The Count's Gun-Shooting Scoundrel-Chapter 77

“We’re finally here.”
A boy with a delicate face stood on a mountain hill, sweat pouring from his brow.
In the distance, beyond the mountain, a castle was visible.
Just as a wide smile spread across the boy's face at the thought of having reached his destination, and he was about to take a step forward.
Something appeared as if it had suddenly dropped from the sky.
It was a man dressed in peculiar, wood-colored clothes, one of the scouts from the Phoenix Knights.
“Who are you? You don’t look like you’re from our territory.”
“Ah, I’m…”
The boy was extremely flustered and didn’t know what to do.
Seeing the boy's reaction, suspicion flickered in the man’s eyes.
“For now, you’ll have to come with me.”
The moment he reached out to grab the boy’s hand.
Thud!
The man pitched forward.
Where he had been standing, a man in black robes appeared, bowed to the boy, and then vanished.
“Phew~.”
The boy let out a sigh of relief and said.
“Ram, thank you again.”
“I only did what I had to do.”
The man was nowhere to be seen; only his voice could be heard.
“Let’s go quickly before he wakes up.”
The boy walked away with brisk steps.
***
At that moment.
Arthur had gathered the individuals he had selected a few days prior in the open space behind the castle.
There were ten in total, and all but one wore expressions of complete confusion.
Arthur stood before the one member of the Defen Knights who had sensed they were being tested.
“What’s your name?”
“It is Furuma.”
“Your current position within the Knight Order?”
“I am in charge of the defense team.”
Arthur nodded and called for Kasan.
Kasan, who had been lined up with the Devil's Corps members behind him, quickly stepped to his side.
“Take this one and test him.”
“Sir.”
Kasan left the area with Furuma.
Next, Arthur stood before the man who had left a deep impression on him.
It was the one who had been issuing orders to the knights and pressuring him during the infiltration of the Lannister Knights' barracks.
“Name?”
“Bakyun.”
“The Lannister Knights primarily use spears, but you are an exception.”
“What do you mean… Huh! Don’t tell me?”
Bakyun’s eyes widened.
Arthur grinned and asked.
“Who taught you?”
“I have only ever practiced on my own.”
“For someone who did, you weren’t bad. From now on, you train with me.”
“With you, my lord Count?”
A smile graced Bakyun’s face.
In contrast, the members of the Devil's Corps who overheard Arthur from behind all grimaced in unison.
‘That guy is completely marked.’
‘How did this happen…’
Just as everyone was feeling sorry for Bakyun.
A sentry came running over.
“My lord Count!”
Seeing the man’s serious expression, Arthur’s face hardened slightly.
“What is it?”
“An unidentified ship has edly appeared on the eastern coast.”
“What?”
“Vice-Commander Hellot is waiting for your orders with the assault team.”
“Understood.”
Arthur looked at Dark and continued.
“Come to the eastern coast with the Del Knights as soon as you are ready.”
“Understood.”
As soon as he received the order, Dark gave Porshe a look.
Porshe immediately ran to the Del Knights.
When Arthur arrived at the training grounds, Hellot quickly approached him.
“Preparations for departure are complete.”
Arthur whistled, and from somewhere, Khan came galloping energetically.
He swiftly mounted Khan and shouted.
“Follow me!”
A short while later.
Arriving at the eastern coast, Arthur spotted a galleon-class ship surrounded by sentries.
“Hellot, go and check it out!”
“Yes, sir!”
Hellot led a few knights and charged toward the ship.
As Hellot approached, the sentries quickly stepped aside, clearing a path.
They had closed the distance to the ship to about five meters.
Fwoosh!
An arrow flew through the air with a sharp whoosh.
“What the!”
Hellot was startled.
At the same time, his horse was also startled, rearing up on its hind legs.
Thud!
The arrow embedded itself in the horse’s chest.
Hee-hiiing—!
As the horse collapsed, Hellot fell to the ground as well.
Arthur, who had been watching the scene, quickly summoned his K1 and fired at the ship.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
He attacked mercilessly, as if to turn it into a honeycomb, while rushing toward Hellot.
While Arthur attacked the enemy, Hellot quickly retreated.
The assault team also fell back, tensing up for the enemy's attack.
