"Labyrinth Black Company" is an anime about a man transported to another world, airing from July 2021. However, what awaits him upon his arrival is a hellish life of debt and brutal physical labor at a black company. This fantasy follows a man who seizes business opportunities and rises to the top in a world without dreams or hope. Today, we'll be revealing spoilers from the story of Volume 1 of the manga!
Spoiler Part 1: Welcome to the World of Corporate Slaves
After years of hard work, the protagonist, Kinji Ninomiya, has earned a comfortable, unearned life as a NEET. He looks down on the hard-working corporate slaves of the world. But one day, he's suddenly transported to another world, naked and undressed. He was transported to a fantasy world of swords and magic inhabited by demi-humans and monsters. Four months after Kinji was transported to this world, he had been reduced to the corporate slave he had always looked down upon, and was engaged in harsh physical labor at a black company where power harassment and spiritualism were rampant. Due to the language barrier, Kinji was soon saddled with a large amount of debt and forced to work in a mining mine called the Detmold Magic Mine Ruins.
Welcome to the World of Corporate Slaves, Part 2
The other world Kinji is transported to is called "Amuria." In the past, adventurers ventured into labyrinths in search of quick fortunes. However, as modernization progressed, the "magic stones" mined from the labyrinths began to be used as an energy source and came to be managed by the state and its authorized companies. Kinji worked in the labyrinth under harsh working conditions, but one day he discovered a hidden room. There, Kinji recruits Wanibe, a demi-human with a lackluster career, few friends, and no regrets, and they begin mining large quantities of magic stones in the hidden room.
Welcome to the World of Corporate Slaves, Part 3
Kinji and Wanibe were steadily mining magic stones when a terrible monster appeared and tried to use them as food. However, Kinji struck a deal with the monster, agreeing to feed it his fill of more delicious food. The monster, Rimu, disguised himself as a girl and descended to the ground, saving Kinji and Wanibe. However, Rimu's appetite was insane, and the food costs placed a tremendous strain on Kinji's finances. Furthermore, he was also required to eat Kinji if he wasn't full, leaving him with the worst possible situation: death or further debt.
Spoiler Part 2: Crying for Gold in the Heart of the Mine
Since the monster Rimu came to Kinji's house, Kinji's income has increased, but the cost of feeding Rimu far exceeds that income. He tries to put Rimu to work, hoping to find some use for him, but he becomes hungry with every movement, and when he gets hungry, he becomes violent and rampages, becoming a living bad debt. Meanwhile, Kinji picks up a number of items near where Rimu was, and one of them catches his eye: the "Staff of Slumber." The Staff of Slumber's effect is brainwashing. Kinji uses the Slumbering Wand to make the workers unconscious, then begins to work them to the point of near death from overwork.
Shouting for Gold in the Heart of the Mine Part 2
Kinji's brainwashing has increased labor efficiency, but the workers' fatigue is reaching its peak. It's a lie to say it's impossible; the brainwashed workers are being pushed to their limits. Wanibe warns that the company will go bankrupt if it continues like this, but Kinji gets carried away and pushes the workers to their limits. However, the time of collapse suddenly arrives. The Slumbering Staff also reached its limit due to overuse. When the Staff broke due to overwork, the workers were freed from their brainwashing and began beating Kinji to a pulp. No more brainwashing!
Spoiler Part 3: Fight! Salarymen
Kinji and Wanibe, who had performed well at their current workplace, were recognized (and noticed) by their superiors and promoted to the Reisach Mining Exploration Department. However, their workplace, where they explored dungeons and fought monsters, was the worst possible workplace, where death was constantly at stake. At work, Wanibe is injured, and Kinji's boss tells him he's lying when he says he can't do it, forcing him to do the work of two people. As his mental and vital strength are gradually worn down in the harsh environment, Kinji decides he must do something before he reaches his limit.
Fight! Salaryman 2
Just then, he and his coworkers are surrounded by a swarm of labyrinth ants, monsters that live in the labyrinth. In dire straits, Kinji calls for help over the intercom, but his boss pays no attention and instead begins talking about today's quota. Just as it becomes clear they'll break into his office, Kinji discovers something.
Spoiler #4: An Impossible Battle
What they found was a transformation drug. Kinji and his friends escaped by taking the transformation drug (a banned substance) and mimicking the labyrinth ants. Furthermore, their shitty bosses, realizing what was happening, blocked the entrance to the labyrinth, preventing them from escaping. Thanks to the effects of the transformation drug, Kinji is able to understand the ant language, so he speaks to the abandoned labyrinth ant A, inciting discontent over his poor treatment. He then gets the other ants involved and organizes a makeshift labor union, leading to a rebellion against the queen ant.
An Impossible Battle Part 2
The ants, manipulated by Kinji, demand their rights and equality. The queen ant loses all control of the business, but at that moment, Rimu, hungry and ferocious, attacks. He devours many of the labyrinth ants. Kinji overcomes this dire situation, but after exterminating a large number of the labyrinth ants and returning alive, he is only awarded a certificate of commendation. There's no way he'll be recognized as having suffered an industrial accident or receive any special benefits. Kinji, enraged by his shitty boss's crappy behavior, joins forces with the surviving queen ant and the labyrinth ants to form an organization called "Labyrinth Black Company" to take over Reisach Mining.
[Labyrinth Black Company] Volume 1 Spoiler Summary
Here's a spoiler-filled preview of Volume 1 of "Labyrinth Black Company"! This work is about a black company in another world, and it also has some fantasy elements reminiscent of "Kochikame." It's also an exhilarating story that punishes black companies, so it's recommended for anyone with a grudge against them. "Labyrinth Black Company" will begin airing in July 2021!
