“I want to give up.”
It was an ironic conclusion for someone who had thought “I want to live” more than a hundred times.
Erin no longer wished to continue her life.
She had clung to hope in the very moment she barely survived and escaped, but it was fleeting.
Erin recalled the opening line of the Bible, the line a nun at the village church would always recite to the gathered children:
“In the beginning, in the age of light and dark, there was God.”
“Mother, does God truly watch over us, as it says in the scriptures? Does he really care for us?”
“Yes, He does. God watches over us with a gentle and merciful gaze.”
“Then why did the plague come to our village? What did Millia’s family do wrong to be slaughtered by bandits? And why are those bandits still strutting around without facing any punishment?”
“Erin.”
Whenever Erin asked such questions, her mother would place her hand on Erin’s shoulder, giving her a look as if she had spoken forbidden words.
“Never say such things anywhere, do you understand? Under no circumstances should you speak of denying God. Understood?”
“But—”
“Aren’t you old enough to listen to your mother now? Please… If you leave me too…”
After enduring the plague, her mother was the only one in the village who didn’t lose a loved one.
… Because she had already passed away.
“Oh, why…”
The bandits who devastated the influential Millia family in the village.
When their stored food ran out, they seemed to start plundering nearby areas again.
Her mother sacrificed herself to save Erin, creating a diversion that allowed her to escape the village with her life.
With public order in shambles from the plague, all the guards who maintained security were either dead or had left, and the royal family was helpless to control the situation.
‘If God existed, could he really overlook something like this?’
‘If he did nothing, could he truly be called God?’
Such thoughts tinged with a semblance of philosophical pondering lasted until the second day after Erin escaped.
“I’m thirsty…”
She was starving.
But even more urgent was the lack of water, which she hadn’t had in ages.
It was nearly impossible to find even a muddy puddle, and on rare occasions when she found water, it was infested with flies, clearly leading straight to death if she drank it.
Sure, if she were determined, she could find water somehow—maybe by climbing a mountain to find a river, or maybe there was some survival trick known only to seasoned adventurers.
But Erin was weak and frail lacking the necessary strength and knowledge.
She hadn’t eaten properly since the plague struck and her body was in ruins.
What could she possibly accomplish now?
“I want to live, I want to live… I must… I must live…”
Suddenly, she remembered what the nun at the church had said:
“Believe in God. He exists. One day, in a decisive moment, He will whisper to you that He has never left your side.”
“God…”
Please, watch over me.
Have mercy on me and show me a way to survive.
If you could guide me to water, I’d be grateful for even a little rain.
I’m begging you.
Her blurred vision was evidence that even her desire to live was fading.
Everyone had left.
Her family was gone, her village people slaughtered by bandits.
Even if she found water and survived on her own… would it mean anything?
Would there be a future for her?
So, I’ll just give up.
I want to stop.
I want to join my family and return to where my lost friends are.
With that thought, she closed her eyes, whispering to herself, “It’s over. Let’s prepare for the end. There is no hope. God will never watch over us.”
She believed she had calmly prepared her heart for the end.
Or so she thought.
“…No…”
A tear rolled down from Erin’s eyes.
No.
I haven’t really come to terms with it.
I don’t want to die.
If there’s even a chance, I want to live.
God are you there?
Are you truly looking down on me?
If so…
Before she could finish her prayer, right before she lost consciousness—
“Huh?”
Suddenly, she heard a strange voice in her mind—
—Whoooosh!!!
“…?!”
A miracle happened.
“What… is this sudden twist…?”
A notification appeared as she checked the next installment of her story:
Title: “A Miracle Suddenly Happened.”
The content was unbelievable.
The girl named Erin, who had collapsed in desperation, suddenly found water springing up from the ground.
It was a bizarre, contrived plot twist!
Still…
Erin, shocked by the sudden water flow, drank eagerly.
Below the scene, a message from the author appeared:
[Thank you for your 1,000-won donation, LiguoGuodun! Because of you, Erin was able to drink water! Thank you, Erin’s benefactor, LiguoGuodun!]
To see such blatant promotion wasn’t surprising, but realizing that, for a mere 1,000 won, he wouldn’t have to watch the girl die of thirst brought a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Gore wasn’t his thing anyway and he appreciated the indulgence.
“I guess I’m not immune to recognition either…”
Scrolling down to the last page—
“Huh?”
This time Erin clutching her stomach in hunger wandered around.
The final author’s note was the finishing touch:
[She managed to drink water but still hasn’t eaten! For Erin to overcome future trials, she needs food! Only donations can feed her!]
“Pfft!”
He laughed heartily.
The direct appeal for donations was so over-the-top that it reached an unexpected level of charm.
Alright.
You win.
Here’s another 1,000 won.
[Igogodon (Donation / 1,000 won): Might as well feed her while I’m at it.]
The response was instant.
[Author (PleaseDonate): Thank you for your generous donation! Erin will safely overcome this challenge! We’ll never forget your kindness, Igogodon!]
The reactions were priceless.
In an age where donation basics had become 2,000 to 5,000 won, watching someone deliver exactly what he wanted to see for just 1,000 won almost felt like a good deal.
“This place knows business.”
From that day on—
He became the sole patron of “PleaseDonate’s” story, a comic entirely designed to attract donations.
***
Erin’s journey continued, each chapter filled with seemingly miraculous discoveries of food or water.
Erin’s expressions brightened with each stroke of luck, though he couldn’t help but wonder why such a talented artist wasn’t making genuine story-driven works instead.
Still, it was a surprisingly fun way to pass time.
And then, one day—
“Huh?”
The latest chapter took a heavy turn.
Erin had a deadly encounter with the bandits who had destroyed her village.
The author’s message was unsurprisingly direct:
[Erin needs your support to escape this danger! Without donations, Erin will face serious harm 😢]
Even the sad emoji at the end was frustrating, making it clear the author was a master of attracting attention.
Before donating, he left a comment:
[Igogodon: Is this really how the story’s supposed to go? Hmm…]
The author’s response was swift, as expected:
[Author (PleaseDonate): Don’t worry, Igogodon! With your support, Erin can safely escape! And remember, the outcome changes depending on the donation amount!]
Although it was an obvious plea for more money, he was oddly entertained.
Still, that last sentence sounded familiar.
[Igogodon: How exactly does the donation amount change the outcome?]
[Author (PleaseDonate): It’s simple. Think of it this way: “Fate changes proportionally with the donation amount.” For instance, a 10,000-won donation will have ten times more impact than a 1,000-won donation! Of course, even 1,000 won will help Erin escape this danger, so don’t feel pressured!]
It was hilarious, but curiosity got the better of him.
Alright, let’s go big.
[Igogodon (Donation / 10,000 won): Fine. Here you go.]
[Author (PleaseDonate): Unbelievable, Igogodon! Thank you for the generous donation of 10,000 won! We’ll upload the next chapter next week! Your immense “good deed” will never be forgotten!]
“‘We?’”
The last sentence caught his attention, but he dismissed it.
“Well, let’s wait a week, then.”
Without further thought, he turned off his computer and headed to bed.