The Miracle child whose life was saved by the scriptures--
That's how they all describe the girl.
A sudden disaster destroyed the entire town, and she was the only survivor. She was taken back to the Inquisition by a passing Grand Inquisitor.
Those qualified to become Inquisitor are usually the elite of the military, but she firmly believed that she had to become Inquisitor.
She had to memorize all the laws, because she was chosen.
She had to get first place in every course because she was the most special one.
In another sparring session, she was utterly defeated by an opponent more than ten years her senior, but she stubbornly refused to fall.
When she was almost out of consciousness, she heard her teacher say something to her.
The scriptures save people, and you weren't the only one saved.
As if hearing her teacher's verdict, she breathed a sigh of relief and admitted defeat for the first time.
I disappointed him, didn't I...?
The girl was often filled with anxiety and unease.
Scriptures are not absolute, so just trust the teacher; what the teacher says is absolute.
Therefore, those thugs who dare to attack teachers must be criminals they need to arrest.
"You've disappointed me so much..."
For the first time, the girl questioned her teacher.
No, the teacher's words are absolute; it should be said that I've made a mistake somewhere.
The girl was certain once again that an unexpected person had shattered her illusions.
Even the omnipotent teacher had things he couldn't do, and the girl realized that there wasn't just one path to the end.
At the very least, Inquisitor's decision should be based not only on the law, but also on their own conscience.
"Very good! Private Irene! I hereby officially bestow upon you the light and cannons befitting Inquisitor. Now work hard for me."
"... Why is it you who is awarding me the medal?"
"What's with that expression? The King of Iberia personally bestowed the medal upon you, aren't you happy?"
Irene's pretty face scrunched up, as if something strange had seeped into what should have been a beautiful and solemn memory.
"But there will be even more Inquisitor in the future. Are you going to personally award medals to each and every one of them?"
"No, I just wanted to see you look upset."
That bastard!
After receiving a disapproving look from the little bird, Vane began another pleasant day.
Vera was already extremely busy with the follow-up recovery work, while the newly appointed King of Iberia was quite relaxed.
The reason was simple: after offering some advice, this guy handed the work back to the Saints.
"In short, assuming an unlimited supply of resources, you can decide for yourselves which area to prioritize for reform?"
The Saint, true to Saint name, had no doubt whatsoever that Vane was trying to slack off, and immediately organized a group of Inquisitor to discuss the matter seriously.
"Prioritize restoring communications?"
"Yes, after all, your identity is not yet known to everyone, and the distribution of Inquisition in various locations also needs a detailed explanation."
Carmen sighed:
"If, in the past, the lighthouse covered the entire Iberia Peninsula, a message released before breakfast would have spread throughout the entire territory by breakfast."
"Including providing subsequent subsidies, these all require reliable communication, so we plan to resume operation of some lighthouses first... What do you think?"
"There's no need for such trouble."
Vane summoned a Bloodline Heir and casually rubbed it, explaining:
"I've already had Seaborn salvage the global broadcasting equipment, and the accompanying lighthouse... isn't there one near Gran Faro? I'll make the announcement there later."
"As for daily communication, this will suffice."
The sculpted Bloodline Heir was thrown towards Carmen, who watched as the strange creature, resembling Originium Slug, slowly wriggled and transformed into a Whitebeard face.
Hmm, it's a lot like me.
"This is..."
"You can call it Telephone Snail."
Vane recreated one and demonstrated how to use it to Carmen.
"It can mimic the user's appearance and voice, and through the We Many links, communication is unimpeded as long as it is within the coverage of the Bloodline Heir Cluster."
"... As expected of you."
Carmen admired the Carmen -themed Telephone Snail in her hand.
"This way, your orders can reach any corner of Iberia, and the ability to mimic appearances is also a good way to screen out some spies."
"Hmm? Hmm... That's right! That's exactly what I think!"
Under the admiring gazes of the Saints, Vane, unusually, began to think about doing something serious.
"By the way, how are the experiments on the new crops progressing?"
"You mean those attacking plants?" another Saint stepped forward.
"Their grain production is excellent; if they were planted on a large scale, they would be enough to fill the domestic food shortage, that is..."
