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The Scales that Announce Global Upheaval – Part 13

“Ah, looks like he’s back. The director could be with him,” Yoshino said as the faint sound of the door opening reached them. Rising from her seat, she added, “Just wait here for a moment. I’ll bring them over.”

“Ah, no, I…”

Hikaru was about to say he didn’t need to talk to them anymore. He had come here to learn more about sorcery, and since that was no longer an option, there was no point in talking to the director now. But the words didn’t come out.

Clang.

A bell rang.

Clang.

It was lighter and higher-pitched, different from the emergency bell the Man Gnome had rung yesterday.

Clang.

And that bell was ringing inside this research facility.

“I-It can’t be.” Yoshino stood in shock.

Hikaru rose to his feet. “It’s the Balancer! Where is it?!”

Yoshino bolted away, and Hikaru followed.

“What’s going on?”

Renka looked around in confusion. Paula, who had been nodding off, woke up, and the researchers who had been sleeping like a log also started to stir.

By that time, Hikaru had already made it to the entrance of the research institute with Yoshino. There, along with a male researcher, was the director.

“That was the Balancer’s bell!” the director gasped, his beet red face twisting into a grimace. Perhaps he was angry about something or this was normal for him.

He dashed ahead, crossed through the corridor leading deeper into the facility, and opened the door at the end, revealing a spacious room. The lack of windows stirred a considerable feeling of confinement, especially in this secluded village.

Several candles illuminated the room, casting light on a device at its center—the Balancer. It was larger than Hikaru had anticipated. Much larger.

About two meters wide, it rested on a pedestal that reached up to knee height, emitting a dull golden hue that indicated it was made of some sort of metal.

The fan-shaped dial with its markings was tilted slightly for easier viewing, with a long needle measuring about 60 centimeters. The right half was painted in red, indicating danger if it crossed beyond 00 minutes.

“Guh.”

The director, and Yoshino and the male researcher standing frozen on either side, blocked Hikaru’s view. He stepped to the side to get a better look at the device.

“Seriously?”

The needle had moved.

If Yoshino’s earlier measurements were correct, it should have been pointing at 57 minutes—a two-minute increase since she began monitoring it as a member of Ultimate Mirk, causing a stir.

But now, the needle indicated…

“It’s exceeded the danger level… and so soon!”

It had advanced five notches, pointing to 02 minutes.

“What in the world could have caused this?” Hikaru asked.

“I don’t know,” the director replied. “But it could be the Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas—hmm? You must be…” He realized he was talking to Silver Face.

“I see. In that case, I’ll go check it out,” Hikaru said.

“What?”

“The Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas is just a stone’s throw away from Agiapole. I was in that dungeon just recently. If we’re confirming what’s inside, I’m the best person for the job.”

“What did you say?! No, first, I must inform the elders. I’ll be back, so you all wait here.”

“I-I’ll wake everyone up!”

As the director and the male researcher hurried off, Yoshino glanced back at the Balancer.

“Who would’ve thought the Balancer’s needle would move again?”

“What are you going to do?” Hikaru asked.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I’m heading to the labyrinth.”

If he couldn’t obtain information on the spell for crossing worlds, there was no reason to stay here any longer. The only option was to speak directly with Soaarunay. The thought of venturing into that endless labyrinth was daunting, but there was no other way.

“I… Wait, hold on a second!” Yoshino shouted as Hikaru hurried out of the room, chasing after him.

“Lord Silver Face! What’s going on?” Paula asked at the entrance of the research facility, where chaos was brewing.

“Yoshino, is it true the needle moved?” someone yelled, rushing toward the back room.

“Let’s go, Flower Face,” Hikaru said. “Something’s happened in the labyrinth.

“U-Understood!”

“Silver Face!”

Just then, Rikido, known as Granryuk of the Distant Girdle, burst in.

“I heard the Balancer’s needle moved. The director was just screaming about it.”

“I’m in luck. I thought you already left for Forestia. Granryuk, I need a favor. Can you open the Black Wedge Gate for me?”

“Wh-What?” Granryuk stammered.

“There’s only one reason the needle moved. The Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas. I’ll go check it out.”

“But we need permission.”

“You need to calm down,” Yoshino said. “We need permission from the elders to use the Black Wedge Gate. It’s one of the most crucial devices in the village. We can’t just use it all willy-nilly.”

“Yoshino,” Hikaru cut in. “You said that since the labyrinth and the Saaks disappeared, you all stopped your research into sorcery. Now that the labyrinth has reappeared, what have you done? You kept the information from the villagers and called me here. That’s all. Nothing more.”

“Uh… that’s…”

“The labyrinth is already back. Soaarunay Saak has regained its power. If you plan to fight her, she’ll come at you with full force. The clock’s already ticking. Just like the Balancer’s needle, the hour hand has gone past the threshold.”

Yoshino and Granryuk fell silent, wearing grave looks. At that moment, Hikaru used Stealth and slipped past Granryuk.

“Let’s go, Flower Face.”

In his right hand was a Tally he had taken from Granryuk’s tool bag.

“Wh-What? How’d you get that?!”

“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. You lack the sense of urgency. I just need to get to Bios. I’ll return it once I’m done.”

