A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 101

In a world ravaged by ruin, it is an action game set against the backdrop of a fallen fantasy civilization.

For some unknown reason, the majority of humanity has mutated, and those that can no longer be called humans are driven solely to kill the remaining humans.

The mutated beings have started to be referred to as “Heretics.”

The surviving humans have resisted the Heretics in any way they could.

However, the Heretics possessed overwhelming physical abilities, and the sheer number of them made it impossible to overcome them with technology and magic.

Ultimately, only a tiny fraction survived.

The future of humanity became trapped in darkness, awaiting inevitable destruction.

The Heretics are closing in, tightening the encirclement.

Humans are simply waiting for the end to come as quickly as possible.

And before them, the protagonist appears.

No one knows what kind of being the protagonist is.

No one knows the name of the organization the protagonist belongs to.

It’s even uncertain whether the protagonist is truly on the side of humanity.

What’s clear is that the protagonist appeared solely to hunt Heretics.

This is an action game chronicling the protagonist’s journey.

And that, of course, is just the game’s introduction.

However, those who have played the game do not consider “In a World Ravaged by Ruin” to be an ordinary action game.

[No, what the hell! How can this be just a plain action game!]

[Wow, guys. Wait a minute. Can I rethink playing this game one more time?]

[Aaaaaah!]

[What the…! Did I scare you? Then what, you weren’t scared?! This ain’t a matter of man or woman, you freaks!]

[The one who said it was just an action game better come out. If you clarify right now, I’ll let the ban slide.]

[What were the developers thinking when they made this game like this? I really don’t get it.]

The actual evaluation of “In a World Ravaged by Ruin” was that it was a horror game.

The bizarre and grotesque Heretics and their startling appearances shocked players.

Plus, the dark atmosphere typical of the post-apocalypse genre.

In fact, it would’ve been harder to say it wasn’t a horror game.

Moreover, “In a World Ravaged by Ruin” is a virtual reality game.

The fact that such things move right before your eyes only propelled its evaluation further.

Players who thought they were buying an action game gave it scathing reviews.

Players who learned about the game’s horror aspect and bought it to enjoy it as a horror game sang its praises.

It was a game that received radically mixed evaluations.

But there was one thing that even players who gave negative feedback had to concede… it was a fact that “In a World Ravaged by Ruin” was the best horror game.

It was even highly praised for being nearly indistinguishable from a horror game released a few years ago which received acclaim, “Dawn Does Not Break.”

And such evaluations led to one particular result.

Streamers tricking viewers into playing this game under the guise of it being an action game… creating a situation that was both unfortunate and hilarious from the viewers’ perspective.

Of course, now it’s become far too famous for that situation to arise, yet every time there’s a streamer who ends up playing a horror game for various reasons, “In a World Ravaged by Ruin” is still among the top two or three mentioned.

“…Aah, aaah… It’s so scary…”

And then, another victim appeared.

Probably.

★

[Rene]

[I will judge the Heretic.]

[In a World Ravaged by Ruin | 4,116 viewers online | 00:57:56]

“Hmm. Just now, I should have dodged to the left… I hesitated for a moment, so my reaction was a bit slow, but I think I can dodge it next time…”

─Why are the reactions so dull?

─Is it really not scary at all???

─The viewers are more scared than the streamer ㄷㄷㄷㄷ

─This person has no fear at all ㅋㅋ

─It’s kind of the first time I’ve seen ruin played like a raid game ㅅㅂ;

─Honestly, I’ve watched this game several times, and it’s still frightening…

Glancing at the chat window, there was a lot of chatter about my reactions.

…Honestly, I’m not scared at all, what can I do?

Even when I thought I’d act scared, I failed.

So I had no choice but to just play normally.

…But you know.

Isn’t it strange to be scared of a game that’s supposed to be an action game…?

Why do I feel like I’m the weird one here?

─Just hurry up and clear it so we can do something else, Rene ㅇㅇ;

─Bold statement) It actually feels a bit fun doing it this way, ㅋㅋ

─Are you really not scared at all?

“…No. Honestly, I don’t know what’s scary…”

Of course, I knew the reason why I felt this way.

