Chapter 13 - Baem!

As expected, the hostage strategy worked well.

"I-I'll put down my gun, so please let my daughter go...!"

Red Beard, who had shot without hesitation when Verdi was taken hostage earlier, now put down his gun with a pale face.

Of course, I didn't release his daughter Ann, whom I was holding hostage, just for that.

I pointed with my chin at the other Red Beard Gang members behind him and said, "Make your other subordinates put their guns down too."

"...Put them down, boys."

"..."

At the boss' words, the gang members who were aiming at me started to lower their guns reluctantly.

But they couldn't completely lower their guns even at Red Beard's words.

It seemed they weren't as desperate since it wasn't their own daughter, even if it was the boss'.

Step—

If the situation continued like this, it was highly likely to turn unfavorable for me.

So I stepped back without releasing Ann.

The Red Beard Gang members slowly approached us... and we moved about 80 yards while holding our breath.

And then...

"...How long do you plan to drag this out?"

Red Beard, seemingly getting impatient, spoke to me almost pleadingly, "You know the situation won't change like this, don't you?"

"..."

"How about this. If you release my daughter... I promise to let you go unharmed. I swear to God, I promise."

Outlaws always swore to God for everything.

I had never seen such a promise kept even once.

Moreover...

"..."

His face, which was desperate with shock at first... began to regain composure as time passed.

Slide.

I could see his hand subtly moving towards his holster.

The gun barrels of the other gang members were also slowly rising, as if to aim at me again.

Judging that I couldn't drag this out any longer...

Above all, having lured them all to the spot I wanted, I covered the eyes of Ann in my arms and said:

"Kid, cover your ears."

"...What?"

Operation name “Explosion is Art”.

As soon as I confirmed that Ann was covering her ears without knowing why, I shouted loudly, "Gal—!!!!"

Now Joe should detonate the dynamite pre-set in the next building...!

“...”

“...”

“...”

...Where’s the kaboom! There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!

"You crazy bastard!"

Seeing my confused look, the gang members behind me raised their gun barrels again, judging it as an opportunity.

Only then realizing that I got the command wrong, I shouted again.

Come to think of it, this wasn't Japan but America.

"Boom—!!!"

Kaboom—!!!!

"It's dynamite!!"

"Aaaaarghhhh!!"

When I shouted the correct command, the building next to them finally exploded, causing chaos at the scene.

Taking advantage of this moment, I immediately raised my gun barrel and aimed at Red Beard.

He was slower than me and was just now drawing his gun from the holster.

Click.

"Red Beard, cut."

Just as I was thinking that if I shot the boss now and then the executives as planned, this would be the end of the cleanup, that was when it happened.

Once again, an unexpected person intervened.

"Waaah—!"

"Aagh—!!"

...Ann, Red Beard's daughter in my arms, bit the hand holding my gun.

"Damn it! Let go!"

"Chomp!"

"Aaaah!"

Munch munch.

No joke, it hurts like hell.

It felt like the flesh on my wrist was being torn off.

Thud.

In that excruciating pain, I finally dropped the pistol.

And taking advantage of that moment.

Click.

Red Beard finally drew his gun.

I still had one pistol left in my left holster, but with no free hand, I leaped forward as I was.

Despite the sudden charge, Red Beard maintained his composure and calmly aimed at my head, but...

Whoosh—!

"...!"

I thrust his daughter in front of his gun barrel.

"You cowardly bastard!!"

Of course, he couldn't shoot, and the distance closed.

At a distance where we could reach out and touch each other, our goals were different.

Smack!

I swung my palm to knock the pistol out of his hand and onto the ground...

Swish—!

"Dad-!"

He finally snatched his daughter from me.

Me and Red Beard.

Neither of us had guns in our hands, and as I said earlier, we were at a distance where we could reach out and punch each other.

Thwack—!

"Let's fight like men with our fists."

Without hesitation, I threw the first punch.

***

Thwack—!

"Ugh..."

The bounty hunter's fist was as sharp as an awl.

But...

"Let's fight like men with our fists."

Those words were good news for Edward.

He didn't think he'd lose in a fistfight to such a scrawny-looking guy.

Edward had started from the bottom when he was in the Confederate militia.

Being frequently beaten by his seniors, he was confident in his endurance and immediately raised his rock-like fists.

But then...

Whoosh.

"...?!"

The guy who had punched Edward spun around and slid behind Edward's back.

And then...

Click.

"...You crazy-!!"

He drew the gun from the opposite holster.

"You bastard said we'd fight like men with just fists-!"

Another vile trick...!

I've been had...!

The bounty hunter's quick draw was extraordinary.

The moment Edward sensed that the guy's bullet, drawn in an instant, would hit him between the eyes.