The Saints were somewhat hesitant to speak, Vane raised an eyebrow:
"You're not saying we can't beat them, are you? Those things are somewhat powerful, but not enough to take down the Inquisitor."
"Uh... that's true."
The Saint nodded.
"But their emotions are too rich, and the losses during cultivation are too high."
Is she emotionally sensitive? Or is it that she can't bring herself to do it?
Vane guessed as much, and the Saint continued:
"Those crops will only yield their fruit when defeated in a one-on-one situation; otherwise, they will Destruction their fruit on their own in situations involving multiple opponents."
"We tried harvesting them remotely by hand cannons, but they resisted even more fiercely; some even withered and died."
"OK, that's enough." Vane waved his hand to signal them to stop.
He doesn't have time to give a bunch of plants psychological therapy. If he likes dueling so much, he should go fight with the Bloodline Heir. One is a sadist and the other a masochist, a perfect match.
"I'll handle that. Bloodline Heir will be landing in large numbers later, improving the soil and coordinating operations... You need to try to accept this change; their benefits will surprise the whole world."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and as the discussion about how to handle the funds was about to continue, Alfonso, unable to contain himself any longer, stood up.
"I said... aren't there more important things to do before doing these trivial things?"
"Hmm? Tell me about it." Vane propped his head up with his hand.
"Unity! Iberia needs unity!"
Alfonso pulled out a map and slammed it on the table.
"I'll leave the former supervisory districts aside for now, but why are there still so many illegal areas in the country? Especially in the east!"
"What do you mean by 'civilian self-governance'? Those guys would rather pay protection money to the bandits than return to the Inquisition's rule. What did you do back then?!"
"Well, this is a problem left over from history."
The Inquisitor bowed their heads, Vane waved for Alfonso to sit down.
"After the Great Silence, Iberia bandits ran rampant. After the Inquisition took action to unify the region, most of the bandits fled to the desert."
"The land there is barren, making it difficult to carry out the restoration work on the Inquisition; we can only leave it for now."
"The subsequent crackdown on the Church of the Deep and the public's resistance against the Aegir led to a large number of people who opposed the Inquisition fleeing to the east, resulting in the current situation."
"Then we should take over the rule to prevent the divisions from expanding further!" Alfonso retorted, dissatisfied.
"Weren't you planning to open the border closure? Do you intend to show the world what Iberia looks like now?"
"And what is your opinion, Left Protector?"
Vane's casual question startled Alfonso.
"Of course, we should assemble our fleet and crush those sand bandits!"
"Um... I don't think this will work."
A hand emerged from under the table, and Thorns, calmly said:
"That's where I came from. The bandits didn't have a fixed gathering place; they were just a few scattered forces fighting each other."
"It would be good if we could resolve this all at once, but if news of our plan to wipe out the sand bandits gets out, those guys will flee across the entire territory and create even more chaos."
Everyone nodded, clearly sharing this concern. Alfonso wanted to say something more, but Vane stopped him.
"Isn't that the only concern?" Vane looked at Thorns.
"Surviving in the desert where supplies are scarce is not so easy. How many of those Village Town and towns are actually disguised bandits?"
"... In that environment, only this way could one survive."
Knowing that the person before him was a decision-maker who could control the fate of all Iberia, Thorns ultimately made no attempt to conceal it.
"Large Village Towns will swallow up smaller Village Town. When resources are insufficient, they have no choice but to plunder. Many bandits are actually composed of wanderers who were left after their Village Towns were destroyed."
"Where is the Inquisition?"
A Saint asked instinctively, then fell silent under the Thorns's gaze.
Yes, those bandits who plundered might have had their own family members among them, so why would the people report this to the Inquisition?
"Well, to put it simply, 'bad people come from poor and remote areas.'"
Vane tapped the table rhythmically, his heart Thorns and louder in sync.
"Kill them all..."
Thorns cardiac arrest.
"... That doesn't seem very realistic either."
My heart started beating again.
Watching with great interest as the sea urchin's hair went from puffed up to flattened, Vane decided:
"Since you care so much, how about you take charge of the inspection?"
"I?"
"That's right. I'm granting you the title of Special Inquisition. Go and infiltrate the bandits."
