After entrusting Yuta-kun with the task of guiding Yuji-kun and the others on their site visit, I began searching for properties that actually matched the criteria they'd given me. To be honest, as a professional, I found their requirements so absurd I questioned their sanity.
A remote, unexplored mountain? If I took those conditions at face value, that wasn't the kind of thing you paid money to buy; it was the kind of thing you'd have to be paid to take off someone’s hands.
"I can't exactly show them properties like this as they are..."
After thinking for a moment, I picked up the receiver of the telephone on my desk and dialed a certain number. After a few rings, the call went through.
"Yes, Hirose residence."
"Ah, this is Kiritani from Kiritani Real Estate. Is Juzo Hirose-san in?"
"He is. May I ask the nature of your business?"
"I wanted to provide an interim report regarding the matter Juzo-san requested the other day."
"I see. Thank you. Please wait a moment."
Hold music began to play through the receiver. After a short wait, I heard Juzo-san's voice.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kiritani-kun. I hear you have an interim report on the matter..."
"It’s been a while, Juzo-san. Yes, just as planned, your grandson and his friends visited the office. They were polite children who handled themselves quite well."
"Hahaha, I’m glad to hear that. But that isn't all, is it? You wouldn't have bothered calling me with an interim report if that was all you had to say."
Sharp as always. He could read my intentions after only a brief exchange. I wasn't sure whether to call him an easy person to talk to or a difficult one to negotiate with.
Since my intentions had already been seen through, there was no need for further preamble.
"Haha, you've got me. Then, let me get straight to the point. The reason I’m calling today is regarding the criteria your grandson and his friends gave me."
"Ho? Did they start making unreasonable demands for a massive discount?"
"Ah, no. It’s not about the money. It's about the location requirements..."
I relayed the criteria I’d heard from Yuji-kun and the others to Juzo-san. Even though it was their own request, it was hard to introduce properties with those conditions without at least giving Juzo-san a heads-up. If I was thought to be pushing bad assets onto Yuji-kun and his friends, it might damage my relationship with Juzo-san entirely.
Upon hearing my explanation, Juzo-san let out a long sigh, the kind that made me feel like he was nursing a headache.
"Good grief... Even if they are amateurs who don't know the first thing about real estate, they've set some truly idiotic criteria. A property with those conditions has no value worth paying for."
"Haha, you're right. We happen to have some properties of that nature in our inventory, so it’s not that we can't introduce them... but what should we do?"
"...Experience is the best teacher. I hate to trouble you, but could you introduce them to something in your inventory that fits those criteria? And make it one of the worse ones. Seeing that should make those boys understand just how foolish their demands were."
The aura of Juzo-san’s quiet anger leaked through the phone. Apparently, instead of gently advising them with words, he had decided to let them learn the hard way through a field trip. I agreed that seeing a site in person would help them understand, but Yuta-kun was going to have to do his best to manage them.
After that, I exchanged a few more words with Juzo-san and hung up.
"Phew... Now that I have his permission, I suppose I'll pick out some properties that fit the bill."
After lightly massaging the bridge of my nose, I pulled out a file labeled "stagnant properties" from the document shelf. I never thought the day would come when I’d be picking an actual recommendation from this folder.
While I was picking out properties that fit the criteria—ones that looked decent at first glance but came with troublesome circumstances—Yuta-kun returned to the office. Judging by his complexion, it seemed things hadn't gone very well.
Considering they’d presented such ridiculous criteria, it was a natural result.
"Good work today, President. I've returned from the site visit."
"Oh, good work. How were they?"
"Unfortunately, they didn't seem to care for the properties we saw."
"I see. That's a shame."
Since I’d expected this result, I wasn't actually disappointed, but I furrowed my brows slightly to show sympathy. If Yuta-kun realized I’d sent him on a site visit knowing it would fail, he wouldn't be very happy.
Then, along with the report of the visit, Yuta-kun shared the opinions he’d heard from them during the trip—opinions from an explorer's perspective. They were all views that would almost never occur to a real estate agent like us. To think they wanted me to introduce a mountain inhabited by dangerous wildlife, like bears, which should ideally be exterminated...
"...Did they really say that?"
"Yes. They didn't seem to be acting tough or trying to show off; they spoke as if they truly hoped for it. They said ambushes from wild animals would make for good training in alertness..."
"..."
At Yuta-kun’s report, which showed no sign of exaggeration, I felt a headache coming on and began massaging my temples.
No, no, I never thought their perception would be this skewed. I understood that being an explorer was a very unique job, but wasn't the gap between them and common sense a bit too wide? People were killed or injured by wild animals in the mountains every year, yet they wanted a mountain specifically because of that danger...
"Also, they mentioned that unmaintained forest land would be better since it would serve as training for traversing rough terrain."
"...Should I just introduce them to some wasteland at this point?"
"Haha, surely not that..."
Yuta-kun and I both wore strained smiles, clutching our heads over what we could possibly introduce. Our conventional sales know-how was useless here. In a world where dungeons have appeared and the explorer profession has been born, perhaps it was time for the real estate industry to change as well.
Good grief, a man never stops learning.
"Sigh... I can't keep them waiting too long, so let's go."
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, that's right, Yuta-kun. I'm going to show them a certain property now, but please don't say anything."
"?"
To Yuta-kun, who tilted his head in confusion, I showed the property summary sheet I planned to present. Yuta-kun's expression changed instantly, and he shot me a reproachful look. Anyone who knew the history of that property would have the same reaction.
I lightly held back Yuta-kun, who looked ready to protest, and explained the circumstances behind why I was introducing it.
"I see... so that's how it is."
"Yeah, that's it. So, keep quiet until I reveal the truth."
"...Understood."
"Well then, let's head down."
