Chapter 5: 5
Azusa's expression hardened, her voice tinged with anger.
"The Erosian people, who made their living from trade with the Mediterranean, have a strong business mentality and are good at advertising. The Erosian Republic has twisted and used feminism to promote itself as an 'advanced nation that values sexual liberation and women's freedom,' and because there have traditionally been no sexual taboos, it has earned high praise from feminists in the international community who are unaware of the reality of the situation. Some humanitarian organizations are aware of the reality, but are unable to do anything because it is in fact a state-sponsored crime. Economically, the Erosian Republic has a strong influence, and while foreign countries publicly criticize it, they are forced to depend on it behind closed doors."
Anzu’s eyes widened, her mind struggling to process this new reality. The room seemed to spin around her, the weight of the contract and Azusa’s words pressing down on her like a physical force.
Azusa continued, "The Republic of Erosia's 'contract supremacy' is well known in legal circles as an example of the misuse of law and contracts, but unfortunately it is not known to the general public. The Republic of Erosia's clever censorship and propaganda has obscured the truth, and the media is unable to report on it"
Anzu's eyes welled up with tears, her voice quivering as she tried to speak. "But... but I have no memory of it. How could they... how could they do this to me?"
Azusa's expression softened, her voice gentle yet firm. "The Republic of Erosia has a long history of using contracts to exploit people, especially women. They use legal jargon and vague wording to trap people into agreements that they don't fully understand. These contracts are carefully crafted to give the performers absolutely no legal ground to stand on," Azusa explained, her voice rising with each word. "They will bind your actions with the laws of their own country, forcing you to comply. Even if you try to sue them later, foreigners have limited legal options, and since the contract clearly proves that there was 'consent,' you could be sued in return for trying to discredit them with false testimony."
Anzu gasped, clutching the contract like a lifeline. "So, you're saying I'm trapped?" she whispered, barely audible. Azusa's face went heavy as she nodded. "Basically, yes. They used incense, contracts, and the traditional culture of Erosia to force you into a situation where you have no legal recourse. The Republic of Erosia is its own sovereign nation, and has very strict laws regarding contracts and performance rights. If you sign it in Erosia, it will be considered legally binding anywhere. To make matters worse, the Republic of Erosia has an ironclad law that says it's the performer who agrees to the terms of the performance. Therefore, in the Republic of Erosia, you have no rights as an individual."
Anzu's heart sank as she listened, the room spinning around her as she tried to process the magnitude of Azusa's words.
"I don’t think I need to tell you the truth a second time," Azusa said, her voice heavy with despair. "This is a practical matter, and we have to accept the reality of the situation. This is a situation that is beyond anyone's control, and it is highly likely that you will be deceived. You should not have signed the contracts without fully understanding them, but this is the kind of place that waits for you to make a mistake. Azusa said, “I’ve heard from a reliable source that they had another performer in a similar situation a few months ago. She was caught up in the same web and became pregnant. But she was so desperate to escape that she tried to terminate the pregnancy. The authorities found out and arrested her. She was sentenced to three years in prison for violating the contract. The contract explicitly mentions the risks of pregnancy from participating in the show, and the fact that the performer agrees to carry it to term, even if that means legal action will be taken if they attempt to end it. The Republic of Erosia is a sovereign state, and their laws, if signed and agreed to, bind you to your promise. So no matter where you are in the world, you have to follow the laws and contracts of Erosia."
Azusa concluded by saying, “It may seem cold, but for now all I can say is that you have to accept the situation. You need to protect what you have and yourself. It’s hard, but it’s the only way you can survive in this world.” After parting ways with Azusa, Anzu stepped out onto the bustling streets of Tokyo, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. As she walked, she felt a mix of anger and confusion, unable to reconcile the reality of her situation with the life she had known. Her hands trembled slightly as she pulled out her smartphone, her fingers hovering over the screen as she accessed the online bulletin board Azusa had told her about.
The site was a hidden corner of the internet, a place where women who had been ensnared by the Republic of Erosia could share their stories and seek support. The page was filled with stories of deception and manipulation, each horrifying.
The page was filled with stories of deception and manipulation, each horrifying.
Anzu scrolled through the posts, her heart aching for the women who had been exploited and betrayed. She felt her breath quicken when she spotted a familiar name. Her name was Kujaku Mai, a former dealer and duelist (a professional player of a competitive card game). Anzu had met her when she accompanied a friend to a card game tournament.
Invited to an international card game tournament in the Republic of Elosia, she was deliberately made to lose and forced to have sex as punishment (it was staged to look like she was being raped as punishment for losing the game), and when she returned home she found out she was pregnant.
