Chapter 14 - A New Hunt Has Begun
I think… I'm a little over the top on this one.
Skipping several Events that occur in the main storyline just to find a secret or hidden Dungeon.
The prologue of the story in this world has just ended, and the construction of the giant earth wall is still being carried out by the greatest witch in the history of mankind.
Even as I hurried away, I could see her hard at work casting a magic spell that formed a giant wall to separate the unknown wild monster territory from the outermost borders of humanity.
The journey I was on seemed quite foolish, considering that the bandits in the main story were still wild bandits who only robbed caravans of merchants trying to escape the monster attacks that had destroyed my ex-noble territory.
"Well, I don't care whose territory this is. I just hope that these bandits are not raiding church caravan, which will have a legendary item, in the form of expired holy water," I grumbled as I walked towards a forest that felt familiar to me.
The realistic difference between a smartphone screen and feeling it, will be so far.
Intercept Events that happen in the future and taking action before they happen, isn't that a big mistake?
Except... what I'm doing is connected to the root cause of the wild bandits who are forming a bandit base inside a secret Dungeon for the main character to explore in the future.
I was like betting on the fate that the main character would take in the future, and was quite stupid by doing this.
"If I had known it would be like this, I would have taken some bullets and replaced the magazine I was carrying with a larger capacity," I continued to grumble as I gambled with an uncertain fate.
My footsteps approached the darkness of the night, accompanied by the witch who was building a giant wall made of earth magic. Then, I looked up at the sky, where the witch was flying.
I don't know if it was just my feeling or not, but our gazes met, even when I was in the darkness of the night and covered by the shadows of the dark forest trees.
For someone who is used to seeing in the dark, I also relied on my instincts when I was in the mercenary troop by walking using the constellation formation.
On a night like this, the constellation formation that was clearly visible in the sky indicated my position as I was walking north, according to game map on my memory, which would be the destination of my journey to find the wild bandits who were currently actively building a bandit base inside a secret Dungeon.
"Huufft..." I sighed heavily when the view before my eyes was only forest trees with steep land contours.
Just a few more steps, I had arrived at the hunting ground of the wild bandits who often ambushed merchant caravans.
Then, I checked the magazine supply that I was carrying.
By feeling the pockets of the clothes I was wearing, I could confirm that six magazines were still in the pockets, and each magazine had a capacity of seventeen bullets. With one magazine in the Hoshino chamber, that makes me carry one hundred and nineteen bullets.
That's enough bullets, if I'm facing small bandit groups who aren't too dangerous and shoot their heads for an efficient fight, while also saving the bullets I'm carrying at the moment.
"I can only hope that these bandits are having a happy hour in their glory days, and have an item… something I'm looking for."
"Although… I doubt that will happen..." I grumbled again and continued my footsteps in the darkness of the night until I reached a plateau and saw a row of bright torches.
Srruugg...
I immediately positioned myself ready to attack, while slowly approaching and paying attention to my footsteps in the darkness of the forest.
In the magnifier red dot scope mounted on Hoshino, I could see some wild bandits who had managed to take hostage a caravan that appeared to be from the church that had been sent by the King to help a region affected by a monster attack.
I also noticed one of the events that occurred during the prologue. The kingdom where the main character was born was ruled by a wise King, surrounded by cunning people who would one day suffer some foolish karma.
The assistance provided by this wise King was medicine and several church members who were carrying out their religious obligations to help fellow human beings.
Of all the aid given by this wise King, there will be massive attacks coming from wild bandits, who will use their great techniques to carry out an effective Ambush and hostage to fight the church paladin, which does not like violence in their religious teachings.
Suddenly, my eyes fell on one of the nuns who felt familiar to me.
"Why is she here?" I muttered after seeing one of the heroine characters being held hostage by the bandits.
I immediately ran around to investigate what had happened and took the other side to approach from side.
Sraasshh...
Sraasshh...
Some of the forest undergrowth felt itchy on my skin, but I ignored it to circle the church caravan, which was currently in trouble due to one of those wild bandits' ambush and hostage-taking tactics.
Not far from where I was running around, I found the back end of the caravan filled with wild bandits who were ready to do something if the ongoing negotiations failed.
Luckily for me, I already run around to clearing out these bandits with Hoshino, from behind.
"Hoshino, you don't mind if I used you to kill people, do you?" I asked Hoshino as I positioned myself to move and shoot.
