Chapter 432: The Fortress That Collapses on Its Own
Time flies, and a week has passed in the blink of an eye.
The Salvation Army's siege of Quemu Castle continues, but the worlds inside and outside the city walls are two completely different worlds.
Outside the city, the Salvation Army camp was in good order.
Every morning, the smoke rising from hundreds of cauldrons and the aroma of porridge became the most moving scenery in this dead land. Attracted by the intoxicating fragrance, new hungry people joined in almost every day.
Most of them were refugees heading to Dusk City, but now... obviously there was no need to go there, after all, they would still be begging for food if they went there.
Some people were going to seek refuge with their relatives, and the Salvation Army did not stop them from going. They even generously gave them a bowl of oatmeal porridge before they continued on their journey.
These people set off with gratitude. Needless to say, they would bring the legend of "Saint Kallen" to the capital of Twilight Province.
As these travelers saw, this army that changed its flag not only solved the problem of food for the people, but also established order in this land.
Under the organization of those soldiers who called themselves the Salvation Army, tens of thousands of refugees divided their areas according to villages and tidied up their doorsteps in an orderly manner. Although still simple, it was no longer as chaotic as before.
Furthermore, with the help of the Salvation Army, some people who had been separated from their loved ones during the escape were also pleasantly surprised to find their families again. Many people had originally thought that their loved ones had died in the chaos of war, but they found that they were not far away from them, but they had never discovered each other.
Praise Her Majesty the Saint.
Now they are reunited!
In addition, the respected Saint also held simple weddings for several couples.
Some of them are star-crossed lovers who met on the street, while others are old lovers who have known each other for many years but have only recently confirmed their feelings for each other.
The household registration department that Slok was in charge of registered the identities of these couples and also took the opportunity to do some publicity.
Although the wedding was very sloppy and the saint could only give them a few words of blessing, they were all very grateful to her.
After all, in this land, it is a rare thing for a marriage to be blessed by clergymen, and a few words of blessing are enough to satisfy them.
Most couples only take vows in a church or in front of a priest...
The camp was filled with singing and dancing, and was full of joy. In contrast, a dark cloud hung over the castle.
Since the rebels had no idea of food, the quartermaster had to raise the expected duration of their defense from three years to five years, and the soldiers' rations had to be reduced by half accordingly.
And they are still good.
The rations for non-combatants were directly reduced to one-third of the original amount.
Although Leiden knew that it was not a good idea to cut people's rations at this time, he could only do it as soon as possible while everything was just beginning.
The soldiers were lying on the battlements, looking outside the castle. At first they could still laugh at the hungry people, but now they were locked in a cage with no future.
Whenever the wind blew in from outside the city, the aroma of food was like the most vicious curse, tormenting their already empty stomachs and empty hearts.
"How long do we have to wait?"
Looking at the wedding vaguely visible outside the city wall, Camille, holding a musket, couldn't help but say this with envy.
There was someone waiting for him outside, and he hadn't heard from her for a while.
Hope she is still alive.
The veteran next to him grinned and made a self-deprecating remark in an uncertain tone.
"Perhaps... wait until the king's reinforcements arrive?"
"Does he still remember that he owns this territory?"
"I hope he still remembers."
The two chatted casually, not fearing the arrows and hidden guns from the other side. In the past, the rebels did do this, but since taking off their headscarves, they suddenly became "open and honest."
Of course, it may also be that they are too disdainful to do so.
God knows who is behind them this time, but it seems that the cards they face are much bigger than their "Governor".
The soldier on the side couldn't help but say something extra, interrupting their conversation with an envious tone.
"I bet he's drinking red wine in the palace with ten beautiful women in his arms!"
"That's not the case... Theoden is already old. He would have died long ago if he had to endure such a struggle."
"What if he is a transcendent? I heard that it is easy for nobles to practice."
"Then you must have heard that nobles are also lazy. Not all of them can endure the asceticism."
"Ha, no matter who's sitting in his arms, I wish him a long life!"
The soldiers were no longer shy about the royal majesty, although they had never had much respect for the distant king.
And, this sentiment has recently become stronger than ever.
Rather than asking how long they would wait, they wanted to ask another question—
What kind of things are they guarding?
Thinking of the rumor about "Saint Kallen", a feeling of dissatisfaction spread quietly in everyone's hearts like an invisible vine.