"She was an experienced dealer and duelist, and I know for a fact that she was forced to lose the game, which meant she was subjected to being sexually exploited as well."
The bulletin board was a bleak testament to the Republic of Erosia's exploitation of its performers, whether in live shows or these so-called tournaments. Anzu's heart raced as she read the stories, each one more chilling than the last. This was a world where women were objects, pawns to be manipulated and exploited for the pleasure of others. The sheer audacity of it all left her breathless, her mind reeling with the implications.
The story of Kujaku Mai was particularly impressive because the protagonist was someone Anzu knew. As she read, she could almost hear the woman's raw voice, venting her pain and anger. It seemed as if the tournament had been a well-planned trap.
This tournament was not an official tournament organized by the game company that produced it, but rather had more of an event element to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Erosia (counting from when it became a republic, so the actual history is much longer). The official rules of the game could not be changed, but these were abused to commit fraud, and it seems that a system was set up in which certain female duelists were intentionally made to lose, with sexual penalties being imposed, which was then presented to the audience as a show.
Anzu re-read the contract she had in front of her. There was a clause about penalties, and by signing the contract, she was made to agree to the existence of penalties, that she would receive them under certain conditions, and that the penalties would be sexual in nature. She cringed in revulsion as she reread the clauses, her stomach churning.
Article 3 - Content of Games and Penalties
1. The Performer understands that the Show may involve physical interaction as a penalty in games or competitions. She agrees that such interaction may be used as a penalty.
2. The Performer agrees that, based on the Contract, she may be physically affected as a result of the game or competition, and acknowledges that the results will be used as entertainment content.
As Anzu read through the clauses, it became alarmingly clear just how meticulously the Republic of Erosia had designed its trap. Mai Kujaku had been a formidable competitor, with a famously sharp mind and an uncanny ability to read her opponents. The fact that even she had been duped meant that the Republic of Erosia had outsmarted one of the best. Anzu felt a grudging respect for the ingenuity behind the trap, rather than the anger she might have expected. It was a chilling revelation, a testament to the Republic's cunning and the depth of their manipulation. As a result, Anzu was doubly impressed with Erosia's ability to blindside someone like Kujaku Mai. If Kujaku, a seasoned professional with a reputation for her shrewdness, could fall victim to their schemes, it was clear that the Republic of Erosia had honed its tactics to an art form.
The pieces were falling into place, and Anzu found herself staring at the larger picture. She leaned back in her chair, her thoughts whirling. It was impossible to ignore the common thread running through the stories. As she scrolled through the posts, she noticed one thing that stood out. The targets were all women who had a strong cultural and social influence, such as actresses, singers, dancers, fashion models, entertainers, athletes, and professional gamers. In some cases, it seemed the intention was to create a scandal by "revealing their pregnancy at a crucial time.
Anzu remembered the performance, the audience's roaring cheers, and the overwhelming euphoria that had consumed her. She had felt invincible, untouchable, even as her body had responded to the sexual stimuli. The more she thought about it, the more the pieces fell into place.
Anzu's stomach churned as she imagined the chilling reality of her situation. It would have been a case of throwing oneself into the flames. The Republic of Erosia's trap was crueler than any prison
Anzu's head was spinning. She felt like a trapped animal, cornered and desperate. Her mind raced, trying to find a way out, any way out. She couldn't just sit back and accept this fate. She refused to be a pawn in their game. She was no longer in control. She was no longer safe. And she wasn't the only one. This reality was too much to handle. But before she could even begin to process her own situation, Anzu thought of her juniors, the young dancers who looked up to her, who admired her and wanted to follow in her footsteps.
One of her juniors, Minami, had already expressed her desire to go to the international competition.
Anzu had intended to warn Minami, but knew that the other party would probably find some way to lure them into letting their guard down. Besides, since she had agreed to everything through the contract, her story wouldn't be very convincing. Whatever she said, they would probably think it was just sour grapes. Anzu looked at her phone and shook her head. She couldn’t let Minami or anyone else get trapped in the same web. She had to do something. Anything. But what? How could she save her juniors without implicating herself? But if she took some action, she would be breaking the contract.
And that was a bold move, a move that she may not have the strength for, one that would create a legal battle lasting years before it ever got to the doors of the Republic of Erosia. For now, she resolved to stay strong and provide her unborn child with everything she needed to thrive in this world. Her child was innocent, and she would never allow her to be caught in this web.
It was a realisation that countered every fibre of her being—of her independence, her dreams, and her fierce determination—as she stood poised on the precipice of a life-altering decision. But for now, her child was her priority, and she had no other option.
Oblivious to the outside world, Anzu's surroundings seemed to pulse with an eerie silence.