With the surface inspection finished, we finally moved on to the property’s most significant hurdle: the underground cave.
Standing before the entrance for the second time, I spoke to Yuta-san.
"Yuta-san, the inspection is fine and all, but how are we actually getting down there? The base of these stairs has rotted away completely. We could just jump, but Kawakita-san and his team..."
"It’s quite alright. I brought a telescopic ladder this time, so we’ll be using that. I’ll go fetch it from the car; please wait here a moment."
"Ah, in that case, Yuta-san, just give me the keys and I’ll go. It’s quite a distance back to the car from here."
I offered to go in his stead. Since the property was absurdly large, it would take Yuta-san quite a while to walk back to where we’d parked. By comparison, we could be back with the ladder in less than five minutes.
More than anything, I felt a bit awkward being left alone with Kawakita-san and his colleague for any length of time.
"No, but..."
"It’s fine, really. I’ll just do a quick run. The ladder is in the trunk, right?"
"...Yes, that’s right. I appreciate the help. It’s a telescopic model with a bit of an unusual shape, but it’s the only ladder in there, so you can't miss it. Please bring the light and the rope along with it."
"Got it. I’ll be back in about five minutes."
I took the keys from Yuta-san and took off.
Since there was no one else around, I didn't go at full tilt, but I was likely moving about as fast as a motor scooter.
"Ah, this is the one. Time to head back."
I pulled the silver-and-black telescopic ladder from the trunk and shouldered it. According to the sticker on the frame, it could extend to about six meters. I was impressed that something capable of fitting in a trunk could stretch that far. I might need one of these myself eventually; maybe I should buy one to keep in my Spatial Storage?
I pushed that idle thought aside. Everyone was waiting, so I needed to get back to the cave entrance. I made sure the car was locked, then ran back at the same speed, carrying the ladder along with the light and climbing rope that had been sitting next to it.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve got the ladder. This is the right one, yeah?"
"Yes, that’s perfect. Thank you; I’m sorry for the trouble."
When I arrived, Yuta-san greeted me with a brief flash of surprise. He seemed genuinely shocked that I had actually made it back with the equipment in under five minutes.
For an ordinary person, that round trip would have taken at least thirty minutes, even at a brisk walk.
"Well then, let’s head down immediately. I’ll extend the ladder and secure it with the rope so it doesn’t tip. Could you give me a hand?"
"Of course. So, Yuta-san, how do you work this thing?"
"Just undo the fastening strap, pull the rungs out, and make sure the locks on each step engage."
"Understood. Yuji, help me pull this out."
"You got it."
While Yuji and I extended the ladder, Yuta-san wound the climbing rope around a tree opposite the entrance. It seemed he intended to tie the ladder down to ensure it wouldn't shift while people were climbing.
Five minutes later, the ladder was set up at the entrance and secured firmly.
"Sorry for the wait. I will now guide you into the interior of the underground cave. That said, it is impossible to show you the full extent of such a vast cavern, so we will head toward the large opening known as the Great Cavern."
"We're in your hands. Still, to think an underground cave spreads across the entire property... This really is a difficult piece of land."
"Yes. Because of that, any attempt to build a large-scale structure requires massive ground reinforcement, which is why this place has remained untouched until now. It was once a candidate for resort development, but those plans collapsed because of this. Of course, as long as you aren't doing any massive construction, there are no problems with using it."
"I see..."
Kawakita-san and his subordinate looked slightly tense as they stared down into the dark abyss, chatting about the land’s history to mask their anxiety. It was understandable; if someone suddenly told you to use a ladder to descend into a pitch-black cave, anyone would be uneasy.
Because of that, we—the experienced ones—decided to go first. Even if Kawakita-san or the others slipped on a rung, one of us would be at the bottom to catch them. For both their peace of mind and their physical safety, we needed to be the scouts.
"In that case, we’ve been down there before, so we’ll go first to get things ready. Yuta-san, can I take the light down with me?"
"Yes, please. Having the ground illuminated will provide a much greater sense of security. To tell you the truth, this is my first time descending from here as well. As you can see, the original stairs were far too corroded to use."
"True. If you didn't know the stairs were out beforehand, you wouldn't be able to get down without making preparations like this."
When I suggested we go first, Yuta-san gave a small, apologetic bow, looking clearly relieved. The last time we had entered this cave, we had basically steamrolled a hesitant Yuta-san into letting us go.
In reality, Yuta-san probably hadn't expected to actually go inside back then. The fact that he hadn't brought a ladder that time was proof enough of that.
"Alright, Hiiragi-san and I will go first. Yuji, you stay up here to help the three of them before you head down."
"Got it. I'll leave the bottom to you."
"Understood," Hiiragi-san added.
"Then let’s head down, Hiiragi-san."
Hiiragi-san and I took the light from Yuta-san and descended into the cave, testing the ladder’s stability as we went. Since the space was usually sealed off, the interior looked much the same as it had during our previous viewing.
Once I confirmed that Hiiragi-san had made it down safely, I used the light to check the floor for any debris that might cause an injury. Then, I gave a signal by waving my hand at Yuta-san, who was peering down from the top with a worried expression.
"It’s fine! The ladder is secure and there's nothing dangerous on the ground, so come on down!"
My voice echoed loudly through the cave, ringing in my ears, but the message got through. Yuta-san waved back to signal his understanding.
Then, with Yuji’s assistance, the three of them—Yuta-san and the two officials—successfully navigated the ladder and arrived inside the cave, though it took them a fair bit of time.
