A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 50

A month feels both short and long.

It’s already been a week since I declared a one-month break, but it’s hard to believe I still have three weeks left. Such conflicting thoughts cross my mind.

And the delivery of my VTuber illustration is supposed to be in about two weeks, right?

At first, I thought it would take a month, but it’s being completed faster than I expected.

So, even after receiving the illustration, I have a week left, so I might as well try various things in the meantime.

Honestly, I was surprised to discover that I needed separate equipment to be a VTuber, but fortunately, my phone and the Reverse Capsule provide all the necessary features.

Anyway, I have three weeks left.

Naturally, I won’t just be lounging around for those three weeks.

There are several things I need to accomplish.

“Are you here? I figured you’d show up eventually.”

When I didn’t respond, she chuckled and extended her hand to me.

“Give that to me quickly.”

In silence, I opened my inventory and handed over the ‘some dwarf’s Warhammer’ I obtained during this Albion Hunt.

Her name, characterized by her flame-red bob, is Shilon.

She’s one of the very few Player Smiths in New Dimension.

“Wow. It’s still amazing to see again. If a unique item like this is at this level, what about epics?”

Shilon exclaimed, licking her lips in admiration.

I thought the same thing when I first saw it.

And I’m sure most New Dimension players think similarly.

“So? Am I going to do this like last time?”

I nodded in agreement and handed over the materials I had gathered to Shilon.

“But how long has it been since you made this? Well, it’s good for me since I’m making money.”

Shilon pointed at the Warhammer I was holding, ‘Tyrant.’

…Did I really expect this to happen?

I’m not without regret, though.

I ended up discarding all the materials used for refining the Tyrant.

After breaking through the terrible odds of 25 consecutive failures, I finally succeeded on the last refinement…

But a new weapon emerged, and it had better base specs than the Tyrant, so I had no choice.

It’s only natural to raise specs in a game that is essentially an RPG like New Dimension.

[Inquisition Officer: Thank you again this time.]

“Sure. It should take about two hours, so come back when the time’s up.”

[Inquisition Officer: Thank you.]

“Oh, and by the way… Isn’t it okay to use voice chat now?”

Just as I was about to exit the blacksmith, Shilon’s unexpected words made me jump, and I turned to her in surprise.

“What’s with the shock? Eventually, everyone in New Dimension will know your voice, right? So there’s no need to stick to the inconvenience. Typing out messages must be super annoying.”

[Inquisition Officer: Did you watch my broadcast?]

“Is there anyone among the New Dimension players who hasn’t seen your stream, Rene?”

What am I supposed to say about this?

My face heats up significantly. To put it bluntly, I’m embarrassed.

Someone I’ve known since before I started streaming has watched my broadcast.

It feels like my private matters have been exposed.

Even though I haven’t done anything strange at all.

“Anyway, you don’t really need to type messages anymore, do you? You have a nice voice.”

[Inquisition Officer: I used a voice changer, you know.]

“Whatever you used, as long as it sounds good to the listener, that’s all that matters.”

[Inquisition Officer: Even if you say that, no one will comment in New Dimension.]

I really don’t want to open up possibilities for awkward situations.

“…Okay. If that’s easier for you, we can go with that.”

Fortunately, Shilon didn’t press the matter further and nodded in agreement.

★

What will I do for two hours?

I don’t necessarily need to keep New Dimension open, but since I’m already logged in, I don’t want to go through the hassle of logging out and back in.

I don’t have anything else to do either.

…Should I just take a stroll around the area then?

It’s not really healthy to feel the compulsive need to do something all the time.

In that other world, when I had nothing to do… well, I just stayed cooped up in my room.

Oh?

Suddenly, a wave of sadness washes over me…

…Whatever, I should just take a look around.

Thinking that, I moved my feet slowly.

Well, honestly, there wasn’t much to see.

I had already explored everything around here as soon as I got here anyway.

What am I even doing? That thought crossed my mind momentarily, but I quietly looked up at the sky and let out a soft sigh.

In the stillness of the night sky, a river of stars flowed calmly.

Now that I think about it, in that other world, I often looked up at the sky when going after heretics.

Dressed like an adventurer to avoid being recognized as an Inquisition Officer, I’d walk the streets like an ordinary adventurer, and when evening fell, I would frequently gaze up at the night sky.

Why was that?

Was it because I recalled the saying that a person who looks up at the sky three times a day is a happy one?

I think it was something like that, but maybe not.

