What is the difference between a Utopia and a Dystopia? Is it the opinion of the masses, the virtue of the system, the sacrifices, or the limitations placed on the people? What make Gaia 'perfect'?
The answer was simple: Humans had freedom of choice, but they had to be responsible for how their actions would be perceived by others. No one on Gaia was given the right to ignore 'community'.
People needed each other. Therefore, everyone had a place in society. They had a purpose given to them from birth, and so... They become satisfied with their lives and live it to the fullest.
Some might ask what about a person's interests and hobbies? However, there was concept of any of that on Gaia. There isn't a reason for them to seek out their talents when it is listed down from birth. Success is a paved road with no detours.
These are 'good people' in the eyes of the Luminous Church. They applaud those who fulfil their role and give them the acknowledgment every person needs in their lives. Priests tell people about how important they are, and how they should be thankful for the gifts they are given. All are born equal in Gaia, with only 'Roles' differing.
At least, that's what is written on paper...
A Grand Hero isn't inherently better than a Farmer or Warrior. The only difference between them is what Role they have in society. No one other than the Imperials are put on a pedestal. Even Noble Rankers and Commoners are on the same level.
The Luminous Church didn't just teach religion, but also how to live one's life in this systematic world.
That's how they gained universal influence...
Of course, no matter how much the world itself tries to grow 'good apples' in a greenhouse, there will always be bad and rotten apples, which are considered those who reject their inherent 'Role'.
These are those who abandoned their 'humanity' and have become traitors of the Human Empire.
These are the people who have rejected the Role their most loving Mother Nature has given them.
These are the people who think they can still live after defying Gaia, becoming nothing but Beasts.
At least, that's how the Luminous Church saw it. A lecture was given to Alex, Arthur, and a few others after they came to be informed of their new responsibilities as Squires of the Luminous Church.
And those listening to the lecture agreed:
"That makes perfect sense!"
"What idiots..."
"Who here is crazy enough to reject Gaia?"
"Well, I know I'm not."
The Squires took in this information and quickly came to accept these new 'Beasts' as enemies.
Only Alex was frowning...
After the lesson was over, Arthur followed his scholarly friend as halfway through the explanation, it seemed as if Alex wasn't able to accept facts, almost as if he was unconsciously rejecting the moral values of Gaia's society.
This made him feel alienation from others.
"I know what your here for." Brandon smiled as if he welcoming the inquiries of his student.
"You've always been quick to catch on. You are probably wondering how to identify Classless Beasts and the best way to kill them, right?" Alex's shoulders jerked as he quickly shook his head. He found it hard to look up at his Mentor kindly...
"Classless Beasts are essentially Humans." This was the scholarly youth's assertion on the matter.
"Ah, I get it now! You're misunderstanding them as pitiful creatures." His Mentor seemed enlightened.
"Don't worry. They are classified as Beasts."
"...Why?" He wanted to ask why they were classifying humans as Beasts but stopped there.
He wanted to know more about them...
"Those who go against the laws of nature are called 'Defiers', or in broader terms: 'Classless Beasts'. They threaten the very balance of this world by rejecting what is considered natural laws like death and even their own destiny. The very least we can do is banish them from the Human Empire." Brandon patted his chest in conviction.
The resoluteness in Brandon's eyes made Alex's face even darker. He was hoping for his Mentor to understand how he couldn't accept this. What they were doing is wrong! How can they judge a person just because they weren't following their Class?
"Aren't these people just trying to be free?"
"I'm not sure what you mean. We are all already 'free'." He titled his head, not understanding.
It wasn't like Gaia was forcing people to live by their Class. The people of this world just didn't know any other way to live. Farmers will always be Farmers and Heroes will be Heroes. That is how they stayed content with their Roles in society.
"Hasn't anyone ever considered that Gaia might not give us the Class we want?" Alex tried to persuade his Mentor who was gradually talking more and more alien to him. He was unable to understand how his kind teacher was okay with this. No, how was it that Brandon has been able to do the job of kicking people out so easily?
"You don't understand Classless Beasts."
"Then explain it to me." The youth was willing to compromise if there was at least one merit in this.
Arthur watched the two talking from the side while making a confused expression at his friend. He was unable to understand why Alex was so against hunting down the enemies of humanity, but since his Bro was against it, he would be the same, since they were both in this together! He knew Alex was smarter than him and accepted his perspective.
"Classless Beasts... do you know why they are called as such?" He asked him deliberately.
"You've already explained it."
"Yes, but you seem too hung up on the 'Classless' part than the 'Beast' part. We don't call them Beasts as an insult. Once someone rejects their Class, their Spirit Essence breaks down and turns into a Body Enhancement, which as you know, is the signature of a Beast." These words made Alex pause as it hasn't been that long ago since he had rationally argued that Beasts and Humans couldn't coexist. Still, he pushed back this rational opinion.
After all, there wasn't only one kind of 'rationality'.
"Can't they be seen as Humans possessing Body Enhancements? Are Humans not allowed to possess them?" Brandon frowned as he found the answer to be obvious, but still answered his student. A teacher must patiently explain things.
