A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 204

[Rene]

[I won’t forgive lies]

[Liar’s Room | 7722 viewers online | 00:16:11]

〔Lene〕 〔Lene_Love〕 〔Prove It〕 〔0530-PresentMe〕

〔Queen’s Table〕

As the game started, the declaration of ‘Queen’s Table’ echoed through the room.

And the cards I received in my hand were 1 King, 2 Queens, 1 Ace, and 1 Joker.

With the Joker included, I have 3 Queens, so it’s not too shabby.

The game began with ‘Lene_Love’, who was sitting to my right.

The turn passes to the player sitting to the right of the starting player, so I guess I’m last.

“Then let’s get started…. It’s a death game where the loser must die….”

─So chaotic!

─Why do the piggies look so funny? Haha.

“Hmhm….”

The reason Tuni recommended this game was twofold.

First, the rules are very simple, making it easy to enjoy.

Second, it’s easy to chat with fans during gameplay, making it a great viewer participation game.

A game that allows for fun conversation while playing; according to Tuni, it’s a ‘streamer-exclusive game.’

When I watched Tuni’s gameplay video, she continuously tossed questions at her fans while playing.

So, it was finally time for me to voice the thoughts that had been bothering me.

“Um… ‘Rene Love’…? The Rene in your nickname is referring to me, right…?”

Of course, since all their microphones were off, verbal responses were impossible.

But in this game, it was possible to control the avatar’s head with the mouse.

In other words, it meant I could receive a yes or no answer to my question.

And Rene Love… quietly shook her head.

“Ah… so, are you perhaps referring to the senior…?”

At my following question, Rene Love nodded furiously.

“Oh, I see….”

That’s strange.

In the end, it means she likes me, right…? What’s with this feeling of defeat…?

─So you don’t like Rene, but you like Rene, huh…

─What the heck, what is that?

─When did we slip into Tsundere territory????

─To be honest, Lene is a bit prettier than Rene, I guess;

─I agree, haha.

─Senpai is sooo strong, ahhhhh! Haha.

Huh?

Could it be that the other two sitting at this table also like Streamer Rene more?

If that’s the case, that might be a bit sad….

[Two Queens]

While I was feeling this inexplicable sense of defeat, Rene Love placed 2 cards on the table.

Starting off with 2 cards.

There are a total of 6 Queens in the game. Including the Joker, there are 8 cards.

And since I have 2 Queens in hand, that makes 6 cards that the other three could possibly play as Queens.

So… hmm. It’s tough. I don’t know what to do.

But when in doubt, there’s a good strategy.

“Hey… ‘Prove It’? That, no matter how I think about it, is a lie, right…?”

I suggested that the next player, Prove It, declare “Liar.”

If it’s a lie, Rene Love will take the hit, and if the truth, then Prove It will face the Russian roulette, so I don’t have to worry at all….

─Um… Sorry, but it should be pronounced as Prove It, not Prove Eat, Rene.

─Our dumb girl wouldn’t know that.

─Let’s just agree to call her Prove It from now on?????

“…Huh?”

But then I caught sight of a chat that bothered me more than the game’s situation.

It felt like something similar had happened in the past….

So it means the player sitting in front of me, ‘Prove It’, should be pronounced as Prove It and not Prove Eat, right?

“Uh… everyone…? I’m confused; if the pronunciation of that word is ‘Prove,’ then where did the sounds for o and e go…?”

─Does this kid know the concept of silent letters…?

─By that logic, why is Love pronounced as Love?

─It could be that o and e are different sounds than we know.

“…Oh?”

Come to think of it, that makes sense…?

─From now on, can’t we just call it Robe? Haha.

─Right? The moderator wants it called Prove, so what then??

─Chained is probably Chain-ed, and Prove is Prove, Love is Robe, Like is Likeme?

─Sounds like Like will probably be like that, haha.

─So, does that mean Take is Take and Hide is Hide?

─How did you know that? Very knowledgeable! Haha.

─Rene, I’m so embarrassed…

I gained enlightenment.

But.

“Um, um….”

That realization doesn’t seem to help me at all right now.

─Foreigners (can’t speak English) hahaha.

─Why is this girl a foreigner yet doesn’t know basic English…?

─Thinking all foreigners write in English is a stereotype;

─I agree with that.

─But this isn’t a debate if you’re a foreigner or not.

─For real, haha.

─Rene/no debates/can’t speak English? D:

─Wow, haha.

“Um, believers…? For now, we’re in the middle of a game, so… let’s discuss that later….”

─Honestly, I still don’t get it, but if the embarrassed Rene still gets a like! Haha.

─Seeing her embarrassed is quite delightful, haha. [Message deleted.]

─Wow, the vibe of a female dog… [Message deleted.]

★

“…The reason I lost that last round is that there was interference from outside….”

─Interference, huh?

─Interference (the game was my grave).

─Anyway, I was interfered with, so I wanted you to empathize with me, heh;

My statement drew countless question marks in the chat, but unfortunately, my remaining HP made it impossible to react to them.