“B-But, Silver Face… Silver Face!”

Hikaru left briskly with Paula. Granryuk and Yoshino hurried to catch up.

“Silver Face!” Granryuk grabbed his shoulder.

Hikaru looked back. “Stay out of my way.”

Granryuk flinched when he saw the eyes behind the mask. Then, he bit his lip.

“D-Do you even know which gate leads to Bios?”

Ah. Hikaru hadn’t thought of that.

“You’re surprisingly sloppy.” Granryuk chuckled softly. “Fine, I’ll show you.”

“Wait, Rikido!”

“It’s Granryuk! It’s fine, Yoshino. He’s right about our lack of urgency. It hit me hard. From this moment on, we shouldn’t make any wrong choices.”

Granryuk walked ahead of Hikaru.

“Let’s go. The top priority for Man Gnomes—no, for this world right now is to send Silver Face to the Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas.”

In the end, Yoshino followed along. When the four of them reached the hall leading to the Black Wedge Gate, it was still deserted.

Granryuk’s magic lamp cast a glow around them. Without thinking twice, he chose one of the doors in the circular room and opened it, revealing a small, bare room with only the gate installed in the wall. Since the gate wasn’t activated, it looked just like a wall. Hikaru thought he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between this room and the one leading to Ponsonia.

“Silver Face, the Tally,” Granryuk requested.

“Sure.”

Granryuk took the key and approached the Black Wedge Gate. When Hikaru arrived at this village, he used Mana Detection but picked up nothing. This time, he tried Life Detection. Despite its level being only one, he could sense Granryuk’s warm life force nearby.

When Granryuk held the Tally up to the Black Wedge Gate, a spark flashed from the key. Then, a shimmering light appeared on the gate, and the scenery changed. It was pitch black.

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone on the other side. Do you have a light?” Granryuk asked.

“Of course,” Hikaru replied, taking out his own magic lamp and turning it on. The light faintly illuminated the other side.

The thought of experiencing that nausea again was disheartening, but there was no other choice. It was incredibly convenient to be able to travel directly to the Theocracy of Bios.

“Rikido! Where is Rikido?!”

Several men were coming.

“Ah, busted already. Silver Face, you’d better move quick.”

The villagers had already found out that Granryuk took Silver Face to the Black Wedge Gate. Were the men from Distant Girdle?

“Are you sure?” Hikaru asked, just in case.

“It’s fine. They need to know too, that we can’t fall behind the Saak family.”

“That’s the spirit.” Hikaru said.

He nodded at Paula before jumping through the Black Wedge Gate.

“…”

“…”

This time, he didn’t see anything, not the gray world that resembled the afterlife. And Hikaru found that to be a good thing.

“Ugh.”

Upon landing on the other side, a wave of nausea hit him, as if his stomach had been churned up.

“Ugh, this is rough,” Paula groaned, crouching next to him, feeling the same.

“Let’s wait a moment before moving on.”

“Okay.”

Paula glanced back at the Black Wedge Gate. It was already silent.

They didn’t know if the Distant Girdle would pursue them from the other side, but it was clear they needed to leave as quickly as possible.

“Will he be okay?” Paula asked.

“Granryuk? I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

Man Gnomes lived in a very closed-off village. And they had spent countless years—an unimaginable amount of time to Hikaru—in that enclosed space. Their slow response to the reappearance of the Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas was due to their dulled sense of urgency and their isolated nature.

But Granryuk was trying to change. He disliked his Man Gnome name, Rikido. He agreed to let Hikaru use the Black Wedge Gate. Hikaru believed that someone like him would be the key to helping the Man Gnomes overcome this crisis.

“Let’s get a move on,” Hikaru urged.

“Okay!”

They both stood up, feeling much better. The room illuminated by the magic lamp looked like a storage area. It was damp, with shelves stacked with unidentifiable items. The pleasant conditions in the Man Gnome village made them forget about the biting, wintery air here.

They opened the door to find a set of stairs. They were indeed in a basement. Climbing the long stairs, they emerged into a spacious kitchen. The dust covering the shelves and tables said it hadn’t been used for some time.

“Looks like someone’s mansion,” Hikaru observed.

Stepping out into the corridor, they found the windows closed, blocking out any light. The carpet was old and covered in dust.

“I’m guessing they bought a mansion and then just abandoned it. But where are we? We’re definitely in Bios, and a mansion this big should be located in the holy city.”

They arrived at the entrance hall and opened the door.

“Ugh.”

They squinted in the bright light.

Nearby stood a massive white castle—the Tower. Since the Church claimed not to wield military or political power, they called it a Tower instead of a castle.

“Huh?” Hikaru blinked in shock.

Not shock at finding themselves in the heart of Agiapole, but something else entirely.

“What are we going to do?!”

“I’m sure His Holiness will handle it!”

People on the street were panicking.

“Stay calm! Those without urgent business, go inside and prioritize your safety!”

A mounted temple knight was shouting, urging citizens to take refuge.

“What happened?” Hikaru wondered.

The people were looking just behind Hikaru and Paula, in the direction opposite the Tower.

Hikaru and Paula ran out onto the street, emerging from the shadow of the mansion to see what was happening.

“What?!”

What they saw was beyond anything they could have imagined.