IGTL Chapter 16

Chapter 16 – Enforcement Guaranteed by Contract

A paid item called “Contract.”

It was an item that guaranteed performance of terms when players traded items with each other. The item only took effect once you filled in the player names for “Party A” and “Party B,” along with the performance conditions.

I set the “Contract” down in front of Radish.

“What… what is this paper?”

Huh? Did this guy seriously not know what a “Contract” was? Whatever. I’d keep things moving.

“This is a ‘Contract.’”

“A c-contract?”

“Yeah. You’re going to sign it.”

He picked it up and skimmed the listed performance conditions.

“Th-This is…!?”

No surprise he balked. It spelled out the rebuilding of the ramshackle inn he’d torched, payment of compensation, and what would happen if he failed to perform.

“If you sign that contract right here and now, I’ll call it a day and walk out. What’s it going to be?”

With the bazooka aimed at him, I could see a flicker of hope in his eyes. He was probably imagining a way this could work out in his favor.

Judging from his reaction, he really didn’t know what the paid item “Contract” did. Fine by me.

“If… if I sign this, you’ll leave?”

“Of course. I keep my word. Just make sure you check the terms before you sign.”

“I see…”

He murmured that, then grinned and signed.

“There! Now get out!”

“Thanks. Then let’s confirm the performance conditions.”

“C-Confirm them!?”

While I had him at gunpoint he’d been all polite speech, but the moment he thought signing would make me leave, he slipped back toward rough talk.

Even so, judging from that reaction… did he actually check the terms? I’d written some pretty outrageous things.

I’d planned a door-in-the-face: start with an “outsized demand,” then, once it’s refused, slide in the actual ask. But the “outsized demand” sailed through, leaving me a bit at a loss.

“I don’t want quibbles later, so we’re confirming now. Not that it matters, you’ve already agreed. And you will perform. I’ll read it out.”

He gulped audibly. Looked like he’d really signed without thinking, desperate just to make me leave.

“First: rebuild the torched inn within one week. If any defect is found in the building, that will constitute breach; Party B, Radish, will transfer all assets excluding liabilities to Party A, Kakeru.”

“W-What!? That’s impossible!”

So he really hadn’t read it. What did that earlier “Th-This is…!?” even mean? Just a reflex?

“Easy. That was only the first term. Here’s the second.”

I scanned the page and continued.

“Second: until construction is completed, pay compensation of ten million Col per day. If you refuse to pay, that is a breach; Party B, Radish, will transfer all assets excluding liabilities to Party A, Kakeru.”

“D-Don’t screw with me! A contract like that shouldn’t be allowed!!”

Honestly, I kind of agree. But you’re the one who signed without reading, and if you hadn’t committed arson, none of this would have happened. It’s your own doing; I don’t consider it overboard. Frankly, the world would be better off without people who casually set fires.

“Anyway, you signed. To start, please pay ten million Col as today’s compensation.”

“L-Like hell I will! This contract is void! This kind of contract shouldn’t exist in the first place!”

Maybe it was my fault for holding the contract out where he could grab it, but Radish snapped, he snatched it from my hands and tore it to shreds.

A blaring “BEE! BEE!” warning screamed in our heads.

“W-What!?”

He winced at the sudden alarm. I, on the other hand, smiled.

“Ahh, you’ve done it.”

Once a “Contract” is formed, you can only cancel it by using the paid item “Contract Cancellation Notice.” Radish had ignored that and ripped the paper apart.

“What is this!?”

“This,” I said, “is what.”

A system window popped up in both our fields of view, text scrolling across it.

“‘Party B, Radish, has unilaterally voided the “Contract” with Party A, Kakeru. As breach of performance obligations, execution will proceed: Party B, Radish, will transfer all assets excluding liabilities to Party A, Kakeru.’”

At once, the land, building, other deeds, and every asset under Radish’s name streamed into my Item Storage. I pulled a deed out and held it up for him to see.

