Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Indefinite Contractor Draws Attention
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The welcome banquet ended almost before it even began.
The chefs, who had pulled all-nighters preparing food and wine for today only to see it go to waste, put on long faces at first. But upon hearing the news, they broke into praise for Rainer.
The grand feast was loaded onto wagons and carted off to the ramparts, transformed into a midnight snack for the soldiers.
The soldiers shed their heavy gear and dove into drink and meat, smiles blooming across their faces.
"Long live Sir Daniel!"
"Long live Lord Rainer!"
"Kazan forever!"
-Clink!
The ramparts, now a victory party, echoed with the sound of clashing glasses.
The people gathered around Daniel, enjoying the feast and cheering today's hero.
"Haha! It's a real shame we can't pour a drink for the hero."
"My apologies, but I'd rather avoid it. It makes casting magic difficult if I get drunk."
"Haha! You're a guy after my own heart. Most mages I've seen are bookish types who know nothing about the field. But not you. You're completely different."
"It's because I'm a field operative."
"Kuhahaha! Right! That's it! Here, have some soda water."
Rood, the veteran who had guarded Kazan for twenty years, let out a hearty laugh.
Look at that attitude—victory won, yet no letting his guard down.
The soldiers were lost in revelry over their triumph, but he remained utterly vigilant!
For the first time, Rood regretted that Daniel was his son’s age. If only he had a daughter or granddaughter—he could have somehow made a match!
"Don't take this the wrong way, Sir Daniel. You fight just like a knight."
"A knight?"
"Yeah. The courage not to yield an inch against barbarians, the mighty power to protect allies and repel foes, the stance that never relaxes vigilance no matter where or when. You're so convincing as a knight who happens to know magic that I'd believe it."
"Haha, you're too kind. Me, a knight?"
"It's not just me thinking that. Right, everyone?"
"Exactly!"
"I thought he was a magic-using nobleman!"
"So from now on, it's Magic Knight Sir Daniel?"
"Oh, that has a nice ring to it."
"Wahahahahaha!!!"
The chant of "Long live Magic Knight Sir Daniel!" rang out for a moment.
"Please, calm down. Magic Knight? That's too much pressure. How could I, who safely cast spells from the skies, compare to the brave knights who faced cavalry head-on from the ground?"
"Haha, so humble!"
-Smack! Smack!
'Ow, old man. Cut it out.'
His massive hand, like a pot lid, pounded my back, making my insides churn.
It was no small ordeal to endure without showing it.
"That aside, it was astonishing. I never imagined I'd see cavalry used in a siege defense."
"No wonder you were shocked. It's not something you see just anywhere."
Rood nodded.
"Everyone thinks it's just the Steel Scale Tribe because they're so infamous, but that's not the case.
The highlands are home to countless barbarian tribes. The Highland Tribe alliance, the united barbarian forces—that's the true enemy we in the North face."
"An alliance."
I perked up my ears at this new information.
"Only five tribes handle wyverns and earn the name Steel Scale. They're the strongest barbarians and the leadership of the horde. Their strikes are so overwhelming that people only remember them, leading to the notion that Steel Scale Tribe means Highland Tribe."
"I see. So the Horse Demon Tribe we fought today is one of those Highland Tribes."
"That's right. Weaker than the Steel Scale Tribe, but still among the top ten most dangerous in the highlands."
Rood grinned.
"Thanks to Magic Knight Sir Daniel, we drove them off easily."
"Enough of that, please."
Daniel gave a wry smile at Rood's teasing about knighthood again.
He considered getting revenge but decided against it—awkward vibes would ruin the mood.
In the end, Daniel chose to play along moderately.
"As they say, you learn by experience. Now I understand why Northerners are so tough. How could anyone weak fight madmen who turn sieges into cavalry charges? This fool, belatedly realizing the empire's peace owes to your defense of the North, offers you his respects."
"Huh?"
"Puhahaha! Listen to this guy!"
"A mage through and through—his eloquence is pure magic!"
"For a second, he really looked like a knight."
"Me too."
"Alright! Fill those glasses! We can't just sit here after that, can we? Everyone, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Laughter and cheers erupted.
Daniel's arrogant-free, humble words maxed out the soldiers' and knights' favor toward him.
This is a man we can trust in battle.
That thought dominated everyone's minds.
To them, Daniel was no longer just a Magic Tower mage.
The soldiers raised their glasses high to their reliable comrade, one they could entrust their backs to.
