A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 15

Wide, wide plains.

The gray clouds hanging in the sky seemed eerily quiet, as if forecasting the events to come.

Under that sky stood two men.

A traveler clad in full body armor took a step forward, wielding a massive warhammer.

The paladin, holding a great sword in both hands, closed his eyes and offered a prayer.

Clank, clank.

To some, it might sound ominous, but to others, it was the signal heralding the start of battle.

And the first to accelerate was the paladin, who had finished his prayer in silence.

“Hah!”

The paladin, assuming a ready stance, swung his sword vertically with a mighty shout.

The approaching traveler tilted his body slightly to evade the attack.

Boom!

With a thunderous sound, the ground caved in, and a cloud of sand dust billowed up.

In the obscured view, the paladin kept his senses sharp, preparing for the traveler’s counterattack.

Swish!

With the sound of air ripping, the sand dust scattered.

Amidst it, the warhammer emerged, seemingly intent on smashing through anything in its path.

“Huh!”

Once again, the paladin let out a shout as he lowered his stance.

Then, the traveler’s warhammer collided with the paladin’s armor.

Even with preparations made beforehand, the incoming pain made the paladin feel as if his shoulder would shatter as he gritted his teeth.

But there was no time to dwell on such pain.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The traveler’s warhammer struck the paladin’s armor repeatedly, causing it to falter.

A cacophony of shattering sounds resonated, and the paladin naturally began to retreat step by step.

And as if not to miss this opportunity, the traveler’s attacks intensified.

…However.

A paladin is fundamentally skilled at taking on enemy attacks head-on.

Thus, even against a warhammer capable of obliterating everything, a paladin positioned to withstand would not be struck down with a decisive blow.

For that reason, the paladin aimed to deflect attacks and minimize damage while focusing on finding an opening in his opponent.

Full body armor and warhammer.

These were pieces of equipment that required no further explanation regarding their weight.

As the battle dragged on, it was assured that the one at a disadvantage would be the traveler, who was moving with such ferocity.

The paladin was well aware of this fact, so he maintained a solid defense.

To completely shatter that defense, the traveler forcefully pushed the paladin back and raised the warhammer high above his head.

A grand gesture that signaled urgency.

And an opening.

“Haaaaah…!”

As soon as he realized it, the paladin took a step forward.

Normally, it would have been an action taken a moment too late.

He needed to regain his stance, charge ahead, and counterattack.

No matter how massive the traveler’s movements, they would naturally be simpler than what the paladin had to perform.

But it was the miracle of the Elun God that made it possible.

Boom!

A golden aura enveloped the armor and great sword, and in that instant, the paladin’s consciousness reached beyond the second.

In that fleeting moment, a rapid acceleration occurred.

The paladin shot forward like a cannonball.

No matter how skilled a traveler was, they were merely an ordinary one.

They couldn’t keep up with the movements of the paladin, pushed to their limit.

…Certainly, it was supposed to be that way.

The traveler’s hands, which should have been extended upward to gather strength for the warhammer, had assumed a poised mid-stance instead.

Boom!

The side of the great sword was struck by the warhammer, unleashing an unpleasant sound of metal scraping.

The paladin’s great sword, caught unprepared by the incoming strike, was buried into the ground.

The unexpected jolt sent fierce pain through the paladin’s wrist.

There was no energy left to regain his stance.

He could read the attack.

The paladin didn’t fear that fact itself.

What truly frightened him was the traveler’s audacity.

If that was indeed the case, the traveler could just dodge, leaving the paladin vulnerable.

In that moment, if the traveler aimed for the exposed back of the paladin, it would mean his defeat.

In other words, taking a hit head-on was a gamble with a one percent chance of loss.

However, the traveler chose to take that gamble, proving his reasoning as he shattered the paladin’s technique.

So cleanly that not even a scratch was left. Not a hint of imperfection.

The reaction speed and technique were astounding.

“Is he a monster…?”

The paladin admired with a voice so low it could not be heard by anyone.

It was his final words.

Kkang!

Afterward, the clear sound of the warhammer echoed as it crushed the paladin’s head, ringing out deliciously.

As he thought he heard something nonsensical like “Repent quietly,” the paladin quietly closed his eyes.

★

[Rene]

[Inquisition Starts]

[New Dimension | 2 viewers online | 1:03:22]

Kkang!

My old friend, the warhammer, proudly displayed its existence as it shattered the paladin’s head.

Ah, refreshing. Now that’s a weapon.

[You Win!]

“I won again this time.”

