Last Gun Alchemist

Chapter 295: Orientation Week XII

After leaving the peaceful atmosphere of the Botanical Research Club, the three continued wandering through the bustling Club Mix Arena.

Every path they took led them to another lively display.

Some clubs showcased strange inventions powered by Alchemy.

Others demonstrated martial art or marksmanship before cheering crowds.

The aroma of freshly cooked food drifted through the cool afternoon air, mixing with laughter, conversations, and the occasional applause that erupted from different corners of the academy grounds.

Without realizing it, the afternoon had become much livelier than when they had first begun searching for a club.

Their next destination was the Music Heavens Club.

Unlike the noisy demonstrations surrounding it, the area before the club building was surprisingly quiet.

Students naturally lowered their voices as they approached, unwilling to disturb the performance taking place at the front of the booth.

A polished black piano rested beneath an elegant white canopy.

Its smooth surface reflected the afternoon sunlight filtering through the floating alchemical lights hanging above the performance stage.

Sitting before the instrument was Selena Galehart.

Her posture remained graceful.

Her slender fingers danced effortlessly across the piano keys, producing one beautiful note after another.

Beside her...

A handsome upperclassman sat upon a short wooden stool.

A violin rested comfortably beneath his chin while the bow in his hand moved with practiced precision.

Every stroke blended perfectly with the piano.

The two instruments complemented one another so naturally that it felt as though they had rehearsed together countless times before.

Around the performance area...

Students from every academic year quietly gathered.

Some closed their eyes, allowing themselves to be carried away by the melody.

Others simply watched the performers with admiration shining inside their eyes.

No one wished to interrupt such a peaceful moment.

Even the usual noise filling the Club Mix Arena seemed to fade into the background.

Lucy unconsciously stopped walking.

Her sparkling eyes remained fixed on Selena.

The gentle melody flowed through the air like a cool breeze, quietly brushing against everyone’s hearts.

She wasn’t the only one captivated.

Several female students watched Selena with admiration.

Many of the male students looked no different.

Some admired her beauty.

Others admired her talent.

Many admired both.

Before long...

Soft whispers began spreading throughout the gathered audience.

"Lady Selena Galehart and Senior Preston Sailor truly are the greatest musical talents in the club."

One student quietly praised while listening.

Another student immediately nodded.

"They’re incredible. Although..."

He smiled faintly.

"The President and Vice President of the Music Heavens Club are still considered better."

Someone nearby gently shook their head.

"Perhaps. But Lady Selena will definitely surpass them sooner or later."

"I wouldn’t be surprised."

"I agree."

More conversations quietly followed.

Some students debated who deserved the title of the academy’s finest musician.

Others simply smiled while continuing to listen without saying a word.

Nobody wanted to ruin the atmosphere by speaking too loudly.

The music itself was more than enough.

Lucy covered her mouth.

"Wow... I really love Lady Selena’s piano performance."

Her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

Ever since hearing Selena perform during the auction event...

Lucy had quietly become one of her admirers.

Although she had never admitted it openly...

Whenever Selena’s name came up, her eyes always seemed to brighten just a little more.

Ezra stood quietly beside her.

His expression remained unchanged as always.

Yet even he couldn’t deny that Selena’s control over every note was remarkable.

Unlike ordinary performers who simply played music...

She seemed capable of conveying emotion through every movement of her fingers.

Even Cyrus found himself quietly appreciating the performance.

He wasn’t particularly interested in music played by Selena.

Still...

A good performance was a good performance.

There was no reason not to acknowledge genuine talent, and as a Music listener.

He found himself not able to deny Selena’s brilliance.

The three remained there until the final note slowly faded into the air.

Silence lingered for only a heartbeat.

Then...

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the audience.

Students enthusiastically clapped while some even whistled in appreciation.

Selena gracefully stood from the piano.

With an elegant smile, she bowed together with the violinist beside her.

Only after the applause finally settled did Ezra quietly turn away.

The three continued exploring the academy.

Several hours later...

The afternoon sun had already begun its slow descent.

Long shadows stretched across the stone pathways as groups of students continued enjoying the final activities of Orientation Week.

Lucy walked beside Ezra with obvious excitement still lingering on her face.

"Master."

She smiled brightly.

"Did you know Lady Selena first learned to play the piano when she was only five years old?"

Her voice carried genuine admiration.

Cyrus exhaled softly before answering.

"I’ve heard something similar. They say she was born with unusually flexible fingers. And..."

He smiled faintly.

"Her singing voice is just as impressive."

Lucy immediately nodded several times.