Bang±! Bang—! Bang—! Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!

"..."

Edward couldn't understand the situation unfolding before him for a moment.

2 seconds? No, was it 1 second?

The bounty hunter spent all 6 bullets in that brief time, almost like a flash.

And those bullets...

"Arrrgh!"

"Guhk!"

They accurately hit the heads of his subordinates who were just now recovering from the explosion's impact.

1 second.

In that brief moment, he fired 6 bullets.

Exactly 6 subordinates died.

Seeing that surreal scene, Edward didn't feel grief over losing his subordinates.

Instead...

Monster.

The sense of crisis, fear, and survival instinct honed through dozens of battles screamed at him to run away.

"Now, let's really fight with our fists."

Shing—

As he said this, he drew a knife from his back pocket.

At that moment, Edward realized.

This guy had no thrill of victory or pride in fighting.

A snake that beguiled its opponent with a sinister tongue, and a jaguar that bit its prey's weakness and never let go.

He was a killing machine that had discarded human emotions and moved only efficiently to kill his opponent.

"Ann-!!"

"D-Dad...!"

"Quickly go back to Aunt Zola! Hurry!!"

"Uuh..."

Edward first sent back his daughter Ann, his biggest weakness.

When he shouted, Ann hesitantly ran towards where the adults were.

As soon as Edward confirmed his daughter had gone back, he put his hand on the opposite holster.

"Alright, you bastard. Let's fight like men with our fists."

Click.

Edward immediately drew his gun.

Come to think of it, I'm not a soldier now.

He almost forgot.

He wasn’t a soldier now, but an outlaw.

Soldiers fought for honor and freedom, but outlaws fought to survive.

Edward pulled the trigger to survive against the monster before him.

Bang—!

***

I used the gun I had saved on the other side to confirm kill the other Red Beard Gang members.

If they got up and started shooting from front and back, there would be no answer.

I shot and killed the 6 who were still somewhat lively, and for the remaining 4, well...

Believing Joe would take care of them, I turned to the boss, Red Beard.

"Now, let's really fight with our fists."

Of course, I had no intention of fighting him with fists.

I'm not a thug, why would I fight with fists?

Shing—

Contrary to my words about fighting with fists, I immediately drew the knife from my back pocket.

And as if responding to this...

"Alright, you bastard. Let's fight like men with our fists."

Red Beard drew his gun and aimed at me.

Click.

His quick draw skills were quite extraordinary.

Red Beard, who had cocked the hammer, pulled the trigger without delay.

Bang—!

A rough gunshot and acrid gunpowder smell.

And...

Swish—

As soon as he fired, the [Best Gunslinger in the West] trait activated, slowing down space-time.

Having become accustomed to this, I immediately stepped forward and charged.

Then I raised my knife, trying to slice the bullet like an anime protagonist...

Swish—

"Ow shit!"

...and nearly got killed trying.

Even with the [Best Gunslinger in the West] trait, the bullet's speed wasn't entirely slow.

It felt like a dodgeball coming at me during elementary school PE class.

Bang—!

In the meantime, Red Beard fired another shot.

That meant another dodgeball was coming at me.

I could dodge it, but I could get hit if I didn't concentrate.

I stopped showing off and calmly dodged the bullets.

Then I rushed the knife blade towards Red Beard's neck.

Swish—!

As the distance with Red Beard closed completely, time started flowing normally again.

"...$1,500."

Of course, my knife had already reached his neck by then.

Slash—!

I was about to slit his throat without any hesitation.

That was what should have happened, but...

"Ugh..."

Red Beard put his hand in front of his neck before it could be cut.

Slice—!!

Blood gushes like a fountain from Red Beard's deeply cut hand.

His neck was cut a little too, but it was shallow due to the hand that intervened.

...It poses no immediate threat to his life.

Slide—

Meanwhile, Red Beard was raising his gun barrel towards me again.

"...Die."

"Wow."

Give flesh to take bone.

It was easy to say, but it actually required tremendous guts.

But Red Beard did it.

...What an incredible man.

If he had been active a bit longer, he might have become an outlaw worth far more than $1,500.

I shouted loudly while feeling respect for such a man, "Ann!!!"

Precisely... while looking behind him.

"What?!"

Startled at the mention of his daughter's name, Red Beard flinched and turned around.

Of course...

"..."

There was nothing there.

Red Beard's body trembled as he realized his mistake in that moment.

When he turned his head back, his face was filled with intense anger towards me.

"You vile snake bastard!!!!"

"How did you know? I'm a snake in the Chinese zodiac!"

It’s amazing.

How did he know I'm a snake in the Chinese zodiac?

I marveled as I stabbed my knife into his chest.