“Reports on the design philosophy of the Wanderpanzer II Falke have shown a strong emphasis on the utilization of organic and external sensor systems in order to fully leverage speed and firepower. Lending to these developments, the Wanderpanzer II Falke proves to be a capable platform usually only in ‘hit-and-run’ engagements, and pilots must be discouraged from engaging a hostile threat in a brawl-type vehicle-to-vehicle engagement. Any extended/sustained skirmish with superior armor negates the high-mobility advantage of the Wanderpanzer II Falke, allowing hostile armor to leverage its usually superior firepower and armor (in the case of Flandrian designs) to defeat Lotharingian units.”

- Preliminary report to the Lotharingian High Command (LHC) regarding their ‘future weapon systems’ program.

+++

+++ Lieutenant Hans Hoffman +++

Ygeian Countryside

The village in front of them…was nothing.

“I’m not picking up anything from my end,” came the somber report from Adelyn. “I think this place got wiped. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“Same in my case,” Hans said, eyeing the displays that showed nothing but ruined houses, trampled and burned crops, and even a few carriages that were obviously burned earlier. “There’s bullet holes on some of the carriages. That…hmm, doesn’t make sense. Did someone from the Imperial Army raid this place?”

There was an outraged gasp that came from Adelyn, as her mech turned to Hans’ direction.

“Them? Doing something this heinous? Why would they? That’s disgusting. We’re in a crisis and they’ll choose to loot and pillage?”

“Well, considering the state of Captain Strobel’s regiment, I think there are units with worse conditions than them. And in the case of not good conditions, I think there’s a chance that they might resort to banditry if pushed to desperation. Especially when they’re far away from their home Principalities.”

“But still…” Adelyn already aggressively drove her mech into the village, and Hans reluctantly followed. The houses were filled with holes, bullet holes everywhere—as if the place saw the same fighting that modern Terran settlements would see nowadays. “Look at these…they murdered so many civilians! I can’t even show it to Alizée. I gave her a blindfold because of it. Lieutenant, if we catch these vagrants, I’ll absolutely cut them down. Hack them down to pieces!”

“Whoah, gee, Captain…I mean, I get the appeal, but, like…they’re supposed to be friendlies, you know?”

“I choose my friends, Lieutenant. And that does not include bandits…or soldiers who loot and pillage. They are a stain to the name of all soldiers. And in this case, with the breakdown of law and order, the only way to dispense justice to soldiers gone AWOL is to shoot them.”

“So you’d be dispersing field court marshals because you’re very outraged right now? And to members of a foreign Army no less?”

“Why not? They are a threat to the citizenry of the Imperium anyway. Regardless, once we’re done with the demon problem, we also really need to mop this up. In fact, this should be easier to mop up since it’s just normal humans. I cannot stand these atrocities happening under me. Not when I can just produce bullets out of thin air anyway!”

She sounds really worked up by this. Hans sighed. Well, I guess that’s just her, really. What can I really do?

Hans drove his mech rapidly toward Adelyn’s Wanderadler, which was parked on the side of a burned-down store, the family inside obviously killed by the amounts of bullets that pierced its walls. Adelyn’s mech seemed to be inspecting the damage closely, and silently, and Hans did the same.

“Isn’t it strange though?” Hans asked. “How can those stone walls be pierced like that? I don’t think the normal musketry that they have right now can do this. It’s like…I don’t know, don’t get me wrong with this, it’s strange.”

“Magic perhaps?” Adelyn’s voice turned even more outraged. “Disgusting then. Using such a wonderful tool just to mindlessly slaughter civilians. Tsk. Makes me want to really chase them in the countryside now just to teach them a lesson. That, and we have to stop them now. They’re just going to kill more people.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Hans replied. “I mean, we still have the whole ‘hunting the Calamity of Desire’ shtick going on. I think we should focus on that and slate this issue on the later side of things. We can clean up once the bigger fish are done.”

“I get that. Still, I’m keeping track of this. And if we find them somehow on this route, then we’ll make them pay, understood?”

“Understood, Captain.”

“Good…” Adelyn took a deep sigh. “I’m keeping note of this to report it to relevant authorities once we reach Fort Elmo. They’ll know of this. And if this is more widespread than just something contained here, then I’ll absolutely egg them to act.”

“I’m sure they’ll listen to you, Captain.”

“Don’t make jokes right now.”

“Err, sorry…”

“Anyhow…” she huffed a bit. “Let’s move out.”

“Copy.”

+++

Hans and Adelyn finally parked their mechs at the gate of a small town in front of them.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The town’s guards seemed extremely suspicious about the two until Adelyn presented them with a document with the seal of the Countess of Rousselot and the Imperial Ygeia Company. Naturally, the guards immediately allowed Adelyn and Hans to proceed inside with their mechs, which the two did.

The people in the town were clearly new to their new technology, and many looked and gawked at the two alien, metal behemoths driving through their streets. Children, the elderly, the working men, and young ladies—Hans could see them turning their heads in the direction of their vehicle.

He knew that word about two powerful machines had already spread throughout Ygeia, which meant that these people must have known the rumors already. Hans made sure to follow Adelyn’s order to the letter, keeping his mech away from touching or damaging anything that these people possessed, as they tried to weave through the streets.

Makes you really want to wipe your sweat. Hans thought as he tried his best to focus on driving. Damn…they’re already talking crap about us. Wonder what they’re saying?

