006: We're All Clear-Minded People, Let's Speak Directly—What Benefits Can You Offer?
"I seek nothing, yet I seek everything."
To Claudius, the silver-haired boy's response held no trace of falsehood.
The cold night couldn't make Claudius shiver. In the starless sky, only the moon shone, casting its light on Novia. The sincerity of his words and the loathsome moonlight created a bizarre picture in the emperor's eyes.
Claudius I's hatred for the moon goddess Diana wasn't due to his incurable illness but because of his nephew, the previous Roman emperor—the cruel tyrant Caligula.
Initially, Claudius saw Caligula as an excellent emperor. But after Caligula fell gravely ill from gazing at the moon, he changed completely, ruling the Roman Empire with irrational fear.
Thus, rumors spread that Rome had lost the gods' protection.
Claudius's expedition to Britain was also meant to reassure the people.
"I've heard Christianity originates from Judaism, yet your leader died in Jerusalem. Why does your god permit you to kill each other?"
Faced with a new god different from the Roman pantheon, Claudius was on high alert, remaining vigilant at all times. Having ascended the throne in middle age, he was intensely obsessed with power.
Before coming, Claudius specifically researched Christianity, discovering a "ridiculous" execution in Jerusalem in 34 AD—Novia's widespread claim that Christ Jesus died at the hands of his own people, the Jews.
This puzzled him: Did the god they believe in enjoy mutual slaughter?
"The Jews claim to be God's apostles but long ago betrayed the covenant. They are heretics."
Novia was eager to separate the Christianity he promoted from Judaism. Otherwise, once it replaced polytheism, being associated with Judaism would be troublesome. He would eventually find an opportunity to cleanse Jerusalem.
After all, those in Jerusalem forced Jesus to his death—in the Type-Moon world, weren't they outright heretics?
Moreover, Christianity and Judaism had fundamental conflicts: Jews sought superiority, while Christianity preached that all were chosen.
Thus, before Novia could replace Roman polytheism with Christianity, he had to deal with Judaism.
"Jesus the Son willingly died, willingly took humanity's sins upon himself to ascend to heaven. Thus, God established a new covenant with humanity—the 'New Testament.'"
"But hasn't the Age of Gods ended nearly fifty years ago? How is your god different from our Roman gods? What use is he to Rome?"
Claudius reacted calmly, observing Novia's demeanor. Ultimately, he didn't care about the strife between Christians and Jews—the miracle had been genuinely displayed, and that was enough.
Hearing this, Novia smiled inwardly. Emperor Claudius's lengthy speech boiled down to one question: What benefits can your god offer the Roman Empire?
But Novia also admired him. Theoretically, the Roman gods were Rome's ancestors, and the gods had only recently vanished. It seemed Claudius wasn't as weak as recorded. Then again, if he were truly weak, how would he dare join the Roman expeditionary force to Britain?
"Your Majesty, you became emperor by the Senate's decree."
Novia stepped forward, meeting the gloomy-faced emperor's gaze.
"...The Messenger jests. I became emperor by the will of the gods. After death, I will surely become—"
In a sense, Claudius was correct. Even Egyptian pharaohs would go to the realm of Egyptian gods after death.
But—
"Your Majesty, the Age of Gods has ended. Yet my god is different—He still watches over the earth."
Novia wore a gentle smile incongruent with the tense atmosphere, his azure eyes fixed on the expressionless emperor.
Anyone in the world with knowledge of mystery knew the Age of Gods had ended; gods no longer walked the earth. Yet, at such a time, a god's miracle appeared. With a little thought, one might wonder: Is this god stronger than the gods of old...?
Precisely because of the "miracle" in Britain, no one dared gamble on whether this god would act again.
Novia also understood that without benefits, no amount of persuasion or intimidation would make Claudius agree to his ideas. If Claudius recklessly charged ahead, Novia lacked the ability to withstand the Roman Empire's armies.
Thus, the silver-haired boy continued: "Your Majesty, Roman gods have many responsibilities: industry, commerce, love, wisdom, war. The Senate's power stems from the dispersion of the gods and the uncertainty of succession."
"But for the great Augustus, one god, one emperor, one empire—that is most correct."
Novia spoke bluntly, having discerned that Emperor Claudius only cared about power—naturally putting him at odds with the power-sharing Senate.
"...Enough! Do not jest. The faith of the gods must not be altered."
Indeed, as Novia predicted, Claudius was tempted. Most who attained such a position sought to make imperial power private property, ensuring the throne passed to blood relatives like personal assets.
For Claudius, imperial succession was synonymous with scheming and cunning. Roman bloodlines, obsession with power, and ruthless methods had been fully displayed throughout his life.
But now, Emperor Claudius was torn—partly fearing the Roman gods, partly desiring absolute imperial power.
Seeing this, Novia knew he had to reassure the wavering emperor, demonstrating practical actions to convince him he could rewrite Rome's long-standing polytheistic faith.
He could transform the Senate's authorization—human-granted—into Christianity's divine mandate.
"I've heard Greek and Jewish communities in Alexandria frequently engage in bloody conflicts. I am willing to resolve this, showcasing the great emperor's glory."
"...Ah, I had hoped to keep you longer, to see if any of my children could receive the god's glory." Claudius wore a reluctant expression, placing his hands on Novia's shoulders as if they were old acquaintances. "But since this is the Messenger's request—and thus God's request—I cannot detain you. Tomorrow, young Novia, you shall depart. Do not keep God waiting."
You old... emperor. Won't even let me have a decent meal, rushing me off like this—and adding "young" to my name.
Novia barely controlled his expression, finally responding sincerely:
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
No pain, no gain. Novia's hard work was all for achieving his goals smoothly in the future.
From a religious history perspective, no monotheistic religion simply defeated polytheism. In the Mediterranean world, Christianity competed with Manichaeism, Mithraism, the cult of Isis, Judaism, Neo-Platonism, etc. These rivals were also highly "monotheistic," philosophical faiths—not primitive polytheistic worship.
"Monotheism" was never new nor necessarily advanced.
Ancient Judaism's Yahweh monotheism didn't give it clear advantages over neighboring Near Eastern faiths or later Hellenistic beliefs.
Greco-Roman religion wasn't strictly "polytheistic" either—by classical times, Zeus was already trending toward an absolute, primordial existence.
Claudius likely understood how powerful a religion unifying imperial faith could be. But lacking experience, he probably thought it would only counterbalance the Senate, while enabling hereditary imperial power—a win, right?
However, the Christianity Novia improved wasn't comparable to current polytheism. Many polytheistic rituals were affordable only to the upper class, breeding resentment among lower classes over time. The equality in Novia's Christianity offered new hope, enough to sweep across first-century Europe.
Monotheism has only one supreme god, implying all people are ordinary humans. It places commoners and rulers on the same level, selling the precious concept of equality.
Believing it instantly makes one spiritually equal to the emperor, for besides God, no one is omniscient or omnipotent.
Organizations offering equality always possess special strength.
Moreover, Novia specifically chose Alexandria not due to its frequent religious conflicts,
But for—
The Atlas Institute!
Note: I'm new to translating so please be kind and tell me any mistakes you all find, I will try to release a chapter a day but don't expect much
Please support the original author: 式模式
Raw: 型月,小开也算开?