A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 59

[Rene]

[Long time no see]

[New Dimension | 723 viewers online | 01:06:20]

[Contents are in 5 rounds, 3 lines. No weapon changing in between. The field is random. How’s that?]

“I’m okay. Ga-eun, feel free to set it up….”

After simply responding to that, I casually glanced at the broadcast status.

Currently, 723 viewers. 724. 728. 730. 735. 749….

The live viewer count was constantly increasing.

Of course, if it’s a good thing, it’s a good thing… but honestly, the feeling of burden was stronger.

─Why only you, why only you, why only you, why only you, why only you, why only you, why only you

─So arrogant for what you are! So arrogant for what you are! So arrogant for what you are! So arrogant for what you are!

─This dude finally feels the wall, hahaha!

─If you want to see some real teaching and crying, give it a big up, haha!

─Oppa, who is this woman? Oppa, who is this woman? Oppa, who is this woman?

Strange people had also come in droves….

“Everyone, I’ll set some chat restrictions for now….”

─Ugh, these troublemakers

─Do you have confidence you can win?

─Isn’t it a win if you even take one game?

─No matter what, your opponent is Ga-eun, you know…

After saying that and setting the chat restrictions, thankfully, the strange chats were…

─So arrogant for what you are! So arrogant for what you are! So arrogant for what you are! So arrogant for what you are!

Huh?

“Lainel?”

─Ah, sorry, lol

─Hahaha!

─Just let me see it once!

“…I’ll forgive you just this once. I won’t let it slide next time.”

Since he was an early supporter who watched since my second broadcast, I let him go. If he were a Rebongi who came after Albion’s influx, I would have temporarily banned him.

─Thanks, thanks

“…Hmph.”

─Hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph, hmph

─Heh, ugh…

─Stop that sniffling, you sniffling brat, stop that sniffling, you sniffling brat!

─Rene, just marry me, okay? I’ll be the groom, okay?

─Genius female!

─You fools, get a grip!

─Is this guy seriously targeting her?

─Vroom vroom vroom vroom vroom vroom vroom

─There are so many beastly idiots, really hahaha!

─I’m not even jealous, not even jealous, not even jealous, not even jealous, not even jealous, not even jealous!

─Damn, I really can’t stand it

[I’ve created a room under my nickname. I’ll send the password via Miscode chat.]

[Ga-eun]

[Nickname: Ga-eun | Class: Martial Artist | Level: 70 | PVP Level: 50 | Ex-Rank]

“Yes….”

With that incomprehensible chat behind me, I entered the PVP room he had set up.

─Can’t you let us spectate?

─I want to see it live from New Dimension

─I want to see this trash getting schooled directly, okay?

“Um… Ga-eun?”

[Yes?]

“Umm, our viewers are asking if they can watch it live from New Dimension….”

[Ah… I’m okay. Is Rene okay?]

“Well, I think it’ll be okay.”

A little. I felt like it would be a slight burden, but I figured it wouldn’t have a huge impact.

[Then… Hmm. Let’s wait about 3 minutes, and let’s limit the maximum number of spectators to 50. I’ll unlock the password now.]

“Yes….”

As soon as that conversation ended, there was no need to wait for 3 minutes; the spectator slots filled up in an instant.

Is it because he’s a world tournament winner or something?

His popularity is insane.

[Then let’s begin.]

Nodding to his response, the field was randomly determined.

…Should I call this bad luck?

The randomly chosen field was one of the Martial Artist’s favorite spots: the Arena of Judgement.

When it started, the distance between us was quite a bit, but the ground itself was very narrow, making it easy for Martial Artists to close in.

I didn’t particularly hate this field, but if I had to pick, I’d favor the other side.

Of course, among Martial Artists, there are those who sometimes use weapons like swords or spears, but the opponent in front of me was, naturally, using only knuckles.

He said he was a kickboxer, so I guess he’s going with what he’s familiar with.

[Are You Ready?]

Whoooosh.

Thus, the sound of the Great Bell Tower heralded the start of the PVP.

[Fight!]

With that phrase, he lunged forward.

★

The characteristics of a weapon like the Warhammer are simple.

It has an ambiguous attack range that’s longer than a sword but shorter than a spear.

Except for a handful of specific weapons, it’s so slow that you can’t really say you can win with it.

However, the overwhelming singular blow that comes with it is incredible.

