Somewhere beyond the empty darkness.
A voice echoes.
It's sweet yet at the same time chilling.
The sensation of a bug crawling on your back, but the thought that it's not unpleasant.
The conversation proceeds very quietly, secretly.
What's going on?
―The 'God' has once again bestowed 'authority'.
Has Lord Iggokden bestowed his grace upon us once more?
Iggokden! Iggokden!
The will of God is an absolute truth and providence, thus it must be fulfilled unconditionally.
―Iggokden! Iggokden!
What does God desire?
...
―Is God satisfied?
He is satisfied.
―Everything is for Lord Iggokden.
The beings verify the 'authority of God' given to them after using it to change the world.
And then, manipulating space... assasak.
Assasak! Assasak!
―The authority of God!
Lord Iggokden's straightforward fact!
Assasak, devouring the authority of God with a sound.
Growing by consuming it.
―What we need, sustainable divine support.
What does Lord Iggokden desire?
―Lord Iggokden desires something new.
Something new?
The being, by swirling the space, imitated and wove the 'Word of God'.
「LOL, the new BM design is well done」
―New BM.
New BM?
―An unknowable word from God.
A word from God that must be deciphered.
Space distorts.
The space spits out a few characters.
―New. Meaning 'something new'. BM. Measurement unknown. More information needed.
That God desires something new and 'new' are consistent.
Therefore, the result.
We must prepare something that can satisfy Lord Iggokden.
Something truly new.
Do you understand?
―Everything according to Lord Iggokden's will.
Everything according to Lord Iggokden's will.
***
More than half of the Iggokden Cathedral had crumbled.
From early morning, many were working to rebuild the cathedral.
Calling it rebuilding might be an overstatement; it was more like repairing broken stained glass and slightly cracked walls.
Most of what was broken were religious artifacts like statues, paintings, engravings, and relics.
Surprisingly, apart from the parts where light came in and set fire, the broken stained glass, and the two collapsed spires, the building itself was relatively intact.
So, what about the fragmented paintings or relics?
That is—
Woosh!
"Burn them!"
"Such relics from the old era are meaningless! Only the new will of God matters!"
"The paintings can be redone! Let's record new miracles in paintings!"
"Gu-men!"
They were gathering all these things like trash to burn them.
Just yesterday, statues or paintings adorned with all sorts of sacred inscriptions were now treated like burning trash.
There's no helping it. The word of God is absolute. And since God has spoken—destroy the old and embrace the new!
Instead, they were now painting what happened just yesterday.
The scene where Saintess Erin, who descended upon this land after 200 years, created the new concept of 'one platter of holy knights' based on the scripture!
In the largest auditorium of the Iggokden Cathedral, ten renowned painters were already working together on this scene on the most prominent spot.
This way, old things were replaced with new ones in the cathedral.
Ironically, this was quite beneficial for revitalizing the economy of the monastic city Iggokden. Filling it with new things meant consumption.
In the past, they might have said, 'It's God's will. Offer what you have,' but in today's world, doing such a thing would surely lead to losing public support and influence over the royal family.
Anyway, spending money freely was naturally increasing people's interest and faith in religion.
The Church of Iggokden still enjoyed the status of a state religion, but unlike in the past, the Pope didn't wield absolute power.
In such circumstances, the appearance of a saintess after 200 years, spreading miracles here and there, was good, but—
Considering Saintess Erin's words, performing miracles was not something that could be done frequently, so the Pope enthusiastically adopted the 'new' to create the current situation.
The ones most actively supporting this 'destroy the old, embrace the new' movement, as advocated by Erin and declared by the Pope, were the young priests who had witnessed divine miracles.
They were the most passionate about studying the scripture and, having not lived long, were easily influenced by the vivid miracles happening before their eyes, making it natural for them to be captivated.
They were now dedicating all their time to shouting catchy slogans and preaching about the new miracles and words of God they had witnessed.
"How many facts?"
"One platter!"
"How many holy knights?"
