An active hunter from Hokkaido was thrown into another world

Chapter 31 Sawed-off shotgun

“3, 2, 1, GO!”

Dongotchaa!

In the wilderness, the sound of shotgun blasts echoes.

Today, we have decided to engage in close-quarters combat training. We set up six wooden posts around us, with Saran back-to-back with me. Upon the signal, Saran unsheaths her sword and slices through three thin trees, while I shoot through three logs with a backshot practice.

I don my cloak, concealing the sawed-off M870 underneath. Using a hacksaw, I shortened both the barrel and stock. As I mentioned before, the barrel material is made of relatively soft iron that can be cut with a hacksaw. It’s not made of hardened steel. It only has enough hardness to prevent bursting and cracking when fired.

This is not your ordinary grandpa’s M870.

I bought a new one specifically for this purpose from my magic bag.

It’s a Remington M870 Deer Slug with a wooden stock.

“350 dollars… That’s equivalent to three and a half gold coins.

I’ve heard that regular slugs have lost their popularity since the introduction of sabot slugs. Even in Japanese gun stores, a new shotgun like this costs around 80,000 yen.

I wonder why the M870, or rather Remington shotguns in general, are so affordable…

It’s a bit disheartening, even though it’s my beloved firearm.

The Deer Slug model, you see, features a smoothbore barrel without rifling or choke, but with front and rear sights specifically designed for slug ammunition.

Before the introduction of sabot slugs designed for rifled barrels, everyone used this type of shotgun to hunt deer.

I’ve cut the barrel of this shotgun to the limit of the tube magazine, shortened the stock slightly, and added a leather strap so it can be slung over the shoulder.

This was the same modification the notorious Bonnie and Clyde, famous for their Barrow Gang’s rampage in the 1920s, made to their shotguns. They used to hide these firearms and escape from the police.

I haven’t watched the movies, so I only know about it from historical accounts. Looking at the photos from that time, they actually used semi-automatic shotguns like the Browning Auto-5 (*1) and the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), a light machine gun.

Both the gang members who stole and carried those firearms and John Browning, the inventor who created such weapons in the 1920s, are quite remarkable.

Speaking of Browning, he is often associated with military firearms. However, the lever-action shotgun used by Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2, the pump-action shotgun, the world’s first semi-automatic shotgun, and the over/under double-barrel shotgun widely used for bird hunting and clay shooting—all of these were inventions by Browning.

Even among us hunters, he is a true master. We can’t help but respect his legacy.

It’s incredible that firearms designed over a hundred years ago are still in use by both military forces and hunters on the front lines.

As for me, you might wonder why I chose to buy another M870 shotgun instead of something more modern, like an auto or tactical model. There are plenty of cool options available, right?”

When it comes to putting my life on the line, it’s essential to have trust and familiarity with the firearm I’m using. That’s why I prefer something that feels the same as always. Besides, with the M870, I can quickly manipulate live ammunition that utilizes the recoil rather than just making empty clicking sounds. Once you get used to it, that is…

Using the recoil, when the gun pulls back, I pull the forend back sharply and reposition it forward. It’s a technique used by seasoned veterans. I’m currently practicing it with the shotgun slung across my hip.

The reason my gunshots go ‘Dokoncha!’ instead of ‘Doun, Gasha!’ is because of this technique.

There are shotguns that allow for rapid fire, where you can keep the trigger pulled and continuously fire in a technique called ‘rapid fire’ or ‘slam fire.’ But the M870 doesn’t have that feature, so I have to release and pull the trigger for each shot.

Auto shotguns can provide even faster shooting, but their recoil springs are housed inside the stock, making it impossible to shorten the stock. Plus, they have gas pathways that could be damaged if I were to saw it off. It’s a bit scary to entrust my life to such modifications. The M870 is still the best choice. Yeah, let’s go with that. After all, I’m the one using it, right?

“I missed the shot.”

One of the three logs is still standing.

It’s a close range of about 5 meters, even with the shortened barrel, the buckshot spread is only about 5 cm.

“You should take it slower. Don’t rush. Just gradually increase your speed.”

“Yeah, let’s try again.”

Saran is amazing. Swiftly and accurately, she cuts down all three thin logs while drawing her sword in a surprise attack.

Truly an elven warrior.

Or rather, she doesn’t even need practice.