"Exactly. Her voice is so gentle. It feels very soothing. A truly elegant young lady."

She turned toward Cyrus.

Since he came from one of Britannia’s Duke Houses...

There was something she had been wondering.

"Sir Cyrus Burnwick. You must have met Lady Selena during noble gatherings before."

She tilted her head curiously.

"What is she like in person?"

Cyrus became strangely quiet.

His smile remained.

Yet his thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Back to one of the many formal gatherings held between the Burnwick and Galehart Houses.

He could still remember that day.

The Mainline and Highline children of both families had been formally introduced to one another.

Among all the girls present...

Selena had undoubtedly attracted the most attention.

Not only because of her appearance.

Her graceful manners alone had already made many young nobles admire her.

Unfortunately...

Just like almost every other noble girl...

Her attention had eventually settled on Ravenor.

Cyrus slowly returned to reality.

He looked directly at Lucy.

Then...

Without changing his expression...

"Yeah. She’s a bitch."

Lucy froze.

"...Huh?"

Even Ezra shifted his plain eyes toward Cyrus for a brief moment.

Cyrus suddenly laughed.

"Don’t mind me. I’m just speaking out of jealousy."

He shrugged as though it were nothing worth discussing.

Before anyone could continue questioning him...

He immediately pointed toward a nearby food stall.

"See that? I’m hungry. Let’s go eat."

Without waiting for a reply...

He casually increased his pace.

Ezra silently watched his retreating back.

Then, without showing the slightest curiosity about what Cyrus had just said...

He simply followed.

Lucy remained standing where she was for another second.

A worried look quietly appeared on her face.

Sir Cyrus really does have a complicated family relationship...

She sighed inwardly before quickly catching up with Ezra.

The three eventually arrived at one of the food stalls set up around the Club Mix Arena.

Unlike the busy walkways outside, this section had been arranged for students who wanted to rest after spending hours visiting clubs.

Several round wooden tables stood beneath neatly stretched canopies that shielded diners from the afternoon sun. The air carried the rich aroma of freshly grilled meat, warm bread, roasted vegetables, and sweet pastries, while the chatter of students blended with the occasional clatter of plates and cups.

Ezra, Cyrus, and Lucy found an empty table and took their seats.

A young waitress wearing a neatly pressed black apron quickly approached them. She stopped beside their table and offered a polite bow before speaking.

"May I take your order?"

She smiled professionally as she handed each of them a menu.

The three quietly looked through the selections together.

Lucy immediately became interested in almost everything on the menu.

"This one looks delicious... No, wait..."

She pointed at another dish.

"This one looks even better."

Cyrus leaned over slightly, joining the discussion with an amused smile.

"I’ve tried that before."

He tapped one of the dishes.

"It’s surprisingly good."

"Really?"

Lucy looked at him with curious eyes.

The two soon began comparing different meals, discussing which dishes were worth trying and which desserts looked the most tempting.

Meanwhile, Ezra had already made his decision.

Without spending much time reading through the menu, he simply pointed at a light snack.

"I’ll have this."

His answer was as straightforward as ever.

The waitress gave a small nod before waiting patiently for the other two.

Several moments later, after Lucy and Cyrus had finally settled their debate, they each placed their orders as well.

The waitress bowed once again before leaving for the kitchen.

The restaurant remained lively.

Students from different years continued entering and leaving while servers moved smoothly between the tables carrying trays filled with steaming dishes.

It wasn’t long before the waitress returned.

One after another, she carefully placed the meals before them before politely wishing them an enjoyable meal.

"Thank you."

Lucy smiled brightly.

The three began eating.

Lucy immediately looked delighted.

Her eyes curved into happy crescents as she happily enjoyed every bite placed into her mouth.

She looked as though every meal she tasted was the greatest discovery of the day.

Cyrus couldn’t help glancing toward her before turning to Ezra.

"Is she always this excited whenever she eats?"

There was a hint of amusement in his relaxed voice.

Ezra shifted his gaze toward Lucy, who sat beside him.

She hadn’t noticed their conversation at all.

Her entire attention remained fixed on the delicious meal before her.

Every few seconds, another satisfied expression appeared on her face.

She and Gena are exactly the same.

Ezra quietly thought to himself.

The image of Gena happily stuffing food into her mouth during their time at the Trial Base naturally surfaced in his mind.

The two of them shared that exact same expression whenever they found something they liked to eat.

Before anyone spoke again...

A familiar, emotionless voice drifted over from behind Ezra.

"Ah... I spotted a Black Ash."