Vane pinched another Telephone Snail and threw it over.
"This is Buster Call. Just press the button on it, and Alfonso's Golden Armada will head to the signal location and leave no one alive in its path."
Glug...
Thorns's hand holding the Telephone Snail trembled slightly, but her expression remained calm.
"But... what should I do?"
"The law of the Inquisition, plus a touch of moral code."
Vane pointed to Dario beside him.
"You can ask him for the specific standards. If he thinks it's worth considering, then let it go."
"But there's one thing—"
Vane straightened up from his reclining position, his blood-red pupils narrowing dangerously.
"If you announce your identity as a special envoy and inform people of the consequences of attacking you, and yet someone still dares to do so, then you must issue the Buster Call."
The Thorns frozen in place.
Was my identity really that important?
"Unimportant."
Seeing through the boy's thoughts, Vane curled his lip.
"What matters is the face of the Inquisition, and also my face."
"These guys used to be so tight-lipped; when they arrested someone, they'd just tell them it was the Church of the Deep, without even bothering to provide any evidence."
The Inquisitor lowered their heads, while Vane continued his tirade.
"They're clearly doing good deeds, but their reputation is completely ruined; any Tom, Dick, or Harry can attack the Inquisitor."
"Don't you feel ashamed that the country's largest law enforcement agency has no authority?"
"But this will lead to fierce resistance and opposition from the public..." an Inquisitor worriedly said.
"They may have their own ideas, but they must obey."
Vane grabbed the map and crumpled it into a ball.
"Now I am the ruler, I can give the people anything they want."
"Wealth, health, entertainment, dignity... I could even reshape the entire realm with a carefree life like Holy City Laterano."
"And I have only one requirement for the people, which is very simple... do not betray them."
It is indeed a very simple price to pay, but the Thorns are hard to guarantee.
Let alone a king of Iberia who appeared out of nowhere, even the Inquisition that ruled Iberia for decades had little authority; the loyalty of the people was not so easily obtained.
"Of course, of course I know." Vane shook his head.
"I don't like the idea of giving a stick followed by a treat."
"So I'll give them all the sweet dates first, and then kill all those who still dare to bare their teeth."
Some of the Inquisitor' expressions changed, and Carmen stepped in to smooth things over.
"We have already begun working on this. Your identity will be spread in the name of God, and the return of the Golden Armada and last night's unusual celestial phenomena will serve as evidence for this propaganda."
"It just takes some more time. The preparation time is too short, and the Inquisition staff also needs to be replenished."
"No need to be so humble, Carmen. I've always maintained basic respect for people like you."
Supporting the old man's shoulders to prevent him from bending over, Vane casually remarked:
"Speaking of which, your scriptures here are actually modified versions of those from Laterano, aren't they? Doesn't Laterano have any objections to misusing God's name?"
"You don't need to worry about that," Carmen said with a gentle smile.
"The current Pope of Laterano is an outstanding leader; he even borrowed the scriptures from Iberia when I revised them."
"As long as the fundamental doctrines are not distorted, Laterano will not take any extreme actions."
"Really? Then you might need to prepare."
Vane spun his chair around and picked up a small Idol from the altar behind him.
You mean...?
Carmen had a bad feeling.
"Iberia needs no messengers of God, nor any God; the King of Iberia is enough."
Rub rub--
The screeching sound of the stool legs scraping against the ground startled many Inquisitor, who stood up in astonishment at this unorthodox statement.
"Sit down! What kind of behavior is this!?"
A Saint rebuked him, Vane waved his hand dismissively.
"It's alright, it's alright. For those who consider faith as the other half of their lives, my words are indeed very dangerous."
"..."
Carmen remained silent, knowing there was still a "but".
"But that doesn't mean I can put a non-existent god on my head. Why should I share the credit for my achievements with others?"
Glancing at the bewildered Inquisitor, Vane chuckled:
"Don't worry, I don't plan to do anything to you because of this. I'll just transfer you to some more peaceful places to maintain town security, how about that?"
Before anyone could reply, Vane got up and left.
The Saints followed, Carmen whispered closer.
"You don't need to do that. As previously agreed, you can easily shift this responsibility to me..."
