Last Gun Alchemist

Chapter 281: Welcome to the Royal Academy

As everyone finally arrived at the assembly grounds...

The enormous field gradually became filled with students from every corner of Britannia.

The arrangement was exceptionally organized.

Every family stood beneath its own banner.

Members of the Viscount Houses gathered beneath the crests embroidered onto their military uniforms.

The Count Families naturally formed their own groups not far away.

Beyond them...

The representatives of the Duke Houses stood in with their family members.

Finally...

At the very front of the gathering...

The young members of the Royal Family quietly occupied their designated positions.

Each family remained together.

Each group naturally became the center of attention.

For many students...

This was the first time they had ever seen so many famous heirs gathered in one place.

The atmosphere immediately became lively.

Whispers quietly spread throughout the field.

"Wow..."

A young noble girl covered her mouth in excitement.

"It’s Lady Selena."

"I’ve only seen pictures of her before."

Several students immediately turned in the same direction.

Not far away...

The graceful young lady stood calmly beside the other members of her family.

Even without saying a word...

She naturally attracted attention.

More conversations quickly followed.

"The Royal Family is actually here."

"I’ve never seen any of them in person."

"They really have golden hair..."

"They’re even more beautiful than everyone says."

Excitement spread through the crowd.

Then...

Another loud voice suddenly rose above the others.

"Lady Sasha!"

"Oh, my Scholars..."

Several girls practically bounced where they stood.

Their eyes sparkled as they stared toward another noble family.

Standing there...

Was a young noblewoman with striking scarlet hair.

She quietly held an elegant umbrella with one hand while her personal maid gently fanned her from behind.

Her posture remained refined.

Calm.

Almost effortless.

The sunlight reflected against her scarlet hair, making it appear even more vivid beneath the clear morning sky.

"Her hair is so beautiful..."

One of the girls whispered dreamily.

"I wish I had hair like that."

The others quickly nodded in agreement.

Not far away...

Another discussion had already begun.

"Every Duke Family really stands out."

A group of boys mixed with several girls quietly observed the six great houses.

Their military uniforms.

Their posture.

Even the confidence each of them carried.

Everything immediately distinguished them from the surrounding students.

One boy suddenly clasped both hands together.

His eyes practically sparkled.

"Lady Vera..."

He stared toward the Ashenlocke representatives.

"...is absolutely perfect."

His friend immediately nodded.

"Of course."

"She’s still Britannia’s greatest flower."

Several students nearby agreed without hesitation.

However...

Not everyone shared the same opinion.

"No way."

Another boy immediately folded his arms.

"Lady Diane is obviously the greatest flower."

He confidently pointed toward the Frostmarch representatives.

"Look at that elegance."

The surrounding students instinctively turned.

Diane Bergwyn stood perfectly straight among her family members.

Both arms remained folded before her.

Her eyes...

Were closed.

She looked so peaceful that she almost appeared to be sleeping while standing.

"..."

The students quietly watched.

Several seconds passed.

Then...

The maid standing behind Diane gently reached forward.

Tap.

A small poke landed against Diane’s shoulder.

"My Lady..."

She whispered softly.

Diane’s body slightly leaned forward before she slowly regained her balance.

She lazily opened one eye.

"...Hmm?"

Her sleepy voice immediately shattered the elegant image everyone had imagined.

The girl who had just praised Diane froze.

"..."

"..."

An awkward silence followed.

Then...

Several students quietly looked away while pretending nothing had happened.

"...She was sleeping?"

One boy whispered.

"I think so..."

Another replied uncertainly.

The maid smiled awkwardly before quietly helping Diane straighten her posture again.

"My Lady... The ceremony hasn’t started yet."

Diane slowly blinked.

"Oh..."

She quietly nodded.

"I know."

Then...

She closed her eyes again.

The maid almost sighed.

Young Lady...

Please stay awake for just a little longer.

Around them...

The discussions continued without stopping.

Everyone compared the famous heirs.

Some admired their appearance.

Others talked about their achievements.

A few quietly observed the future competitors they would soon study beside.

For many children...

This was already becoming one of the most unforgettable days of their lives.

Suddenly...

"Quiet."

A deep voice echoed across the enormous assembly grounds.

It wasn’t particularly loud.