Who represents holiness and justice?
As one side gained strength while the other lost strength, the offensive and defensive momentum had clearly reversed...
Just when the defenders were in a state of panic, Brennan, wearing a bearskin, carrying a short axe and a round shield, walked alone to the moat.
The soldiers on the city wall suddenly became nervous, holding their muskets and crossbows tightly, ready for battle!
Brennan grinned, as if he hadn't seen anything, and there was no personal guard protecting him.
He stopped and looked up at the city wall, and a loud voice sounded like a war drum.
"Theron Gard! If you still remember your glory and are still a thing with balls, stand up and speak!"
There was a commotion on the city wall.
After a while, Count Theron, dressed in military uniform, appeared reluctantly behind the battlements under the protection of a group of knights.
This was his second "meeting" with Brennan.
This savage in bear skin is still as rude as the last time we met!
However, Redden, who was standing behind Theron, frowned.
He could sense a shift in the rebel leader's aura. Although his strength was not significantly different from their last encounter, the nature of his power seemed different.
He couldn't describe the feeling, but the disgusting stench was gone.
Instead, there was an incredible sense of...holiness?
Leiden shook his head and drove the strange idea out of his mind.
He would rather believe that he was mistaken.
"Damned traitor! Cannibal scum! You dare let me speak out? Ha! There's no point in talking to a beast like me. I'd rather stay here forever! When His Majesty's reinforcements arrive, he'll hang all of you scum on the gallows!"
Theron roared with great force, which made the round body look less funny.
Even he himself is aware of how weak his threat is.
If there really were reinforcements, he would never have waited until now, let alone been driven into the castle by a group of armed peasants.
Only a demon funded by Hell, or a devil funded by Chaos, could make him so miserable!
Saint?
It's really difficult for these peasants to find a village girl who pretends to be a clergyman!
Faced with the bluffing threat, Brennan just shrugged indifferently and then shouted behind him.
"I told you, Your Highness, they won't listen to advice... Let Saint Sith punish them directly."
Theron sneered.
"What are you talking about! If Saint Sith really wants to punish someone, it will be you—"
Before he could finish his words, the second half of his sentence froze in his throat, and his eyes widened and 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, and her peaceful face was filled with calmness and kindness, just like the Virgin Mary who walked out of an oil painting.
Charlize Theron's Adam's apple moved, and she swallowed back the words she hadn't said. There was only disbelief and a hint of panic on her face.
This...how is it possible!
He was sure that all the clergy in his territory, from priests to nuns, including church servants... almost all of those who had not been killed by the Green Army were in this castle!
Where did this guy come from?!
It wasn't just Count Theron who was in disbelief. Redon standing behind him and the surrounding defenders were also in an uproar, exchanging incredulous glances with each other.
"The rumors...are actually true?!"
"Impossible! This must be a fake they found somewhere!"
"But... don't you think she's more like one than those nuns in the castle? They can only pray to the idols and can't do anything, but she can conjure up bread!"
"Wait, do you really believe she can make bread?"
"I don't think so, so what? Could it be that the food in those refugees' bowls is just an illusion?"
At first they thought that the so-called Saint Kallen was just a rumor made up by the rebels, until she actually appeared in front of them.
All the rumors about the Salvation Army were now filtered through a sacred lens, and became mutually corroborated testimonies with the Saint Kallen standing before them!
That sacred filter was naturally attached to her, and it did not come from any holy light visible to the naked eye, but her existence itself became that light.
"Lord Theron Garde, I come at the behest of my lord to end the suffering of this land."
"Shut up! You..."
Sharon was breathing heavily and staring at Kallen in surprise and suspicion, but she couldn't say the word "fake".
What if it’s true?
He was also a little vague in his mind and didn't dare to say it too firmly. If he really offended the gods, he would definitely suffer the consequences.
Swallowing, Theron chose to skip this irrelevant question and stared at her and asked sharply.
"Who are you? Who's behind you? Why would you betray your king and join these bandits?"
"My name is Kallen. I am a nun who heard the grace of God in a desperate situation. I do not pledge allegiance to any secular king, and naturally I have never betrayed anyone. I only serve the God in my heart."
Kallen looked calmly at the frightened Earl, and her calm and gentle voice seemed to have the power to soothe people.
However, this soothing force made the knights standing on the city walls panic.
"She heard the Divine Grace?!"