─What was that just now?
─Seriously, how did that happen?
Although ‘Arali’ and ‘Kkapjujimaseum’ had disappeared, fortunately, I still had two viewers remaining.

And it seemed they found my broadcast quite interesting, as my follower count had risen by two.

Could it be that I secured the minimum fixed viewership?

Earlier, when ‘Arali’ urged me to clarify my hacks, there were chats supporting that, but perhaps my perfect rebuttal won them over since they no longer brought it up.

I might have secured decent viewers.

─How did you retaliate just now?
“I retaliated by… um. Well…?”

─No way to understand if you explain it like that.
“Uh, um… it’s not that complicated…. When it went bang! I did pat! and then kkaang!”

─What the hell are you saying, seriously.
─I can’t understand any of this.
“Well, how about that…”

Is this the consequence of my poor communication skills?

I can clearly visualize everything in my head, but I can’t explain it verbally at all.

Yet, that instance wasn’t actually my doing, it was the paladin’s failure…

In New Dimension, if you don’t use skills at the right moments, reading attacks becomes too easy.

The system calibration makes impossible movements possible when using a skill, but conversely, it also means movements are predetermined, making it easy to respond.

Of course, I did lure out the paladin’s movements, but using “Fierce Charge” there was just too straightforward.

If someone has played PVP for a while, they would be able to do it all.

“Anyway, that’s a six-win streak.”

Before I knew it, it had been an hour since I started broadcasting.

Unfortunately, besides ‘Lainel’ and ‘Moriarty’ in the chat, it didn’t look like my viewership would increase any further.

“Lainel and Moriarty, did you have fun…?”

─It’s enjoyable because you’re doing well, but can you be a bit more specific in your explanations?
─Seriously, bang! pat! kkaang! << This is too much, LOL.
─And the sound feels too empty.

Hmm. That’s good feedback.

Thanks to being an internet broadcaster, I realized I could speak somewhat comfortably as there wasn’t anyone physically watching me, so I should prioritize fixing those parts.

Should I read books on speaking?

It might also be good to read literary novels to describe the scenes playing in my head.

“Thanks for the advice… So, I think I’ll end today’s broadcast soon. Do you have any questions for me…?”

Tuni said it’s important to engage with the viewers.

Given that someone mentioned the sound was empty, it means I wasn’t talking much at all, so it would be nice to discuss at least a little now.

─Why do you broadcast?
“I need money.”
─Why are you using a voice changer?
“I thought it might attract a little more interest. Honestly, at first, I wanted to go pure skill mode without talking, but I was advised against it…”

I’m actually a real woman, though.

─Who broadcasts without saying a word?
Here I am.
─Why is the voice of someone broadcasting so small?
“Uh… as I said before, I basically stay alone at home every day, so I’m not used to talking. So please understand a bit.”
─Why do you hate jobs like priest or paladin?
“I think there’s some misunderstanding—I don’t dislike regular priests or paladins. I only dislike heretics. Because I’m an Inquisition Officer.”
─Your concept is ridiculous.
“It’s not a concept… Lainel. What if some unknown woman approached you on the street and said, ‘I can feel good vibes from you’?”
─That would suck.
“Uh, um… you could say I feel something similar to that, I think.”
─This is driving me nuts, seriously, LOL.
“Well, what are your professions, then?”
─A bum in my room, LOL.
─A home security guard.
“Uh, no, um… like… in the New, New Dimension… Sorry….”
─Primary character is a Spear Master, secondary character is a Martial Artist.
─Only raising a Sorcerer.

That’s a relief.

None of the two new followers I gained today are heretics.

“So, I’ll just end today’s broadcast here. See you next time.”
─Take care.
─Will you PVP again next time?
─Do you plan to play any other games?
“Um… I think I’ll primarily focus on PVP for now? But if there’s something you want to see, just let me know. As for other games… well, I’m not sure yet, but I’m likely to focus on New Dimension….”
─Okay, good job, bye.
“Yeah, goodbye.”

[Rene]

[Inquisition Starts]

[New Dimension | 0 viewers online | 1:06:22]

After confirming the viewer count dropped to zero, I ended the broadcast.

…Was it somewhat successful?

It seemed I had secured two fixed viewers at least.

Well, if I keep going like this, two will become four, and four will become eight.

For now, I can endure it, so I shouldn’t get anxious.

With that resolution in mind, I turned off New Dimension and threw myself onto the bed.

“You wicked girl.”

Of course, I didn’t forget my pre-sleep ritual of cursing Iya.

Damn it.

If you’re a god, be a decent one.