An active hunter from Hokkaido was thrown into another world - Chapter 58

Military Otaku VS Hunter – Chapters

Chapter 58   House Hawksburg, once again

“Hello there! I’m Raccoon head, the hunter specializing in pigeon control. Do you happen to need pigeon control services?”

I’ve arrived at the neighboring territory of the Hawksburg family in Topurus. Today, I’m not wearing camouflage but rather a rough-looking outfit that gives off a strong hunter vibe. Equipped with a bow, slingshot, and not forgetting my raccoon hat, I approach the guards at the main gate.

“Oh, I remember you! The raccoon-headed guy, right? We had your help before!”

They catch on quickly.

“I’ll call the butler. Just wait for a moment. We have a few things to deal with too.”

…My heart is pounding.

The Hawksburg family of Topurus. We have some history together.

It’s not just a casual relationship; I previously assisted them with their dove control on the terrace.

There was a kidnapping incident involving elves, and the victim was the heir apparent of this place, Falus La Hawksburg, the son of the current Lord, Count Vander La Hawksburg. He tragically died in an unfortunate accident, crushed under the chandelier. The one who was killed this time is said to be Count Vander himself. This means that the second son, Faal, will now become the current Lord. I heard he’s still in his twenties.

The butler arrives, a different person from before. The previous butler tried to kidnap Saran, and I had to shoot him with a shotgun, while Bal delivered the finishing blow. What a strange twist of fate.

This new butler is a middle-aged man with glasses and an astute demeanor. He doesn’t seem to exude a gentle aura.

“Hmm, I’ve heard about the raccoon-headed hunter from the former butler. What brings you here?”

“Well, you see, pigeons have a very strong homing instinct. Once they decide on a nest, they’ll keep coming back no matter how many times you remove them. So, I’ve been asked to come here regularly by the butler for control, and that’s why I’ve returned to this town after a long time. By the way, what happened to the white-haired butler who dealt with us before?”

“He retired. Since there was a change in the head of the family, I became the new chief butler. I was assigned to accompany Faal-sama, so this is our first meeting. The terrace pigeons seem to have been a bit troublesome, especially since Lady Hawksburg is unwell. It might be a good time now…”

So the previous butler retired, I see. Well, that’s understandable. It’s unfortunate for Lady Hawksburg, as she lost her eldest son, who was to become the next head. It must be tough for her.

“Alright, I’ll leave it to you. Please open the gate,” he said, and I was guided inside.

“Since Lady Hawksburg fell ill, it has become a bit messy. Perfect timing for your visit.”

Hmm, the situation remains as grim as ever. Even with just around ten pigeons, it ends up like this… Lady Hawksburg, you really shouldn’t feed and pamper the pigeons.

Without delay, I begin the task. I take out my Diana M52 air rifle and start shooting the pigeons.

Pop, pop, pop! The pigeons fall one by one!

“Excellent! That magical device is amazing!”

“It’s not a magical device. As you can see, it’s just a machine.”

“Is that so… Using such an unusual thing. Nevertheless, it’s incredible.”

“I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“I’d like you to give this to the current Lord.”

“… A letter of introduction from Kyrif-sama?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll take care of it then.” I pass over the letter of introduction received from the current acting head of the Saaplast, Kyrif La Altars. I wonder what’s written in it.

I continue with the pigeon control. We managed to catch about four pigeons. Saran puts them one by one into a bag.

“Are you the Raccoon heads mentioned in this letter?” A boldly tall, handsome, blond young man entered the room. Is he the current head, Faal-sama?

“We don’t know what’s written in the letter either, so we can’t confirm its contents.”

Naturally, we wouldn’t read a noble’s letter without permission.

“I see… That makes sense. I want to talk to you,” Faal-sama said.

“Right here? could we arrange a meeting with fewer people around?” I asked.

“Understood. I’ll arrange for the room to be cleared. Sebas! Move that table over there.”

“Yes.”

Sebastian, the butler, I presume. He went to call the servants, and a group of maids came with buckets of water. Despite their tearful faces (my apologies!), they diligently cleaned up the pigeon droppings and tidied the area.

During that time, we continued with the pigeon control.

“…Using such unusual tools. Are they magical devices?” Faal-sama asked.

“No, this is just a machine. It’s well-made, though,” I replied.

“Hmm… It’s amazing. The persistent pigeons were dealt with so easily…”

“Could you kindly ask the madam not to feed the pigeons anymore? When they’re fed, they’ll quickly gather like this.”

“Let’s do that… No, my mother probably won’t come to this terrace anymore.”

“She’s had enough of the pigeons?”

“My father was killed here. It happened while my mother was enjoying tea, gazing at the flowers.”

…Oh no.

…That’s a terrible tragedy.

After the pigeon control had settled down, tea and sweets were brought in, and we took a break.

“Sebas.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“I apologize, but please leave as well.”

“Faal-sama!”

“It’s a matter of great importance. It’s an order.”

“…Yes.”

Now, only Faal-sama, Saran, and I remained.

“Could you show me the letter?”

“You’re a hunter and you can read and write. Quite unusual,” Faal-sama remarked.

Without hesitation, I read the letter.

