Chapter 82

After witnessing the audience between the knight of Reisenburg and Mr. Klaus, I headed to the barracks to discuss the negotiation with the teachers. I had dinner in the mess hall of the barracks, but I was worried about the lack of energy in the chairman.

Although he says he's fine, the sudden pressure to make a decision makes it hard to take his words at face value. Manon, who shares the infirmary, seems to be trying to help in various ways, but it also seems to be a burden for the chairman. Not knowing what to say in such a situation, I feel inadequate.

The gazes of those around me are still harsh. As the chairman, who was a pillar of support for everyone in Lastock, it's only natural that cold looks are directed at me for making him look so gloomy. However, I'm also worried that this might be adding to the chairman's mental burden. Maybe a harem is just not for me.

After dinner, all the teachers gathered for the meeting. We all share the desire to return to Japan as soon as possible, and there's a strong will to contribute to that goal. Mr. Oda and I sat facing each other on the sofas in the reception room of the barracks, with Mr. Sato next to Mr. Oda and Mr. Kato next to me. The other teachers gathered around in various spots.

I started by recounting the audience and the knights' behavior today. When I mentioned that the knights are expected to return to Reisenburg tomorrow, Mr. Oda nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, if a large-scale monster outbreak occurs and their city is in danger, they can't afford to be complacent."

"Yes, and they need to act in numbers to cross the Demon Forest, so they won't split their forces."

"Still, a letter to the lord about the Demon King's qualities... It really makes you realize we're in another world."

Not just Mr. Oda, but the other teachers also smiled wryly.

"Alright, they have their own considerations, but we can't keep playing around. According to the information gathered by Mr. Kunitomo, the summoning ritual requires a lot of time and money. We should assume the same for the return ritual."

The teachers all looked serious as Mr. Oda spoke.

"And if the preparation for the return ritual takes time, we want to start as soon as possible. For that, we need to get Reisenburg to make the decision to send us back quickly."

"How do we get them to make that decision...?"

Mr. Oda nodded at Mr. Kato's question.

"To negotiate, we need to go to Lastock. It will take a day just to get there. So, I want to send a letter first to convey our demands and set a date for the negotiation."

Mr. Oda turned to me.

"Kunitomo, if it's just delivering a letter, you can go right away, right?"

"Yes, that's fine, but..."

"From what I understand, Reisenburg will be busy with the monster outbreak. Camilla, as the responsible commander, will be busy too. We can use this chaos to our advantage."

Mr. Oda's plan was to use the impending monster outbreak as leverage. If they refuse to negotiate, he would threaten to hinder the outbreak preparations.

"Teacher... but if the preparations are delayed, the people in the city will..."

"I understand, I'm not saying we'll actually hinder them. But if we suggest it, Reisenburg won't be able to refuse the negotiation."

"Indeed..."

"The large group of monsters we saw could cause significant damage if they reach Lastock. There's no guarantee the damage will be limited to Lastock. In that case, not just the First Prince's faction, but the Second Prince's faction will also have to cooperate."

"Ah... right, the eastern part of Reisenburg is the Second Prince's territory. If the outbreak affects there... I see. Got it, I'll deliver the letter as soon as it's ready!"

"Don't rush, Kunitomo. Timing is important. If we send the letter now, it won't be effective."

"Huh... really?"

"Of course, the messengers are still in Volzard. They need to return to Lastock and report before Camilla gets the information about the outbreak. If she's not aware of the crisis, our demands won't have much impact."

"So, when should we deliver the letter?"

"Let's see... they should return to Lastock by tomorrow evening. If so, the day after tomorrow, when they've started the preparations and realized the delay, would be a good time."

Mr. Oda smiled a bit slyly.

"Excuse me?"

The one who raised his hand and spoke was Mr. Nakagawa, the English teacher. A thin man in his mid-thirties, he's not very popular with students due to his somewhat snide remarks.

"I think your approach is a bit too roundabout. Since Kunitomo can control powerful monsters, threatening to kill the residents if they resist should be enough, right?"

Mr. Oda nodded a few times before responding.

"True, as Mr. Nakagawa says, both methods involve taking the residents hostage, so Camilla might comply. However, according to Kunitomo's investigation, the First Prince's faction, which Camilla belongs to, is financially struggling."

The First Prince's faction is concentrated in the western part of Reisenburg, which has been affected by desertification, leading to financial difficulties. This is why, after we escaped, the suggestion to summon us again was deemed too costly. In contrast, the Second Prince's faction, concentrated in the eastern part of Reisenburg, has benefited from increased grain prices and is believed to have ample funds.

