The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 432 The Fortress That Collapsed Without a Fight

Time flies, and a week has passed in the blink of an eye.

The Salvation Army's siege of Sparrowwood Castle continues, but the worlds inside and outside the walls are now completely different.

Outside the city, the Salvation Army camp was in good order.

Every morning at dawn, the smoke rising from hundreds of large pots and the aroma of wheat porridge became the most moving scene in this desolate land. Drawn by the intoxicating fragrance, new starving people joined the effort almost every day.

Most of them were refugees heading to Twilight City, but now... obviously they don't need to go there anymore, since they would just be begging for food anyway.

Some people were going to visit relatives, and the Salvation Army did not stop them from going. They even generously gave them a bowl of porridge before they set off.

These people set off with gratitude. Needless to say, they would carry the legend of "Saint Karen" to the capital of the Twilight Province.

As these travelers witnessed, this army that changed its flag not only solved the problem of feeding everyone, but also established order in this land.

Under the organization of soldiers who called themselves the Salvation Army, tens of thousands of refugees were divided into their own areas according to the villages, and they tidied up their doorsteps in an orderly manner. Although they were still simple, they were no longer as chaotic as before.

Moreover, with the help of the Salvation Army, some unfortunate people who had been separated from their families during their escape were pleasantly surprised to find their loved ones again. Many people had thought their relatives had died in the chaos of war, only to discover that they were not far from them, but they had simply not noticed each other.

Praise be to Her Highness the Holy Maiden.

Now they are reunited!

In addition, Her Highness the Holy Maiden also held simple wedding ceremonies for several couples.

Some of them were star-crossed lovers who met on the street, while others were longtime friends who had only recently confirmed their feelings for each other.

The household registration department, overseen by Slok, registered the identities of these couples, which also served as a form of publicity.

Although the wedding was rather hasty and the saint could only offer them a few words of blessing, they were very grateful to her.

After all, in this land, a marriage blessed by clergy is a rare thing, and a few words of blessing are enough to make them very happy.

Most couples simply exchange vows in a church or before a priest...

The camp was filled with singing and dancing, a joyful atmosphere, while in contrast, a dark cloud hung over the castle.

With the rebels' food supplies running low, the quartermaster had to raise the expected duration of their defense from three years to five years, which meant that the soldiers' rations had to be reduced by half.

They were considered lucky.

The rations for non-combat personnel were reduced to one-third of their original amount.

Although Leiden knew that cutting people's rations at this time was not a good idea, he could only do it as soon as possible while everything was just beginning.

The soldiers lay on the battlements, looking out of the castle. At first, they could laugh at the starving people, but now they were the ones locked in a cage with no future in sight.

Whenever the wind blows from outside the city, the aroma of food is like the most vicious curse, tormenting their already empty stomachs and hollow hearts.

"How long are we supposed to keep guarding this place?"

Looking at the wedding that could be vaguely seen outside the city walls, Camille, holding a musket, couldn't help but say this with envy.

There were people waiting for him to return outside; he hadn't heard from her for some time.

I hope she's still alive.

The veteran next to him grinned and made a self-deprecating remark in an uncertain tone.

"Perhaps...we'll wait for the king's reinforcements?"

"Does he even remember that he owns this territory?"

"I hope he still remembers."

The two chatted idly, unfazed by the sneak attacks and snipers from the opposite side. The rebels used to do such things, but ever since they removed their headscarves, they'd suddenly become "open and aboveboard."

Of course, it's also possible that they simply don't want to do it.

Heaven knows who's backing them this time, but it seems the person on the other side is far more powerful than their "Governor."

A soldier standing nearby couldn't help but chime in, interjecting with an envious tone.

"I bet he's drinking red wine in the palace, with ten beautiful women sitting in his arms!"

"That's unlikely... Theodore is already quite old, he would have died long ago if he were to go through all that trouble."

"What if he's a superhuman? I've heard that it's easy for nobles to cultivate."

"Then you must have heard that nobles are also lazy, and not everyone can endure asceticism."

"Ha, who cares who's sitting in his lap, I wish him a long life!"

The soldiers no longer hesitated to acknowledge the royal authority, even though they had never held much reverence for the distant king.

Moreover, this sentiment has recently become stronger than ever before.

Rather than asking how long they would have to stay, they wanted to ask something else—

What kind of things are they guarding?
Recalling the rumors about "Saint Karen," feelings of discontent spread quietly in everyone's hearts like invisible vines.

