That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Underground Labyrinth Manager

This new event had just launched yesterday, and it already attracted a huge crowd of adventurers.

They were gathered in front of the leaderboard, arguing heatedly.

"This gravity mode is too hard. Even at 1x gravity I feel like I can't breathe!"

"Yeah, but the training effect is insane. I only stayed in the 1x room for an hour and I can already feel myself getting stronger."

"Oh my god! Look, someone is starting a challenge in the 10x gravity room!"

"Huh? Seriously? That's amazing!"

On the leaderboard, an ID called [Lance] appeared under the 10x gravity category.

Everyone immediately opened the viewing panel to watch his challenge.

---

Inside the training ground,

a sturdy man stared at the huge words floating in front of him.

[Dear Adventurer]

[This training is to strengthen your body. Magic is disabled.]

[There are barriers on both sides. Touch them and you fail.]

[The road is filled with traps. Touch them and you fail.]

[If the rolling boulder behind you crushes you, you fail.]

[Then… let the training begin!]

The text vanished. Lance rubbed his eyes and stood frozen.

He was a fairly well-known adventurer.

He had heard rumors that this labyrinth had recently become popular among adventurers, so he came here to challenge it and make a name for himself.

The first four floors were easy. He cleared them without much effort.

He thought it was just some flashy gimmick.

But when he reached the fifth floor, he realized this place was on a completely different level.

From a distance he saw a huge crowd of adventurers gathering in front of a building.

Just from that, he could tell it was no simple place.

And with so many spectators, it was the perfect chance to make a name for himself.

Especially when he saw that the highest record on the leaderboard was only 5x gravity.

This was a golden chance to show off.

But he never expected the training room to be like this.

The path ahead was packed with deadly contraptions.

Ground spikes. Magic tools that spewed fire.

And even…

He looked ahead and swallowed hard.

There were actual cliffs to jump across!

What kind of sick joke was this?!

Wasn't this supposed to be a training ground?

And he even paid an entrance fee to get in!

While Lance was still confused, a loud rumbling came from behind.

He turned his head.

The ceiling opened up, and a massive stone boulder that filled the entire corridor rolled down toward him.

Rumbling straight at him.

???

Oh crap!

If that thing caught up, he would be crushed into paste!

He reflexively tried to cast magic to block it.

But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't activate a single spark of magic!

In an instant, the words he had seen earlier flashed in his mind.

[Magic is disabled in this training.]

The anti-magic barrier, cast by Chishiya himself, was absolutely airtight.

Panic immediately hit Lance.

The fear of death surged into his chest. Right now, there was only one thought in his head:

Run!

He spun around and tried to take a step forward.

[10x Gravity Activated. Brace yourself.]

The next moment,

an invisible weight suddenly pressed down on him.

In an instant, the muscles on his face twisted.

His entire body slammed into the ground with a heavy thud.

He couldn't even move a finger.

What the hell…

Lance's thoughts were a complete mess.

Isn't 10x gravity way too much?

How could anyone possibly move without magic under that?

Boom!

The massive boulder rolled over.

When Lance regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a moving conveyor belt.

The crushing gravity was gone.

Was that all just an illusion?

No. That gravity was real.

He stood up shakily. The conveyor belt was still running beneath his feet.

It seemed like he had been rolling along on it after getting hit.

This was a mechanism Chishiya designed.

After all, the training room space was limited.

So he simply used the principle of a treadmill.

Every adventurer who entered would first enter an illusion.

In there, their brain was forced to dodge obstacles. Meanwhile, their physical fitness improved under the strain of gravity.

---

Everyone watching outside clicked their tongues.

"As expected. Failed instantly."

"10x gravity isn't easy. If it was, we'd all be doing it by now."

"Better to go step by step. Start with 1x and build up. Not only will we get stronger, but we'll also climb the rankings. Two birds with one stone."

"If you ask me, it'll be impressive enough if someone can break through 5x this month."

---

Not far away,

Chishiya was looking over the leaderboard.

As expected, the early season rankings weren't very meaningful.

So far, not a single person had passed 5x gravity.

Looks like he needed to spice things up a little.

Chishiya turned to Darkness.

"Want to give it a try?"

"Eh, me?"

"You've been idle for two months. Can't you at least help me advertise it a little?"

Darkness was stunned.

"Advertise? You've never paid me a single coin!"

"You never did any work! What salary are you talking about?!"

Seriously.

In this guy's head, what is she, a freeloader?

Two months off and she still wants money?

It's good enough that he hasn't charged her rent.

"I…!"

She paused, then lowered her voice so the others couldn't hear.

"Didn't I wear a maid outfit to help you sell stuff last time?"

Chishiya: "?"

She had the nerve to bring that up?

"Did I ask you to do that?

Besides, you enjoyed it yourself. Did you forget?"

If she hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have remembered.

Last time, she was the most enthusiastic one, moaning and groaning like a lunatic.

Completely insane.

"…"

Darkness wanted to argue back but didn't know what to say.

Somehow… what he said actually made sense.

"So… what do you want me to do?"

Chishiya pointed ahead.

"Just break a record.

Do whatever you can. You should be fine even with 50x gravity."

He pinched her arm to check her muscle strength.

With her body, that level shouldn't be a problem.

"So… everyone will be able to see my challenge right away, right?"

Darkness suddenly asked, her voice filled with excitement.

Chishiya: "?"

"F-fifty times gravity… just imagining it makes me so excited…

The thought of everyone watching me completely helpless… hm… heh heh…"

Darkness grinned with a twisted smile.

"But… I won't let you get your way. Bring it on!"

Without another word, she dashed off.

For the past two months at home, she had been forced to act like a proper noble lady.

She was practically suffocating.

Now, she finally had a chance to let loose!

(To be continued.)