"It's okay, Master. I was created by you for that purpose, right?"
"Yes, but I would prefer that you be used to fulfill my goals…"
"Then use me as you please, Master!" Hoshino shouted, sounding delighted at this.
Behind the itchy bushes and the dark shadows of the forest trees, I pulled the trigger of the Hoshino and shot at the wild bandits who were on guard around the caravan.
Pew...
Pew...
Pew...
Brruuggh...
Duugghh...
"Eh? What happened?"
"Hey! Don't suddenly fall asleep! Our task is still ongoing!"
Pew...
Pew...
Buugghh...
Duugghh...
"W-What happened?"
"H-Hey, what are you guys doing?"
"Don't sleep during our work hours, stupid."
"You want to die by our leader—"
Pew...
Pew...
Pew...
Thanks to the dense undergrowth of the forest, it muffled the sound of empty bullet case hitting the plants. I was able to take down these troublesome wild bandits.
As the bandits fell to the ground, several nuns and civilians who wanted to help were stunned before I emerged from the shade of the forest trees and signaled them to be quiet.
"Sshh..." While pointing my index finger at my lips, it was like giving an order to the nuns and civilians who were being victims of the bandits' ambush attack to fall silent.
Srrraasshh...
After I revealed myself and came out of the shadow of the forest trees, I shot several wild bandits who were roaming around.
Pew...
Pew...
Pew...
Pew...
The sparks from the suppressor attached to Hitomi's muzzle barrel felt a little warm, but the sound of the shot coming out of the end of Hoshino's barrel was still well muffled.
With intensive hunting activities like this, I could feel that the suppressor I was using would feel as hot as iron dipped in a burning furnace.
In the darkness of the night, my shots aimed at the heads of the wild bandits managed to send several of them falling to the ground. Some of the bandits, foolish enough to be curious about their comrades lying on the ground, also fell victim.
The shooting that I did slowly was also able to clear out the wild bandits who were holding hostage several passengers who happened to want to participate in the social action being carried out by the church, based on the orders given by their wise King.
Pew...
Kacling...
Pew...
Kacling...
At the last moment of my attempt to clear out these wild bandits, the ground I was standing on was a little hard with rocks on it, and it made several empty bullet casings fall with a clear sound.
"Huuuhh... you sleeping again? I told you not to sleep, you idiot!"
Pew...
Kacling...
Buugghh...
"Oh, Hey, what else are you doing stupidly?"
Pew...
Kacling...
Duugghh...
"Hmm? Huh? Haaa?"
Pew...
Kacling...
Buuggghh...
At the same time, I had finished a magazine of bullets that was being used by Hoshino.
Peesshh...
Peesshh...
Sniff...
I accidentally smelled a burning odor coming from the suppressor attached to Hoshino's muzzle. After using the suppressor for so long and so intensely on the previous monster attack, I felt it was reaching its limit.
My fingers held the end of the suppressor and felt a hot sensation that almost burned my fingers. With a quick reflex movement, I grabbed one of the clothes that the wild bandits were using as a heat insulator and removed the suppressor that was attached to the end of Hoshino's barrel.
Sruutt...
Tsk tsk..
Ckkiitt...
"Oh, my, are we going to do something loud, Master?" Hoshino asked after feeling the suppressor attached to the end of her barrel come off.
"I think so, Hoshino. This suppressor has reached its limit and needs to be cleaned inside soon."
"Ah, is that so? Will Master clean it using magic that replenishes its durability?"
"Huh? What?"
When the suppressor attached to the end of Hoshino's barrel came off, I suddenly heard Hoshino's question, which made me remember one of the Gunsmith skill abilities, which allows me to repair the durability of the weapon that has been created.
My eyes were fixed on the suppressor I was holding, and I felt the hot sensation after using it for a short period of time.
The moment my hand touched the suppressor given to me by the Goddess of War, I felt something strange, like a bond between my magic core and this suppressor had suddenly connected.
But I ignored that and immediately put the detached suppressor into my clothes pocket.
Cttaakk...
Srraakk...
I also reload the empty magazine with a new one, so Hermione could fire at any time.
"I'll study that later..." I continued as I walked towards the front of the horse caravan after having struggled to clear out the wild bandits at the back of the caravan.
Most of the remaining bandits were up ahead, so I quickly headed to the front, then saw a few people who appeared to be adventurers and paladin from the church.
I watched this situation carefully before taking any further action.