“Is this true…?”
"I, I don't think she's lying... Counterfeiting God's will will lead to hell!"
"No wonder...she wanted to give the land to the people. Only a god would do such a thing."
The soldiers were in an uproar, whispering in fear, trying to find the answer from their surroundings.
Looking at the soldiers whispering among themselves, the Knight Commander drew his sword and shouted sternly.
"Shut up! Don't listen to the witch's instigation! It's just a trick of the rebels to deceive people. Think about what they have done before. Once they break into the castle, they will immediately tear off the masks on their faces!"
His voice played a certain role, but not as big as imagined.
The morale of the people in the castle has been demoralized. If a fight really breaks out, I'm afraid they won't be able to hold out for long.
The reason why their formation remains stable now is simply because the two sides have not yet engaged in battle.
Kallen didn't scold him for his rudeness, but just looked at the earl with a sullen face and continued in a calm voice.
"As you can see, people across this land are dying for things that mean absolutely nothing."
The Count said nothing.
Lei Deng, who was standing behind him, took a step forward and stared at the woman who claimed to be a nun with sharp eyes.
"How dare you say our glory is meaningless?"
Kallen didn't avoid his gaze.
"It's not what I said, nor what anyone said, but it has become a fact, isn't it?"
Without waiting for Raiden's reply, she continued in a calm and solemn tone.
"You've abandoned your subjects, either taking your wealth and fleeing to neighboring lands, or hiding in your own castles, letting the devil devour their souls, fantasizing about nonexistent friends coming to your aid... You've already abandoned your honor, you just haven't acknowledged it yet."
I just didn't admit it...
Leiden's Adam's apple moved, and he felt like an arrow had hit his knee, but the pain penetrated into his heart.
He finally vaguely realized what had been making him feel uncomfortable.
He and his family had been loyal to Earl Quemu for generations, and all their legal principles stemmed from that ancient and sacred contract. However, that sacred contract contained more than just the clause "a knight must be loyal to his lord," it also included another clause often cited by the lords: "a lord has an obligation to protect his people."
The two sentences together constitute a complete contract.
Now that the lord had long since abandoned his duties, the glory he considered his life had become a mockery. He considered himself a knight, but in reality, he was merely a lackey of power...
Just as Redden was struggling internally, a hint of relaxation finally appeared on Theron's face, which was twisted with fear.
He had no doubt that he still had the strength to fight. This group of weak peasants would have to suffer heavy casualties to capture the castle, but why should he gamble with his noble body?
There is no benefit in this.
They may believe in a saint who appears out of nowhere today, and convert to another stronger and stronger bandit tomorrow.
He knew those farmers too well. These guys had no beliefs or positions. An egg was enough to bribe them.
In that case...
Why not take advantage of the fact that they are just reciting the St. Siddique Sutra and get out of the way?
If admitting that this village girl is a saint can save his life, he can accept it.
This is also the reason why he didn't shout out "fake".
Hiding his plan in his heart, Theron pretended to be calm and shouted outside the castle.
"What do you want to talk to me about?"
Kallen looked at him and slowly stated the terms of peace.
"Give up this castle. Since you have abandoned your obligations and betrayed your people, leave this land to those who love it."
"Then you will be free, and you can leave with anyone who will follow you, to wherever you wish."
These words, carried by the wind, drifted into the ears of Count Theron and every soldier.
The tone of voice that forgave all sins was as if they were the ones locked in the cage... by the gods in the dark.
While Theron was still hesitating, the soldiers beside him could no longer suppress the desire in their eyes.
Leave peacefully?
They don't have to die here!
Although the rebels had no credibility at all, it was Her Highness the Saint standing there after all, and all this was done in the name of God.
They didn't have the calculations that the Earl had in mind, nor were they much smarter than the peasants outside. They just had a slightly better life than the latter...
"...This is difficult." Theron struggled internally and looked at his knights. "What do you think?"
Leiden struggled for a moment, but still chose to faithfully fulfill his mission as a knight.
Even if this glory has long been tarnished.
"Sir, please reconsider! The rebels have no integrity whatsoever and going back on their word is commonplace! Once you open the city gates, they will tear the contract to shreds and rush in like jackals!"
snort.
If you can guess it, how can I not guess it?
Sharon sneered in his heart, but said nothing. He just pretended to be in thought for a long time, and then slowly spoke.
