Chapter 1
Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The World I Was Sponsoring Was Real
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Closing my eyes brought back faint memories of a distant past.
A faded world, everything bathed in sepia tones.
Back in early elementary school, when my parents were out, my only friend was the TV, of course.
The computer was too weak for games, and all the school transfers meant I didn’t have a single friend at the playground.
From that cheap TV flowed a game with a crude UI that looked like it was made in Flash.
The host’s goofy voice boomed out the lines.
“Hey, kids! If we don’t do something, our hero’s gonna lose! Call in right now and cheer him on!”
And that number they always repeated twice.
060~ ****~ ***~
060~ ****~ ***~
“Call 060-****-*** right now and hit 3 three times! Without you kids, the hero can’t find his strength! We’ll pick one lucky caller for the latest game console, so don’t miss out!”
060-****-***.
I’d heard it so often it was burned into my brain, so as a kid, I dialed it without a second thought.
Holding the receiver in an empty house, mashing 3 while rooting for the hero on screen—it was one of the few entertainments for a friendless kid like me.
“Great job, everyone! Thanks to you hitting 3, the hero made it through the trial safe and sound! Haha! It’s all thanks to you kids!!”
After that, they’d announce winners based on the last digits of the phone numbers, but—
Honestly, prizes didn’t matter to me.
Just sharing the hero’s trial was enough. Knowing my button-mashing gave him strength made me happy.
Looking back, it was probably some hero fantasy or thrill of empowerment. I figured other kids felt the same.
—Of course, there’s always a brutal price for playing hero, even briefly.
“Ow, Mom! I’m sorry! I won’t do it again…!”
“How the hell does calling make the phone bill this high?! You’re grounded. We might have to cancel cable TV.”
“B-but they said he couldn’t pass the trial without my support…”
“That’s all a scam! And who do you think you are? If you don’t do it, someone else will. Why butt in and cause this mess!!!"
My butt burned like fire that day, wounding the heroic dreams of my innocent heart.
I don’t blame Mom. She was just giving the tough love education I needed.
It didn’t take long to realize it was a sleazy scam show preying on clueless kids, pressing 3 or not—the outcome was fixed anyway.
So why was I dredging up this bitter memory?
Because—
* * *
[If you don’t sponsor, this family’s fate will be a total disaster ㅠㅠ Please sponsor the Millia Family right now to give them strength!!]
“Pfft.”
I’d been casually flipping through challenge comics when I let out a scoff.
Asking for sponsorships? What era does this guy think it is?
It wasn’t even some philosophical reader-participation comic run by a famous author. Just a family about to get slaughtered by bandits, begging for sponsorship support.
No way were there polite comments from nonexistent readers.
[Mern Dalonia: Is the author retarded lol? Go rethink your whole story.]
[skxm7888: Begging for sponsorships is fucking gross, never sponsoring this trash, upvote lololol]
[Antboong Mom: Came for the pretty art, got kiddie begging comic instead...]
[Reipa: Is this your sketchbook? If you want sponsorships, stop this crap and draw properly.]
Honestly, that was tame.
The real problem was the next chapter.
The family’s slaughter by the bandits was drawn in pointless, excruciating detail.
“Ugh…”
Just a parade of nauseating scenes.
Not high-quality enough for gore fans, nor narratively essential.
The kicker was the author’s note at the bottom.
[No one sponsored, so this poor family got wiped out ㅠㅠ So tragic...!!!]
Comments? Total chaos—wait, not even that.
Just two or three pitying ones.
It wasn’t the kind of comic that drew crowds anyway. I’d stumbled on it by chance.
“Even pulling aggro’s tough these days.”
With web surfing giving endless comics, aggro wasn’t weird.
But picking fights with readers? What’s the plan?
I considered leaving a sharp comment on creator mindset, but nah. Pointless for me.
“...”
Normally, I’d close the tab, fire up Nyoutube, or boot a game.
But for some reason, this comic stirred faded childhood memories.
Like dialing 060, doing the same dumb thing, racking up a huge bill, and getting thrashed till dust flew on a rainy day.
It had a decent number of chapters stacked up.
Might as well check where it’s going.
So I hit “next chapter.”
* * *
The comic’s content was a spectacle.
Besides the “Millia Family,” various characters appeared, but the pattern never changed.
Show characters in peril to beg sponsorships. No likes or dislikes even, so no sponsorships, thus repeat the brutal deaths.
Amid the massacres, the sole survivor, a girl named “Erin,” fleeing alone—that was the latest update.
No meaningful plot, of course. Like hellbent on misfortune porn, endless panels of her starving, copy-pasted.
“Copy-pasted” because they weren’t—every hunger agony shot was a unique angle, unique scene.
I’d noticed with the varied gruesome deaths, but… only a serious deviant draws like this.
And the author’s notes obsessively begged every chapter.
[So many dislikes, need sponsorships to dispel the bad vibes or Erin won’t eat today!]
[No sponsorships last time, so Erin starved… Sponsor to cheer her on now!]
[Oh no… No sponsorships, so Erin’s on day 3 without water. Please sponsor to save her before she dies!]
“Even the latest is this mess.”
Author’s notes never varied.
Beg, blame readers subtly when none come, show new characters, repeat.
Only after clicking latest did I see the view count: “1.”
“This guy gets zero views but sticks to the gimmick hardcore.”
Gotta respect dragging it this far.
Gore soured my mood, but I’d forget in three days. That’s all the weight it had.
As a kid, maybe I’d hype it more—but late 20s me was past感动 from gimmicks.
About to close when I froze.
Something inside whispered nonstop.
—Hey. Try a donation? Aren’t you curious what happens? Look at Erin. Poor thing. Water won’t hurt, right?
“…What.”
I tried squashing the curiosity, but…
…Honestly, yeah. Begging this hard—what if I sponsor? What unfolds?
“...”
After staring, I put hands on keyboard, typed.
[ Igugwoden: lololol What happens if I sponsor? She get water? ]
No big thoughts posting. Might forget by tomorrow.
“Huh?”
—Less than 3 seconds later, a reply dropped fast.
ㄴ [GiveMeMoney (Author): Sponsor 1,000 won to give Erin water! Plot changes vary by amount! ]
What? Author lurking?
Notifications explain quick reply…
“1,000 won…”
Way less than old phone bills to save the hero. Adjusted for inflation, pocket change.
Sure. Respect for the gimmick—this is fine.
I hit “sponsor,” paid 1,000 won.
[ Payment complete. ]
[ Igugwoden
(Sponsor / 1,000 won)
: Water for Erin go go go ]
Reply near lightspeed again.
[ GiveMeMoney (Author): Thank you! Next update next week! Erin drinks thanks to Igugwoden-nim! Thanks for cheering her on! ]
“Good job, everyone! Thanks to you hitting 3, the hero made it through safe and sound! Haha! It’s all thanks to you kids!!”
‘Brings back memories.’
Savoring the bittersweet aftertaste, I closed the tab.