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Negotiations have been difficult since then.
It was only natural.
If we have opinions, clashing is inevitable.
I didn’t expect it to be resolved so easily, but I was once again reminded of how difficult it is to find common ground.
The inability to compromise stems from the fact that neither side is willing to back down.
Once they understood that we would not resort to force, their words became more assertive.
We have the discretion to temporarily freeze our Dungeon Tester recruitment activities, so freezing them is easy.
However, we must avoid simply promising to freeze them.
In international relations, a concession to stop is a valuable bargaining chip. We must hint at stopping while drawing better terms from the other side.
Initially, we were offered tacit approval of our recruitment and business activities, which were in a morally gray area.
The reason these two were offered is that our company pays a significant amount of taxes to Japan.
The procedures for company registration also comply with Japanese regulations, making us a legitimate company in the eyes of the law.
Furthermore, there are no laws in modern times that regulate magic, specifically enhancements like the magic crest I have.
At most, we could be prosecuted if we used this ability for criminal purposes, but it is not a crime if we are not doing so.
So, would you call it a violation of labor laws?
If you ask me, our company is white even without considering the details.
Our working hours are basically without overtime.
In fact, if we wanted to, we could finish work in half a day.
Since we clearly show the content and allow them to experience it during the contract, and provide training, there are always opportunities to quit, and we create consent forms.
In terms of salary payment, in a way, we promise a salary that could lead to a big windfall.
We have holidays, paid leave, and an abnormally extensive range of welfare facilities.
Thanks to this, it does not fall under illegal labor.
From Japan’s perspective, the content is too gray to regulate.
As a result, we couldn’t find common ground and reached a stalemate.
“I expected this, but it’s not going well.”
In the end, there was no progress that day. The only thing that happened was confirming each other’s positions.
With that, we returned to our lodging.
“Well, isn’t it understandable? I thought it wouldn’t be easy, and you thought so too, Evia, didn’t you?”
I was only mentally exhausted, but Evia, who was in charge of the negotiations, was mentally and physically drained. She took off her jacket and sighed deeply.
“That’s true. The fact that we’re still friendly is a saving grace. It’s better than them telling us to submit, like they did. There’s still room for negotiation.”
“Submit…”
“It’s a fact. The terms demanded by Isal in past peace negotiations usually included that. There are many records of us being told that we are inferior species and must be subservient to humans throughout our lives, regardless of royal status.”
I commented, astonished that I had never heard the word “subservience” in Japan, but Evia, who assured me it wasn’t a lie or a joke, explained the history of humans and demons and the content of past peace negotiations.
“Ugh,” was my thought. Within my common sense, a slave class was abnormal, and to think such a thing existed. And to resolve things with such condescending negotiations, I was inwardly taken aback.
“Compared to that, Japan’s opinion is more reasonable. It’s a fact that we are foreign elements to this country. I can understand their desire to expel us and draw a line.”
“Well, I was surprised when America intervened. Normally, wouldn’t you try to handle it on your own? That way, you can monopolize the negotiation table with one country.”
As Evia continued to talk about negotiations, I almost scoffed, wondering how deep their grudges were, and changed the subject slightly to talk about diplomats from other countries who weren’t scheduled to come that day.
I hung up Evia’s and my jackets on hangers and made tea with the hot water in the pot, asking her about it.
“There’s that perspective, but perhaps it was brought up by Japan.”
“What? You mean Japan contacted America and asked them to handle it together?”
“Yes. At first, I thought they might have received information from somewhere and made some kind of deal to attend, but it’s too well-prepared for that.”
“Well-prepared?”
“Didn’t you notice?”
She held a different opinion than I did.
Given the term “well-prepared,” I pondered what it could refer to.
As I handed Evia her tea, I suddenly remembered.
“The Mega Float Project.”
“Exactly. Why is it a joint project of three countries? If Japan were negotiating alone, and America were interfering, the project would have a different name, or America would have offered better terms than Japan and tried to broaden the scope of negotiation.”
But Evia’s words that this was not the case were undeniable. I had also been behind her, listening to the pre-meeting conversations. Now that she mentioned it, it was indeed strange. Perhaps I had been influenced by preconceptions. When I heard the words “international negotiations,” my perspective as a business opportunity for exploring new frontiers had taken precedence.
“That didn’t happen… does that mean Japan created America’s seat? Or rather, why?”
“There were also some clues to that. Jiro, you said this country doesn’t have an army, right?”
“Ah, well, more accurately, should I say a military force to invade? We have the power to defend ourselves, but Japan’s stance is that we don’t wage war.”
“Yes, I am aware of the organization called the Self-Defense Force from my knowledge. Then, Jiro, what do you think is the easiest way to avoid fighting?”
Thinking that there might be a different perspective, I seriously considered Evia’s question. A way to avoid fighting, what would I do? Applying the word “easily” to it.
“Don’t get involved?”
“Correct. If you want to avoid conflict, you should distance yourself from situations that could lead to conflict. So, what if there were treasures in a dangerous area? Treasurers that are attractive and valuable to anyone. But it’s not safe there. Or rather, let me rephrase. It’s in an unknown and possibly unsafe place. Do you need to approach it alone to get that treasure?”
Having arrived at the correct answer, and Evia posing a new question with her hand, I considered the meaning of the question to respond to her expectation of reaching a common understanding.
