A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 61

“Thank you… And I’ll be waiting.”

With those final words, Ga-eun closed New Dimension, stepped out of the Reverse Capsule, and stared at the ceiling.

“Ugh…”

BAM!

She swung her fist with all her might toward the wall.

“Hah…”

In the end, she had won, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of having lost.

It just wouldn’t go away.

And because of that, she felt frustrated.

After quitting her kickboxing career, this was an emotion she had never experienced as a New Dimension pro gamer.

Of course, Ga-eun was sitting at the peak now, but that certainly didn’t mean she was invincible.

She was also a gamer who knew the bitter taste of defeat.

However, the feelings she experienced from past losses were clearly different from what she felt just now in the fight against Rene.

An overwhelming wall she had never felt before.

Certainly, this time the system of the time limit helped her win, but if there had been no time limit, she definitely would have lost.

Her intuition whispered that if it had gone to the next set, she wouldn’t have even managed a proper attack.

And she couldn’t deny that intuition.

“What the heck…?”

It was clear that Ga-eun had been winning overwhelmingly.

[Oh, I see.]

But the moment Rene said that, the situation changed drastically.

No matter how many skills and psychological tactics Ga-eun used, they didn’t affect Rene at all.

If Ga-eun moved one beat faster, Rene would attack two beats faster.

Conversely, when she tried to exploit a gap by moving half a beat slower, Rene used that slow beat against her.

As a result,

What Ga-eun did was not attack but rather struggle to survive.

She could do nothing but block Rene’s attacks.

And even that defense was barely keeping up.

Even though the Warhammer, a weapon with the most gaps during an attack, was in her hands, she couldn’t get ahead. She couldn’t find even the smallest openings.

“…I understand why Jaehun-hyung desperately asked.”

There are three playstyles for the top laner in AOS mode.

The first is to play through the lane tussle smoothly and then shine in a large team fight.

The second is to incur some losses in the lane but support allies to ensure the team as a whole gains an advantage.

And the last is to decisively win the lane, forcibly draw the enemy’s movements toward herself, and make it comfortable for her allies.

Rene was undoubtedly the third type.

The third type returns more than the first and second combined if it succeeds.

But if it fails, the losses are significant, making it a type of play that professionals generally avoid.

“…What’s the problem? Seems impossible to stop.”

Even if she did block, it meant forcing the opposing team to invest resources.

Just that fact would bring her a tremendous benefit at the pro level.

“…What a pity.”

Though she hadn’t experienced it firsthand, an image had already formed in Ga-eun’s mind.

The enemy jungler and mid had to move to the top inevitably.

Because of that, the jungler and mid would incur losses.

The resulting snowball would destroy the enemy’s Nexus.

But that was ultimately just imagination.

Remembering Rene’s words, having no intention of becoming a pro gamer, left her with a sense of regret.

“…Well, there’s still plenty of time.”

She had already added her in Miscode and New Dimension, so creating a conversation was possible.

Even if that situation didn’t arise, with her skill level, she would definitely rise to Ex rank anyway.

Then, against her opponent’s will, they would have no choice but to meet.

“…At least I hope she becomes a streamer on our team.”

If Rene were to join a rival team… just imagining it was horrifying, and Ga-eun gave a wry smile.

If they met in PVP, they could have a chat then.

If she hated being a pro gamer, how about being a team-affiliated streamer?

Well, she didn’t plan to lose then anyway.

“I’m still far from it…”

Thinking that, Ga-eun moved to prepare for her schedule.

[PVP ranked matches… I probably won’t do it in the future….]

Unaware of what Rene was currently thinking.

★

[Rene]

[Long time no see]

[New Dimension | 763 viewers online | 01:46:31]

After calming down the suddenly agitated Rebongi, the viewer count had dropped by over 500.

The reason? Well, there’s only one culprit.

It was clear how influential that one person was in New Dimension.

One single person’s effect could make 500 come in and 500 leave.

Of course, many Rebongi remained, but it was unavoidable to feel somewhat disappointed.

“So then, everyone… what shall we do now?”

─This girl is obviously asking a common question.

─We should do PVP ranked!

─Let’s go for S rank~

─Get up there quickly for a rematch, let’s go!

The Rebongi demanded PVP as if it were a given.

Even those who said they wanted to see Albion when they first turned on New Dimension were now shouting for PVP.

However… I could only refuse their request.

“I’m… going to avoid PVP.”

─?

─What are you saying?

─(Her mindset is completely different from ours, huh)

─I just think it might be tiring to play in the same match right after.

