A Gunslinger’s System in a World of Magic

While Nyx was whinnying with elegance, Henry glanced over at the Mine's entrance and saw the miners start to poke their heads out now that the sounds of gunshots had stopped.

Charles followed his gaze and saw them too so he pulled out his revolver, pointed it with the click sound of the hammer being cocked as he said in a loud voice,

"Get back in there!"

Henry saw the hands of the miners tighten around their mining equipment like they were getting themselves ready to defend themselves. He pursed his lips at the very unlikely chance they could survive if he, Triss, and Charles decided to gun them down.

"Don't even think about it," he told the Miner at the forefront in a dead serious voice and glowering eyes,

"Get back in there if you don't want to get hurt. We're not here for you."

The Miners stared at him with a deep frown and a look of fear in their eyes but slowly they slinked back into the mine.

"Hey, you!" One of the paralyzed guards called out to them before they were out of sight,

"Help us- Hmph!"

Henry shut down the Guard's cry for help with a stomp to the head and glared at the miners again for good effect, speeding up their backing-up speed. They were deep in the Mine in seconds.

"I wonder if they have explosives in there," Charles said and his horse trotted closer as he put his revolver back into his holster.

"It's possible," Henry said slowly, "We should get away before they think to come back out here."

A short distance away from the mine, away from the blood-splattered ground littered with dead Guards, were the horses hitched away. Among the hitched horses were two large workhorses missing saddles but equipped with harnesses meant to secure them to the wagon.

Charles handled leading the Workhorses over and attached them to the wagon of explosives that Nyx had slammed away to safety before.

"I'll drive the Wagon," Charles announced as he sat himself down in front of it with the reins in hand ready to spike it.

"I'll lead your horse," Triss told him and then gestured at the paralyzed Guards, "What do we do about them?"

"What else can we do?" Henry said with a shrug with 'The Hydra's sting still in hand.

"Please!" One of the guards called out, "Please don't kill us— Don't kill me!"

Henry said nothing and just eyed him.

"We won't follow you," the Guard continued to plead, "We won't tell anyone about this."

Henry shrugged,

"Who cares if you do?" He said,

"You don't even know my name. The worst you could do is describe my face."

The Guard managed a smile,

"Exactly," he said, "So please, don't kill us."

For a second, Henry said nothing and then he raised his leg and swung a kick at the Guard's head, knocking him out. Next, he moved over to another paralyzed guard and slammed the butt of 'The Hydra's Sting' against his head, knocking him out too.

And so, with Triss and Charles watching, Henry went to everyone who had been paralyzed by the <Numbing Gas> and knocked them all out.

"Not going to kill 'em?" Charles asked after Henry was done. He felt that if anyone should want the paralyzed Guards dead, it was Henry.

All those who had gotten a good look at Charles and Triss' faces were dead and besides the fact that the paralysis limited the Guards' field of view, their attention was also especially on Henry.

"I'm not," Henry answered. He found no joy in it. No sense of accomplishment. It would have just been killing for killing sake and, at least in this case, that didn't sit well with him.

Besides, what was the worst that could happen?

If they described his face and got it plastered all over the countryside then he would be well on his way to the notoriety of his past life which seemed to be what the System's Grand Quest wanted from him anyway.

Henry gathered up the guns of the dead and the knocked-out Guards and threw them all on the wagon with the boxes and crates of explosives.

"Come on," Charles said, "Let's go."

"One second," Henry said. There were a few things he thought needed to be done before they left.

First, he looted the dead Guards but was slightly disappointed at the slim pickings they had on them, and then he went to where the horses had been hitched to loosen them and send them riding far away. This was especially easy to achieve by firing a shot into the air and sending them all into a panic.

Henry doubted the Miners would try to follow them but if they did, this would at least slow them down.

With all that settled, Charles spiked the reins of the workhorses so that they drew out of the front of the Mine and got on the road. Triss nudged her horse and got it to ride beside the wagon while Charles' horse obediently matched her horse's trott.

Henry followed behind them on Nyx in case they were chased. Charles did not look all that worried.

"I know a way," he said and was soon guiding them off the conventional path and riding through the cover of trees to throw off any chase.

•••

Thanks to Charles' unconventional path, the journey back to the Hadron Mansion took far longer than it had taken to reach the Mine. This was also factoring the fact that there was only so fast they could ride with a wagon laden with explosives.

That said, the journey back was also the most peaceful Henry could remember in the weeks he had been in this world. He appreciated that.

The ride was spent sometimes in silence and sometimes in discussion as the three even allowed themselves moments of levity to crack jokes.

Soon, they pulled their horses over the threshold of the Hadron Mansion's damaged gate and Charles was pulling on the reins of the workhorses to get them to stop moving.

"We're back," he announced the obvious in a not-so-enthusiastic tone.

Devon, Dana, and Stefan were walking out of the Mansion in less than a minute. Angus was right behind them with a grin on his face.

He walked to the Wagon and raised a brow at the guns thrown right by the side of the boxes before opening one of the said boxes to reveal bundles of dynamite and TNT.

"This is good," Angus said with a delighted nod,

"Yes, Yes. We are ready."

With the Explosives delivered, Henry knew an alert was coming. And sure enough;

[Quest completed]

[You have received 300 Exp]

*[Nyx has received 150 Exp]

—————

[Name: Henry Morgan]

[Level: 10 (896/2500 Exp)]

[Race: Human]

[Class: Gunslinger]

[Title: Death's Bane, Gangbanger, Vyker-Killer]

[Hit Points: 100/100]

[Mana Points: 90/110]

[Strength: 25]

[Agility: 24]

[Stamina: 16]

[Perception: 10]

[Skills:

{Marksmanship Lv. 3 <Active Sub Skill: Quick Thinking> <Active Sub Skill: Reload>} {Taming Lv. 2 <Active Sub Skill: Bonding>} {Insight Lv.1}]

[You have 18 unallocated Stat Points]

—————

Henry's eyes fell on the unallocated Stat Points most of all like they were calling to him and accusing him of neglect.

'Well, as good a time as any,' he thought,

'I'll put 5 in strength and 6 into Agility since both are my most used Stats. The remaining 7 Points; 2 into Stamina. And 5 into Perception, my most neglected Stat.'

Clicking the virtual button to confirm his allocation, Henry watched as numbers increased and in turn, boosted various properties of his body.

[Strength: 25 ———> 30]

[Agility: 24 ———> 30]

[Stamina: 16 ———> 18]

[Perception: 10 ———> 15]

He was just allowing himself to indulge in the feeling of his boosted physical and Mental abilities when Angus said in a voice that carried and was packed with all the grandiose of a capable public speaker even though his words were only meant for the select few main members of the Gang;

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Rest up. Prepare. Because tomorrow, we ride for Saint Claret.

Maude Aleric and his Black Manor have no idea what's about to hit them!"