“Hey, boss! What should we do with the supplies we were supposed to take…?!”
“Hoo… First, we’ll join up with the main group where the boss is.”
The group of seven had now dwindled to three.
They had left the Redbeard Gang camp and come to Justice Town to buy the supplies and food they were lacking.
‘But to run into someone like that in what I thought was just a backwater village…!’
When that bounty hunter guy drew his gun earlier, I couldn’t even see his hand.
Not to mention his near-superhuman fanning skills.
This guy’s no ordinary thug.
‘Plus, he seemed to know who we were.’
If we had tried to capture that bounty hunter, it would’ve taken a lot of time.
And if we took too long, the security forces would’ve shown up.
If the security forces got involved, the entire Redbeard Gang would be in danger.
It’s a shame about the brothers we already sent away, but… this quick escape was the best option for Will, a Redbeard Gang executive.
“Hoo… Youngest, you keep driving the wagon to the camp, and make sure no one’s following us, just in case.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Got it.”
Will, still cautious, ordered his subordinate to keep watch.
Just as the subordinate lifted the wagon’s tarp to look outside…
Bang! Bang! Bang!
“……!”
“What, what was that?!”
The sound of gunfire filled the air, as if shots had been fired into the sky.
“Hey, boss. Do you think that guy from earlier is following us?”
“……”
“Wait! I’ll avenge our brothers right now.”
“W-wait…!”
Ignoring Will’s protests, the subordinate grabbed his Sharps rifle and cartridges.
He had some confidence.
That bounty hunter only had an old revolver.
Pistols aren’t accurate.
And yet, he hit someone from a distance while riding a horse?
That’s almost impossible.
In contrast, they had a military-grade Sharps rifle with high accuracy and stability.
Sure, he’d seen the bounty hunter’s skills firsthand…
But he believed that with superior equipment, he could easily take him down.
But the moment he opened the wagon’s tarp…!
Thud.
“Ugh!”
“Damn it!!”
The subordinate let out a sharp cry and collapsed.
Will was shocked when he saw what was embedded in his subordinate’s forehead.
‘…An arrow.’
Startled, Will looked in the direction the arrow had come from…
“10 points.”
That crazy guy was chasing them on horseback, 200 yards away, drawing his bowstring.
Swoosh.
“That lunatic…!”
As the guy loaded another arrow, Will quickly covered the wagon’s tarp again.
Then he shouted to the youngest, who was driving the wagon.
“Youngest! Go faster! As fast as you can!”
“Huh? What’s happening back there…?”
“Just think of it as a mad dog chasing us and go!”
Before becoming an outlaw, Will had been a soldier, and his main enemies were the Indians.
With the overwhelming firepower of guns, the Indians’ use of bows seemed primitive.
But now, seeing the arrow perfectly embedded in his subordinate’s forehead…
“Go faster!!”
That crazy bounty hunter’s bow was truly terrifying.
**
When I entered the <Outlaw> world, the trait I equipped wasn’t just <Best Gunslinger in the West>.
Among the other traits, the most notable was <Weapon Master>.
Known in English as <Weapon Master>, this trait allows the character to not only handle guns but also other weapons at a high level.
The reason I’m so good with a knife is because of this trait…
Thud.
“Ugh.”
Of course, the <Weapon Master> trait also includes bows.
“10 points.”
I first shot an arrow into the forehead of the gang member who foolishly lifted the tarp.
“That lunatic…!”
As soon as his subordinate was hit, the shocked executive quickly closed the wagon’s tarp.
“Ah… this is troublesome.”
Earlier, I noticed the wagon was full of other supplies.
If they hid behind that, my revolver and arrows wouldn’t be enough to break through.
So then…
“No Name, go faster. Much faster.”
“Heeheehee!”
I had to target the driver first.
If I killed the driver and forced the wagon to stop, the distance would close enough to make cover useless.
So I pulled the reins hard, urging No Name to go even faster, and he brilliantly understood my intention, surging forward.
“Okay, good. Just a bit more.”
Swoosh, pull.
I focused on drawing the bowstring while riding No Name, waiting for the driver to come into my shooting range.
“Just a bit more… just a bit… Got it.”
And just as I was about to shoot an arrow into his neck…!
Bang!
“……!”
“Heeheehee!!”
A gunshot startled No Name, throwing off my aim.
Turns out, it was the Redbeard Gang executive still in the wagon.
If he had opened the tarp and shot, I would’ve taken him down easily, but…
Bang! Bang!!
He was still hiding, firing warning shots through small holes in the tarp.
“Hoo…”
These guys… especially that executive, he’s got good judgment.
He knows showing himself would be dangerous, so he’s just firing warning shots to keep No Name from getting closer.
Indeed, No Name, scared by the continuous gunfire, wasn’t daring to overtake the wagon.
“Whoa, No Name. Don’t get scared, just maintain the distance.”
