In the dungeon.

The next day, before dawn, Charlemagne gathered everyone together.

Among them were the twelve knights, players such as Philo and Samuel, and their respective subordinates, a total of hundreds of people gathered around the school grounds.

It seems that Charlemagne intends to make a statement before the arrival of the people of the Holy See.

The religion of Europa is much stronger than the Elemental Tower and the Church of the Word, except for some small sects huddled in the mountains and forests, they can be roughly divided into two factions, one is the old religion before the division of the Eindhoven Kingdom, the Holy See, and the other is the Protestant sect that has separated from it.

The Holy See stands on a high wall in the heart of Europa, and the divine power is scattered among the three kingdoms, but it does not completely overshadow the imperial power.

The Protestants, on the other hand, fled under pressure from the Holy See, visiting various princely forces, making it clear that they wanted to stand on their own.

The Protestant delegation, which was about to visit, was naturally on the move, and their purpose was self-evident - to take a fancy to Charlemagne's army and intend to openly support him.

Wars between religions would make Charlemagne famous, not as he had to beat around the bush every time he went to war, and it would also make it easier to gain popular support.

But there are pros and cons, and once this is done, the three kingdoms radiated by the Holy See will eventually have a war with him.

Charlemagne was a very serious man, with blonde hair that was not angry and self-assured, and often pursed thin lips. He has broad shoulders and is very handsome, but he lacks affinity because he doesn't smile.

"The people from the Holy See are coming soon, and I know you're all nervous." He said, "Actually, I'm more nervous than you. ”

The knights, led by Roland, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Charlemagne waited for them to be quiet before speaking, his voice hovering over the school grounds.

"It is said that the Holy See is the spokesman of the gods in the world, so the Templar Knights are invulnerable, and one person can even defeat a team of 100 people.

"It is said that the gods gave the Holy See the power to heal others and heal the bones of the living dead.

"It is also said that the gods can see the future, so let his spokesmen stop the wrong deeds, look for the ultimate victor, and follow, support, and assist him.

"Now they're going to come to me. It's like I'm the destined 'winner'......"

After a pause, Charlemagne sneered: "Actually, I don't believe a word of these words. ”

The crowd laughed.

"Of course, I'm not denying the existence of the gods, they may or may not be there, but what does it matter to me?

"The Holy See and Protestantism are at loggerheads, and if the gods are really watching, watching all this, does that mean that the gods behind these two groups of people are also fighting in the sky? If so, what is the difference between the gods and us? They also commit the original sin of jealousy, greed, and they also try to rob others of their things, even going so far as to wage war for it – with human blood shedding.

"Let me ask you, what is there to believe in such a god? Unless he stands in front of me, clutches my head, and tells me to kneel and surrender, I won't listen to a word of his!

"I know what the coming papal seeers will say, the same drama has been played out countless times in the kingdom of Garros, in the Duchy of Caroling, and even our grooms will recite it.

"The messenger of God put his hand on the shoulder of the Grand Duke and told him, 'Worship in the gods will bring victory.'" If you are religious enough, you will be able to reach the kingdom of God after death'...... The result? The Grand Duke of Carolinge was extremely religious, but when the Uruks besieged Caroling, slaughtered all his relatives who could not escape under the city, and planned to slaughter the city, I brought people to save him.

So I'm God's spokesman? Ha,! ”

Charlemagne suddenly clenched his sword and plunged it into the ground with its sheath.

"I only trust the sword in my hand.

"I only believe in the people around me and in you.

"Victory is never given to us by God, the crown that the Pope wears over the king's head is nothing but an uncomfortable hat, and the real crown will be stained with blood! To let a hand that has not been stained with blood touch it is a desecration of victory, of a dead warrior!

"Therefore, I do not believe that the Holy See will bring about the so-called victory, and I do not believe any of their nonsense.

"If any of you think that my words are problematic and blasphemous to your revered gods, please leave. I'm not going to do anything to you, or you can wait for your brothers, your sisters, your Holy See to come and take you.

