Elf Kingdom: Game of the World Tree-Chapter 1249 - 809: The Adventurer’s Path of the Players (Bonus - )
Old John started telling his story.
It was a story of a happy family, and how they fell apart within a year, and how he went from a farmer just able to solve food and clothing to an impoverished freeman struggling on the edge of survival.
Listening to his story, the elves’ hearts grew heavy, their faces filled with emotion.
Throughout their journey, they had witnessed various beautiful landscapes, diverse customs and traditions, but likewise, they had seen the miserable lives of commoners in the Human Kingdom.
Old John was merely the reflection of thousands upon thousands of refugees, many experiencing similar fates, or even worse.
The darkness of the "Elf Kingdom" in the Human World was far more cruel than the players could have imagined, even though they saw so much in the former Fengye Territory, compared to the vast empire’s lands, Fengye Territory could still be considered prosperous.
On the other hand, the lives of the nobles were like Heaven, intoxicated in paper and wine, indulgently decadent.
This made the players have to lament, how could such a kingdom continue to exist, it can only be said that the existence of extraordinary power made all illogical things become logical.
But at the same time, with their experiences during the journey, a doubt gradually arose in players’ minds.
"Are human commoners’ lives so destitute, and does the Eternal Church care at all?"
Listening to Old John’s story, Dema expressed his confusion.
He was genuinely puzzled.
As an outstanding missionary head under the Goddess, he believed he had some insights in this aspect, logically, during times of war and chaos, it should be the best opportunity for preaching faith.
At a person’s most perilous time, sending charcoal in snowy weather, even a mere drop of kindness can elicit infinite gratitude.
For the Church, this is the best time to expand believers.
No need to say much, even if the Eternal Church sets up a congee shelter in the city, it would likely garner a group of devout believers among the refugees.
But now, what they saw was that most churches show no concern for what happens on their territory.
Of course, strictly speaking, it’s not truly ignoring, throughout this journey, Dema indeed saw several priests helping the poor.
It’s just, as a missionary leader, Dema thought they clearly could do better, yet obviously didn’t put much effort into it.
"Care? If they cared, wouldn’t that be great, the priests now only have eyes for the nobles."
Old John shook his head.
Dema’s brows furrowed further.
This is abnormal, unlike what a normal church should be.
Even if priests have fallen, colluding with nobles, indulged in extravagant lifestyles, wouldn’t the Divine care?
No matter what, some punishment should be handed down, right?
After all, believers are the source of True God’s power!
Players who cause trouble would still face punishment by the game system and the Goddess, wouldn’t the "Elf Kingdom" which pursues realism not make such basic mistakes?
"However, the Church of the god of trade, the god of art, and the Love and Festival Goddess are said to be much better, often aiding the poor, but unfortunately, Luck City does not have their churches."
Old John continued.
The god of trade, the god of art, and the Love and Festival Goddess are sub-gods under the Eternal Lord, having their own churches.
Their church’s influence overlaps with the Eternal Church, both independent from and seemingly subsidiary to the Eternal Church.
However, not all places have their churches, only some big cities, and the east and south of the empire have more.
Notably, in the southern Aries Kingdom, these various-sized sub-god churches are more prevalent, with Eternal Church’s control and influence weaker than in the Holy Mania Empire.
Listening to Old John’s story, Dema grew increasingly perplexed about the Eternal Church’s approach, ending up venting his frustration in the team chat channel.
Seeing his venting, Dongdong glanced at him and replied:
"Dema, do you know how many believers the Eternal Lord really has?"
"How many? Isn’t it said to be a few billion?"
Dema typed.
"More than that."
Dongdong sent a shaking head emoji.
"I once did a short term mission in Fengyue Free Territory with the chief, it was right after liberation there, just started preaching, I keenly felt the Eternal Church’s decadence, and specifically asked the chief about it, do you know how the chief answered?"
"How did she answer?"
"The faith of the Eternal Lord has already spread throughout the Segis Universe, with over five hundred main material planes belonging to Him, perhaps even more, among them are not few large planes comparable in size to the Segis World, and this doesn’t even count other half-planes suitable for believers to live... imagine, all the planes combined together, how many believers are there?"
"What the heck?! Isn’t this too exaggerated? What kind of monster is the Goddess facing? Isn’t the Eternal Lord supposed to have just risen in a millennium in game lore?"
"Dema, are you underestimating the reproductive ability of humans? Let alone in a transcendental world, while the lower classes are tough, overall resources are abundant, population growth speed far outstrips Blue Star."
"Ssss... So, isn’t it True God letting the Church decay, but rather the Divine does not care?"
"Of course, think about it, ruling so many planes, having so many believers, a few more or less, what difference does it make?"
