NOVEL NEXT Chapter 114
Are Indians people or not?
From a modern perspective, of course, Indians are people.
No, actually, the term “Indian” itself is wrong.
Indian = Person from India.
Nowadays, it’s common knowledge, but the term “Indian” originated from Columbus mistakenly thinking the American continent was India.
In modern times, the term “Indian” is considered incorrect, and they are referred to as Native Americans.
But in 1875, the time we’re in now, Indians were just Indians.
Of course, people of this era also saw Indians as people.
Indians are people.
People who are less civilized.
Barbaric people.
People unnecessary for the development of the United States.
People who rob travelers and occasionally attack civilization.
People not much different from wild animals.
Yes.
To the current people of the United States… that is, to white people, Indians were people somewhere near wild animals.
So, what are Indians to me?
“What are they?”
They’re just NPCs.
From the perspective of this world, I have a very egalitarian mindset.
Whether white, black, or Indian.
To me, they’re all the same NPCs.
“Hey, youngest…! What do we do! Those bastards are all on horses!”
“It seems like we’re surrounded from behind! Those Indian bastards not only have bows but also guns! What should we do?”
Ah, come to think of it, Indians do have some differences from other NPCs.
They’re very skilled in combat and not very friendly to me, a white gunslinger.
In this game, Indians are hostile NPCs that are tricky to deal with.
Since they’ve come to the village, they won’t let us live.
We have to kill them before they kill us.
“What else? We have to fight. Everyone, come to me. I’ll give you the plan.”
Now that I think about it, it might be for the best.
After cleaning up Peace Town, we should have also cleared out the Indians living where the railroad was supposed to go.
If we wipe out the Indians here, it’ll be easier later.
Thinking that what’s good is good, I explained to the gunslingers and Emma how we should fight them.
And the gunslingers who heard my explanation…
“…What, what?! That’s impossible! There’s no way that could work!”
Of course, they were reluctant.
From their perspective, the simple plan I just proposed probably seemed absurd.
But Emma, who’s been following me for four years now…
“…So, we just need to hold this position?”
She nodded, as if she already knew my plan would work.
“Yeah, actually, Emma, you don’t even have to come out. You can wait at the inn…”
“No. I’ll defend this place too.”
“Alright, if that’s what you want.”
After finishing our conversation, Emma and I calmly prepared our guns.
But our demeanor must have seemed very strange to the other gunslingers.
“Wait, is this really it?”
“Are we really going with that ridiculous plan?”
“If we provoke them, we’ll definitely die. We need to think of another way now…”
They looked at me with stern faces, clearly reluctant.
Judging by their expressions, if they could escape alone, they would.
Can’t blame them.
That’s just how gunslingers are.
But there was no way out of here.
“What other way?”
“……”
“If you want to live, just do as I say.”
“…Damn it.”
The other gunslingers must have felt it too, as they tremblingly picked up their guns.
Then.
“All the scoundrels who dared to disturb the peace of the town, come out and surrender!”
From outside, a young Indian’s booming voice with a distinct accent echoed.
That guy must be the leader of the Indian group.
They’re calling us out.
If we delay any longer, they’ll surely force their way in.
“Alright, everyone, get to your positions. Don’t get shot and die for nothing.”
“…Ugh, alright, youngest. Good luck.”
Still worried about me, the other gunslingers wished me luck and went to their positions.
Emma too…
“Boss, don’t get hurt.”
Her calm demeanor from earlier was gone, replaced by a worried expression.
“……”
I stared blankly at Emma’s expression…
Pat.
“Of course.”
After patting her head once, I headed to the main gate.
The main gate was tightly sealed with the barricades we had set up.
I made a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through and opened the door.
Creak.
When I opened the door and stepped out, I was greeted by Indians on horses and the curious townspeople of Peace Town.
The sheer number was overwhelming.
If you add up the Indians and the townspeople, they might outnumber our bullets.
Looking at all those people, Emma’s worried expression and voice lingered in my mind.
‘Boss, don’t get hurt.’
