Chapter 8 - Don't Worry, I'm Just An Ordinary Bounty Hunter

"B-Brother! What should we do about the supplies we were supposed to bring...!"

"Haa... For now, we'll regroup with the main force where the boss is."

Their numbers had been reduced from seven to three.

They had come from the Red Beard Gang camp to Justice Town to buy needed supplies and food.

To think we'd meet such a guy in what we thought was a backwater town...!

When that bounty hunter drew his gun earlier, his hand was invisible.

And his fanning skill was close to an art form.

He was no ordinary man.

Moreover, he seemed to know about us.

If they had tried to catch that bounty hunter, it probably would have taken a lot of time.

If they had wasted time, the sheriff's posse would have arrived.

If the posse got involved, the entire Red Beard Gang would be in danger.

Although it was regrettable to leave behind the fallen brothers... fleeing quickly like this was the best Willie, an executive of the Red Beard Gang, could do.

"Haa... Youngest, you drive the wagon carefully to the camp, and you keep an eye out for anyone following us."

"Yes, Brother."

"Yes."

Willie ordered his subordinate to keep watch, just in case.

As the subordinate was about to pull back the wagon's canvas to look outside, that was when it happened.

Bang—! Bang—! Bang—!

"...!"

"W-What's that sound!"

Gunshots filled the air, as if fired towards the sky.

"B-Brother. Isn't that the guy from earlier following us?"

"..."

"Wait! I'll avenge our brothers right now!"

"W-wait...!"

Ignoring Willie's attempt to stop him, the subordinate grabbed a Sharps rifle and cartridges.

He had some confidence.

The bounty hunter only had an old revolver at best.

Pistols had poor accuracy.

And hitting someone far away with a pistol while on horseback?

It was nearly impossible.

In contrast, they had military Sharps rifles, boasting high accuracy and stability.

Of course, he had personally witnessed the bounty hunter's skill, but...

He believed he could subdue the guy with superior equipment.

But the moment he opened the wagon's canvas...!

Thud.

"Guh!"

"Hey!!"

The subordinate fell with a short cry.

Willie flinched when he saw what was stuck in his subordinate's forehead.

...An arrow.

Startled, Willie looked in the direction the arrow came from...

"Ten points."

That crazy bastard was chasing them on horseback from 200 yards away, drawing a bowstring.

Stretch.

"That crazy...!"

As the guy nocked another arrow, Willie quickly covered the wagon's canvas again.

Then he ordered the youngest driving the wagon.

"Youngest! Run! Just go as fast as you can!"

"Huh? What's happening back there..."

"Just think of it as a mad dog chasing us and run!"

Willie, who was a soldier before becoming an outlaw, had mainly fought against Indians.

Indians using pre-modern weapons like bows seemed truly primitive in the face of the overwhelming firepower of guns.

But seeing the arrow precisely stuck in his subordinate's forehead...

"Run!!"

The bow that crazy bounty hunter was using instilled an overwhelming sense of terror.

***

When I entered the <CO> world, I didn't just equip the <Best Gunslinger in the West> trait.

Among the other traits, a notable one was <Weapon Master>.

The <Weapon Master> trait, or <무기의 달인> in Korean, allowed the character to handle not just guns, but other weapons at a proficient level.

The reason I was good with knives was all because of this, and...

Thud.

"Guh."

Of course, the <Weapon Master> trait category included bows as well.

"Ten points."

I first shot an arrow into the forehead of the gang member who recklessly opened the canvas.

"That crazy...!"

As soon as his subordinate was hit, the startled executive hurriedly closed the wagon's canvas.

"Ah... this is troublesome."

From what I saw earlier, the wagon was full of other cargo.

If they took cover behind that, my revolvers and arrows definitely wouldn't be able to penetrate.

Then...

"No Name, run. Faster."

"Neigh!"

I needed to target the driver first.

If I kill the driver and forcibly stop the wagon, I could close the distance enough to make their cover meaningless.

So I pulled the reins hard, urging No Name to run faster, and No Name, understanding my intention perfectly, started to push forward even more.

"Okay, good. Just a bit more."

Swish—stretch.

On top of No Name running like the wind, I focused and drew the bowstring, waiting for the wagon driver to come into my firing range.

"Just a bit more... a little... Got it."

And finally, at the moment when I had the angle to shoot an arrow into his neck...!

Bang—!

"...!"

"Neigh—!!"

A single gunshot startled No Name and disrupted my posture.

Looking to see what it was, of course, it was the Red Beard Gang executive remaining in the wagon who had fired.

If he had pulled back the canvas and shot, I would have killed him right away, but...

Bang—! Bang—!!

He was still taking cover and only firing warning shots through a small hole in the canvas.

"Hooh..."

As expected of these guys... especially that executive, his judgment was good.

He was only firing warning shots to keep No Name from approaching, knowing he'd be in danger if he fully exposed himself.

In fact, No Name seemed scared by the continued gunshots and wasn't daring to overtake the wagon.

"Whoa, whoa, No Name. Don't be scared, just maintain this distance."

