Chapter 661

【 CONVERSION 】

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“Féng…”

Sophia silently mouthed the name, her gaze drifting to the other woman’s robe before she finally asked,

“Are you also one of the Elven Chosen Ones?”

The elven woman nodded lightly with a gentle smile.

“That’s right.”

Receiving her confirmation, Sophia inclined her head slightly.

With composed grace, she lifted the hem of her skirt and offered a polite curtsey.

“Miss Féng, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Sophia von Wells.”

The moment she introduced herself, Sophia realized that she had unconsciously used an honorific.

Yet even so, she did not find it strange. Somehow, it felt only natural to treat this particular female elf with deference, as though showing respect to her were only proper and right thing to do.

It was a rather peculiar feeling.

No, perhaps it was not mere intuition. After all, she had spent her entire life among nobles in Wells castle. Thus, Sophia had developed an instinctive sense for discerning those individuals who held true power.

The unique aura surrounding this so-called “Féng” was unmistakable…

It carried the subtle yet commanding presence that only those long accustomed to a high position of authority could possess.

Could it be that she was one of the higher officials of the Elves?

The more Sophia thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

And with that thought, her manner grew even more respectful.

“Miss Féng,” she began solemnly, “what did you mean earlier when you spoke that there’s no oppression here and everyone are considered equal?”

“It means precisely what it sounds like,” Féng replied with a smile.

As she spoke, the female elf reached into her robe and drew out a handful of grains, scattering them upon the ground. A couple of seconds later, a flock of white doves descended, pecking eagerly at the food.

Observing them as they scrambled for the grains, Féng crouched down, gently stroking one of the plump birds as she continued,

“There are no nobles among us elves. Even we Chosen Ones, who are favored by the Goddess, are not elevated above others. The reverence we receive comes not from power or authority, but from the trust and respect freely given by our kin. Even the royal elven family holds no true privileges, only a titular role akin to that of spiritual leader.” ɽᴀΝȏΒƐＳ

She paused for a moment, watching the doves flutter about before adding, “Furthermore, even the half-elves are never shunned for their mixed blood. To the elves, everyone is kin. Harmony and unity are the foundation of our society…”

Turning her head, Féng gave Sophia a warm smile.

“It is precisely because there is equality and no oppression that everyone here can live in genuine happiness.”

Sophia’s expression shifted as she listened, her brows furrowing slightly. She glanced at the carefree elves in the distance and shook her head with quiet disbelief.

“No… that’s impossible,” she murmured. “How could there be true equality in this world? In every faction, there will always be those who are strong and those who are weak. Time and time again, there will be those born at a disadvantage who must seek the protection of the strong. The world itself is not equal.”

She lifted her hand, gesturing toward the elves afar.

“For instance, if everyone here is truly equal, why do some of you wear garments of elegance and luxury, while others dresses more plainly? If there is indeed equality, why do some elves live in grand villas with wide gardens while others dwell in modest cottages?”

“And besides…” she continued, turning her gaze back toward Féng. “You yourself, Miss Féng, wear a robe and carry a staff that are clearly more exceptional than those of many other Chosen Ones. If all you elves are equal as you say, then why does such disparity still exist?”

Her tone was not mocking but thoughtful, as if she genuinely sought an answer to the contradiction she perceived.

Féng regarded her with a faint, composed smile.

“Miss Sophia, equality does not mean absolute fairness, nor does it mean uniformity. It is not a measure of outcomes, but of principles.”

She paused for a moment, letting her words hang in the air, then continued, “The equality I speak of is equality before the rules. And equality in rules does not necessarily result in equality in outcome. Life may favor some over others, but it is the fairness of the governing rules itself that allows for genuine equality and harmony to exist.”

“As you yourself said, the strong will naturally achieve and possess more because of their abilities. Such differences do exist, even among us Elves. It is not the existence of difference that defines inequality, but the absence of arbitrary oppression or unjust advantage.”

Sophia gave a short, skeptical laugh, her eyes narrowing slightly.

“Then there is still inequality, is it not? In the end, it is still the same as humans. Nobles, born into power and strength, will always stand above the weak. What you speak of sounds self-contradictory. How can there be equality if outcomes are so clearly unequal?”

Féng simply shook her head.

“Miss Sophia, may I ask you a question?”

“Please, by all means,” Sophia replied, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

“How did nobles come to exist?”

Sophia was taken aback, caught off guard. After a brief pause, she answered, “By inheriting the glory of their forebears, of course.”

