Chapter 871

【 REBUTTAL AND DEBATE 】

“The Church of Life is hypocritical, pretentious, evil, and cruel. Since its emergence, it has invaded the lands of the Orcs, plundered the wealth of neighboring human nations, and used heretical doctrines to deceive the ignorant masses, divide the Empire’s territory, and undermine the authority of our Divine Lord…”

“Since the beginning of the year 1072 of the Eternal Era, the blasphemer John has disregarded the provisions of the Covenant of the True Gods, secretly spreading the faith of the Church of Life throughout the Holy Maniya Empire, inciting the populace and stirring up chaos…”

“Since the blasphemer John began preaching, a total of forty-seven riots involving mobs of Life Church believers have occurred within and beyond the Empire. Thirty-four of these incidents were connected to the blasphemer John. These riots have resulted in the deaths of at least 132 nobles and 27 members of the clergy, including three counts, one marquis, and two bishops. In total, thirty-one cities have been affected… His crimes are heinous and unforgivable!”

“According to Article 53 of Chapter Seven of the Gospel Precepts in the Holy Scriptures of the Eternal Church, the actions of the blasphemer John have seriously infringed upon the rights and interests of the Church and violated both its doctrines and the laws of the Empire. He is guilty of eighteen major crimes, including blasphemy, incitement, and the spread of heretical beliefs!”

“The glory of our Divine Lord must never be violated! The majesty of the Eternal Lord must never be profaned!”

“The blasphemer John is sinister, evil, twisted, and selfish. Driven by personal ambition and selfish interests, he has deceived the ignorant masses. His actions are unforgivable! Therefore, in accordance with the verdict of the Eternal Church’s Inquisition, the blasphemer John is hereby sentenced to death by burning at the stake!”

“Blasphemer John… Do you acknowledge your crimes?!”

The presiding judge’s solemn and authoritative voice resounded throughout the entire square.

As he reached the end of the indictment, he practically roared at Old John, his eyes wide open and his features twisted with fury.

His words seemed to carry a mysterious power capable of shaking the hearts of those who heard them.

Upon hearing the priest’s accusations, the watching crowd could not help but feel deeply shaken. An inexplicable sense of remorse and guilt welled up within them. They found themselves recalling the various wrongs they had committed in the past, their minds filled with unease and apprehension…

This was a divine spell used by members of the clergy known as [Psychic Intimidation].

For a time, many Eternal Church believers who revered the Church, along with ordinary people who were psychologically vulnerable, could not help lowering their heads. Some began repenting and praying, while others sobbed quietly.

Others, whose emotions were less stable, glared at John with hatred. Their eyes were filled with such loathing that they seemed ready to tear him apart and devour his flesh.

The oppressive silence that had settled over the square as the presiding judge denounced John was quickly broken. Curses and insults erupted once more. It seemed that no amount of swearing or condemnation could adequately express the crowd’s hatred for the blasphemer.

If not for the considerable distance between them, more stones would probably have been thrown at Old John.

Yet, unlike the enraged spectators who had been stirred up by the indictment, Old John’s expression remained calm. The presiding judge’s [Psychic Intimidation] appeared to have no effect on him.

He slowly raised his head, his back straight and his voice firm.

“No. I… have committed no crime.”

“How dare you! Blasphemer John, your actions have long been documented by our Inquisition. We have the Covenant of the True Gods and the Holy Scriptures of the Eternal Church as evidence. Do you still intend to deny your crimes?”

The presiding judge rebuked him furiously.

Old John sneered. He glanced contemptuously at the judge’s furious, contorted face before slowly turning his gaze toward Pope Benedict II, who remained composed.

After taking a deep breath, he spoke calmly.

“Nothing I have done has violated the Covenant of the True Gods. Everything I have done has been just and right.”

“Lies! Mere sophistry!”

The presiding judge roared.

Old John sneered again and glanced at him.

“Your Honor, you claim that the Church of Life is hypocritical, evil, and cruel. Yet what I have witnessed tells a very different story.”

His expression turned serious.

“Since its emergence, the Church of Life has resisted the invasion of Abyssal demons, driven back the invading forces, and purified the corruption that the Abyss left behind in the world of Seiguës.”

“We have helped the poor escape their desperate circumstances and rebuild their homes. We have taken in orphans, provided relief to the weak and vulnerable, and treated the injuries and illnesses of unfortunate people who could not otherwise afford medical care, all without expecting anything in return. We have taught the people knowledge and practical skills, helping them overcome adversity and survive.”

“We have witnessed countless ordinary people break free from despair and regain hope for the future. We have personally led people out of hardship and helped them embrace a better tomorrow.”

“How, then, can such a benevolent church be described as evil and pretentious in your eyes?”

