Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Offerings of Virtue
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'Phew... This should do it, right?'
In front of me, people were chanting my name and pledging their allegiance.
Their reaction was more fervent than I'd expected, leaving me a bit flustered, but with that, I'd roughly sorted out the situation. I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Descending to the mortal world in haste to stop this madness had gone well enough.
But now that I'd revealed myself for the first time, I felt the need to say something to the gathered citizens, nobles, and king of Kanan Kingdom.
I hadn't prepared a speech or anything.
Still, watching the fourth-dimensional princess suggesting we split the offerings because I'd do a good job with them, I knew it was time to set things straight.
To make it clear that the world had no need for such offerings.
This wasn't just because I didn't need material sacrifices myself. It also stemmed from my personal philosophy on religion.
The true purpose of religion is to guide people onto the right path.
The wealthy help the poor,
the suffering find comfort and solace,
and it leads people to cast out the evil in their hearts and pursue goodness.
To that end, religions teach of heaven and hell, speak of forgiveness and mercy, and sing of the god who always watches over them.
That, in my opinion from a lifetime studying theology in my past life, is what religion should ultimately strive for.
Any religion that strays from this path...
Becomes a tool for leaders to satisfy their greed and lust, or a means to incite violence and bloodshed. Such things aren't religions at all—just rotten gangs of con artists profiting off God.
Of course, religious leaders like pastors, priests, or monks are human too and need money to survive.
That's why systems like tithes or alms exist, but those are mere compromises for practical realities.
In that sense, I believe true religious people should ultimately support themselves and help others. Isn't that ideal?
In fact, the Chinese monk Baizhang established the Baizhang Qinggui rules, making all monks, including the abbot, farm their own food through sweat. So it's not just wishful thinking.
Anyway,
with the opportunity arisen, I preached this religious philosophy to those before me.
If you wish to offer something to me, let it be good deeds, not money.
Instead of wasting time donating to temples, doing one more act of kindness holds far greater value.
I concluded by quoting my favorite Bible verse:
"Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
Amid their even more enthusiastic praise than I'd anticipated, I felt a touch of pride and ascended back to the heavens with Arcroyal.
Of course, separate from the immediate cheers, I couldn't be sure if humans would truly accept this...
-"For Seraphim!"
-"Hurry and build a temple for Her!"
-"I know there is no god in all the world but Seraphim!"
...Huh?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Solomon had tried to bind Seraphim to this nation's 'control' by offering herself as a sacrifice.
But at this moment, her plan shattered completely.
The god called Seraphim demanded no material offerings.
Instead, it commanded each person's virtuous life as the true sacrifice. This dealt Solomon a heavy blow.
'No way...'
Not temporary riches, but a law-like doctrine demanding ongoing obedience to her.
It was only asking for good deeds now, but Solomon knew.
This 'law' seeping naturally into the minds of the people, nobles... perhaps even the royal family... could become absolute power depending on how it was wielded later.
'Thinking back, it started from the first appearance... Saving me drew the people's trust...'
For now, under the clear blue sky, its holy power radiated brilliant light, lending it a divine air.
But rationally, encountering that form at midnight would make anyone—100 out of 100—see a demon or monster.
In that light, the god appearing to save Solomon amid all eyes on her granted 'faith' to the people, despite its terrifying appearance.
And following that 'faith,' its rejection of offerings,
the complete abolition of conventional material sacrifices, must have sounded to the people like "No more taxes from this moment"—a thrilling declaration too unbelievable to be real or dream.
Topping it off, the call to show obedience through good deeds, rooted in 'justice.'
Through this series of actions,
Seraphim captured hearts in an instant while gaining legitimate grounds to issue commands under the name of 'law.'
With just a few words, it placed countless people here... no, the entire nation at its feet.
'If... all this was truly calculated...'
People become endlessly weak before vast, trustworthy authority.
That's why nations function as groups,
and when it crumbles, the nation falls.
In that vein, Seraphim's actions under the banner of a 'merciful god' capturing the people's hearts
meant, broadly, the formation of a massive force wielding absolute power called 'law.'
Though starting with mere thousands here, soon the whole nation...