Once everyone was down, Kawakita-san and his colleague began to observe the surroundings. They were checking for structural integrity, oxygen levels, and the presence of any dangerous gases.
The documents provided by Kiritani Real Estate already covered these details, but they wanted to verify them personally just in case. If they blindly accepted submitted documents and a major accident happened later, it would be a disaster. It was a perfectly professional response.
"It seems everything is in order, just as the documents stated. I don't believe there are any issues with the air quality."
"That's good to hear."
Apparently, they had judged the environment safe.
However, after glancing at the ceiling, Kawakita-san offered a word of caution.
"But this is only to say the cave itself is stable. As for whether the ceiling might collapse due to the impact of using the surface as a training ground..."
"That is... a fair point. We certainly don't know what kind of effect it would have down here if things get intense up there."
"Yes. Especially when it comes to explorers using it for practice, depending on their level, there's no telling what the impact might be..."
"..."
Yuta-san and Kawakita-san turned an indescribable gaze toward us—one caught somewhere between suspicion and worry. Yuta-san had accompanied us through plenty of viewings, and Kawakita-san likely knew our records as data, so it was perhaps unavoidable that they would look at us like that.
Still, it was awkward to remain under such scrutiny, so I decided to offer a defense.
"Listen, we aren't planning to do anything reckless enough to cave the whole place in, you know?"
"Why would we go through all the trouble of making things more difficult for ourselves?"
"We have no interest in opening a giant hole in a training ground we worked so hard to acquire," Hiiragi-san added.
We each asserted our innocence to the three men. Honestly, there was no point in destroying the very facility we were trying to buy. Our persuasion(?) seemed to work, as Yuta-san and the others looked convinced and looked away.
Well, it’s not like I said we couldn't do it, though.
"I see. Well, when you practice, please be careful and keep in mind that a collapse is a possibility."
"Yes. There are areas on the property that don't have caverns beneath them, so we plan to do most of our heavy training in those spots."
"I think that would be for the best."
Kawakita-san nodded deeply in agreement.
The areas without caves only made up about thirty percent of the land, but since the property was so vast, it shouldn't be an issue. It was still larger than most stadiums.
"Well then, let’s move on. The Great Cavern is further in; that's our destination."
"Ah, we went there the other day, so we’ll lead the way. The footing is a bit rough, so please follow us carefully."
I volunteered to lead the group toward the Great Cavern. The only light came from our handheld torches, and the path was an unpaved, bumpy slope. While it wasn't damp, the risk of tripping would be high for anyone not used to mountain trails.
Once we lease the land, we should probably flatten this area out as soon as possible.
"When I heard it was a cave, I imagined something a bit narrower, but this is quite spacious."
"Yes, it’s a natural cave that hasn’t been touched by human hands. It’s said that seawater used to flow through here."
"Does that mean there is still seawater somewhere in the cave?"
"Yes. I’ve heard stories that when the sea level rises during typhoons or high tides, seawater can push its way inside."
Yuta-san and the others discussed the cave's history as they walked cautiously.
So seawater comes in sometimes... It’s probably best to stay out of here during typhoons or when the waves are high.
"We’re almost at the Great Cavern."
Sensing the change in the air as we neared our destination, I informed the group.
And then...
"Good work, everyone. This is the Great Cave."
"..."
The three men fell silent, seemingly overwhelmed by the sight of the Great Cavern illuminated by our lights.
It was a sight you didn't see often, so that was to be expected. In the right hands, this could easily have been a major tourist attraction.
"This is... incredible."
"Yes. I’ve seen photographs many times, but seeing it in person... it’s truly something."
It was a breathtaking spectacle of nature. For a while, Yuta-san and the officials simply looked around the Great Cave without saying a word.
If we ever bought this land and decided to sell it later, it might actually fetch a high price if we marketed it as a property with tourist potential.
"Ah—! Cough! My apologies. I got a little carried away. Let’s proceed with the investigation."
"No, no. We were the same way the first time we saw it. We stared at it for quite a while, so I think it’s only natural."
"Haha, I appreciate you saying so."
Kawakita-san gave a slightly embarrassed smile as he began giving Nohara-san a series of instructions. They checked the walls and ceiling especially thoroughly, looking for cracks or loose sections. The Great Cavern had a very high ceiling, so it would be a catastrophe if a rock even the size of a fist fell.
Since our requested use was as a training facility, the risk of a collapse during intense activity was higher here than elsewhere. By measuring the height of the cavern, they could calculate the thickness of the ceiling relative to the surface, so they were being especially meticulous.
"I see. The ceiling of this cavern appears to be about two to three meters thick. It shouldn't collapse under normal circumstances, but I'd like to hear an expert's opinion."
"Right, we’ll look into any experts our company has connections with. The specialists involved at the time of discovery felt it wouldn't be a problem as long as no large-scale construction was done... but this time the purpose of use is different."
"Please do."
After Kawakita-san and his colleague confirmed a few more points, we finally concluded the investigation of the underground cavern.
Once we returned to the cars, Kawakita-san officially declared the end of the day.
"With that, we will conclude the preliminary investigation. We will send the results of today's survey by mail at a later date, so please check them when they arrive."
"Thank you for coming all this way today. We will send over the requested confirmation items as soon as possible."
"Good work, everyone."
We exchanged bows and words of appreciation, ending the long, day-long ordeal.
I didn't know what the final verdict would be, but I felt a genuine sense of progress; the training ground project was finally moving forward.