"Black Company Labyrinth" is an anime series scheduled to begin airing in July 2021. Officially billed as a corporate slave dungeon fantasy, it's a comical and exhilarating story about a man who, despite being forced to endure harsh labor at a black company in a fantasy world, rises through wisdom and courage to save the world from the black company. This time, we've compiled a glossary of terms that appear in "Black Company Labyrinth"!
Glossary #1: Amuria
The protagonist, Kinji Ninomiya, is transported to another world inhabited by demi-humans. In the past, adventurers would venture into labyrinths inhabited by monsters, with the most powerful ones winning fame and fortune. However, as modernization progressed, the energy source mined from the labyrinths, known as "magic stones," began to be utilized, and nations and corporations began to manage the labyrinths. As a result, a civilization comparable to modern Japan was built, but so too was a working environment comparable to that of modern Japan.
Glossary Part 2: Detmold Magic Mine Ruins
The dungeon where Kinji was forced to work after being transported to another world. It was a so-called black company, forcing employees to work in a brutally brutal environment, yet only paying them enough to barely survive. Their main job is mining magic stones. Spiritualism and power harassment run rampant in the workplace, creating a homey atmosphere where smiles are never far away.
Glossary #3: Business Trip
This is an slang term used at Kinji's company. It refers to the task of diving into a labyrinth to dig up high-purity magic stones. The labyrinth where Kinji works is an extremely dangerous environment, with monsters roaming everywhere, and deaths occurring every year. Going deep into the labyrinth is close to suicide. However, it offers high rewards.
Glossary #4: Black Companies
This term refers to companies that treat their young employees as if they are being exploited, with extremely long working hours, quotas, no proper time off, forced overtime, unpaid overtime, and rampant power harassment. They may subject employees to brainwashing-like training, emphasize job satisfaction, and barely pay their salaries. While death from overwork among workers has become a social issue, the problem of black companies is difficult to detect and correct because it is hard to bring to light.
Glossary #5: Reisach Mining
Reisach Mining is the company that oversees the Detmold Magic Mine Ruins, where Kinji works. Its main business activities are the distribution and sale of magic stones, research and development, and labyrinth exploration and mining. Despite being a major player in the industry, it underpays its employees and forces them to work until they break down. It's a black company that promotes loyalty and job satisfaction, and indoctrinates its employees through brainwashing. In the future, Amuria, black companies rule the world and threaten to destroy it.
Glossary Part 6: Exploration Department
This is one of the departments within Reisach Mining, and it's a particularly dangerous department that explores, mines, and fights monsters in labyrinths. It's so dangerous that it's notorious for casualties, but even if an accident causes damage, no compensation is provided. The working environment here is even more brutal than the mining department where Kinji worked, and experts have said, "That's not a place for cultured, intelligent people to work."
Glossary #7: Saying it's impossible is a liar's rant
This is a famous quote from Kinji's boss after he was promoted to the Exploration Department. It's not impossible if you don't quit halfway. It becomes impossible because you quit halfway, but it's not impossible if you don't quit halfway. The original quote was left by Miki Watanabe, founder of the Watami Group, which was once synonymous with black companies. He has also made other radical statements that epitomize the black management style. Thanks to reforms, the Watami Group has now been selected as a white company, but the actual situation is unknown.
Glossary #8: Labyrinth Ants
Ant-like monsters that inhabit the Detmold Magic Mine Ruins. They are found around the third basement floor and their captains are 1.5m to 1.8m tall. They are omnivorous and possess some knowledge of vegetation. They are social insects centered around a queen ant, and the strongest rule as absolute dictators.
Glossary #9: Labyrinth Black Company
This organization was created by Kinji to rebel against and take over the Reisach Mining Company. In addition to Rimu and Wanibe, its members include the queen ant and many other Labyrinth Ants. Later, the hero Kinou Shia and the male shrine maiden from the future, Ranga, join the organization.
Glossary #10: Company Slave Island
This island is where training is conducted to instill a sense of company loyalty in Reisach's executive trainees. Extremely harsh physical labor wears them down physically and mentally, and they undergo thorough training using brainwashing discs. After completing the training, they begin to feel happy working for the company.
Glossary 11: Hero
Ace employees who bring enormous profits to their companies through their high combat abilities. It's not a job, it's a title. However, the company only cares about using up heroes, viewing them as sacrifices to restore the magical power within the labyrinth, which has been depleted by magic stone mining.
Glossary 12: Demon
A monster that resides in the center of the labyrinth, it goes on a rampage in search of magical power when the entire ruins begin to run dry. In reality, it acts as a kind of guardian of the labyrinth and the planet, managing the circulation of magical power throughout the world and ensuring that the legacy of the once-prosperous Charon people does not fall into human hands. If a demon abandons its duties or leaves the labyrinth for any reason, a new demon is born.
Glossary Part 13: Demon King
In the future, in Amuria, the Demon King controls monsters and rules over humans. His subordinates control humans, providing two days off per week, benefits, and eight-hour workdays. His true identity is the demon defeated by Rim at the Detmold Demon Mine Ruins, and he is hostile to Reisach, who seeks to control the world through black companies.
[Black Company Labyrinth] Glossary Summary
Here's a list of terms that appear in "Black Company Labyrinth"! The protagonist is transported to a different world where the weak are preyed upon and there is no trace of human kindness. The setting is extremely dark, with the protagonist saddled with debt and forced to work for a black company. However, the story is comical and full of fun, with characters repeatedly falling and rising to the top, similar to the hit TV series "Kochikame." The thrilling plot is also entertaining, so be sure to check it out! The anime "Labyrinth of Black Company" will begin airing in July 2021!