Arthur stopped Khan where Hellot had fallen and shouted.
“Come out peacefully!”
There was no response from the enemy.
Arthur aimed at the sky and pulled the trigger.
Rat-tat-tat!
“This is your last chance! If you don’t come out by the count of three, I’ll kill you all. One, two…!”
In that instant, Arthur’s eyes flashed.
Fwoosh!
With a sound of tearing air, an arrow flew at a terrifying speed.
It was incomparably faster and more powerful than the arrow that had flown at Hellot just moments before.
However, having anticipated the attack to some extent, he was able to respond sufficiently.
Arthur quickly drew a dagger and parried the arrow.
“If you've chosen death, then so be it.”
He aimed his gun at the ship.
Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh!
A series of whooshes followed, and three arrows came flying.
“...!”
Arthur’s face twisted slightly, and at the same time, Khan sensed the danger and moved.
It quickly stepped back, and Arthur parried all the arrows with his dagger before pulling the trigger.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Hellot then shouted to the Knight Order.
“Attack them on sight!”
“Sir—!”
The knights answered resolutely.
Arthur closed the distance to the ship, unleashing a relentless barrage of attacks.
At the same time, he gathered Mana in his left hand.
“I’ll smash you to pieces.”
As soon as a second K1 was summoned, he pulled the trigger.
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT—!
The destructive power of the double machine guns was immense.
In an instant, the ship’s stern and what appeared to be the cabin were blown to bits.
It was barely holding its frame together; one more volley would cause it to collapse completely.
“So you still won’t come out?”
As if his pride was now on the line, Arthur pushed even more Mana into the summoned K1s, and lightning crackled around them.
Simultaneously, a tremendous aura erupted from him.
“Truly incredible…”
“What immense power.”
The knights let out a stream of admiring gasps.
Arthur raised both arms in parallel and aimed the guns at the ship.
“Disappear.”
He pulled the triggers.
Rat-tat-tat-tat! Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Light flashed ceaselessly from the muzzles as a powerful Aura was fired.
*BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!*
Just as the ship was collapsing to the point of being unrecognizable.
FWOOSH!
Once again, an arrow flew with the sound of tearing air.
“Not a chance!”
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Arthur shot the arrow down with his guns and quickly leaped off Khan.
He then charged toward the ship like an arrow, unleashing a torrent of attacks.
Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!
“How long are you going to hide like rats!”
He focused his attack on the crew’s quarters.
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT—!
The Aura fired from the K1s pierced even steel pillars without mercy.
Rumble, CRASH!
The ceiling of the crew’s quarters collapsed.
As thick dust rose, Arthur’s attack ceased.
In the moment of silence that followed, the sound of tearing air was heard again.
FWOOOOSH—!
But unlike the sounds before, this one carried an intense presence.
And just as expected.
From the front, an arrow wreathed in red Aura—no, an Aura Blade—flew like a shot, aimed precisely at Arthur.
“This is!”
Arthur’s face hardened slightly.
The power of a Sword Master!
He quickly threw himself to the side and fired his guns at the arrow.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
The golden Aura and the crimson Aura collided.
BOOM!
A massive explosion erupted, and the resulting shockwave swept through the surroundings.
“What is this!”
Adellan, who had just appeared leading the Del Knights, quickly ducked and turned to the side.
Just as the tsunami-like wave of force subsided, Dark was quickly surveying the coast.
FWOOSH!
A tremendous sound of tearing air came from the ship.
“An arrow?”
At the same time, Adellan’s eyes flashed as he stared at where the sound had come from.
A crimson Aura Blade entered his vision.
“No way!”
Adellan hurriedly ran toward the shore.
“You’re finished!”
Rat-tat-tat!
Arthur shot down the Aura Blade and pulled the trigger toward the spot it came from.
RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT—!
He fired mercilessly, as if spraying bullets from a machine gun.
He was in the middle of blasting everything there to smithereens.
“Stop!”
“...?”
Arthur stopped his attack at someone’s shout and looked back.
Adellan dismounted, quickly boarded the ship, and shouted again.
“Please stop!”
Arthur asked with a hardened face.
“What is it?”
“It might be Sir Helm!”
“Sir Helm?”
“The Commander of the Kandara Count’s family Knight Order.”
“...!”
