A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 38

[Rene]

[Viewer Participation Content]

[New Dimension | 17 viewers online | 0:35:11]

Today, our destination was Rivagar, the coldest and highest mountain even in Nibrload.

“Inquisition Officer, it’s really too cold! Are you sure about this?”

And suddenly, it was 7:30. A total of 13 people gathered at the location I mentioned.

So, since 17 people are watching my broadcast, that means everyone came except for 4.

For some reason, the Rebongi were complaining, but seeing them stay, it felt like they were just whining for no reason.

[Inquisition Officer: Shall we start moving soon?]

“Well, we did gather as you said, but… could you tell us what we’re going to do first?”

“It’s really too cold…”

─I can’t believe how many people gathered even after hearing the location lol

─Do you not know where Nibrload is???

─If you’re just a Rebongi comfortably enjoying the broadcast from your room, that’s totally lame lol

─For real, why did you summon us to Nibrload?

… Ah. Now that I think about it, I did say to gather, but I didn’t mention the destination.

[Inquisition Officer: Everyone is watching the broadcast, right?]

All 13 people gathered nodded at my question.

The voice chat in New Dimension… is off, huh? Thank goodness.

“… Ah, um. Then I’ll say it. Please don’t turn off the broadcast sound. W-we’re going to go to… over there…”

Speaking in front of so many people made my heart flutter unnecessarily, but I pointed toward Rivagar with my fingertip.

─Hahahahahahahahahaha

─Run away now, you guys lol

The chat window was filled with laughter, and the Rebongi around me all sighed.

Why is the reaction so bad?

They’d be shocked if they saw it in person.

“…Can I go back?”

“Ah, um… well, since you all came, it might be nice to go together…”

“I’m just too cold right now…”

From earlier, others were saying it, and now this person too.

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what was so cold that made them say that.

Sure, it’s definitely cold, but it’s not unbearable.

“…Is it really that cold here?”

─Why is this guy asking something obvious?

─It’s freaking cold, teacher!

─Is there even anyone who’s gone all the way up there?

─I believe a few from the Online YouTubers have gone up before.

─Less than 10 people lol

─So many people tried and gave up because it was too cold.

“…You guys lack tenacity. To be honest, it’s not that cold…”

I can guarantee the eastern snowy mountain where I fought dragons was at least twice as cold.

Plus, New Dimension has a sensory-blocking system, so I really don’t get what they’re complaining about.

─Is this girl for real?

─Even at max sensory blocking, it’s still freaking cold, for real!

─Nibrload somewhat ignores the sensory blocking feature anyway.

─Is that true?

─Yeah, the creators officially acknowledged it.

─Look at the way she’s flexing.

“It’s not flexing; it really isn’t cold…”

“Um, Rene?”

While I was talking and looking at the chat window, someone suddenly spoke from behind.

“Ah?!”

I flinched in surprise but remembered that everyone here was a Rebongi.

It’s alright. It’s fine.

They don’t know who I am. They can’t see my face, so they don’t know what I look like.

They came because they like my broadcast.

“Y-yes…?”

“U-uh, what level do you have the sensory-blocking system set to?”

Asking him with a slightly awkward smile.

“Ah, I didn’t turn it on at all…”

I answered honestly.

“Oh come on. Don’t joke with me.”

“You’re really being too boastful.”

─Lying has to be done just right to be fun, Rene lol

─If you’d just said it’s set to level 3, I would have believed you.

But for some reason, no one seemed to believe me, so I came up with a good idea and proposed to them.

“…Everyone, since there are 13 of us here excluding me, that means 4 who are just watching the broadcast didn’t come…”

“Probably right?”

“Then I’ll show you that I really turned off the sensory-blocking system, and if it’s true, how about the 4 who didn’t come join us? And those here won’t be allowed to leave…”

“…But if it’s still on?”

“I’ll buy chicken for everyone watching the broadcast right now.”

─For real?

─If that’s the case, I’m in for sure!

─Even at level 1, I’d let it slide, Tenren.

─I’m not going ㅇㅇ

With my proposal, except for ‘Lainel’ in the chat, the other 3 all agreed, and when I looked around, all 13 who were gathered were nodding.

Well, from the perspective of those who already gathered, accepting it wouldn’t be a loss.

