

"This is a famous city."

He quietly looked around.

Everything felt larger than he had imagined.

The station alone dwarfed many buildings he had seen from where he came from.

Children continued walking toward the exit after completing their security inspections.

Some chatted happily with friends.

Others silently followed their attendants.

The boy’s eyes wandered from group to group.

Those children wearing military uniforms...

They must be nobles.

He watched three young nobles laughing together while casually discussing something.

Their uniforms were immaculate.

Every button reflected the sunlight.

The family crests stitched onto their sleeves immediately distinguished them from everyone else.

His gaze then shifted toward another group.

These children also dressed elegantly.

However...

Their clothing lacked military styling.

They appeared refined.

Yet not quite equal to the nobles from before.

The boy gently rubbed his chin.

I guess... those are probably children from wealthy families.

His thoughtful expression lasted only a few seconds.

Then...

His smile awkwardly stiffened.

"...Ah. I think I finally understand."

A helpless sigh escaped him.

"So that’s why everyone kept looking at me during the train ride."

As if confirming his realization...

Several students passing nearby quietly whispered among themselves.

Some openly stared.

Others only glanced before quickly looking away.

The boy’s hearing happened to be unusually sharp.

Even without trying...

Fragments of their conversations naturally reached his ears.

"Is he really a student?"

"He doesn’t look like one."

"Maybe he’s someone’s servant."

"Why is he dressed like that?"

The comments continued.

None of them bothered lowering their voices.

The boy simply scratched the back of his head.

"...Well. They’re not exactly wrong."

Compared to everyone around him...

His clothing looked remarkably ordinary.

Neat.

Clean.

Even slightly elegant.

Yet...

It resembled something a commoner might wear far more than the formal attire expected of academy students.

"Master really chose the worst timing..."

he muttered under his breath.

"He locked me inside that cave until I completely absorbed the Ese. I could have bought a better cloth to wear."

He shook his head helplessly.

"At least... I finished meditating before the academy officially opened."

The awkward smile gradually disappeared.

His breathing slowly steadied and his expression naturally became calm.

Much more mature than before.

His golden eyes quietly sharpened.

"Master..."

He whispered to himself.

"I’ll make you proud."

His fingers tightened around the handle of his luggage.

Without paying further attention to the whispers surrounding him...

He calmly walked toward the station exit.

Before leaving...

He arrived at the security checkpoint.

An Eldenford Guard accepted the invitation card he presented.

The guard glanced at the card.

Then...

Back at the boy.

His brows subtly knitted together.

Even the State Alchemist standing nearby couldn’t hide a trace of surprise.

A child dressed like this...Possesses an official invitation?

Still...

Neither questioned him unnecessarily.

The invitation card alone spoke for itself.

Only nobles from the Royal Family down to High-Ember Houses possessed admission slots.

Forgery was nearly impossible.

After a brief inspection...

The guard respectfully returned the card.

"You may proceed."

"Thank you."

The boy accepted it before calmly walking away.

The whispers behind him only grew louder.

"Did you see that?"

One young noble stared with disbelief.

"That kid has a slot invitation?"

A nearby noble girl widened her eyes.

"Could he have stolen it?"

Another student immediately shook his head.

"Impossible. You know the academy’s invitations are heavily protected. But..."

He continued watching the departing boy.

"It really is strange."

More conversations gradually spread through the station.

The mysterious boy simply ignored every one of them.

He stepped outside.

The moment he crossed the station entrance...

His eyes widened.

Before him...

Towering buildings of polished stone and shining glass stretched across Albioncrown.

Every structure possessed a unique architectural style.

Steam-powered trams moved along elevated rails.

Mechanical clocks decorated intersections.

Air bridges connected neighboring buildings high above the streets.

Crowds filled every road.

Rows of Steam Buses waited beside the station.

Students continuously boarded them under the guidance of academy staff.

Meanwhile...

Several high-ranking nobles entered luxurious Noble Steam Carriages waiting separately nearby.

The boy quietly admired everything.

Then...

He adjusted his luggage before walking toward one of the waiting Steam Buses.

Suddenly...

The bright morning sunlight dimmed.

A deep mechanical roar echoed across the sky.

Everyone instinctively looked upward.

The boy did the same.

His golden eyes widened even further.

High above Albioncrown...

Numerous Noble-Class Private Dirigibles flew together in formation.

Their enormous shadows slowly passed over the city streets below.

Every child immediately understood who occupied those magnificent airships.

The representatives...

Of Britannia’s great noble families.

And then...

Behind the formation of Noble-Class Private Dirigibles, flying proudly at the very center of the fleet...

A much larger airship slowly came into view.

It was the Royal-Class Private Dirigible.

Compared to the Noble-Class vessels escorting it, the Royal-Class airship was nearly twice their size. Its polished golden frame reflected the morning sunlight, while intricate engravings stretched across its massive hull, giving it an elegance that could only belong to royalty.

Steam drifted gracefully from the engines beneath the airship, and its enormous propellers rotated with steady power, producing a deep mechanical hum that echoed across the skies above Albioncrown.

The royal crest of Britannia was proudly displayed along both sides of the magnificent vessel.

It wasn’t merely an airship.

It was a symbol.

A symbol of the authority that ruled the entire Kingdom.

Every child standing below kept instinctively looking up.

Many of them even stopped walking altogether.

Their mouths hung slightly open as they watched the fleet glide through the sky.

Some had never seen a Royal-Class Dirigible before.

Others had only heard stories about it.

Even among the young nobles, many couldn’t hide the amazement in their eyes.

Only a few calmly continued on their way, already accustomed to such sights because of their backgrounds.

The boy dressed in ordinary clothes quietly watched the airships disappear into the distance.

His golden eyes reflected the moving shadows passing overhead.

