[MoneyPlease: Although I can’t say for sure yet, maybe, regardless of the amount, Luca might…]
[MoneyPlease: Oh.]
[MoneyPlease: Uh…]
The author, who had been continuously typing, suddenly went silent as if they had broken down.
‘What?’
Regardless of the amount, what?
[Igogodon: ???]
[Igogodon: Is something wrong???]
The author, who usually replied quickly, had gone silent for over five minutes without a single response.
‘This happened last time too.’
They had been leaving comments almost instantly, but when I donated 100,000 won, they froze as if stunned, only to send me the chat link afterward.
‘Is it that they break down whenever they receive a large donation?’
gulp
Anyway, while waiting for a response, I tried to collect myself… though it didn’t quite work.
“Ughhh!”
The image of Luca, looking sad with dead eyes, flashed in my mind again, and before I knew it, I started sobbing out loud.
‘I couldn’t help it. That’s just who I am.’
Whenever a sad scene came up in a manga, anime, or movie, I would sob, thinking, “Ah! This is too sad!”
The phrase ‘This is where you’re supposed to cry’ meant nothing to me; I was confident I could cry on cue better than anyone.
In my childhood…
I even called into a notorious cable TV show for kids, not just because they exploited children’s pocket money but because I worried the protagonist wouldn’t overcome the trials without me.
The sensitivity that got me so immersed in low-quality Flash animations didn’t just disappear with age.
It’s like someone who loves manga and anime in their twenties doesn’t suddenly think, “Now that I’m over 40, I’ll switch to golf, fishing, and hiking.”
‘Mother. Are you watching?’
‘Your son has become an adult who still gets overly immersed in fictional works, even after all those scoldings.’
As I spent as much time as possible soothing myself, tissues damp with tears began piling up beside me.
Finally, the author returned.
[MoneyPlease: Sorry to keep you waiting, Igogodon.]
[MoneyPlease: First, thank you so much for the unexpected, generous donation of 300,000 won.]
[MoneyPlease: I promise that everyone here will remember this moment forever.]
[Igogodon: Uh… but.]
[Igogodon: What about what you were saying earlier?? Could you finish that explanation…?]
‘Right.’
‘Regardless of the amount, what was it for Luca?’
For a moment, I felt uneasy, wondering if my 150,000 won might not change Luca’s fate.
[MoneyPlease: Don’t worry, Igogodon.]
[MoneyPlease: With 300,000 won, it might be possible.]
[MoneyPlease: It’s an amount significant enough that maybe—even in ways I hadn’t imagined—things could change.]
‘Great!’
‘As long as things can be fixed, that’s all that matters.’
‘The author will handle the story anyway.’
‘All I want is for Luca to be happy.’
‘I want her to be appointed as the new Holy Knight!’
[Igogodon: Haha, so everything’s fine then?]
[MoneyPlease: I’ll do everything in my power to make it happen.]
[MoneyPlease: Oh, and there’s one more favor I’d like to ask of you, Igogodon.]
[Igogodon: A favor???]
[MoneyPlease: Although 300,000 won might be enough to change everything…]
[MoneyPlease: Given the gravity of the task, I think we need some divine words.]
‘Wait, changing Luca’s fate is that serious?’
‘Didn’t the story change with just a 100,000-won donation before?’ I thought, puzzled.
[MoneyPlease: Do you remember the phrase “The words of God carry power?”]
[Igogodon: I remember.]
[MoneyPlease: Just like before, if you could leave a message for Luca.]
[MoneyPlease: The words of God will certainly help in crucial moments.]
“Ah!”
I finally understood the author’s deeper intention.
‘So, this is like WWE. A kind of role-play.’
‘While they talk about a power that could change destiny, ultimately, the author controls the narrative.’
I had gotten quite immersed in this story and had made a large donation.
The author was matching my immersion level.
‘If they were to say, “Since you donated a large amount, you get to write a line!” it would break the immersion and feel cheap.’
