That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Underground Labyrinth Manager

"Hey, Frieren. Want to stay here with me?"

Chishiya cut through the silence.

"Your destination is the place where souls rest, right?"

"Aqua can help you with that."

"And if you're interested in understanding humans... I can help you."

Chishiya pointed out the window, toward the maze of streets teeming with people.

"Things are still pretty lively around here."

"If you stay, I'm sure you'll have plenty of interesting stories to share."

"And in return, you can study the magic in the Library at your own pace while you're on staff. How's that sound?"

Frieren and Fern looked at each other.

Thinking it through carefully, he wasn't wrong.

If they could reconnect with Himmel and the others without needing to travel all the way to Endai, it would definitely save time. And they'd get to stay with everyone too.

After a moment's thought, the two of them—

Frieren spoke.

"Sounds good."

"But Stark still doesn't know. We'll need to talk it over when he gets back."

"Can we give you an answer in a few days?"

Chishiya nodded.

"Sure."

Then—

Chishiya used the Lord of Wisdom to instantly draft three documents and handed them over.

"If you decide to stay, this outlines what the company can offer you, along with your job description."

"Just let me know once you've talked it through."

Chishiya had already thought it through.

If Frieren and the others agreed, he'd find a way to revive the Hero's Party.

Bring them all in to work under one roof.

Make them loyal and productive corporate employees!

Don't worry, he had a conscience. He'd never exploit them.

But resurrection was expensive, so… a 1,000-year labor contract was only reasonable.

"If there's nothing else, let's adjourn."

The two of them watched Chishiya's back as he left and looked down at the contract.

The first line caught their eyes:

Join the Company, Achieve Immortality.

Fern: "?"

Frieren: "???"

——————————

The sun had set.

Splash!

Open-air bath.

Chishiya poured a wooden bucket of hot water over his head.

The best part of the day—unwinding in a warm bath after work.

Chishiya leaned back in the tub, draped a hot towel over his eyes.

Behind him, the bamboo water spout clacked rhythmically with the flow.

By the way... how long has it been since Darkness left?

Almost two months?

Still no word.

Without that masochistic knight around, things felt... less chaotic.

Time to think about Frieren and the others.

If they really agree to stay, he'll need to figure out how to revive Himmel.

Might need to consult with Aqua.

Would they need to dig up his grave first?

By this timeline, Himmel's been dead almost thirty years, right?

Would a resurrection even work?

Even if it did, he'd just be an old man...

That won't do.

Imagine sending an old grandpa to work every day, cane in hand. This isn't a retirement home.

It's like those elderly security guards from back in his old world.

Ninety-six years old and you're afraid to honk at them in the parking lot.

Best to stay young.

More productivity that way.

And Himmel's values? The guy was corporate gold.

If the company ever launches an education department, it should offer nine years of compulsory schooling in Lapris.

Start ideological training from childhood.

Let Himmel be in charge.

Honestly, he might even be better than Rimuru for the role.

Rinsing off again, Chishiya put on his bathrobe and stepped out.

At the bedroom door, Megumin was waiting.

"…What are you doing here?"

"Um…"

Megumin held out a steaming bowl of soup, then looked away, cheeks slightly red.

"I, uh… just felt like having soup today, and I accidentally made too much."

"I happened to be passing by… so I thought I'd give you a bowl to try."

"Of course, it doesn't mean anything. Don't get the wrong idea!"

This was a nourishing soup she learned from her mom when she went back home.

Chishiya stared blankly.

She can cook? Is this edible?

He took the bowl and sniffed it cautiously.

Smelled legit.

Megumin frowned as she watched him test it like he was checking for poison.

"If you don't want it, just give it back. I'll hand it off to someone else!"

She reached for it.

Chishiya pressed a hand to her forehead and raised the bowl up out of reach.

No matter how high she stretched on tiptoe, she couldn't get it back.

"Who said I'm not drinking it?"

He turned around, downed it all in one go, and handed the bowl back.

"Pretty good. Didn't expect you to have this kind of talent."

The flavor reminded him of home.

When he was a kid, he caught colds a lot. His mom used to make soup that tasted just like this. He still missed it sometimes.

Each of these girls had their own specialties.

If he had to rank them...

Shuna was undisputed Tier 0.

Megumin and Yunyun? Solid Tier 1.

Shion could be… Tier 10086.

Megumin's expression brightened as she raised her chin proudly.

"Hehe~"

"Of course. Komekko and I used to catch crayfish when we were kids."

"Sometimes I'd pick mushrooms and make soup. I've always been confident in my cooking."

As the saying goes, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Success!

Totally worth all the trial-and-error.

But before she could celebrate—

Chishiya bonked her on the head.

"You're getting a bit too bold lately, aren't you?"

"What's with all this 'you, you, you' talk? Have you forgotten? Call me Sensei."

Megumin pouted. "Tsk."

She'd recently realized something.

There were way too many girls around Sensei.

Even if she spent the most time with him...

It didn't mean she had the advantage.

Maybe it was their teacher-student dynamic, but he didn't seem to see her as a woman at all.

Especially after that sneak-attack incident involving Miss Shion not long ago.

Luckily she and Frieren had witnessed it, or who knows what would've happened.

So frustrating...

She was clearly old enough to marry!

Yet he always treated her like a kid.

Hmph. Give it a few years.

She would definitely grow into a woman Yunyun could only envy!

"You're only a few years older than me…"

Megumin muttered.

Sensei was barely twenty himself.

They were basically the same age. She had no idea what was wrong.

Did she not have enough charm?

Chishiya pulled on both of Megumin's cheeks with a deadpan expression.

"I'm still your Sensei, even if I'm just a few years older."

This girl walked around like an elementary schooler. Who would believe she's an adult?

"It hurts! It hurts~!"

"Gomenasai! Sensei! Stop, stop! I was wrong!"

Megumin squirmed as he continued pulling her cheeks.

(To be continued.)

***

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