33 Refuge

The city of Los Milagros, former home to the Virtuoso.

A port city, which formerly had access to multiple fishermen and great trade routes.

A city that housed no less than 50 thousand people, now turned into a desolate wasteland teeming with demons and monsters.

One year can change a lot of things, most formerly populated areas have turned into such a landscape.

Danica and her small battalion of 100 soldiers steam-rolled through the weaker demons. Her one-track mind makes her an effective soldier, according to the Virtuoso.

"We cannot disappoint the Commander, only rescue those who are willing to follow orders."

Those who seek refuge are forced to sign a contract a magical one that places a restriction on those who sign it. This is a tool used by those in the other world, when collecting prisoners from the other side of the war. A tool used against other sentient armies like defected humans and elves.

"Isn't it basically a slave contract." A slave doesn't get anything out of the contract. These people do. The contract is a simple one. "Do not bring harm to the main leaders of the faction."

The Virtuoso has made it clear that they might have been heroes in the old world, but in this one heroism on his side can be deemed unnecessary.

" Lieutenant!"

"What is it?"

"There's a group, their leader wishes to speak with you."

Danica didn't see the danger in it, because the moment their leader does anything suspicious then a small army would have their head.

"Hi, my name is Tessa Garcia. It's a pleasure Miss Lieutenant."

"Lieutenant Danica, serving under Legion Commander Khan. State your business."

"Ahh yes, my party and I also originate from the same reality. Ah yes Khan was it? The little puppeteer?" The woman showed an emblem of some kind.

"I see, you seem to be at the level of a private. You can join our ranks until we finish the mission but be warned. One wrong move could get you killed around here, don't speak ill of our commander."

The woman felt a few gazes before but as Lt. Danica finished her sentence she felt a hostile aura around her.

"N-noted" her false bravado dissipated as her party moved onto the docks with Danica's entire unit.

---

Nathaniel saluted to the commander before beginning his status report.

"Ahh yes, I was already made aware of it. Most of the survivors you encountered come from the same reality as us. Therefore they know of me and our exploits during the war.

Well let it be known that those who show loyalty will be the ones that are treated better. Base it on aptitude and not biases, nepotism will not show me the results that I need.

If they don't sign contracts then they better not try anything. Malik hates it when people don't listen to instructions you see."

The swordsman gulped. "Gather everyone around, we'll be having our first assembly."

In roughly a day, the castle-like structure was finished. Around it are tents set up for the main infantry.

"Gather those who didn't sign a contract to the center." The swordsman along with all of the other lieutenants rounded up the newcomers, segregating between those who chose to sign and those that didn't. The entire army surrounded them, the only ones not present for the ordeal are the ones tasked with keeping the barrier up.

"If you come from our reality, then you should already know how I run things around these parts."

The so called "Quatro of the Virtuoso" were present, the puppets he kept as his main guards. Two Knight puppets along with Two Rook puppets.

"Those who signed the contracts will be treated as civilians, pull your weight and your protection is guaranteed."

The 4 guards jumped down from the 3~4 story tall mini-castle.

"To those that didn't sign. I want two lines, those who knew of me beforehand and those that didn't."

Out of the 30 people there. 18 came from the same reality as his soldiers.

"If you still want to stay despite not signing then that must mean that you think that we're doing this for free." The Virtuoso's aura suffocated them. Forcing those who questioned his authority to kneel.

"If you can't even handle that then, you must not have been fighters from the frontlines. If you still don't get my point then let me make this clear. Only those who join my cause are welcome here."

Some of them begged to sign the contract, some realized the fault in their own logic. They were stupid to assume that the leader of such a group is a saint.

"I'm not so heartless as to leave you out there to die. So I'll give you a choice, prove yourselves."

His puppets moved around the group. "The offer to be a citizen is a one time thing, right now you're applying to be my soldiers. So you either get the fuck out of my territory or prove your resolve and swear your allegiance to me."

They didn't have much of a choice in the matter, it's either this or going out to the monster/demon-filled city.

That night, they ate rations and drank ale from the barrels that they brought. All watching as the puppets one-sidedly beat down the newcomers. A spectacle to some and a reminder to all, that the Virtuoso is not here to be a hero.

---

Martin the Warrior. Journal Entry #1

I was a common foot soldier you know, just the run of the mill warrior. But that man changed my life, serving under the Virtuoso gave my life meaning. So when he gave me the opportunity to join him in a new world then I was all ears.

My comrades and I are wholly loyal to the Commander, where he goes we follow.

On our first day at the new world, it was much of the same. Battling for my life, but at this point I was happy to do so. Who wouldn't be? We were exercising the will of the King, yes KING the man I serve is striving for the top.

I'll tell you one thing, the man has a one-track mind. One that I am willing to follow, what he says goes. So when that blasphemous woman called him little, you bet your ass that I was already preparing my trusty mace, Matilda to bash her head in.

But the boss is right, we simply need to follow his whim. This is not a charity, it's the Virtuoso's faction against the world.

They were either with us or against us. Next time, Matilda will drink the blood of these heathens. For only the Virtuoso is meant to stand at the top.