Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: A Dish of Holy Knights
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* * *
In a place where only darkness existed, a being that was nothing whispered.
――All for Lord Igugwoden.
All for Lord Igugwoden.
* * *
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
After sponsoring, I refilled my empty iced glass with zero cola, and several chat messages had popped up.
[MoneyPlz: Anyway]
[MoneyPlz: First off, allow me to express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation of a whopping 20,000 won.]
[MoneyPlz: Lord Igugwoden, you are truly... truly a dizzyingly bold one.]
[MoneyPlz: Uh... anyway.]
[MoneyPlz: With the power of 20,000 won... it should be possible to carry out the will of the gods.]
[MoneyPlz: However, since this involves changing traditions passed down from ancient times, I have a humble request.]
[Igugwoden: Spill it]
[MoneyPlz: I think we'll need 'the Word of God' here as well.]
[MoneyPlz: If there's anything specific you desire from me, I'd be grateful if you shared it openly.]
[Igugwoden: The Word of God like what you do with those other girls?]
[MoneyPlz: No, this time it's... how should I put it.]
[MoneyPlz: Would it be alright to say that we need the power contained in the Word of God to enlist both Miss Ophelia and Miss Linea as Holy Knights?]
[MoneyPlz: If you have nothing to say, I'll find the best alternative possible.]
For a moment, I thought, 'You pulled off the history rewrite perfectly, so what's this now?' but I quickly caught on to the author's intent.
Based on experience so far, the author was a WWE pro. Even when giving rewards, they stuck strictly to the 'concept' to avoid breaking immersion.
So that was it. 'Got any ideas or preferences? If not, I'll handle it.'
In other words――'How would you like it drawn, customer?'
A perfect legal viewer-request opportunity!
[Igugwoden: lmao putting in real techniques is such a challenge I can't say no]
[MoneyPlz: ...?]
[Igugwoden: Nah, nothing]
[Igugwoden: Wait and see]
I reviewed the comic's content so far.
A way to naturally bring those two on board as Holy Knights...
They took the tech input, so hopefully they deliver, but isn't it their job now that I've paid?
I typed without much thought.
[Igugwoden: What past traditions lol God's will is more important]
[Igugwoden: Just push it through]
It's a comic—what's there to overthink?
[MoneyPlz: God's will is more important than the past...!]
[MoneyPlz: As expected of Lord Igugwoden. The moment I heard those words, the world began to respond to you.]
[MoneyPlz: With both 'Divine Power' and 'the Word of God' in place, what do I have to fear?]
[Igugwoden: lmao just make it perfect I'll prep more cash]
[MoneyPlz: No question. See you in the next chapter.]
After closing the chat window, I logged into my online game, which I'd basically quit.
'Time to sort out my gear.'
No telling what'll happen next, so I need max ammo stocked.
Grinning to myself with those thoughts.
* * *
The Holy Knight had been decided.
It hadn't been officially announced yet, but everyone who mattered in the religious hierarchy already knew.
And naturally, controversy erupted.
It was the answer to the age-old question: 'Will the church choose pragmatism or legitimacy?'
Especially since the answer was neither.
Saintess Erin's choice――Luca Hevnisian.
Before the Saintess appeared, she was an unknown knight who received 'Holy Knight eligibility' from the church, handed over to Luprantia Academy like a token donation amid their power struggle with the Imperial Family.
She had enough potential to be recommended, sure, but...
Her only achievement was vice-captain at Luprantia Academy. Nothing else.
Compared to the 'pragmatic' Linea von Ainsberg or the 'legitimate' Ophelia Translente, she had zero merits.
Of course, the Word of God was absolute.
But that logic only held in religious circles.
To outsiders—especially the Imperial Family, eager to forge ties with the church—this was unacceptable.
If it were the renowned knight Ophelia Translente, who far outshone Linea in piety, maybe. But Luca? No way!
Knowing this, Pope Linus III sweated profusely before the Saintess's door, pleading.
"Saintess. It's not too late. Please reconsider. This choice burdens us too much. There's no gain in antagonizing the Ainsberg Imperial Family now."
No reply came, but he sensed her presence. The Pope bowed repeatedly before the door.
He sat at the pinnacle of the church, but before the Saintess—the sole conduit to 'God's existence'—he was just a subordinate.
"Spreading God's will can wait until our church grows stronger. You've appeared just in time, Saintess. Lord Igugwoden's truth is spreading to more people— we need the Imperial Family's help to solidify it. For the future's sake, please—"
Then.
The door creaked open.
The Pope startled but quickly yielded space and bowed his head.
"Saintess!"
"I will announce the Holy Knight now."
"But Saintess, hear me out first—"
"It's fine. The Word of God has lit our path. I believe even you will be satisfied, Your Holiness."
"Yes...?"
What was that supposed to mean...? Had she changed her mind?
"More importantly, I have a request."
"A request...?"
Saintess Erin's blue eyes sparkled.
"Summon every available priest to the grand hall immediately."
* * *
Igugwoden Cathedral's grand hall.
Fitting its scale, hundreds of priests studied Lord Igugwoden's truths here, immersed in theology.
As priests training alongside the Saintess, they were elites, and debates raged over naming an unknown knight like Luca as Holy Knight.
"If it's God's will, we should follow."
"It seems too reckless..."
"Now, now. The Saintess summoned us. She'll surely explain convincingly."
