030 – Mid-Level Manager Exam #3

Athletes entered the arena, which was wider than your average plain. It was pretty damn depressing to realize I was one of them.

Bwaaaam— Bwam-pabam! As the trumpets blared to signal the start of the event, a man in nothing but red panties and a crimson cape floated up into the air with a whoosh and shouted.

"Divine effect!"

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"Hah, broken again. Refresh!"

"I am Zagreus, Chief Security Officer of Soul Society, standing in for our great CEO to host today's event! And now, allow me to introduce the first game, personally designed by yours truly! Come forth!"

Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fires ignited all around the arena. Groooowwwl— The mechanical devices embedded in the arena floor began to whir to life.

Walls rose from the ground, forming a labyrinth.

"This is a labyrinth modeled after the Cretan Bull Maze, crafted by our Planning Team's pride and joy, Director Daedalus! It's packed with traps and monsters. How many of you can escape within the time limit?"

Honestly, I didn't even want to set foot in there. If a manager-level hell cockroach popped out, I'd drop dead of a heart attack for real.

...Should I just forfeit?

I looked up at the scoreboard.

Third in betting rankings. If I forfeited now, what would happen? The people who'd bet on me would go berserk. If each of them just spat on me once, I'd drown. Then I'd resurrect as a vagrant in Happy World, locked into a lifetime contract. Escaping to the surface? Impossible forever.

"Alright, all participants, get ready—"

Enter the maze and die. Don't enter and die. A Happy World miracle where every path was a dud. How the hell did it come to this?

"GO!!!!!!!!!!!!"

At that moment, Prince Zagreus exploded with crimson eyes like bombs and bellowed.

His thunderous shout spurred the participants into motion. Groooowl. Thud thud thud thud— Pad pad pad— Their footsteps roared like thunder.

Leading the pack was Admetus. He bolted at unbelievable speed—like a goddamn bullet.

"Manager Jo! Victory is mine!"

He vanished in a whirlwind of dust.

"Chase him! Chase!"

"Damn it, Admetus takes the lead again!"

The chasers weren't slow either. Not lightning-fast, but cheetah-level for sure.

And me?

"M-M-Manager Jo isn't moving!"

"Only Manager Jo remains at the starting line! What the hell is going on!?"

"Is he forfeiting!?"

The announcers were in a frenzy. Just like they said, I hadn't entered the killer maze and was still at the start.

Why? "Gaaah! Save me! Save meee!"

"H-Hydra! The cursed monster Hydra!"

"Hell wolf spiders too! Argh! My limbs are getting torn off!"

Crunch, cruuunch. Snap snap. Hiiiing! Horrific sounds were already echoing from the maze.

I didn't know what hell wolf spiders were, but Hydra was the worst beast in Greek myth—even execs feared it. I'd drop dead just sniffing its breath.

Forfeit after all?

I glanced up, and that insane betting amount kept burning into my eyes. It was crushing me! The crowd's stares from the stands stung worse than cactus spines. I bowed my head to steady my nerves.

Just think a bit more. Round 1 would take at least an hour, so ten minutes of pondering was fine. It was literally life or death—I could hesitate that long!

That's when I spotted something.

"Huh, this is..."

A hell clover sprouting from the arena grass. The ultra-rare one that made you happy just finding it.

Mrs. Kshalri said she'd trade a cactus for this.

Hell cacti had recently revealed insane effects, making them harder to snag than stars in the sky. Word was, top execs and their wives were hoarding them.

Finding a hell clover for priority trade? Pure luck jackpot. Ever since learning cacti repelled hell cockroaches, I'd been buying every one I saw—but they were never enough.

Lucky break!

Sudden thought: 99% chance of death in the maze. Better to pick clovers here, right? Sure, the betting crowd might stone me in rage.

But if I survive, I can handle that. Plans were forming. Hell, it could even lay groundwork for my "get fired" scheme.

"In the end, this whole tournament is my victory as the survivor."

That's when—something weird happened.

Mr. Admetus returned to the entrance, looking utterly wrecked.

"J-Jo... you just said victory..."

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Prince of Hell, Zagreus. Hovering in the air, he surveyed the maze with eyes blazing like fire.

Battles raged everywhere, with injuries and dropouts piling up.

"No interference from the regressive Tartarus faction, it seems. For now."

