Chapter 23 - The Righteous Sheriff Takes Action

The staff member who always approached first-class passengers with a friendly face now shouted with a fierce expression.

"Everyone put your hands up and get on your knees!! Or I'll kill you all!"

"W-what is the meaning of this...!"

"What do you mean 'What'! Can't you read the situation?!"

Thwack—!

"Guhkkkk!!"

When the rich gentlemen protested, he kicked the gold mine tycoon, knocking him down.

The rich gentlemen, who had been so relaxed from the first meeting, had no choice but to become meek lambs after seeing this.

Especially the railroad tycoon who owned all the rails and trains here seemed more shocked.

"H-how dare you do this on my train...!"

"I'll shoot you right away if you say one more word, so watch yourself. Hey! You come out too!"

"Eekkk!"

After dragging out me, the rich gentlemen, and even the bartender...

"What's this, you were kindly taking out all your money? Hehe... how much is all this."

He started sweeping the money the railroad tycoon had just won in the game into the money bag he had brought.

Still not recovered from the shock of losing money, I just watched the scene for now.

Is this the outlaw Emma mentioned?

No... his face is different from the staff member from earlier.

Then there were at least two outlaws.

They must have stopped the train too.

It seems to be a planned train robbery.

Swish—swish.

Having decided to observe the situation for now, I watched him put bundles of cash into the money bag.

He's putting in quite a lot.

That was supposed to be my money originally...

Damn... my mistake in not realizing the opponent had a straight flush rather than a flush was too big.

Why am I so bad at cards?

As I was regretting this, that was when it happened.

Clink.

Hmm...?

As I was sighing, I felt the cold metal on my belt and at the same time, an idea came to mind.

Right... there's one thing I'm good at, even if I'm bad at cards.

Grin.

Having finished my thought, I stood up...

"You, you what! Do you want to die?!"

"Gentlemen, you asked what I do for a living, right?"

I smiled at the rich gentlemen kneeling on the ground.

And then...

"You think I can't shoot? Even now..."

Bang—!

I drew my gun and shot him between the eyes.

Thud.

"N, N-Noah?!!"

"W, W-what is this...!!"

When I drew my gun at the speed of light and took down the outlaw, the rich gentlemen were startled and made a fuss.

I showed them the sheriff's badge from my belt and said, "I am Sheriff Jett Gray of Justice Town."

"S-sheriff? Ah... phew..."

"You were a sheriff...?"

The rich gentlemen who had been startled when I shot now sighed in relief as soon as they saw the sheriff's badge.

"It seems this is a planned train robbery."

I patted the rich gentlemen's shoulders and continued with a more serious face than ever:

"I, as the sheriff, will step up to protect the safety and property of innocent citizens."

"Oh, ohhh...!"

"So please wait here safely, everyone."

"P-please do!"

As I finished speaking and was about to leave, the rich gentlemen cheered.

But among them, the steel tycoon asked me as if he had seen something strange, "Um... but No... I mean Jett."

"Yes? Is there a problem?"

"Why are you taking that money bag..."

"..."

...He noticed when I was trying to slip out quietly.

I quickly erased the embarrassment from my face and answered confidently, "I need to take it as evidence. To prove their crimes."

"...I see. But I have another question, you clearly asked to be called Noah until just now, so why suddenly Jett Gray..."

"...Noah is an alias. My real name is Jett Gray, so please make sure to remember the name Jett Gray."

"...Alright. Jett Gray. I'll definitely remember."

Seeing the rich gentlemen repeating the name Jett Gray, I went outside with the money bag.

It was the departure of the righteous Sheriff Jett Gray.

***

Emma quickly ran to the engine room, which she expected to be occupied.

And there...

"Oh, ma'am!"

"This place is dangerous. Please go back!"

Staff members who had come looking for the cause of the train's sudden stop were already guarding the front.

Click, click.

Bang bang—!

"Hey! Open the door!"

Even when the staff tried to open the door, it was already firmly closed and locked from the inside.

"Bring a crowbar. And everyone take out your guns."

"Yes!"

Click.

At the words of who seemed to be the team leader, the staff took out pistols from their holsters.

Their appearance looked quite reliable, so Emma was inwardly relieved.

Judging by their appearance, it seemed like restarting the train would be no problem...

"Ma'am, it's dangerous here. The train will start again soon, so don't worry and go back."

The staff actually said so.

But then.

Creak.

"...?"

The door that seemed like it would never open slightly opened and...

Thud.

Something came out from inside.

Sizzle.

"...!!"

"Oh!!"

It was dynamite.

"Everyone take cover!!"

"Hide behind obstacles!"

Seeing this, the staff immediately turned around and threw themselves behind obstacles.

But...

Boom—!

"Aaaaghhhh!"

They couldn't completely shake off the impact of the explosion.

"Cough cough—!"

"Aaaaaaah!"

In that place filled with thick gunpowder smell and screams... Emma, who had been at the very back, got up from her spot with only a scratch on her cheek from shrapnel.

But the situation was not good.

"Ughh......"

"Huk... ah...!"

Most of the staff were down from the explosion's impact.

Thanks to their quick response, it seemed no one had died, but with blood on their faces, they looked in no condition to move right away.

"Is everyone alright...!"