English really is hard….

Anyway, I lost in the first round, and the final winner was Prove It.

Could it be that Prove It knew I was weak at English and designed this from the start?

If that’s the case, what a scary and cowardly person….

〔Lene〕 〔Carnivaru〕 〔KonBu〕 〔1356-REN〕

〔Ace’s Table〕

Then the second round began with the declaration of Ace’s Table, and I held 3 Queens and 2 Kings.

In other words, not a single Ace… a truly terrible hand.

…But I’m not going to panic over this.

With the sharpness I’ve honed as an Inquisition Officer, I can handle this easily.

First up is ‘KonBu’.

Then it’s my turn next, so let me observe how many cards the two in front of me will play.

I’ll pretend to engage in calm and normal conversation while looking for openings.

“First… all three of you are believers, right…?”

With such thoughts accompanying my question, all three suddenly turned their avatars’ gaze to the corner.

“Um, uh…?”

Huh?

“Are you by any chance leaning towards liking the senior…?”

At those words, all three began nodding like crazy, just like Rene Love did earlier.

─Hahahaha.

─Did Rene really become the defeat heroine? www

“No, but… I’m sure I brought this game to play with you believers, so why is this happening…?”

─Remarkable fact) It ultimately means you all like ‘Rene’! D:D:D:D

Of course, I knew that, but for some reason, it was filled with this sense of defeat….

[Two Aces]

Again, just like the last round, we started with two cards.

I don’t have a single Ace in hand, so trying to predict is completely pointless.

So I wish ‘Ren’ would just shout “Liar” for me….

I thought that as I recalled Tuni’s stream and spoke my desired question.

“Everyone… I’m really curious… do you genuinely think of me as a b-bafoon…?”

I couldn’t accept it.

I believed that lacking knowledge and being a fool are entirely different matters.

Even the earlier English conversation was the same.

I just lacked knowledge regarding English, and that can’t be defined as being foolish, right?

By that logic, wouldn’t everyone who lacks English be deemed foolish…?

But the opinions of the three in front of me and the chat panel seemed to oppose me entirely.

─If you’re not a fool, then who in this world could possibly be called one, huh? Haha.

─Considering you forgot something that happened just 10 minutes ago, it’s pretty clear you’re a total fool.

─I just asked the Iya goddess, and the moderator confirmed you’re a fool.

─Well, if the Iya goddess said it, what can we do… Just admit it, Rene…

─I believe that accepting the truth is important, too.

In an instant, the chat panel was labeling me a fool, and the three were nodding crazily.

Especially the one sitting directly in front of me, ‘KonBu’, was nodding so fast that her face was starting to blur.

“Ugh….”

Fine. Alright.

In this game, I will prove without a doubt.

I’m not a fool…!

[Three Aces]

And in that moment.

Ren slid three cards onto the table.

The total number of Aces that can be played is 8.

And the two cards that KonBu initially played were 2.

However, considering the nature of the game where only 26 cards are dealt out of a possible 32, I can’t know which 6 cards remain undistributed.

Plus, given that I don’t have a single Ace in hand right now, it wouldn’t be surprising if someone had 3 Aces.

Yet, how does it even make sense to play 3 cards from the start?

If KonBu’s 2 cards are also Aces, that means 5 Aces would already be on the table.

Which leaves only 3 real Aces available to play from this point on.

Assuming everyone, including me and KonBu, has one Ace each from now on.

That means the 2 cards held by Ren cannot possibly be Aces.

Thus, when Ren’s turn comes next, it must be considered a lie.

Therefore, thinking of all those variables, the optimal move would be to play a non-Ace card as a lie when placing 3 cards to consider the next turn…!

“Phew….”

Sadly, my perfect move… has been read…?

“It must be a lie, that’s for sure…!”

[LIAR!]

My avatar slammed the table and declared “Liar.”

Renee looked at me, surprised.

So, do you still think I’m a fool?

“Phew….”

I also looked at her with a smile meant to convey my feelings.

And then Ren’s hand was revealed.

〔Ace〕 〔Joker〕 〔Joker〕

One Ace. And 2 Jokers.

“…Huh?”

─Hahahahahahaha.

─??? : This has got to be a lie (says this so confidently).

─They say there are those who, when they only speak the truth, end up self-killing in this game… I really like that story…

─If there are any believers wanting to hear what judgment led to the liar declaration, hit that like! Haha.

─You’re a fool for sure! Hahaha.

“…Huh?”

Why?

My judgment should have been perfect…?

Once I confirmed the opponent’s hand was the truth, my avatar slowly raised a gun to my head.

Next came the sound of the click of the trigger being cocked.

And as the trigger was pulled…

Bang!

My avatar collapsed onto the table, bleeding.

─Hahahahahahahahahahaha.

─Info) The probability of getting caught in Russian roulette is 1/6, LOL.

─I’m completely unlucky, haha!

…Is this game… a bad one?