A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 251

“I’m such a fool…!”

He mulled over his mistake with regret.

He had already sensed that the current state of the continent was strange.

“How could I allow intruders when I knew that…?”

Yet, the fact that this was the Pope Palace made him let down his guard. Even though he was aware of the unusual circumstances, he never imagined that someone would actually harm the Pope Palace.

When he thought about it, it wasn’t so strange after all.

Despite the Church’s increasing power on the continent and movements aimed at suppressing it centered around the Astraea Empire, who would really think to infiltrate the Pope Palace directly?

If someone expected that, it might even be suspicious that they were a spy sent by the Empire.

Considering the intruder had barely entered the Pope Palace, he could argue he was doing his job adequately.

Still, the stern mindset that he needed to prevent such an intrusion beforehand made the noble knight feel self-reproachful.

So, he vowed to make up for this mistake at all costs and began to chase down the intruder with his eleven companions.

“He’s fast…”

It seemed that the intruder had no intention of sneaking in quietly from the start, wearing a confusing full suit of armor, and despite that, he moved quickly.

The sight of him, wearing full armor and continuously fleeing for over thirty minutes, was enough for even an enemy to begrudgingly acknowledge his prowess.

But did he tire out from the endless chase?

The speed of the fleeing figure began to noticeably slow down until he eventually came to a complete stop.

“The intruder has given up! We need to capture him alive for interrogation!”

Observing the halted intruder, he acted swiftly and decisively.

Charging ahead with his great sword in hand, his comrades could breathe a sigh of relief.

Then the intruder pulled out a massive Warhammer.

“…What?”

The enormous weapon was so gigantic it made his great sword look insignificant, enough to slow down the movements of the knights chasing the intruder.

“Don’t hesitate! Think about why we’re chasing him!”

But the intruder did not stop.

On the contrary, he sped up even more, preparing to meet the challenge of the Warhammer.

“I’ll restrain him, so look for your chance!”

As he gave orders to his comrades, the miracle of the goddess Elun enveloped his body.

His consciousness reached beyond one second, surpassing even the briefest moments to close the gap.

However, the intruder remained poised, not moving at all.

“No. He’s not holding his position.”

He realized the intruder wasn’t reacting because he simply couldn’t keep up with that speed.

Reaching that conclusion, he made his decision.

“If that’s the case, I’ll push in for the kill!”

At such a size, a direct hit from that Warhammer meant certain doom, so it was imperative to create a situation where he couldn’t attack.

And the method to do that was frightfully simple.

Though the weapon had terrifying power, its focus was only on the tip of the head, meaning if he could get in close to prevent the swing, the intruder would be helpless.

“Ugh…!”

But there was one point he was mistaken about… No, it was something he couldn’t have even guessed.

Countless people had tried that strategy against the intruder in front of him… “Rene,” and the only one who had succeeded was the singular person known to be at the pinnacle of this world.

And shockingly, that person had also found themselves cornered in the end.

Of course, it couldn’t be claimed to be his fault.

Kaang!

“…Huh?”

“What is happening…?”

The moment that had surpassed even the briefest instant led him to face his great sword flying backwards.

And for some reason, he felt pain throughout his body, stumbling back… No, he was rolling over, falling hard.

Confused, he quickly replayed the moment in his mind.

First, he was the one who drew close.

The intruder had extended his legs and the Warhammer backward, waiting until just before his great sword was about to pierce the intruder’s chest.

And just at that moment when his sword aimed true at the chest, he inexplicably found himself rolling backwards, and the sword flew away.

The recently replayed scenario remained as incomprehensible as before.

“Wait a second…”

It was then he realized.

The intruder hadn’t been unreactive; they had merely waited until he got close enough.

“A full suit of armor and a Warhammer…?”

At that moment, it dawned on him that he was dealing with an opponent he could never hope to contend with.

“The heretic, equipped with gear that defeated six including the commander of the Haelon Knights in the Holy War…”

There was no way a mere twelve knights and priests could subdue that opponent.

“Everyone, charge!”

“Wait, stop…!”

Realizing the situation, he tried to stop his comrades, but his judgment came a moment too late.

With excruciating pain crashing down on him, he couldn’t even extend his hands, let alone raise his voice.

And the price of that hesitation led to an overwhelming defeat.

Boom!

The intruder’s explosively accelerated movement sent the next knight who attacked crashing into a wall.

Boom!

Seeing that, the intruder vaulted through the momentarily stunned knights and lunged straight for the priests in the rear, knocking four down to the ground.

In no time at all, half of their forces had become incapacitated, leaving six remaining.

In other words, there was no reason to watch or to have any hope for this battle.

In less than thirty seconds, all twelve had fallen.

The skill gap was palpable, to the point that it could only be described as awe-inspiring.

