“Wow, thanks, Joe. Thanks to you, moving the bodies was a breeze.”
“No, it’s nothing. Hehe.”
Joe, a Hispanic guy who works as a carriage driver in Justice Town, is incredibly hardworking and friendly.
Running into someone like him along the way is such a stroke of luck.
Fortunately, I was able to load the bodies onto Joe’s carriage and comfortably make it home.
“Here we are, Mr. Noah.”
[Noah’s Bounty Hunter Office.]
[We catch the bad guys.]
This is my home and office.
Most bounty hunters don’t have a home, chasing outlaws all over the West, drifting from place to place…
But knowing that Justice Town is a goldmine for bounties, I decided to settle down here, setting up both a home and an office.
“Thanks, Joe. By the way, since you’re here, could you help me unload the bodies?”
“Ah! Of course, I’ll help! But, Mr. Noah… *cough*…”
“Hmm?”
Joe cleared his throat and subtly rubbed his fingers together.
“Lately, my income hasn’t been great, you see… Hmm…”
“……”
I immediately understood what Joe’s gesture meant.
He’s asking for a tip since he helped transport the bodies this far.
“Word’s already spread around town. They say Mr. Noah’s been sweeping up bounties and is loaded. So, you know… *cough*, hmm.”
“So what? You want something?”
“Just a little token of appreciation would be really appreciated… *cough*, hmm, hmm.”
At that, I smiled brightly at Joe and said…
“Of course, I’ll give you something! Here, take this!”
“Really?!”
*Click.*
“I’ll let you live.”
“……”
I pulled out a pistol from my pocket.
When money didn’t come out but something else entirely, Joe panicked, then forced a laugh and said,
“…Ah, haha! …Ahahaha! Mr. Noah! You’re such a joker!”
“Oh, really? Was I being too much?”
“Yes…! Haha, just joking…”
“Does it seem like a joke?”
“……”
In no time, Joe unloaded the bodies from the carriage faster than anyone else and bowed to me.
“…What kind of neighbor would I be to ask for money? …Just go on in.”
“See? Haha! I knew you were a good guy, Joe!”
“…Then I’ll be on my way.”
I waved at Joe and made one last request.
“Ah, Joe! On your way, could you call the sheriff for me? Please!”
“…Huh? I’m heading to Lincoln County right now. The sheriff’s office is the other way…”
“You’ll do it, right?”
“……”
Joe started sweating profusely, then smiled brightly and nodded eagerly.
“…Ah, ah, of course. Mr. Noah, you’ve done so much for Justice Town’s safety. It’s only right I help you…!”
“Hahaha! Thanks for saying that, Joe! Have a great day!”
“Yes…! You have a great day too, Mr. Noah…!”
Joe left, still laughing.
Joe’s such a good guy.
In this harsh, untamed Wild West, having someone with that kind of consideration is rare.
“…That brat Kid, someday I’ll…”
I thought I heard Joe muttering something on the wind, but I ignored it and waved as he left.
And once Joe’s carriage was gone, I dragged the bodies with both hands…
“Time to head in. Ah… I’m so damn tired…”
I trudged back home.
“Heeheehee.”
“No Name. …Hmm, did I feed you yesterday?”
My horse, No Name, greeted me in the stable.
I named him No Name because I was too lazy to think of anything else.
I was going to call him something generic like “Horse Boy” or “Horse Girl,” but I couldn’t tell the gender, so I just went with No Name.
I gave No Name a quick pat, tossed the bodies in front of the stable, and went inside.
*Thud.*
“Welcome back.”
While No Name greeted me outside, inside, a cold beauty in a neat outfit greeted me.
“Oh, Emma, you’re here early.”
“It’s you who came back late, Boss.”
This cold beauty’s name is Emma. She’s the secretary at my office.
I don’t remember her last name… She’s either 20 or 21, I think.
We’ve been working together for about two years now.
I didn’t really need a secretary, but when I opened the office, she begged me to let her work here, so I had no choice but to hire her.
Thanks to that, I’ve been exploiting her with low wages and overwork.
“Did you organize all the wanted posters?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Did you feed No Name?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Did you make my bed?”
“…I’m not sure why that’s part of a secretary’s job, but since you asked, I did it.”
“Really? Wanna lie down together?”
“Get lost.”
“Heehee.”
Honestly, I hired Emma as my secretary because she’s the prettiest NPC I’ve ever seen.
I’ve been trying to hit on her, but she’s got walls thicker than a fortress.
I’ve never failed to charm a girl since I became Noah, but she’s so cold it’s actually hurting my pride.
I’ll figure out a way to win her over someday, but today doesn’t seem to be the day, so I clicked my tongue and got down to business.
“I caught some outlaws. They’re outside, so get the wanted posters for the Marcos Brothers ready.”
“The Marcos Brothers… You caught some big fish, huh? Got it.”
“Ah, besides those three, I caught one more.”
I pulled out Jake McGuffin’s wanted poster from Marcos’ pocket and handed it to her. Emma looked surprised.
“Jake McGuffin… I’ve never seen this outlaw before.”
“Of course not. I just picked up his wanted poster from the sheriff’s office yesterday afternoon.”
“Huh? So you ran into him just a night after getting the poster?”
“Yeah, that’s how it went.”
“Huh, I don’t know if that’s good luck or bad luck…”
While Emma clicked her tongue, I handed her the wanted poster and lay down on the bed.
The whiskey at the Deaf Man’s Tavern was all cheap stuff, so I had a terrible hangover.
I left the cleanup to Emma and thought I’d get some rest.
“Ah… I told Joe to bring the sheriff, so he should be here soon. When the sheriff arrives, hand over the bodies and collect the bounty.”
“Joe’s bringing the sheriff? …You didn’t bully another innocent villager into doing your errands, did you?”