Somehow, I chuckled.
Hearing that made me determined not to get hurt.
With that, I wiped the smile off my face…
“Surrender-! I surrender-!”
With a grimace, he raised his hands in front of the Indians.
Creak-.
The inn door opened, and out came a young man.
From the Indians’ perspective, he didn’t look manly at all—more like a scaredy-cat.
But…
“That guy…! That’s him, Krikasen-sir!”
As soon as he stepped out, the Chief, who had been calm and composed until now, shouted excitedly.
“That guy…? What…?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Among the scoundrels, there’s a gunslinger with incredible skills! That’s him!”
“…What? That guy?”
At the Chief’s words, Krikasen took another look at the young gunslinger.
But no matter how many times he looked, he couldn’t sense anything particularly impressive about the man.
‘He looks like a weakling, no matter how I see it…’
Just as Krikasen was scrutinizing the gunslinger…
Pfft.
‘…Huh?’
The gunslinger laughed.
Surrounded by dozens of Indians and with at least a hundred townspeople behind him, the number of heads here probably outnumbered the bullets he had.
The Indians here were all skilled warriors from the Aranga tribe.
‘Why is he laughing? Has he lost his mind?’
Completely baffled, Krikasen tilted his head…
Click.
The gunslinger quickly raised his hands and shouted loudly.
“Surrender-! I surrender-!”
Suddenly, the laughter on his face vanished, replaced by sheer terror and despair.
‘Did I see wrong just now…?’
He was definitely laughing earlier, but now he looked like he was about to cry.
‘Yeah, I must’ve seen wrong.’
Anyone could see there was no chance for him.
The gunslinger, seemingly with no intention to attack, kept his hands raised and shouted his surrender.
Krikasen, unsure why he came out alone but sensing the situation was over, called the gunslinger over.
“Keep your hands up and come this way! Your punishment will be left to the townspeople!”
Krikasen had no intention of forgiving the scoundrels, but he wasn’t so merciless as to kill someone who surrendered outright.
He planned to capture him first and called him closer.
“Y-yes…! I-I’ll come over!!”
Trembling with fear, the young gunslinger slowly approached Krikasen with his hands up.
One step, two steps.
‘Ah, come to think of it, I’ll need a rope to tie him up.’
As the gunslinger got closer, Krikasen, feeling a bit complacent, turned his head to order a subordinate to prepare a rope.
But just then…
“No-!!!!”
“…Huh?”
A woman’s desperate cry came from among the townspeople.
“No,” she said.
What did she mean by “no”?
The woman had shouted a warning, but her voice caused Krikasen to lose focus instead.
So he didn’t see it.
…The gunslinger’s expression, which had been all tears, suddenly turned ice-cold, almost cruel.
And…
Swoosh.
The man, who had been pretending to surrender, subtly signaled behind him.
Bang bang bang bang bang-!!
“Ugh-!!”
“It’s an ambush-!”
Multiple gunshots rang out, and several Indian warriors fell.
Other gunslingers from the second floor of the inn had launched a sneak attack.
‘Oh no…!’
Krikasen realized too late that the gunslinger in front of him was just bait.
He was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure and ordered his men.
“Everyone, aim for the second floor-!”
Click.
As he said this, Krikasen also pulled out his Winchester rifle from behind.
While his men dealt with the other gunslingers on the second floor, he planned to kill the one who had acted as bait.
But…
Whoosh.
‘…He’s coming forward instead?’
Instead of drawing his gun, the young gunslinger charged straight at Krikasen.
And then…
Swoop.
“…Huh!”
He slipped past the Indian warriors and dove into the crowd of townspeople behind them.
Krikasen, belatedly aiming his gun, tried to shoot…
Swish-.
But the gunslinger cleverly hid behind the townspeople, making it impossible to pull the trigger.
“That despicable bastard-!”
Using innocent townspeople as shields was a truly cowardly tactic.
But Krikasen had no time to be angry.
Whoosh.
The young gunslinger… was already on the move, weaving through the human shields.