Zagreus was CSO of Soul Society—Chief Security Officer. In this company, "security" didn't mean blocking outsiders; it meant preventing escapes from within.

Once you stepped in, no one got out. That was Soul Society's first principle, even amid business renewal.

This maze embodied that principle.

"Running the manager exam while researching and testing security enhancements. Still handling multiple tasks at once, eh, Zagreus."

Fwoomp. Goddess of ghosts Melinoë floated up beside him.

She overlooked the maze, smiling at Jo Iseo standing alone at the start.

"As expected, Manager Jo is the only one who grasps the 'essence' of this exam. He hasn't even set foot in a maze with no exit from the start. Zagreus, your shallow trick's been seen through."

"...Hah."

He didn't show it, but Prince Zagreus was impressed by Manager Jo's choice.

"Just as you say—this maze is a microcosm of Soul Society. Once you enter, no escape. They don't realize it, but there's no exit to begin with."

The maze was structurally inescapable the moment you entered. Thus, not entering was the right call.

Just stand still and you're mid-tier or better. Perfect for the key virtue a manager in Soul Society needs.

Challenge or status quo. Managers led teams and constantly crested decision hills. Most wrecked themselves with reckless zeal.

"Heard he's obsessed with achievements, yet when everyone dives into risky gambles for merits, he keeps cool-headed calm. Gives me chills—been a while."

Prince Zagreus grinned at Manager Jo.

"Mel, seeing him, does Business Renewal still seem like a failed policy? Without my renewal, where would we snag talent like that?"

Melinoë shut her mouth, no reply.

His little sister—unreadable as ever.

So Zagreus pondered—

"Zagreus, your handling's always half-baked. No one can escape? Doesn't look that way. See—there."

Melinoë nodded toward something. Admetus returning to the start.

He'd blazed through the maze, dodging monsters and traps.

"First place is mine!"

For Admetus, veteran of the Argo expedition, it was no big deal. The problem? No exit anywhere.

That's when he got it—the exam's essence.

Designed by CSO Prince Zagreus. In Soul Society, security means absolute no-escape. Maybe there was no exit from the start...

His mind flashed. One exit: the entrance he'd come from.

Can't stand still now.

The others will catch on soon! I gotta get back first! This exam's about returning to the entrance, not finding an exit!

Admetus rocketed back. Convinced he was first escapee.

But? The start/finish line he thought empty had Manager Jo standing there.

"Oh, another hell clover. Luck's holding steady."

Leisurely picking clovers.

Admetus was stunned.

Faster than me, the fastest on the Argo...? No, he never even entered. Meaning...he saw through the execs' intent from the jump!?

Admetus recalled: the man who'd perfectly reformed Sisyphus, dubbed Soul Society's top schemer.

Not coincidence—

"In the end, this whole tournament is my victory as the survivor."

Manager Jo declared his 'victory.' Admetus was convinced: this guy's the real deal.

I'd been thinking of just picking clovers at the entrance when Mr. Admetus came back. What the hell? He even yelled, looking super pissed.

"Daaaamn! Manager Jo! I lost this round, but I won't lose the next!"

"Pardon? Lost? Mr. Admetus, more importantly, why'd you come back..."

"Es...escaped."

"Never imagined a maze with no exit..."

"What kinda sadistic test is this!"

I shut my mouth as more people started trickling back to the entrance. Something bad was afoot, clearly.

Soon the announcers shrieked.

"Round 1! Labyrinth Escape winner—is Penalty Execution Dept.'s Jo Iseo, Happy World's root of roots, the rising star of the sacred bloodline!"

"To see from the start that the entrance was the exit! Amazing! Truly the man chosen by Titan King Cronus!"

"Top contender Admetus finishes 2nd again! Finishes 2nd again!"

"Why say it twice? Why twice?"

"Aaaah! Betting rankings ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠updated this instant!!!!!"

"Hold first till the end, and regardless of overall win, you'll earn an audience with our great and fearsome CEO! Manager Jo! One big step toward honor and glory...!!!"

Gaaah! Forfeit! Gotta forfeit! Not about dying—CEO meeting was the one thing I absolutely had to dodge right now!

I raised my hand to forfeit—

"Manager Jo raises his hand! Victory pose!"

"Overwhelming! Overwhelming!"

Waaaaaah—

The crowd's cheers drowned out my forfeit cry.