I knew it was all just a marketing tactic.
But what can you do when you feel frustrated?
After getting engrossed in the characters, if you set up such a plot and then ask for a survey saying, "If you give us some money, we'll change the content," wouldn't quite a lot of people willingly spend money?
As I was scrolling down like that—
"Eh?"
I realized that the last panel showed Erin surrounded by guards.
I was startled and quickly scrolled up and down, but no additional panels appeared. There wasn't even a word from the author!
"What's this?"
Why is there no "begging comment" that usually appears at the end of each episode, asking for sponsorship?
It wasn't just the comment that was missing. For this episode, the "sponsor" button was disabled.
Could it be that, unlike before, you can't change the content even with sponsorship?
Curious, I immediately left a comment.
Thanks to the author always replying to comments like lightning, I sometimes thought these were more like chats than comments.
[Iggokden: No sponsorship today??]
└[PleaseGiveMeMoney(Author): Erin hasn't prayed yet ㅠㅠ She should pray by the next episode. Please wait a little longer!]
└[Iggokden: Isn't it just that you didn't finish drawing the comic???]
└[PleaseGiveMeMoney(Author): What do you mean, Iggokden? I merely project the world. I'm just following the story centered around Erin, whom you adore.]
└[Iggokden: What the hell are you talking about, you damn otaku lol. Oh, author, get a grip on your concept!!]
└[PleaseGiveMeMoney(Author): It's not a concept ㅜㅠ]
"Wow... that's harsh, for real."
To immerse others in the world you create, you have to be the most immersed yourself, right?
It seems the author is already more immersed in the world they created than I am.
Well, it's not a bad strategy to say, "I'm drawing it anyway, so I'll do what I want," even though they're asking for sponsorships. It would kill the mood for the sponsors.
└[Iggokden: lol, you win. When's the next episode coming out??]
└[PleaseGiveMeMoney(Author): It will be uploaded in a few hours. I will notify you immediately, so please continue to follow Erin's journey to the end!]
"In a few hours..."
Alright. I'll smoke a cigarette and grab a bite to eat.
I got up from my seat and passed the time until the next episode was uploaded.
...
"What did you say?"
"Isn't it said that there are many disrespectful people who claim to hear the voice of God?"
Erin trembled slightly at her words.
Am I being disrespectful?
I didn't care about being insulted. I wasn't living a noble life anyway.
But—the god I serve, Iggokden. I couldn't stand anyone belittling him.
Erin spoke a bit forcefully.
"So, you think what I'm saying is a lie?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Can you take responsibility for those words?"
"What did you say?"
The woman slightly furrowed her brows, but Erin, undeterred, met her gaze without flinching.
"Are you prepared to take responsibility for insulting someone who hears the word of God, a mere human creation?"
"You wench! Do you know who you're talking to?!"
At that moment, the guards thrust their spears at her.
Normally, she would have been trembling. Erin wasn't exactly a brave person.
Rather, she was closer to an ordinary citizen. Her heart would race just from encountering a few bandits.
But now it's different.
I have Iggokden by my side.
That's why, even when the guards surround me with killing intent, I'm not afraid at all.
Then.
"What's the commotion?"
Another woman's voice came from behind.
The guards quickly withdrew their spears and bowed their heads in unison towards the direction of the voice.
The woman who had been facing Erin also turned around and bowed, indicating that she was someone of high status.
"Lu... Lumina."
"I came out because there was a commotion in front of the holy cathedral... What's going on?"
Erin carefully examined the woman called Lumina.
Long, straight blonde hair. A cross-shaped necklace clearly hanging on her chest.
Her clothes were similar to Erin's but looked much more luxurious, with intricate embroidery.
Yes. Her appearance was close to that of a saint, a figure praised in the tales of bards.
"I apologize for causing a commotion. However, a disrespectful person came and spoke nonsense, claiming to have come to see His Holiness the Pope."
"Nonsense..."
Lumina looked around with a gesture.
Just that was enough for the woman and the guards who had been glaring at Erin to move aside.
When Erin came to her senses, Lumina was standing in front of her.
"Hello, sister. I am Lumina. Currently, as a candidate for sainthood, I am at the Ophelaichel Grand Cathedral every day, praying to receive the will of God."
"A candidate for sainthood?"
"Yes. I haven't yet heard the voice of God."
"Then—"
"Lumina is practically the closest to sainthood! It would be wise for you to watch your words—"
The woman who had been talking to Erin just moments ago snapped at her, but—
"Estia. Leave this to me."
With just a gesture from Lumina, she quietly stepped back without adding more words.
Though she was a candidate for sainthood, it seemed Lumina held a very high position within the church.
"What is your name, sister?"
"Erin."
"Erin, sister. If you walk the path of the monastery, we are all sisters. The great God Ophelaichel would not want us to harm each other. So, feel free to finish what you were going to say."
"...If Lumina hasn't heard the voice, then she's just a candidate for sainthood, not a saint yet, right?"
