After parking the company car, we followed Yuta-san up to the second-floor office. Once inside, he guided us to the reception area and asked us to wait a moment while he went to the third floor to fetch the president.
While we waited, we quenched our thirst with the cold barley tea Yuta-san had prepared for us before we originally left.
"Whew, finally back. It took... a little over two hours, I guess?"
"Sounds about right," I replied. "But for a property inspection that involved hiking around a mountain, wasn't that fairly quick?"
"I suppose so," Yuji agreed. "We managed to get back before noon, so it was definitely a brisk viewing."
We continued to trade impressions of the property while waiting for them to return. Honestly, we were lucky this time. If Yuta-san hadn't driven us, we probably wouldn't have finished so quickly. Thanks to him, we reached the site without getting lost, and although we pushed a demanding pace, we were able to complete the inspection without any unnecessary delays. If we had tried to navigate it ourselves with just a map, there was no way we’d be back at the office by noon.
About fifteen minutes later, President Kiritani and Yuta-san appeared in the office.
"My apologies for the wait. I was listening to Yuta-kun’s report, and it took a bit longer than expected."
"Not at all. Thank you for letting Yuta-san accompany us as a guide. We were able to conduct the inspection very smoothly thanks to him," Yuji said, giving a slight bow. President Kiritani returned the gesture with a humble dip of his head.
The president and Yuta-san took the seats across from us, and the meeting began.
"Haha, I'm glad to hear that. However, Yuta-kun informed me that the property we introduced didn't quite meet your requirements. I feel truly apologetic for the oversight..."
"Please, don't be. If anything, we’re the ones at fault for not communicating our needs more clearly. Even if it didn't fit our specific purpose, the property you showed us was excellent. I felt almost sheepish that you’d offer such a prime location to people with our... particular tastes."
"No, no, it was my lack of due diligence that caused you to make a wasted trip..."
"It was hardly wasted," Yuji countered. "Seeing it in person gave us a real sense of what it means to buy a mountain. Since it's a field we're not familiar with, we tended to rely on the general public image of property ownership."
"It's a relief to hear you say that."
Yuji and President Kiritani didn't dwell on the mismatch; instead, they ended the discussion about the first viewing with a mutual understanding to use the experience for the next step. There was no point in grumbling over a misunderstanding that ultimately helped align our expectations.
Once the air was cleared, President Kiritani placed a file on the table.
"Now then, let's discuss properties that align with the revised conditions we discussed before you left. Since we were short on time, I’ve only managed to pick out two listings, but please have a look."
"Thank you."
We each took a copy of the property brochures and scanned them. The first was located near the mountain we had just visited. It was described as a mountain deep within the range; the trees were mostly unmaintained thickets with little value as timber. Furthermore, the slopes were steep, with virtually no flat ground. The price was low and the area was vast, but it was clearly the kind of property that would never sell to the general public.
President Kiritani waited for us to finish reading before offering more details.
"That property is located just behind the mountain you saw today. While the first mountain had been forested and maintained to a degree, this one has harsh terrain and has seen almost no human intervention. It would be accurate to call it a 'wild mountain.'"
"Does that mean there are wild animals as well?" Yuji asked.
"Yes. Since there hasn't been any culling or pest control in that area, I believe they are quite present."
In other words, it was exactly what we wanted. Rugged, untouched terrain populated by potentially hostile wildlife—a perfect training ground.
However...
"I see... It says here there's a 'facility in the vicinity.' What kind of facility is it?" Yuji pointed to the remarks section.
"Ah, that is..." President Kiritani’s eyes darted around for a second, his voice trailing off.
What was that reaction? Is it something dangerous?
The president looked like he wanted to dodge the question, but eventually, our silent, questioning gazes won out.
"Let me preface this by saying that the facility itself is a considerable distance from the mountain, and because it is strictly managed, it has no impact on the surrounding environment."
"...Given that you're emphasizing that so much, is it a problematic facility?"
"No, nothing of the sort. In fact, it's an essential facility for society. To be perfectly blunt... it’s a final disposal site for industrial waste."
"...A final disposal site?"
The term made us exchange looks of slight distaste. President Kiritani saw our reaction and sighed softly, his expression suggesting he’d expected this.
"Yes. As I mentioned, it is a well-managed site with no environmental impact. However, most people naturally feel a sense of aversion toward those types of facilities."
"Ah... well, yes."
We looked away with noncommittal expressions. It was hard to deny; our faces had already betrayed our thoughts the moment he said it.
"The road used by the transport vehicles also bypasses the mountain we’re discussing, so you likely wouldn't even see the trucks," he added.