“…No, it’s not necessary. I see, so that’s what it means.”
“It’s just a prediction. I haven’t fully figured out their strategy, but that’s my reading.”
“From Japan’s perspective, your country might be one that could possibly exist. However, you mentioned that there is an association with a certain level of trust in your country. Therefore, they acknowledge your country as an entity with an element of uncertainty. However, safety cannot be guaranteed. A company that is already established in Japan by such a country exists. Then, what is the territory of the country that forms its base? Or how many people live there? What is their civilization level? Such questions would arise. So, what about that information?”
“It’s not that we haven’t provided any information at all, but we haven’t made everything public. It’s all approximate. Especially regarding territory, population, military strength, and industry, there are many restricted areas. That’s our biggest card. On this planet Earth, it might be easy to survey territory using satellites, but it’s difficult to do so in our world in another world. No, it’s virtually impossible at the moment.”
Information is arguably the most important element in negotiations. Military strength is also a type of bargaining chip, but it’s meaningless if the information isn’t conveyed. Showing off that you’re strong is meaningless without practical results. So, how would Japan view a country that comes to negotiate, offering a large amount of oil as a souvenir? Suspicious. That’s all they’d say. Given the lack of trust, they would have to think carefully about how to handle a country operating in Japan. That’s why the idea of increasing it to two countries if one isn’t enough to secure safety? While there’s a disadvantage of being outmaneuvered, Japan, with its domestic US military presence, cannot afford to say nothing about defense. Even if they establish diplomatic relations, don’t they have to disclose it?
“…To think that two countries would move to set up a negotiation table with these terms. If you just look at the summary, it’s something they’d laugh at.”
“This is the result of various behind-the-scenes efforts to arrange this meeting. The fact that diplomats from great powers have come along with it means they are serious about establishing diplomatic relations with us.”
“So, the final outcome will be a handshake between the Prime Minister, the President of the United States, and the Demon Lord President? Wow, I’d love to see that picture, but the road to get there seems too arduous.”
“Don’t say that. It would be easier for our future activities if it turned out that way.”
Seeing the end in sight, I shrugged at the arduous journey ahead. She glared at me, as if asking if I intended to bear all the hardships alone. I raised both my hands towards the ceiling, signaling my surrender. She smiled and said, “Very well.”
“So, this meeting is important… the bottleneck seems to be the recruitment activities. How are things looking? We’ve gathered a certain number of people, but the recruitment rate isn’t that good right now.”
“Then, to build trust, we will need to make some compromises.”
Currently, Ishan and Kawasaki are causing problems, but it’s not to the extent that it affects all testers. I believe the results are sufficient. We have some leeway. However, while it might be manageable for a year or two, it becomes difficult beyond a decade. Combat requires the use of the body. We have many young combatants now, but in over ten years, they will all be past their physical prime. Unless they have a special physique like mine, they will begin to decline. Therefore, we constantly need new personnel.
“I intend to agree to a temporary suspension of recruitment activities. However, it’s not good to put restrictions on it. If we agree to suspend recruitment now, the other party will impose further conditions. We must avoid that.”
“Even if we suspend it, the premise is to include the conditions for resuming it, and to make it easier to resume.”
“Yes, if they decrease, we can’t replenish them. That would be meaningless. We can’t possibly leave all the testing to you, can we?”
“I’d rather not have that kind of black-hearted Death March.”
And so, I understood the policy. I could also see a compromise. The problem is that when the Japanese, who take time to reach a decision, move in conjunction with foreign countries, it’s clear it will take even more years. One year would be quite fast. Five years would be normal. Or perhaps ten years. If it takes that long to sign the treaty, and then the Mega Float construction begins, the construction completion will be in twenty, or perhaps thirty years.
“A timeframe that the long-lived Demon Lord’s Army can afford to wait.”
I imagined the scenario if we accepted, with a rough estimate.
“On the other hand, the current testers might be useless by then.”
Evia and I, having imagined the same thing, both gave wry smiles.
“Kaido and Amelia might have quit being human by then, along with me.”
“Those two? Even so, they won’t be enough as a fighting force. However, the know-how will remain… at worst, that could be accepted. No, it would be wiser to renegotiate.”
“It’s not going well.”
“That’s how the world works. Only things that are prepared to go well in advance will do so.”
“That’s true, but it’s sad.”
“Sad in what way?”
“One thing: my work won’t decrease, and I won’t be able to relax leisurely with you.”
“Hmph, let’s assume that’s the case.”
“Oh, it’s surprisingly my true feelings.”
“You fool, I’m aware of that much.”
Tomorrow, the same meeting awaits us. The focus is decided. Now, the question is how much we can gain in concessions, or how little we need to compromise to settle. That is the problem. I gently sat next to her, put my arm around her shoulder, and she leaned gently against me. Feeling her warmth, I will gather strength for tomorrow’s negotiations today.
Today’s word
It’s hard to align each other’s ideologies.
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*The first volume of the book is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.
It was released on October 18, 2018.
The e-book version was also released on October 31 of the same year.
The second volume was released on December 19.
The third volume was released on February 20, 2019.
The content is a revised and expanded version of the text posted on Shousetsuka ni Narou, with the addition of unpublished intermissions.
Please check out the new books as well!
Thank you for your continued support of this work.
