Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Destroy the Old, Embrace the New
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* * *
Somewhere beyond the empty darkness.
A voice echoes.
It was sweet, yet chilling at the same time.
The sensation of a bug crawling down one's back, yet somehow not unpleasant.
The conversation unfolds very quietly, intimately.
What's the matter?
―The 'God' has provided 'Divine Power' once again.
Lord Igugwoden has bestowed grace upon us again?
Igugwoden! Igugwoden!
God's will is absolute truth and providence, something that must be fulfilled without question.
―Igugwoden! Igugwoden!
What does God desire?
…………
―Is God satisfied?
He is satisfied.
―All for Lord Igugwoden.
The beings confirm the 'Divine Power' granted to them, the remnants left after reshaping the world.
And with it... they manipulate space, asasak.
Asasak! Asasak!
―God's Divine Power!
Lord Igugwoden's Plain Fact!
Asasak—they devour the Divine Power, the sound echoing.
They grow by consuming it.
―What we need: sustainable sponsorship from God.
What does Lord Igugwoden desire?
―Lord Igugwoden desires something new.
Something new?
The being ripples space, weaving an imitation of 'God's words'.
「
ㅋ
ㅋ
ㅋ
ㅋ
New
BM Design
Well
Done
」
―New BM.
New BM?
―Unfathomable words from God.
Words from God that must be deciphered.
Space twists.
What was once space spits out a few letters.
―New. Meaning 'something new'. BM. Measurement unknown. More information required.
God's desire for something new aligns with 'new'.
Thus, the conclusion.
Prepare something entirely new to satisfy Lord Igugwoden.
Understood?
―All according to Lord Igugwoden's will.
All according to Lord Igugwoden's will.
* * *
The Igugwoden Cathedral, more than half in ruins.
From early morning, crowds were rebuilding it.
Rebuilding in name only—mostly patching broken stained glass and mending slightly cracked walls.
The bulk of the destruction had targeted religious treasures: statues, masterpieces, prints, holy relics.
The structure itself was surprisingly intact, save for scorched areas where light poured in, shattered windows, and two collapsed spires.
So, what of the shattered masterpieces and relics?
Simple—
Whoosh!
"Burn them!"
"Relics like these from a bygone era mean nothing! Only the newest will of God exists!"
"Paintings can be redone! Let's capture the new miracle on canvas!"
"Gu—men!"
They gathered it all like trash and set it ablaze.
Statues and paintings, laden with sacred praise just yesterday, were reduced to burning garbage in an instant.
No helping it. God's word is absolute. And God had spoken—destroy the old, take the new!
In their place, fresh works depicted yesterday's events.
Saintess Erin, descending to this land after two centuries, creating the revolutionary concept of a 'Dish of Holy Knights' grounded in the Holy Scripture— that very scene!
In the cathedral's grandest hall, at the most prominent scale, ten renowned painters were already collaborating.
In this way, the cathedral naturally filled with new as the old vanished.
Ironically, it invigorated the economy of Igugwoden's capital. Filling with the new meant spending.
In the past, they might have preached 'God's will—offer your possessions'. But in this era, that would erode public support and forfeit influence over the Imperial Family.
Either way, the lavish spending boosted interest in the faith and deepened devotion among the people.
The Igugwoden Church still held state religion status, but the Pope no longer wielded absolute power as in days of old.
Amid this, the saintess appearing after two centuries, scattering miracles—fine, but—
By Erin's own words, miracles were hardly feasible on a whim. So the Pope eagerly embraced the 'new', birthing the current wave.
Those most fervent in Erin's and the Pope's call to 'destroy the old, take the new' were the young priests who had witnessed God's miracle firsthand.
They studied the Holy Scripture with unmatched zeal. Having lived short lives, they were far more susceptible to the vivid miracles unfolding before their eyes. Their captivation was inevitable.
Soon, they chanted polished slogans, pouring every moment into preaching the new miracles and God's words they had beheld.