“Stop right there…”

Yet, despite knowing this, he felt the strength drain from his body as he tried to capture the intruder… the heretic one last time.

Then the heretic subtly turned their gaze in his direction.

Kkaang!

“Ugh…?!”

With a downward smash of the Warhammer aimed at his head, the heretic turned to make their exit.

“Stop, right there…!”

And just like that, he lost consciousness completely.

★

“Stop, right there…!”

He thought he had done everything perfectly, yet he heard the heretic’s desperate voice from behind him and oddly felt compelled to acknowledge that relentless determination.

Well, it would’ve been better if that determination were put to use somewhere good.

…Or maybe not?

Thinking it over, it seemed like all the heretics were tenacious in their own ways.

What the heck.

So he was just an average heretic after all.

He felt he had become too accustomed to life on Earth.

In the past, he would have just sighed at the trouble caused by the heretic and moved on.

Of course, that wasn’t a bad thing.

After all, unless Iah called me back from that world, I’d have to continue living on Earth.

By the way, why did Iah suddenly send me to Earth?

There hadn’t been any prior discussion about it.

Well, ultimately, it was something I was grateful for, but it still piqued my curiosity.

[System: You have completely shaken off the pursuit of the Church’s forces.]

[System: Log-out impossible state has been lifted.]

“Oh…”

After defeating all twelve heretics and clearing the area, the previously irritating log-out blockage was finally lifted.

So it had been the heretic group chasing me from behind all along.

Truly, a nuisance like one would expect from heretics.

But since I’m still in the heart of their territory, it would be a bit reckless to log out here. Better to exit completely.

If I log out here and get cornered when I reconnect, that would be a disaster.

“Phew…”

…By the way, I never expected those heretic NPCs to attack.

Honestly, I decided to fight on a whim, but I didn’t think it would escalate like this.

I thought I’d just be kicked out like last time when the screen shifted.

But this also meant that those self-proclaimed popes could be attacked, right?

Then I could genuinely make them repent.

It might be worth trying again later.

Well, that’s it for today’s New Dimension.

Honestly, I was relieved to think that.

Initially, I was contemplating challenging them before doing my homework… but if I had, I would have been too tired to concentrate on my assignments.

★

【New Dimension Gallery】


【Title: Rene <<< That girl caused trouble again, damn it, lol】

【Posted by: AtliaGoingToShit】



(Scene of Rene escaping the Pope Palace, .webp)

(Scene of the issuance of the Church's wanted poster, .webp)



I was about to enter the Pope Palace for a quest when suddenly, I saw a familiar sight in the gallery. lol



But no matter how I thought about it, there's no way Rene <<< that girl would be out here, right? So I went into the Pope Palace and found it to be a total mess.



Curious, I peeked around and saw twelve knights and priests sprawled out on the ground being treated, while a high-ranking archbishop NPC was screaming and making a ruckus. lol



After that, when they were issuing the wanted posters, I casually inquired about what was going on, and they said a heretic suspected of attempting to assassinate the pope had invaded.



No matter how you look at it, it screams "gallery poster" lmao.



(Rene's wanted poster, .webp)

This wanted poster will be spread all over the continent, so be warned. lol



Three-line summary:



1. Rene invaded the Pope Palace.

2. Twelve knights and priests got floored.

3. Wanted posters issued. lol



【Upvotes: 46 / Downvotes: 3】

HeadSmashedButPriest: What the hell happened? lol



└AtliaGoingToShit: I don’t know, but it sounds really fun. lol

GreatRene: Great RENE


ㅇㅇ1: Why can’t the Church’s occupations get it together? At this point, it’s those knuckleheads’ fault, right?

└ㅇㅇ1: I’ve seen those guys enjoying the spoils without doing any effort during the Tyrion raid, why can’t they wake up?

└ㅇㅇ1: Even when a pioneer like Rene steps up and shows them, how can they still not know?

NewDimensionGod: So why are they doing that without streaming? Damn it.

└ㅇㅇ1: Well that’s a good question. Damn it?

└HeadSmashedButPriest: It’s not that they’re not streaming because they’re banned; they literally can’t stream…

└NewDimensionGod: So when their ban gets lifted, they can just stream that, right?

└HeadSmashedButPriest: (That’s true, Kon)

└NewDimensionGod: (Thank you, Kon)

└ㅇㅇ2: Why the heck are you questioning whether they stream or not? Are you crazy?

└NewDimensionGod: Why are you overreacting, dude?

└ㅇㅇ2: Damn, I’m not even interested in the news about that streamer, so why do you keep bringing it up, you jerk?

└ㅇㅇ1: What’s wrong with asking about the gallery’s news…?

└NewDimensionGod: Seeing this truly makes me think she is a superstar. Damn it.

└NewDimensionGod: Whether you praise or criticize her, she drives everyone crazy. Damn bitch, lol