The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1500 431: The Unassailed Fortress (Part 4)

He paused and began to speak.

"Don't worry, my lord, I will handle any worries for you."

Thelon's face showed a relieved smile, placing his hands on the knight's shoulders, speaking solemnly.

"Rest assured, I will take your family to Twilight City, and afterward, we will head to the Royal Capital. Whether you return or not, your children will be raised by me, and I will treat them as my own!"

Rayden was silent for a long time and then spoke softly.

"The Kaishter family has lived on this land for generations, please let my family stay by my side. If the Divine wishes to take my soul away, let my body be buried here, let my family be buried beside me."

Thelon did not persuade him, after all, taking more people with him had no benefit, and taking fewer burdens meant taking more treasures.

Anyway, from now on, he no longer needed the loyalty of this knight.

However, he still said hypocritically.

"Well, if you think it's better this way..."

Looking at the knight who bowed his head and no longer responded, Thelon returned to the battlements and shouted at the Holy Daughter waiting below the castle.

"Carian, isn't it? I cannot say whether you're the Holy Daughter, but your mercy... truly moved me! In the name of Saint Sis, I can hand over the castle to you. If you think simply taking a castle is a great success, then take it!"

"However!"

"You must retreat ten kilometers back—not! Twenty kilometers! Allow those... poor souls unwilling to continue this fight to leave safely! And promise not to harm any of the soldiers beside me! As long as you can do this, the castle is yours!"

His face carried an expression of compassion, as if yielding the castle was a great sacrifice made for the people beside him.

Even though, inside, he was scared to death, and those "poor souls" he spoke of were in fact himself.

The wall was in an uproar; soldiers and knights bore expressions of astonishment, unable to believe their Earl had agreed to surrender the castle bestowed by the King.

However...

None of them revolted.

Not even anger.

Including Rayden, everyone's heart actually felt relieved.

After losing their only sacred duties, they wanted to be with their families more than chasing after intangible honor, returning to a peaceful and calm life.

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

For this protracted siege to end in such a manner was perhaps the blessing of the Divine...

Brennan was equally shocked.

Did they win?

The opponent just... surrendered?

He had imagined numerous possibilities, including Saint Sis casting a plague into the castle, or a lightning bolt from heaven striking the Earl dead on the spot, but never thought the ending would be so unbelievable.

He could not empathize with the Earl's internal struggle; he merely felt it was more like a miracle than bread falling from the sky.

At this moment, he had no doubt about Carian anymore.

No matter what she was before, where she came from, or how much Holy Light colored her faith.

Now, she was the Holy Daughter of Twilight Province!

Carian did not expose Count Thelon's hypocrisy, only calmly watched this cowardly man and nodded lightly.

"My Lord has permitted it."

"We will wait ten kilometers away on the plains for a day until the sun rises to its current position tomorrow."

"This amount of time should be sufficient for you to pack your bags; we will not send anyone to pursue you."

Saying this, she turned towards the still shocked Brennan and ordered gently.

"General Brennan, have your men retreat ten kilometers, taking only our luggage, no need to dismantle the camp. We will return at this time tomorrow."

Brennan, stunned for a moment, finally came to his senses, nodding without uttering any redundant words.

"Alright."

The two returned together to the camp.

Just like that, under the castle guards' incredible gaze, the vast Salvation Army orderly packed up their gear and flags, and moved north of Sparrow Wood Castle.

Some destitute people followed them, clearly already having become their followers.

Yet, more remained in place, trusting that the Holy Daughter would not abandon them and would return!

"Quick! Pack up!"

Thelon did not hesitate for even a minute, like a hurried fat rat, urging the panicked steward, and the servants were all driven to his palace.

His palace was at the top of the castle.

Now he only regretted not packing up sooner, leaving him less than twenty-four hours.

No—

Maybe only the time before nightfall.

He must set out under cover of darkness to ensure those guys wouldn't follow him, calmly reaching the provincial capital.

The family quarreled about who could take more luggage, their noisy appearance shaming everyone, including Thelon himself.

Watching the mice scurrying around the castle, Rayden felt a heart filled with desolation.

In the end, the ones he protected were actually just these people.

He felt increasingly that the honor he once took pride in was not worth it...