Having gained a solid impression of the property at the Cape with its underground cavern, we climbed back into the car driven by Yuta-san. We headed back to Kiritani Real Estate to go over the contract details. On the way there, I had been too anxious about where we were being taken to really notice the scenery, but now that the property had left a good impression, I finally had the peace of mind to look around. With that composure, the world looked different.
In anything, having that mental breathing room is vital.
"Looking at it calmly now, there really isn't a single house or shop around here."
"Our company has held the rights to this land for a long time... though more accurately, it was foisted on us due to various complicated ties. Between the fallout of the bubble's collapse and the bad reputation from the failed resort development, no other company wanted to touch it. Eventually, it just turned into an uninhabited wilderness. Before the development started, there were a few farmers, but they all moved away once their land was bought up. There was talk of asking the original residents to return after the project failed, but..."
"Well, there's no way they actually would."
"Exactly. After agonizing over the decision to let go of land held by their ancestors for generations, they weren't about to say 'oh, okay' and come back just because the resort plan hit a wall. Besides, several years had passed by then. They would have had to start from scratch with equipment and soil preparation."
If someone told me they were taking my land for the sake of "regional economic revitalization" and then tried to give it back years later because they failed, I wouldn't go back out of sheer stubbornness. By that point, those people would have already built new lives elsewhere.
Honestly, why did anyone think the original residents would even want to return under those circumstances?
"I see. In that case, they definitely wouldn't come back, even out of spite."
"And so, after everything that happened, our company ended up managing this land with nowhere else to go... quite reluctantly, I might add."
"After everything, huh?"
"All sorts of things. In any industry, it's a matter of give and take, favors and debts."
With an expression that was half a bitter smile, Yuta-san told us the history of the property. It didn't seem like there were any particularly shady circumstances, but it was a sobering reminder of how much the bubble's collapse and failed resort projects had impacted the real estate world.
I didn't know if a resort could ever be built there again, but with a bit of environmental work, it could probably become a decent tourist spot. The fact that no one would touch it showed just how much people avoided risk once a place gained a certain reputation. Well, I suppose no one goes out of their way to buy a "stigmatized" property if they can help it.
"Still, I don't think the land itself is bad. It's not suited for large-scale development, but a little work could turn it into a very scenic spot. Though, given your goals, you probably won't be doing that kind of development..."
"That's right. For our purposes, we'll likely keep the original environment as intact as possible while just setting up enough of a lifeline for basic needs. We're looking for a training ground, so a rugged environment is actually better for us."
"I thought so. Compared to the other properties we've looked at, this one might not seem 'rugged,' but because it's been untouched for years, the vegetation is wild. It's teeming with nature."
"Haha, 'teeming with nature'... well, you're right. Not knowing where enemies—wild animals—are lurking or where the hazards like fallen trees or pits are is great for training alertness. In that sense, a rougher, nature-rich environment is ideal."
Training in well-maintained facilities like a gymnasium or a sports field is important, but what we wanted was a training ground for fighting monsters inside a dungeon. To recreate an environment where you don't know when or where a monster might jump out or where a trap might be hidden, an abandoned, wild environment was much more convenient.
Plus, if we tried to fully restore land that had been neglected for years, it would cost a fortune in time and money. If we could use it as it was, it was much kinder to our wallets—especially since we didn't have much money we could use publicly.
"In that regard, this is an excellent property. On top of that, the road connecting to the main highway is fairly well-maintained, so transportation isn't bad. It's a lucky remnant of the resort era."
"Now that you mention it, even if it's a bit overgrown, the road is properly paved and quite wide."
"It was built to handle large construction vehicles. I heard they also made it wide in preparation for the tourists who would be coming through once the resort was finished. Not that it ever saw any use..."
"Haha, that can't be helped. Nobody could have predicted that a hidden cavern would bring the whole project to a halt before it even began."
It was never used as intended, but us putting it to good use was the best tribute we could offer. It would be a waste for a road built with such effort to be used only by the occasional wild animal.
Besides, compared to the other places we had toured, having a paved road—even a cracked one—was a massive improvement. It meant we wouldn't have to worry about how to transport supplies.
"Very true. Well, it seems we've finally met someone who might actually utilize this forgotten land, so I'd say things worked out for the best."
"Wait, we haven't said we're renting it yet. We haven't even heard the contract details..."
"Haha, maybe so, but the looks on your faces are the exact ones people make when they've decided to pull the trigger. I'm a professional, after all. I can just tell."