So, they’re giving a skillful touch by saying, ‘The words of God will help’ and ‘Divine words are needed for this task.’
‘Alright, if you set the scene, I’ll play along!’
[Igogodon: Haha, sure thing.]
‘What effect will this have?’
Last time, I said something random, and it became “Facts: A Plate of the Bible,” causing Erin to repeatedly think about how her “Erin’s chuchuchan was huge,” making her pull strange expressions all the time.
I need to be serious this time.
‘So, if I were really the god of this world and Luca was a real person.’
If she’s constantly walked the righteous path, believing I’m always watching her, yet is now facing an overwhelming trial—
‘What would I say to her as a god?’
I thought it would take a long time to come up with something.
Surprisingly, the answer came quickly.
[Igogodon: You’re not wrong.]
‘I’ve been watching you all along.’
‘So I’m responding to you now.’
‘Your belief that I’m always watching you is correct.’
[Igogodon: Convey this.]
[MoneyPlease: Understood.]
[MoneyPlease: I’ll announce it when the next episode is released. It may take some time, but…]
[MoneyPlease: Given your generous donation of 300,000 won, I will do everything possible to fulfill your wish, Igogodon.]
“Whew.”
After finishing the conversation, I finally relaxed and leaned back in my chair.
***
‘How long has it been?’
‘It’s been so long since I cried like this…’
‘But still.’
‘It feels refreshing to cry my heart out.’
‘When will the next episode come out?’
‘If everything was doomed from the start, is there any solution?’
‘It’s like realizing something went wrong midway and scrambling to fix it, only to find that no matter what I did, it was bound to fail from the beginning.’
‘Like thinking I had messed up the first button only to find I never even had the right to button it up in the first place.’
‘That was Luca’s fate.’
No matter how much she struggled, she could never truly find happiness.
Every time happiness seemed to approach, a corresponding misfortune quickly overtook her, as if punishing her for it.
God desires Luca’s happiness.
But if her fate is to never find happiness, even against God’s wishes—
“If God’s support is with us, there’s nothing impossible.”
‘Right.’
‘If it was wrong from the start, then I just need to change it from the very root.’
Thus, the world responds to the one true God looking down upon it.
***
The Poitiers family’s grand estate.
Today was a special day.
It was the 13th birthday of Armand de Poitiers’ beloved only daughter, Luca.
And what was the birthday girl, Luca, doing?
In her room, she was getting ready, sprucing herself up with the help of a maid.
The maid, gently brushing Luca’s straight black hair, spoke.
“You look even more beautiful than usual today, miss.”
“Thanks! Jenna, you look pretty too!”
“Thank you, but I’m still far from your level, miss. Haha.”
The ever-dedicated maid, Jenna, had been like an older sister to Luca since she was a young child.
Luca especially loved it when Jenna took care of her hair like this.
“Alright, all done. Oh, I almost forgot this.”
Jenna rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a very elegantly designed hairpin, placing it on Luca’s hair.
“Wow, it’s beautiful!”
“You always said that whenever I finished your hair, something felt off or that it seemed like something was missing. I thought you might feel that way because your long hair looked a bit plain. How is it?”
“Yes! It’s so pretty!”
At first, Luca was delighted, practically bouncing with joy—
But soon, her expression turned slightly bitter.
“But…
This doesn’t feel right.”
“Really? It’s not to your taste, then…?”
“No, no! I love it. But it’s just… I can’t shake this feeling that something’s… off.”
Every time she looked at her hair, Luca felt something was missing.
‘When did she first become aware of it?’
For some reason, even as a very young child, she’d felt this way.
She just hadn’t had the words to express it back then.
‘It’s like I’ve forgotten something important.’
“I’ll get something even prettier next time. If you don’t like it—”
“No, no! I like this one. Hehe. I’ll wear it today!”
