That Time I Got Reincarnated as an Underground Labyrinth Manager

"Frieren, why are you back?"

Eisen was stunned.

He was the one who had asked Frieren to go to the resting place of souls to find Himmel.

Even though he wasn't sure such a place even existed, the fact that she was here now... did it mean the mission was already complete?

How long had it been? Two and a half years?

So fast?

The last time they made a journey like that, it took ten years.

Had they given up?

Just as Eisen was lost in thought, Stark stepped out from behind Chishiya.

"Master... I'm back."

He looked a little awkward.

"Stark?"

Eisen gave him a once-over. "You've gotten a lot stronger."

He stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"That's great. My apprentice has grown into a fine warrior."

"Master…"

Stark's throat tightened with emotion. He couldn't speak.

He'd never wanted his master to die. Eisen had been the last family he had in this world.

He raised his arms to cover his face. His shoulders trembled slightly.

"No matter how old you get, you're still a crybaby."

"How are we supposed to rest easy with you like this?"

Eisen gave him a hearty slap on the back, trying to cheer him up.

Then, he turned to Frieren.

"Frieren, what brings you here this time?"

He was hoping she could explain what was going on.

Frieren said calmly, "Eisen, we've decided not to go to Ende."

In Heaven

Watching the conversation in the projection, Himmel and Heiter's souls exchanged glances.

So Frieren and the others had been planning to come to Ende?

To see them?

The two were briefly stunned, then smiled and shook their heads.

That elf wasn't the nostalgic type. It wasn't surprising that she didn't come along.

Honestly, it would've been more surprising if she had.

"How heartless… After traveling together for ten years."

Himmel grumbled, leaning on his cane.

Heiter laughed.

"If you were really upset over something like that, you wouldn't have turned down the offer to reincarnate."

They were part of a team of heroes who had defeated the Demon Lord.

Each one of them had the opportunity to reincarnate into another world and start over.

But Himmel had refused.

"Hey! Says the priest who still drinks and eats meat like a barbarian."

Heiter took another swig of his wine and smirked.

"Didn't I just want to keep you company?"

"Anyway, let's not get into that now."

He paused and looked at the elf in the projection, smiling softly.

"After ten years of traveling together, don't you know her?"

"She's definitely coming."

---

At the Door

Eisen nodded after hearing Frieren's words.

"I see."

He was still a little surprised.

After all, Frieren had promised him she would go to the place where souls rest and speak with Himmel.

They'd been comrades for ten years.

He knew what kind of person she was. She might seem cold on the surface, but she always kept her word.

So yeah, he was surprised.

But he didn't press further.

"Well, if you're not going, then you're not going."

He looked at the unfamiliar faces beside her.

"Are these your new friends? Want to come in and eat? I just made lunch."

Eisen stepped aside as the smell of roasted meat drifted from the house.

Even if Frieren didn't go, he still considered her a friend.

She wasn't good at expressing emotions, but she was a good person.

"Meat?!"

Aqua's eyes lit up.

She was about to charge inside when Chishiya held her back.

Read the room, please?

Frieren also shook her head. "No, Eisen. We came to bring you with us."

"Bring me?"

Eisen stopped halfway through the door.

He turned and stroked his beard. "Frieren, I told you last time."

"I can't even lift an axe anymore. I'm too old to fight."

"Spare my old bones, would you?"

He waved it off casually.

Then suddenly, a radiant light enveloped his body.

His previously dry, wrinkled skin began to visibly rejuvenate.

A rush of strength filled his limbs.

Aqua smiled. "Alright, I cast Protection on you."

"Now you've got the strength of your youth again."

"And as a reward… can I have the barbecue?"

She licked her lips and pointed at the steaming steak on the table, looking absolutely thrilled.

Eisen: "?"

He looked over at Frieren.

She didn't react much. She was used to it.

[Target: Eisen]

[Recruitable Employee]

[Recruitment Reward: Unlock special room "Gravity Training Room" in the Labyrinth]

[Gravity Training Room: Adjustable gravity (1x–100x). Enhances strength, explosiveness, and stamina through training.]

Chishiya: "?"

He blinked for a second, then turned toward Eisen and smiled.

---

In Heaven

Himmel and Heiter were both stunned.

Especially Heiter, who turned his gaze to Aqua.

"So… was that the goddess's magic?"

Himmel asked, "Heiter, would you call that rejuvenation magic?"

"Could you do that?"

Heiter shook his head seriously.

"No way."

"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe anyone could do it."

"That blue-haired girl… she's a high priestess of incredible power. Definitely stronger than me."

Himmel stared at the girl in the projection who was shoving steak into her mouth.

He knew Heiter's abilities well. If he was praising someone like this, she must be on a different level.

As they were still mulling it over, the young goddess beside them spoke up.

She looked at Aqua with admiration.

"Of course she's powerful."

"She's my idol. One of the oldest and strongest deities."

Himmel and Heiter were stunned.

She's actually a goddess?!

That explains it. No wonder she's stronger than Heiter.

Still…

They turned to look at the image of the girl devouring meat like a starved goblin.

Not exactly the dignified type…

---

Inside the House

Chishiya took a seat. "Mr. Eisen, that's basically the situation."

He briefly explained the Labyrinth, the company's operations, and the reason they had come.

Then he casually picked up a drink from the table and took a sip.

A little sour...

Juice-flavored sparkling wine really hit the spot.

Eisen held a knife and fork in his hands but was too distracted by Aqua to eat.

"This... this is a goddess?"

"?"

Aqua's head snapped up.

She was clearly about to explode. Why did everyone keep doubting her divine identity? Didn't she look like a goddess?

"I apologize. I just didn't expect a goddess to appear in the mortal realm."

Eisen offered the most diplomatic apology he could manage.

Then he turned to Chishiya.

"Chishiya-san, can you make Stark, Fern, and the others immortal?"

If this had been ten minutes ago, he would've dismissed it as complete nonsense.

But after seeing Aqua restore him to peak condition with a single Protection spell…

He was starting to believe it.

Chishiya smiled.

"You misunderstood."

"I didn't ask them to break the limits of lifespan."

"I want all of you to do it."

(To be continued.)

***

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