+++ Lieutenant Hans Hoffman +++

Nomos

La Veridad City

November 10, 1538 CE

It had been a slightly long journey through North Nomos. The countryside was, so far, quaint and silent. By the time they entered one of the major Nomosian cities in its northern region, La Veridad, it was also just as peaceful. The city seemed to be a bit smaller compared to Rousselot or Rignon, but it had an intact fortress.

By the time they entered, most folks seemed to be taken aback. However, there was a bit of celebration. In front of their two mechs, were dozens of Imperial Musketeers on horseback escorting them in an almost parade-like manner. Even the Viceroy’s carriage was in front of them.

Naturally, Hans and Adelyn played it cool. They walked their mechs at a steady pace forward, as onlookers watched and gaped at their foreign and alien machines. Hans watched as even soldiers and nobles stared at their mechs like dazed children. It was both starting to get old for Hans.

But at the same time, it’s kinda amusing. He chuckled a bit as he passed by a bunch of children running straight behind the line of soldiers and authorities. They all excitedly pointed at their machines as if it was some sort of a mythical creature. Well, it did make sense.

Their mechs were adorned with flowers and decorations. Hans objected to it, but, well, the Viceroy managed to convince Adelyn that placing those decorations would make them look friendlier. And it worked, somewhat. To the people of La Veridad, he imagined that their mechs truly were mythical creatures that were now here to deal with their demonic problems.

“I just hope we won’t disappoint them,” Adelyn said over the comms. “Look at all of them. I bet many of them are refugees who survived the terrors of demons and calamities.”

Hans watched as one old woman clasped her hands and prayed while he passed by. It was getting a bit weird for his taste. But then again, what could he do? These people were dealing with a threat that no one seemed to be capable of fighting. And suddenly, here they were. The two famous foreign soldiers that managed to kill most demons to date.

“I don’t know whether that fills me with much confidence or not,” Hans replied. “It’s getting extremely concerning that they’re hoping that we can just…do it. Even their damned Viceroy.”

“She seems to hate the Imperial Mage Corps as well. You know, I wonder when we’ll meet one of the buggers? They’re supposed to be the strongest baddies in town. But I haven’t met a single one of them. We’ve had mages and battlemages. But those actual ‘Mage Knights’ are all MIA.”

“Hmm, maybe they’re still partying at the Imperial Capital. With the Empress and her court. Who knows?”

“Quite frankly, I doubt that this Holy Empire is going to survive the next few decades. We’ve seen how little control they have over Ygeia. Over here, this Grand Duchess lady personally calls them, straight to our face, as ‘spineless, incompetent, blind, lazy, bums’. That’s funny and…sad.”

“Well, do you want to meet and punch one of them?”

“I’d like to,” Adelyn sighed. “Then again, we have to reserve the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they’re doing something, we just can’t see it. Or maybe they’re not lying about being stretched thin. Maybe the Holy Empire’s core has little control over those outside of it. It’s hard to say.”

“Hmm…I suppose…” Hans sighed. “But, the absence of the Imperial Mage Corps is beyond concerning. We’ve travelled through two Principalities now, and not one. Not even a single one of them even managed to get close to us. I mean, we’ve met everyone. We’ve met Virtus and Vanus nobles. We’ve met Imperial Soldiers. We’ve met officers of their military. Damn it, we’ve met Imperial Musketeer Guards like Captain Weibel. Even corporate goons. But not actual Imperial officials sent by the Empress or again, the Imperial Mage Corps.”

“Hah…it’s just such a tiring subject,” Adelyn whined. “Hmm…seems like we’re getting close to our destination. The parade's over, I suppose.”

“Well, I just hope they enjoyed watching…two weird-looking tanks.”

+++

“Lieutenant Hoffman!” Captain Strobel greeted. “Oh, and Captain Wittenstein and Captain Weibel. You three took quite the sweet time to get here.”

“Distractions. And we had to take care of a demon,” Hans replied as they filed into the Viceroy’s office. “It delayed things a bit.”

“You fought a demon on the way here?” Captain Strobel’s eyes widened. “Damn…any casualties?”

“Surprisingly none,” Captain Weibel grinned as he approached Captain Strobel. He immediately grabbed Captain Strobel’s hand and shook it. “Glad to see you alive, Ebert. Thought you died on the way here.”

“I’m not that stupid. Also, none of my men in the 4th died either,” he chuckled. “For us, it has been a very smooth march down here to Nomos.”

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“Guess you bastards found the safer route then. Lucky you.”

“I am glad to see that the 1st Anti-Demon Unit is this united and cordial with each other,” Hans turned to the voice of the Viceroy. The woman had just entered the room last, and her maids soon closed the doors. It left just Hans, Adelyn, Captain Strobel, and Captain Weibel, alongside the Viceroy alone in the room.

“So, it’s weird,” Hans took his seat on one of the chairs around the room. “La Veridad isn’t Nomos’ capital, isn’t it? Why is the Viceroy’s office all the way up here?”

“Good question, Sir Hoffman,” the Viceroy replied, as she went to her desk and seat. “Oh, and all of you. Please take your seats like him. There’s no need to be stiff around me. I’m not one of those stiff upper-class ladies. In this room, I believe we’re all equal.”

