The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1503 - 432: The True Victor (Part 3)

"...We were not defeated by your army, nor by your mercy, but only by the Divine behind you."

Brennan squinted slightly, his hand unconsciously resting on the axe handle.

This Knight Master must have lost his head and forgotten his current predicament.

Mere Platinum Level Knight, though he had just broken through the Platinum Level not long ago, his axe was no less lethal!

Noticing Brennan's gaze, Rayden did not flinch, glaring back without dodging.

Thelon might be afraid, but he was not.

For him, dying on the battlefield was the ultimate honor. He had fulfilled his vow and was eager for this guy to draw his axe so he could see who indeed had more strength.

Just as the tension between the two reached its peak, Carian suddenly spoke, interrupting their dispute.

"You are right; you indeed did not lose to us on the battlefield."

Rayden paused slightly, casting a surprised look at her as if he hadn't expected someone with such an advantage to make a concession.

However, in Carian's view, this was not a concession. He was speaking the truth.

If there hadn't been divine intervention, the moat beside her would never be as clear as it was today, surely filled with the blood of peasants and soldiers.

What they would ultimately have gained would be nothing more than a pile of rubble and a heap of corpses left to rot.

While Rayden was at a loss, Carian continued in a gentle tone.

"Whether you acknowledge me has nothing to do with me; I have no other identity or title, I am merely a nun in service of God."

"Yet, I still wish to say, God is the embodiment of the will of the people. And this so-called 'people' are not just those behind me, but also those behind you, and the Earl who has already fled."

"And among them, it naturally includes yourself."

Brennan was already bewildered by these words.

Honestly, his head couldn't handle something so complex. He preferred to grab his axe and take on the knight before him, to hammer some sense into that blockhead, forcing him to recognize reality.

However, standing before Carian, Rayden seemed to awaken as if from a dream, his heart stirred by storms.

God is the embodiment of the people's will.

It meant... today's fall of Sparrow Wood Castle was not the will of any single God.

But rather, it was their collective desire that brought them here.

"...I never expected my heart's knot to be untied by a nun of the rebel army. Haha, I suddenly find myself acknowledging you a little, maybe you really did hear the Oracle after all."

At the very least, a peasant girl couldn't have spoken such words.

Nor could a nun.

On Rayden's face appeared a bittersweet smile, but behind that smile, there was greater relief.

He still couldn't be sure if the so-called 'Holy Daughter' truly witnessed the grace of God, but she indeed heard the voices of the people's hearts.

Whether God told her, or she heard them herself.

Carian looked at him with a smile.

It wasn't because of his repentance or submission, but a genuine joy that he could walk out of the fortress of his own heart.

"So, what is your choice?"

Rayden sneered.

"Choice? Why do you ask me? I am your prisoner; what choice could I make?"

Carian shook her head gently, correcting his words.

"I have not captured you, nor has the Salvation Army behind me. If you still pledge allegiance to your Lord, you can ride to follow in his footsteps now, including the soldiers behind you."

At this point, she paused for a moment and continued.

"But if you choose to serve the God in your heart, acknowledging the divine will as the will of the people, then I hope from now on, you can see it as an honor to protect your people, rather than enslave them in the name of God."

"No matter which King you serve."

Rayden's body trembled slightly; he lifted his lowered head, casting another incredulous glance at Carian.

At that moment, the confusion in him suddenly cleared as he realized his destiny and understood why this Holy Daughter appeared before him during his time of bewilderment.

Without a doubt—

It was the Divine who sent her!

And the answer within his heart was crystal clear.

Rather than pledge allegiance to a worldly King, it was better to serve the God who cared for them.

"Your Highness, no King can compare to you... at least not on the land beneath my feet."

He kneeled on one knee, offering his sword in submission.

"The sword passed down through generations of the Kaishter family, once wielded for a Lord who betrayed the people—I now understand that shame. If it can fight for the innocent, that will be its supreme glory."

Carian took the sword from his hands, and the weight of two swords made it a bit difficult for her to bear, after all, she was merely a mortal without Extraordinary Power.

Yet, she did not collapse, for her conviction was no less than anyone present.

She handed the sword symbolizing the castle to Brennan, then pulled out the longsword from her embrace, using all her strength to lay it upon his shoulder.

"...I believe the people of Twilight Province will accept your allegiance and that of your family."

Her fair face flushed red, she held her breath, speaking in a low voice.

"Hold it for me, please... I can barely hold on."

Rayden paused, only then remembering the weight of his sword. Before the Holy Daughter collapsed from exhaustion, he hastily took the sword from her.

...

The prolonged siege was finally over, the Salvation Army took over Sparrow Wood Castle, raising the sacred banner atop the walls.