Nevertheless, one thing is certain: even though I had numerous grievances in that other world, whenever I gazed up at the night sky like this, I could feel nothing but pure amazement.

Even though I’d seen it countless times, the star-studded night sky never ceased to captivate me… I genuinely loved it.

I don’t know why.

Why does loving something require a reason at all?

The refreshing breeze that announces the night.

The fact that I don’t have to care about anyone’s gaze.

The feeling of being completely alone in this world.

The vast night sky, as if saying my worries and concerns are nothing.

The twinkling appearances of the moon and stars that continue to shine on that dark canvas.

All of it was just nice.

Everything was nice.

Even after crossing over to Earth and starting New Dimension, I found myself looking up at the night sky without a reason.

“Hoo…”

I didn’t particularly care for life in that other world.

I hardly had anyone to share a normal conversation with.

That one goddess tormented me for her own preferences.

And the tasks assigned to me as an Inquisition Officer always carried the risk of death.

But sometimes, when I think back to that other world, I guess this is what people call nostalgia.

“I wonder how that person is doing…”

Suddenly, thoughts of that person came to mind.

While heading to interrogate a heretic as usual, I discovered that person bleeding to death in the bushes.

With all of their family dead, I brought them to the cult after treating them.

Fortunately, they recovered after a few days, but for some reason, their troublesome pranks began afterward.

Hiding my clothes, interrupting my meals, burrowing into my clothes during morning prayers…

Even now, thinking back, there were quite a few troublesome moments.

I wonder if that person is doing well now?

…Well, there’s no need to be concerned.

That person always preferred to stick to other priests rather than the one who saved them, so they’re probably doing just fine.

I’m sure that without me stopping them, they’re eating plenty and gaining a lot of weight.

I can’t believe I’m missing someone who used to torment me. I really am too nice…

“Tenryan!!!”

Swish!

With a sound slicing through the air, a staff struck the ground.

…What’s going on?

Luckily, I managed to dodge and create some distance from my opponent, but I froze for a moment, unable to comprehend the situation.

Using such tactics inside a village.

If I had failed to dodge and had died, it would have been a definite PK declaration.

Had this kind of thing happened before?

That incident led to ridiculous accusations of being a hacker.

It’s perplexing that such a thing is happening again, even though I’ve never done anything to provoke any grudges.

Shaking off those thoughts, I quietly stared at my opponent.

A man. Dressed in pure white male attire. A staff in his right hand adorned with a cross marked with a circle in the center.

That was the basic equipment given when one first chose the path of a heretic.

Is a heretic really seeking me out to atone for their sins…? I didn’t feel that way at all.

If that were the case, they wouldn’t be ambushing me from behind.

In other words, this is undoubtedly an evil scheme by a heretic.

So, what am I left to do?

As the Inquisition Officer, it’s my duty to guide them toward repentance.

“…Hoo.”

Perhaps I was feeling a bit unpleasant because I was reminiscing about the memories of the other world when I was unexpectedly attacked.

But I’m a professional Inquisition Officer.

I won’t let personal feelings infiltrate my Warhammer.

Well, while being inside a village is slightly concerning… luckily, Shilon’s blacksmith shop is located in a relatively secluded area, so there aren’t any other players or NPCs around.

So, as long as I quickly lead them toward repentance and make my escape, it should be fine.

“Ha…!”

Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward.

Firmly gripping the Tyrant, I lowered my stance and accelerated just a beat off.

Just because their outfit looks like that doesn’t mean I’ll let my guard down.

This could also be a trick to deceive me as a heretic.

In a single leap, I pulled back my left arm with all my strength.

If they don’t react, I’ll swing down directly.

Even if they do react, I’ll smash them without mercy.

That is the justice contained within Inquisition Officer Selene.

And the heretic… reacted.

I thought for just a moment that they were attempting to trick me by altering their appearance.

The heretic assumed a stance that I had never imagined before.

“Turn on the broadcast, Tenryan!!!”

They shouted this while spreading their arms wide without any resistance.

Bang!

With the sound of bones breaking, the heretic’s body flew far off to the right.

And they died.

It was truly instant death.

“This can’t be….”

A rush of panic coursed through my body.

I wanted to scream that this couldn’t be true.

I wanted to deny this absurd situation.

That confident stance and the shout to turn on the broadcast.

It pointed to only one fact.

The one I just killed is… a Rebongi.

“This can’t be….”

I just…

With this Warhammer, I killed a Rebongi.

Slowly, the feeling consuming me was… despair.

The emergence of heretics among Rebongi.

This is… something that cannot be taken lightly.