Only God
Chapter 109 - 98 Basel, do you understand God, or do I understand God?

Chapter 109: Chapter 98 Basel, do you understand God, or do I understand God?

Nobles in the Logos Kingdom often held banquets, spreading this custom to every corner, ingraining it into their lives.

However, renowned nobles would not associate with those of lower status, and the lesser nobles had their own circles.

Thus, the overlooked and disreputable nobles had to hold their own gatherings.

Bandi, a bastard, was one such noble.

At one of these banquets, Bandi met an extraordinary figure.

Orenmo.

A descendant of the Sapo King, his father was the eldest son of the Sapo King.

In years past, King Yarlessto pardoned the Sapo King’s eldest son, allowing the Sapo bloodline to survive.

At the banquet, Bandi observed this man named Orenmo carefully.

The instincts of a bastard told him, Orenmo was not to be underestimated.

Bandi approached Orenmo and engaged him in a long conversation.

Impulsive, irritable, yet not without due calmness, physically strong, his father’s timidity had left no trace on Orenmo. Instead, the bravery of the Sapo King was etched in his character.

The more Bandi observed, the more he felt that Orenmo was no ordinary man.

He resolved to befriend Orenmo.

Initially, Bandi worried that his status as a bastard might bring discrimination, but, unexpectedly, Orenmo enjoyed their conversations immensely.

The reason was, they shared a common... enemy.

Dovlo’s eldest son, the heir to the kingdom, Rui Ying.

Moreover, Bandi gleaned some useful information from Orenmo’s brief remarks.

Such as... in fact, among those renowned nobles, there still were those loyal to the Sapo bloodline.

And the Sapo bloodline... it seemed they had never thought of giving up the King’s Throne in the palace.

In Orenmo’s eyes, King Yarlessto and his son King Dovlo were nothing but contemptible usurpers.

The greatest gain from this banquet for Bandi was making Orenmo’s acquaintance.

Years later, a devastating storm was destined to sweep across the entire kingdom.

...

...

In the blink of an eye,

Another twenty years had passed.

At the poet’s home.

Basel was repeatedly reading a carved copy of the Twin Kings Book.

He had personally carved it from the tablet in front of the engraved historical monument.

A hundred years had passed, and Basel, a kind-hearted poet, was profoundly moved by the birth of laws.

Law was the baseline of morality; the advent of law meant... the people of Logos now had an inviolable boundary.

To Basel, law was the boundary between good and evil, it was justice, it was the crystallization of goodness deep within everyone’s soul.

"Law is universal, it’s kindness."

Basel extended his hand, caressing a child’s head.

It was a child from the Three-eyed Ape People, a child of the Salas tribe’s elder, named Lam.

Lam was robust, the most active among his peers, but he was adorable and very likable.

During Basel’s previous visits to the Three-eyed Ape People, Lam had often clung to Basel, asking him to teach him the ways of the Logos people, wanting to become Basel’s disciple.

Two years ago, Lam had, as he wished, moved into Basel’s home.

"Is this what your Elves call law?"

Lam, holding Basel’s hand, pointed at the stone tablet in his hand and asked.

Basel nodded slightly and smiled.

"Law, how grand."

Basel educated this Three-eyed Ape person.

Lam listened patiently.

Compared to the people of Logos, Basel preferred the company of these simple and kind-hearted Three-eyed Ape People.

Basel handed the stone tablet to Lam, instructing,

"Read this, I’m going out for a walk."

Lam nodded, took the Twin Kings Book in his hands, and started reading word by word.

Basel walked out of the house, slowly strolling towards the Pattern Garden.

Despite no priest in the Pattern Garden accepting this stuttering poet, Basel still made his way there.

He enjoyed the feeling of walking in the Pattern Garden, as if treading the path once walked by Prophet Al.

Basel crossed the plaza of the Royal Capital; a century ago, it was a plaza of Logos people, now filled with many Three-eyed Ape People.

They were employed by Logos nobles, serving as servants, farmers, or porters.

Basel looked at those Three-eyed Ape People with a hint of concern in his gaze.

Compared to the people of Logos, the Three-eyed Ape People were not well-regarded in the Kingdom, engaged in menial labor, suffering from discrimination and unable to casually return to their tribes.

The Three-eyed Ape People were like... slaves.

Basel arrived in the Pattern Garden.

The priests around the altar, either standing or sitting, occasionally lifting their palms or bowing their arms... Basel watched as the priests were clearly arguing over some major issue.

Basel intended to pass them directly,

but...

"Have you heard? The prophetic powers of those Three-eyed Ape People..."

One priest’s voice was loud, so loud that even Basel could hear.

Basel perked up his sharp ears, realizing something, and carefully approached.

Why were they discussing the prophetic powers of the Three-eyed Ape People?

The priests hadn’t noticed Basel approaching, as they were embroiled in a heated discussion.

"Do you know? The New Kingdom across the sea, they know about the Three-eyed Ape People!"