"Rayden, can I trust you?"
Raiden was stunned for a moment.
"Of course, my lord…what do you mean?"
He suddenly stopped talking midway.
He understood the look in the Earl's eyes, which meant "I will take good care of your family."
Leiden smiled bitterly in his heart and sighed slightly.
In fact, the Earl does not need to do this at all. Even if he doesn't say anything, he will fulfill his oath until the last moment.
He paused and spoke.
"Don't worry, sir. I will take care of 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. Regardless of whether you can come back or not, your children will be raised by me and I will treat them as my own!"
Raiden was silent for a long time before speaking in a low voice.
"The Keshitel 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 bury my body here and let my family be buried beside me."
Charlize Theron did not persuade him. After all, it would not do him any good to bring an extra group of family members. If he brought fewer burdens, he could bring more treasures.
Anyway, from now on, he no longer needs the knight's loyalty.
However, he still said it hypocritically.
"Okay, if you think this is better..."
Looking at the knight who lowered his head and no longer responded, Theron returned to the battlement and shouted to the saint waiting at the foot of the city.
"Karen, right? I can't say for sure whether you are a saint, but your kindness... has indeed touched me! For the sake of Saint Sith, I can hand over the castle to you. If you think that everything will be fine if you get a castle, then you can take it!"
"but!"
"You must retreat ten kilometers—no! Twenty kilometers! Let those... pitiful people who have no intention of continuing this struggle leave safely! And promise not to harm any of my soldiers! If you can do this, this castle will be yours!"
There was a compassionate expression on his face, as if he had made a huge sacrifice by giving up the castle, all for the people around him.
Even though he was actually scared to death, the "poor guy" he was talking about was himself.
There was an uproar on the city wall, and the faces of the soldiers and knights were filled with astonishment. They did not expect that their earl would agree to hand over the castle given to him by the king.
However……
No one mutinied.
Not even anger.
Everyone, including Leiden, felt relieved.
After losing their only sacred obligation, they wanted to stay with their families and return to a peaceful and tranquil life rather than any illusory honor.
They do not want to have their neighbors' blood on their hands.
The fact that this long-lasting siege ended in this way might be a sign of the mercy of the gods...
Brennan was also shocked.
Win?
The opponent just... surrendered?
He had imagined many possibilities, including Saint Sith sending a plague to the castle, or a thunderbolt falling from the sky and killing the count on the spot, but he never expected such an incredible ending.
He could not empathize with the Count's inner struggle. He just felt that this was more like a miracle than bread falling from the sky.
At this moment, he no longer had any doubts about Kallen.
No matter who she was before or where she came from, to what extent the underlying color of her faith was holy light.
Now, she is the Saint of Twilight Province!
Kallen did not expose Count Theron's hypocrisy, but just looked at the frightened guy calmly and nodded slightly.
“My Lord said, ‘He has granted it.’”
"We will wait for a day on the plains twenty kilometers away until the sun rises to its current position tomorrow."
"That's plenty of time for you to pack your bags. We won't send anyone after you."
With 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 and take our luggage with them. There's no need to evacuate the camp. We'll be back by this time tomorrow."
Brennan, who had been stunned for a long while, finally came back to his senses. Without saying a word, he just nodded.
"good."
The two returned to the camp together.
Just like that, under the incredulous gaze of the soldiers defending the city, the mighty Salvation Army really packed up their luggage and flags in an orderly manner and moved towards the north of Quemu Fort.
Some hungry people followed them and seemed to have become their followers.
And more people stayed where they were because they believed that Her Highness the Saint would not abandon them and she would come back here!
"Quick! Pack your things!"
Without a minute's hesitation, Theron rushed like a panicked fat rat, urging the panicked butler and servants to rush into his palace.
His court was at the highest point of the castle.
Now he only regretted why he hadn't packed up earlier, as he only had less than twenty-four hours left.
No--
Maybe only until dark.
He had to set out under the cover of night to ensure that those guys wouldn't go back on their word and catch up with him, so that he could arrive at the provincial capital calmly.
The family quarreled over who could bring more luggage, and the noisy scene made everyone feel embarrassed, including Sharon herself.
Looking at the mice running around in the castle, Leiden felt sad.
In the end, he was protecting such a group of people.
He increasingly felt that the glory he once prided himself on was no longer worth it...
(End of this chapter)
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