“What is this…?”
Baka diligently observed the massive device before him.
First, there was a huge hanging balance scale. Catwalks leading to both of its platforms indicated that people would likely stand on those platforms.
Next, there was a giant Goddess Statue supporting the huge balance scale. …This Goddess Statue held the balance scale in her right hand, and in her other hand, she held an equally massive Gold Coin.
Besides what the Goddess Statue held, there were also Gold Coins, Silver Coins, and Copper Coins inside a Coin Case next to the Goddess Statue… each coin was enormous. From the bottom, it went Silver Coin, Copper Coin, Copper Coin, Gold Coin, Silver Coin, Copper Coin, Copper Coin, Copper Coin, Silver Coin, Copper Coin, Gold Coin… and so on.
The Coin Case was shaped like an upright cylinder, and it seemed that coins could be pulled out one by one from the bottom. Baka was vaguely reminded of the paper cups at the dentist’s office. Those, he recalled, came out one by one from the bottom…
…And at the very top of the Coin Case… that is, the last coin to come out, had a different appearance from the other coins.
“Ah! That one looks like a Key is inside!”
…Indeed. The coin at the top didn’t look like gold, silver, or copper. It was made of a colorless, transparent material, perhaps acrylic. And it seemed to have a hinge. It probably opened up, allowing the Key inside to be taken out.
“Ugh… what is this?”
Having grasped the general layout of the device, Baka tilted his head.
He knew where the Key was. But to get that Key, would he have to destroy the Coin Case? And what was this balance scale for in the first place?
As Baka was tilting his head, Kaito also put his finger to his chin, thinking… and then, as if having made up his mind, he walked towards the catwalk.
“Ah, wait up!”
Baka followed after Kaito. Kaito reached the edge of the balance scale’s platform and began reading something that looked like an explanation.
“Hey, what does it say?”
When Baka spoke, Kaito glanced at Baka… then turned his face away again and pointed at the balance scale’s platform.
“You get on the platform over there. There should be the same explanation.”
“Okay! Got it!”
So Baka obediently trotted over and got on the platform opposite to where Kaito was.
When Baka got on the opposite platform, there was an explanation, likely the same one Kaito had been reading, so Baka read it.
“Declare which platform to place a coin on, your own or the opposite. You can place up to two coins at a time. The declaration of the platform on the left, facing the Goddess, takes precedence.”
“Once declarations are made on both platforms, or 30 seconds have passed since a declaration on one platform, coins will be placed on the platforms as declared. If no declarations are made from either platform for 30 seconds after the coins are placed, one coin will be placed on each platform.”
…Right away, Baka didn’t understand! He understood that it was either “this one!” or “that one!” for now.
The explanation continued.
“Coins have different weights depending on whether they are Gold Coins, Silver Coins, or Copper Coins. A Copper Coin weighs 100kg, a Silver Coin weighs 200kg, and a Gold Coin weighs 300kg.”
Baka nodded, “I see! So Gold Coins are the heaviest!” He understood that.
“When the balance scale is fully tilted, the upper platform will be level with the exit, and the lower platform will be submerged in hot water.”
Baka was surprised, “Ah, so it tilts!?” Then he nodded, “I see, the exit is up there!”
Indeed, upon closer inspection, it seemed that there was an exit up above. He couldn’t see it well due to the height.
“Furthermore, one minute after this text is read on either platform, the catwalks in this room will collapse, and the entire floor will be submerged in hot water. Then, the stopper on the balance scale will be released, and the balance scale will be able to tilt.”
“Huh?”
“Game Start.”
As Baka was spacing out, suddenly, there was a clanging sound.
“What’s that?” Baka peeked under the platform…
“Whoa!? The bath is overflowing!”
Indeed! A hot water bath was spreading rapidly!
The hot water was overflowing right up to the entrance! Baka thought, “It would have been hot if I was there.” By the way, Baka liked lukewarm baths. Baka loved to soak leisurely in a lukewarm bath. By the way, some of his coworkers were “lukewarm bath is the best!” people, and others were “baths should be hot!” people.
Furthermore, as Baka was looking down at the hot water bath, the catwalks collapsed with a crash and fell into the hot water bath.
Splash! A pillar of water rose, and hot water splashed onto Baka. It was a little hot! He was surprised!
…And then.
With a creaking sound, the balance scale moved just a little, just a few centimeters. It seemed Baka was heavier than Kaito. Baka puffed out his chest, “That’s because I’m well-trained!” to no one in particular.
It was at that moment.
“I declare! One coin to the adjacent platform!”
On the adjacent platform, Kaito shouted.
“Huh? Huh?”
While Baka was bewildered, Kaito just stared straight ahead. His breathing was a little ragged. He looked like he was suffering. Maybe he was getting lightheaded from the steam of the hot water bath.
“Hey! Kaito! What should I do!?”
Baka tried calling out to Kaito, but Kaito completely ignored Baka.
“Hey! Kaito! Kaito!”
“Shut up! Think for yourself!”
When he didn’t give up calling out, Kaito said that, then glared at Baka.