"All I have to do with the Holy See is a deal, just as they have done for hundreds of years. I hope you can hear word for word, and how those hypocritical servants of God are touting their dealings as missions and glory to deceive you!

"I'm done, now it's time to decide."

There was silence in the school yard, except for the sound of hunting in the cold wind pulling the battle flag.

After a brief silence, Roland was the first to draw his saber, press it to his chest, and get down on one knee.

"Fight for the king."

"Fight for the king."

"Fight for the king."

……

One by one, the knights knelt down, and Philo was no exception.

He glanced at Samuel, who seemed to have some complexity in his eyes.

In the end, no one left the entire school grounds.

An hour later, the Holy See arrived.

Everything is the same as Charlemagne said, and behind their flowery language, there are deals about population and land, aid and force.

Man is a wonderful creature, and when he is in awe of something veiled, he looks at it with awe, and he does not even dare to speculate. But when the veil was removed, and Charlemagne's preconceived words were heard, and they listened to the bishop's vain and wrongful words, they found that every sentence was a trade in a skin, no different from that of a merchant selling livestock.

That's when they realized, oh, that's what the Holy See really wants, and the people of the Holy See are just as human, greedy, hypocritical human beings.

The Templars may not be as invincible as they say they are, they also have to eat, drink, wrap their clothes tightly because of the cold, and be wary of the heavy army, and even some young new knights will be afraid and their calves tremble.

Charlemagne has defused a possible crisis.

Seeing this, Deres smiled, and immediately lost interest in the people of the Holy See.

He cares more about the mysterious Roy and the hooded mage Merlin in fancy clothes than that.

……

……

"Mr. Merlin, what are you bringing me here for?"

Roy asked, puzzled.

From the moment he entered the dungeon, he realized that he had been taken to a special camp and that the guide was a quirky guy.

Merlin, a self-proclaimed magician of flowers.

He was dressed in a white robe, and his long silver hair was tucked in the hood, but a lot of it was spilling out of it. He has a handsome face like an elf, with a flirtatious smile on the corners of his mouth, but his ears are no different from those of ordinary people. The strangest thing was the opponent's weapon, which was obviously a huge staff made of old branches, but there was a sword next to it.

Perhaps in this world, the mage's saber is a reasonable outfit for the battlefield?

If this is the case, Roy can understand, but in fact, the other party has never taken out his staff and used it, and even bites his tongue when he reiterates the spell, and the real weapon is indeed the sword.

He had seen it with his own eyes, and he had taught Charlemagne swordsmanship with a sword, and the latter was as clumsy as a reckless stupid cow in front of him.

"You're my apprentice, so naturally you'll follow me wherever I go." Merlin smiled.

Roy didn't know how to answer, but stepped forward to look, and happened to see someone from the Holy See.

The two of them were standing on the top of a hill with an unobstructed view below.

"Is that the Holy See?"

"Yes." Merlin suddenly asked him, "The people of the Holy See say that they represent the gods, do you think the gods really exist?" ”

Roy was tempted to answer that it existed in the first place, but could not find any evidence.

For him, who lives in a world of gods, it is really difficult to imagine a world without gods, let alone the people of the Holy See who claim to be the spokesmen of God, which adds a bit of confusion.

"I'm not sure, Mr. Merlin. Maybe...... exist. ”

Merlin smiled and snapped his fingers, and the words Charlemagne had spoken in the morning rang in Roy's ears.

"People say that the Holy See is the spokesman of the gods on earth......

"It is said that the gods let the people of the Holy See save the lost on earth......

"People also say that the gods can see the future......

I don't believe a word of these words......

"I only trust the sword in my hand......

"I only trust the people around me......

"I don't believe that the Holy See will bring about the so-called victory......"

……

Roy was silent.