I set up the logs again and hide the M870 beneath my cloak…

When firing from the hip, you can’t grip it too tightly. With shotguns, I have to release the recoil properly for each shot, or I might injure myself.

“3, 2, 1, GO!”

Dongoccha!

It’s enough that Saran is by my side, going around with me.

After practicing around a hundred rounds, I can finally knock down the three logs within three seconds.”

I understand that you may think it’s easy to become skilled at this quickly.

But compared to clay shooting, it’s much more challenging. Shooting at a stationary log 5 meters away is much simpler in comparison.

During shooting competitions held by the hunting association, senior shooters effortlessly shoot down two clay targets launched at one-second intervals with consecutive shots.

As for me, I still have a long way to go.

However, with this skill, I feel like I could somehow protect myself even without a handgun.

The reason I started this is that it became clear that there is an elf kidnapping gang.

In other words, Saran could also be at risk of being abducted. If there are elves in the city, it’s quicker to address that situation rather than heading to the elf village.

I would love to meet someone who thinks they can kidnap Saran, but they might have the advantage in numbers, and there’s even a possibility of me becoming a hostage.

It’s better to be cautious. I apologize if Saran becomes a burden.

And there’s one more thing.

Since we’re at it, we thought about luring out the kidnapping gang.

This idea came from Saran. I initially opposed it, but she didn’t listen to me…

She must be really frustrated or angered by the situation.

“Are you really going to do this, Saran?”

“Yeah, I am.”

“…Let’s just go back to the elf village…”

“No, let me do this. I’ll make sure to protect my husband properly.”

Since my wife is this determined, I also need to make up my mind and be prepared.

Tonight is the night.

The two of us went to the tavern called “Nomikui Tengoku” from dusk. We order water and some snacks and take our time. Both of us are dressed as commoners, including Saran. Since we’re here, let’s have dinner too. Look, the fish looks delicious. It’s freshwater fish though…

We spend about two hours eating and drinking at the table when a man dressed in black, wearing a deep hat and carrying a staff, enters the tavern.

In the dim lighting of the establishment, he slowly looks around…

He’s lingering around.

Saran leans forward on the table.

She’s pretending to be drunk, isn’t she?

The hat slides down, and her long elf ears twitch.

“Mmmoooaahhhh…”

What kind of pretending to be drunk is that?

I sneak a glance sideways.

Oh, he’s looking this way.

“I caaaan’t driiink anymooooore…”

What a monotonous tone.

You’re not acting at all.

The man glances this way and orders only one beer before sitting at a table three spots away. He doesn’t take a sip.

The staff he carries looks suspicious at first glance.

There’s a notch where he holds it with his hand. There are even eyelets hammered into it. It’s definitely a concealed weapon, no doubt about it.

“You’ve had too much to drink. Let’s sober up a bit more and go home.”

“Okaaaaay…”

I continue to drink water by myself for a while, and then the man gets up, pays his bill, and leaves the tavern.

Did he decide to wait outside the tavern?

“Saran, he’s gone.”

Saran lifts her head and scans the surroundings for a moment.

“Alright, it’s finally time.”

Please don’t suddenly make a serious face like that.

“But first, let’s use the restroom.”

“Oh, me too.”

When it’s the right time, we settle the bill and leave the tavern.

It’s already quite late at night.

Saran walks unsteadily, and I walk beside her.

“They’re following us…”

“Hmm, how many of them?”

“Fiveee!”

…I can see it clearly now.

“Alright, let’s go back.”

“Okaaaay…”

Unsteady steps. Tiptoe, tiptoe, tiptoe.

Instead of heading towards the inn district, we make our way to the sun-dried brick street where many hunters reside.

Since many hunters live here, it doesn’t seem suspicious at all.

Creak…

Quietly, beneath the cloak, I slide the forend back and forth, loading a shotgun shell into the chamber. I also add one more round to the magazine, making it a full 4+1 capacity.

As we reach the outskirts of that town…

Hush, hush, hush, hush.

From a distance, I see the men in black running through the streets.

Are they coming?

-Author’s Note –

※1: In the photographs, it appears to be a Browning Auto-5, but it is actually said to be a Winchester M1911. It looks almost identical to the Browning Auto-5 but was cleverly crafted to avoid infringing Browning’s patents.