That fact became a certain romantic notion for many players, but… it’s ultimately just a fantasy.

Against weapons like spears that can attack from further away, it gets hit unilaterally.

So can it win against weapons like swords?

No.

When you get up close, it presents the same problem as a spear, where countering becomes difficult, and it’s too slow to stop an opponent from getting in.

If it can hit, it’s strong, but the weapon itself can’t hit.

That’s the true nature of the Warhammer.

“Ugh!”

In an attempt to exploit that weakness, as the sound of the Great Bell Tower rang out, Ga-eun leaped toward Rene.

At that moment, blue light encircled Rene’s pitch-black full body armor.

It was proof that Rene had used the Acceleration skill.

Normally, it doesn’t have any effect other than to increase speed, so apart from a few players, it’s not a preferred skill.

However, combined with the Warhammer and Rene’s skills, it demonstrates an incredible power, which Ga-eun was well aware of.

‘If I give him distance, I’ll be the one in trouble. He knows that too. Then I should step back, right? I need to keep the distance to attack unilaterally….’

You can close in to the point where you can’t retreat anymore.

No matter how much you use Acceleration, you’re slower than me, who’s equipped with knuckles in light armor.

With that in mind, Ga-eun thought she could press the attack using the difference in speed.

It wouldn’t take long for her to realize that was a miscalculation.

“…Huh?”

Contrary to her expectations of him closing the distance, Rene charged forward towards Ga-eun instead.

In that moment, Ga-eun’s reaction was delayed due to confusion, and Rene wasn’t an opponent who would let that gap slide.

Boom!

A perfectly timed strike landed with precision.

As a result, an overwhelming vibration slammed into Ga-eun, making her whole body numb.

“Crazy….”

Ga-eun flew back from that blow, unintentionally cursing under her breath.

Rene’s action was far beyond what she had anticipated.

‘Did he charge in knowing what I was aiming for?’

If Ga-eun had avoided that attack or countered it successfully,

Rene would never have been able to shake Ga-eun off again.

No matter how much Acceleration is used, that’s the fate of a weapon like the Warhammer.

As she crashed against the edge of the field and fell to the ground, Ga-eun quickly sprang back up to check her status.

Even though she managed to guard at the last moment, her HP had nearly dropped to 10 percent.

A damage amount that could only be described as unreasonable.

But knowing it was the existence of the Warhammer itself that causes such damage, Ga-eun did not utter a word and prepared her stance again.

Meanwhile, Rene stood still in the same place where he had just struck.

‘If I charged in again right away, this time it would be my turn….’

That was an unexpected strike, and there was no way she could avoid it.

However, if she was aware that her opponent could fight like this, Ga-eun was confident that she would not fall for it.

But anyway, now that a distance had opened back up between her and Rene.

‘What should I do….’

With the determination not to let her guard down, Ga-eun thought about her next move as she stepped forward.

And then.

[Ga-eun ●●○ | ○○○ Inquisition Officer]

After that, Rene failed to land a single proper attack, suffering consecutive defeats in two sets against Ga-eun.

The last third set was the same.

She managed to evade some of Ga-eun’s attacks, but without countering, it was a one-sided loss.

The flow was exactly the same as the previous two sets.

Ga-eun had 98 percent of her HP remaining.

Rene was down to 14 percent.

A staggering difference of over 5 times.

This was still just a result of luck.

Without that luck, Ga-eun’s HP would have been at 100 percent.

‘Was I… were we overly optimistic?’

Ga-eun thought.

Maybe she was blinded by the achievement of “Albion Hunt”.

‘Well, PVP and Raids are fundamentally different.’

In the end, her opponent was also A-rank, so it was performance she could show.

Thinking that way, a bitter feeling welled up in Ga-eun’s heart.

“Whoo….”

And wanting to feel less of that disappointment, Ga-eun decided to end this PVP as quickly as possible.

Whoosh!

Ga-eun narrowed the distance she had created and stretched out her fist.

This attack was a feint.

She was planning to use skills in quick succession and finish it the moment he tried to block or dodge her.

A combo she had shown to no one except Jaehun.

It was her final courtesy toward Rene.

And a proof of her apology for the misplaced expectations and disappointments.

And just before Ga-eun’s fist touched Rene’s shoulder.

[Ah, I understand.]

His voice quietly echoed in her ears.