Chapter 9: If anyone sees, I know I’m the one who just kills anyone for no reason.

Boom!

When my old friend, the Warhammer, struck the ground, an immense roar reverberated throughout the air.

And the sensation felt at my fingertips was heavy and thrilling.

As expected, fighting in NewD is exciting.

You can decide so much with your movements, and with the right skill, you can even aim for a comeback.

Of course, the same goes for your opponent, which makes fighting heretics truly feel like you’re back in that other world.

Especially since the heretic I’m facing now is quite strong.

…But does that even matter?

The moment that thought crossed my mind, the strength drained from my body in an instant.

I became so tired that even moving felt like a chore.

Then a system message appeared in my view.

〔”Even if my head is broken” has requested a 1-on-1 chat with you.〕

…What?

For a moment, confusion.

Is this heretic about to confess their sins to me?

But last time, when that newbie heretic requested a 1-on-1 chat, I got my hopes up for no reason, only to be disappointed.

This heretic has had their head broken by me far more than that newbie…

No, I shouldn’t be suspicious.

If I doubt them, I won’t be able to help anyone who truly seeks repentance.

With that thought, I accepted the chat request, and as if waiting for it, the heretic’s messages flooded in instantly.

[Even if my head is broken: What are you doing? Why aren’t you killing me?]

…They always got mad at me for killing them, and now they’re mad because I didn’t kill them?

What kind of person is this?

Could they be a masochist?

[Even if my head is broken: If you’re going to kill me, do it quickly so I can respawn and do something else.]

[Even if my head is broken: If you’re not going to kill me, get out of the way.]

[Heretic Inquisitor: Okay.]

After replying, I closed the 1-on-1 chat and stepped aside from over them.

〔”Even if my head is broken” has requested a 1-on-1 chat with you.〕

Ugh, what now? Why are they throwing a fit even after I let them go?

I’m already in a bad mood, just leave me alone, please…

While attaching googly eyes onto a teddy bear, various thoughts swirled in my mind.

Why am I even doing this?

In the other world, I never had to worry about money.

Sure, Earth has far more simple pleasures, but the inability to satisfy the basic human need of eating whenever I wanted…

Of course, it was a huge problem.

To be blunt, in both Earth and that other world, I was always alone, just holed up in my room…

If that’s the case, wouldn’t the other world, where I didn’t have to worry about food and sleep, be better?

Honestly, ever since I returned to Earth, this worry had never left me.

Even though I had quite a bit of money in my bank account, it wasn’t enough to live on for the rest of my life.

So, naturally, the balance in my account would gradually decrease, eventually reaching zero.

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

But as a shut-in recluse…

As someone who, when making eye contact with another person, immediately sees blood streaming from their head…

Thanks to that, I can’t even have a simple conversation.

How in the world can I make money?

I don’t think my activities as a Heretic Inquisitor were wrong, but this situation was frustrating.

…No matter what my circumstances were, it wasn’t an excuse, and in the end, the only outcome that remained was “I have no money.”

From the moment I returned to Earth, I knew.

I just chose to ignore it, thinking that my future self would somehow handle it.

Maybe that’s why, after starting NewD , I became more obsessed with heresy than before.

It was the only thing I could do, and over there, that alone would have been enough…

But in the end, the remaining balance in my account is 83,150 won.

If I add the money I got from my part-time job attaching eyes to teddy bears, it’s 163,150 won.

I was broke.

… No, now that I think about it, I’m angry.

Even after coming all the way here, if I haven’t forgotten my essence as an Inquisitor and have been working hard,

shouldn’t you,, at least let me win the lottery?

You’re the one who sent me to Earth in the first place.

Then, considering how hard I’ve worked, you should give me enough money to live without working for the rest of my life.

What’s with this living expense that’ll only last 18 months?

You damn…

Hmm. No matter what, that’s going too far. I should hold back a little. Damn it.

Anyway, I’m feeling very unsettled right now.

After all the hard work I did to convert heretics, the result is a ridiculous accusation of nuclear weapons and an empty bank account.

And a part-time job attaching eyes to teddy bears.

I keep wondering what all my efforts have been for.

That’s why I was specially going to let it slide this time.

〔Your head will break if you don’t respond to the priest’s request for a 1:1 chat.〕

Why does this person have no intention of just leaving when I try to let them go…?

*Sigh.*

Still, it could be something important…

[Your head will break priest: What’s up?]

[Inquisitor: Why do you ask?]

[Your head will break priest: Why didn’t you kill me?]

[Inquisitor: Someone might think I go around killing people without any reason.]

[Your head will break priest: But you do though, damn.]

[Inquisitor: Have you ever thought that maybe I’m trying to convert you because you’re a heretic?]

[Your head will break priest: You’re seriously insane.]

*Sigh.*

Blaming others instead of acknowledging your own incompetence and ignorance.

Even today, I showed mercy.

Wouldn’t it be normal to reflect on the reason for that?

[Your head will break priest: No, seriously, why didn’t you kill me today?]

This person really doesn’t get it.

They should learn to be more self-aware, like me.

[Inquisitor: I’m feeling a bit unsettled right now.]

[Inquisitor: I’m taking time for self-reflection.]

[Inquisitor: So please just leave quickly.]

[Your head will break priest: Usually, you just smash people’s heads without saying anything.]

[Your head will break priest: So, what’s got you feeling unsettled?]

Why does he keep asking, like he’s so curious? He could just let it go, thinking it’s one of those days. It’s not like we’re friends.

[Inquisitor: Why are you so curious? People just have rough days sometimes.]

[Priest: They say when people suddenly change, they die.]