“As for your accusations that we invaded the lands of the Orcs and plundered the wealth of neighboring human nations…”

“In the former case, it was the Orcs who persecuted the elves and invaded the Elven Forest first. Her Majesty the Goddess and Her elven followers were merely forced to fight back.”

“As for the latter, it was the Eternal Church that repeatedly abandoned its own people when evil gods revived and demons invaded. It was our Goddess who guided Her followers and Chosen Ones to intervene in time, bringing peace and salvation to those in need.”

“The songs of wandering bards can attest to this. The merchant caravans traveling back and forth can attest to this. And so can the countless believers who have voluntarily migrated to regions where the Church of Life is established, choosing to embrace our Goddess’s faith.”

“In less than a year, we restored the war-torn Maple Moon Territory to prosperity and peace. In just a few short months, we helped one impoverished person after another escape a life of destitution.”

“How, then, can this be called plundering wealth?”

“After the Eternal Church abandoned its own people, Her Majesty the Goddess of Life merely gave these unfortunate masses new hope for the future.”

“There is a saying in the Holy Codex of Life that captures this perfectly: ‘The eyes of the people are clear and discerning.’ None of this was our choice, nor did we force anyone to do anything. The people themselves chose to seek refuge in our Goddess’s embrace and become Her followers.”

“How, then, can you claim that we deceived the masses?”

Old John’s words rang out with conviction. They seemed to carry an indescribable power as they echoed across the square and resonated in the hearts of everyone present.

His voice was both authoritative and composed, like the resonant tolling of a distant bell that continued to reverberate within the hearts of the crowd.

Gradually, many people began to calm down. They could not help recalling the various rumors they had heard in recent years about the Church of Life.

For a time, the curses grew quieter. Many spectators slowly emerged from their anger and began to reconsider what they were witnessing. As they watched the trial on the platform, they started discussing the matter among themselves.

Seeing the crowd’s reaction, the presiding judge’s expression shifted slightly.

His gaze darkened as he rebuked John in a harsh voice.

“Lies! Mere sophistry!”

“The glory of the Eternal Lord must never be profaned! The radiance of our Divine Lord must never be tarnished!”

“Since the outbreak of the War of Gods and Demons, our Divine Lord has led the gods in resisting the Abyss and launching a crusade into Hell. The Eternal Lord has fought tirelessly to safeguard the world of Seiguës! Yet the Church of Life has taken advantage of our Divine Lord’s battles on the front lines to expand its influence and spread its faith. This is a shameless betrayal of justice!”

“Such a hypocritical church has no right to preach anywhere on the continent, let alone deceive believers on our Divine Lord’s land without permission!”

Old John let out a sneer.

“Betrayal of justice? Deceiving believers? Now that is even more ridiculous.”

His expression turned cold.

“From what I know, after the War of Gods and Demons, the forces of the Abyss launched a massive invasion of the world of Seiguës. The Eternal Church refused to send reinforcements, intending to exploit the power of the Abyssal demons to weaken our Goddess.”

“Fortunately, Her Majesty the Goddess of Life was powerful and righteous. At the most critical moment, She turned the tide and thwarted the Abyssal invasion!”

“How, then, can that be called a betrayal of justice?”

“If anyone deserves to be called a traitor, it is the Eternal Lord, who refused to send reinforcements! If anyone deserves to be called a traitor, it is the Eternal Church, which sought to weaken the Church of Life by exploiting the power of the Abyss!”

“How dare you! Who do you think you are to speak ill of our Divine Lord, you blasphemer?!”

The presiding judge rebuked him furiously.

Old John looked even more disdainful.

“And what if I do? Since you have brought up the subject of betrayal, then let us discuss it properly.”

“Everyone in the world knows that my patron deity is the Goddess of Life, Eve. But how many people know that Her Majesty’s full name is Evé Yggdrasill?”

“The deity I serve is not merely the Goddess of Life. She is also the great World Tree!”

“She is the embodiment of life, the Mother of Nature. She was the ruler of the Silver Era and was once hailed by the gods as the Mother of All Gods!”

As he spoke, he cast a mocking glance at the clergy of the Eternal Church.

“And tell me, why did the World Tree wither a thousand years ago? How did the Holy Maniya Empire rise to power so rapidly in the aftermath of the thousand-year holy war?”

“Your Honor, would you like me to explain in detail this part of history that the Eternal Church has long buried?”

Upon hearing Old John’s words, several senior members of the Eternal Church’s clergy showed subtle changes in their expressions. Meanwhile, the spectators below the platform immediately turned their curious gazes toward him.

After all, the desire to watch a spectacle is a natural part of human nature.

Old John’s revelation about the true identity of the Goddess of Life also astonished many people.

There was something worth noting here.

Although Evé had already revealed Her true identity, and the fact that the Goddess of Life was the World Tree was no longer a secret, such information about the supernatural world remained far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.

Thus, for the vast majority of commoners gathered in the square, this was the first time they had learned of it.