Yet...

Every word carried remarkable authority.

The overlapping conversations immediately disappeared.

Hundreds of students instinctively looked toward the large stone podium standing at the front of the field.

A middle-aged man calmly walked onto the platform.

His black instructor uniform moved gently beneath the morning breeze.

His posture remained perfectly straight.

A calm smile rested on his face.

Several girls immediately stared at him.

"...He’s handsome."

One quietly whispered.

"I didn’t know academy instructors looked like this."

Another nodded while blushing slightly.

Even several boys couldn’t help admitting that the instructor possessed an unusually refined appearance.

The man calmly stopped before the podium.

His sharp eyes slowly swept across the countless students gathered before him.

Excitement.

Curiosity.

Nervousness.

Confidence.

He quietly observed every different expression.

His gaze briefly rested upon the representatives of the Duke Houses.

Then...

The Royal Family.

Finally...

A faint amused smile appeared when he noticed one particular member of the Royal Family smiling back at him as though today’s ceremony were simply entertainment.

The instructor didn’t react.

Instead...

He calmly introduced himself.

"My name is Greg Mayer."

His composed voice spread effortlessly throughout the assembly grounds.

"I am one of the Senior Instructors of the Royal Academy."

His hands naturally rested behind his back.

"I imagine many of you are wondering..."

He glanced around the field.

"...why your welcoming ceremony is being held outside instead of inside the academy."

Several students exchanged confused looks.

Indeed...

That question had been bothering many of them since arriving.

Considering the prestige of the Royal Academy...

Most had expected to be welcomed inside an enormous ceremonial hall.

Instead...

They had been gathered in an open field.

Greg naturally noticed the questioning expressions.

A faint smile appeared.

Without immediately answering...

He remained silent.

The field gradually became completely still.

Then...

Greg slowly raised one foot.

Stomp.

The sole of his shoe lightly struck the stone podium.

Immediately...

Every student present felt something spread beneath their feet.

A wave of Cognis.

It flowed through the ground with astonishing speed.

The grass beneath the students suddenly began glowing.

Thin lines of brilliant purple light rapidly spread across the earth.

One line connected to another.

Then another.

The countless glowing lines intertwined with incredible precision.

Before long...

An enormous Alchemy Circle covered the entire assembly ground.

The intricate patterns pulsed like flowing water.

Streams of Cognis continuously moved through every symbol as though the massive formation itself had come alive.

Gasps echoed throughout the field.

Many students instinctively stepped back.

Several grabbed the sleeves of their friends.

Others carefully lowered their heads.

Their eyes quickly began studying the formation beneath them.

"What kind of Alchemy Circle is this...?"

someone whispered.

"It’s covering the entire field..."

A young noble slowly narrowed his eyes.

His expression quickly became thoughtful.

"...Teleportation."

He quietly muttered to himself.

The student beside him immediately looked over.

"You recognized it?"

The young noble gave a small nod.

"I’ve only seen diagrams before...but this has to be a large-scale Teleportation Alchemy Circle."

As if confirming his conclusion...

The glow beneath everyone’s feet suddenly intensified.

The countless symbols lit up one after another.

The entire field became covered in brilliant purple light.

Greg calmly watched every student’s reaction.

A faint smile appeared once again.

"Welcome..."

He said quietly.

"...to the Royal Academy."

The Alchemy Circle erupted with light.

And in the next instant...

Every first-year student vanished without leaving behind a single trace.

As had already been explained...

The Royal Academy was so vast that it could almost be considered a city within a city.

From the academy’s main entrance to the Grand Hall alone, the journey would take several hours on foot.

Even using Steam Carriages would consume a considerable amount of time because of the sheer size of the campus.

For that reason...

The Royal Academy had preserved a long-standing tradition.

Every new class of first-year students would be transported directly into the Grand Hall through a large-scale Teleportation Alchemy Circle.

It was a tradition that had existed for generations.

Just as the children vanished from the assembly field...

The world around them twisted.

For a brief instant, everyone felt as though the ground beneath their feet had disappeared.

Their vision blurred.

The scenery around them stretched and folded together like ripples moving across water.

The sensation lasted for only a heartbeat.

Then...

Everything returned to normal.