At this time, Merlin spoke: "I have been thinking for a long time, if there really is a god who has almost the same original sin as greed, anger, and jealousy, but can crush humans like an ant, then what a terrible species he would be?

"Possessing unrivaled power, yet treating other intelligent beings as one's own servants, hah, how similar is that to us?

"Isn't it because we are strong that we impose our will on animals, feed on them, and enslave them to work for humans?"

"But animals don't think about that like humans." Roy retorted.

"You're right, the difference between humans and animals is that we know how to think, we have intelligence, we are not driven by instinct, so we are above them. But what about the gods? If they try to enslave humans who are also intelligent and capable of learning, just like we enslave animals, does that mean that they are just more powerful people? Even, they are not even as restrained and respectful as humans, and they are a species that is even inferior to humans? ”

Roy was shocked by his words, which would have been enough for Merlin to be captured and burned a hundred times by the Tower if he had appeared in the Blue City.

"What does Mr. Merlin think is God? What is a Higher Being? ”

"A higher being?"

Merlin smiled, and instead of answering directly, he threw a stone.

Of course, he didn't throw it down the hill, or it would have smashed the heads of the papals.

The stone flew out of a distance and landed undisputedly.

"Look, when a stone flies out, it lands on the ground, just as we humans can't fly. Even birds can't be born in the sky...... Everything is like being dragged by the earth, which is a law, the law of all things downward.

"Autumn goes to winter, spring goes to the summer solstice, the endless cycle of the four seasons of the year, day and night change, the moon waxes and wanes, and with the alternation of day and night, the climate and environment around us also change...... It's a kind of law, a law of cycles.

"Smaller, we use magic, we manipulate the free elements in the air, we make them interact with each other, they react with each other, they produce light, we produce heat, we change from one thing to another...... This is also a law, a law of transformation.

"I think that the law that makes up this world is God."

"TA is everywhere, everything that makes up this world, indifferently watching humanity, from birth to extinction, from the rise of civilization to the fall of order, until the advent of the next epoch, always watching, above everything, above all things, but never imposing its will on humans......

"This is God, a completely different species from human beings, we are not aware of the existence of TA, but we cannot do without TA. We fear them, we respect them, we try to use them, and that's God.

"I say that, do you understand?"

Roy was speechless, and Merlin's every word set off a huge wave in his heart, which could not be calmed down for a long time.

In a trance, he had some enlightenment.

Ever since he got that book, he's been thinking about a question,

Why can you directly manipulate the elements by crossing the magic web?

Why did all the magic textbooks clearly state that "communication with the magic web is the first step in using spells"?

What's even more interesting is why the Holy See claims that "the elements are the creations of the goddess" and that "piety can be exchanged for more powerful spells", but there is still a group of people in Jialan Academy who teach obscure and esoteric laws, teaching them how to master magic and master the laws without being believers......

No one could answer his question, and a long time ago, when he was still curious, he tried to find an answer, but found nothing.

At that point he felt lost and was pushed forward so much that he forgot about the problem.

But now, looking back, all he felt was fear.

It was as if there was an answer in his heart, but the clearer that answer was, the more frightened he became.

The so-called goddess is just a more powerful human being, and she is not a god of a higher level.

She is also a rule-goer, not a rule-maker......

So what exactly is she doing......

Roy felt endless trepidation, and his body trembled unconsciously.

As if sensing that the young man was trembling, Merlin patted him and comforted, "I know I'm a good orator, but you're too flattering, I'll be shy." ”

Roy laughed dryly, finally free from fear.

"I have a question, Lord Merlin."

"Please."

"I agree with you, but ...... If, I mean, if the gods in the mouth of the Holy See really exist—gods of a terrible temperament who are no different from human beings, but who are more powerful, who regard human beings as their own servants and those who do not follow as heretics...... What are we going to do? Has Charlemagne been targeted? ”

Merlin was slightly stunned, and there was no flirtatious expression on his face.

He looked into the distance, and the morning sun was rising at the end of the wilderness.

He never answered.