"In that case, we should also threaten the Second Prince's faction with killing the residents if they resist."

"True. However, the Second Prince's faction hasn't had direct contact with us and doesn't know our capabilities. To make them comply, we need to show that we are a threat."

"In that case, we should demonstrate it. Kunitomo and the others can move freely, right?"

"Wait a minute!"

Interrupting Mr. Nakagawa was Mr. Chikasaki, the social studies teacher. A tall woman in her late thirties or early forties, she gives a slightly nervous impression.

"Mr. Nakagawa's method is essentially asking Kunitomo to commit terrorism. We can't order a student to do such a thing."

"No, no, this isn't the time for such idealism. We need to return to our world by any means."

"Mr. Oda's method doesn't require Kunitomo to actually commit terrorism. We should adopt that method."

"Can you really push that princess with such a soft approach? Kunitomo was stabbed during the rescue operation. They don't care about killing us."

"Even so, we will live in a peaceful Japan when we return. I can't agree with solving problems through violence."

"Too soft, Mr. Chikasaki. It's meaningless if we can't return."

"Um... can I say something?"

Interrupting Mr. Nakagawa and Mr. Chikasaki's argument was Mr. Sato.

"Kunitomo's power is essential for the upcoming negotiations. We can't go to Lastock without a guard, and Kunitomo's combat strength is our trump card. And, Kunitomo... do you intend to stay in this world?"

I nodded and answered.

"Yes... many people in Volzard need me..."

"Even if Mr. Nakagawa's method allows us to return to our world, if you stay here, the results and evaluations of the negotiations will follow you. I oppose methods that would tarnish Kunitomo's reputation."

Mr. Oda turned to Mr. Nakagawa after Mr. Sato finished speaking.

"Mr. Nakagawa, can we proceed with our method for now? If it fails, we'll consider more aggressive measures."

"Hmph, fine. We do need Kunitomo's help..."

Mr. Nakagawa didn't seem entirely convinced. Suddenly, a hand was placed on my shoulder, and I turned to see Mr. Kato looking at me intently.

"Kunitomo, are you really okay with not returning to Japan? Aren't your parents worried?"

"Well..."

Explaining my family situation, not just Mr. Kato but the other teachers also looked complicated.

"I see, you have your reasons... But, Kunitomo, there's always a bond between parents and children. If you still want to stay here when the opportunity to return to Japan arises, write a letter. Express your gratitude for being raised and your honest feelings. I'll make sure it reaches your parents..."

"Yes, thank you."

Right, if I stay here, I need to explain my reasons and the feelings I've carried. If the chairman chooses to stay with me, I also need to write to the chairman's parents. But, what should I write? "Please give me your daughter" kind of greeting? Ugh... that's so embarrassing.

"Are you okay, Kunitomo?"

"Huh? Oh... I'm fine, just a bit shaken..."

Oh no... I was lost in my thoughts. A bit embarrassing.

Mr. Oda, looking a bit puzzled, resumed the meeting.

"Regarding the basic flow of the negotiations, we'll start with a strong demand and not compromise from the beginning."

The demands Mr. Oda outlined for Reisenburg are not much different from what I discussed with the five people I initially rescued. Sending us back to our world, an apology for the poor treatment, and compensation for the inconvenience.

"Based on the prices we saw during our shopping, one hert is roughly ten yen. We'll demand compensation for the family of the deceased Funayama and inconvenience fees for us. Thirty million herts for the former, twenty thousand herts per person for the latter, totaling seventy million herts."

That's about seven hundred million yen. The teachers seemed a bit overwhelmed by the large amount.

"Teacher, seventy million herts is a huge amount. Will Camilla pay it?"

"Kunitomo, as I said, this is a starting point. Reisenburg will likely refuse or ask for a reduction. Personally, I'd be fine without the inconvenience fees if we can return to Japan. But I want to secure compensation for Funayama's family."

Mr. Oda's words were filled with strong resolve. The other teachers also looked serious, feeling guilty for not being able to save Funayama and angry at Reisenburg.

"Using this amount as a starting point, we'll negotiate while making concessions. However, there are several issues we need to resolve. One is how to determine if the return magic is genuine."

The existence of return magic is questionable, and there's a risk that Camilla might trick us into a trap. Gathering us on a large-scale explosive magic circle and disposing of us at once is something she might do. We can't detect such traps, so we need to hire someone from this world.

"Kunitomo, can you introduce us to someone knowledgeable about such matters, or ask the guild?"

"Yes, I'll check with the guild tomorrow."

Mr. Oda nodded and continued.