The countless students who had been standing outside suddenly found themselves sitting neatly inside an enormous hall.

Rows upon rows of seats stretched toward the back of the chamber in perfect order.

Every student had already been placed in an assigned seat without a single mistake.

The sudden change caught many of them completely off guard.

"W-What..."

A young noble quickly looked around with widened eyes.

"When did I sit down?"

Several others reacted almost the same way.

Some instinctively gripped the armrests of their chairs.

Others hurriedly looked around to confirm whether the classmates they had been standing beside were still nearby.

The precision of the teleportation left many speechless.

Constructing a Teleportation Alchemy Circle large enough to transport hundreds of people was already an extraordinary achievement.

However...

Igniting such a massive formation alone while simultaneously controlling the destination of every single person...

Ensuring each student arrived safely in their assigned seat...

Required an astonishing level of mastery.

Only an institution like the Royal Academy possessed Alchemists capable of such a feat.

Not everyone handled the teleportation equally well.

Several students immediately slumped against their chairs.

Their faces turned pale as waves of dizziness washed over them.

A few covered their mouths, desperately resisting the nausea caused by the distortion of space.

One unlucky boy leaned over the side of his chair, breathing heavily while rubbing his forehead.

"I... I don’t think I ever want to experience that again..."

He muttered weakly.

Meanwhile...

Those who adapted more quickly couldn’t hide their amazement.

Soft whispers immediately spread across the hall.

"The Teleportation Circle was incredible..."

"I couldn’t even understand how it worked."

"The control required must be unbelievable."

"I’ve only ever read about large-scale teleportation in books. It’s an Alchemy relating to Spatula formulas."

Everywhere...

Admiration mixed with excitement.

The children gradually settled into their seats while curiously observing the magnificent hall surrounding them.

The ceiling towered high overhead, supported by enormous white pillars carved with ancient Alchemy symbols.

Large crystal chandeliers hung from above, though they remained unlit for the moment.

Elegant banners bearing the crest of the Royal Academy decorated both sides of the chamber.

At the very front stood a broad stage with an elevated podium positioned at its center.

The entire hall radiated history.

Every corner seemed to whisper stories of the countless brilliant minds who had once studied within these walls.

Suddenly...

The lights flickered.

One after another...

The crystal chandeliers suspended from the ceiling illuminated the entire hall.

Warm light washed across the room, revealing every detail that had previously been hidden in shadow.

At the same time...

Several figures quietly entered from behind the stage.

The whispers throughout the hall immediately grew louder.

More Professors...

Or rather...

The Academy Instructors.

They walked in orderly formation.

Each wore the formal black-and-white robes of the Royal Academy.

Some appeared young.

Others were already elderly.

Yet every one of them carried an unmistakable air of confidence.

At the front of the group...

Walked an elderly man.

His posture remained perfectly upright despite his age.

His silver hair had been neatly combed back, and a gentle smile rested upon his wrinkled face.

Many students immediately recognized him.

"That’s..."

"The Vice Head Master..."

"I’ve seen him in magazines."

"My father talks about him all the time."

"The man behind Britannia’s modern combat curriculum..."

More whispers spread throughout the hall.

Several students also recognized some of the instructors following behind him.

They were famous figures throughout Britannia.

Some had become legends in the field of combat.

Others had pioneered revolutionary research in Alchemy.

Several were renowned master craftsmen whose inventions had changed industries across the Kingdom.

To countless young Alchemists...

The people standing before them were living legends.

"It really is an honor to be here."

A boy quietly whispered to himself.

His hands trembled slightly from excitement.

"I actually passed..."

Another student smiled nervously.

"I wonder... what kind of life I’ll have in this academy."

The anticipation inside the hall became almost tangible.

Finally...

The elderly Vice Head Master stepped forward.

His warm smile remained unchanged as he slowly surveyed every student seated before him.

"Good morning..."

His calm voice echoed effortlessly throughout the enormous hall.

"...Children of Britannia."

His greeting immediately drew everyone’s attention.

The old man’s smile carried a strange warmth.

Many students who had been nervous only moments earlier found themselves relaxing without realizing it.

He didn’t possess the overwhelming pressure many had expected from someone of his status.

Instead...

He gave off the feeling of a kind grandfather.

Unfortunately...

