The Bounty Hunter

Author's Note 2

Hello, hello!  Its writer.101 again!  First off, let me thank everyone for your support and opinions!  I was pleasantly surprised when I saw my story take the number 1 spot for the month of September in 2016!  I have completed the second arc of The Bounty Hunter, a title that has become completely inaccurate at this point.  If anyone has any good suggestions for a new title, please let me know.  This arc is 105,000 words long, so be prepared for a good binge! 

I have taken in all the helpful comments and criticisms of the first arc and did my best to incorporate the advice into my writing.  I tried to include character development for all important side characters and antagonists, I removed most of the Weebo terms (I had to google what that meant, it also made the writing much easier without them), I tried to make the story more continuous, and I tried to explain the background of the world better.  Key words being tried, please let me know how successful I was.

Speaking of background, I should clarify something.  The Earth that Minato lives on is our world in the future.  I had put the setting in the future simply because it gave me more leeway to adjust the future history between 2017 and 2088 in order to suit my story better.  However, I dont really do sci-fi that well (love the genre though) so I neglected to expand on it properly.  I tried to fix it somewhat, but dont expect miracles.

And to those who say Minato is a Gary Stu, you are probably right.  I have nothing against Gary Stu and Mary Sue, so long as the story is entertaining.  Gary Stu also happens to be an easier character type to write, perfect for a novice writer.  My apologies to those who cant stand them.  Also, I put in a few mildly graphic mature scenes between Minato and his harem.  My reasons for doing this are threefold.  First, I feel like my story hasnt really earned its mature tag yet.  Second, it was a challenge to see if I could write such scenes (Verdict:  I cant, but I left them in anyway).  Third, I always found harem stories where the protagonist never had sex with the love interests in their supposed harem kind of silly.

Furthermore, while I am open to criticisms and dont want people to sugar coat their honest thoughts, please remember that I am an amateur writer presenting my work on a fiction-sharing site on the internet.  Temper your expectations please, I cannot and do not guarantee a written masterpiece.  The only thing I can guarantee is readable grammar.  My story is a rough draft and anyone who reads it is my editor, so tell me something specific to improve on rather than just generic dislike.  I plan on eventually rewriting the whole story when its complete so it becomes one continuous style thats hopefully some high-quality stuff.  Your comments will have a direct impact on that and upcoming arcs.

I would also greatly appreciate it if any future reviews on the story specify whether they refer to the first or second arc or the story as a whole.  Please rate once you have read the story.  I look forward to/slightly fear reading your opinions!  In addition, nothing in this new arc changes any tags on the story.  It is still Fantasy, Gender Bender, Harem, Romance, School Life, Original.  I repeat, nothing in this new arc changes the tags on the story.  It is still Fantasy, Gender Bender, Harem, Romance, School Life, Original.  This may not make sense to you now, but I am proactively addressing the questions that some may have once they start reading.

Fun fact, this arc was not part of the initial 3 arcs I had planned when I first started writing.  However, the positive reception made me decide to add another arc to the story (for a grand total of 4 arcs), resulting in what you will be reading shortly.  You will need to remember things from the first arc in order to read the second, so I recommend rereading it if things are a little hazy.  I have put a brief refresher below to help if necessary.  Now without further ado, LET THE BINGE BEGIN!

Here is a quick synopsis and character list of people from Arc 1 that you should remember for Arc 2!  This is very brief and is only to serve as a refresher for those who have already read Arc 1.  If this is not enough of a refresher, it is probably a sign that you should re-read Arc 1.

Synopsis of Arc 1:  The Redemption Project

Minato is a high school kid in Japan who has had the ability to travel to an other world of fantasy and magic since he was a child.  He is a wizard, a powerful individual who is naturally able to use magic.  He has become jaded and cold as a result of his time in the other world, and sincerely wishes to be done with it.  This is due to a traumatic event in his childhood where he came across the ruin of Hafor, a village he often visited.  He watched the rape and pillage of Hafor through magic in an attempt to hunt down the bandits, resulting in his trauma.  His guilt leads him to take responsibility for the only survivor, Kira, a girl his own age who was his friend there.  He takes work as a bounty hunter, further exposing him to the horrible nature of the other world.  He meets Veronica on a job, who becomes the only person other than Kira who he gives a damn about in the other world.  Eventually, he brings Kira and Veronica along with him when he leaves the other world for good. 

On a job, Minato comes across evidence that someone else is aware of the two worlds.  His investigation leads to the discovery of a plot to redeem the horrid other world and Earth by destroying them and creating a new, better world from the ashes.  The individuals also wish to ascend to godhood in the process.  He hunts down and kills the members of this Redemption Project, culminating in a final showdown with the Hero Jupon when the ritual begins on Earth.  Minato barely survives, killing Jupon by sacrificing the other world and halting the ritual.  A massive amount of mana was let loose on Earth due to the ritual, the consequences of which are discovered in Arc 2.

Notable Characters from Arc 1 that are mentioned in Arc 2:

Minato Cross:  The main character of this story, he is a handsome individual who is half American and half Japanese.  He has dark brown hair and vivid green eyes.  He is a cold-hearted loner who is uncaring and unfriendly towards everyone except his family and the few people he has gotten close to.  He is an extremely powerful fighter and wizard, and is the only known magic user on Earth.

Jupon:  A Hero and the head of Project Redemption, he was killed by Minato at the end of Arc 1.

Kira:  One of Minatos love interests, she is a cat-kin whom he met in Hafor, a village in the other world that was destroyed by bandits.  She has golden blond hair and amber eyes, enjoys tinkering as a hobby, and is a cheerful and fun-loving individual.

Veronica:  One of Minatos love interests, she is a dark elf noblewoman he met on a job in the other world.  She has silver hair and violet eyes.  She is serious and quiet, a result of a difficult childhood.

Hikari Fujimoto:  One of Minatos love interests and his childhood friend.  She has black hair and eyes, and is a very energetic and upbeat person.  She is the only person from Earth aware of Minatos abilities and history.

Reiji Okamura:  Minatos best friend, he is an intelligent, nerdy otaku who doesnt know of Minatos magic and other world travels.  He has black hair and eyes, and is extremely androgynous.

Akemi Tachibana:  Reijis girlfriend and an acquaintance of Hikaris from her modeling job.

Rin Yamamoto:  Minatos alternate identity as a female idol, she has black hair and sky-blue eyes.

Rin:  Minatos demonic fox familiar, who he named after his alternate persona on a whim.  She has black fur with white on the tips of her ears and tails.  She also has sky-blue eyes.

Yuuna Hayashi:  Minatos mother

Terrance Cross:  Minatos father

Vivian Pendragon:  The Crown Princess of the Kindom of England, she was saved by Minato from a terrorist attack at a royal ball.  She doesnt know his true identity and is currently searching for him.  She has platinum blonde hair and dark blue eyes.