[Inquisitor: People are going to die eventually anyway.]

[Priest: Ugh, this crazy guy, seriously…]

In NewD, a 23-year-old man named Sung Jin-ho uses the nickname “Priest Whose Head Is Always Smashed In.” He purchased a reverse capsule immediately after being discharged from the military last June. Jin-ho, who had never been particularly interested in virtual reality games, spent a large sum on the reverse capsule for one obvious reason: New Dimension.

For Jin-ho, who thought games on a computer were more than enough, NewD was an entirely new shock. It was such a big deal that he spent almost all his military savings, and he’s never once regretted that investment. Of course, it made him mad every time “Inquisitor” smashed his head in, but he saw it as a memorable experience that could only happen in a virtual reality game.

Also, Jin-ho could feel his skills improving every time he was forced into a 1-on-1 with the “Inquisitor,” so despite the anger, he even felt a slight sense of gratitude.

But today, something seemed off about him. Sure, he was still strong, but the guy who had always bashed the head of every priest he met in NewD, calling them heretics and demanding repentance…

[Inquisitor: I’m a little troubled right now.]

[Inquisitor: I’m taking some time for self-reflection.]

[Inquisitor: Just move along, please.]

To hear him say that. Of course, Jin-ho didn’t really care. They weren’t on each other’s friends list, they had never had a proper conversation, and if you had to label their relationship, it would be more like a bad one.

But after all, it was an entanglement that had lasted over a year. If he had just said “whatever,” Jin-ho would’ve brushed it off as “Yeah, this guy’s always been crazy,” but hearing him openly admit that he was troubled made it impossible not to think about it.

[Priest: Did something happen?]

Of course, even if there was an actual problem, it would be difficult for Jin-ho to help, but people are the kind of creatures who feel lighter just by talking about their hardships to someone. Jin-ho had learned that from his military experience, so he pressed with questions persistently, even though it might come across as a bit pushy.

But he also knew that forcing someone to talk about something they didn’t want to was bad manners. Knowing this, Jin-ho decided that if he didn’t want to talk this time, he’d just let it go.

[Inquisitor: Are you *that* curious?]

And then, the Inquisitor held him there with a final word.

[Priest: Yeah.]

[Priest: If you were in my position, you’d be just as curious.]

[Inquisitor: Is that so?]

That’s the full translation! Let me know if you need further assistance.

[Inquisitor Heretic: It’s just that I’m feeling troubled because of money issues.]

[Inquisitor Heretic: I need money right away, but I can’t find a part-time job, so…]

[Inquisitor Heretic: It makes me wonder why I’m even doing this.]

‘No job and in urgent need of money? So that’s what he meant.’

Jinho was surprised by the unexpectedly normal response from him, and a piece of advice came to mind.

No, there was no need to even think about it.

Online streaming.

Honestly, for someone like him, there wouldn’t be a better opportunity than that.

[Head-Smashed Priest: Dude, you could probably make money just by playing games, right?]

[Inquisitor Heretic: Huh?]

[Inquisitor Heretic: Oh.]

And it seemed he immediately understood Jinho’s suggestion.

[Inquisitor Heretic: But people suspect me of being a hacker; wouldn’t that be tough?]

[Head-Smashed Priest: ?]

[Head-Smashed Priest: They already cleared up that you’re not a hacker, so what’s the problem?]

[Inquisitor Heretic: Oh, really?]

[Head-Smashed Priest: Yeah, the post went up two days ago.]

[Inquisitor Heretic: Oh, I didn’t know. I’ve been really busy lately.]

‘Inquisitor Heretic’ had been on the radar of New D (the game) players even before the accusations of being a hacker.

With his unique concept of smashing heads at the mere sight of any priest-related character and skills that even the top players couldn’t help but admire, his reputation preceded him.

Anyone who had played New D long enough, especially priest users, had undoubtedly heard of his name at least once.

Recently, with the hacking controversy blowing up, the attention on him had reached an all-time high.

Although the game company had officially announced he wasn’t using hacks, calming the uproar somewhat, the attention hadn’t completely died down.

In such a situation, if he started streaming?

It’s impossible to guarantee success, but at least it could be a good way to make some pocket money until he found a part-time job.

On top of that, it could be the perfect opportunity to clear up the remaining doubts lingering about him.

[Inquisitor Heretic: Thank you.]

Realizing this, he thanked Jinho.

[Inquisitor Heretic: Now, repent.]

[Your 1:1 conversation with Inquisitor Heretic has ended.]

*Bam!*

*(You died.)*

Jinho’s vision turned pitch black.

“What the…?”

Once his concerns were resolved, his mind felt clear.

And thanks to this, I realized that what he had been doing up until now wasn’t wrong.

It really is true that if you keep working hard, opportunities will come.

…But, who knew there was a way like that?

I had never thought of it before. Making money through gaming.

I stood in front of the Priest’s corpse, thinking….

Considering how popular New D is among gamers right now, there must be a lot of demand.

And since I can handle all of the endgame content, I should be able to make a decent amount of money.

What do they call it again?

I think I definitely saw this in a community.

Turning in-game currency into real money… Ah, they called it ‘Ssalmeok.’ (Note: ‘Ssalmeok’ is slang in Korean, roughly meaning ‘making a living from games,’ derived from ‘ssal’ meaning rice and ‘meok’ meaning to eat.)

Well, I know it sounds bad and has a negative perception in the community, but what can you do?

Surviving comes first.

Yeah.

From today, I am officially a ‘Ssalmeokchung.’ (Note: ‘chung’ is a derogatory term often used to describe people who are seen as parasites or leeches.)