So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

The strategy was for me to join them in the alley they were heading towards and finish them off.

And as always until now, it worked perfectly.

"You've cleared out the petty criminals in Nahagu's lower district in no time."

We've quite enjoyed this work for several weeks.

Obern was a magician capable of protecting himself, and with proper setup, he could look quite weak.

Then I step in and slash!

"But hadn't these guys heard the rumors?"

The problem was that our reputation had gradually spread.

More precisely, my reputation hadn't spread, but the reputation of Obern as a dangerous magician bounty hunter had.

Though disappointing, that couldn't be helped.

"I'll load them onto the cart."

We loaded them onto the prepared cart.

One had departed for the afterlife, and the remaining two would rot in prison for a very long time.

Be good when you get out, kids~

We returned to our regular tavern, the Lakeside House.

As we pushed the cart through the back door.

"Damn!"

The innkeeper cursed.

"Just when I thought it was slowing down, here they come again!"

The innkeeper escorts wanted criminals to the guards and takes a commission fee.

Though he smiled happily at first, later he became glum.

He said he couldn't run his business properly because he had to escort wanted criminals to the guards, and he didn't even have a proper holding cell in the inn.

"This will probably be the last time."

But when Oliver said this, the innkeeper's eyes went wide.

"Really? Now that you mention it, I feel kind of sad."

"It's time to play in deeper waters."

"Geez, why do you have to crawl into dangerous places when you could live comfortably here."

Though his words were rough, the innkeeper had quite an affectionate personality.

"Haha."

"Stop that meaningless laughing."

But we couldn't tell him the detailed circumstances.

"Come in for now. I'll give you each a beer."

The innkeeper called his employee to move the wanted criminals.

We sat at the counter.

Finally, time for settlement.

"This time you should be able to rise to B-class."

The innkeeper said this while checking the wanted posters.

Those who give points to bounty hunters are people like innkeepers who escort wanted criminals.

You could call them the official association.

And finally, the time had come.

Oliver's goal was for Obern to enter the sewers with B-class or higher rank.

"Oh, the points are perfect. You've just made B-class."

From B-class, you receive a silver badge.

"Congratulations."

Just as the innkeeper pulled out the shining silver badge.

'Obern!'

'Yes!'

I'm not satisfied with B-class.

Of course, I have ambitions to become an A-class, and after entering the sewers, eventually an S-class bounty hunter.

And we had a secret weapon left.

"Please include this in the point calculation."

"...What's this?"

What Obern handed over was an old earring.

It was proof of hunting Deshnan.

"Could it be..."

"Yes, proof of capturing the 1st-class wanted criminal Deshnan."

"No way!"

Not all 1st-class wanted criminals are the same.

Among them are some considered nearly impossible to hunt.

Therefore, just bringing items like their earrings or possessions is enough to acknowledge a successful hunt.

The innkeeper pulled out an old booklet from the cabinet.

After dusting off the book, he flips through the pages.

It should be there. Since he's been a 1st-class wanted criminal for a very long time.

"Earring... earring... Here it is!"

It was written 'Zookeeper Deshnan, bring the earring after cutting off his ear', and there was even an illustration of the earring.

"Please count these points too."

"Wait... We need to verify if this is genuine. I can only give the bounty after that. I don't have that much money anyway."

After all, he was prey worth 500 silver coins.

I couldn't hide my feeling of pride.

I had hunted Deshnan when I was just a little snake.

Is this enough of an answer now?

Hurry and promote us to A-class.

"The points?"

"Ah, I can calculate the points right away."

I had actually calculated in advance.

We could become A-class hunters with just 5 more points.

And the innkeeper finished his calculation.

"With 95 points... wow, just 5 more points and you can promote straight to A-class!"

"...What?"

Even Obern was surprised.

He too wanted to promote to A-class.

But instead of having 5 points extra, we were short.

"Hmm? Look, I didn't make a mistake in the calculation."

Obern and I quickly examined the calculation.

And we realized the problem.

"The eldest of those Yuzel brothers from earlier. There was a 10-point bonus for capturing him alive."

"Why..."

"There are bereaved family members who wanted to take revenge on him personally."

That's where our calculation went wrong!

How disappointing.

"Ahem."

Oliver cleared his throat.

"B-class is sufficient."

Well, we were running out of criminals we could catch anyway.

Still feeling slightly disappointed, I gave one instruction to Obern.

"Can I see that booklet?"

"This?"

The dust-covered book the innkeeper pulled from the cabinet.

It was a book collecting wanted notices for 1st-class and above criminals.

"I'm curious about the contents."

"Take a look, though there won't be anyone you can catch."

A booklet collecting wanted notices from 1st-class to special class.

Of course, I wanted to check the special class first.

I should have checked this earlier too.

First, I should look for that guy the Emperor wants to find.

I could find it quickly.

──────────────

[Oban VanKloss] (Special Class)

[Charges] Treason, 1st-class murder, 1st-class terrorism...

[Danger Level] ★★★★★★★★★☆

[Bounty] 1,000 gold coins

[Points] 495 points

[Notes] Extremely dangerous, master of summoning, numerous followers...

──────────────

Wow, amazing. Danger level of 9 stars and bounty of 1,000 gold coins.

But the points are a bit stingy. Seems like we couldn't rise straight to S-class even catching just this one.

Need to catch more small fry to rise up.
Experience more on My Virtual Library Empire

It's a structure that encourages steady work rather than one big score.

Looking through, I found another familiar name.

──────────────

[Cherin Ferang] (Special Class)

[Charges] 1st-class murder, multiple 1st-class thefts...

[Danger Level] ★★★★★★★★☆☆

[Bounty] 700 gold coins

[Points] 380 points

──────────────

No way!

To think the grand master of the Ferang School dagger technique is listed here.

I'm deeply moved.

The danger level and bounty are a bit lower.

But the notes were worth looking at.

──────────────

[Notes] Skilled at escape. All who learned Ferang School dagger technique are wanted. Depending on their danger level and skill, bounties start from 100 silver coins, points from 50 and up...

What?

I glanced at Oliver.

──────────────

Oliver avoided my gaze.

Good, from now on Oliver is lunch.

"You're looking at unnecessary things. Stop looking."

Pelerian suddenly cut in.

I looked up something that suddenly came to mind.

Gasp! It's really there!

──────────────

[Heaven Defier Pelerian] (Super Special Class)

[Charges] Special class terrorism, special class murder, wicked experimental activities...

[Danger Level] ★★★★★★★★★★+★★★

[Bounty] 5,000 gold coins, 100 gold coins for information

[Points] 1,000 points, 100 points for information

[Notes] Must report to the imperial family if discovered. Never approach alone.

──────────────

"Huhuhaha!"

To think a super special class lunch existed around me...

Just as I was about to read more of the book because it was too interesting.

"Ah!"

The innkeeper suddenly started searching through the wanted notices.

"As it happens, there's one easy small fry that just came in that could raise your points."

It was welcome news.