"The current leader of that faction is Chief Kadum."
Shirone recalled the two types of gazes she had felt during the banquet. The elders who welcomed Unlockers were likely from the angel faction, while those who looked at her with disdain were from the anti-angel faction.
By that classification, Chief Kadum’s father, Hashid, was from the anti-angel faction. And so was Mahatu.
"Chief Kadum is ruining Kergo. It’s ironic for me, who deals in Loop, to say this, but entrusting the tribe’s fate to the angels is wrong. I’m actually from the anti-angel lineage. I was supposed to be a slave. You’ve probably heard about the human trafficking by the Galliant autonomous government. Most of the victims were from the anti-angel faction. Outsiders also kidnapped my mother."
Amy decided to let go of her lingering resentment towards Mahatu. If his parents had gone through such an ordeal, it was understandable that he harbored hostility toward outsiders.
"A hundred years ago, the Kergo tribe was shaken by the encroachment of civilization. When the Galliant autonomous government began hunting humans, the anti-angel faction’s anger grew. A third civil war seemed imminent, and extinction appeared unavoidable. But there was someone who turned it all around. The person who designed the Chamber of Achievement and Sacrifice to stop the reckless journey to Heaven and end the civil war. That person was Lady Miro."
Shirone recalled Miro’s appearance. She had sometimes felt a chilling aura from her eyes, which seemed to fluctuate with emotion. But before entering Miro’s spacetime, she had seemed more human.
"To be honest, there’s still some conflict. But it’s much better than before. Thanks to Lady Miro. If it weren’t for her, I would have been nothing more than a slave."
Shirone knew that Miro was staying in the intermediate dimension of Istas. But she also thought that Miro might exist everywhere.
"After designing the Chamber of Achievement and Sacrifice, Lady Miro entered the Gate of Gephin. I wasn’t there, but I heard she left saying she was going to meet Gephin."
"Wait, Gephin lived 250 years ago, right? How can she meet him?"
"I don’t know either. But that’s what the records say."
Shirone thought it was entirely possible.
The fact that Gephin had installed the gate meant he was an Unlocker who used scale magic. If Miro was strong in spatial magic, perhaps Gephin was strong in temporal magic?
She thought of Armin, the Contemplator of Eternity. He had used stop magic to meditate for over a hundred years, so it wouldn’t be strange if Gephin was still alive in some form. Even Archmage Arcane had survived for 150 years using only his biological abilities.
Canis wasn’t interested in Miro. But the Chamber of Achievement and Sacrifice she had designed was an important clue in deciding whether to go to Heaven.
"Then where are the people who passed through Miro’s spacetime waiting? Since Shirone is here, shouldn’t they go together?"
Now that he mentioned it, Shirone was curious too.
Those who had proven their strength in Miro’s spacetime. If they were still here, they might have more clues.
"Whether they accompany you is up to the angels, but currently, there’s no one. The last team left for Heaven two years ago and never returned."
Two years ago, it was shocking. People were heading to Heaven more frequently than expected.
The reason Kadum had hidden this fact was because he was from the angel faction. He wanted more people to go to Heaven.
Amy asked another question.
"Don’t all Kergo people believe in Ra? How could a faction opposing the angels exist?"
"Even though I’m from the anti-angel faction, I don’t know how the first civil war started. Most records were lost in the volcanic eruption five hundred years ago. They’re called the Lost Records. Honestly, we don’t even know if the volcanic eruption was caused by the angels’ power. It’s just a story that’s been passed down."
Mahatu’s story influenced their decision. Even if there was a way back, they had to be cautious. They couldn’t even begin to grasp what Heaven was like.
"If you still decide to go... I won’t stop you. No, I can’t stop you. But please remember this: Everyone who passed through Miro’s spacetime was stronger than me."
Mahatu was being indirect, but he was essentially saying that they were stronger than Shirone’s group. And they hadn’t even returned from Heaven.
In the heavy atmosphere, Shirone’s group fell into thought. Mahatu, sensing that his sincerity had been conveyed, bowed his head.
"I respect Shirone’s unwavering will, not swayed by material desires. You must have come here with a purpose beyond worldly desires. That’s why I had to tell you the truth. Whatever choice you make, it’s not my place to interfere. But please, make your decision carefully."
"Thank you. This was valuable information."
As Mahatu left the room, silence fell.
Heaven was still tempting, but no one tried to persuade Shirone anymore.
Shirone’s insight was correct. Only she could make the decision, and the rest could only follow.
"How much did the principal know...?"
The person who came to mind at the end of her thoughts was Alpheas. Knowing that Shirone was an Unlocker, why had he told her about the Kergo ruins?
"He probably knew as much as we do. Miro was his student, after all. He must have heard about her exploits."
"Then why did he allow it? What if our current situation is beyond the principal’s expectations? What choice should I make then?"
"That’s a problem too. I don’t know how much he anticipated, but he probably thought you wouldn’t go to Heaven. I wouldn’t either. In the end, the problem is..."
Canis threw the Metagate and said.
"That I was the variable."
Alpheas hadn’t anticipated Canis’s existence. Even if he had, he wouldn’t have dreamed that they would find a way back.
Now, all that was left was the decision.
Having an exit was a positive. As long as it wasn’t a world filled with toxic gas, they wouldn’t die immediately.
Thinking , not even trying seemed foolish. But they couldn’t ignore the worst-case scenario where they might miss the chance to return due to unforeseen variables in human psychology.
Dawn arrived, but Shirone couldn’t sleep.
The next morning, Shirone and his party descended into the underground of the temple. Chief Kadum led the way, followed by Hasid and Mahatu.
Amy thought that this place must be the secret space of the ruins, the Spirit Zone, which had been impossible to explore.
Upon reaching the lowest level, they found a straight passageway with traces of a volcanic eruption. Gems embedded along the walls guided their path.
When they opened the iron door and entered, a cavern appeared. Priests stood along the walls, and in the center, a solitary stone gate stood alone. The gate, unconnected to anything, seemed to deny the existence of heaven.
Shirone arrived at the gate.