Even the person who said earlier that they wanted to leave was caught up in the chicken and had mixed in with other Rebongi.

“Then, everyone except Lainel, please write your nicknames in the chat window in advance…”

With the preparation for the bet complete.

I pulled up the menu UI and placed my finger on the game settings tab.

“As you can see, you all know I haven’t manipulated anything at all, right?”

─Give up now, lol

─Right now, a chicken raffle would be excusable ㅇㅇ

─I want golden olives, Rene.

The Rebongi were already convinced of their victory.

I decided to teach them the truth.

So, pressing down on the game settings tab, the top option was, of course, the sensory-blocking system.

[Sensory Block]

[Level 0 (Off)]

And of course, the indicator stated Level 0 (Off).

Proof that it was turned off.

“…Huh?”

─???

─What the?!

The atmosphere turned awkward right away.

So from the start, they should have just believed me.

I don’t lie about things like this.

─These guys still don’t know what kind of person the host is, lol

Apparently, because Lainel was one of my first fixed viewers, they knew me perfectly.

Anyway, excluding the only survivor, Lainel, the adventuring party to Rivagar was completed with a total of 17 people, including me.

Well, it’s more like a short hiking trip, so saying it’s an adventuring party feels a bit excessive.

★

Upon learning that Rene’s viewer participation content location was Nibrload, he had no intention of participating there whatsoever.

There were two main reasons.

The first was that he knew how cold Nibrload was.

The second was that the character he primarily trained in New Dimension was a priest.

[Sensory Block]

[Level 0 (Off)]

But as a result of being tempted by chicken.

He found himself forcefully participating in the journey to Nibrload, which he absolutely did not want to.

“Really, what should I do…”

He did have other characters though.

But the fact that their specs were too weak became a matter of unnecessary pride for him.

Of course, no one, including Rene, would care, but a man’s pride tends to manifest in utterly useless ways when no one is paying attention.

“I don’t know, damn it.”

In the end, he decided to go as his main character, the priest.

It was the result of pride winning over rationality.

“Sure. It’s not like I agreed to go, and now I’m being dragged there, so why should I complain?”

Having rationalized it, he logged into New Dimension as the priest and immediately headed to Nibrload.

He had already erased from memory the fact that he was the first one tempted by chicken.

[…Huh? You’re an Inquisition Officer?]

And right after arriving at Nibrload.

He saw the swinging warhammer accompanied by Rene’s voice, which sounded like she was slightly laughing in the broadcast.

Kkang!

[Death]

It didn’t take long before his head was smashed.

[Oh, since you’re an Inquisition Officer, I’ll ban you for 3 minutes….]

And then came the final confirmation from Rene.

★

Who would have thought the last arriving viewer was an Inquisition Officer?

What a pitiful situation.

Well, at least since he had his head smashed, I could only hope he would repent on his own.

“Hmm…”

So that means excluding the Inquisition Officer, there are a total of 16 people, including me?

To prepare for any unknown situations, I invited all 15 people to the party first.

Fortunately, there were no Inquisition Officers trying to deceive me by changing outfits.

“I’m thinking of setting off soon, but first, I’ll hand this out…”

What I gave them was the consumable item ‘Scadi’s Tear.’

Due to the cold winds in Nibrload, there were times when they could get the status effect ‘Frostbite,’ and this Scadi’s Tear cures frostbite and grants frostbite immunity for 30 minutes.

Honestly, it’s a bit hard to believe that one can get frostbite when it’s not that cold. But since it’s part of the game system, it can’t be helped.

“Now, before we really set off, if there are any last questions, please go ahead….”

The one who raised their hand at my words was the magic swordsman Rebongi standing to the left.

“Ah, yes. ‘Arang’?”

“…Are you really not cold? Or does your full body armor have some kind of cold immunity effect?”

At that question, the other Rebongi also looked at me with suspicious eyes.

Did they really live their lives being fooled this much?

I really don’t get why they think I’m not cold when I say it’s not that cold.

…Ah.

“Then, how about all of you try turning off sensory-blocking like me? I’m not lying; it really isn’t that cold…”

“I’m sorry…”

─Hahahahahaha, this guy is really insane!

Wait, why…