"So that’s the Royal Family..."

He muttered softly.

For a few more seconds, he continued watching until the fleet became smaller against the blue sky.

Then...

He quietly lowered his head.

His attention returned to the Steam Bus waiting nearby.

Without another word...

He resumed walking.

Like that...

The journey toward the Royal Academy officially began.

***

High above Albioncrown...

Inside House Ashenlocke’s Noble-Class Private Dirigible...

The atmosphere was much quieter.

Ezra lay comfortably on the bed inside his private suite.

One arm rested beneath his head while his calm black eyes stared quietly at the ceiling.

He appeared completely relaxed.

Almost as though today’s journey carried no importance whatsoever.

Across the room...

Lucy sat at the study table.

Several thick books had already been stacked beside her.

The largest one remained open in front of her.

Its title read:

Royal Academy Maid Rules and Regulations

Lucy slowly turned another page.

Then another.

Her expression gradually became more helpless.

"There are really..."

She sighed.

"...so many things I have to learn."

She looked at the page number.

Only then did she realize she hadn’t even reached the halfway point.

There were still well over two hundred pages waiting for her.

Her shoulders visibly slumped.

"...This is impossible."

She quietly complained before flipping another page.

Meanwhile...

Ezra remained exactly as he was.

Looking at the ceiling.

Silent.

As always.

Lucy looked toward him.

Her lips puffed out slightly.

"Seriously, Master."

She leaned back against the chair.

"Who would’ve thought so many things would happen while you were quietly meditating all those weeks?"

That finally caught Ezra’s attention.

His eyes slowly shifted away from the ceiling before settling on Lucy.

"The Phantom Rolls sales, well..."

His voice remained as calm as ever.

"...was expected."

He paused briefly.

"So were the Ashenlocke firearms. They performed almost exactly as I hope for."

His answer remained simple.

Direct.

Exactly like him.

Inside...

However...

His thoughts quietly continued.

The ten percent Elder Ivanhoe gave Vera and me from the initial sales alone...

...earned far more than I originally estimated.

Considering the success of both products...

His future research budget had become much more comfortable.

Even so...

His face showed absolutely nothing.

Anyone looking at him would never guess he had just become significantly wealthier.

Lucy folded both arms.

"That’s not what annoyed me."

Her cheeks puffed out again.

"It’s those people on Skynet. They keep saying Lady Vera created the firearms... and that you were only helping her."

She clicked her tongue in frustration.

"They even called you her sidekick."

Lucy shook her head.

"And when I thought Lady Vera would correct everyone about who really created the Phantom Rolls..."

Her disappointment became even more obvious.

"...she didn’t say anything."

She folded her arms tighter.

"Not one single explanation."

Lucy genuinely couldn’t understand it.

If she had been in Vera’s position...

She would’ve immediately corrected everyone.

Ezra quietly looked at her.

He didn’t answer.

Not because he didn’t have anything to say.

But because...

Lucy was unknowingly complaining about something he himself had arranged.

Before entering meditation...

Ezra had privately contacted Vera.

He had specifically asked her to leave the public misunderstanding exactly as it was.

In return...

He now owed her a favor.

There were several reasons behind that decision.

Keeping attention divided between himself and Vera reduced unnecessary political pressure.

It also allowed House Ashenlocke to maintain greater internal stability.

For now...

That arrangement benefited everyone involved.

So...

Listening to Lucy passionately complain about a situation he personally supported...

Felt strangely awkward.

His expression, however...

Remained completely blank.

Lucy sighed.

"You really don’t care, do you?"

Ezra simply blinked once.

"...Not particularly."

His answer nearly made Lucy laugh.

Only her master could respond so calmly after becoming one of the most discussed people in Britannia.

***

Outside...

The fleet of private dirigibles gradually descended toward the Royal Academy’s private airship port.

Far below...

The academy grounds had already become crowded.

Rows of Steam Buses stood neatly parked near the entrance.

Beside them waited numerous Noble Steam Carriages bearing the crests of Baron, Low-Ember, High-Ember, Viscount, Count, Duke, and Royal Houses from every corner of Britannia.

Students continuously stepped out.

Each was immediately welcomed by academy staff members dressed in formal uniforms.

Without wasting time...

The staff directed every arriving student toward a vast open assembly ground located just beyond the towering gates of the Royal Academy.

The entire area remained carefully organized despite the overwhelming number of arrivals.

Soon...

One after another...

The Noble-Class Private Dirigibles gently landed upon their assigned platforms.

Heavy landing mechanisms locked firmly into place.

Moments later...

The boarding ramps slowly unfolded toward the ground.

The great doors opened.

Young nobles steadily emerged from the airships.

The moment they stepped outside...

Many students already waiting near the port instinctively turned to look.

Curiosity quickly spread through the crowd.

Several whispered among themselves.

Others openly stared.

Some even recognized famous heirs from powerful noble houses.

The atmosphere almost resembled the arrival of celebrated heroes.

Fortunately...

The academy staff had anticipated exactly this situation.

They immediately guided everyone forward before large crowds could gather.

No one was allowed to stop and admire the arriving nobles for long.

The Royal Academy valued order above everything else.

One by one...

The representatives of Britannia’s greatest families calmly descended from their airships.

Members of the powerful High-Ember Houses.

Children of distinguished Count Families.

The heirs and heirs-apparent of the Duke Houses.

And finally...

The young members of the Royal Family themselves.

Some wore calm expressions.

Others carried quiet confidence.

A few simply observed everything with peaceful curiosity.

Different personalities.

Different ambitions.

Yet...

Every one of them had arrived at the same destination.

Escorted by academy staff...

They steadily made their way toward the enormous assembly grounds.

The welcoming ceremony...

Was about to begin.