A Basement-Dwelling Loser, the Inquisitor – Chapter 9

Kwaang!

As my longtime friend Warhammer slammed onto the floor, a tremendous crash echoed.

And what I felt at my fingertips was a heavy yet thrilling sensation.

Indeed, fighting in New Dimension is fun.

You can decide so much depending on your movements and even make a comeback using skills.

Of course, that applies to the opponent as well, so when fighting heretics, it truly felt like I’d returned to that world.

Especially since the heretic I was facing now was strong.

…Does that even matter?

But just as that thought crossed my mind, all the strength seemed to drain out of my body in an instant.

It became bothersome even to move.

Then a system message appeared in my view.

[Head-Broken Priest has requested a 1-on-1 conversation.]

…What’s this?

A sudden question popped into my mind.

Is she trying to confess to me?

But the last time that newbie heretic requested a 1-on-1 conversation, I ended up with a disappointment after getting my hopes up.

This heretic has gotten her head smashed even more than that newbie…

Wait. Don’t doubt it.

The moment you doubt, even if someone wants to repent, I wouldn’t be able to help.

With that thought, I accepted the conversation, and it seemed like she had been waiting because her message popped up instantly.

[Head-Broken Priest: What’s up? Not gonna kill me?]

…She always gets mad for killing her, but now she’s asking why I’m not killing her.

What kind of person is this?

Is she a masochist?

[Head-Broken Priest: If you’re going to kill me, do it quickly. I want to respawn and do something else.]

[Head-Broken Priest: If you’re not going to kill me, get out of the way.]

[Inquisition Officer: Okay.]

After replying to her words, I ended the 1-on-1 conversation and stepped aside from her.

[Head-Broken Priest has requested a 1-on-1 conversation.]

Oh, what now? Why can’t she let me go? I’m feeling distressed, just leave me alone, please…

★

While sticking bear eyes, I contemplated a lot of things.

Why am I like this?

I’ve never had to worry about money in that world.

Of course, Earth has a lot more to enjoy simply, but it’s obviously a major concern that I can’t satisfy my fundamental human desire for food as I wish.

To be frank, whether on Earth or there, I’ve always been alone, cooped up in my room…

If that’s the case, isn’t it better to be in that world where I don’t have to worry about eating and sleeping?

Honestly, since I returned to Earth, these worries have never ceased.

No matter how much money I have in my bank account, it wasn’t nearly enough to last a lifetime.

So naturally, my bank balance decreases, and eventually, it reaches 0.

In other words, before that happens, I have to find a job to survive.

But as a shut-in hikikomori…

How could I, meeting someone’s gaze, see blood flowing from their head?

Thanks to that, I can’t even have a simple conversation, how can I possibly make money?

I don’t think my activities as an Inquisition Officer have been wrong, but this is frustrating.

…However, no matter what circumstances I have, that doesn’t give me a free pass, and in the end, all that remains is the conclusion that ‘I have no money.’

I’d definitely known this since the moment I returned to Earth.

I just averted my gaze, thinking my future self would figure it out somehow.

That’s why I might have become more obsessed with heretics after starting New Dimension.

It was all I could do, and over there, it was enough…

But ultimately, my remaining bank balance was 83,150 won. Including the money I earned from sticking bear eyes, it was 163,150 won.

Broke as hell.

…Wait. On second thought, that makes me mad.

Having come this far and still remembering my essence as an Inquisition Officer, shouldn’t you, Iya, at least let me win the lottery?

You’re the one who sent me to Earth in the first place, right?

So, considering how hard I’ve worked, you should give me enough money to live off for life, not just enough to get by for 18 months!

This damn—

Um. No matter how I look at it, this is too much. I need to hold it together, damn girl.

Anyway, right now, I’m very distressed.

After working hard to make the heretics repent, what I got in return was a ridiculous accusation of being a nuclear user and an empty bank account. And a bear-eye-sticking job.

What have I been doing all this time? I keep having those kinds of thoughts.

So, I was just going to let this one go.

[Head-Broken Priest has requested a 1-on-1 conversation.]

Why doesn’t this person just want to leave me alone…?

“Huu.”

Still, it might be an important topic…

[Head-Broken Priest: What’s up?]

[Inquisition Officer: Why are you like this?]

[Head-Broken Priest: Why aren’t you killing me?]

[Inquisition Officer: Does it look like I run around killing anyone for no reason?]

[Head-Broken Priest: That’s exactly how it looks, damn it!]

[Inquisition Officer: Have you ever thought that you’re the heretic, and I’m trying to make you repent?]

[Head-Broken Priest: Seriously, you’re insane.]

Ehh.

To not blame his own incompetence and ignorance and instead shift it onto others.

And I even went so far as to show goodwill today.

Usually, it’s normal to ponder over the reasons why.

[Head-Broken Priest: So why aren’t you killing me today?]

[Head-Broken Priest: You’ve never spared me before.]

[Inquisition Officer: Does it seem like I kill anyone for no reason?]

[Head-Broken Priest: No, that’s how it seems, damn it!]

He really doesn’t get it at all.

He should be able to objectify himself like I do.

[Inquisition Officer: Right now, I’m feeling a bit distressed.]

[Inquisition Officer: I’m just taking some time to reflect.]

[Inquisition Officer: Just hurry and go away.]

[Head-Broken Priest: Usually, you just break other people’s pots without saying a word, what’s up with that?]

[Head-Broken Priest: So what’s bothering you?]

Why is he asking so persistently?

Can’t he just let it go, thinking everyone has those days?