Who truly represents holiness and justice?
With this shift in momentum, the balance of power has clearly reversed...

Just as the morale of the defenders was wavering, Brennan, dressed in a bearskin and carrying a short axe and a round shield, walked alone to the moat.

The soldiers on the city wall immediately tensed up, gripping their muskets and crossbows tightly, ready for battle!

Brennan grinned, as if he hadn't seen anything, and there were no guards protecting him.

He stopped, looked up at the city wall, and his loud voice rang out like a war drum.

"Theron Gadgetzan! If you still remember your honor, if you're still an egg-shaped creature, then step forward and speak!"

A commotion arose on the city wall.

After a short while, Count Theron, dressed in full military attire, reluctantly appeared behind the battlements, escorted by a group of knights.

This was his second "meeting" with Brennan.

This savage in a bearskin was just as rude as when they last met!

Standing behind Theron, Leiden frowned.

He could sense that the rebel leader's aura had changed. Although his strength was not significantly different from when they last sparred, the nature of his power seemed different.

He couldn't quite describe the feeling, but the nauseating stench was gone.

Instead, there was an inexplicable...holiness?
Leiden shook his head, banishing the strange thought from his mind.

He preferred to believe he had misread the image.

"Damn traitor! You cannibalistic scum! You dare ask me to speak? Ha! I have nothing to talk about with a beast. I'd rather stay here until the end of time! When His Majesty the King's reinforcements arrive, he will hang you all on the gallows!"

Theron roared with such force that his round body didn't look so comical anymore.

Even though only he himself knew how much of a threat he posed was actually weak.

If there really were reinforcements, he would never have waited until now, much less be driven into the castle by a bunch of armed peasants.

Only a demon funded by hell, or a devil funded by chaos, could possibly make him look so pathetic!

Saint?

It's really tough on these peasants; they've managed to find a village girl who's posing as a religious figure to put on a show!
Faced with that bluffing threat, Brennan simply shrugged indifferently and then called out behind him.

“I told you, Your Highness, they won’t listen to reason… Let Saint Sith punish them directly.”

Theron gave a cold laugh.

"What nonsense are you spouting! If Saint Sith were to punish anyone, it would be you—"

Before he could finish speaking, the second half of his sentence caught in his throat, and his wide eyes bulged slightly outward.

In the camp outside the city, a young woman was seen walking towards the city gate.

The woman was wearing a simple nun's robe, her serene face filled with peace and compassion, just like the Virgin Mary who had stepped out of an oil painting.

Theron's Adam's apple bobbed, and he swallowed the half-sentence he was about to say, his face showing only disbelief and a hint of barely concealed fear.

How can this be!

He was certain that almost all the clergy in his territory, from priests to nuns, including church servants... as long as they hadn't been killed by the Green Forest Army, were in this castle!
Where did this guy come from?!

It wasn't just Earl Theron who was incredulous; the guards standing behind him, including Leiden, and the surrounding soldiers also erupted in a frenzy, exchanging incredulous glances.

"The rumors... are actually true?!"

"Impossible! This must be a fake they found somewhere!"

"But...don't you think she's even more like those nuns in the castle? They can only pray to the idols and can't do anything, but she can conjure bread!"

"Wait, you really believe she can conjure bread?"

"What can I do if I don't think so? Are we just imagining things when we see food in those refugees' bowls?"

At first, they thought that the so-called Saint Karen was just a rumor made up by the rebels, until she actually appeared in front of them.

All those rumors about the Salvation Army were now shrouded in a sacred veil, becoming testimonies corroborated by the presence of Saint Karen standing before them!

The sacred filter was naturally applied to her, not from any visible holy light, but rather her very existence became that light.

“Earl Theron Gard, I have come by the will of my Lord to end the suffering of this land.”

"Shut up! You..."

Theron was breathing heavily, staring at Karen with suspicion and uncertainty, unable to utter the word "imposter."

What if it's true?

He was a little unsure and didn't dare to speak too definitively, lest he offend the gods and suffer the consequences.

Swallowing hard, Theron chose to skip the irrelevant question and stared at her sternly.

"Who are you? Who is behind you? Why did you betray your king and side with these bandits?!"

“My name is Karen. I am a nun who heard God’s grace in my desperate situation. I am not loyal to any worldly king, and I have never betrayed anyone. I only serve the God in my heart.”

Karen looked calmly at the still-shaken count, her calm and gentle voice seemingly possessing a soothing power.

However, this calming power threw the knights standing on the city wall into a panic.