Captain Strobel raised his eyebrows.

“Equal?”

“Exactly!” the Viceroy nodded, as everyone took their seats on the chairs arranged in front of her desk. “You see, I was appointed to this post by the Imperial Government just shy of…” she snapped her fingers. “Yes, six months ago! And do you know what I’ve found here?”

“Chaos and collapse of order and security?” Hans asked.

“Very astute of you, Sir Hoffman!” the Viceroy smiled. “That’s why we’re all equal here. We are the resistance, ladies and gentlemen. Mankind’s few…leaders and organizers, trying their best to push back against the darkness of demonic corruption. That’s why I moved my office here. I am, to be quite frank…a bit scared of what resides down south.”

“...You sounded pretty confident until we got here,” Adelyn murmured.

The Viceroy chuckled nervously.

“Well…you have to understand, I had to deal with…two Calamities myself. Myself and my…now perished security force. Suffice it to say, our control of the south is tenuous at best. And I’ll be honest. Unlike the Imperial Ygeia Company, I have very little in terms of manpower and weaponry to beat these demons.”

“You’re also broke,” Hans bluntly crossed his arms. “Now I understand why the IYC barely regarded your requests.”

“How cruel of you to say that. But yes, I and the Principality of Nomos…are in a dire financial situation,” she tried to smile a bit, but it was weak. “Let’s just say, our valiant soldiers fighting to protect the people of Nomos are…underpaid, underequipped, and demoralized. We lost…three cities this week alone. Approximately a hundred thousand souls dead.”

“So total…collapse of organized resistance?” Captain Weibel asked. The Viceroy shook her head.

“No, no. Now, of course, while I do lack manpower, money, and weapons for our conventional forces. What I do have is talent. I am a former member of the Imperial Mage Corps.”

“Ah, no wonder you turned tail and ran. Seems fitting,” Hans joked.

“I understand our reputation,” the Viceroy calmly replied. “But, look. I have some of the cream of the crop, former members of the Imperial Mage Corps, available here. Me, and three others. I myself am at the General Tier V. Yes, you’ve heard that right—”

“Then why did you not even act when you were being ambushed?” Adelyn asked, a bit annoyed. “Your people died there. You’re that strong. That means it’s your duty to protect even your soldiers.”

“And if I acted rashly and exposed myself I might place ourselves and especially myself in greater trouble. Strength doesn’t mean immortality, young lady. I was being ambushed, and there were two unknown, monstrous machines ominously watching us. Was I supposed to just get out, jump around, and turn myself into a big glowing target?”

“...I respect it,” Hans said. “She seems to be the type to say, ‘I swear, it was a tactical withdrawal’.”

“Hey, he gets me. I like that spirit,” the Viceroy nodded. “Now, as I was saying, this is why I absolutely need the two of you and the rest of the 1st Anti-Demon Unit. The casualties are already racking up into something unacceptable. If I cannot end the demonic threat soon, Nomos will be wiped clean. We have two Calamities, two, active here. Injustice and Recklessness. Don’t laugh at their names. They’re both absolute monsters.”

“...You’re no angel, right? How’d you even survive against two calamities?” Adelyn curiously asked.

“I’m pretty sure that I was almost dead when my allies managed to get us out of the fighting. I had to take the highest grade of the IYC’s green powder to even survive my injuries. Okay, now you all understand why I ran all the way here. I’m strong, but damn it, those things are scary. I survived, but…you know…”

She chuckled. But of course, everyone in the room could hear the barely concealed trauma in the Viceroy’s voice. Even Hans felt a bit bad about the woman. Considering how badly he had been treated by these monsters, he imagined that the Viceroy and her friends must have been absolutely crushed.

She escaped though. So she and her buddies must have some skill and strength to do that at least.

“I…suck at storytelling, I suppose,” the Viceroy mumbled. “Anyway, now that you’ve heard of my trauma and crisis, are you all ready to fight against these demons?”

“What’s the pay?” was the immediate question from Captain Weibel.

“I just said I’m nearly bankrupt,” the Viceroy replied in a blank tone. “I can ensure that Nomos will forever welcome all of you if you help me out though. After all, the Viceroyalty position lasts until I die…unless the Empress personally removes me, of course. But, I plan to make sure that Nomos recovers and prospers. And then maybe I’ll think of the financial rewards…when you’re all old, because economic recovery takes decades, believe it or not.”

“Well, we did come here to deal with the demonic threat,” Adelyn replied. “Of course, we’ll help out. That’s our plan before even coming here.”

“No, my question is if you’re all ready to help out,” her voice finally darkened. “Because we are dealing with a worse situation than what you’ve dealt with in Ygeia. Furthermore, you just killed one of the Calamities. You might be attracting more attention and trouble now.”

There was a bit of silence in the room this time around. Everyone hesitated to answer, and Hans simply crossed his arms as he finally felt the gravity of the situation. More demons, more Calamities. He could already feel how awful the coming weeks and months would be.

This campaign is going to be an absolute hell.

“...Well, that question certainly is harder to answer,” was the only reply that Hans could give. “We’re willing, but how can we know if we’re ready?”