Chapter 17
He had worried he might get lost since it was his first time on the road, but it was unnecessary.
From Mollibay to <Happymaypy> Farm, it was just a straight path with no forks.
More importantly, since the horse had been born and raised nearby, it found the way easily even without Jaei’s guidance.
As if moving automatically once a marker had been set.
Neigh!
A quaint farm with a green roof and red bricks.
Jaei got off the horse and called out.
Aside from a few tied horses, there was no sign of people.
“Is anyone here?”
“Who is it?”
Click!
A voice came from the backyard.
And the sound of a gun being cocked.
Jaei raised both hands visibly and replied.
“I came at the request of the farm owner. As part of the deal for buying Black Number 5, I agreed to hunt the nearby wolves. He said he’d be arriving soon, so I’d appreciate it if you lowered your guard.”
Then, a woman peeked out from behind a pile of hay.
Her red hair was deeper than the sunset.
She blinked her green eyes, glancing between Jaei and Black Number 5.
“Ah, seriously, Dad… I told him several times I could handle it myself.”
“Are you his daughter?”
“Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Rebecca.”
“I’m Jaei.”
“Jaei? That’s an unusual name.”
Rebecca looked him up and down, then nodded as if it didn’t matter.
She stroked the black horse’s forehead and smiled brightly.
“You’re lucky. You found yourself an owner, didn’t you?”
Neigh!
“As you know, this one didn’t have it easy. Thanks for taking it. Have you named it? My dad never gives names—he says it’s better not to get attached. I always felt bad about that.”
At her question, Jaei hesitated.
Her sentimental eyes, her gentle touch.
If he said “Malsoon” here, the mood would feel… off.
“······Onyx.”
“Onyx! A black gem—that suits it perfectly.”
So the black gem was called Onyx.
Libero might not look it, but he had good sense.
Rebecca beamed and grabbed Jaei’s arm.
Good choice.
“Come inside. I’ll get you some tea.”
“It’s alright. Instead, could I take a look at a bow and arrows first? The farm owner asked me to use arrows instead of a gun to preserve the wolf pelts.”
“Arrows? Ah… really.”
Rebecca frowned, troubled.
Was there a problem?
As Jaei looked at her, she sighed softly.
“It’s not something you need to worry about. The only usable bow here belongs to my younger brother. But he really hates others touching his things… so he’ll probably argue with Dad again.”
A common family issue.
The conflict between “what’s yours is mine” and “what’s mine is mine.”
But as she said, it wasn’t Jaei’s concern.
He just had to complete the job.
“It’s in the storage. Follow me.”
The storage hadn’t been properly floored, and grass grew everywhere.
The smell of manure lingered heavily.
Rebecca casually covered her nose and brought out some items.
“I usually use a Winchester for hunting. But you—”
She glanced at the Sharps rifle slung over Jaei’s shoulder.
“You’re using a Berdan Sharps? Were you in the army?”
“Yes.”
“The more I see, the more unexpected you are.”
Even within the same company, models varied greatly depending on year and numbering.
The one Jaei carried—a Berdan Sharps—was issued only to elite marksmen.
That was why the hunter had warned him carefully when lending it.
And later tried to sell it for 50 dollars.
‘Gambling really is terrifying.’
Selling such a weapon for just 15 dollars.
Even if he bragged about buying it back, it wouldn’t be easy.
If it were, he wouldn’t have lost the 50 in the first place.
“If Dad trusted you with the wolves, that says enough. Just a moment. It should be around here.”
Rebecca searched but couldn’t find the bow.
Then—
“Hey, sis. What are you doing?”
“Jack!”
“Who’s this?”
A boy, slightly younger than Jaei, entered carrying a bow and quiver.
Rebecca smiled awkwardly and glanced at Jaei.
Jack looked around suspiciously.
“Jack, when did you go out?”
“This morning. I asked what you’re doing.”
“He’s here to hunt wolves nearby. We were looking for tools to lend him.”
Rebecca’s large eyes darted around nervously.