"One platter!!!"
"Still don't get it?"
"It's an intelligence issue!!!"
I! Ggo! Ggo! Den!
God! God! God!
Along with these slogans that filled them with fervor, the young priests were rapidly dismantling the 'old' for the purpose of spreading the word of God.
"May... may I work here? I... I haven't fully studied about God yet..."
"Only the devout should work is an outdated rule. Those with skill should do the work that suits them. That's the new rule."
"Thank you...! I couldn't use my skills because I had nowhere to work... I'll work hard, really hard!"
―For instance, in hospitals funded by the Church, they significantly relaxed overly strict religious regulations.
"Are you... really loosening it...?"
"The one true God, Lord Iggokden, even provided a platter full of plain facts to non-believers. How can we claim that mere creatures who learn the word of God always make perfect judgments?"
"Thank you...! Thank you! From now on, I will deeply devote myself to Lord Iggokden...!"
―They released those who were sent to religious tribunals but had not committed severe crimes.
"Is it really okay not to study the scripture...?"
"Forcing scripture study just because it's an educational facility of our Church is an outdated rule from the past. Learn what you want to learn. However, you will study the scripture. The plain facts floating in the air will guide you to the scripture."
―The mandatory scripture study in educational facilities was abolished.
The principle behind all actions was one. 'Out with the old, in with the new'!
Old judgments. Old rules. Old is always outdated. New is always good!
However, the holy power pouch was an exception.
As it was an extremely important element assigned to the entire part of the scripture called "Sacred Force Conduit", it transcended both old and new, being absolute.
You couldn't persecute the scripture just because it was old, could you?
Of course, all this was limited to the 'religious sphere'.
The young priests, although they wanted to smash all the 'old' in the city and replace it with the new, it was impossible unless the Pope's power surpassed that of the emperor, making it a reluctant second choice.
And ironically, while they were strongly reforming only the religious sector, leaving everything else untouched—
"Don't you think people from the Church of Iggokden have changed a bit?"
"They don't obsess over rules like before."
"Since Saintess Erin appeared, the number of priests doing good deeds seems to have increased."
"Should I slightly reveal my holy power pouch too...?"
The public's favor towards the Church of Iggokden was certainly increasing.
Considering the sharp decline in public opinion towards the Church and religious institutions after 'that incident', this was a miracle.
A miracle!
The miracle, borrowed from the words of God through a new saint after 200 years, was slowly infiltrating people's hearts!
"May there be plain facts."
"May facts be with you..."
Even those who hadn't read a single line of scripture in the capital were increasingly recommending plain facts.
Many, without exception, were invoking the holy name of Iggokden.
Before one knew it, appointing three holy knights didn't seem like a big deal anymore.
On the contrary, opinions arose like 'Isn't it common sense for three plates to make one platter? Why did we only appoint one until now?'
Was that why?
She too, upon hearing the news, showed no sign of disturbance.
****
This place is called the cradle of knights—a luxurious mansion on the outskirts of the satellite city Leblanc.
Inside, a woman was receiving the 'will of God' from Saintess Erin.
Long red hair tied at the ends. Eyes as yellow as poured topaz.
A luxurious silver circlet with ornate decorations symbolized her pride as a knight.
A necklace in the shape of Iggokden's symbol, supported by a large chest.
Though she had the appearance of an imposing knight, was it because of the unique patterned hairpin she wore?
Rather than fear, a sense of familiarity, even cuteness, was felt from her beautiful appearance—the outstanding female knight, Ophelia Translante.
Erin, extending her pure white hand, said to her:
"Lady Ophelia. In the name of God, I ask you. Please become one plate of holy knights platter to protect me."
"Do not use the word 'ask', Saintess. I have waited for this moment since my birth."
Ophelia said this and immediately knelt, bowing her head to the only one chosen by God in this world—
"Command me in the name of God. I, Ophelia Translante, swear here to become one plate of holy knights, the sword that will protect you from closest."