Chapter 620:What Do You Want Me To Do?Kill Them
Chapter 620: 620:What Do You Want Me To Do?Kill Them
Destruction followed them almost everywhere they went after entering deeper into Xylos territory, and although the major battles had already moved elsewhere, the scars left behind by the war remained visible across the land while serving as a grim reminder of what had happened here, because no matter where one looked, there were signs of death, ruin, and devastation that had been carved into the region by the fighting between powerful armies and terrifying experts.
Entire villages stood abandoned, and not a single trace of normal life could be seen anywhere as the once lively settlements now looked more like ghost towns that had been forgotten by the world.
Many homes had collapsed completely while others leaned dangerously to one side as if a slightly stronger gust of wind could bring them crashing down at any moment, and countless buildings were covered in long cracks caused by the terrifying shockwaves generated when Saints and Divine Knights clashed nearby, leaving behind destruction that ordinary people could never hope to repair.
The roads were littered with debris while broken carts remained overturned beside the streets, and fragments of shattered walls could be seen scattered everywhere among the dust and rubble.
Many of the smaller huts had been completely torn apart while their wooden frames lay scattered across the ground, and several wells had collapsed inward because of the violent tremors that had repeatedly shaken the region during the fighting.
Even now, the land still carried visible signs of those battles because large craters remained scattered throughout the fields while burn marks stretched across entire sections of farmland, and some forests had been uprooted completely as if a giant hand had torn them from the earth.
The further Ethan’s forces advanced into the territory, the heavier the atmosphere became, and although nobody openly spoke about it, everyone could feel the uncomfortable weight pressing down on their hearts.
No one spoke much, and even the usually relaxed soldiers had become noticeably quieter while carefully observing their surroundings.
Ethan rode at the front while carefully observing the surroundings, and his eyes continuously scanned every corner of the village while remaining alert for any signs of danger.
As he continued looking around, his expression suddenly changed slightly.
"Be careful," he said while raising one hand and signaling the troops behind him to stop.
"There are people hiding here."
The surrounding knights immediately became alert while weapons were drawn and shields were raised, and the entire formation became tense within moments.
Noel narrowed his eyes while looking toward a group of damaged buildings nearby.
"Must be remnants of the army," he assessed calmly while resting one hand on the hilt of his weapon.
The knights immediately gathered around Ethan and formed a tight defensive formation because everyone expected an ambush.
The atmosphere became tense while everyone prepared themselves for a possible attack.
Ethan slowly pointed toward a cluster of ruined houses.
"Move carefully."
"Search the area."
The knights nodded immediately before advancing through the village cautiously while checking every damaged building one by one.
Footsteps echoed through the silent streets while the sound of armor scraping against armor filled the air, and every soldier remained alert as they searched the ruins.
Several minutes passed before a frightened voice suddenly rang out from one of the damaged buildings.
"Wait!"
The knights instantly turned toward the source.
What they saw made them pause.
A group of ragged men, women, and children slowly emerged from inside a collapsed building while looking terrified, and their pale faces and thin bodies revealed just how much suffering they had endured.
Several children clung tightly to their mothers while trembling in fear, and the moment they saw the armed knights surrounding them, many immediately fell to their knees.
"Have mercy..."
"Please don’t kill us..."
"Please..."
Several women started crying while one old man lowered his head until it touched the ground.
The knights froze briefly.
This was not an enemy army.These were civilians.
The soldiers slowly looked toward Ethan.
Ethan remained silent for a few moments before speaking.
"Search the surroundings."
"Make sure no soldiers are hiding among them."
The knights immediately obeyed and spread throughout the village while searching every possible location thoroughly.
Several buildings were searched from top to bottom while cellars were checked and storage rooms were opened, and every possible hiding place was inspected carefully.
A short while later the search teams returned.
"My Lord."
"No enemy soldiers found."
"Only civilians."
More groups gradually emerged from hiding while people crawled out from basements and appeared from ruined homes and collapsed structures, and by the end of the search several hundred civilians had gathered before Ethan.
Many of them looked exhausted while many were injured, and some children were crying quietly while clinging to their parents.
Apparently they had failed to evacuate when the battles began, and after hearing the sound of approaching horses they had hidden themselves while praying desperately not to be discovered by soldiers.
Randall slowly stepped forward.
"My Lord."
"What is your decision?"
The question caused Ethan to fall silent while his eyes slowly moved across the crowd before him.
Children.
Mothers.
Old men.
Wounded civilians.
His heart felt heavy because he already knew what would likely happen if he chose the path expected of him.
If he imprisoned them and sent them back, most of them would become slaves, and if the Empire became overwhelmed with prisoners then many of them might simply disappear without anyone caring what happened afterward.
The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.
After a long moment of silence, Ethan finally spoke.
"Let them go."
The entire group froze.
"What?"
Several shocked voices immediately erupted.
"But My Lord!"
One knight stepped forward quickly.
"If something troublesome happens later, you may be labelled a traitor."
Another knight immediately added.
"My Lord, releasing enemy civilians during wartime is dangerous."
"We could be punished."
A third knight frowned deeply.
"Even if they are civilians, the military might not see it that way."
"We could face investigation."
Another soldier clenched his jaw.
"My Lord, this could become a serious problem."
"Please reconsider."
The protests continued one after another because everyone understood Ethan’s intentions, but they also understood the risks that came with such a decision.
Then Ethan suddenly turned toward them.
"So what do you want me to do?"
His voice rose sharply.
"Kill them?"
The entire group fell silent.
Ethan pointed toward several children hiding behind their mothers.
"Kill these children?"