"Neigh..."

Bang—!!

As I couldn't approach the wagon, the angle of the gun barrel gradually turned towards me, as if he had gained confidence.

It seemed he wanted to shoot and kill me directly.

This was a my chance.

Stretch.

I maintained my distance from where his angle couldn't reach, waiting for his gun barrel to point towards me.

Whoosh—

The <Best Gunslinger in the West> trait must have considered this a one-on-one duel, as time around me slowed down.

In this slow-motion situation, I held my breath and focused solely on the target, like an Indian chief hunting buffalo.

Whish.

In this moment where I could feel even the slight movement of the wind brushing my hair.

Swish—

Finally, the gun barrel in the small hole turned towards me.

Now.

Fwip—

I didn't miss that moment and released the bowstring.

Fwooosh—!

The arrow I shot forced its way through that small hole and rushed in relentlessly.

And...

Thud.

"Aaaaargh—!!"

A short scream was heard from inside the wagon, indicating a direct hit.

Thump.

My keen hearing also caught the sound of something falling.

Then I had dealt with all the guys in the wagon.

Now all that was left was the one driver innocently driving the wagon, unaware of everything.

"No Name. Let's go meet our new friend."

"Neigh~"

Making new friends is always a happy occasion.

I chuckled and increased speed to overtake the wagon.

**

"B-Brothers? Why, why aren't you saying anything...?"

Verdi, the youngest member of the Red Beard Gang, became anxious due to the sudden silence from his brothers.

'Why, why did the gunshots suddenly stop? What was that scream from Brother Willie earlier...!'

With anxiety reaching its peak in his heart, Verdi slowly turned around.

And what his eyes saw was...

"Aaaah!!! Brothers!!!"

The sight of his brothers collapsed with arrows stuck in their foreheads.

"Huaaah!! What is this!! Aaaah!!!"

Although Verdi was the youngest in the Red Beard Gang, he wasn't just a complete novice.

He had participated in this bank robbery and even killed a bank guard.

Though he didn't have a bounty yet, Verdi was also a proper outlaw.

But even for him, seeing his mountain-like brothers die mysteriously from arrows was an incredibly shocking scene.

Now he was the only one left.

"Hu, huuh... W-what should I do..."

Already gripped by fear, all he could do was drive the wagon with trembling hands, trying somehow to return to the camp.

But then.

"Hello~"

"Eek!"

A voice like that of a little devil assailed him.

Turning his head, he saw that guy from the bar earlier.

After my brothers, he's come to kill me too...!

With his hands trembling violently, Verdi couldn't draw the pistol from his holster while driving the wagon.

All he could do was cry and shout, "G-get lost, you bastard! B-before I s-shoot you!!"

"If you say such scary things, I'll have no choice but to shoot an arrow~"

"D-don't-!!"

Unlike Verdi who was all bluster, the guy was holding a bow steadily while riding a horse at high speed.

Thinking he was about to die, Verdi cried even more profusely, "W-Why are you doing this to us! Who, who are you! Are you a sheriff or something?"

"Don't worry, I'm not a sheriff, I'm just an ordinary bounty hunter."

"D-don't worry my ass...!"

Whether it was a sheriff or a bounty hunter, death was all the same...!

Just as Verdi was thinking he was going to die helplessly, that was when it happened.

"I don't really need to kill you~"

"...What?"

"Why would I kill you when I get the bounty whether you're alive or dead? First, stop the wagon. Let's talk."

"..."

...If he stopped the wagon here as told, he would be a fool.

Verdi, though trembling, racked his brain for how to get out of this situation.

But then...

"Hey."

"..."

"Stop thinking and just stop the wagon. Why can't you stop? If you can't, I'll help you stop it."

"Eek...!"

When Verdi didn't stop the wagon, Noah's voice turned cold, and he nocked his last arrow.

Stretch.

At first, Noah seemed to aim at the horse, intending only to stop the wagon...

"Oh my, this friend looks like our No Name."

"W-wait a moment...!"

"How could I kill one with such innocent eyes."

Then he shook his head and shifted his aim towards Verdi.

"Y-you said you wouldn't kill me!! But why, why are you suddenly aiming at me...!"

"Maybe because I've liked animals since I was young, I just can't bring myself to shoot animals. But I have no problem shooting humans."

"Humans are animals too!!"

"But you ain’t the slightest bit cute."

After answering with a smirk, Noah immediately started counting down.

"Well, I'll count to three and shoot. 3, 2..."

"Wait!!!!"

Noah's three seconds were short.

Unable to do anything, Verdi made the best choice he could before the arrow flew, which was...

Whoosh—!

"Aaaagh!"

To jump off the moving wagon.

Crash bang—!!

As the driver jumped off the fast-moving wagon, the out-of-control wagon flipped over.

"Neigh!"

The wagon's cargo area was destroyed and the horses fell forward.

"Ughh..."

Although Verdi survived, his entire body was battered.

To Verdi, who couldn't move a finger due to pain all over his body...

"Good, friend. Now, shall we have a little chat?"

Noah approached with a satisfied smile.