"Three facts?"
"A dish!"
"Three Holy Knights?"
"A dish!!!"
"Still don't get it?"
"Intelligence issue!!!"
I! Gu! Gu! Den!
God! God! God!
Empowered by these slogans, the young priests swiftly dismantled the 'old' to spread God's word.
"Ca...n I really work here? I... haven't mastered my studies on God yet......"
"Restricting work to the devout alone is a relic of outdated times. Let the skilled do what suits them. That's the new rule."
"Thank you......! I had no place to work, my skills gathering dust...... I'll work hard—truly hard!"
—For instance, church-sponsored hospitals slashed their rigid religious regulations.
"Ar...e you really freeing me......?"
"Sole God Lord Igugwoden offered a dish brimming with Plain Facts even to unbelievers. How dare we claim a mere creature learning God's word always judges perfectly?"
"Thank you......! Thank you! From now on, I'll serve Lord Igugwoden from the depths of my heart......!"
—Among those slated for religious trials, the less grave offenders were released.
"Really no need to study the Holy Scripture......?"
"Forcing scripture study just because it's our facility is a stale rule from a bygone era. Learn freely what you wish. Yet you will study the scripture. The Plain Facts adrift in the air will guide you to it."
—Mandatory scripture study in church education facilities vanished.
One guiding principle for all: 'Push out the old, fill with the new'!
Old verdicts. Old rules. Old equals obsolete. New equals superior!
Exception: the Divine Power Pouch.
The Divine Power Pouch claimed an entire section of the Holy Scripture, the 「Holy Power Chronicle」—a supremely vital element transcending old or new.
One couldn't persecute the Holy Scripture just for being 'old'!
Naturally, all this remained confined to the 'religious sphere'.
Young priests yearned to smash every visible 'old' across the city, but with the Pope's power not surpassing the Empress's, this was an unavoidable compromise.
And ironically, with reforms hammering religion alone while leaving all else untouched—
"Don't the Igugwoden Church folks seem a bit different?"
"No more obsessive rule-mongering like before."
"Since the Saintess appeared, more priests doing good deeds."
"Should I flash my Divine Power Pouch just a little......?"
Public favor toward the Igugwoden Church was undeniably rising.
After 'that incident' sent views plummeting, this was nothing short of a miracle.
Miracle!
The miracle—God's words delivered through the new saintess after two centuries—was slowly seeping into hearts!
"May Plain Facts find you."
"May Facts be with you......"
From the capital outward, even those never glancing at a scripture line urged Plain Facts upon others.
Countless lips invoked Igugwoden's sacred name.
Somehow, appointing three Holy Knights no longer felt like an issue.
Rather, sentiments like 'A dish needs three—why only one until now?' gained traction.
Was that why?
She, too, heard the news without a flicker of agitation.
* * *
This place, hailed as the cradle of knights—a lavish mansion on the outskirts of the satellite city Leblanc.
Within, one woman received 'God's will' from Saintess Erin.
Her long red hair tied lightly at the ends. Eyes like molten topaz, brilliant gold.
An ornate silver circlet of exquisite craft symbolized her knightly pride.
A necklace bearing the Igugwoden Church's emblem, cradled by ample breasts.
She cut an imposing knightly figure at first glance, yet perhaps owing to the unique patterned hairpin—
Evoking not fear, but familiarity—even cuteness—this peerless beauty, an exceptional female knight: Ophelia Translente.
Erin extended her pure white hand fully and spoke.
"Lady Ophelia. In proxy of God's name, I beseech you. Become a Dish of Holy Knights to protect me."
"Spare the word 'beseech', Saintess. From birth, I have awaited only this moment."
Ophelia spoke, then knelt at once, bowing her head to the one chosen by the world's sole God—
"In God's name, command me. I, Ophelia Translente, hereby swear to become a Dish of Holy Knights, the sword guarding you closest of all."