“And those forebears—who did they inherit it from?”

Sophia hesitated, thinking carefully before replying after a moment, “They earned it through their struggles and efforts.”

Féng nodded lightly.

“You are quite right,” Her tone then shifted slightly as she continued, probing deeper. “but tell me, were they nobles from the very beginning?”

Sophia fell silent, the answer already clear in her mind.

Of course not.

The Empire’s chronicles recorded it plainly: the first emperor and the founding nobles had once been slaves, members of a tribe called Maniya thousands of years ago. Through years of struggle and rebellion, they won their freedom, built their own city-state, waged wars across the land, defeated the ancient Elven Kingdom, and ultimately unified the northern continent.

She looked back at Féng, realizing the question was not merely asking her about the historical events of the Empire, but more of a challenge to her understanding of power, privilege, and the very nature of equality itself.

“It seems,” Féng said with a knowing smile, “that you already found the answer.”

“What is it that you are trying to say?” Sophia asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

Féng didn’t immediately answer but instead turned her gaze toward the distant elven children playing joyfully beneath the sun-dappled trees. A couple of moments passed in silence as she watched their laughter and carefree movements before she spoke once more,

“In the beginning, there were no nobles amongst humans. Nobility was merely an invention, created by those early human kings to make their governance much easier, to strengthen their own power, and to cement a rigid hierarchy of privilege.”

“In other words, inequality was embedded into the very foundation of human society, written into its founding rules and preserved through every generation that followed.”

“But the elven society is different,” she added, her tone brightening slightly. “Here in the Elven Forest, although individuals live differently because of their varying talents and strengths, they are all equal under the same governance.”

“The strong do not look down on the weak, and the weak do not belittle themselves. The weak can rise to strength through effort and the right guidance, and the strong willingly aid the weak, helping them grow. That is the essence of true equality here.”

“This is the equality that elven society strives for.”

Sophia listened quietly, her mind racing as she tried to reconcile what she saw before her with what she knew of human history.

After a moment, she frowned slightly.

“But… there are some human nobles who help commoners too, who make their lives better,” she said, her voice tinged with doubt.

Féng tilted her head slightly, observing Sophia with calm curiosity.

“Have those nobles ever elevated those commoners to become nobles as well?”

Sophia froze, realizing the implication of the question.

Seeing her hesitate, Féng continued, “No, they do not. Even the kindest nobles would never allow a commoner to become one of them. At the root of it all, even their kindness often serves their own interests—to make their lands flourish and to strengthen their own household.”

“This is the nature of nobility itself. Nobles and commoners belong to two separate hierarchies of society. To preserve their position, nobles must always remain above the common people. Therefore, oppression and exploitation are inevitable, the only difference being in degree and subtlety.”

“In every human nation and kingdom, nobles will always be the minority. To secure their dominance, they can never permit the lower classes to rise among them. That is why the foundation of human society will forever remain shrouded in inequality.”

She paused, letting the words settle in the quiet air, then added softly, “And if a noble threatens their own position, the rest will see to it that particular noble ceases to be one at all.”

At that, Sophia fell completely silent.

Several scenes began to flash through her mind…

The dull eyes and weariness of the common folk in Riverbend Town…

The extravagant feasts and wasteful luxury of the nobles in Morningstar City…

She remembered the disdainful laughter of those aristocrats when speaking of the poor, and the image of an abandoned infant lying lifeless in a gutter.

At that moment, something stirred within her heart faintly.

It was as though a veil had been lifted, revealing a truth she had long ignored yet it still felt just out of reach.

“Then… is the Elven society truly different?” she asked softly, this time with genuine seriousness.

“Of course,” Féng answered with a smile and a nod.

“We elves have no aristocratic class. An individuals strength and ability merely determine one’s role in society. No one can trample upon the dignity of the weak, and no one could prevent the path of those who wish to rise in ranks.”

“Through effort, anyone can become a Priest, even attain the rank of High Priest.”

“Through hard work, everyone has the opportunity to become strong, even if you’re not a chosen one.”

“Through faith and diligence, even those with the faintest elven blood can seek the aid of the Goddess to purify their lineage, becoming half-elves and in turn, can further purify themselves to become true elves.”

“This is the equality freely given to us Elves. It is a genuine, functioning equality—one that fosters growth and gives every individual hope for the future, as well as the drive to improve our lives.”

“Of course, the Elven society is not perfect. There are still great differences in wealth among our people, and inequalities in the distribution of resources.”

