An active hunter from Hokkaido was thrown into another world - Chapter 37

An active hunter from Hokkaido was thrown into another world

Chapter 37   Topurus again

“It’s been a while.”

“I heard you defeated the Hydra!”

As expected from a merchant, he’s quick to gather information.

“Do you still have some of the materials?”

Bassoon-san seems eager, breathing heavily.

“Sure, sure, sure.”

I comply and enter his covered wagon to retrieve the plastic bags from my Magic Bag.

Both the bags and the plastic material inside surprise him, but what’s more astonishing is the amount of meat.

“Amazing… It looks as if you just gathered it today. How much more do you have?”

“Hmm, I’ve set aside some for souvenirs to the Elf village, so I’d say around ten more bags.”

“Ten bags in this one?! That’s incredible! Where are you planning to sell them?”

“I was told that Saaplast can’t buy any more, so I might try selling them in Topurus.”

“Is the Topurus Guild bigger than Saaplast?”

“Yes.”

“And how much did they pay you in Saaplast?”

“Fifty gold coins per bag.”

“That’s so low! Well, considering the quantity, it’s reasonable, but if you leave it to me, I’ll sell them for twice that price! How about it? Let’s go to Topurus together! I’ll negotiate for you. I may be a merchant myself, but I won’t let you get a bad deal. We’ll split the fifty gold coins per bag for you, and anything more we get, we’ll split it evenly between you and me! What do you say?!”

Huffing and puffing, Bassoon-san speaks rapidly with excitement.

“Alright, then please, go ahead and do it for us.”

Hahaha!

Something’s amusing!

And so, with Bassoon-san and his wagon, the three of us embarked on a joyful journey once again.

“Hmm, this spot should do. Bassoon-san, please stop near that rocky hill over there.”

We take a short break along the way.

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Just going to pick some flowers.”

Bassoon-san and the horses rest while Saran stays as a guard for the carriage.

I mark a cross on the protruding rock with a spray can and climb up the rocky hill alone.

The view from up here is amazing, about 150 meters away.

I take out my Remington M700, rest it on the bag, and carefully aim.

The bullets I’m using are full metal jacket type designed for shooting competitions, known for their high precision. They are a bit more expensive than the Barnes bullets I usually use; these are match specials that cost almost the same.

The .308 Winchester and the 7.62x51mm NATO rounds are essentially the same. They are interchangeable.

However, in the US market, they are sold as separate items. If you buy .308 Winchester, it comes with hunting bullets like hollow points or silver tips. But if you buy the same round as 7.62x51mm NATO, you get full metal jacket sport shooting rounds, which are considered cheaper rounds. It’s quite interesting.

BANG!

A little off, downward…

Competition bullets prioritize accuracy over speed, so they have a slightly lower velocity than the copper bullets I usually use and are a bit heavier.

I adjust the scope and wait for about five minutes to let the barrel cool down before taking another shot.

BANG!

Much better. Fine-tuning…

BANG!

The rifle barrel heats up and affects the shot placement when fired in rapid succession. So, after each shot, I let it cool down. It’s a sniper’s standard practice to wait at least five minutes between shots to ensure accuracy.

BANG!

Yes, right in the bullseye.

BANG!

Yes, this one’s on target too.

People who are not hunters often ask me, “Which rifle is the most accurate?” If I were to answer straightforwardly, I’d say the Sako rifle.

But to be honest, when it comes to rifles, almost anything will do. Japanese gun stores don’t sell rifles that can’t hit a target at 300 meters.

The .308 Winchester rifle rounds I use are said to have a maximum range of 800 meters, but I believe that the effective range for reliably hunting much larger game than humans is much shorter.

In overseas videos, hitting a target at 1000 yards (910 meters) with a regular hunting rifle is no longer a rare feat.

At such distances, you’d need to aim several meters above the target, making it heavily influenced by luck. However, if you fire multiple shots and adjust your aim accordingly, you can still hit the mark.

“Well, Grandpa used to say that as long as he can hit the target at 300 meters, it’s enough for him,” he chuckled. “What’s the use of buying a rifle that costs twice as much, just to tighten the grouping from 10cm to 5cm at 300 meters? Either way, you can still bag the deer.”

