Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: No Sponsorship Prompt?
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I knew it was all just sales tactics.
But what can you do about the frustration?
If you immerse readers in the characters and then drop a cliffhanger like this, saying "Donate a bit and I'll change the story," plenty of people would happily throw in some cash, right?
As I scrolled down like that—
"Huh?"
I realized the last panel showed Erin surrounded by guards.
I frantically scrolled up and down in surprise, but no additional panels appeared. Even the author's notes were completely empty!
"What's going on?"
Why was the usual sponsorship plea... the "begging line" that always popped up at the end of episodes... missing?
It wasn't just the note. For this chapter, the "Sponsor" button was disabled.
No way this meant sponsorships couldn't change the story this time, unlike before, right?
Curious, I immediately left a comment.
Thanks to the author replying to comments like lightning every time, I sometimes felt like this wasn't comments but a chatroom.
[ Igugwoden: No sponsorship today?? ]
ㄴ [ GiveMeMoney (Author): Erin hasn't prayed yet ㅠㅠ She'll probably pray around the next chapter. Please wait just a bit! ]
ㄴ [ Igugwoden: Or did you just not finish drawing the comic???? ]
ㄴ [ GiveMeMoney (Author): What are you saying, Lord Igugwoden? I'm merely projecting the world for you. I'm just following Erin, whom you adore so much. ]
ㄴ [ Igugwoden: What the hell is that, you otaku lololol Damn, author, stick to your concept!! ]
ㄴ [ GiveMeMoney (Author): It's not a concept ㅜㅠ ]
'Whoa... this guy's hardcore.'
To immerse others in the world he created, did he have to over-immerse himself first?
It seemed the author was already more deeply immersed in his own world than I was.
Well, if he went around saying "It's my comic anyway, I'll do what I want" while begging for sponsorships, it would kill the mood for donors, so it wasn't a bad strategy.
ㄴ [ Igugwoden: lolol I surrender. When's the next chapter?? ]
ㄴ [ GiveMeMoney (Author): It will be uploaded in a few hours. I'll notify you right away, so please watch Erin's journey to the end! ]
'A few hours, huh...'
Fine. I could smoke a cigarette, grab some food, and it should be up by then.
I got up from my seat and killed time until the next chapter uploaded.
* * *
"What did you say?"
"They say many irreverent blasphemers are claiming to hear the voice of God?"
At her words, Erin trembled slightly.
I'm irreverent?
Insulting me didn't matter much. She hadn't lived a life of noble treatment anyway.
But—insulting the god she served, Lord Igugwoden. That she couldn't tolerate.
Erin spoke in a slightly firmer tone.
"So you're saying you think what I'm saying is a lie?"
"Yes, but?"
"Can you take responsibility for those words?"
"What?"
The woman furrowed her brow slightly, but Erin didn't yield an inch, meeting her gaze head-on.
"I'm demanding accountability for daring to call me—a hearer of God's words, mere created human that I am—a liar."
"You wench! Do you know who you're talking to?!"
In an instant, the guards thrust their spears toward her.
Normally, she would have been shaking in fear. Erin wasn't particularly brave.
She was more like an ordinary citizen. Her heart had pounded just from encountering two or three bandits.
But not now.
Lord Igugwoden was by her side.
So even with murderous guards surrounding her, she felt no fear.
At that moment.
"What's all the commotion?"
Another woman's voice came from behind.
The guards quickly withdrew their spears and bowed their heads in unison toward the voice.
The woman who had been facing her also spun around and bowed, so she must be someone of high status.
"L-Lady Lumina."
"I came out because it was noisy in front of the sacred cathedral... What's going on?"
Erin examined the woman called Lumina closely.
Long golden straight hair. A cross necklace prominently displayed on her chest.
Clothing similar to hers but far more ornate with intricate embroidery, looking luxurious.
Yes. Her appearance was close to the figure praised by all in the bards' tales—the Saintess.
"Sorry for the disturbance. But this irreverent woman came spouting lies and demanding to see His Holiness the Pope..."
"Lies..."
Lumina glanced around with her eyes.
At that alone, the woman glaring at her and the guards stepped aside to both sides.
Before she knew it, Lumina stood before Erin.
"Greetings, sister. I'm Lumina. As one of the Saintess Candidates, I pray daily at Opelaishel Cathedral to receive God's will."
"You're a Saintess Candidate?"
"Yes. Since I haven't heard God's voice yet."
"Then—"
"Lady Lumina is practically the closest to becoming the Saintess! Watch your words for your own good—"
The woman who'd been talking to her earlier snapped at Erin, but—
"Estia. Leave this to me."
At Lumina's gesture, she quietly retreated without another word.
Even as a Saintess Candidate, this Lumina seemed to hold tremendous authority in the church.
"What's your name, sister?"
"Erin."
"I see. Sister Erin. If you're walking the paths of the capital, we're all sisters. The great God Opelaishel wouldn't want sisters harming each other. So please, feel free to finish what you were saying."
