The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1497 431: The Fortress That Collapsed Without a Fight

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a week had gone by.

The siege by the Salvation Army on Sparrow Wood Castle continued, but the worlds inside and outside the fortress were starkly different.

Outside the fortress, the Salvation Army's camp was orderly.

Each morning, the steam rising from hundreds of large cauldrons and the aroma of wheat porridge had become the most enchanting landscape on this desolate land. Drawn by that intoxicating fragrance, new hungry refugees joined almost daily.

Most of them were itinerant people heading to Twilight City, but now... they clearly no longer needed to go there, as they'd be begging if they did.

Some were seeking refuge with relatives, and the Salvation Army did not prevent them from going, even generously allowing them to drink a bowl of wheat porridge before setting off.

These people departed with gratitude. No need to ask, they would carry the legend of Holy Maiden Carian to the capital of Twilight Province.

As these travelers saw, this reflagged army was solving more than just the issue of food; it was establishing order on this land.

Organized by those who claimed to be the Salvation Army's soldiers, tens of thousands of refugees divided their areas according to villages and tidied the entrances to their homes, still simple but no longer chaotic as before.

Additionally, with the Salvation Army's help, some pitiful people who had lost contact with family while fleeing pleasantly rediscovered their relatives. Many originally thought their loved ones had perished in the turmoil, only to find them nearby, simply unnoticed until now.

Praise be to the Holy Daughter.

Now they are reunited!

In addition, the revered Holy Daughter held simple weddings for several couples.

Among them were ill-fated lovers who met on the road, as well as old friends who only recently confirmed their affections.

Slor led the registration of these newlyweds' identities in the census department, using it as an opportunity for some publicity.

Though the weddings were hasty, the Holy Daughter could only offer a few words of blessing, yet they were deeply grateful to her.

After all, marriages blessed by clergy on this land were rare, and a few words of blessing were satisfying enough for them.

Most couples merely swear oaths in front of the Church or a priest...

The camp was filled with songs and dances, brimming with joy but contrastingly, a persistent dark cloud loomed over the castle.

Due to the seemingly bottomless supplies of the rebel army, the Quartermaster had to extend the endurance expectation from three years to five, consequently halving the soldiers' rations.

And theirs was better off.

Non-combat personnel's rations were directly reduced to one-third of the original.

Though Rayden knew that cutting rations at this time wasn't ideal, he had to do it while everything was just beginning, to act proactively.

The soldiers lay atop the battlements, watching outside the fortress. Initially, they mocked the hungry refugees, but now it was they trapped in a cage without sight of the future.

Whenever the wind blew from outside, the scent of food, like the most malicious curse, tormented their already empty stomachs and hollow souls.

"How long do we have to hold out?"

Watching the faintly visible wedding beyond the fortress, Mikal, clutching a firearm, couldn't help but enviously remark.

Outside, someone awaited his return, and he hadn't heard from her in some time.

He hoped she was still alive.

The veteran beside him twisted his lips, self-mockingly uncertain.

"Maybe... until the King's reinforcements?"

"Does he remember he has this territory?"

"Hope he does."

The two chatted casually, unafraid of cold arrows and hidden guns from across. The rebels used to act that way, but since removing their headpieces, they suddenly became "honest."

Or possibly felt it beneath them now.

Who knew who stood behind them this time, but their side's "Governor" was evidently far outmatched.

A nearby soldier couldn't resist interjecting, enviously joining their conversation.

"I bet he's drinking wine in the palace, with ten beauties in his arms!"

"Not quite... Theoden's quite old; too much indulgence would kill him."

"What if he's a Transcendent? I heard nobility find cultivation easy."

"Well, you've likely heard nobility are lazy too, and not everyone can endure rigorous cultivation."

"Ha, whoever's in his arms, I wish him long life!"

The soldiers weren't avoiding Royal Family's majesty, having little reverence for the distant King to begin with.

Moreover, this sentiment recently intensified.

Rather than wondering how long to hold out, they more wanted to ask another question—

Who exactly were they guarding?

Relating to the tales of "Holy Maiden Carian," discontent quietly spread among them like an invisible vine.

Who truly represented sanctity and justice?

With this change, the offense and defense situation seemed to reverse...

Amidst the unrest among the garrison, Brennan, covered in bear skin, carrying a short axe and round shield, walked alone to the moat.