I somehow ended up earning a math credit.
According to Mr. Goat, the instructor, “If you’ve understood this much, there’s nothing more I can teach you.”
However, instead, I was instructed to submit a paper to the ‘Academy,’ a research institution higher than the school.
I’ll send them a random paper whenever I have some spare time.
Rhetoric and dialectics also lacked anything noteworthy, so I mercilessly tore apart the teachers’ arguments and took the credits.
Next up was a class called theology or something.
…It turned out to be just a religious seminar.
Boring.
Since it was boring, I decided to have some fun by logically refuting everything.
“Alright, that’s incorrect. In the Book of Vows to Nate, Chapter 19, Verse 5, it says, ‘I do not touch those who touch blood.’ This simply refers to infection control measures.”
“What are you…?!”
“I have a microscope prepared here, so I’ll project the image onto the blackboard.”
I then displayed some bacteria.
“This is what the impurity mentioned in the scripture refers to: bacteria, tiny creatures invisible to the naked eye.”
“How revolting…!”
“Impurity refers to this, and blood contains a lot of these impurities. However, if you wash it off, it’s fine. The important thing is not to discriminate against workers who touch blood but to ensure public hygiene and cleanliness.”
“Y-you! Are you saying the scripture is wrong?!”
“Hmm, depending on the case? But the person who wrote this scripture wasn’t stupid. They probably wanted to convey that ‘Touching blood seems to make one more likely to get sick!'”
“The author of this ‘Book of Vows to Nate’ is the prophet Intes! Are you saying Intes could make mistakes?!”
“Of course, mistakes happen. Intes wasn’t a god. We humans can’t observe an infallible and omnipotent deity, but if ‘God doesn’t make mistakes,’ then ‘humans make mistakes.’ Humans are not gods. Even the most revered saints make mistakes.”
As I was having fun teasing the foolish teacher leading the seminar…
“Um.”
A beautiful girl with blue hair… If I remember correctly, it was Saint Grace.
She raised her hand.
Grace Arklight…
Her hair, as clear and beautiful as the sea or sky, was cut to a short length.
Her emerald-like eyes were soft and gentle, but her straight, well-defined nose suggested a resolute personality.
Her pure white dress was a symbol of an untainted maiden.
Over it, she wore a blue cape provided by the school, and around her neck hung a necklace set with gold and iolite.
“What’s up, Saint?”
“I think your thoughts are correct.”
Oh?
Ignoring the dumbfounded teacher, I listened to what Saint Grace had to say…
“Since I was born, I’ve acted as a saint and made countless mistakes, both small and large. Therefore, I believe there’s a possibility that Prophet Intes might have made some mistakes as well.”
I see.
“And?”
“So, Exus-sama, how can people avoid making mistakes?”
Oh, a philosophical question?
Nice, I like it.
Even though I previously said to leave philosophical discussions to philosophers, I’m willing to retract that statement if it means I get to talk with a beautiful girl.
Although, it’s probably more of a practical question.
In that case, there’s only one answer.
“Impossible. It’s impossible to avoid mistakes. Only gods can do that; humans always make mistakes.”
“Is that so?”
“But.”
“But?”
“Mistakes can be reduced. That’s why humans try various things, record them, and learn from them. By passing down our failures and successes, our children can live better lives.”
“The Bible says that wealth is evil…”
“That’s from the Book of Macca, Chapter 24, Verse 3, right? ‘Those who seek wealth are foolish.'”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever thought about why Macca wrote that?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“Then let me tell you. Macca, according to biblical records, was born to a poor farmer. Therefore, he harbored resentment towards capitalists…the rich. In other words, it was personal animosity.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s a high possibility. And let me ask you, if the Bible said, ‘Kings should distribute all their wealth to the people,’ do you think that teaching would spread?”
“If that were the case, those in power would oppose it. But kings are also God’s representatives, so that…”
“Then what if it said, ‘All women must sell their bodies to anyone who demands it’?”
“That’s outrageous!”
“Exactly, it’s outrageous. Such teachings would never spread! …But what if the Bible said, ‘The rich are evil’?”
“Ah… It would gain widespread support, wouldn’t it?”
“Precisely. Everyone hates the rich, so a Bible that criticizes them would become popular.”
“Is that so… But shouldn’t the wealthy help the poor?”
“Well, to what extent?”
“To what extent…?”
This is an enjoyable conversation.
It’s quite satisfying to punch reality into those who believe in the purity of God.
It’s like showing porn to a girl who believes in storks and cabbage patches.
It feels great.
“You’re quite privileged yourself. Do you truly know the lives of the poor? They wear rags, eat sewer rats, and steal to survive.”
“Is… Is that true?”
“Yes, it is. How many people could be saved with just one of the gold ornaments you’re wearing?”
“Is that… so…”
“But you wouldn’t like that, would you? No one wants to cut down on their own food to help others.”
“I, I would!”
“Even if you would, what about others? For example, the teacher here… What was it again? He boasted about being a bishop at the start of the class, right? …Oh? How strange, Bishop? Why are you so fat? If you were cutting down on your own food to help the poor, you wouldn’t be this fat, would you?”
“Th-that is…”
The fat bishop-teacher tried to say something, but I cut him off.
“Moreover, why does the church, which is supposed to help others, own lands, collect taxes, and make money from brewing? You’re not helping anyone.”
“Indeed, you’re right. I hadn’t considered that until now.”
Said the saint, lowering her eyes sadly.
“That’s right. If you say help the poor, you should offer all your wealth and even your flesh and blood to them. The poor eat human flesh, after all. Why don’t you do that? Because fundamentally, people desire wealth.”
“Is that so…”
“Then, how can we reduce the number of poor people? If you think about that, the most important thing is education.”
“Education? But if everyone bears a little…”
“No, no, spare me. The poor constitute more than seventy percent of this country. It’s not a matter of enduring a bit of hardship.”
“That many…?”
“Yes, that’s right. So, the only way is to make the poor devise ways not to remain poor. For that, education is necessary.”
In the past, even in Japan, children were used as labor and school was considered unnecessary. However, by forcing children to attend school through laws, things gradually improved, right?
While developing primary industries is certainly important, the first priority is to spread education, even if it requires some force.
Education is the foundation of everything.
“Then, what happens when education is enriched?”
“Good question. When people become wiser~…”
………………
…………
……
I gave a lecture on the roadmap to industrialization that I had devised as a pastime when I was younger.
“That was a wonderful talk! I was deeply moved!”
The saint said, shaking my hand.
“Um! If it’s alright with you, could you allow me to be one of your subordinates?!”
Hmm?
“Following your plan, many people could become happy! Please, let me assist you!”
“Alright, fine.”
I got the saint on my side.