No, perhaps swallowing the entire continent.
The god's scheme to discard the small for everything. Solomon felt chills down her spine.
'A terrifying being... more than anyone I've met...
Transcendent gods typically lack broad vision despite immense power.
It was natural, in a way.
Mortals granted their wishes just from displays of might or miracles.
But this god.
Seraphim was different.
A being that could kneel people with its fearsome form alone chose to speak of mercy and virtue, capturing hearts.
Not submission through force,
nor surrender for gain.
It sought genuine obedience born from the absolute value called 'goodness.'
A being of mighty power that also comprehended and seized human hearts with wisdom.
Its intellect even terrified Solomon.
How incredible a being.
How terrifying.
Though its combat prowess wasn't fully confirmed yet.
Its visible form alone made defeat unimaginable, and while Eva testified, I'd yet to see it fight.
But if.
If it truly possessed transcendent might as well.
The perfect, flawless existence Solomon envisioned.
As this nation's princess, she realized there was something she must do.
'If so... I must bind this one somehow. Even if it means bearing her seed...'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "What? Those filthy heretics finally did it?"
"Yes, Your Holiness. Also, as you mentioned, that wench Eva was the herald conveying that heretic god's will."
A emotionless voice echoed from the darkness.
But Pope Ahab's face twisted with clear rage upon hearing it.
A new god had descended upon Kanan Kingdom.
Seraphim.
Its appearance sparked explosive reactions among Kanan's people.
Baal temples and idols remaining across the kingdom were destroyed,
replaced by statues symbolizing Seraphim.
Grotesque statues beyond imagination.
"Insolent fools! To abandon Baal God's mercy and ally with an evil god! I won't let them get away with this!"
He wanted to march an army right then and attack Kanan, teaching those heretics who the true god was.
But the Baal Church couldn't do that now.
They still couldn't look away from the demons' ominous movements.
Direct force would risk unnecessary noise before the great undertaking soon to begin.
Until that day, they had to wield power from the shadows.
But that didn't mean the pope had no options.
Even without lifting a hand directly, the cunning head of a vast church had already devised a way to eradicate that insolent heresy.
"What of the neighboring kingdoms' reactions?"
"Just as you said. They're all watching with concern. Especially toward that Seraphim they worship—fear and disgust are growing."
"Indeed..."
A god statue with vast wings and countless eyes—utterly terrifying.
Bowing before that monstrous, far-from-beautiful form naturally furrowed brows in Baal-worshipping neighbors.
Claiming those fools had gone mad worshipping a demon.
And the pope knew well how to exploit that unease.
"I'll send a letter soon. Contact the lords of the Moabmon Alliance, neighbors to Kanan Kingdom."
"Amen. We shall obey."
After issuing the order, the pope's gaze turned to the statue before him.
Today too, displaying its majestic form,
Baal God's holy image as a valiant human warrior.
Gazing at it, which inspired awe from its appearance alone, a strange sense of superiority welled in the pope's heart.
'This is what a god should look like. To not grasp even this simple truth.'
Appearance is powerful.
People spout that looks don't matter, only the heart—but drooling over beauty is human instinct.
In truth, Baal God's form the pope witnessed differed somewhat,
yet the church had long instructed depicting it as a human warrior.
Similar to humans, it reduced rejection.
In that regard,
allowing its statue as such a hideous, bizarre form proved Seraphim knew nothing of humans or the world's ways.
'Typical trash heretics worship. Some minor deity clumsily playing god.'
Smirking at their foolish choice inviting ruin,
the pope sat and began drafting the letter he'd planned.
In one sentence, its content was:
-That god is a harmful one.
A call to exterminate every last heretic in Kanan worshipping the wicked evil god.
'The law demands nipping heresy in the bud. Now witness Baal's wrath!'
With such thoughts, the pope sealed the envelope with a cold smile.
And, just in case, he included a small box.
An item imbued with the great god's power.
A minor side effect, but it would tear that false evil god apart in one blow.
And so,
the completed letter soon transformed into an army.
"Wipe out the heretics!"
"For Baal God!"
"His Holiness the Pope has declared holy war!"
"No more war! Never again war!"