Ezra continued eating as though he hadn’t heard anything.

He didn’t even bother turning around.

Cyrus, however, shifted his eyes toward the approaching figures.

Lucy quickly swallowed the food in her mouth before immediately standing from her chair.

"Greetings, Lady Vera."

She bowed respectfully.

"Hello, Maid."

Vera replied in her usual calm tone, giving Lucy a brief glance before looking away.

Cyrus blinked.

"Vera..."

His eyes soon moved past her shoulder.

"And Diane too, of course."

"Eh..."

Diane, who had been walking behind Vera with her eyes closed while absentmindedly holding onto the untucked back of Vera’s academy shirt, slowly opened them.

She lazily looked around the restaurant.

"We’re already at the restaurant."

Her tired voice carried almost no emotion.

"Yes. Yes, we are, Ice Popsicle."

Vera answered without missing a beat.

The nickname sounded so natural coming from her mouth that it was difficult to tell whether she was teasing Diane or simply stating a fact.

Diane merely accepted it without complaint.

Vera then shifted her attention toward Ezra.

Her calm black eyes met his equally expressionless gaze.

"I see you’re enjoying yourself, Ezra."

Ezra calmly looked back at her.

"I could say the same to you."

His voice remained as flat as ever.

For a brief moment...

His eyes moved past Vera’s shoulders.

He instinctively searched for a certain noisy girl who usually surrounded her.

Vera noticed the movement immediately.

"My usual followers aren’t here."

She spoke before Ezra could ask.

"I’m sure that’s exactly what you were wondering."

Her voice remained as level as always.

"We left them behind. Since we wanted to eat somewhere quiet."

She paused for only a heartbeat.

"Ezra."

Ezra remained silent.

There was no point confirming or denying it.

Diane suddenly raised one finger.

"Ah... You..."

She pointed directly at Ezra.

Her brows slowly knitted together as she tried to remember where she had seen him before.

Vera calmly placed one hand on top of Diane’s head.

"Don’t think too hard."

She gently patted her.

"We both know you’ll fail."

Her tone remained completely matter-of-fact.

"I suppose so."

Diane accepted the conclusion immediately.

"Good girl."

Vera removed her hand before looking back toward Ezra once again.

Her eyes slowly swept across everyone sitting around the table.

"Ezra."

She pointed toward him.

"Maid of Ezra."

Her finger moved toward Lucy.

"And you..."

Finally...

It stopped in front of Cyrus.

Cyrus awkwardly smiled back.

Vera stared at him for several long seconds.

Her expression never changed, then she tilted her head.

"Who are you again?"

Silence.

Cyrus felt as though an invisible dagger had pierced straight through his chest.

"...Are you serious, Vera?"

His voice carried genuine disbelief.

Vera ignored him.

Instead, she calmly turned toward Diane.

"Do you know him?"

Diane looked at Cyrus.

She blinked once, then slowly shook her head.

"No. I don’t remember seeing him before."

A second imaginary dagger pierced Cyrus’s heart.

He slowly leaned back against his chair.

I can understand Diane...

Everyone knows she sleeps through half the social gatherings.

But Vera...

His lips twitched helplessly.

You’re the one who once asked me why everyone kept looking down on me.

You even asked it with the same expression someone would use to ask about today’s weather.

There’s no way you’ve forgotten me.

She’s definitely doing this on purpose.

A bitter laugh escaped his thoughts.

At that moment...

Ezra calmly finished the last bite of his meal.

He picked up the neatly folded napkin beside his plate and quietly wiped his hands before placing it back on the table.

"Ezra."

Vera called his name once again.

Ezra turned his eyes toward her.

Vera met his gaze without the slightest change in her expression.

"You know... The final day of Orientation Week ends with the Welcome Party."

Her voice remained as flat and matter-of-fact as ever, as though she were merely reminding him of today’s weather.

"I know."

Ezra answered just as calmly.

There wasn’t the slightest surprise in his voice.

Vera gave a small nod.

"You’ll be my dance partner."

She spoke with complete confidence.

There was no hesitation.

No embarrassment.

Nor did she phrase it as a request.

To her...

It was simply the most reasonable outcome.

Ezra leaned back slightly in his chair.

His blank eyes remained fixed on hers.

"And why would I do that?"

Vera answered immediately.

"Because I’m the only person you can dance with."

She spoke as though the answer was obvious.

Ezra stared at her for a few seconds before replying.

"I don’t think dancing is necessary. And besides... I can’t dance."

"Well..."

Vera pointed at him.

"I’m sorry for your unfortunate situation."