“But the path of progress is never smooth sailing. In every society, there will always be twists and turns, yet as long as everyone remains committed to walking in this direction, the future of us Elves will be brighter.”

“As long as one remains true to their heart, with steadfast faith and an unyielding pursuit of equality and shared progress, we, the Elvenkind, will continue to rise onward.”

“And in time, everything will be alright.”

Sophia fell into deep thought after hearing Féng’s words.

Her gaze drifted toward the elven folk in the distance, the crowd’s pure laughter and carefree demeanor filling the air with a sense of serenity.

“I suppose only the Elves could live like this. After all, their very nature is kind and gentle…”

Féng gave her a small, knowing smile.

“Miss Sophia, after personally witnessing the way the Chosen Ones fight, do you truly believe that?”

Sophia froze.

Memories flooded back: the ferocity of the Chosen Ones in Morningstar City, the terrifying strength they had displayed against the duke’s guards, and the countless rumors she had heard about them.

Her expression wavered, hesitation flickering in her eyes.

“Miss Sophia, Elven society as it stands does not rely on the innate kindness of the elves. In truth, when the Goddess of Life became our new Patron Deity, we Elves had already abandoned the traditional ways of our past.”

“Then how,” Sophia asked earnestly, “did the elves achieve such equality?”

“Through faith.”

Féng’s expression grew solemn.

“…Faith?” Sophia repeated, her eyes widening slightly.

“Indeed,” Féng said reverently, “Faith. Specifically, its through our faith in the Goddess.”

“Equality among all living beings is one of the core doctrines of the Sacred Codex of Life. The teachings of the Goddess of Life declare that every being has the right to pursue a better life and the right to defend it when threatened.”

“The Goddess of Life…”

Sophia whispered, deep in thought.

After a pause, she could not help but say,

“I have never heard of such doctrine beforehand. In the Eternal Church’s scriptures, they teach that all humans are born with original sin and that only through faith and suffering can one be liberated after death and ascend to Paradise, wherein there is no pain or suffering, only a happy and blissful afterlife.”

“That is where the difference in our faith lies.”

Féng smiled faintly.

Her voice grew steady and solemn once more.

“The Goddess of Life is merciful, and in Her eyes, all life is considered equal. Her teachings aim to make the entire world better, not merely to persuade people to believe in Her, but to truly work toward bringing them a brighter future.”

“But to the Eternal Church, their believers are nothing more than instruments for accumulating faith. And to the nobles, the Church itself is merely a convenient tool for maintaining control.”

Sophia’s heart trembled at those words, as if a veil had been lifted from her understanding.

Suddenly, comprehension dawned upon her. She realized why genuinely devoted believers were so rare among the nobility, and why their faith had always seemed shallow, transactional, and empty of true conviction.

A surge of emotion rose within her chest.

For the first time, she felt she had glimpsed the underlying crux of the Empire’s decay and, perhaps, the path to saving it from its ever-growing darkness, which pervaded every facet of human society.

In that instant, she felt a spark of genuine reverence for the Goddess of Life, and an intense curiosity toward Her teachings.

“Miss Féng… no, Lady Féng,” she said eagerly, “are you a priestess of the Church of Life? Could you tell me more about the teachings of the Goddess?”

Féng smiled gently and pointed toward a temple in the distance.

“Do you see that temple?” she said softly. “Go there, and seek a priestess named Dōngdōng. She will give you the answers you seek.”

Following the direction of Féng’s hand, Sophia saw the grand Temple of Life.

Her expression grew determined.

“I understand. Thank you, Lady Féng,” she said, bowing deeply in gratitude.

Then, taking a deep breath, Sophia began walking toward the temple, her steps steady and full of purpose, each one echoing like the measured stride of a newly awakened pilgrim.

In that moment, the light of faith that had once marked her as a shallow believer of the Eternal Church faded completely, and a new radiance, subtle but steadily growing, began to take shape in its place.

Gradually, Féng watched the half-elven girl disappear into the temple grounds, then smiled faintly before slipping quietly into the crowd.

Meanwhile, standing not far away, two figures—Li Mu and Demacia—kept staring in the direction of the temple, their expressions filled with awe.

“Goodness… as expected of Boss Féng,” Demacia muttered, astonished. “What did she even say to that girl? Did she really manage to convert her?”

“I guess the quest is now complete? In any case, that was truly impressive… she really is one of the top priest players in the entire server.”

Li Mu remarked softly.

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