When Hardion's army, led by Carl, resumed its march north after a brief rest, they were once again faced with an unexpected situation.
"We will never surrender! You cruel demon of Hardion!"
"… … ."
This was the answer that came back to Carl, who was walking towards the locked gate, demanding surrender.
Carl immediately sensed the situation. As Chandar retreated, he must have spread rumors in the castle and the city that Carl had been carrying out a brutal massacre by sending prisoners out as cannon fodder. That way, Chandar could justify his defeat and retreat.
It wasn't entirely untrue, but strictly speaking, Carl could not be entirely blamed for it. Although Carl acted with intention, Hardion's army had actually tried to protect the prisoners, and in the process, blood was shed.
Weren't the Tumarians the ones who shot arrows without checking whether their targets were friend or foe?
"If you don't surrender, there's nothing I can do," Carl said.
"Okay, just wait a minute!"