"Yes. I am ashamed to say that I am still just a young lamb who has not yet reached God."
"Then there should be no problem. I have heard the voice of God."
"Is that so?"
The guards were trembling, but they didn't intervene, perhaps because of Lumina's presence.
Lumina, unfazed, half-closed her eyes and spoke with a benevolent smile.
"Then, would you share the word of God with us? What did the great Goddess Ophelaichel say to you...?"
"I was about to say that."
"Yes. I will listen carefully, so please, the word of God—"
"No. What I want to say is not about the word of God."
"...?"
Yes.
What Erin wanted to say wasn't about what she heard from God.
Rather, it was a more fundamental question. A very disrespectful statement that she could only utter because she truly heard a voice!
"The name of God is not Ophelaichel."
"...!!!"
"Iggokden. The name of God is Iggokden. And God is not a woman but a man."
Lumina's face, which had maintained its composure until now, began to show signs of disturbance.
Erin didn't miss the opportunity and attacked. Like a bee targeting its prey!
"How can you proudly claim to be a candidate for sainthood when you don't even know the basic facts about God?"
"You, you disrespectful wench!!!!"
Just as the guards were about to surround Erin again.
"Stop!"
Lumina shouted strongly, then opened her eyes wide... and slowly removed the mask with a benevolent smile from her face.
"Erin, you... This is not something that can be resolved with excommunication. To deny the existence of God... how could you do such a terrible thing...!"
"From my perspective, you are the terrible ones. Aren't you ashamed of ignoring the true God and serving a false one while playing meaningless religious games?"
"...!!!!"
Lumina, momentarily holding back her anger, breathed heavily with a contorted expression...
Then, she closed her eyes tightly and began to pray.
"Compassionate and loving one true God Ophelaichel. Please save the soul of this young lamb who sees falsely and has vain delusions in the next life..."
"What...?"
Save me in the next life?
"Are you... trying to kill me?"
"The sin of insulting God in front of us deserves immediate execution... but we will show mercy and allow you to receive a trial."
As soon as she finished speaking, two guards bound Erin's body.
"What are you doing?! Let me go! You'll regret this! I came here to become a saint because I heard the voice of God!"
"We'll imprison her in the underground dungeon. We'll set the date as soon as possible. Yes... a burning at the stake would be fitting."
"I'll talk to the judge."
"Please do."
Lumina, with a look of sadness, prayed to the god she believed in once again.
Seeing that, Erin... closed her eyes and prayed to the 'true god.'
"Iggokden... If this is another trial from Iggokden, I will gladly accept it. Just, please, my life... It's not just a simple request to continue living. Please, just give me the opportunity to spread Iggokden's word! Please! Save me... and all those deceived by the false god...!!!!!"
...
After checking the last panel, I kept rereading the comic for a while.
...It's frustrating. It's annoying. It feels like my insides are going to explode.
Those bastards, they didn't even try to listen to Erin.
Erin was a woman who could prove it. All she had to do was show a miracle. Of course, I was going to sponsor her.
But they're trying to kill her just because she's being disrespectful?
"Alright, you win, you damn author."
Fine. I'll sponsor.
Without thinking much, I was about to sponsor a thousand won, writing, "lol, let's give those bitches some real education~."
—Wait a minute.
At that moment, I suddenly became curious.
When there was a giant rock, they said I needed to sponsor at least three thousand won. In other words, the author had their own criteria for changing the plot.
But at least from what I can see, the current situation is far more dangerous than having a rock blocking the way.
And this can be solved with a thousand won, but that needed three thousand?
Come to think of it... haven't I sponsored ten thousand won before?
That was the first time my nickname "Iggokden" echoed loudly in the comic.
A spear fell from the sky, and it was a total mess.
I erased the comment I was about to write and left a new one.
[Iggokden: Is it a thousand won this time too? How does it work?]
└[PleaseGiveMeMoney(Author): If you sponsor 1,000 won, Erin's fate will change, and she will safely overcome the crisis and continue her journey to become a saint!]
└[Iggokden: No, I mean, what if I sponsor ten thousand won here? What happens?]
└[PleaseGiveMeMoney(Author): It's similar to when you sponsored 10,000 won last time. The 'power' to change fate will be applied to that extent.]
└[Iggokden: You're not telling me what happens, are you??]
└[PleaseGiveMeMoney(Author): It's not that I'm not telling you, but I can't tell you. It's an uncharted future, after all.]
Concept aside, this time I felt like making a high-value sponsorship.
"Then, shall I have a sip of cider with ten thousand won here?"
The moment I added a zero to the donation amount.
Why was it?
Was it because I was so immersed in this comic?
Or was it because that saint candidate who was treating Erin badly was so annoying?
Looking back, it was a very impulsive decision, but—
"Damn it."
Without hesitation, I added another zero and pressed the sponsor button.
[Iggokden (Sponsor / 100,000 won): lol, let's give those bastards some real education~~~]