"That's..."
It seemed Yuta-san had seen right through us. We hadn't confirmed the details yet, but after the tour, our minds were about eighty percent made up. I just hoped the terms were easy on our finances.
With a mix of anxiety and expectation, we arrived back at Kiritani Real Estate.
By the time the car rattled to a stop at the office, it was late enough to be called evening. A little more time and the sun would start to set. After parking the car, Yuta-san guided us back inside.
"I'll go get the President, so please, everyone, take a seat in the reception area and wait."
"Alright, thank you."
Now that we were back in the office, Yuta-san had reverted to his professional customer-service tone. I suppose if he spoke casually to us in front of other employees, he'd catch flak for it later. With a polite bow, Yuta-san headed upstairs to fetch Kiritani-san.
"We like the place, but now it all comes down to the conditions..."
"Yeah. It would be a huge help if they were reasonable."
"Even if it's 'stigmatized,' it’s still a prime location."
We sat in the reception chairs as prompted and discussed the potential contract. We liked the property, but we'd have to walk away if the price wasn't right.
The properties we were shown were based on our stated budget, so I didn't think the terms would be outrageous, but given how unique this place was, I couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.
"It's been sitting dormant and untouched because of the stigma... do you think they'll give us a discount?"
"It might only be in our price range because it was already discounted, Yuji. This land was originally valuable enough for a resort project, after all."
Yuji had a point. If the location hadn't been good, a resort plan never would have existed in the first place. Whether they would rent a prime—if "cursed"—location for a bargain was the big question.
As we debated between hope and worry, we heard footsteps coming from the door. Kiritani-san and Yuta-san had come down.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. How was the tour?"
"Ah, well, it was quite good. We never expected to see something so grand."
"I heard from Yuta-kun that the three of you actually went inside. I've only ever seen it in reference photos myself. I've always wanted to see it with my own eyes, but given the state of that entrance... well, I couldn't exactly go down there just to satisfy my curiosity."
"The stairs were falling apart. It's a good thing you didn't try; if you'd put your weight on them, they definitely would have collapsed."
Kiritani-san looked a bit envious as Yuji brought up the cavern. He must have been curious about it for a long time. There's a massive difference between seeing something in a photo and being there in person. I imagine when the land was foisted—er, entrusted to him, he only heard about it from the previous owners. By the time he went to check it out, the stairs were already too far gone. Since the land was already a burden, he probably didn't want to sink even more money into repairing the stairs just for a look.
"The reference photos were poor quality, taken by an amateur. The focus was soft, and you could barely tell it was a cave. I knew it was there, but I never had a clear grasp of the scale."
"Is that so? It was impressive. It's a mystery why it's been left like this for so long."
"Indeed. It was a government-backed development that just spiraled in the wrong direction. They tried too hard to stick to the original plan, and eventually, once that plan was scrapped, it was just abandoned entirely."
"Yuta-san gave us the gist of it. If the development had worked out, I think it would have been quite a landmark, cave and all."
A resort hotel on a scenic cape with a massive underground cavern... if it had succeeded, it would be a famous tourist spot by now. They probably would have had golf courses and amusement facilities nearby, too.
"I agree. That's why the project was started in the first place. But in the end, a combination of factors caused the whole thing to collapse. It’s a shame."
"I suppose so. But thanks to that—if you can call it that—a property that would normally be way out of our reach has found its way to us."
"Yes. The property itself is fine, even if the land is considered 'stigmatized'."
"That stigma doesn't affect our intended use, so we don't mind."
From our perspective, the land was perfect. From Kiritani-san's perspective, it was a dormant burden he wanted to get rid of. Our interests were perfectly aligned. Hopefully, that meant the contract wouldn't be too punishing.
"I see. Well, Yuta-kun tells me you had a very positive reaction to the property. You'd like to hear the details of the lease?"
"Yes. All three of us were very impressed. It matches our conditions, so we'd like to move forward with it."
"That's wonderful. I was quite confident in this one, so I'm glad you liked it."
"In that case, we walked right into your trap, Kiritani-san. You really are a professional; that was a masterful setup."
Yuji gave a playful little shrug, praising the agency's skill.
It felt like we had chosen it ourselves, but in reality, they had led us right to it—or rather, they had been professional enough to find exactly what we needed. After a few viewings, they had perfectly matched their selection to the customer's desires. That was the mark of a true pro.