In a place where only darkness exists, an entity that was nothing whispered.
――Everything is for Lord Iggokden.
Everything is for Lord Iggokden.
***
Cackle, cackle, cackle-
After donating, as I was refilling my empty ice glass with zero cola, several chat messages popped up.
[GiveMeMoney: First off]
[GiveMeMoney: I want to express my deep gratitude for your generous donation of 20,000 won. Let's get started with that.]
[GiveMeMoney: Lord Iggokden, you are really... a breathtaking person.]
[GiveMeMoney: Uh... first of all]
[GiveMeMoney: If we have the power of 20,000 won... it seems possible to enforce the will of the gods.]
[GiveMeMoney: However, since this involves changing a tradition handed down from the past, I have a bold request.]
[Iggokden: Go on.]
[GiveMeMoney: Here too, we'll need the "Word of God."]
[GiveMeMoney: If you have any wishes for me, I would appreciate it if you could tell me actively.]
[Iggokden: You mean the Word of God for those other girls this time?]
[GiveMeMoney: No, this time it's about... how should I put it]
[GiveMeMoney: Could I say that we need the power contained in the Word of God to bring both Miss Ophelia and Miss Linea on board as holy knights?]
[GiveMeMoney: If you have nothing else to say, I'll look for the best alternative.]
For a moment, the thought crossed my mind, 'You change history like it's nothing, and now you're asking me what the hell you're on about?' But I quickly caught on to the author's intentions.
Judging from past experiences, the author is a professional at this WWE stuff. Even when providing rewards, they maintain the immersion in the world by thoroughly sticking to the 'concept' in their performance.
So, what they're saying is: 'Do you have any ideas or preferences? If not, I'll just handle it on my own.'
In other words― 'You paid, so how would you like it drawn, customer?'
It's like a legal scam opportunity!
[Iggokden: LOL, you can't refuse when someone goes all out like this.]
[GiveMeMoney: ...?]
[Iggokden: Nah, it's nothing.]
[Iggokden: Just wait.]
I reviewed the comic content up to this point.
A picture where these two could join as holy knights naturally...
Since I've given the technique, it would be nice if they accept it well, but at the point where I've paid, shouldn't they just do it themselves?
With no particular thoughts, I typed.
[Iggokden: What's so important about past traditions? LOL, the will of God is more important.]
[Iggokden: Just push it through.]
It's just a comic, what's there to think deeply about?
[GiveMeMoney: The will of God is more important than the past...!]
[GiveMeMoney: As expected of Lord Iggokden. As soon as I heard those words, the world has already begun to move to answer you.]
[GiveMeMoney: With both the 'Divine Authority' and the 'Word of God' gathered, what do I have to fear?]
[Iggokden: LOL, just do it right. I'm just getting my money ready.]
[GiveMeMoney: Of course. Then, see you in the next chapter.]
After closing the chat window, I logged into an online game that I had practically given up on.
'Might as well organize my gear.'
You never know what might happen, so I should stockpile as many bullets as possible.
I was grinning, thinking something like that.
***
The holy knight was decided.
It hadn't been officially announced yet, but those in high positions in the religious community who should know, knew.
And naturally, controversy arose.
Because it was an answer to the age-old question, 'What will the church choose between practicality and prestige?'
And since that answer was neither practicality nor prestige, it was even more so.
The decision by Saintess Erin― Luka Hevnisian.
Before the saint appeared, Luka was an unknown knight who had received the 'qualification for holy knight support' from the church, which was practically handed over like alms to the Luprantia Academy while the church was in a power struggle with the royal family.
Although she was said to have enough potential to be recommended, all she had shown was being the runner-up at Luprantia Academy.
Compared to 'practicality' Linea von Einsberg and 'prestige' Ophelia Translente, she offered no merit.
Of course, the word of God is absolute.
But that logic only holds within the religious community.
For others, especially from the royal family's perspective who wanted to establish connections with the church through this opportunity, it was an unacceptable decision.
If the church had chosen someone like Ophelia Translente, who had shown exceptional piety compared to Linea, Luka would never be accepted!
And knowing this, Pope Linus III was pleading in front of the saintess's door, sweating profusely.
"Saintess. It's not too late. Please reconsider. This choice is too burdensome for us. There's no benefit in opposing the Einsberg royal family now."
There was no reply, but there was a presence. The Pope bowed several times in front of the door.
Though the Pope was at the top of the religious hierarchy― in front of the saintess, the only one who could communicate with the divine, he was just a subordinate.
"Spreading the word of God can wait even after our influence has grown. Hasn't the saintess appeared just now? Lord Iggokden's truth is just beginning to spread to more people, and to solidify that, we desperately need the help of the royal family. So, please, with the intention of planning for the future―"
At that moment.
The door opened with a creak.
The Pope, startled, quickly assessed the situation and naturally stepped aside, bowing his head.
"Saintess!"
"I'm going to announce the holy knight now."
"But, Saintess, please listen to me first-"
"It's fine. The word of God has illuminated our path. I believe the Pope will be satisfied."
"Eh...?"
I don't know what it means, but... has she changed her mind?
"More than that, I have a request."
"A request...?"
Erin's blue eyes sparkled.
"Please gather all the priests who can be mobilized in the main hall right away."
***
In the grand hall of the Iggokden Cathedral
Fitting its size, hundreds of priests were here, studying the truth of Lord Iggokden and delving into theology.
These priests, being elites due to their association with the saintess, were engaged in various debates about the appointment of an unknown knight like Luka as a holy knight.
"If it's the will of God, shouldn't we follow it?"
"It seems like an imprudent decision..."
"Come on, didn't the saintess summon us? She'll surely provide a convincing explanation."
How much time had passed?
"The saintess enters!"
Finally, as Erin walked in, the atmosphere in the hall became solemn.