After she had prettied herself up, all the household members gathered to celebrate the birthday girl.
“Happy birthday!!!!!”
“Miss, happy birthday to you!”
Along with Luca’s favorite cake, the table was laid with a far more luxurious feast than usual.
“Wow…!”
Luca, sitting at the head of the table, admired it all, but only for a moment.
As she glanced around the table… the maid beside her casually pushed a dish toward her.
“Looking for this, miss?”
It was a bowl of potato soup.
Out of everything on the table, it was probably the cheapest dish—but only then did Luca break into a big smile.
“Yes! Thank you.”
“Not at all, miss. You do love potato soup, after all.”
At that moment—
“Ahem. I suppose it’s time for a little talk.”
“Oh, Father…!”
Her father, Armand, who was sitting beside her, spoke in a serious tone.
“Luca. You’re thirteen now. While I wouldn’t mind you staying my cheerful little girl forever, you’ll soon become a lady. From this year onward, it’s time for you to start learning various things. You’re aware of this, aren’t you?”
“Yes, Father. I know.”
Luca was set to enter the Imperial Luphrantia Academy at age fourteen.
Only the children of the upper class could attend, and it served as a formal introduction to society.
Her noble Poitiers bloodline would surely help her shine even brighter at the academy.
She would have less time to play with her father, but… if she cried and made a fuss like she used to, she’d only be a burden to her teachers.
“So, please promise me you won’t, alright?”
“Don’t worry, Father. I’m fine not playing with you. I want to study as soon as possible!”
“W-What…?”
Across from them, her mother, watching Armand’s shocked reaction to Luca’s bold words, hide a smile with her hand.
“Oh, darling, weren’t you the one who suggested delaying her education by a year so you wouldn’t have less time to play with her?”
“Ahem!”
Several of the maids failed to hold back their laughter, but no one minded.
A peaceful time in a family with no shortage of blessings, in a harmonious home.
If only she could brush away that lingering feeling of having forgotten something, Luca’s days would be filled with new and joyful moments.
After that day, just as her father had said, more than ten private tutors were assigned to Luca.
What she learned was incredibly diverse: political science, magic, history, literature…
She was even learning martial arts, but with her youthful energy, Luca found it easy to handle every subject.
Her father had said, “I didn’t know what you’d like, so I arranged for everything. If it’s too hard, feel free to ask for fewer lessons.” But for Luca, the act of learning itself was so enjoyable that she never found it burdensome.
***
“Hello, miss. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Today was her first day studying theology.
Her assigned nun had been delayed by a month due to personal circumstances, so she’d arrived later than the other teachers.
But Luca’s heart was simply racing with the excitement of learning something new.
“What will we be learning in theology?”
“It’s a time to learn the words of God. You know about God, don’t you, Luca?”
“Yes! I heard He’s the one who created the world.”
Though she didn’t know much, she figured she would learn as they went along.
Luca sat down and received a blue book.
—The Bible.
Perhaps it was curiosity at finally seeing the book she’d only heard about.
Absentmindedly, she opened to the first page.
“You’re not wrong.”
‘What?’
The book was quite thick, yet there was only a single sentence written on it.
Every other page was blank.
Was that what the Bible was supposed to be? She glanced at the nun for confirmation—
The nun looked over her Bible and began speaking in a gentle tone.
“Shall we read from the first page? I’ll begin, and you can follow after me, miss.”
“Uh… alright…”
Just as Luca was about to ask why there was only one sentence on the page—
“Genesis, Chapter 1. In the primeval days, where only light and darkness existed, there was God.”
‘What?’
Luca checked her Bible again.
No matter how she looked, it only had one line: “You’re not wrong.”
Seeing Luca’s puzzled expression, the nun smiled gently.
“You see the first line, don’t you? We’ll start from there. It’s natural to be a little nervous on the first day. Now, let’s begin again. “In the primeval days, where only light and darkness existed, there was God.”
‘Huh?’