Chapter 30
【Loading!】
【!This is not a normal method of access!】
【Entering the hidden stage, the space of ‘Truth or Distrust’!】
【Participants: Aquila Reschenhardt, Celsia Reschenhardt
Mediator: Chelsey】
When Aquila opened his eyes again, he found himself once more within a pure white space.
A different dimension created by the artifact, the Scales of Judgment.
However, this was not the same place he had entered when holding a dialogue with Ianpel.
No.
Although the background alone was pure white, it would not be an exaggeration to say it was an entirely different place.
That was because Aquila was standing atop a gigantic scale.
On one side of the platform meant to hold the weights.
As though measuring mass, Aquila stood there alone.
Ding!
【You have set foot in the hidden stage, the space of ‘Truth or Distrust,’ for the 50th time!】
【As an achievement reward, you have obtained the title ‘If It Means Gaining the Truth, I Would Stake Even My Soul!’】
‘How annoying…….’
Aquila’s expression soured at the notification that followed.
The fact that the number of times he had forcibly used the Scales of Judgment had accumulated to fifty was not particularly surprising.
In many previous runs, he had used it frequently to expose smooth-talking liars.
More than anything else, the fact that it output the emotions held within as either true or false made it extremely efficient.
‘It was especially convenient when persuading Ark and removing him from the party.’
A game-like world, indeed.
And once again, a sound rang out that reminded him of that fact.
Ding!
【Sun God Raspalara shows interest in this dialogue!】
【Raspalara wishes to participate as a ‘participant’!】
【A secret participant cannot join without the player’s consent!】
【Do you accept?】
【Yes No】
The exact same message as in the previous dialogue appeared.
But Aquila lowered his gaze and, without hesitation, reached out his hand.
It took him less than a second to choose.
【You have selected ‘No’.】
【Sun God Raspalara’s request to participate has been rejected.】
“Th-This, where on earth is this place……?”
At the same moment Aquila closed the window, a flustered voice echoed through the white space.
On the opposite side of the scale from where he stood.
There stood the person Aquila had forcibly dragged in.
Celsia Reschenhardt.
She was utterly unable to hide her confusion at this space she had never seen before.
Just moments ago, she had been in her own room, only for the space to melt away and bring her here.
Unable to accept the situation, she stared around blankly.
Then, the instant she spotted Aquila across from her, her eyes widened dramatically.
Though there was some distance between them, Aquila’s red hair was vivid enough to be recognizable even from far away.
“W-Why are you there, you bastard……!”
Celsia’s face twisted viciously.
Though the distance between them was not small, her voice sounded as clear as if she were right beside him.
Yet neither of them moved recklessly.
Because there was no way to cross over in the first place.
Occupying the two pans of the scale evenly, they were effectively suspended in midair.
Beneath their feet stretched an endless expanse of white.
So deep that it was impossible to tell whether there was a bottom at all.
Celsia glanced down reflexively and took an unconscious step backward.
“Ah. There is no need to worry. You cannot fall down there anyway.”
Though there appeared to be no railing blocking the front, a transparent barrier prevented even a single step forward.
It was likely Raspalara’s consideration, meant to prevent people from trying to throw away their lives to escape truth or lies.
As Aquila shrugged and spoke, Celsia’s gaze sharpened further.
“I suspected as much, but was it really you who did this? Where is this place? Return it at once, or else—!”
“There is no need to shout like that. We will be able to return soon enough. I prefer things done quickly as well.”
Aquila casually cut her off.
“Do you know of the Scales of Judgment?”
“What? Did you just say the Scales of Judgment? To suddenly bring that up…….”
Frowning deeply, Celsia glanced around.
Then she scoffed, as though incredulous.
“No matter how far I may have strayed from the Sun’s rabble, I am not so ignorant as to mistake this place for the one described in rumors…….”
“If you already know, that saves me the trouble of explaining. It is the same place you are thinking of, though strictly speaking, it is slightly different.”
“Huh? What nonsense are you—”
“Well, regardless, the basic rules are the same. ‘Only the truth may be spoken.’ You know this, yes? A truth game. The penalty is rather severe, so I recommend not lying—”
“You wretch!!”
As Aquila repeatedly interrupted her, Celsia finally exploded.
“How dare you cut me off! Your insolence truly knows no bounds!”
Her face flushed red with rage as Celsia ground her teeth.
“An artifact? You, who can do nothing but cough up blood, actually know how to use such a thing? How laughable!”
She hurled insults at him without restraint.
Her hostile glare never wavered.
Judging by her demeanor, this was hardly the first time she had spoken to him like this.
Yet despite her shouting, Aquila did not respond at all.
Not because he was at a loss for words, but because he did not even feel the need to retort.
When no reply came from Aquila as usual, a cold sneer spread across Celsia’s lips.
“If that is not it, then what is? Are you saying those fools at the Grand Temple have grown so stupid that they would entrust something so precious to the likes of you? Hah. Well, I suppose it is not entirely implausible. That despicable rabble—”
“That statement ends here.”
A voice abruptly cut her off once more.
But this time, instead of flying into another rage, Celsia froze in shock.
Because it was not Aquila’s voice.
She whipped her head around and stared with disbelief.
“Wh-When did…… no, how……?”
At the center of the scale stood someone.
A priestess with purple hair, dressed in a pure white robe.
She did not know since when she had been there, but Chelsey of the Temple of the Sun appeared to be floating in place.