"There's no need, Carmen, there's no need... Just yesterday, my brother told me a lesson."
Vane waved amicably to the townspeople who greeted him and said calmly:
"Besides them, or the Durin, no one is worthy of my bowing down."
"... What would you like to do?"
Carmen gave up trying to persuade them and instead began to think about how to cooperate.
"Gather the Inquisitor who are willing to cooperate, they must be the most loyal ones, and I will bless them. They will be the confidence and face of Iberia facing the whole Daichi."
"Blessing?"
"You've seen Alfonso's Bloodborne Hunters, haven't you?"
Carmen remembered that the rescued but seemingly modified crew members each possessed unparalleled strength.
"Do you want to transform them into hunters as well?"
"Hunter... no, that's Aegir already did."
Vane stopped in his tracks, his gaze lingering on the Saints ' earlobes.
Liberi...
Have you ever experienced the feeling of flying, Carmen?
"... I think it's probably not."
Vane laughed.
"How about we call her the Holy Blood Angels?"
The Inquisition sprang into action, and a schism rooted in faith began.
Serving the country or serving one's faith in God—these two have never conflicted in the past, and the Inquisitor have overlooked this point.
However, as Carmen and Saints brought the reality to light, the Inquisitors were forced to confront a crossroads in their lives.
Will that new king... truly bring about positive changes to Iberia?
An elderly Inquisitor gazed at the Saint, seeing no hypocrisy or pretense in his eyes.
"I assure you, this is the closest Iberia has ever come to revival."
The elderly Inquisitor signed the agreement and, along with the other Inquisitor who had signed it, headed to Gran Faro.
A few days later, these people returned to the same place.
"You... you're Laide!?"
The elderly Inquisitor Laide returned to his post, only to have his former comrades turn on him with guns.
"Don't be nervous, this is His Majesty's blessing."
Its pale hair turned into a shimmering gold, and enormous, pure white wings emerged from its back.
Feeling the immense power flowing through his restored youthful body, Laide's previously hesitant loyalty grew even stronger.
"No! How could you possibly be Laide? What did that Evil Lord do to you?!"
Creak--!
The speaker only saw a blur before his eyes, Laide stood in front of him, grabbed his hand cannon, and crushed it into a lump of scrap metal.
"You may be dissatisfied, but you must maintain respect; he is the King of Iberia!"
"You're insane!"
The remaining Inquisitor couldn't believe it, and even when Laide revealed many things that only they knew, they couldn't rest easy.
"Alright, let's say you're Laide. How would you convince the townspeople to believe in a suddenly appearing King of Iberia?"
"The king has already considered it."
Laide beckoned, and the other Holy Blood Angels set down the giant Bloodline Heir they had brought with them.
As the Bloodline Heir was released, a dazzling golden light illuminated the entire room.
"His Majesty's latest decree provides basic humanitarian assistance based on the economic circumstances of each region and household."
Gurgle--
The Inquisitor were not swayed by the money, but were still astonished by the new king's generosity.
"Everyone?"
"Everyone."
The Inquisitor remained silent, some quietly calculating the amount of money involved.
"If used sparingly, it can maintain a normal cash flow for several years."
"Use it sparingly? Why should we use it sparingly?"
Faced with the Inquisitor's puzzled looks, Laide frowned and said:
"This is the monthly subsidy. If the funds are insufficient, you can apply for more."
"..."xN
Similar scenes occurred in various locations under the jurisdiction of the Inquisition, causing visible and violent tremors.
The King of Iberia? Nobody cares about that.
But when the glittering gold truly fell into the hands of the people, when those lovely angels with wings on their backs truly listened to their pleas, and when the wounds they sustained were healed completely by divine favor (Bloodline Heir)...
"Have you heard? A King of Iberia has arrived in Gran Faro..."
The people did not immediately celebrate; instead, they cautiously vied for their share of the subsidy.
Many people have noticed the blasphemy of the term "[divine favor]".
If these are divine favored beings, then who is their master?
Many people discovered it, but most people did not speak out.
In any case, it's always good to secure what you can get first, since the god you believe in won't just hand you bread on a whim.
And just like that, a huge uproar that might have initially arisen from the publicity was easily quelled.