Sensing something, Jack subtly stepped back with his bow.
“No.”
“Jack.”
“I said no! I made this bow—why do you keep doing this?”
“I know it’s yours. But arrows damage pelts less than guns. Dad sold horse number 5, so he might buy you a new bow next month.”
“Yeah right. You’ve been saying that since last year. And I hate letting some nobody use it even more! If the string gets damaged, who’s responsible?”
“Uh, excuse me. Am I that nobody?”
“Who else would it be?!”
“Jack!”
Smack!
Rebecca grabbed his collar and headbutted him.
Quite a family.
Before Jaei could say anything, she shook him angrily.
“Rude and insolent!”
“Let go!”
“Apologize to Jaei. Now!”
Jack kept his mouth shut, his forehead reddening.
He refused to apologize.
Not just pride—he simply didn’t like the situation.
“It’s alright, Rebecca.”
“No. He needs to learn.”
“Jack, can I ask why you think I’m a nobody?”
Jack shouted, eyes reddening.
“Your fingers aren’t for handling bowstrings. And your arms look weak!”
“Jack!”
Smack!
Another headbutt.
Jaei glanced at his own arms.
Slim, pale—
But then looked at Jack’s.
“Ah.”
Different.
Completely different.
His forearms were thick and strong.
In this harsh West, Jaei realized just how frail he appeared.
He would have to prove himself constantly to survive.
“······I’m good with a bow.”
“What?”
“I’ll shoot better than you expect. I can’t promise I won’t damage it, but I can promise I’ll make it worthwhile.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“Then let’s make a bet.”
Jaei set down his rifle.
“Pick anything for me to hit. If I succeed, you apologize—and lend me the bow.”
Jack scoffed.
“Fine. Fail, and you convince Dad yourself and leave.”
“Add one more thing—the winner gets respect.”
“Jaei, I’m sorry. He’s just going through a phase. You don’t have to do this.”
“It’s an easy path. Why not? Jack, what should I hit?”
“Hmph. See that bird on the branch?”
A small migratory bird.
Jack picked up a stone.
“Hit two birds in a row while they’re flying.”
“Jack, stop being unreasonable.”
“I can do it.”
Rebecca held her forehead.
Jaei extended his hand.
“Let me.”
Jack frowned and handed over the bow.
“Be careful.”
“I’ll try.”
He nocked an arrow.
It was heavier than expected, the string stiff.
His posture looked terrible.
“See? No need to—”
Fwing—!
The arrow flew.
Clumsily—
But pierced the bird on the branch perfectly.
Flap!
The startled birds took off.
Jaei quickly nocked another arrow.
Head tilted upward—
Release.
Screech!
“······!”
“······!”
Without stopping, he grabbed another arrow and aimed again.
Fwing—!
This time, he hit a bird further back.
Not the one he aimed for.
Unlike bullets, arrows depended heavily on arm strength.
Even auto-aim couldn’t compensate for distance.
Still—
“Three.”
He walked over and showed them.
“Since you didn’t throw the stone.”
“No way… your posture was awful.”
“Well, as long as it works.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means results matter.”
He dropped the arrows in front of Jack.
Truthfully, he had been unsure.
But arrows worked, as long as strength followed.
Hunting wouldn’t be a problem.
“Sorry.”
“······Sorry.”
Smack!
“I’m sorry!”
Jack bowed deeply.
All three birds had been hit cleanly in the body.
‘No way…’
Just who was this guy?
At that moment—
Onyx lifted its head.
It had sensed something unfamiliar.
Not far from the farm—
Strangers moved low and fast.
Clop clop!
“How far?”
“A bit more. There’s a rocky hill near that farm—perfect for watching the stagecoach.”
“Any other houses nearby?”
“Probably not.”
It was a scouting party.
Preparing to rob a Wells Fargo stagecoach.
Onyx kept turning its head, sensing them—
But no one noticed.
Jaei was being bombarded with questions by Jack.
Rebecca was busy cleaning the birds.