“That makes everything you owned, including this building and the land, mine. Oh, and don’t worry: your liabilities were neatly excluded. With this much, rebuilding that inn should be easy.”

Radish screamed.

“G-Give it back! Give it aaaaall back!”

“No.”

He lunged, shrieking. I understood why, he wanted the deed. But he’d brought every bit of this on himself.

He’d bragged about having “backing.” He’d probably planned to wait until I left and then scheme a counter.

“That’s mine—! Guh!?”

Before he touched me, Radish slammed into an invisible wall. I kept my face calm as I denied him, though inside I was praying the elemental wouldn’t misfire again. Thank goodness it didn’t.

Why hadn’t the elementals reacted? Because of the invisible barrier. After too many players reneged on Contracts, an update a few months back added an auto-defense that applies only between the contracting parties. Even now that DW had become reality, it still worked. Much appreciated.

“W-Why…?”

“Why? Because a protection program activates against people who breach contracts. From here on out, you can’t harm me. Honestly, good. People who torch occupied buildings deserve punishment.”

He shot me a look filled with impotent rage.

“…D-Damn you. You’ll regret this!”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that one. Anyway, leave this building.”

“W-What?”

Don’t play dumb. Weren’t you listening?

“This building is legally mine now. I have the deed. If you refuse to leave, I’ll call the city guards. Your call.”

“Ghh—damn it!”

“Door’s right, then first right. Bye. And good luck with those crushing debts.”

He didn’t stick around to hear the rest, he bolted. Didn’t his crotch still hurt? Not much time had passed since the elemental roasted him… Whatever.

“Alright… With this much cash, we’re fine.”

I took the key to the building from Item Storage, locked up, and headed for the charred inn. Outside it, the manager stood, face blank with despair.

“My inn…”

I clapped his shoulder and stacked one hundred million Col in front of him. His eyes flew wide.

“W-What is this!?”

“Use it to rebuild. Odds are, he torched the place because of me. Also, here are the deeds to this lot and structure, please take them.”

For my trouble, I quietly set aside the best unit as “mine.” As you’d expect from a land shark, the assets were substantial.

“Well then, I’ll take my leave…”

No point lingering at a burned-out inn, and I hated getting dragged into more trouble, so I slipped away.

Among the land shark’s assets was an inn of his own. From today, I’d “be staying there” while enjoying DW. If it’s full, I’ll use my owner’s privilege.

As I turned to go, someone tugged my sleeve. I glanced down: the manager, bowing with tears in his eyes.

“Master Kakeru, I will never forget this kindness…”

“N-No, please do. It wasn’t that big a deal…”

All I’d really done was charge in, riding my anger in the Mob-Fenrir Series pay-to-win gear. Without that gear’s specs, I wouldn’t have even tried it. Getting treated like some savior honestly made me squirm.

“For your sake, Master Kakeru, I’ll always keep our best room open in the new inn. Please come again.”

“Y-Yeah, got it…”

…

A week later, a ramshackle inn stood once more where the old one had been. How they built it in a week was one question; the bigger one was how it looked exactly the same as before the fire. Later, the manager would say:

Among my dearest guests was someone who loved the inn as it used to be.

When the inn was burned down, he said this:

“How dare you burn the inn I love! Just you wait, I’ll settle the score for this.”

It was then I realized, even this shabby place had someone who cherished it.

After punishing the villain who torched us, he casually put down one hundred million Col, and showed me the way forward.

So I used that hundred million Col to rebuild the ramshackle inn, for the one person who loved it as it was.

Where do I live now, you ask? Why, that’s obvious. Once you’ve seen other inns, you can’t go back to living in a ramshackle one.

I live in one of the other properties he gifted me. My income is dozens of times higher now, and I’m very happy.

I have only gratitude for him. The hundred million Col he gave me, I used it for his sake.

I hope to be free of that building soon…

…Forgive me. I hope he’ll come and take possession of that building as soon as possible.