How much time passed?
"The Saintess enters!"
Erin stepped in, and the hall fell utterly silent.
Click, clack.
"It's the Saintess...!"
"Saintess... Lord Igugwoden..."
"Please, let there be Plain Facts..."
They questioned her decision but were devout believers at heart.
Just hearing her footsteps evoked holy reverence.
The Saintess clutched the Holy Scripture to her chest.
The world's most beautiful book, containing the words of this realm's Sole God, Lord Igugwoden.
Ascending the podium, Erin addressed the priests loudly.
Or rather—
She spoke normally, yet it boomed to all present.
"Everyone. I am Saintess Erin."
"……!!"
All jumped at her unnaturally loud voice.
Such magic existed, but priests used healing white magic, and no mages stood by her.
How was this possible?
Then.
"……."
Erin closed her eyes, lightly touching her forehead to the Holy Scripture—
"Th-that's...!"
A pure white light poured from the Holy Scripture.
Everyone gathered knew: this wasn't mere flash.
It was... Plain Fact. The irrefutably plain fragments Lord Igugwoden shared with all!
And then—
――Crash!!!!!
"Wh-what?!"
"Eek!"
A stained glass depicting an apostle of Igugwoden shattered with a deafening roar.
One by one, sacred murals and ancient statues began crumbling.
Among them: the statue of the 8th Apostle 'Yona', unbroken through countless wars in human history.
This was shocking. It survived a fire that razed 80% of the cathedral—earning the nickname 'Yona Who Calls Miracles'—
All creations born of humanity's awe for the divine shattered in an instant.
Then, a whisper reached every ear.
A voice unknown—male or female, human or not.
――Cast off the old and take up the new.
'……!!'
Through the shattered stained glass poured—light.
As if designating this world's protagonist, it enveloped Erin, transcending absolute laws.
The high priests, honed by religious senses, knew.
This was God's light. Ordinary folk touched by it would have their souls destroyed!
Indeed, all matter the light pierced turned to dust.
Yet Erin bathed in it fully... offering ceaseless prayer.
The Holy Scripture floating above her, glowing, showered Plain Facts upon everyone.
Then, someone shouted.
"God watches over us!"
Inevitably religious priests, a few trembled at the witnessed miracle, kneeling to their rightful Sole God.
"Oooh... Lord Igugwoden..."
"God...!!!"
"Please grant me Plain Facts...!"
Finally, Erin opened her eyes after endless prayer.
Her platinum hair fluttered as blue eyes flashed with divine light.
And—
"Plain Fact one."
The moment Erin uttered it, all responded in unison.
""God's name is Igugwoden.""
Genesis 1:1.
Who could call themselves a priest without knowing it?
Matching the Saintess, priests, nuns, and bishops chanted from the holiest book.
"Plain Fact two."
""Proof that Igugwoden is the Sole God is all in the donation logs.""
"Plain Fact three."
""If someone claims to be God but isn't named Igugwoden, rip the fraud apart.""
Merely.
Just reciting three lines from the Holy Scripture... and veteran priests teared up.
This weeping was uncontrollable.
Like tears welling from profound emotion.
Ah. I was born to witness this. I'd studied God's words for this moment...
Priests accepted truth with square pupils. Accepted. Unavoidable. Irresistible.
Only now they understood why murals and statues shattered.
Cast off the old, take the new—that's exactly it!
Aah... It all clicks perfectly, Lord Igugwoden!
"Binding three Plain Facts into 'A Dish of Facts'—"
""If you can't grasp God's word after one dish, it's just an IQ issue from then on......""
Finally, Genesis 1:5 concluded.
Erin proclaimed God's word with fervent voice.
"Everyone. Even God's Plain Facts form one dish from three. So why insist a Holy Knight must be one?"
"……!!"
The Pope, watching in awe, gaped at her in shock.
Saintess, don't tell me...!
'What you just said...!'
"God has spoken: 'Give them all to me.' God desires more lambs as Holy Knights to protect me and spread His will. Yes!"
"Only one Holy Knight by tradition? That!"
Crack!
A crack split the famed painting embodying Holy Power Chronicle 5:4, 「The Saintess Caressing the World with a Giant Pouch」.
"What!"
Boom!
As if hit by explosion magic, the statue of the 4th Pope and saint Pardulus II, who spread doctrine across the continent, shattered.
"Does it mean anything?!"
Exactly!
The old holds no meaning.
Only the new matters! The new divine will! The freshly revealed Word of God!
"What we need is――
Dish of Holy Knights
!"
Three Plain Facts make a Dish of Facts.
So three Holy Knights naturally make a Dish of Holy Knights!
"By the authority of the Saintess proxying for God, I declare here: Luca Hevnisian, Linea von Ainsberg, Ophelia Translente. These three knights shall be Holy Knights guarding me, becoming the sword upholding God's word as our church's 'Dish of Holy Knights'!"
"Igugwoden! Igugwoden!"
"Follow God's new order!"
"Gwo—men! Gwo—men!"
The birth of the 'Dish of Holy Knights' concept.
The cathedral crumbled, but faith burned hotter than ever.
* * *
'?'
Seeing the final panel of the collapsing cathedral, my mind blanked for a while.
I said push it through, not wreck the cathedral...
Well, whatever...
'Got three Holy Knights anyway—score!'
A full Dish of Facts—perfect!