Chapter 99 - Regarding Religion (2/2)
Gawain and his two great-granddaughters were stupefied as this half-elf young lady’s unequaled logic had instantly triple killed1 them.
Gawain decided to completely ignore this disgrace to all living beings and replied, “I naturally know that Veronica’s suggestion would be very worthwhile for us. But I have my own considerations too… Do you really think she is simply going to help us construct the local church and send a chaplain here?”
Heidi wasn’t a one-track minded person like Rebecca and quickly reacted, “Ancestor is saying… this might be the influence of the royal clan and the Church of the Holy Light behind her? It wouldn’t be right… Princess Veronica has always been upright and sincere to everyone. She is devoted to the God of Holy Light and would never allow profits to contaminate her conviction…”
“She wouldn’t but it didn’t mean that others wouldn’t. Didn’t you see the people she brought along? One of them is the honorary high-ranking priestess of the Church of the Holy Light. She might not have spoken much during the entire process, but she never left more than half a step away from Veronica. The other person was the inner royal court’s Count that the king personally conferred. Furthermore, he is a Count that has been ‘cut off’ from the eastern Loland Clan.”
Gawain pursed his lips and continued, “The royal clan and the church are standing beside the Saint Princess like her left and right protectors, and they didn’t allow any chance for Veronica to leave their line of sight. That Princess’s devout conviction might not be able to stop the other people who have thoughts that are not so devoted. In such situations, I do not dare to accept her goodwill that easily.”
When Heidi and Rebecca heard the explanation, they couldn’t help but reveal thoughtful expressions. The former was considering the possibilities of the royal clan and church’s intentions, while the latter was thinking what her old ancestor blabbed about.
After Gawain finished, he immediately mentioned another matter that was on his mind. “In addition… I feel that Princess Veronica said something to me that I need to be mindful about.”
Amber asked curiously, “Which statement? She said a lot of things to you today!”
“There might be plenty of gods, but only the God of Holy Light will pardon everything. At the end of the Holy Light will be the final redemption for the foolish beings,” Gawain repeated Veronica’s statement without missing a single word as though he was preaching. “Don’t all of you feel there is a problem with this statement?”
“What problem? Isn’t it just preachy words that those Holy Light devotees love to use?” Amber scratched her head while saying, “They love to declare the universal love of their god… as though the entire world was their children…”
“Most of the latter part is indeed the preaching of the Church of Holy Light. But she added something extra at the front — there might be plenty of gods…” Gawain spoke with a stern tone. “This statement might be short, and she said it indifferently too, but this statement isn’t something a devotee of the Church of the Holy Light would normally say.”
Heidi had a reaction and spoke without too much certainty, “She is… putting the God of Holy Light above the rest of the gods?!”
Gawain nodded and responded, “It is an unassuming induction, but it is indeed the meaning.”
Everyone present had bizarre expressions.
This world had plenty of religions, and it was something that Gawain already knew. There were dozens of reputable and well-known religions. There were hundreds of small churches in villages and towns too. As for those hidden and smaller groups that passed as secret religions, it had reached an extent that was countless. Each of the religions that could be passed on would have their individual theurgy. This would mean that a true god’s power existed that supported them. It might be a god or something that was as powerful as a god.
Even with so many religions, the continent was still able to maintain a relatively balanced situation. The balance had actually surpassed the nations and races’ balance. Even if the nations broke out into war, the mainstream religions of those nations would be uninvolved.
This wasn’t always the case. In history, this continent had plenty of wars between religions. The history books were filled with how the religions annexed and invaded one another. Even when the entire continent was united into a single nation, the Gondor Empire would frequently have warring situations between the different religions.
When Gawain was suspended in the sky during all those years, he had seen so many religions warring with each other that he became sick of them. To add on another condition, it was especially bad since he was unable to turn or close his eyes…
But no matter how each religion beat up the brains of each other, they were indeed at ‘peace’.
All of the conflicts had stopped during the year of the Dark Wave.
The gods had chosen to stay silent during the Dark Wave, and they had stayed silent for an entire year.