“These individuals are investigating the series of noble assassinations. They seek your cooperation to apprehend the culprits. I guarantee that everything they say is true. Trust them without doubt.”

“…Faal-sama, do you have a connection with Kyrif-sama?”

“He’s from the neighboring territory. We’ve been friends since childhood. You could even say we’re childhood friends. Our bond transcends social status. He’s one of the few friends I have,” Faal-sama explained.

“I see.”

“Kyrif’s old man, Lord Kiharu, was a shrewd person. I couldn’t really like him, but Kyrif is a good guy. Now both Lords were assassinated, and we became acting Lords all of a sudden. We’re both too busy to even have a proper conversation… It’s hard on both of us. Sebas has been a great help. Actually, our family has been plagued with misfortunes. Just half a year ago, my older brother died suddenly in an accident, and I had just been appointed as the next Lord, and now this commotion. Well, my brother was disliked and had earned grudges from many, so there were honestly quite a few welcoming voices when he passed away. It actually made me feel relieved. With that, our family could avoid collapse. But I never expected to become the acting Lord at this timing… Half a year ago, I couldn’t have imagined it.”

…His hardships are evident. I feel sorry for him as a party involved.

I’m sorry, but I was the one who caused that accident. I apologize.

However, compared to that foolish son succeeding the position, you are much better suited for it.

“Oh, forget what I just said. Pretend you didn’t hear it. My brother died of an illness.”

“Huh?”

“It may be difficult for you to understand, but as nobles, our deaths must be honorable. Like dying in battle, protecting the people from bandits, or in a duel. Dying in an accident is the most shameful way to go. My brother’s cause of death is officially recorded as an illness. Please, do not mention this to anyone.”

What I did is treated it as it never happened.

For now, let’s forget about that matter.

It feels complicated. This may become a lingering debt to Faal-san for me. But he was a man who tried to kill me and dishonor my wife, a person who would continue to harm the Elven village if left alive.

It’s a secret between Saran and me, even to the grave.

“What was the Lord’s complaint to the church about?”

“As I thought, it was about that. He strongly opposed the new tax the church was trying to impose on the villagers.”

“I see…”

“Remove the obstacles. Threaten the remaining ones, claiming it’s ‘divine punishment.'”

“That’s terrible.”

“Absolutely. After my father passed away, my mother, who witnessed his death, fell ill, and now she’s struggling to control both the nobles and the church’s rampage.”

“When did your father pass away?”

“About a month ago. He was the first victim in the series of noble assassinations.”

“What time was it?”

“During afternoon tea at 3 o’clock. He was about to enjoy tea here with my mother.”

Faal-sama calmly sips tea and enjoys sweets in such a place. Quite impressive.

“It was just when that bell was ringing, wasn’t it?”

“…Exactly.”

“Wasn’t Lord Vander seemingly bursting with magic, exploding from the inside?”

“…It was gruesome. Both this terrace and my mother were covered in blood.”

I stand up and look up at the bell.

We also shot down the chandelier from there. A distance of 150 meters.

We may be thinking the same thing, but it’s not a distance suitable for using an anti-material rifle…

It reveals the abnormality of the culprit.

No, maybe they only have an anti-material rifle as their weapon.

“When the Altars Viscount from the neighboring domain passed away, was the situation similar?”

“Yes, at the time of the incident, during afternoon tea at 3 o’clock, he was sitting at his desk in the study when his head was shot through.”

“Shot through? You said ‘shot through.'”

“Yes.”

“We thought the culprit was a magician who infiltrated this mansion?”

“No, that’s not the case. At the time of the incident, where was Lord Vander seated?”

“Right here.”

You mean the upper seat mentioned earlier. So, it’s the same spot where Faal-sama is currently sitting, overlooking the terrace with flowers all around.

“Excuse me.”

I stand up and align Faal-sama and the bell tower, 150 meters away.

If the trajectory was in this direction…

“There it is.”

The corner of the terrace fence is shaped like a semicircle.

It’s the trace of a 12.7mm bullet hitting it.

“What’s wrong?”

“The culprit fired magical bullets from that bell tower, shot through Lord Vander, and the bullet fragments pierced him and landed here.”

It’s a 12.7mm full metal jacket bullet, so if fired from a distance of 150 meters, it would easily penetrate.

Faal-sama steps closer to confirm the dented part of the fence.

“Is that true? Could something like this really happen?”

“Let me sit in your seat, and you can look at the bell tower from here.”

Faal-sama nods as he lowers his head and looks up at me.

“Indeed. It’s a straight line… the bullet passed through my father’s body.”

“The bullet that passed through must have lodged somewhere in the garden.”

“There it is. The grass is lifted. I thought it was a mole.”

There’s a spot in the lawn below the terrace where the earth is lifted.

“Please dig it up. The bullet is probably there.”

“Understood.”

The three of us leave the terrace, and Faal-sama gives instructions to Sebas.

A servant comes with a shovel and carefully starts digging up the spot on the lawn.

“There it is…”

It had penetrated over 50 cm. The power behind shooting through a human body and leaving such devastation is unimaginable. It’s unmistakably a 12.7mm full metal jacket bullet, with a slightly deformed tip and a rifle mark engraved on it.

“…I want to cooperate. Tell me anything.”

It’s a relief. We managed to gain their trust here as well.