“This game is a battle of wits! The stupid ones die! That’s all there is to it!”
Hearing that, Baka…
“Huh!? So, I’m going to die!”
He was greatly shocked!
“…You’re aware that you’re stupid, huh?”
Kaito looked a little calmer. But Baka was far from calm!
“No way, I don’t want to die yet… I haven’t had the limited-edition soft serve at Ministop yet… I was planning to have it when I went on my next business trip!”
As Baka flailed around, saying, “I don’t want to die! I don’t want to die!” Kaito looked increasingly exasperated.
“…Don’t you have anything else?”
“Also, the soft serve at the ranch we went to on the company trip was delicious, so I want to eat it again!”
“Don’t you have anything besides soft serve!?”
“Ah, I feel like eating taiyaki.”
“Anything! Besides! Food!?”
But the things that came to Baka’s mind were mostly food. The grilled rainbow trout he ate on the company trip, the sweet sake the boss served, the natto his senior made, the meat buns they all ate at the convenience store…
…As Baka was thinking about such things.
“Whoa!? What is that!?”
The Goddess Statue moved.
The Goddess Statue took one coin from the Coin Case… and gently placed it next to Baka.
“Whoa, it’s silver! It’s shiny!”
As Baka was looking at the silver coin, thinking, “Wow, amazing,” the balance scale creaked and tilted.
“Whoa, whoa, it’s tilting.”
Baka looked around in a fluster, and then, with another creak, the balance scale stopped.
…The platform Baka was on was a little closer to the hot water bath. The rising steam was a little warm.
“…Do you understand now?”
“Huh?”
Baka tilted his head, seeing Kaito speaking with a bitter expression. That’s right! Even at this point, Baka didn’t understand anything!
“This game is a competition to see who can sink the other into the hot water first.”
“Huh? Huh?”
As Baka was confused, Kaito turned to face forward again and declared with a pale face.
“I’m going to make my next declaration. …Next, one coin. One coin to the adjacent platform!”
Kaito’s breathing was so ragged that it was noticeable even from a distance. He seemed weakened by the tension.
Baka was even more confused seeing Kaito like that…
“Huh… huh, so, I’ll put one coin on this platform…?”
That’s what he declared.
“Huh?”
Kaito was dumbfounded. But Baka just had a bunch of question marks floating above his head!
The Goddess Statue moved.
Two coins were stacked next to Baka. This time, both were Copper Coins.
“Whoa, it tilted again!”
Naturally, the balance scale tilted. Baka’s platform lowered even further, and the hot water was getting closer. It was like a sauna now.
“Hey, Kaito. It’s kinda hot.”
“I know! Are you an idiot!?”
Kaito leaned over from above Baka, his face contorted in a terrible expression.
“Why did you put the coins on your side!?”
“Huh, I thought I’d just imitate Kaito for now…”
“You’re an idiot! You’re an idiot!”
“I know…”
Baka was getting hot, steamed by the rising vapor. He let out a “hefu” breath and clambered onto the coin. The coin was about 10 cm thick. By getting on top of the three stacked coins, he felt a little cooler, as if he was further away from the hot water.
“Alright!? Look at the next coin!”
“Huh?”
As Kaito told him, Baka looked up at the coin case. …The bottom one, the next coin to come out, was a gold coin, and the one after that seemed to be a silver coin.
“Do you understand!? That means, with the next declaration, I can put 500 kg of weight on your plate!?”
“Eh!? Is that so!”
“That’s right! Read the rules!”
Baka read the rules again. But he didn’t really understand. Baka wasn’t good at reading sentences longer than “Safety First!”
“So… so, you’re finished. No matter what your declaration is, I’m on the left plate, so I go first…”
Kaito said that and then took a sharp breath. He seemed to be about to declare a coin.
…But Kaito’s chin was trembling, and there was no sign of him making a sound. Baka just stared blankly up at Kaito…
…30 seconds passed before the declaration. Therefore, the Goddess Statue moved and placed coins on both of their plates.
“Ah… damn it!”
The coins placed were a gold coin on Kaito’s side and a silver coin on Baka’s side. The balance tilted slightly towards Kaito’s side.
“Huh? I’m not dead!”
Baka once again had a bunch of question marks floating above his head as he looked at the situation. …And then, he deduced, “Ah, I see! Gold coins are heavier than silver coins, so Kaito’s side, with the gold coin, tilted a little!” It was a great deduction for Baka. Though it was quite late.
“D-damn it… this time… ugh…”
And Baka realized that Kaito seemed to be troubled about something, but he didn’t know why.
Looking at the coin case again, as Kaito had urged him to, he saw that the order was copper coin, copper coin, copper coin, silver coin, copper coin, gold coin, copper coin… but Baka was Baka, so even looking at this order, he could only think, “So, what should I do?”
“I… damn it, two coins to the other scale!”
After much agonizing, Kaito declared that. Baka nodded, thinking, “I see,” and wondering if he should say something too…
“Eh, then, I’ll put two coins on this scale…?”
…That’s what he declared!