Celsia looked beneath Chelsey’s feet with a baffled expression.
But there was no floor to be seen, nothing she could step on.
Unlike Aquila and Celsia, who stood atop the two pans of the scale.
“This is Priest Chelsey of the Temple of the Sun. She will serve as both mediator and witness to our dialogue.”
With an expressionless face, Chelsey bowed her head, removed the brooch affixed to her robe, and held it out.
Because of the distance, the inscription engraved inside was not visible, but the brooch glowed with a soft yellow light.
It signified unquestionable status.
Afterward, Chelsey withdrew the brooch and fell silent once more.
Her role was not to lead the situation, but merely to observe.
As Chelsey remained quiet, Celsia grew even more flustered.
She could not understand what was happening at all.
Though she loathed everything related to the Sun God, that did not mean she was ignorant of the Scales of Judgment.
It was an artifact used by high-ranking nobles to form oaths with untrustworthy counterparts, or to silence someone.
But had the Scales of Judgment ever operated like this?
“Then let us begin. Answering will not be difficult. You need only choose one: yes, or no.”
As Aquila continued speaking, the eye-shaped symbol engraved at the center of the scale glowed red.
Kiiirrik.
At the same time, metal screeched horrifically.
As if either side could plunge to the bottom at any moment, the platform they stood on suddenly began to sway violently.
“……Ah!”
Celsia staggered and screamed in terror.
She had clearly heard it was supposed to be a table dialogue!
“If you lie, you will fall. Your soul will be damaged. After that, well, I do not need to explain, do I……?”
But something was clearly wrong with the movement of the scale.
Like a swing rocking up and down, the violent motion grew excessive, and Aquila finally collapsed onto the platform with a thud.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been able to endure it with ease, but his current body lacked the stamina.
‘No, more importantly, why is this happening?’
Aquila’s expression stiffened.
If his memory was correct, the scale was only supposed to move briefly at the start to find equilibrium.
Yet this movement was far too threatening.
As if someone were deliberately shaking the scale……
‘Wait. Shaking it?’
At the same time that thought crossed his mind, a loud notification rang out.
Ding-dong!
【A new message has arrived!】
【Message from ¥※¤¡:
I did not want to use this method, but I waited until you allowed it.
Please ㅠ-ㅠ!】
Aquila’s mouth fell open.
‘……Do not tell me this is you?’
Celsia, clutching the shawl around her shoulders, shouted urgently.
“How dare you use such coercion! Did the Sun’s rabble send this to threaten me?!”
“No, this is—!”
But Aquila was just as dumbfounded.
How was he supposed to explain this situation?
The shaking did not subside. It only grew worse.
Celsia, struggling desperately to remain upright, finally lost her footing.
She slid all the way to the edge of the platform.
“Kyaaaah!”
She screamed.
She thought she would fall, but instead—
Bang!
A loud impact echoed.
Just as Aquila had said, a transparent barrier surrounded the area.
Celsia’s blond hair flew wildly as a terrified scream burst from her mouth.
“Ugh!”
Aquila also failed to keep his balance and continued to tumble.
Since there was nothing to grab onto on the pan of the scale, it was inevitable.
To make matters worse, the violent shaking beneath his feet triggered waves of nausea in his frail body.
‘You lunatic!’
Aquila cursed inwardly.
Once the Scales of Judgment were forcibly activated, it could not be interrupted midway.
Which meant that the only way to end this situation was to ask Celsia a question and obtain an answer.
Rolling clumsily toward the opposite side, Aquila shouted desperately.
“I will ask, a question! Celsia Reschenhardt, cast the Curse of Deadly, poison—agh!”
“……Wh-What?!”
Sliding across the empty floor, Aquila braced himself with his hands and shouted as clearly as he could.
“Celsia Reschenhardt is the one who cast the Curse of Deadly Poison on Aquila Reschenhardt, and are you personally colluding with the Guild of Darkness?!”
“You bastard! To corner me like this in such a situation and shamelessly—!”
“J-Just answer! Then it will end, ugh!”
Aquila hurriedly covered his mouth.
The medicine he had taken while riding the carriage and passing through teleportation must have lost its effect.
How was he supposed to prepare for something this insane?
Celsia shrieked hysterically.
“Y-You filthy thing! Stop this at once—!”
“If you answer, it ends!”
“You hateful—!”
“I already know the answer, so just say it!”
“Fine! But even so, there is nothing you can do—aaah!”
Clang! Clash!
Sparks burst forth in rapid succession.
Cahena charged in immediately, slashing her blade diagonally.
Claaang!
But her sword was blocked yet again.
Cahena broke into a crooked grin.
It seemed the Guild of Darkness member was indeed formidable, not someone who had wandered into the Reschenhardt nest by accident.
But that was all.
The holy knights and the Reschenhardt soldiers were already moving to locate the other Guild of Darkness member, and under Shen’s command, they were in the process of apprehending Celsia’s closest aides.
“Seems you have some skill, but that is as far as it goes. Do not waste your strength and just give up already, will you?”
Cahena smiled as though enjoying the fight and raised her blade once more.
But then—
The room, already in chaos from their clash, suddenly wavered.
And as if paint were bleeding into water, someone began to materialize.
“Oh! Young master—sir?”
Upon seeing the red-haired man appear, Cahena raised her voice and tried to rush toward him.
“Ugh—blegh!”
Instead, he sprinted toward the window and immediately began vomiting violently.