“Eh~ When have I ever bullied anyone? Joe offered to do the errand himself, so I had no choice. What do you take me for…”
“…A thug.”
“What?”
“…Nothing.”
I thought I heard something strange, but when I looked up, Emma had already turned away with a cold expression.
‘That brat. She’s really getting bold lately.’
In this savage Wild West, where else would you find a boss with modern sensibilities like me?
In an era when women didn’t even have the right to vote, I hired her to let her work freely, and now she’s talking back to her boss, who’s like heaven to her. Tsk tsk.
“Ugh, I don’t like it.”
I made sure Emma heard me as I loudly complained, then turned over.
And just as I was about to close my eyes…
Thud.
“…Huh?”
I heard the sound of footsteps approaching my office.
‘About 150 meters?’
Thanks to the [Superhuman Senses] skill I added during customization, I gained senses sharper than anyone else’s.
Thud, thud.
The owner of these footsteps… is definitely heading towards our office.
“…Who’s coming?”
“…Huh?”
As I got up from the bed and said that, Emma tilted her head after listening for a moment.
“…I don’t hear anything.”
“My ears are sharp, you know. I can even hear your stomach growling. You didn’t eat breakfast, did you?”
“……”
Leaving Emma, who was blushing, behind, I focused on my hearing again.
Thud, thud, thud.
“…Could it be the Sheriff?”
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
It’s not the time for the Sheriff to come yet.
“Then maybe it’s a client coming to entrust us with a request.”
“Could be.”
One of the reasons I set up this office was to take on bounty requests.
Sometimes, clients come with wanted posters and rewards for outlaws.
But my gut tells me the owner of these footsteps isn’t a client.
“I’ll go check out who this guest is.”
“Boss. Why are you taking your gun…?”
“Just in case. They might not be a client.”
At my words, Emma panicked and shouted.
“Boss! You need to identify friend or foe properly! If you accidentally kill a client…!!”
“I can tell if they’re a client or an outlaw after a quick chat. Don’t worry.”
“Huh…?”
Leaving Emma, who looked confused, behind, I headed out the back door.
“I’ll have a nice chat with the guest, so just keep organizing the documents.”
Honestly, whether the guest is a client or an outlaw, I don’t care.
Either way, it’s money for me.
‘This month’s income was low, so I’ll make a lot today.’
With that, I smiled and went out to greet the guest.
**
Thud, thud.
Someone was stealthily moving their steps.
[Noah’s Bounty Hunter Office.]
[We catch bad guys.]
“…Putting up a sign like this is practically begging to be killed. Crazy bastard.”
His name was Marv Merchins.
An outlaw who, along with his accomplice, stole a herd of cattle in Texas and was now wanted.
For stealing just 50 cows, the state government put a bounty on him and his accomplice.
His accomplice ended up getting shot by a bounty hunter.
‘Don’t worry, Harry. I’ll avenge you.’
The bounty hunter who killed Marv’s accomplice Harry was a guy around here nicknamed ‘Kid.’
Marv planned to shoot Kid in the head to avenge Harry…
‘…Plus, this guy has amassed a lot of bounties and is filthy rich.’
He also planned to take Kid’s wealth.
But…
“Ah, shit, scared me…!”
As Marv stealthily approached Kid’s office, he saw four corpses in front of the stable and screamed in shock.
“Ugh…!”
Startled by his own loud voice, Marv quickly covered his mouth.
“……”
There was no sign that anyone in the office had noticed.
‘Is there really no one here…? …Wait, what are these corpses? Did he catch some outlaws…?’
Thud.
Marv calmed his trembling heart and cautiously approached the door.
Creak…
As he opened the door slightly, what he saw through the gap was…
‘Gasp…!’
A stunningly beautiful woman sitting at a desk.
Marv had never seen such a pretty woman in his 30 years.
Wait, this is Kid’s place, so why is there a woman…?
Oh, maybe…
“Is that woman Kid’s wife? Tch…, lucky bastard, being so rich.”
“We’re not married, and I don’t plan to.”
“Really? Then what is she? Is she a prostitute or something…? Wait.”
Feeling something off, Marv turned his head…
“I’m not her boyfriend yet, but I’m trying. She’s just not falling for me.”
“……”
A man was squatting next to him, grinning.
He spoke as if consulting a friend about his worries, then looked at Marv and asked.
“What’s the problem, guest? Am I ugly?”
A handsome face, pale skin, a slim but toned body.
And most notably, dark circles under his eyes.
No doubt. This guy was Kid, the one who killed Marv’s accomplice Harry.
And…
“……”
This crazy guy wasn’t even pointing a gun at Marv.
In the West, you must never panic, no matter the situation.
“…You’re definitely not ugly. But your tone is too aggressive. Women are like buffalos; you can’t just force them with brute strength.”
“Then what should I do?”
“Calm them down. Treat them gently, like a baby.”
Marv calmly started giving advice.
If he moved hastily now and accidentally pulled out his gun or missed his shot, he could end up getting killed instead.
Right now, caution and composure were crucial.
Slower than anyone, but faster than anyone.
Only those who can wait patiently for the perfect moment survive long in the West.
“I thought I was giving her special treatment… But she’s nice to everyone else and only acts cold to me.”
“She’s only cold to you? That’s actually a sign she’s interested in you.”
“Really?”
“Absolutely. So, uh… how do I explain this? Ah, if only Harry were here… Harry was really good at giving love advice.”
“Harry? Who’s Harry? Did he come with you?”
“He didn’t come with me. Harry is… oh, do you have a cigarette? I’m out…”
“Ah, hold on.”
“I’ve got a light.”
Both men reached into their pockets for a cigarette and a match.
But…
Click.
What they pulled out was, of course, not a cigarette or a match.