Nevertheless, the inhabitants of the world of Seiguës were not unfamiliar with the World Tree.

The elven civilization of the Silver Era had left a profound impact on the various races of the world. Even after a thousand years, its influence had not faded. Among the many remnants of that civilization, stories about the World Tree were among the most widespread.

In countless myths and legends, the magnificent World Tree was invariably portrayed as a symbol of benevolence, righteousness, and kindness.

Consequently, when the spectators learned that the Goddess of Life was, in fact, the World Tree, their feelings immediately became complicated.

Their uncertainty only deepened when they noticed that the bishop and the priests seated on the elevated platform neither denied the revelation nor managed to conceal the subtle changes in their expressions.

The murmuring among the crowd grew louder still…

As for Old John, he had now completely abandoned any restraint.

Standing tall with his head held high and an expression of disdain on his face, he began to reveal every secret he had learned from the Holy Codex of Life about the events of a thousand years ago. He paid no heed to the bishop’s increasingly ugly expression or the priests’ astonished gazes.

“If we are going to talk about betrayal, then it was the Eternal Church that betrayed the Church of Life, or rather… what was once the Church of Nature!”

“A thousand years ago, it was the Eternal Lord who repaid the World Tree’s kindness with treachery. Having received the Mother of All Gods’ help in attaining godhood, He turned against Her!”

“A thousand years ago, it was the coalition of human gods in the Heavenly Realm who ambushed the World Tree, driven by their own selfish desires to prevent Her from advancing further!”

“If we are going to speak of traitors, then the Eternal Church is the true traitor!”

“Silence! You shameless blasphemer! How dare you profane the honorable name of our Divine Lord!”

The presiding judge flew into a rage and rebuked him sharply.

The other clergy members present also glared at Old John in anger. Some who could no longer contain themselves even rose from their seats, glaring furiously at him.

Even Pope Benedict II, seated at the center of the elevated platform, had lost much of the smile in his eyes.

His gaze toward Old John grew increasingly profound and inscrutable.

In an instant, one powerful aura after another pressed down upon Old John. These were the intimidating forces unleashed by the enraged archbishops of the Eternal Church.

Old John felt an overwhelming power crashing toward him from every direction, like a colossal tsunami. It struck directly at his mind and soul, causing his face to turn deathly pale. He could not help letting out a muffled groan.

Bright red blood slowly trickled from his nostrils and the corners of his mouth.

Yet his back remained straight, and his gaze stayed calm.

He smiled faintly, his expression full of mockery.

“So this is the Eternal Church? You become furious when someone exposes your shameful past. If that is not a guilty conscience, if that is not hypocrisy, then what is it?”

“You…!”

Old John’s taunt left the presiding judge trembling with rage, his eyes blazing as though they were about to spit fire.

Seeing how furious the judge and the other bishops had become, Old John knew when to stop. He no longer pressed the issue of the events that had taken place a thousand years ago.

He sighed softly and said, “Of course, the past is the past. It has faded like drifting clouds in the annals of history and is no longer what matters most.”

“The great Goddess Herself has also taught us in the Holy Codex of Life that remembering history allows us to learn from our mistakes. At the same time, however, we must keep our eyes on the present and the future.”

“My purpose in bringing up the past was not to proclaim how innocent the Church of Life is. I merely wished to remind everyone that if you intend to accuse our Lord and the Church of Life of betrayal, then the Eternal Church… is in no position to do so.”

“In my view, for humanity and its countless ordinary people, the Church of Life represents the future and hope. The Eternal Church, on the other hand, is nothing more than a relic of the past, soon to be swept into the dustbin of history.”

“You…! How dare you! You evil heretic! You would actually dare to profane the Eternal Lord and blaspheme against the great Eternal Church!”

At last, the presiding judge could no longer contain his fury.

He immediately retorted, “The Eternal Lord is a paragon of light and righteousness, punishing evil and upholding virtue. It is only through our Divine Lord’s protection that humanity has become the leading race of this era! How could a mere heretic and traitor to humanity like you possibly understand our Divine Lord’s achievements?”

Old John sighed softly.

“I do not deny the contributions the Eternal Church has made to human society in the past. However, the Eternal Church has also become a set of shackles, restricting the further development of human civilization and hindering the common progress of every race and civilization throughout the world of Seiguës.”

“Absurd! Lies! You are trying to deceive the masses!”

The presiding judge denounced him.

Old John chuckled softly and straightened his back even further.

Snowflakes drifted down and settled on his body, lending him an air of carefree composure and unrestrained confidence.

“Your Honor.”

He looked directly into the presiding judge’s eyes, his gaze clear and unwavering.

“Since you disagree with what I have said, then… do you dare to debate the doctrines of our respective faiths with me?”

Upon hearing these words, the presiding judge’s gaze narrowed slightly.

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