The same couldn’t be said for the people standing behind him.

The Professors remained completely silent.

Their expressions varied.

Some looked indifferent.

Some appeared strict.

Others simply observed the students with calm curiosity.

Yet...

The authority naturally flowing from them was impossible to ignore.

Without saying a single word...

They reminded every student present that life inside the Royal Academy would not be easy.

The Vice Head Master smiled a little wider.

"I hope... all of you enjoyed the ride."

"..."

Silence.

Almost every student stared at him.

Several still held their aching heads.

Others hadn’t fully recovered from the teleportation.

Enjoyed?

That single thought appeared inside countless minds simultaneously.

The Vice Head Master looked at their pained expressions before chuckling softly.

"Don’t worry."

His tone remained gentle.

"The dizziness and headaches won’t interfere with today’s briefing."

The moment those words left his mouth...

A chorus of helpless groans filled the hall.

"Agh..."

"My head still hurts..."

"I thought I was going to throw up..."

Even several members of the Duke Houses couldn’t completely hide their discomfort.

The old man simply laughed again.

After a few moments...

He stepped away from the podium.

A middle-aged professor with neatly kept black-and-gray hair respectfully bowed toward the Vice Head Master before taking his place.

He calmly looked around the hall.

"Welcome once again... Children of Britannia."

His voice was steady and professional.

"As all of you have successfully entered this academy... you should already understand exactly what awaits you here."

His sharp eyes slowly swept across the hall.

For a brief moment...

They rested upon the representatives of the Count Houses.

Then...

The Duke Houses.

Finally...

The members of the Royal Family.

He paused before continuing.

"Everyone sitting here today... shares the same goal."

His voice gradually became firmer.

The hall grew completely silent.

Every student instinctively listened.

"To stand..."

He deliberately allowed the silence to build.

"...at the very top."

His words echoed clearly throughout the chamber.

No one questioned them.

No one laughed.

Because everyone present understood...

Those words were true.

The professor slowly turned toward one of the female instructors standing behind him.

She immediately stepped forward.

Without saying a word...

She retrieved a circular crystal device from within her robe.

Its polished surface reflected the bright lights above.

Click.

She gently pressed the crystal at its center.

The crystal device emitted a soft hum.

Immediately...

A massive holographic screen expanded above the stage.

Brilliant blue light illuminated the entire hall as lines of text, diagrams, and academy information slowly materialized one after another.

A detailed map of the Royal Academy rotated gently in the center of the projection while various sections of the campus glowed in different colors.

Many students couldn’t hide their amazement.

Some leaned forward slightly in their seats.

Others looked around in surprise.

Although holographic technology wasn’t uncommon among the higher-ranking noble families, seeing such a large and refined projection was still an impressive sight.

The professor calmly glanced at the floating screen before continuing.

"As many of you should already know from the information provided before your arrival..."

He pointed toward one section of the hologram.

"...graduating as one of the academy’s highest-ranking students grants you an official title."

His calm voice echoed throughout the hall.

"Each title comes with different privileges, opportunities, and benefits after graduation."

He paused briefly.

Then, with a simple swipe of his hand...

The holographic display smoothly shifted.

The previous page disappeared.

A new slide immediately replaced it.

The professor stepped slightly to one side.

"This information is something every one of you can research on your own later."

He looked calmly across the hall.

"So... Let’s focus on the information that is most important for all first-year students."

The students immediately became more attentive.

Many quietly straightened their backs.

Others placed both hands on the armrest while listening carefully.

The professor raised one hand toward the academy map.

"First... The entire First-Year District has been constructed at the very center of the Royal Academy."

Several sections of the holographic map immediately lit up.

The central district glowed brightly.

"You may think this was done simply for convenience."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"But that isn’t the only reason. Just like how Eldenford is to Britannia, it also serves as one of the academy’s primary security measures."

His finger slowly traced several routes leading toward the center.

"Beyond that... The next subject all of you need to understand is your academic structure."

He looked toward the students again.

"And that... is directly connected to the Point System."

Several curious whispers immediately spread throughout the hall.

The professor didn’t stop them.

Instead...

He calmly continued.

"If you look inside the pocket attached to the back of the chair in front of you... you’ll find a handbook. It contains a complete explanation of the Point System, your academic regulations, and many of the rules governing student life inside the academy."

