"Hah..." Lance laughed helplessly. "Although I’d like to say this is a test from the gods, you should know I’m not a Bishop. In fact, I don’t know why that entity did so. Perhaps it’s like us watching fights in an arena—just for a bit of fun."
"But if that’s the case, then what is our purpose?"
It was a war among the gods, and they were like chess pieces on a board. How was that different from him serving the Church and joining the expedition?
The Lord’s words had pulled him out of the deep pit of the Church, only for him to be thrown into another. Who could bear it?
"Our purpose is right there." Lance lifted his gaze to the square.
Reynard, as if sensing sothing, followed his gaze. The square was alive with singing and laughter, a level of joy he had never witnessed before.
Seeing everyone’s smiles, his restless heart was sohow soothed.
Lance smiled and gestured.
"You see? So things don’t need gods or religions; humans can achieve them on their own. Their current happiness is the result of the efforts of people like you and . What we do has always been for humanity itself."
Lance himself felt quite emotional saying this. What he said was, in a way, a form of self-reconciliation.
But he quickly regained his composure and offered the barbecue to Reynard.
"So, are you willing to join in the struggle for humanity’s survival?"
Reynard looked at the Lord’s smiling face, as if he had finally found his purpose. He imdiately stood up, knelt before Lance with utmost seriousness, and took the barbecue as though it were not a skewer but a scepter bestowed by the Pope. He then agreed with unwavering conviction.
"I am willing!"
"Get up, get up." Lance hurriedly helped him up, explaining with a rueful smile, "We’re just having a al and a chat. Don’t take it so seriously."
But Reynard remained just as solemn.
"I’ve been trapped in the lies spun by the Church for many years. Today, thanks to My Lord’s teachings, I finally understand. It’s not that the Holy Light has forsaken us, but that the Holy Light doesn’t care about us at all. My Lord, you are my god!"
"Still talking about gods?" Lance’s expression turned odd, as if reminding him of sothing.
"My Lord, do you hate the Church that much?"
"Indeed." Lance stopped pretending. "You should know that the world is material. Simply put, people need to eat. Those religious charlatans don’t produce anything yet enjoy privileges. Where does everything they enjoy co from? Isn’t it from exploiting ordinary people?
The essence of religion is enslavent and exploitation. No matter how many layers of glamorous garnts they cloak themselves in, it cannot alter this fact. Comparing to them, I feel like you’re insulting ."
Lance left one thought unspoken.
That exploitation should be mine, that money should be mine!
How did it end up in their pockets?
Reynard suddenly fell silent. Even though he had broken the Church’s shackles, his instincts still led him to deify the Lord using religious logic.
Lance certainly noticed his reaction. He understood that Reynard had grown up within that doctrine. That was why, even during the expedition, despite committing sins and even violating holy laws by dabbling in theft, he hadn’t dared to defy the Church’s orders. Even now that he understood the logic of religion, he still habitually resorted to his old ways.
Simply put, he lived for his faith. Asking him to detach from it now was tantamount to asking him to deny everything he was.
His ntal state is very unstable right now. He could easily swing from one extre to another. If he becos fanatical and ntally deranged, that would be troubleso.
Lance realized this and quickly spoke to console him.
"Actually, you don’t have to force yourself to deny your faith. You just need to find a natural law to treat as your god, right?
Their gods are remote and won’t bother with you, so you don’t need to worry about being influenced. It’s just a way to provide a haven for your spiritual world, after all.
What about the sun? It symbolizes light, hope, warmth, and strength, plus it shines on its own. Isn’t that more potent than your Holy Light faith?
If you like, you can assign even more anings to it, like eternity, vitality, life, prosperity—just add whatever you fancy."
"This..." Reynard was stunned. He had never considered such an approach.
But Lance seed rather casual about it.
"Actually, there’s nothing inherently wrong with faith itself. It originated from the ancients seeking psychological comfort, with a very simple notion of praying for blessings and avoiding disasters. It was only later exploited by those with ulterior motives.
You just need to know that faith is for guiding yourself; it has nothing to do with anyone else."
As he spoke, Lance didn’t miss the chance to make a self-deprecating joke.
"If it’s useful, I wouldn’t mind believing in seven or eight gods. Believe a little in each—it doesn’t cost money, after all."
With the Lord’s guidance, Reynard seed to understand sothing too.
However, before he could ponder it deeply, Lance asked about sothing else.
"Have you ever gone back ho?"
As expected, upon hearing this, Reynard set aside his other thoughts. His expression shifted before he began to speak slowly.
"I was expelled from the Allied Army and set out on my journey ho alone..."
Lance listened to his story while eating barbecue and sipping juice.
"As a Wandering Knight returning ho, the locals were very unwelcoming because of the expedition. He encountered many dangers along the way—desert bandits, local militias, wolves, hyenas, venomous snakes, and scorpions...
A few tis, he nearly died in the wilderness. Fortunately, his previous acts of kindness were repaid when locals assisted him. Eventually, he managed to return to the Empire with a rchant caravan.
When he finally returned ho and saw his wife and child, he didn’t dare to acknowledge them, as he owed them far too much.
In his eagerness to join the expedition, he had unhesitatingly sold all his family assets. In pursuit of the Holy Light, he had abandoned his loving wife.
Aside from their son, all he had left his wife were so fields and a thatched hut. But now, he was rely a sinner expelled from the Legion. How could he possibly face them?
In the end, he could only use faith as an excuse, forcing himself to forget them, thus embarking on a path ostensibly dedicated to the Holy Light but which, in truth, was one of escape."
"I will forget them; remorse is sin."
Reynard’s spirits were visibly low as he recounted, "At the ti, I truly couldn’t face them, so I forced myself to forget them under the guise of faith. Remorse implies wavering faith, which is a sin."
"Coward!" Lance’s casual deanor vanished, his face showing anger.
"You can’t even take care of your own family, yet you want to walk the world in the na of the Holy Light? If I were the Holy Light, I’d damn well consider you a disgrace!"
Reynard didn’t dare to reply, rely lowering his head in silence.
Seeing this, Lance simply waved his hand. "Sigh... I’ll handle it."
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