"She heard of divine grace?!"

"real or fake……"

"I... I don't think she's lying... Impersonating God's will is a crime punishable by death!"

“No wonder… she wanted to distribute the land to the people; only a god would do such a thing.”

The soldiers were in an uproar, whispering in fear as they tried to find the answer among those around them.

Seeing the whispering soldiers, the knight commander drew his sword and shouted sternly.

"Shut up, all of you! Don't listen to the witch's bewitching words! It's just a rebel scheme to seduce people. Think about what they've done before. Once they break through the castle, they'll tear off their masks immediately!"

His voice did have some effect, but not as much as expected.

Morale within the castle has crumbled, and if a real battle were to break out, they likely wouldn't hold out for long. The only reason their formation is currently stable is because the two sides haven't yet clashed.

Karen did not rebuke him for his rudeness, but looked at the Count, whose face was ashen, and continued in a calm voice.

"As you can see, people are dying on this land for things that are utterly meaningless."

The count remained silent.

Rayden, who was standing behind him, stepped forward and stared sharply at the woman who called herself a nun.

How dare you say our glory is meaningless?

Karen did not avoid his gaze.

"It wasn't me who said it, nor anyone else; it's simply a fact, isn't it?"

Before Leiden could answer, she continued in a calm and solemn tone.

“You have abandoned your people, either fleeing to neighboring countries with your wealth or hiding in your own castles, letting the devil devour their souls, fantasizing about friends who don’t even exist coming to your aid… You have long since abandoned your honor, you just haven’t admitted it yet.”

They just haven't admitted it yet...

Leiden's Adam's apple bobbed; he felt as if an arrow had pierced his knee, and the pain seeped into his heart.

He finally vaguely realized what it was that had been bothering him all along.

He and his family have been loyal to Earl of Sparrowwood for generations, and all the legal principles stem from that ancient and sacred covenant. However, that sacred covenant does not only contain the sentence "A knight shall be loyal to his lord," but also another sentence that is often mentioned separately by lords—"A lord has an obligation to protect his people."

The two sentences together make up the complete contract.

The lord has long since ceased to fulfill his duties, and the honor he cherished as his life has become a joke. He thought himself a knight, but in reality, he was merely a lackey of power…

Just as Leiden was struggling internally, a hint of relaxation finally appeared on Theron's face, which was contorted with fear.

He had no doubt that he still had the strength to fight back. These weak peasants would have to suffer huge casualties to take down the castle, but why should he risk his noble body against them?
This does no good.

They might believe in a saint who appears out of nowhere today, but tomorrow they might convert to a stronger and more powerful bandit.

He knew those farmers all too well; these guys had no beliefs or principles, and an egg was enough to bribe them.

That being the case...

Why not take advantage of their current recitation of the Holy Sith Bible and back down the hook?
If admitting that this village girl is a saint would save his life, he might as well reluctantly accept it.

That's why he didn't shout "fake!"

Keeping his scheme to himself, Theron forced a calm expression and shouted towards the outside of the castle.

"What would you like to talk with me?"

Karen looked at him and slowly stated the conditions for peace.

"Give up this castle. Since you have abandoned your obligations and betrayed your people, then leave this land to those who love it."

"Then you will be free. You can leave with all those who are willing to follow you and go wherever you want."

These words, carried on the wind, not only reached the ears of Earl Theron, but also the ears of every soldier.

The tone of their forgiveness for all sins made it seem as if they were the ones locked in a cage... by some unseen deity.

While Theron was still undecided, the soldiers beside him could no longer contain the eagerness in their eyes.

A peaceful departure?

They don't have to die here!
Although the rebels had no credibility whatsoever, it was Her Highness the Holy Maiden who stood there, and all of this was being done in the name of God.

They lacked the shrewdness of the count, and were no more intelligent than the farmers outside; they were simply a little luckier than the latter…

"...This is difficult." Theron struggled internally, looking at his knights. "What do you think?"

After a moment's struggle, Leiden still chose to faithfully fulfill his duty as a knight.

Even though that honor has long been tarnished.

"My lord, please reconsider! The rebels have no integrity whatsoever; breaking their promises is commonplace for them! Once you open the city gates, they will immediately tear the contract to shreds and rush in like jackals!"

Humph.

If you can guess it, why wouldn't I?

Theron sneered inwardly, but remained silent, remaining lost in thought for a long time before slowly speaking.

"Leiden, can I trust you?"

Leiden paused for a moment.

"Of course, sir... what do you mean by this?"