Her tone remained completely calm.

"But you don’t have a choice. You’ll start learning today, and you will learn it quickly. I’m sure it won’t be much of a problem for you, Ezra."

After saying that, she folded her arms across her chest.

Her posture was straight.

Although she wasn’t particularly tall...

The way she looked at Ezra somehow gave the strange impression that she was standing on top of a mountain while looking down at him.

Ezra slowly narrowed his eyes.

Neither of them spoke again.

The restaurant suddenly became much quieter around their table.

Not because the surrounding students had stopped talking...

But because the silence between the two of them somehow managed to drown everything else out.

Lucy quietly looked from Ezra...

To Vera...

Then back to Ezra again.

It’s happening again...

She sighed inwardly.

That strange staring contest...

She had witnessed it enough times to recognize the pattern immediately.

Neither of them appeared angry.

Neither of them appeared happy.

They simply looked at one another in complete silence.

Yet somehow...

The atmosphere became strangely awkward every single time.

Even Cyrus felt it.

He quietly leaned back in his chair.

How do these two keep making silence feel this uncomfortable...?

Before anyone could break the deadlock...

A sleepy voice interrupted them.

"I also need a dance partner."

Diane lazily rested her head against Vera’s shoulder.

She looked as though she could fall asleep at any moment.

"Some boys have been sending letters to my maid. They all want to become my partner for the Welcome Party."

She blinked slowly before continuing.

"If I could, I wanted to skip the whole thing. Since it’s just a waste of time."

She paused.

Then let out a quiet sigh.

"But Sally said I have to attend. As the young lady of House Bergwyn... I need to socialize."

Her expression became slightly troubled.

Although...

The amount of emotion visible on her face could barely be described as a faint frown.

Seeing the opportunity...

Cyrus smiled politely.

"If you don’t mind... I could help you with that."

Diane slowly turned toward him.

Their eyes met.

For a brief second...

Cyrus felt hopeful.

Then...

"Vera."

She called Vera’s name instead.

As though Cyrus hadn’t spoken at all.

An imaginary mouthful of blood nearly escaped from Cyrus.

He slowly lowered his head.

Life truly is cruel...

He laughed bitterly inside his heart.

I wasn’t even rejected.

I was ignored completely.

Diane gently pointed toward Ezra.

"Let me borrow him too."

She spoke as casually as though she were asking to borrow a book.

Ezra quietly shifted his narrow gaze toward Diane.

Then...

Toward Vera.

Vera tilted her head slightly.

"My dear Ice Friend... Why are you asking me that?"

Diane answered honestly.

"You’re the type who only gets close to interesting people. Like that Nina girl."

She blinked once.

"I could ask Veda..."

Another short pause followed.

"...but I don’t want to dance with him."

Her tone remained completely sincere.

There wasn’t a hint of malice behind her words.

She simply stated her opinion.

Afterward...

Her light-blue eyes quietly settled on Ezra.

Ezra looked back at her.

The two remained silent for several moments.

Neither seemed interested in speaking first.

Finally...

Vera looked toward Ezra once more.

"You heard her."

She spoke calmly.

"What do you think? You’ll have the privilege of dancing with two of Britannia’s Finest Flowers."

She delivered those words without the slightest hint of pride.

To anyone unfamiliar with Vera...

It would have sounded unbelievably arrogant.

To those who knew her...

It was simply Vera stating what she believed to be an objective fact.

Ezra slowly stood from his chair.

He casually adjusted the front of his academy cardigan before looking at the two girls.

"I have a better idea."

His voice remained perfectly calm.

He looked from Vera...

To Diane...

Then spoke without the slightest hesitation.

"Why don’t the two of you become each other’s dance partners?"

Silence.

Even the nearby students who had been secretly listening almost stopped breathing.

Vera remained expressionless.

Diane slowly blinked.

Neither of them had expected that answer.

Without waiting for either girl to respond...

Ezra calmly turned around and walked toward the front counter to pay for both his and Lucy’s meals.

Lucy immediately rose from her seat.

She gave the two girls a respectful bow.

"Please excuse us."

Then she hurried after her master.

Cyrus also stood.

He looked at Vera...

Then Diane...

Before silently deciding that remaining behind would only make things more awkward.

With a quiet sigh...

He followed Ezra as well.

The moment the three disappeared into the crowd...

Diane let out a small, lazy chuckle.

"He’s quite funny, Vera."

She smiled faintly.

Vera quietly watched Ezra’s disappearing figure.

Then, in her usual calm voice, she replied,

"I know."

********************************************

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