“Heeheehee…”
Bang!!
As I couldn’t get closer to the wagon, he seemed to gain confidence, and the angle of his gun barrel started turning toward me.
Looks like he wants to shoot me directly.
This is my chance.
Swoosh.
I waited, keeping my distance where his angle couldn’t reach, for his gun barrel to point toward me.
Whoosh.
Even the <Best Gunslinger in the West> trait seemed to slow down time around me, as if it was a one-on-one duel.
I was in a slow-motion situation, holding my breath like an Indian chief hunting a buffalo, staring only at my opponent.
Whoosh.
At this moment, I could even feel the slight breeze ruffling my hair.
Swish.
Finally, the barrel of a gun from a small hole turned toward me.
Now.
Pew.
I didn’t miss the moment and pulled the bowstring.
Pew!
The arrow I shot pierced through the small hole and rushed inside without hesitation.
And…
Thud.
“Ahhhh—!!”
A short scream echoed from inside the wagon, confirming a direct hit.
Thump.
Through my sharp hearing, I could also hear something collapsing.
That means everyone in the wagon has been dealt with.
Now, the only one left is the innocent coachman, cluelessly driving the carriage.
“No Name. Let’s go meet a new friend.”
“Hehe~”
Making new friends is always a happy occasion.
I chuckled and sped up, overtaking the carriage.
**
“B-brothers? Why, why aren’t you saying anything…?”
Verdi, the youngest member of the Redbeard Gang, grew uneasy as his brothers suddenly fell silent.
‘Why, why did the gunfire stop? And what was that scream from Brother Willy earlier?!’
Overwhelmed with anxiety, Verdi slowly turned around.
And what met his eyes was…
“Ahhh—!!! Brothers—!!!”
All his brothers were lying on the ground, arrows lodged between their brows.
“Whaaa—!! What is this!! Ahhh—!!”
Though Verdi was the youngest in the Redbeard Gang, he wasn’t a complete rookie.
He had participated in the recent bank robbery and even killed a bank guard.
Though he didn’t have a bounty yet, Verdi was still a full-fledged outlaw.
But even for him, seeing his towering brothers die mysteriously from arrows was a shocking scene.
Now, he was the only one left.
“H-huh… W-what do I do…?”
Trembling in fear, all he could do was drive the carriage back to camp with shaking hands.
But then.
“Hello~”
“Eek—!”
A voice like a little devil’s crept up on him.
When he turned his head, it was the guy he saw earlier at the tavern.
‘First my brothers, and now me…!’
Verdi’s hands were shaking so much he couldn’t draw his pistol from the holster while driving.
All he could do was scream while crying.
“G-get lost, you jerk! I-I’ll shoot you—!!”
“If you keep saying scary things, I’ll have no choice but to shoot an arrow~”
“D-don’t—!!”
Unlike Verdi, who was all bluster, the guy was calmly holding a bow while riding at full speed.
Feeling like he was about to die, Verdi cried even harder.
“W-why are you doing this to us! W-who are you! Are you some kind of sheriff?”
“Don’t worry, I’m not a sheriff. I’m a bounty hunter.”
“W-what do you mean don’t worry…!”
Whether it’s a sheriff or a bounty hunter, dying is the same either way…!
Just as Verdi thought he was done for…
“I don’t really need to kill you~”
“…What?”
“Whether I kill you or let you live, I still get the bounty. Why would I kill you? Stop the carriage for a moment. Let’s talk.”
“……”
…If I stop the carriage here, I’m a fool.
Verdi trembled but tried to think of a way out of this situation.
But then…
“Hey.”
“……”
“Stop overthinking and just stop the carriage. Why can’t you stop it? Fine, I’ll help you stop it.”
“Eek…!”
When Verdi didn’t stop the carriage, Noah’s voice turned cold, and he loaded his last arrow.
Swoosh.
At first, Noah aimed the arrow at the horse to stop the carriage…
“Whoa, this guy reminds me of our No Name.”
“W-wait…!”
“How can I kill someone with such innocent eyes?”
He shook his head and shifted his aim toward Verdi.
“Y-you said you wouldn’t kill me—!! Then why, why are you aiming at me now…!”
“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved animals, so I can’t bring myself to shoot them. But humans? No problem.”
“Humans are animals too—!!”
“You’re not cute, though.”
Noah chuckled and immediately started the countdown.
“Alright, 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 before the arrow flew, which was…
Thud—!
“Ahhh—!”
Jumping off the moving carriage.
Crash—!!
With the coachman gone, the carriage lost control and toppled forward.
“Neigh—!”
The wagon was destroyed, and the horses fell.
“Ugh…”
Verdi survived, but there wasn’t a single part of his body that wasn’t injured.
Too hurt to even move a finger, Verdi could only watch as…
“Alright, friend. Shall we have a little chat now?”
Noah approached with a satisfied smile.