"...Lady Lumina, if you haven't heard the voice, aren't you just a Saintess Candidate and not yet a Saintess?"
"Yes. Embarrassingly, I'm still just a lost lamb who hasn't reached God."
"Then there's no problem. Because I have heard God's voice."
"Is that so?"
She felt the guards trembling with rage, but with Lumina there, they didn't intervene.
Lumina, unperturbed, half-closed her eyes and smiled benevolently.
"Then won't you relay God's words to us, sister? What the great Goddess Opelaishel told you... those words."
"I was just about to."
"Good. We'll listen carefully, so please, God's words—"
"No. What I'm about to say isn't about God's words."
"...?"
Right.
What Erin wanted to say wasn't about what words she heard from God.
It was a more fundamental question. Words she could utter only because she'd truly heard the voice—terribly blasphemous ones!
"God's name isn't Opelaishel."
"...!!!"
"Igugwoden. God's name is Igugwoden. And God is male, not female."
Lumina's face, which had maintained calm until now, finally began to crack.
Erin seized the opening and pressed the attack, like a bee targeting its mark!
"How can you proudly call yourself a Saintess Candidate when you don't even know the basics about God?"
"Y-You blasphemous wench!!!"
As the guards moved to surround Erin again.
"Stop!"
Lumina shouted sharply, then widened her eyes... and slowly removed the mask of benevolent smile from her face.
"Erin, you... This isn't something that ends with excommunication. Denying God's existence... How could you commit such a horrific act...!"
"From my perspective, you all are horrific. Aren't you ashamed of ignoring the true God, worshiping a false one, and playing at empty religion?"
"...!!!!"
Lumina grimaced, breathing heavily as if holding back anger...
Then, she closed her eyes tightly and began to pray.
"Merciful and benevolent Sole God Opelaishel, please save the soul of this lost lamb with clouded eyes and vain delusions in the afterlife..."
"What...?"
Save in the afterlife?
"No way... Are you going to kill me?"
"For blaspheming God before our eyes, you deserve summary execution... But we'll show mercy and let you have a trial."
As she finished, two guards seized and bound Erin's body.
"W-What are you doing?! Let me go! You'll regret this! I came here after hearing God's voice, to become the Saintess!"
"We'll imprison her in the underground dungeon. We'll schedule the trial as soon as possible. Yes... burning at the stake seems fitting."
"I'll talk to the judge."
"Please do."
Lumina made a sorrowful expression again and prayed to her god.
Watching her, Erin also closed her eyes and prayed to the 'true God.'
'Lord Igugwoden... If this is also your trial, I'll gladly accept. But please, spare my life... This isn't just about clinging to life. Please give me the chance to spread your words! I beg you! Save me... Save everyone deceived by the false god...!!!!!'
* * *
...
After checking the final panel, I kept rereading the comic over and over.
...Frustrating. Annoying. Something felt like it was bursting inside me.
Those guys didn't even try to listen to Erin properly from the start.
Erin was someone who could prove it easily. Just show a miracle. Of course, I'd sponsor it.
But they jump straight to calling her blasphemous and trying to kill her?
'I surrender, you bastard author.'
Fine. Time to sponsor.
I casually thought 'lol time to teach those bitches a lesson~' and was about to donate 1,000 won.
—Wait.
At that moment, I got curious.
When there was that huge boulder, it said "needs 3,000 won or more." Meaning the author had his own thresholds for changing the plot.
But at least to me, this situation was way more dangerous than a mere boulder blocking the path.
And this gets solved with 1,000 won, but that needed 3,000?
Come to think of it... Haven't I donated 10,000 won before?
That was the first time my nickname 'Igugwoden' boomed in the comic.
Spears fell from the sky, chaos erupted.
I deleted the comment I was writing and left a new one.
[ Igugwoden: Does 1,000 won work this time too? What happens? ]
ㄴ [ GiveMeMoney (Author): Sponsoring 1,000 won will change fate, allowing Erin to escape the crisis safely and continue her journey to become Saintess! ]
ㄴ [ Igugwoden: No;; I mean, what if I donate 10,000 won here? ]
ㄴ [ GiveMeMoney (Author): Similar to last time you sponsored 10,000 won. That much 'power' to alter fate applies. ]
ㄴ [ Igugwoden: You won't tell what happens?? ]
ㄴ [ GiveMeMoney (Author): Not that I won't, I can't. It's an unobserved future. ]
Fine, concept whatever, but this time I felt like dropping a big sponsorship.
'Then maybe drop 10,000 won here for some satisfaction.'
The moment I added a zero to the donation amount.
Why was that?
Was I too immersed in this comic?
Or was that Saintess Candidate treating Erin so poorly just too infuriating?
Looking back, it was an incredibly impulsive decision—but—
'Aw, screw it.'
I added another zero and hit the sponsor button without hesitation.
[ Igugwoden
(Sponsorship / 100,000 won)
: lolol time to teach those bastards a lesson~~~ ]