That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Underground Labyrinth Manager

Just as Himmel and Heiter were still dazed, the young goddess beside them suddenly spoke up.

"Lady Aqua is about to contact you two. Please get ready."

She looked visibly excited.

Like a fangirl who had finally gotten a response from her idol.

"Huh?"

Ready for what?

This was their first time being dead. A little guidance would've been nice, thanks.

Meanwhile, back in the room…

Aqua closed her eyes and began to pray.

A shimmering projection slowly appeared in the air.

On the other end was a peaceful garden.

Then, a blonde girl and two elderly men came into view on the screen.

"Lady Aqua!"

The young goddess immediately bowed with reverence.

"You're the new manager of Heaven, right?"

Aqua stared at her for a moment, trying to recall.

Nope. No memory whatsoever.

"Yes!"

The blonde goddess nodded repeatedly.

"Thank you for your hard work," Aqua said casually.

"My friend wants to speak with those two. Is that alright?"

"N-no problem! Of course!"

The girl nodded so hard she nearly gave herself whiplash.

Oh my gods.

Lady Aqua just thanked her. She thanked her.

This was an achievement worth bragging about for decades.

Back on the Heaven side, Heiter and Himmel stared at the blonde goddess in disbelief.

In their minds, goddesses were supposed to be noble and majestic.

They never imagined they'd see one stammer with excitement like a common fangirl.

"Wow, you two are really old."

"I thought souls were supposed to look younger."

At that moment—

From the other side of the screen, Frieren commented with a deadpan tone.

"?"

The two men blinked in surprise.

They could see and hear everything?

The blonde goddess turned to them. "You may speak with them now."

Communicate?

Just as they were processing that—

"Lord Heiter…" Fern began softly.

Even now, she still couldn't believe it.

She was afraid it was all just a dream.

She was really speaking to Lord Heiter.

This time, it wasn't a illusion.

It was real. It was really him.

Heiter was stunned for a moment, then smiled warmly.

"Fern has grown into a beautiful young lady."

Fern's lips quivered as she raised her sleeve and wiped the corners of her eyes.

"I've always behaved myself. I've been a good girl."

"And I've become a full-fledged mage."

"So please, don't worry."

She steadied herself and gave a gentle smile.

Eisen's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

Old companions reunited after decades… it was a moving sight.

Chishiya stood to the side and didn't interrupt.

Instead, he checked the floating system window.

[Target: Heiter]

[Recruitable Employee]

[Recruitment Reward: Unlock Wonder – Hagia Sophia]

Hagia Sophia: A grand, sacred architectural masterpiece. A cultural landmark that transcends worlds.

Effect: Allows the establishment of religion within the Labyrinth. Accumulate Faith from believers.

Faith increases your power and grants debuff resistance to your followers.

A new Wonder, huh?

Chishiya glanced at the reward for Himmel.

[Target: Himmel]

[Recruitable Employee]

[Recruitment Reward: Unlock Wonder – Hall of Valor]

A brave warrior beloved by mankind. Worshipped across history, your deeds echo eternally.

Effect: Unlocks the Hall of Valor. Recruit heroic spirits from across human history to fight for you.

"?"

Chishiya raised his brows.

Valhalla?

Could he summon Joan of Arc and King Arthur now?

That would be… kind of amazing.

He looked at Himmel and Heiter still chatting with their old friends, his eyes burning with anticipation.

Things were getting really interesting.

After a while, as the emotional reunion started winding down, Chishiya stepped forward.

"You two, nice to meet you. My name is Chishiya Shuntaro."

"I'm the CEO of Underground Labyrinth Enterprise."

He looked at the two elderly men thoughtfully.

So old... Could they still work?

Was this what "elderly workforce reintegration" looked like?

"Chishiya-san, thank you for your help."

"Frieren and the others already told us about you."

"We're very grateful."

The two bowed respectfully.

Chishiya waved his hand casually.

Whoa there, don't thank me yet—it's not free.

"You're welcome. I'm always happy to help others."

Then, with a practiced motion, he pulled out two contracts from his coat.

"This is...?"

The two blinked.

Chishiya gave them a professional corporate smile.

"Would you be interested in joining us?"

"Your teammates have already signed on. With the two of you, the family's finally complete."

"But... we're just souls, aren't we?"

Chishiya smiled. "Minor detail."

You think souls can escape me?

Come on, even the dryads are spirits, and they still clock in.

You think dying gets you out of working?

At worst, I'll reclass you as undead and put you on the payroll.

"Like I said earlier, I'll prepare suitable bodies and reincarnate you."

"Of course, not for free."

"If you agree verbally, that's enough. You can sign the paperwork later."

"I'm an honest man. I don't lie."

Himmel and Heiter paused.

What kind of kid was this?

He actually wanted to hire these two ancient souls?

They'd been dead for decades. They were supposed to be retired!

And yet… he still made the offer seriously.

He must really mean it.

Besides, Frieren had mentioned how chill life was in Chishiya's Labyrinth.

Wasn't this basically early retirement in a better location?

He probably said all that to ease their minds.

What a considerate young man.

They looked at each other and gave Chishiya a small bow.

"Then we'll be in your care, Chishiya-san."

Bingo.

Chishiya smiled.

"And I look forward to working with you both."

---

Two Hours Later

Everyone returned to the Labyrinth.

The call with Himmel and Heiter ended for now.

The two were in high spirits after seeing their old comrades.

They immediately went to brag to the other old-timers in Heaven.

Meanwhile, back in the real world…

Eisen was dumbfounded by the Labyrinth.

He'd explored plenty of dungeons before, but this was something else entirely.

At the entrance of the underground Labyrinth, a crowd of adventurers were filming with projection devices.

Each had a floating virtual screen in front of them.

They were talking animatedly into their displays, like they were possessed.

"Alright folks, today we're exploring the secret coffee shop hidden in the back alley! The food's rumored to be amazing! Let's check it out!"

"Three-day Arena King challenge! Follow me! If I lose, I'll wash my hair upside down!"

"Today's video: How to solo the elite boss, Murloc Priest, on the 6th floor. Gear, strategy, mechanics—this guide covers it all. Follow me if you're tired of wiping!"

…

Eisen stood frozen.

What the heck was happening?

He was completely lost.

Too old… he was too old.

Was this how kids had fun these days?