He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

He understood the count's eyes; they meant, "I will take good care of your family."

Leiden gave a bitter smile to himself and sighed softly.

In truth, the Earl didn't need to do this. Even if he hadn't said anything, he would have kept his vow until the very last moment.

He paused for a moment, then spoke.

"Please rest assured, sir, I will take care of all your worries."

A relieved smile appeared on Theron's face. He placed his hands on the knight's shoulders and spoke in a solemn voice.

"Don't worry, I will take your family to Twilight City, and then we will go to the capital. Whether you come back or not, your children will be raised by me, and I will treat them as my own!"

Leiden remained silent for a long time before speaking in a low voice.

“The Kechtel family has lived on this land for generations. Please let my family stay with me. If the gods want to take my soul away, please let my body be buried here, and let my family be buried beside me.”

Theron didn't try to dissuade him, since bringing a large group of family members wouldn't do him any good; bringing fewer burdens would allow him to bring more treasures.

In any case, from now on, he no longer needs the knight's loyalty.

However, he still said something insincere.

"Alright, if you think this is better..."

Seeing the knight bowing his head and no longer responding, Theron returned to the battlements and called out to the saint waiting below the city.

"Karen, is it? I can't say for sure if you're a saint, but your kindness... has certainly moved me! For Saint Sith's sake, I can give you the castle. If you think that getting a castle is all you need, then take it!"

"but!"

"You must retreat ten kilometers—no! Twenty kilometers! Let those poor souls who have no intention of continuing this fight leave safely! And promise not to harm any of my soldiers! If you can do this, the castle is yours!"

His face bore a compassionate expression, as if he had made a great sacrifice by giving up the castle, all for the sake of his people.

Even though he was actually terrified inside, the "poor man" he referred to was himself.

An uproar erupted on the city wall, with soldiers and knights wearing expressions of astonishment, never expecting their count to agree to hand over the castle bestowed upon him by the king.

however……

No one mutinied.

There wasn't even anger.

Everyone, including Leiden, breathed a sigh of relief.

Having lost their only sacred duty, they longed to be with their families and return to a peaceful and tranquil life rather than to reap illusory honors.

They did not want to get their hands stained with the blood of their neighbors.

The fact that this protracted siege could end in this way might well be a sign of divine mercy...

Brennan was also shocked.

Won?

The opponent just... surrendered like that?

He had considered many possibilities, including Saint Sith sending a plague to the castle, or a thunderbolt striking the count dead on the spot, but he never expected the ending to be so unbelievable.

He couldn't empathize with the count's inner struggle; he felt it was more like a miracle than bread falling from the sky.

At this moment, he no longer had any doubts about Karen.

Regardless of who she was before, where she came from, or how much of her faith was rooted in divine light.

Now, she is the saintess of the Twilight Province!
Karen did not expose Count Theron's hypocrisy, but simply looked calmly at the terrified man and nodded slightly.

“My Lord said, He has given his permission.”

"We will wait for a day on the plain 20 kilometers away until the sun rises to where it is now tomorrow."

"You have plenty of time to pack your bags. We won't send anyone after you."

Having said that, she turned to Brennan, who was still in shock, and gave the order in a gentle voice.

"General Brennan, have your men retreat ten kilometers away, taking our belongings with them. There's no need to move the camp. We'll be back by this time tomorrow."

Brennan, who had been stunned for a while, finally came to his senses and nodded without saying a word.

"it is good."

The two returned to the camp together.

And so, to the astonishment of the city's defenders, the mighty Salvation Army indeed packed up its belongings and flags in an orderly fashion and moved northwards towards Sparrowwood Fortress.

Some starving people followed behind them, becoming their followers.

Many more people stayed where they were, because they believed that Her Highness would not abandon them and that she would come back!

"Quick! Pack your things!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Theron, like a frantic fat rat, urged his panicked steward and servants to rush into his palace.

His palace was located at the highest point of the castle.

Now he only regrets not packing his things sooner; he only has less than 24 hours left.

Do not--

Perhaps only during the period before dark.

He had to set off under cover of darkness to ensure those guys wouldn't change their minds and follow him, allowing him to reach the provincial capital at his leisure.

The family argued over who could bring more luggage, and the noisy scene made everyone, including Theron himself, feel embarrassed.

Looking at the rats scurrying around the castle, Leiden felt a deep sense of desolation.

In the end, it turned out that he was protecting such a group of things.

He felt increasingly worthless about the glory he had once been so proud of...

(End of this chapter)