But the crisis was not over. People's trust in the so-called king had long since vanished in the past suffering, and short-term benevolence could not satisfy the starving people.
While the physical hunger has been temporarily alleviated, how can we soothe the sensitive and fragile emotions of the people?
"That's what we need to do now."
"Um... is it really okay if I come alone?"
Jordi trembled as she touched the dusty workbench in front of her.
He was standing atop the Eye of Iberia, the one he had dreamed of countless times, preparing to restart the lighthouse.
"Of course, your parents were the engineers who designed this lighthouse, so it's only right that you be the one to restart it."
"But I don't know anything about this machine."
Jordi looked at the enormous object that occupied most of the space inside the lighthouse.
"Universal broadcast," is how Mr. Vane is referred to.
"It's okay, it's just an experiment, a normal connection will be fine."
Jordi was still a little worried, but she did as Vane asked.
Fortunately, when the energy was replenished, the massive machine hummed again.
"Phew... Mr. Vane, what exactly is this for?"
"You'll find out in a few days. Remember to look up then."
Look up?
Jordi was puzzled, but a few days later, when the voice came, he immediately understood its meaning.
As the Inquisition continued to shower gold, the restless atmosphere gradually subsided.
But as another morning arrived and people received their relief funds as usual, a voice suddenly rang out.
[Moshi moshi~ Can you hear me?]
Okay, I'll pretend you can hear me.
Who is this?
While some were still wondering about the source of the sound, the owner of the sound quickly provided an answer.
[People of Iberia, I am your new king— Vane Iberia.]
An uproar ensued.
The heated discussion did not stop the broadcast; the voice continued to echo in the skies above Iberia.
[Don't doubt it's a prank; I'm communicating with you through the lighthouse.]
[You may have already received my gift recently; if you haven't, that's okay, just apply to the Inquisition yourself.]
[Alright, enough with the sentimental pleasantries. Those with weak hearts, please cover your ears from now on.]
The silence lasted so long that people began to wonder if they were hallucinating.
[Fools! Fools living in this dark country, numbly passing their days!]
[Throw away all the stone statues you worship in your homes. From this day forward, this country... will only need one faith!]
The crowd gaped, belatedly realizing what they had just heard.
"How dare he!?"
A devout believer was so angry that his lips turned purple, just then a loud bang came from the sky.
Why wouldn't I dare!?
The sound was so loud, it was like the roar of a god.
The people looked up and were horrified to find a gigantic face that filled the entire sky.
The Bloodline Heir Cluster mimicked Vane's face, while simultaneously marking all those who swore.
[Don't be surprised, I can hear what you're saying... The guy in Giant Rock Town Square who gave the middle finger, you're not getting your allowance next month.]
The constant stream of insults subsided briefly.
[Hmm, it seems the effect is quite obvious. At least you're not stupid enough not to recognize who paid the money.]
Alright, I'm too lazy to waste my breath on you guys.
[The Golden Armada, which will soon return, will begin its nationwide tour, coinciding with my coronation.]
[And as a celebration of my becoming the new king, I will issue a new decree.]
The quiet crowd began to clamor again; this so-called new king sounded utterly unreliable.
[Art... you, in your Golden Age, pursued these things, but ultimately, they were monopolized by the upper class.]
[New Iberia doesn't need these; I will share my glory with you!]
[Soldier, tailor, farmer, shepherd, poet, butcher, cook...]
Regardless of age or status.
[Unleash your talents!]
[If you believe your work is valuable, you are welcome to apply to the Inquisition for compensation.]
Those without dreams rot in the mud; as for those with hope... let them compete!
[Compete in the new Iberia, on this fertile land of endless possibilities!]
Show me your potential, and I will give you everything you desire!
Wealth, status, health, and even a longer life!
[Sweep away the impossible, and I look forward to your possibilities.]
[Those who feel lost need not worry, for you who live on this land are also my protected people.]
[If you are bullied, pray to me.]
[God will not respond when you suffer, but I will always watch over my people.]
When a sinner commits an evil deed, the Spear of Heavenly Retribution will surely pierce his body!
[Open your eyes wide and see! See how I, the king, change this country!]
[I now announce...]
New Golden Age has arrived!