Clack, clack.
"The saintess...!"
"Lord Iggokden..."
"Please let there be some plain facts..."
Though they had doubts about her decision, they were fundamentally devout believers.
Just hearing the sound of her steps, they felt a kind of religious sanctity.
What Erin held dear to her chest was the Bible.
The most beautiful book in the world, containing the words of the only God, Lord Iggokden.
Standing on the podium, Erin spoke loudly to the priests below.
Or rather, she spoke normally, but it sounded loud to everyone present.
"Everyone, I am Saint Erin."
"...!!"
Everyone was surprised by how her voice carried so clearly.
This kind of magic wasn't unheard of, but... the magic used by priests was healing magic, and crucially, there was no mage beside her.
So, how was this possible?
At that moment.
"...."
With Erin closing her eyes and gently touching her forehead to the Bible―
"That, that is...!"
From the Bible, pure white light began to emanate.
Everyone gathered here knew. That light was not just a flash.
It was... the clear, undeniable fact. A fragment of the most straightforward fact bestowed by Lord Iggokden!
And then―
――Crash!!!!
"What, what's that?!"
"Kyaaah!"
The stained glass depicting an apostle of Iggokden shatters with a loud noise.
Following that, sacred murals and statues holding centuries of history started to break one by one.
Among them was the statue of the 8th apostle 'Jonah,' which had never broken through countless wars in human history.
This was incredibly shocking. Even when 80% of the cathedral was destroyed by fire, it didn't break, earning it the nickname 'Jonah the Miracle Caller'―
All those things, created by humans in awe of the divine, shattered in an instant.
And then, a whisper reached everyone's ears.
A voice, neither male nor female, human nor otherwise.
――Abandon the old and embrace the new.
'...!!'
Through the broken stained glass came light.
As if to highlight the protagonist of this world, the light transcended any natural law to envelop Erin.
Everyone here, priests with years of religious training, knew.
That light was the light of God. If ordinary people were exposed to it―― their souls would surely be destroyed!
Indeed, everything the light touched turned to dust.
Yet, Erin, bathed in this light, continued her prayers.
The Bible floating above her, emitting light, was spreading plain facts to everyone in the room.
At that moment, someone shouted loudly.
"God is watching over us!"
One or two priests, fundamentally religious, trembled at the miracle before them and the divine power, kneeling and bowing to their only true God.
"Oh... Lord Iggokden..."
"God...!!!"
"Please grant me the plain fact..."
Finally, Erin opened her eyes from her prayers.
As her platinum hair fluttered and her blue eyes flashed with light―
"A simple fact."
The moment Erin spoke that sentence, everyone responded as if in unison.
""The name of God is Iggokden.""
Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 1.
Could anyone be called a priest if they didn't know this?
In sync with the saint's words, the priests, nuns, and bishops chanted from the holiest book in existence.
"A clear fact."
""The proof that Iggokden is the only God is in the donation history.""
"A clear fact."
""If someone claims to be God but their name isn't Iggokden, they're a fraud to be torn apart.""
Just.
Just reciting three lines from the Bible... priests who had walked the path of theology for years began to tear up.
This crying was not something they could control.
It was like when something overwhelmingly moving was witnessed, the tear ducts were stimulated.
Ah, I was born to see this moment. I've been studying God's words for this...
The priests accepted the truth with their square-shaped eyes. Accepted. There was no escape. No rejection.
Only then did they realize why the murals, statues, and everything else had broken.
This is what it meant to abandon the old and embrace the new!
Ah... I understand now, Lord Iggokden!
"Combining these three clear facts into one, we call it 'One Platter of Plain (simple) Facts'―"
""If one cannot understand God's words even after eating this plate, then it's simply a matter of intelligence...""
Finally, after reciting up to Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 5.
Erin declared with a voice full of conviction.
"Everyone. Even God's plain facts form one platter when three come together. So why do you think there should be only one holy knight?"
"...!!"
The Pope, watching all this with reverence, was shocked by her words, his eyes wide.
Saintess, you mean...!
'What you just said...!'
"God has spoken. 'Give it all.' God wishes to have more lambs as holy knights to protect me and spread His teachings. Yes!"
"From the past, there's only been one holy knight? What does that mean!"
Crack!
The painting depicting the saint caressing the world with a large bag, embodying Chapter 5, Verse 4 of the Divine Energy, cracked.
"What!"
Boom!
As if an explosion spell had been cast, the statue of Saint Padulus II, who had spread the doctrine across the continent, shattered.
"Does it even matter!"
Yes!
The old has no meaning.
What's important is the new! The new will of God! The newly given words of God!
"What we need is―― One Platter of Holy Knights!"
If three simple facts make one platter of facts.
Isn't it only natural that three holy knights make one platter of holy knights?
"Here and now, in the name of the Saintess who acts on God's behalf, I declare. Luka Hevnisian, Linea von Einsberg, Ophelia Translente. These three knights will henceforth be holy knights protecting me, Erin, and as 'One Platter of Holy Knights' for our church, they will be the swords that guard God's words!"
"Iggokden! Iggokden!"
"Follow the new order of God!"
"Gu-men! Gu-men!"
At the moment the concept of 'One Platter of Holy Knights' was born.
The cathedral was collapsing, but the faitah was burning brighter than ever.
***
'?'
After seeing the last panel with the crumbling cathedral, I was dazed for a while.
Well, I told them to push through, but I didn't say to destroy the cathedral...
But still...
'At least we got three holy knights, so it's all good!'
We got four plates of big, juicy titties, so it's all good!
***
T/N:
Here, "Platter" is used metaphorically to represent a group or unity, akin to saying one unit or team. It implies that multiple holy knights come together to form a cohesive, protective unit, much like ingredients coming together to make a single dish.