In an instant, Arthur’s eyes widened as he stared at the place he had been attacking.
If her words were true, there wouldn't have been a fierce battle if he had revealed his identity.
The fact that he fought him without doing so meant…
‘I have to check.’
Arthur kept his eyes fixed ahead and spoke to Adellan.
“Call him from here.”
Adellan nodded and shouted loudly.
“Sir Helm!”
There was no response.
“It’s me! Adellan!”
“No response. In that case.”
Arthur revealed his killing intent.
Simultaneously, Fwoosh! an Aura Blade flew out.
“My lord Count!”
Adellan’s eyes widened in alarm, but Arthur, as if he had expected it, opened fire indiscriminately.
Rat-tat-tat-tat!
Once again, the two forces clashed.
BOOM!
At the moment of impact, Arthur shot forward like an arrow.
He was incredibly agile as he cut through the ripples of the powerful clash.
He struck the skeletal frame of the ship with his K1.
CRASH!
The structure, which had been barely holding on, collapsed with a roar, revealing a staircase leading underground.
In that moment, Arthur's eyes glinted fiercely, like a predator spotting its prey.
‘If my guess is right!’
Without a moment’s hesitation, he ran toward the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs stood a middle-aged man with his bow drawn.
“I knew it!”
Arthur launched himself at the man.
Simultaneously, the middle-aged man released the bowstring.
Fwoosh!
The moment the Aura Blade flew, Arthur swung his dagger like a bolt of lightning.
KABOOM!
With a deafening roar, the two were sent flying back by the shockwave.
Arthur had anticipated this outcome and had wrapped his body in Mana the instant he cut the Aura Blade with his dagger.
Thus, he was able to minimize the damage from the impact.
After being thrown back, he kicked off the stairs and leaped back to where the man had been.
When he landed underground, the man was unconscious, having been thrown against a wall.
Arthur summoned his K1, aimed the muzzle at him, and approached.
Even when he was right beside his head, the man didn’t stir.
He used his foot to flip the prone man over.
“Ugh…”
Arthur’s face contorted.
Up close, the middle-aged man’s face was charred black, as if from a burn.
His eyes and mouth were sealed shut, and seeing the dried blood in his ears, it was clear he couldn't hear.
The rest of his body was in such a severe state that no part seemed normal.
It felt like a miracle that he was even alive.
This must have been why he hadn’t responded, only reacting to the mana thick with killing intent.
His already poor condition must have worsened from the shock.
He needed treatment immediately.
Arthur first bound the man’s arms, then slung him over his shoulder. He then looked around to see if anyone else was there.
A single corpse, covered by a large flag like a blanket, caught his eye.
The crest on the flag was not unfamiliar.
“So that’s how it was.”
Arthur’s brow furrowed as he went back above ground with the middle-aged man.
“Please…”
Adellan, who had been praying earnestly with her hands clasped, caught sight of Arthur.
“My lord Count!”
He was carrying someone over his shoulder, and she instantly recognized who it was from the armor he wore.
“Sir Helm!”
Adellan ran over, her eyes turning red.
Arthur laid Helm on the ground and shouted.
“Hellot! Bring the potions!”
The moment his order was given, Hellot quickly boarded the ship and poured the potions he had.
A faint light shimmered over Helm’s body before fading, and Hellot shouted.
“Bring more potions!”
Jonathan gathered the Knight Order’s potions and handed them to Hellot.
Only after Hellot poured them all on Helm did his body begin to glow brightly.
Adellan looked at the battered Helm and sobbed.
“How did this happen… sob, sob.”
Arthur gestured toward the underground area with his chin.
Hellot then went below with a few knights.
A short while later.
Hellot returned, carrying someone out on a stretcher.
The faces of the Del Knights watching from outside contorted in devastation.
“Damn it!”
They fell to their knees in despair.
“Why, what’s wrong?”
Adellan asked in a tearful voice as she turned her head.
The moment she saw the corpse covered by the Kandara flag, her mind went as blank as a white sheet of paper.
It was then.
Arthur turned his head.
From a rock about ten meters away, he sensed a very faint presence.
He gathered his Mana and summoned his K1.
And just as he suspected.
Someone leaped out from behind the rock and began running towards the forest.
“Where do you think you’re going!”