"Another issue is that receiving the compensation and inconvenience fees in their currency is meaningless. We plan to receive payment in precious metals that have value in Japan. I think receiving it in gold is the best option, but the problem is how to verify its authenticity."

Mr. Oda turned to the teacher who had been silent throughout the meeting.

"Mr. Kogaki, can you appraise gold?"

"Me?"

Mr. Oda nodded silently. Mr. Kogaki, the youngest teacher in his twenties, is a science teacher with a somewhat casual demeanor.

"Well... gold is the heaviest metal... and its density varies by purity, but measuring the density can give us an idea... and it's a very stable metal, so it can be verified with nitric acid... and it doesn't stick to magnets."

"Can you prepare and verify it?"

"Um... I guess, but I've never done it before, and it's a huge amount... I'm not confident..."

It's a bit pitiful, but verifying seven hundred million yen worth of gold is a lot of pressure.

"Mr. Oda..."

"What is it, Kunitomo? Do you have a good idea?"

"What if we receive the payment in their currency and exchange it for gold at the guild in Volzard?"

"Hmm, that's a good point. It's more reliable and trustworthy."

Relieved that he wouldn't have to appraise the gold, Mr. Kogaki let out a deep breath.

"Regarding the negotiations, I think we've covered the main points... Is there anything else?"

"Um, teacher... about the return ritual..."

I mentioned the concern I had discussed with Yagi and others: if we are returned to our original location, there's a risk of falling from the third floor onto debris or a construction site.

"Right... I see, I hadn't considered that..."

"But we can't verify the current state of the school, can we?"

"Is the return magic something that specifies coordinates and sends us back?"

"I have no idea..."

The other teachers also seemed at a loss.

"Originally, why were we chosen?"

When Mr. Oda asked, everyone tilted their heads in thought.

"Specifying coordinates seems unlikely..."

Surprisingly, Mr. Kogaki was the first to speak.

"Throwing a dart at a spinning globe doesn't guarantee it will land on a populated area. From another world, specifying coordinates to summon a specific person is impossible."

Mr. Kogaki is right; the probability of pinpoint selection from infinite possibilities is too low. They wouldn't spend so much time and money on such an inefficient method.

"So, it must be based on some conditions?"

"Probably. They said they summoned soldiers, not heroes. It could be based on number, age, cultural level, and other factors."

Mr. Kogaki, who was initially hesitant, now spoke logically.

"Wait a minute..."

"What is it, Mr. Chikasaki?"

"If we were summoned based on conditions rather than coordinates, can they send us back to a specific location?"

Mr. Chikasaki's question might have been what everyone was thinking but couldn't voice.

"Are you saying there's no return magic, Mr. Chikasaki?"

"I don't know. Princess Camilla said summoning and return magic are a set... so I think it exists, but..."

Mr. Chikasaki seemed uncertain.

"At the time, she said they were a set to avoid unexpected creatures. If we can only be sent back immediately after summoning..."

"Do you think there's no return magic, Mr. Kogaki?"

"No, I..."

Pressed by Mr. Nakagawa, Mr. Kogaki hesitated but then looked determined.

"I think the possibility of no return magic is higher."

"You're being irresponsible..."

"Then, Mr. Nakagawa, are you certain there is return magic? Do you have any evidence?"

"No, evidence... but if there's no way to return, what do we do?"

"Hmm... I think if we can get enough money from Reisenburg to live on, it might not be so bad..."

"What are you saying? What about the students?"

"If we can get compensation from Reisenburg, we can survive. This world is scientifically behind, but the living standards are not low. Creating new culture here could be interesting..."

"Are you kidding? I have a wife and children. I have a family to return to!"

"But, what can I do about that?"

"You..."

"Enough!"

Mr. Kato's voice, like a martial arts judge, brought Mr. Nakagawa and Mr. Kogaki back to their senses.

"Mr. Nakagawa, I understand your concerns, but arguing won't help. Let's stay calm. Mr. Kogaki, you need to be more considerate. Many students are also worried."

"I'm sorry... I was just anxious and couldn't contribute."

"I'm sorry too. I lacked consideration."

Mr. Oda took over after a nod from Mr. Kato.

"Regarding the return magic, we don't know anything yet, so let's avoid being pessimistic. If there are no other concerns, shall we conclude the meeting?"

No one objected to Mr. Oda's proposal. Despite their calm demeanor, I think the teachers are also worried. Thinking that I might stay here makes me feel a bit more relaxed, but I also want to do everything I can to get everyone back to Japan. Oh, right, I didn't see Ms. Aiko. Maybe she's not a teacher here.