Chapter 15: Afraid of God or Man?

Chapter 15: Afraid of God or Man?

Holy One Church. This was the religion that most nations on this continent have designated as their state religion. It was a so-called monotheistic religion, and the duty of the Holy One Church was to follow the Teachings of God left by Saint Ain. This was called the Great Principle and was the first thing my religious studies teacher taught me.

It could be said that this was the only meaningful content of that class.

Apart from that, all that was taught in religious classes was that the Western sect was correct and that other sects shouldnt be accepted, but I wasnt taught about what the heresies were or what the difference in doctrines was. I also wasnt taught anything but the Great Principle.

So, I was starved for knowledge in this area. I probably shouldnt have been though.

When Baron Frederic Renan was teaching me the Holy One language, I was reading the text as always and asking questions about words I didnt understand.

Baron Renan, what is a spherical world?

The world is shaped like a globe, Your Majesty. Its a term often seen in the holy scriptures Do you not know about this?

The Baron said in surprise when he saw that I was unfamiliar with the word, but I had never heard that word before. I took the chance and asked Timona about it.

I dont know. Right, Timona.

Y-yes. We were never taught it, Father.

He seemed to feel safe around his father, so he reacted honestly. I think this was the first time he had ever spoken properly. His voice was also cute His voice hadnt broken yet, so it was obvious.

I see

The Baron closed his eyes and pondered, then he looked up as if he had made up his mind.

This is something you should know, Your Majesty. So, I will teach you about the holy scriptures today.

The holy scriptures are a compilation of the words of Saint Ain which were compiled by his disciples after he was called to heaven. In it, he taught that the world is spherical.

Seriously? Thats amazing. This world already understands gravity and rotation?

Its only natural that youre surprised. Well, to put it simply Your Majesty, have you ever heard of the sea or a boat?

Hmm. Ive never seen them before, but I know what they are.

It wouldnt be strange for me to know that.

Saint Ain took a ship with his followers and sailed east like God had told him to. Before the teachings of Saint Ain, it was believed that the world was flat and there was nothing beyond the sea. After a short while into their voyage, Saint Ain said to his followers, who were anxious, Look behind you. The old continent is already out of sight. This is because the world is round.

He was talking about so-called horizons. Come to think of it, there was a similar story in ancient Greece. I heard that the spherical earth theory was rather common among scholars at that time.

He goes on to say, It is by the power of God that we do not fall. Therefore, we wont fall as long as we keep our faith.

I see. So, after accepting the actual phenomenon, he reasoned that God was the one who made it so. This religion was completely different in other worlds.

I said in appreciation, fearing that the people from both the Chancellor and Regents faction, who were watching, would capture the Baron at any moment.

However, they made no moves for now. I was relieved, believing that they would overlook this much.

But three days later, Timona Renan disappeared. They told me that he had returned to his fief.

The following week, Baron Fredreic Renan did not show up for class, and that was when I finally learnt that the Baron was facing the Inquisition.

Going back to the day when Timona Renan disappeared.

At that point, I had a pretty good idea of what was going on. The brother of the Chancellor, George V the highest-ranking leader of the Western Faction, had acted. The Baron was definitely captured, and Timona Renan was, at best, under house arrest, and at the worst, in prison.

At night, I magically put the guard to sleep and beckoned towards the attic.

I have to go to Count Palatine Vedett to find out more, but I didnt know where he was.

I wanted to use the observer in the attic as a guide.

But the person in the attic didnt come down easily.

Frustrated, I kneaded and contracted heat energy as fast as I could.

Eventually, when the pressure was too much to bear and the mana began to glow, the person finally came down. It was a man.

Youre late.

My voice was so low that it even surprised me.

But still, the man only bowed his head without speaking.

Take me to Count Palatine Vedett.

When I said that, the man finally said, Please reconsider, with his face down.

Ive given it enough thought. Now take me to him.

I could feel mana leaking out of my body. I was probably flustered.

But at the same time, I was also thinking calmly. I can save the father and son depending on the situation.

The only choices you have right now are to let me kill you or to lead me straight to him. Just so you know, I havent forgotten that you directed your bloodlust towards me before.

The man said in a twisted voice, Ill show you where he is.

You made me waste time