He turned on his exterior audio receivers and immediately heard a childish shout from outside.

“Mama! It’s the legendary knights! The ones who can defeat demons!” shouted an overly eager boy, his eyes shining as he looked at Adelyn’s Wanderadler and Hans’ Wanderfalke passing by, all while his mother tried to keep him off the road. “Mama! They look so scary! But also so good!”

“Heh…I guess we’re quite well-known now, huh?” Hans asked.

“Well, imagine if, on Terra, aliens that can destroy entire cities arrived, something that humanity cannot beat. But then, soon, another two rare aliens arrived…and only they can kill those things reliably.”

Her voice became lower.

“It’d be humanity’s propaganda to keep everyone’s morale up high. We’re basically angels for these people. The ones who can go toe-to-toe with a demon that they cannot fight.”

Already, as the rumors and murmurs spread amongst the crowd, Hans saw that many eyes began to shine as they pointed at them. The town’s guards kept them on the side, but many were clearly overjoyed at their arrival. Hans could even hear many say that they were saved and that the “heroes” had arrived, but…

Quite naive. Hans thought. Were it not for my twisted ability, we’d have been dead from day one. The only reason we’re still here…fighting against their worst monsters…is that I can try and try again until I win.

His eyes became more glazed and devoid of warmth as he stared at the displays showing the ecstatic townsfolk around them. Being a celebrated hero, when he had died more times than he imagined any human being ever did…it sure was a strange thing for him.

“We’re close to the location of the inn that they gave us,” Adelyn said. “Should be good for us to stay on for a while. I received a magical communique from the IYC.”

Oh, yeah…that thing she bought. Hans thought, remembering the strange glass “tablet” that was attuned with another magical artifact used by the IYC. It’s funny how they have those things, yet still struggle to properly coordinate things.

It was way too expensive though, and the only reason it was offered to them was that they had the bounty money, and they were the “fastest unit” of the IYC to date. Thus, their leadership wanted to give them an extra trinket to keep in touch. Unfortunately, the thing used Adelyn’s AP whenever she activated it. So there was that.

“What’d they say?”

“They’re postponing the attack,” Adelyn sighed. “The Calamity of Desire has so far stopped its activities. That, and a string of demonic attacks placed the operation temporarily off-balance. They want us to hold a dispersed position close to our rallying points.”

“I guess that makes sense…” Hans sighed. “And setbacks? Hmm…do you think we should take the initiative and move on our own?”

“What do you think?”

Hans mentally remembered the last battles they fought. If…judging by the fact that whatever the Calamity of Desire was would be stronger than them, would mean that Hans and Adelyn would not stand much of a chance without a larger force to back them up. Even something as little as bait, or generally just wearing down that creature was something he knew they’d sorely need.

Otherwise, the tactical picture would be ugly, especially due to how many unknown factors there were about the Calamity of Desire.

But then…then, there comes the problem that if we do not act immediately, we’d be in a bad bind. Hans tightened his hold on his control sticks. I still need to figure out what skill to take too. Alongside all the other stuff. Maybe a few more days of prep would be nice.

Or perhaps he could just bang his head on the wall again and again until he somehow found a way to kill that demon. He did have this damned ability. So why not use it?

Because dying is painful. Hans laughed at himself. What a joke, until now, it’s still hard to debate whether to just…maximize the pain for the win or draw it out. What even is the better option? Damn it…I’m starting to hate dying and living…

“We’re here, Lieutenant,” Adelyn suddenly said, and Hans responded by stopping his mech just behind Adelyn’s mech. They were right in front of one of the inns near the central area of the town. Due to the width of their legs however, it took quite around half of the street, which would probably impede a few things passing through the area, but, Adelyn already opened her hatch and dismounted.

Hans followed suit.

Opening his hatch, and taking his personal pistol, Hans took a brief look at their surroundings, before closing his hatch shut and jumping off his mech’s chassis. He then went straight to Adelyn, who was already conversing with the innkeeper, before she slid a few Imperial Marks into his hands.

Adelyn then turned to Hans with a smile.

“We have permission to park here,” Adelyn said.

“You sure?” Hans asked. “I mean, won’t carriages pass around here?”

“Carriages don’t pass through this specific street,” the Innkeeper said, as he pulled his hat down a bit. “Welcome to Torei. We’re a small town, but I’m sure that the folks here are glad of your presence.”

“Huh?” Hans looked around. A few town guards approached them, and one of them bowed in the presence of Adelyn.

“Miss,” one of the guards said. “I am the Captain of this town’s guards. I have been ordered by the town’s mayor to keep guard of your steeds. We assure you that your stay here will be a safe one.”

“Oh…” Adelyn smiled a bit. “Well, tell him thanks then. We appreciate the help you guys can give us.”

“No, Miss,” the guard said, looking down at the stone road. “We appreciate your killing of those demons! We may be lowly, and we know it’s more of you doing the protecting with your presence here, with those things, but we shall still do our job here well!”

“No need to bow,” Adelyn said. “I’m not really a big fan of it.”

“Thank you, Miss.”

The guard stepped back, and Adelyn immediately called for Alizée from inside her vehicle. Hans just eyed the few musket-holding men, as they formed their posts near their vehicles. He just shook his head.

They sure are treating us as VIPs. Hans thought. I guess Adelyn’s strategy really worked well. Dear…this is too much. Is this how royalty feels?