The moment he finished speaking...

Hundreds of students instinctively reached toward the chair in front of them.

Rustling sounds immediately filled the hall.

Books were pulled out one after another.

Some students looked genuinely surprised.

Others quietly nodded.

Several had already noticed the handbook earlier but hadn’t opened it.

Lucy, seated behind Ezra as his academy attendant, quietly glanced toward him.

Ezra had already noticed the handbook the moment he entered the hall.

Yet...

He hadn’t touched it.

Lucy smiled helplessly before taking her own copy.

The professor waited patiently until everyone settled down again.

Only then did he continue.

"The Point System... is the foundation upon which your entire academy life is built."

His voice remained calm.

"It records your academic achievements... your practical performance... your conduct... your contributions... and your overall growth throughout your three years inside the Royal Academy."

The holographic display changed once more.

A ranking board appeared.

One hundred empty positions stretched across the floating screen.

"Every point you earn... will determine your standing."

He looked across the hall.

"By the time you graduate... only the top fifty students will receive the honorary titles the Vice Head Master mentioned earlier."

Several students immediately narrowed their eyes.

Top fifty...

Out of everyone present...

The competition was already beginning to take shape inside their minds.

The professor raised another finger.

"However..."

His tone grew slightly heavier.

"The greatest rewards belong only to the very best."

The ranking board changed again.

This time...

Only ten positions remained.

The golden numbers shone brightly against the blue holographic screen.

"The Top Ten."

The professor quietly looked around the hall.

"They alone will have the opportunity to obtain the academy’s highest honors. And those titles... carry influence throughout all of Britannia."

The hall gradually became noisier.

Students whispered among themselves.

Some looked excited.

Others became more nervous.

Several young nobles quietly glanced toward the representatives of the Duke Houses.

Top Ten...

Competing against those monsters wouldn’t be easy.

"I’ll definitely make it."

One student whispered confidently.

"No..."

Another quietly shook his head.

"Just entering the Top Fifty would already be incredible."

The emotions filling the hall varied greatly.

Some students burned with determination.

Others quietly questioned whether they even belonged in the Royal Academy.

The professor patiently allowed the discussion to continue for several moments.

Then...

"Quiet."

His voice wasn’t loud.

Yet...

It instantly spread across the entire hall.

Every whisper disappeared.

Silence returned almost immediately.

The professor’s calm eyes slowly swept across the students.

Only after confirming everyone had settled down...

Did he prepare to continue.

At that moment...

A hand slowly rose into the air.

"Instructor..."

A young voice echoed respectfully.

"I have a question."

The professor shifted his gaze toward the student.

The hall naturally followed.

The moment everyone saw the boy...

Many expressions subtly changed.

He wasn’t wearing a noble military uniform.

There wasn’t a family crest anywhere on his clothes.

Compared to the surrounding students...

His appearance looked remarkably ordinary.

A commoner?

The professor quietly examined him for a few moments.

His expression remained unreadable.

Finally...

He spoke.

"State your name. And your family."

The young boy scratched the side of his head awkwardly.

A helpless smile appeared on his face.

"Well...I’m actually an orphan."

His honest reply echoed throughout the silent hall.

"So... I don’t have a family name."

The moment those words fell...

The entire hall stirred.

Whispers erupted once again.

Many students immediately turned toward him.

Some looked curious.

Others frowned.

A few nobles openly examined him from head to toe.

An orphan...

Inside the Royal Academy?

Several students clearly hadn’t expected such a thing.

Dozens...

Then hundreds...

Of gazes landed upon the young boy.

Some were curious.

Some were skeptical.

Others carried unmistakable disdain.

The pressure created by so many eyes would have intimidated most first-year students.

Yet...

The boy didn’t appear frightened.

He merely looked slightly embarrassed.

After all...

It was the first time in his life that so many people had stared at him at once.

He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck before speaking again.

"But..."

He smiled sheepishly.

"My name is Maxwell."

He paused briefly.

Then...

"I guess... my family name would be Andraver."

The awkward smile remained on his face as countless curious eyes continued to rest upon him.

For a brief moment...

The enormous hall became strangely quiet once again except for the clueless students who continued whispering about Maxwell.