Accompanied by Yuta-kun, whose expression said he wasn't entirely convinced but understood the necessity, I moved down to the shop floor where Yuji-kun and the others were waiting.
Sitting down on the sofa, I explained the two newly selected properties to Yuji-kun and his group. Even though I had chosen them myself, both were serious stigmatized properties. Normally, I would never even think of showing them to a client.
I honestly explained the various annoying and troublesome circumstances attached to both. Since they met the group's specific criteria aside from the trouble, there was no need to lie. I did use some slightly nuanced phrasing, however. As a result...
"Um... can we see this property?"
"!? Eh, yes, of course. But are you sure? It's a bit awkward for me to say this as the one who recommended it, but it’s quite the... unusual property, you know?"
"Yes, of course we understand. Actually, we didn't think a property that fit our requests so well would turn up so quickly."
"I... I see..."
For some reason, they had begun to positively consider the former mine property. I’d only introduced it thinking that seeing such a stagnant property would make them reconsider their criteria. However, since they’d become enthusiastic about it, I had no choice but to let them do a site visit and hope they’d give up once they saw the place. Sorry, Yuta-kun, you'll have to go on one more trip.
To make up for the hard work, I'll treat you to lunch today.
"Th-then, let's head out after we have lunch..."
"Understood. Then let's meet in the parking lot in an hour..."
I pointed Yuji-kun and the others toward a Western-style restaurant nearby with a good reputation, and we parted ways for the time being. After seeing the group out, Yuta-kun and I sank into the sofa and let out a simultaneous deep sigh.
"...What are we going to do, President? They're really enthusiastic."
"Yeah, they are. I introduced a property I was certain they would reject, but..."
Sigh...
Knowing we couldn't actually sell a stigmatized property that we knew was a disaster waiting to happen, Yuta-kun and I discussed how to get them to abandon the purchase. If word got out that I’d fleeced children by selling them such a property, I’d be a social pariah.
Most importantly, the thought of Juzo-san charging in here in a rage was too terrifying to contemplate.
"Sorry, Yuta-kun. While you're at the site, please explain to them that as long as they own the land, they have a legal duty to manage it. Once they hear that, they'll surely reconsider."
"You're right. Understood, I'll bring it up when the time is right. It's one thing if it's just a remote mountain, but land with a metaphorical powder keg buried in it isn't something an individual should own."
"Yeah, exactly."
If the worst happened, an individual wouldn't be able to handle the liability. We couldn't sell them land with such risks. If we were to sell it at all, it would have to be to a corporation of a certain scale that could take responsibility.
I was pushing a troublesome role onto Yuta-kun, but I had to ask him to do his best.
"...Alright, let's go get some food. It’s on me, so go wherever you like."
"...Yes, thank you very much. In that case..."
As a down payment on the apology I'd owe him later, we went out for lunch at a Chinese restaurant Yuta-kun chose. I figured I should at least treat him to a nice meal to keep him in a good mood.
That being said... Yuta-kun. I did say you could order whatever you wanted, but could you please not order both the braised shark fin and the whole abalone? A lunch bill exceeding ten thousand yen is a bit much, even for an apology...
Yuta-kun and the others returned from the site visit shortly before closing time. For a moment, I thought they might have turned back halfway, but according to Yuta-kun, they had actually toured the entire site. I’d heard about their abilities, but they really had made a round trip in an hour or two on a path that would normally take a half-day on foot. The leg strength of explorers was terrifying. Seeing it demonstrated like this overturned many of my assumptions about real estate. Even properties located in places difficult for ordinary people to reach could be a viable business if marketed to explorers.
Even more valuable than the information Yuta-kun brought back was the fact that he’d successfully convinced Yuji-kun and the others to abandon the purchase of the former mine. I was truly relieved they had reconsidered.
"I learned firsthand what you meant when you said you couldn't really recommend it, Kiritani-san. Truly, we should have listened to a professional's advice from the start."
"Haha, is that so... well, it did match your criteria, but it was a rather harsh property, wasn't it?"
It seemed that after checking the site with their own eyes and receiving Yuta-kun's explanations, they were able to admit their mistake. Good. If their perspective hadn't shifted, I was prepared to call Juzo-san and decline the job entirely. Even knowing they were explorers, I couldn't, as a professional and as someone indebted to Juzo-san, sell them a property with those conditions.
"B-by the way, Kiritani-san! This is just a hunch, but did my gra—my grandfather ask you for anything else besides the property introduction?"
"Ah, yes. He did ask me to give you a bit of a lesson in the ways of the world."
"..."
It seemed they had realized Juzo-san’s hand was behind this incident. After such a blatant series of events, they would notice once they calmed down. Since it wasn't something to hide, I honestly told them Juzo-san had made the request. They all wore conflicted expressions before looking down, appearing thoroughly dejected. Well, realizing you were dancing in the palm of Juzo-san's hand would make anyone depressed.
After that, Yuta-kun and I encouraged the group while offering some cover for Juzo-san. We promised to resume the property search another day after reconsidering the criteria. They left the shop with slightly dark expressions and heavy steps. It seemed that, just as Juzo-san had planned, they had received an excellent social education.
"Phew... Good work, Yuta-kun. You had a long day."
"No, it was a good learning experience for me too. Through this search, I think I'll start studying up on 'explorer-oriented properties' in earnest."
"You're quite diligent. But using this case as a foundation, it might be good for us to make a serious entry into that market. It’s likely to keep growing from here on out."
The fact that even hard-to-reach mountain land—which I’d previously thought had no value—could be a viable business for explorers became clear today. If we bought up that kind of land now, before word got out, we might be able to make a fortune.
I thought this was just a headache at first, but it turned out to be a rather profitable prospect. I'll have them cooperate fully so we can accumulate know-how—though I'll make sure to provide them with suitable compensation in return, of course.