In America, the Remington 700 is highly regarded because it’s affordable and accurate. Any rifle that’s more accurate than the M700 would be higher-priced and sell well, while any rifle less accurate would disappear from the market. The American standard is at least “as accurate as the M700.”

Hunting rifles are generally accurate enough, but in reality, we don’t shoot at distances exceeding 300 meters.

Why not shoot beyond that range? Well, in Hokkaido, the farthest shooting range is 300 meters. In Japan, shooting outside of designated ranges is a violation of the Firearms and Swords Control Law, so there’s no environment to try shots beyond 300 meters. If you haven’t shot at certain distances before, it’s best to refrain; otherwise, it might lead to accidents. It’s a matter of responsible hunting.

Joining the hunting association, I was surprised to find that only a minority of members owned well-known rifles like Remington or Winchester. Grandpa was the only one using the Remington M700.

Remington is quite affordable, even for new or used rifles.

In reality, the overwhelming majority of hunting association members use Sako rifles, a Finnish brand.

The remaining half mainly uses rifles from Europe and Japan, such as Browning’s BAR or A-Bolt, Howa, and Miroku. Surprisingly, American-made rifles have no popularity at all, and no one uses them. Quite surprising, isn’t it?

…Sako rifles are quite expensive, even in Japan, costing over 300,000 yen.

You could buy two Remington M700s with that money…

It’s a misconception that sniper rifles are more accurate. Sako rifles were used by the military and police in Europe, which is why they were adopted as sniper rifles due to their proven accuracy as hunting rifles. The order is reversed.

However, that doesn’t mean hunters are necessarily better shooters. Professional snipers who undergo daily training are typically more skilled. All hunting rifles are like sports cars capable of reaching 300 km/h with just a step on the gas pedal, but to push their limits on the racetrack, you need a professional racer behind the wheel. It’s not a complicated concept.

Apologies for the lengthy explanation.

Carefully stowing away the calibrated Remington M700 in the magic bag, I returned to the others.

“What was that sound just now?”

“Oh, just a little magic practice.”

“Wow… it must be some incredible magic.”

“Please don’t ask about it.”

“I understand.”

At the merchant guild in Topurus, We left all the negotiations to Bassoon-san and managed to sell the Hydra meat at 90 gold coins per bag, with a total of 10 bags, making it 900 gold coins! They wrapped everything in oiled paper to transport it since using plastic bags or my magic bag would have raised suspicion. Thanks to Saran’s cold magic, the meat stayed perfectly chilled and looked natural.

Let me tell you, Bassoon-san has a way with words! He even let them sample a perfectly cooked piece of Hydra skin to confirm its authenticity, and all the merchants and butchers present were in a bidding frenzy!

Even the nobles consider this a rare delicacy that they might only taste once in a lifetime! Originally priced at 50 gold coins per bag, they managed to sell ten bags and earn 500 gold coins, which is already our share.

With the additional profit of 400 gold coins skillfully negotiated by Bassoon-san, we split the earnings, leaving him with 200 coins.

As for us, we made a total of 700 gold coins.

It’s an incredible profit, I must say!

“Thank you so much! Getting such a high price for it…”

“No, thank you! Two hundred coins are more than what I usually earn in half a year! I should be the one thanking you. With this, my name will be known, and I can finally graduate from being just a fledgling merchant!”

We promised to meet again tomorrow and parted ways.

In the evening, we discreetly slipped out of the inn and headed towards the church. At the back of the church was the bell tower. We intruded there and ascended the spiraling stone staircase. There was a rope hanging, and if you pulled it down below, the bell would ring.

At the top of the tower, we looked down to see the Hawksburg family’s grand mansion about 150 meters away. I took out the Remington M700 rifle and prepared for action…

Perfectly calm, no wind at all.

I aimed at one of the mansion’s windows and waited for the right moment. Saran observed through binoculars…

After waiting for about two hours, Saran whispered, “They’re coming…”

I kept my scope steady and focused, unable to see anything from my vantage point.

“Approaching. 3… 2… 1… GO!”

BOOM!

A loud blast echoed as the bullet hit its target!

The grand mansion’s pristine glass shatters, and the latch of the winding chain, visible from the window, flies off.

Jalalalalalalalalala—CRASHHH!

The opulent chandelier in the central hall comes crashing down!