It must be because I got used to the experiences I had in that other world.

The mutations and the patterns of Heretics popping out from within their bodies aren’t all that strange over there… among the demonic Heretics, it was weirder if they didn’t exist at all.

The grotesque things there were much more grotesque.

─Everyone but you knows it, for real ㅇㅇ;

─Would it kill you to at least pretend to cry?

─Why am I flinching just by watching this?

─What on earth have you been watching to not be scared?

─The shelter of cowards, ㅋㅋ

─Is it just because you’re a beast girl?

─For real, if there’s intelligence, it shouldn’t be possible to not be affected by this…

“Everyone… thinking about it, I am an Inquisition Officer… is it really wrong to be scared of Heretics…?”

─Now that you mention it, that’s true…

─That makes sense logically; I can’t refute that.

─Occupation: Inquisition Officer <<< Is this plot twist happening here?



─God of Design ㄷㄷㄷㄷ



The believers were accepting my perfect logic.



It was a curious feeling seeing them, who typically try to rebut anything I say, so willingly acknowledging this.



Anyway, thinking like that, I moved forward and arrived back at the boss I couldn’t defeat earlier.



[Falling Catshy – Caspalug]

This boss is characterized by its speed, but fortunately, its patterns weren’t too difficult.

To be honest, I died earlier because of the Warhammer’s penalty.

[Kick, kkeek! Kekek!]

─I really wish they’d get rid of that blue liquid flowing from its eyes.

─Moving around is so jarringly creepy.

─All the creatures here are just plain unsettling.

─Everything instinctively feels icky ㅅㅂ

─Looking at the stark contrast of world-building, map backgrounds, and BGMs, it’s obvious they were aiming for that ㄹㅇ;

After the strange cries began the battle, I glanced at the chat window, and the believers weren’t talking about me but about why this game was scary and grotesque.

Could it be that I’m not providing the desired reaction?

No.

Thinking about it, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“Hmm…”

Yeah.

Looking back, I didn’t do anything wrong.

I just brought an action game that was released as such and played it like an action game.

In other words, it meant that the problem was with the believers.

Swallowing those thoughts, I dodged the pattern that killed me earlier.

Finally, I swung my Warhammer hard, smashing down on Caspalug’s head.

Swoosh!!!

The sound of impact rang out, and I felt the power in my fingertips.

Compared to that other world… hmm. I suppose the Warhammer I originally used was better.

Even in comparison to New Dimension, it was lacking.

The sound and feeling of the impact went to New Dimension’s favor.

But the weight I felt just holding it seemed victorious in this regard.

Of course, both are disappointing compared to my original Warhammer.

─Ugh, ㅅㅂ;

─The splatter is really gruesome.

And sure enough.

“Phew…”

This isn’t my problem; it’s the believers’ problem.

─Why are you suddenly laughing?

─My ears feel weird…

─Every time this girl laughs, it’s oddly alluring; is that normal?

“Y-You’re all a bunch of cowards…”

─?

“I’m not scared at all… but you all are too scared that you can’t even play this game properly… heh. You’re all cowards…”

─ㅅㅂ

─You’re getting on my nerves, Rene ㅋㅋ

─It’s kind of irritating, but I’m strangely aroused…

─If you could just call me a pathetic coward once, that would honestly be a lifelong wish of mine, Rene.

─Heehee, Rene-chan.

─I really want to slap you.

─I heard this one gets called a “bratty girl” sometimes.

─(chatting about “female creature”)

Instantly, the chat went wild with my statement.

Most were responses against me, but curiously enough, there were also believers who liked it…

Well, anyway, glancing at the chaotic chat made me feel a bit pleased.

So they shouldn’t have picked on me so much.

No matter how well I do, I’m a beast; if I make a mistake, I’m a beast too.

I get teased all the time; this is a punishment.

“For the cowardly believers… I’ll try my best to clear this… heehee…”

─ㅋㅋ Tenyren

─I’m really in the mood to give you proper education with my powerful magic… [Message deleted.]

Teasing the believers, I moved on, and naturally, the Heretics could not block my path.

That said, what should I say now.

The more I played this game, the stranger it felt.

…Must be just my imagination?