Lin En recalled observing the fervent debates online during his time on Earth. Some asserted that Eastern philosophies served merely to better enslave the populace, while others retorted, claiming that Western thought aimed to enable rulers to rob others more efficiently.
Fairly speaking, after witnessing their discussions, Lin En felt only one sentiment: both sides held valid points.
Regardless of the civilization, feudal rulers are seldom virtuous, and the religious doctrines or philosophies that provide these rulers with theoretical justification are, by extension, not without flaws.
The reason these theories are favored by rulers is not without cause. Setting aside the East for the moment, one must ponder why the people of the West ultimately discarded the once-flourishing pantheons of Greek, Nordic, and Celtic deities in favor of a singular faith. There are indeed reasons for this.
A singular deity facilitates centralization of power; the ability to plunder heretics without consequence offers a pretext for war. Furthermore, the notion that the killing of heretics is justified can provide immense psychological relief and bolster troop morale—this aligns perfectly with the desires of the lords.
It is precisely because of this utility that feudal lords have gravitated toward such beliefs. On Earth, feudal lords selected religions based on their practicality. After all, there were no true gods manifesting; religion served merely as a tool of governance. The most effective tools became the preferred choices.
In Feren, the situation is somewhat different due to the capricious nature of the deities. However, broadly speaking, the distinction remains minimal.
The gods of Feren resemble the ancient Greek pantheon in many ways. They engage in debauchery, create rivalries, perpetrate injustices, and stir trouble for commoners, but they seldom engage in meaningful endeavors.
They show little inclination to assist the common folk in economic advancement, nor do they support rulers in maintaining their states. When the Serpent of the Cosmos fell, the Great Serpent slumbered; when the Komansor perished, the elven gods remained indifferent; and when Nesseriel fell, Amanata bluntly informed the people, "I have long foreseen your misfortunes. I simply choose not to intervene."
Of course, this attitude ultimately led to their own downfall.
Such deities are hardly reliable allies. Therefore, Lin En believed that aligning with a favored deity held little significance for the lords. Unless one is the daughter of the Goddess of Magic, one should not expect her to descend personally to lend aid. The true source of assistance remains the religion itself, rather than the deities.
Furthermore, Feren is not particularly advanced, which means that feudal lords do not seek the righteousness of paladins or the exploratory spirit of wizards. What they genuinely require are methods to bolster their nations: in other words, whoever can strengthen their domain is the religion they deem useful.
Interestingly, Feren's situation mirrors that of ancient Europe—there is no need for evidence, as this is an established fact. In ancient Europe, which religion would rise to prominence? Anyone with sense knows the answer.
It must be noted that Bain's theory aligns closely with historical development patterns—this realization brings a hint of dark humor, considering even the Coastal Sorcerers' Guild finds this theory to be aligned with dark deities, a somewhat ironic situation.
Yet, it should be mentioned that the Coastal Sorcerers' Guild has also been labeled as devil worshipers—perhaps this is a case of mutually assured damage.
Lin En chose to collaborate with the Ban Church, yet his initial step was not to unveil intricate bureaucratic structures or superior theoretical frameworks—those could be reserved for later. At present, his goal was to assist the Ban Church in recognizing its own strengths and identifying its target demographic.
After all, the Ban Church is a faith centered around a malevolent deity, and they place great emphasis on tangible benefits. Without advantages, mere theoretical discussions will not significantly capture their interest. Therefore, Lin En's first step to gaining the Ban Church's approval was to offer something that could aid them in the short term: to help them understand themselves better and clarify their objectives.
What good does it do to impose taxes on the few cabbages of the common folk? They ought to recognize their target clientele, approach the lords, and inform them that plunder is permissible—this is undoubtedly the sort of rhetoric every lord yearns to hear.
"Inbutu lacks not for strength; the Damara from the north are valiant warriors. With maritime trade disrupted in the south, the focus should not be on relying on foreigners to reclaim those rights but rather on reorganizing the northern Damara forces to empower the Jondasan merchants. They must utilize their own swords to secure opportunities for their own ships—the Weeping God does not support such endeavors; only the Dark Lord can."
"It is not just Inbutu; all nations require such support. Every realm seeks to expand its power, and this desire can, at times, outweigh even the king's intentions. The Dark Lord provides them with theoretical backing, and the power he offers naturally surpasses that of any monarch."
Finn seized on the conversation, murmuring with increasing excitement. He realized that Lin En was not merely addressing a singular issue within Inbutu but rather a common challenge faced by nearly all kings. Should this theory be further refined, it could represent a significant opportunity for the Ban Church's expansion.
He had not anticipated that his attempt to assist a minor noble in securing a marriage proposal would yield such profound insights.
"Who would have thought that among the followers of the Undying King, there exists someone like you? Would you be interested in joining the Ban Church with me? Not merely converting, but truly becoming a priest; perhaps with a single prayer, you could become a more powerful priest than I."
Finn, forgetting that he was not there to evangelize, immediately began to recruit Lin En. However, Lin En shook his head, resolutely declining, "Santilburg is not suited for me… and my family is preparing to venture northward. Compared to remaining in Santilburg to study theory within the church for advancement, I would much prefer to forge my own path in the north."
"The north? You don't mean to engage in mining, do you?" Finn chuckled in disbelief. "You might not be aware, but while the Plumbum Mountains have indeed thawed, this has also opened pathways to the Underdark. A horde of gray dwarves has emerged from the depths—this is particularly dire for you, as those creatures do not worship the dwarven deities but instead venerate the Deep Sea King."
The followers of Dagon? Lin En felt a wave of exasperation; he had anticipated the Plumbum Mountains might be perilous, but he had underestimated the chaotic circumstances of Feren.
Fortunately, he was not planning on mining.
"I have no interest in gold mines; rather, I seek to undertake other endeavors. I am quite curious if I can establish a power structure distinct from the norm, perhaps even create a new domain... I simply remain uncertain on how to commence."
"Perhaps I could assist you."
Finn blurted this out, completely oblivious to the fact that he had walked directly into Lin En's trap.