In this era, electricity does not exist. Instead, lamps and candles are used for lighting. So, the chandeliers are adorned with candles and operated using a chain and a handle. Every day, they are lowered by turning the handle with a clinking sound, and after lighting the candles, the handle is turned again to lift them back up.

Now, what would happen if the latch securing the gears of the winding mechanism were blown away by a bullet? Naturally, the luxurious, gigantic chandelier that the Hawksburg family takes pride in would come hurtling down with tremendous force…

I recall the moment I looked up in awe at the hall’s chandelier when I was called to eliminate pigeons. I wondered how it was suspended by the chain, knowing that candles required lighting and extinguishing every night, and how they lifted it using that handle.

Come to think of it, there was a famous musical where the phantom drops a chandelier…

Directly beneath the chandelier is a lavish, plush carpet with the Hawksburg family crest prominently embroidered. Only the head of the Hawksburg family or perhaps his immediate family members are allowed to walk confidently over it. Yes, I was reminded to be cautious not to step on it when I entered by the butler. My apologies.

In this world, they have not yet mastered the creation of large sheets of glass, so windows are divided into smaller sections, about 15 centimeters wide, similar to shoji screens. Each of these smaller glass panes within the frames has been blown away, leaving no trace of bullet impact from the shots fired through the windows. The shattered parts of the fallen chandelier are scattered about, so even if any stray bullets were found, the maids would have cleaned them up, erasing any evidence. A few other windows are also broken, and the parts of the shattered chandelier flying around make it a closed case.

“…Shin, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

It would be better for the Hawksburg family to have their diligent and intelligent second son as the next heir, rather than the hopeless and debauched eldest son who goes out partying every night.

As for the series of Elf kidnappings, to be honest, I’m not sure if it’s completely resolved. If the kidnappers return, we’ll have to kill them all. How many people have died up to this point? Breaking this unfortunate chain of events here is probably the best course of action.

That night, on the soft and fluffy bed with feather duvets, Saran hugged me with a happy smile. It’s our reward from the client…

―――Author’s Notes―――

※1. SAKO

A Finnish firearms manufacturer. It’s pronounced as “Seiko” in the US. While it may not be well-known in Japan due to its absence in movies and such, it is without a doubt the top-performing hunting rifle in the US market. Known for its high reliability, robustness, and exceptional accuracy right out of the box without any custom modifications. It is often recommended over buying a Remington M700 and customizing it. Be cautious when mentioning SAKO to members of the hunting association, as some might react with surprise, saying, “I’ve never heard of that manufacturer before.”

(Note: Some discussions suggest that Savage Arms might now be the top-performing out-of-the-box rifle.)

※2. BAR

While it is called the “Browning Automatic Rifle,” it is a completely different design from the military light machine gun BAR used since World War I. The military BAR is capable of full-auto fire, so it’s not classified as a “rifle” but as a “light machine gun.” The BAR design features, such as gas-operated action, maintain their presence in hunting rifles. The post-war hunting rifle manufactured by Belgian company FN Fabrique Nationale as a semi-automatic. Its notable feature is its compatibility with large calibers, making it one of the few semi-automatic hunting rifles capable of firing magnum rounds.

“Even after using it for thirty years, I’ve never experienced a malfunction or a stuck case (extracting failure),” as a senior colleague attests. Its reliability and robustness continue to surpass other semi-automatic hunting rifles even to this day.

※3. Browning A-Bolt

A domestically manufactured bolt-action rifle supplied to the US Browning company by Miroku, a Japanese firearms manufacturer.

Although John Browning himself never designed a bolt-action rifle, the Browning A-Bolt boasts high quality and exceptional accuracy and reliability worthy of the Browning name.

※4. Howa

Refers to the Japanese firearms manufacturer, Howa.

It remains the only domestic manufacturer of military firearms and supplies the Japanese Self-Defense Forces with the Type 89 rifle and mortars. They used to manufacture civilian rifles as well. If you own one, it could be a considerable treasure.

※5. Miroku

The only firearms manufacturer in Japan. Renowned not only for its shotguns and rifles but also for OEM supplying to Browning. Their Japanese-made products are well-regarded for their high quality, accuracy, and reliability, making them popular among shooters. Their over-under shotguns are even used by Olympic athletes. The OEM supply to Browning resulted from a joint development between the two companies.

Elderly shooters commonly use their over-under shotguns, which have become a standard in used shotguns sold at gun shops.