A priest said urgently.

"What happened? Is there a problem?" another inquired.

"I heard... Prince Rui Ying saw the tablet sent by the Unihorn, and he ordered it to be smashed to pieces."

The priest lowered his voice a bit, but Basel could still hear clearly,

"Elu, perhaps... perhaps the words on the tablet..."

The priest named Elu, a middle-aged man, understood what the other priest was talking about.

"Are you saying, King Dertulian opposes moving the Three-eyed Ape People into the kingdom?" asked another outspoken priest.

"Of course he would oppose, King Dertulian... he is very much against enslavement," the priest paused and then continued,

"I heard that Prince Rui Ying had engraved on the stone tablet previously sent to King Dertulian the idea of enslaving the Three-eyed Ape People, and exploiting their prophetic power."

At this point, Basel’s eyes widened, he turned his head, looking incredulously at the speaking priest.

Enslaving the Three-eyed Ape People.

What... what was this all about?!

Priest Elu then spoke,

"I also heard... King Dovlo seems to intend... intend to permanently purchase the freedom of the Three-eyed Ape People, and currently, there are many of them serving in the palace. Of course, these are just hearsay."

Another priest looked astonished at Priest Elu and asked,

"Is that true? But... aren’t they rational beings like us? Hundreds of years ago, King Yarlessto returned the freedom of all the children of God in the name of God..."

At that moment, an elderly priest stood up.

Seeing him, all the priests quieted down, the elderly priest clearly commanded great respect and he said,

"Don’t forget, King Yarlessto restored the freedom of the children of God, only we are endowed with reason by God.

Those Three-eyed Ape People, they worship the Prophetic God Kagawus, a batch of heretics, they are not children of God.

I believe our great God would be pleased to see us using the races of other divine beings as the foundation of our kingdom."

"No! God would not allow this!"

At this, Basel couldn’t hold back any longer and he exclaimed loudly.

This time, he wasn’t stammering.

The priests were startled, and one by one they turned to look at Basel.

Interrupted, the elder priest’s anger flared, his eyes burning with fury as he looked at Basel.

Confronted with so many gazes, Basel suddenly felt intimidated and involuntarily stepped back.

"Basel, is it you who understand God, or me, Dorias?"

The elder priest Dorias, who had once been the tutor of Prince Rui Ying and taught him the worldly rules of the Pattern Garden and various matters of sacrifice, was undoubtedly the most trusted and therefore most knowledgeable among the priests.

He was also among the priests, the biggest supporter of Prince Rui Ying.

Dorias scrutinized the trembling Poet, he had heard that among the priests, Basel was closest to the Three-eyed Ape People.

"Basel, is it you who understand God, or me, Dorias?"

Dorias repeated, this time with even more intensity.

"I, I, I..."

Basel’s lips trembled, and he stammered again.

Before Basel could speak, Dorias continued,

"My forefathers followed Prophet Al in worshiping God, under their teachings I revered, believed, and understood the divine creation’s rules, and for this reason, I am a priest here!

And you? Basel?

What do you think you are? A mediocre poet, who only entered the Pattern Garden because of the grace granted by King Dovlo and Prince Rui Ying. Do you think you understand God?

Do you think that by performing sacrifices, praying daily, muttering about God, God will favor you?"

Basel, intimidated by the accusatory tone, stumbled backward tremblingly.

Dorias wasn’t merely intimidating Basel; he was making an example of him, trying to eradicate any sympathy for the Three-eyed Ape People among the other priests.

"Basel, I believe in God far more than you do, which is why God blessed me with birth into a priestly family."

Dorias ceased reproaching him and sneered,

"Leave this place, Basel, disengage your pathetic sympathy, your compassion is driving you further away from God."

Basel went pale, his voice trembling, and could only stutter "I, I, I... no, no, no," repeating ineffectually, although his internal retorts were like towering waves, yet none could be coherently voiced.

The priests looked on at Basel, with pity, sympathy, scorn, and satisfaction... Dorias’s authority overwhelmed them, none came forward to speak for him, to pat his shoulders, to comfort his soul.

In the end,

Basel had no choice but to flee.

He burst out of the Pattern Garden, his figure vanishing into the golden wheat field.

The priests drove Basel away, making the Poet run in fear.

Dorias laughed coldly, and turning to face the priests, said,

"You should know, the Three-eyed Ape People are not children of God,

their existence is God’s arrangement,

the great God intended this race for us to enslave.

And our king, being a descendent of the Prophet, if anyone goes against the wishes of King Dovlo and Prince Rui Ying, they are defying the Prophet, defying God."

Dorias’s tone, still devout, carried a prohibitive warning.

Then, Dorias knelt down in praise of God giving them the Three-eyed Ape People.

The priests followed Dorias in kneeling, joining their hands in the wheat field, resoundingly praising the design of God, and swearing to forever believe in Him.

No one cared about the criticized Basel, as if his presence was merely a minor episode.