As Emma stepped forward to help them, that was when it happened.

Creak.

The closed door opened again and this time a person came out.

It was the outlaw Jackal that Emma had seen earlier.

"...!"

As soon as she saw his face, Emma drew her gun without hesitation.

But perhaps because she wasn't yet used to the quick draw.

Or maybe because she still felt reluctant to take someone's life.

Bang!

"...Ah."

The bullet fired from her severely shaking gun hit the wall next to Jackal's head.

"W-what...!"

Jackal, who had come out somewhat off guard thinking there would be no one normal, saw the bullet graze past him and ran to hide behind a wall.

Bang—! Bang—!

Seeing this, Emma did follow-up shots with fanning using her small hands, but it didn't work...

Bang-!

Bang—!!! Bang—!

From then on, a gunfight broke out.

Emma and Jackal hid behind walls as cover and fired at each other, trying to catch the moment the other came out.

And...

Ah... now it's getting...

As the gunfight continued, Emma gradually became more familiar with the gun and was able to fire more threateningly.

In fact, if Emma had no talent for guns, Noah wouldn't have taught her.

But she had her unique delicacy and concentration...

Swish—

And that talent was blooming.

Now.

Emma felt as if time had stopped just before pulling the trigger.

In that slowed time, Emma saw the head of Jackal, the outlaw who had stopped this train.

Her finger was now on the trigger.

If she just pulled this, she could subdue him.

But...

Ah...

At the last moment, Emma once again couldn't pull the trigger.

The guilt of taking someone's life made her hesitate again.

In the West, hesitation meant death.

While Emma hesitated, Jackal seized the opportunity and raised his gun at Emma...

Click.

Unlike Emma, he didn't hesitate to kill people.

Seeing this, Emma sensed her own death and closed her eyes.

But...

Bang—!

The gunshot that followed came not from in front of her, but from behind.

"Argh!"

"...!"

At this, Emma opened her eyes in surprise, confirmed Jackal falling, and turned around.

And there was...

Step—

Noah approaching from the end of the corridor, holding a gun.

He approached quickly and first checked if there were any more enemies.

Then he came to Emma and...

Grin.

"Emma, are you okay?"

"..."

"Sorry, was I a little late? I was busy collecting money."

After proudly showing the money bag in his hand, he checked her condition.

Tremble.

Emma's hand, which had just been at death's door, was shaking.

Seeing this, Noah took the gun from Emma's hand.

Emma muttered, "...I'm sorry."

"Hmm?"

"I should have pulled the trigger right away... but I hesitated. I wasted the gun training you gave me for the past 3 years… I'm sorry."

"..."

Noah's reaction to Emma's self-deprecating appearance was simple.

Pat.

"You did enough. Good job."

"...!"

He just put his hand on Emma's head, lightly patted it, and gave words of comfort.

With that, Noah turned around again and headed for the engine room.

"..."

Watching Noah heading to the engine room, Emma realized that her trembling had already subsided.

Noah had just said one phrase, "Good job."

It was strange.

***

The conductor, who could drive the train, was tied up inside the engine room.

I untied him and then showed him the sheriff's badge and asked, "I'm Sheriff Jett Gray. Can you start the train again right away?"

"...Ah, Sheriff… The engine has cooled down, so it will take about 20 minutes to heat up the train again."

"20 minutes..."

As soon as I heard this, I came out of the engine room.

Outside, Emma was hurriedly tending to the injured.

"Emma, no one's dead, right?"

"...Yes, it seems so. But their condition..."

After hearing Emma's words, I examined their condition.

They all seemed to have abrasions from explosion fragments, but their lives didn't seem to be in danger.

Of course, even so, there didn't seem to be anyone who could get up right now and fight against me.

So I approached the one who looked in the best condition and showed the sheriff's badge again and asked, "Hey, I'm Sheriff Jett Gray."

"...Ugh, ah... Yes, Sheriff. Thank you for saving..."

"That's not the issue right now. I need guns, where's the weapons storage?"

When I suddenly asked about the location of the weapons storage, Emma tilted her head.

"...Boss. Why the weapons storage..."

"I need to fight right now, but my weapons are a bit inadequate."

"Fight? The situation is already over..."

"Emma, do you think these bastards made such a bold plan to rob this huge train with just two people?"

"Then..."

Thud thud thud—

Just then, through my keen ears, I heard the sound of horse hooves running towards us.

At least 20? At most about 30.

In terms of numbers, it was a larger train robber gang than the Red Beard Gang.

Realizing there wasn't much time left, I got up, and Emma urgently asked me, "Boss, what are you going to do!"

"Emma, be careful with the title. I'm not the boss now, I'm the sheriff."

Swish—

As I said this and showed the sheriff's badge, Emma held her forehead and changed the title.

"...Ah yes, Sheriff. What are you going to do?"

"What does a sheriff do? Protect citizens' safety and catch outlaws. Of course, I'll have to receive a reasonable fee for my trouble."

Even in this urgent situation with dozens of train robbers about to raid this place, a smile didn't leave my face.

"...Sheriff? For someone saying they're going to save citizens, your face looks quite evil right now?"

"Stop talking nonsense and follow me, Emma. I have a job for you to help with."

With those words, I left with Emma to prepare for the coming battle.