─It was with no one else but Ga-eun, so it’s not unreasonable to take a break, you guys!

My statement split the chat reactions.

When else would they play PVP if not now?

Certainly, if they had just played in the same match, it wouldn’t be odd to take a break.

“No, umm, well…”

But my thoughts didn’t fit either side.

“PVP ranked matches… I probably won’t do them in the future….”

─Oh, you crazy girl.

─Are you out of your mind?

─You said you’d climb to S rank, didn’t you?

─How can you not understand this girl’s mindset?

─Most of the people here can’t understand it either, lol.

─No way, Rene, seriously!!!

“No… everyone. Think about it…. If you rank up, it means we’ll encounter pro gamers like Ga-eun more often, right…?”

─That’s true.

─Is it a certainty you’ll reach Ex rank?

“Honestly, don’t you think it’ll be quick for you to climb?”

─That’s a given, lol.

─I want to refute you, but thinking back to that earlier scene, I can’t find any counterarguments, and I feel resentful.

“Anyway, the higher the rank goes, the more you’ll face pro gamers, and I don’t want to play such a tiring game every match….”

─Then what’s your plan?

─Show us you can reach S rank! Show us you can reach S rank! Show us you can reach S rank!

─There’s probably quite a gap between you and other pro gamers like Ga-eun.

“Even if you say that… how about we play AOS mode instead?”

─Isn’t that just regular people?

─Regardless, you’ll face pros when you rank up anyway!

─Then at that time, you’ll say, ‘I’m tired of this game; I’ll avoid AOS mode’ as well, lol.

“Hmm…”

Why is my trust level so low?

I’m putting in so much effort into this broadcast.

“Anyway, I probably won’t do PVP ranked matches in the future….”

─This girl has a talent for irritating people, huh?

─So what will we do now?

─Shall we do Albion Hunt?

“Ummm… I don’t feel like doing Albion Hunt right now since I’m tired….”

To be honest, I didn’t even have the confidence that I could beat it if I tried again.

Was I seriously going to suggest a raid that might take hours to clear from here?

Definitely out of the question.

So it seems… there’s only one option left?

“Everyone, I think I’ll end it here for today….”

─?

─Ten rounds?

─If you leave now, you’ll regret it, seriously.

“No, isn’t two hours already quite enough?”

─Is that something you can say after taking three weeks off?

─I told you, if you leave now, you’ll regret it unconditionally!

─If you act cute, we might let you go~

─Hey, hey, hey…

“Ummm… ca-can you please send me off…? He-hehe…”

To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure how to act cute, but I tried my best to say it as adorably as possible.

─Every time I see you doing that, it feels so trivial, lol.

─I know she’s a total brat, but she’s kinda cute.

─Don’t be fooled, don’t be fooled, don’t be fooled, don’t be fooled, don’t be fooled, don’t be fooled.

─I keep saying you’ll regret it if you turn off the broadcast.

─Thinking about it, two hours might’ve been enough, lol.

─Honestly, it’s strange not to be tired after taking a severe beating from Ga-eun.

I don’t know why, but the reactions were positive.

Don’t you dare think about trying to gloss over with things like this or say they’ll regret it if I turn off the stream!

There were a few opposing voices, but they were ultimately in the minority.

Thus, thankfully, I could wrap up my long-awaited comeback broadcast in a warm atmosphere.

★

【Rene Galleryⓜ】

【Title: Honestly, where the gallery master shined at the end. I’ll acknowledge that.】 (6)

【Title: Was Ga-eun showing kindness at the end, or did the gallery master do well?】 (7)

【Title: It’s certain that Warhammer is freaking cool in those situations, lol.】 (3)

【Title: Are you guys gay? Why are you watching this broadcast?】 (1)
…
【Title: Here we go again with the BS. Seriously.】 (8)

【Title: I’m really getting mad, Rene.】 (4)

【Title: You said you’d climb to S rank, didn’t you?】 (2)

【Title: Why aren’t you doing ranked matches with that skill? You crazy girl.】 (8)
…
【Title: Why is she so cute?】 (7)

【Title: That awkwardness with the cuteness…】 (5)

【Title: It’s surprising that she’s a girl.】 (6)
…
【Title: Just do a bit more, Shiren.】 (6)

【Title: The gallery master has gone…】 (3)

【Title: Today’s broadcast was pretty good (ㅎ).】 (11)
…
【Title: The gallery master really seems like a girl (I have evidence).】 (49)