"The Body Enhancement alone isn't the problem."
"Then what?"
"Beasts are inherently disruptive to society. They have no place among 'Classed' individuals who are working to better the world. If the Luminous Church was to accept them, then that would be equivalent to rejecting all that we stand for. We can't have people thinking they can irresponsibly choose to become Classless outcasts." Brandon's last word hit his conscience as he remembered how he was also an 'outcast' in his past life.
In school, no one accepted him because he didn't fit into their established stereotypes. Although this was different as the 'Classless' voluntarily chose to give up their position in society, he still couldn't bring himself to nod his head at Brandon's words.
Alex was an inflexible person. If he believed something was wrong, then it was wrong. No force in the world could change his mind. And since he believed his Mentor's opinion to be incorrect, he wasn't going to stop until the man was persuaded.
'This just makes a mockery of one's free will and choice... They make it sound like the past is SUPPOSED to determine the future. As if humanity should be defined this way...!' He was reluctant to acknowledge this kind of backward mindset.
It was too foreign, and sounded so restrictive...
He saw it as wrong, people should be given the freedom to choose their future. They shouldn't be judged if they haven't committed a sin, and being different from everyone else is NOT a sin!
Psh, he's such a damn idiot~! Is he trying to make me, the narrator, who essentially controlled a large part of his 'free will', laugh myself to death? Isn't being a character in a story having no 'free will'~?
Hehe, hahahaha~ This is such a riot~! He has still yet to understand this fantasy world was practically designed to reject his perspective of 'human nature'. Everyone was doing just fine without him trying to sympathise with enemies in this Utopia~
What a political sense of a justice...
What an odd 'inner nobility'...
Though it was due to this that he could shamelessly say to the Grand Hero's face:
"Classes shouldn't define a person." These words caused Arthur to be shocked as he quickly used Light Movement to appear before Alex's body. He used his body as a meat-shield after now fully using up one Spell Slot out of his seven.
The reason he suddenly lost one was that all Movement Skills used up half a Spell Slot. The reason they was coined as a Rapid Movement Half Spells was due to this important characteristic.
Not that it mattered anyway... Even if he had all his Spell Slots and used them on the Grand Hero, he would be no match. All he could do was be a punching bag in front of this invincible person.
Brandon was no longer able to keep himself from feeling deep fury at this child that had yet to grow up. Was it because the scholarly youth had been raised in a forest that he could say such nonsense?
He intended to slap Alex, but lost composure to the point that he accidentally used Mana Burst naturally. His innate Mana enhanced his open hand to an unbelievable level others couldn't dream of reaching and hit Arthur who intercepted it instead.
He was shocked after hearing Arthur being embedded into the wall and quickly checked on his brawny student's condition. After the youth was able to recover quickly and pull himself out of the wall even without his help, he finally calmed down.
However, his demeanour changed as he spoke:
"Leave...!"
Even though the slap didn't hit his face, Alex felt most hurt as he drew a Holy Rune in the air to heal his friend. The brawny youth put his hand on his cheek as he was lead away, unable to stop himself from looking back to gaze at Brandon.
He wanted their Mentor to stop them. They had gone through thick and thin together, so how could they part ways like this? He wanted Brandon or Alex to turn around and talk a little more, but their lack of response disappointed the youth greatly.
"I'm just warning you two. Don't get involved if you sympathise with Classless Beasts. Me and the Church don't recognise potential 'Classless'." Even when Brandon did speak, the youth was disappointed by their bland interaction.
Why weren't they making up?
Even as they left the Healing Sanctuary, he couldn't understand why Alex went as far as to ruin their relationship just to argue his point. Arthur was unable to relate to Alex's feelings whatsoever.
"You're not going to become Classless, right?" He really didn't want his friend to go on that side.
Brandon had said in the lecture that there has recently been more organised groups of Classless Beasts roaming around inside the Human Empire despite their nation's great security. There had to be a spy somewhere covering them up!
Who was this guy affiliated with? The Blood Type Classless Beasts or Death Types? There were so many kind of reasons why someone would turn into a Classless Beast, but it worried nobody but him.
Others wouldn't care if Alex turned into a Classless Beast because the Grand Hero was around. Even if the Beast was formerly his student, the man would fulfil his responsibility and mercy kill him instantly.
Arthur didn't want to see this happen.
"It's impossible for me to become a Classless Beast anyway." He laughed with clouded eyes.
"Why not?"
"I have an 'illness'."
Arthur's expression looked like this: (ಠ_ಠ)
Instantly, he remembered back to when a certain Cultist had revealed such a thing about Alex.
"Tell me everything about it!" He grabbed him before making glaring eye-contact with him.
"And why should I?" Alex didn't seem to mind his secret getting out this time as he asked the idiot.
"Because we're good friends!"
"Okay."
"You have to tell me- Huh? You sure?" Arthur was suddenly confused by his change in attitude.
"But you gotta tell me about your God Physique."
"That's... fine. When are you going to tell me?"
"I'll tell you it over a drink." Alex made an empty smile as he tried to forget what just happened.
Looks like he couldn't leech of Brandon now.