He insisted it was fine, but concerns lingered. Every now and then, you hear news stories about waste sites leaking pollutants due to poor management or unscrupulous owners going bankrupt and abandoning the mess. The thought of hazardous materials being left nearby made us hesitant, no matter how 'safe' it was claimed to be.
"...It seems it isn't to your liking," President Kiritani noted, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"Ah, well... sorry."
"No, please, don't apologize."
Seeing us go quiet, he shook his head and quickly regained his professional composure. He’d clearly known this was a possibility.
The first property met our physical requirements, but the nearby facility was a dealbreaker. The price for that much acreage had been enticing, but some things just can't be overlooked.
Moving on, we turned our attention to the second brochure.
"The second property is a bit further away, centered around a former mining district that has since been abandoned."
"An abandoned mine... What were they mining there?"
"Primarily gold and silver, from what I understand. Apparently, the veins were exhausted by the end of the Meiji era. It hasn't been an active mining district for nearly a hundred years."
"A hundred-year-old mine, huh..."
According to the documents, it was deep in the mountains, but because of its history, there was enough flat land to accommodate a small building. It was further away than the first option, but there was a local railway station nearby, meaning it wasn't strictly inaccessible without a car.
Though for us, cycling would probably be faster.
"The road technically goes as far as the mine entrance, but it’s just a narrow footpath now. Reaching it by car is impossible. You have to hike in from the base of the mountain, which takes about four hours as you have to cross several peaks."
"A four-hour hike?"
That wasn't a problem at all. A four-hour mountain trek was maybe twelve or thirteen kilometers, depending on the elevation. For us, that was a thirty-minute run, tops.
"Because it’s so remote, you won't see a soul up there. It isn't the kind of place anyone visits unless they’re specifically looking for the mine. The surrounding mountains aren't used for hiking, and nature has reclaimed much of it. It’s a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife."
"I see... that’s very promising."
The privacy was a huge plus. The way we train isn't something we can let people see, for a variety of reasons. And while 'diverse wildlife' was a polite way of putting it, he likely meant bears and large boars.
"I should also add that because it was a mine, there are tunnels crisscrossing the underground. For your purposes, it shouldn't be an issue, but if you intended to level the ground for a major construction project, you’d need extensive reinforcement work."
"So the ground is full of holes? Is there a risk of it suddenly caving in?"
President Kiritani waved his hand dismissively. "No, no, nothing like that. The tunnels are deep underground. They won't affect the surface under normal circumstances. But it's something to be aware of."
"Understood. One more thing... what about mining pollution? I remember reading in history books that old mines were often plagued by toxic runoff."
That was my biggest concern. Underground water contaminated with heavy metals leaking into the environment. Modern mines have treatment plants, but a Meiji-era mine? I doubted they had state-of-the-art environmental protections back then. Those things can linger for a century.
"That's a valid concern. However, rest assured that we have conducted our own surveys. We’ve tested the surface soil, deep-core samples, groundwater, and even the local flora and fauna. Everything clears the government’s environmental standards."
"So we don't need to worry about toxins?"
"Correct. At the very least, the surface is perfectly safe. As long as you don't go venturing into the old tunnels..."
"Haha, well, I think we're smart enough to know that unmanaged mine shafts are dangerous," Yuji replied with a light laugh.
President Kiritani was clearly covering his bases. He didn't want curious youths getting trapped in a cave-in and blaming the real estate agency. It was a reasonable precaution.
We went over the brochure again, asking for more specifics.
"This price... is it really this low for an entire mountain?"
"Yes. The owner, who inherited the mountain and the mining rights, is desperate to let it go. It’s been on our books for over ten years. Because it's such a niche property, it hasn't sold, and the price has steadily dropped."
"So it’s just been sitting here at this price?"
"Precisely. Since it was a mine, it was never reforested, so there isn't much valuable timber. Plus, the mining left several exposed rock faces that have become brittle over time. There's a risk of rockslides in certain areas."
To put it bluntly, this was a dead listing. For a normal buyer, the sheer number of drawbacks would be enough to make them run. No wonder it hadn't sold in a decade.
But for us, it was a goldmine.
"Can we inspect this property?" Yuji asked.
"!? Oh, yes, of course. But are you sure? Even as the one introducing it, I have to admit it’s quite... challenging."
"We're sure. Honestly, I didn't think we’d find a place that fit our needs so perfectly this quickly."
"I... I see..."
President Kiritani looked caught between confusion and guilt, but Yuta-san, sitting beside him, had a look of pure realization. Of course they want the mountain full of holes and rockslides, his face seemed to say. He was really starting to understand us. I just hoped it wouldn't ruin his professional standards for other clients.
After a bit more discussion, we decided to break for lunch and then head out with Yuta-san for our second inspection of the day. Now, the only question was where to find a decent meal around here.