Chapter 22: Man Cannot Be Without Faith

Although the church had been ventilated frequently lately, it still remained somewhat damp and gloomy.

Upon entering the church, Pegiraov’s expression remained unchanged as he walked straight to the Lord’s Throne, gazing at the cross placed upon it.

Corleon followed behind him, glancing back toward the outside of the church.

The escorts from York Town attempted to enter but were blocked outside by two knights.

“This is an interesting design, but it seems to be just ordinary wood,” Pegiraov remarked.

Corleon snapped back to attention and walked to the side of the Lord’s Throne.

“In the eyes of the Lord, the wealth of the world is no different from dirt,” Corleon said.

“The significance of the Lord’s Throne does not lie in the preciousness of what it bears, but in the devotion of the believers.”

“However, as servants of the Lord, priests also need money to survive,” Pegiraov glanced at Corleon.

“The Lord loves the world and teaches us that life is meant to realize one’s value. As servants of the Lord, we must convey His teachings to the world; this is the value we are to fulfill.”

“So I inquired of the Lord, expressing my willingness to serve Him throughout my life and to spread His teachings. Yet, I possess a living body; I need a place to rest, clothes to shield me from the cold, food to nourish my body, and tools to record the Lord’s teachings.”

“The Lord said, ‘Those who feel My teachings through your conveyance will thank you: some will wipe the Lord’s Throne and clean the sanctuary; others will offer bread and fresh water; still others will present money and treasures. You must not refuse, for this is My affirmation of the value you have realized.'”

Corleon recited solemnly.

“What a merciful Lord,” Pegiraov looked at Corleon and said, “But for some, the Lord’s teachings may conflict with their interests, thereby threatening the lives of priests and even leading them to become hostile toward the Lord.”

This time, Corleon remained silent.

Faith can assist lords in governing the people, but excessive faith may threaten a lord’s rule.

“I inquired of the Lord again, saying that I conveyed His teachings but was rejected by the world. How should I make them accept it?”

“The Lord said, ‘I love the world and hope that people will accept My teachings and turn toward goodness, but I will not force them. Just as water can flow into the sea or gather into a lake, people have the right to choose whether to accept My teachings; this is also the right I have granted them.'”

“I asked the Lord once more, ‘But they take up blades, kill my body, and exile my soul. I do not fear death, but I grieve that I can no longer convey the Lord’s teachings.'”

“The Lord said, ‘I am loving, but I am also the Lord of Hosts. I will bless the steadfast; they will become guardians, protecting My Lord’s Throne and My servants. I will bless the brave; they will become judges, executing judgment upon the sinners.'”

“Then, is that George a steadfast one or a brave one?” Pegiraov asked.

“…” Corleon did not respond.

Pegiraov paid no mind and instead asked, “Does the Lord abhor the undead?”

“The Lord said, ‘Life comes into the world naked, and after fulfilling its mission and realizing its value, it should return naked into the Lord’s embrace, to be judged by Him for its life.'”

“The benevolent will enter the Heavenly Kingdom and enjoy eternal happiness.”

“The sinful will be dragged into hell and suffer eternal punishment.”

“To toy with the dead is to toy with the life created by the Lord, preventing them from achieving completeness.”

“Therefore, they are guilty, evil, and should be judged.”

As Corleon spoke, he held the cross at his collar with both hands, bowed his head slightly, and closed his eyes.

“But the birth of life is due to the union of parents; its growth relies on the food provided by all things; the birth of the soul is enlightened by the wisdom of ancestors,” Pegiraov said.

“These are all parts of the natural order of the world, and the Lord you speak of does not seem to be within these worldly things.”

Corleon opened his eyes and met Pegiraov’s gaze.

“The Lord is one and also many; He is the past, the present, and the future. The Lord created heaven and earth, set the world’s operations with His words, created the cradle of life with His power, and allocated the trajectories of stars with His wisdom. The seasons change in the Lord’s hands, and rain and dew descend from His throne,” Corleon’s voice gradually rose, echoing within the church.

“The Lord exists within all things and also transcends all things.”

This time, Pegiraov did not immediately ask another question but closed his eyes, savoring Corleon’s words.

Corleon remained silent, standing quietly.

“Why is there a cross placed upon the Lord’s Throne?” Pegiraov asked, genuinely curious this time.

“Heaven and earth, past and future, others and self—all converge in the Lord,” Corleon said, making the sign of the cross by touching his head, chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder, finally holding the cross at his collar.

“The Lord bestowed the sacred cross upon His servants, so they would always remember His teachings.”

“Ah, so that’s the reason,” Pegiraov nodded.

“I am willing to offer a thousand gold coins to request a cross from the Lord,” he said.

Corleon couldn’t help but look at Pegiraov.

“Because I have felt the Lord’s teachings through the priest’s conveyance, I offer my gratitude. The priest must not refuse,” Pegiraov said with a smile.

These were the words Corleon had spoken earlier.

Corleon hesitated for a moment, then removed the cross he wore and handed it to Pegiraov with both hands.

“…In that case, I present this cross to Sir Pegiraov.”

“May the Lord bless you.”

Pegiraov looked somewhat surprised at the cross in Corleon’s hands.

Nevertheless, he accepted it.

“Thank you, Priest Corleon. I will cherish this cross,” he said, without hesitation, putting on the cross.

Then the church fell into silence once more. After a long pause, Pegiraov slowly spoke.

“Priest Corleon, do you know why nobles impose various restrictions on churches?”

Without waiting for Corleon’s answer, Pegiraov continued.

“Man cannot be without faith.”

“A person’s first goal is survival, and once survival is secured, they seek to live better. After achieving a better life, they desire to grasp power, and upon obtaining power, they yearn for even greater power.”

“This is greed, desire, and also an instinct engraved in life.”

“But this has no end.”

“Endless greed and desire, when they can no longer be satisfied, will consume the person themselves.”

“Therefore, man needs faith.”

“Only with faith can the void of greed and desire be filled.”

“Thus, I believe that churches, which play such an important role, should not be so severely restricted.”

“There should be more beautiful Lord’s Thrones to welcome the Lord’s presence, more spacious sanctuaries for believers to worship, more priests to spread the Lord’s teachings, more guardians to protect the Lord’s honor, and more brave ones to punish the sinners.”

“What do you think, Priest Corleon?” Pegiraov’s voice was low and magnetic, like tempting a hungry beggar with sweet white bread.

At that moment, Corleon emerged from his state as a devout servant of the Lord.

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