We’re not friends or anything.

[Inquisition Officer: What’s so curious? Sometimes people just have days when they feel down.]

[Head-Broken Priest: They say if a person suddenly changes, they’re going to die.]

[Inquisition Officer: Well, people are going to die someday anyway.]

[Head-Broken Priest: Argh, this crazy guy.]

★

[Head-Broken Priest: Argh, this crazy guy.]

A 23-year-old male using the nickname ‘Head-Broken Priest’ in New Dimension, Seong Jin-ho.

He bought a Reverse Capsule immediately after being discharged last June.

The reason he, who was never particularly interested in virtual reality games, spent a huge sum to buy one was simple.

New Dimension.

To Jin-ho, who thought games could suffice on a computer, New Dimension was a fresh shock.

It nearly wiped out most of the money he saved while serving in the military, and he never once regretted that investment.

Of course, he got mad every time his head was smashed by that ‘Inquisition Officer,’ but he also thought of it as a kind of memory that could be experienced in a virtual reality game.

Moreover, he could distinctly feel his skills improving every time he forced a 1-on-1 match with that ‘Inquisition Officer,’ so he even felt a hint of gratitude separate from his anger.

However, today for some reason, his state seemed off.

Of course, he was still powerful, but every time they met, this priest who would smash heads kept telling heretics to repent.

[Inquisition Officer: Right now, I’m feeling a bit distressed.]

[Inquisition Officer: I’m just taking some time to reflect.]

[Inquisition Officer: Just hurry and go away.]

I can’t believe he’d say that.

Honestly, for Jin-ho, what had happened was probably a good thing.

They weren’t added as friends, had never had a proper conversation, and could even be considered a bad connection if anything.

But still, they had been tied together for over a year.

Had he just said ‘whatever,’ I could have let it slide saying, ‘That’s just how the crazy guy is’, but now that he openly said he was distressed, I couldn’t help but be concerned.

[Head-Broken Priest: Is there something bothering you?]

Of course, even if he had a real problem, it would be difficult for Jin-ho to help, but humans are creatures who feel lighter just by confiding their troubles to someone.

Having learned that from experiences in the military, Jin-ho felt it necessary to ask persistently, almost stubbornly.

However, forcing someone to reveal what they don’t want to share is also poor manners.

Knowing that, Jin-ho thought this time he’d let it go if he didn’t say anything.

[Inquisition Officer: Are you really that curious?]

And that last part, he caught it.

[Head-Broken Priest: Yep.]

[Head-Broken Priest: If you were in my situation, you would be just as curious.]

[Inquisition Officer: Is that so?]

[Inquisition Officer: Well, I’m just stressed about money.]

[Inquisition Officer: I need money right away, but I can’t find a part-time job.]

[Inquisition Officer: I’m also wondering why I’m even doing this.]

‘No part-time job when you need money urgently, huh?’

When he received an unexpectedly normal answer, Jin-ho was shocked but also recalled some advice.

Actually, there was no need to recall it.

Internet broadcasting.

To be honest, this was probably the best thing for him right now.

[Head-Broken Priest: At your level, can’t you just make money playing games?]

[Inquisition Officer: Huh?]

[Inquisition Officer: Oh.]

And suddenly, he seemed to realize what Jin-ho meant.

[Inquisition Officer: They say people suspect I’m a nuclear user, isn’t it going to be hard?]

[Head-Broken Priest: ?]

[Head-Broken Priest: Didn’t they already settle that you’re not a nuclear user? So, it shouldn’t matter, right?]

[Inquisition Officer: Oh, really?]

[Head-Broken Priest: Yup, it was posted two days ago.]

[Inquisition Officer: Ah-ha.]

[Inquisition Officer: I’ve been really busy lately, so I didn’t know.]

Before this ‘Inquisition Officer’ was suspected of being a nuclear user, he had been watched by New Dimension players for quite some time.

Every time someone saw a clergy-related profession, they would remember the unique concept of him smashing heads and the skill that could make the best players in awe.

If you’ve played New Dimension even a little while, especially as a priest user, you’ll definitely hear his name at least once.

Now with the recent nuclear controversy, the attention directed at him was at its highest level.

Of course, the game company announced that he was not a nuclear user, which eased some heat, but that didn’t mean the interest had completely disappeared.

In such a situation, for the person in question to start broadcasting?

It was impossible to be sure of success, but at least it could serve as pocket money until he found a part-time job.

Plus, it might even allow him to shake off the lingering suspicion.

[Inquisition Officer: Thank you.]

Noticing that much, he expressed his gratitude to Jin-ho.

[Inquisition Officer: Then, you should repent.]

[1-on-1 conversation with Inquisition Officer has ended.]

Kwaang!

[Death]

Jin-ho’s vision turned pitch black.

“Damn?”

★

As the dilemma was resolved, my mind became clear.

And thanks to that, I realized that what I had been doing all this time wasn’t wrong.

Surely good things come to those who work hard.

…That said, I had never thought of that method.

Making money through gaming.

I pondered while praying in front of the heretic’s corpse.

It’s true that New Dimension is quite popular among gamers, so there must be a high demand.

Plus, I’m capable of doing all the end content. I should be able to earn quite a bit of money.

What do they call that again?

I feel like I’ve seen it in a community somewhere.

Exchanging in-game currency for real money… Ah, they called it ‘rice farming.’

Well, the term sounds awful, and I know it’s not looked upon favorably in the community, but what can I do?

Survival comes first, after all.

Alright.

From today on, I’m a rice farmer!