From afar, Rainer watched the party, his eyes sparkling.
"A knight, huh. Sir Rood has a good eye. Don't you think, Syril?"
"I agree. It's my first time seeing a mage like that. Mage in ability, knight in spirit, perhaps."
"Just like I thought, Syril."
From what he'd observed so far, Daniel was unique.
His attire, actions, even his camaraderie with the soldiers.
Everything evoked the practical Northern knights who valued function over form.
And not just that—he attacked the Horse Demon Tribe's mounts with magic instead, crippling their combat power and minimizing allied losses.
That was a decision only a knight or commander with sharp battlefield insight could make.
"Syril."
"Yes?"
"Can I make that man one of mine?"
He wanted him.
A mage in skill, a knight in mindset.
Open greed flickered in Rainer's eyes.
"Feeling tempted?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"To what extent?"
"I'd even give him one of Willy's offspring."
"Pardon? You're serious?"
"He's worth it."
Syril was shocked.
Willy was Rainer's mountain goat spirit beast.
Faster than a horse, able to climb cliffs—any Northerner would envy such a spirit beast.
Naturally, its offspring were treasure of immense value.
When Rainer truly wanted to recruit talent, he used this treasure.
Syril herself was one such top-tier recruit pulled in that way.
"Syril. Do you know what I'm lacking?"
"I wouldn't dare presume."
"The greatest warrior."
"...!"
"The North worships strength. A lord ruling such a North must possess strength everyone reveres. Of course, the lord doesn't need to have it personally. Having the greatest warrior under his command suffices."
"You feel you lack such a warrior now?"
"Don't misunderstand. I know I have many fine knights in my service. They'll grow into warriors famed across the North someday. But not yet. Reality is, they're far from qualifying as the greatest warrior."
"You think that man could be?"
"No. But until the true greatest warrior emerges, he'd make a fine stand-in."
"High praise."
"Can't help it. Where else would I find talent who's a mage in ability and a knight in spirit?"
From their first meeting, he'd prepared for war, and in the actual night battle, he'd shone brilliantly.
And look at him now.
Mingling with the soldiers, enjoying the party together.
He was cut from a different cloth than any mage Rainer had met.
Unique, yet it appealed.
Impossible not to covet him.
"I'm all for recruiting him, but it won't be easy. He's a Magic Tower Indefinite Contractor. He stays with the Foreign Legion because he wants regular status."
"Can't we just offer regular treatment too? Salary's no object—whatever it..."
"It's not about money, young master."
Syril shook her head.
"The biggest perk Magic Tower regulars enjoy is knowledge. Access to the Infinite Archive library."
"Infinite Archive?"
"Yes. A repository holding the spells, knowledge, and research notes of every mage who's ever served the Tower."
"You think we can provide that instead?"
Rainer fell silent.
He realized centuries of accumulated magical knowledge couldn't be bought with money.
Rainer, who had always sourced talent with the Northern Archduke family's vast wealth, faced his first real challenge.
A problem he'd never seen, never solved.
Rainer began pondering the answer.
How to tempt talent money can't buy?
"Thirsty for knowledge... Money or honors alone won't cut it."
"Yes. You'll need another approach."
The two harbored a ridiculous misconception about Daniel, but it was unavoidable.
It was absurd to think any Indefinite Contractor mage would shun regular status.
Based on their common sense, they began plotting his recruitment.
"First, we need to get close to Sir Daniel."
Syril proposed a practical strategy.
"As the top hero who repelled the Horse Demon Tribe, a reward wouldn't be out of place. A gift any mage would love should build gratitude toward you and close the distance considerably."
"A reward."
Rainer pondered.
Gems or luxury goods came to mind first, as usual, but he shook his head.
'He's not short on coin. It won't have much effect.'
Daniel would have shouted it was spot-on, but sadly, he wasn't here.
"Magic stones, or perhaps an elixir?"
"Sounds reasonable."
"Good. Mid-grade should do. Arrange it immediately."
"Yes."
Rainer looked back at Daniel.
Surrounded by soldiers, he fit right in—not like a dispatched Magic Tower mage, but like a true son of Kazan.
'I need to make that man truly one of Kazan's own.'
To do that, as Syril said, start as man to man, build friendship.
The more goodwill toward him, the easier recruitment.
'First time wrestling with this. But I like it.'
Solving puzzles for desired talent was always fun, no matter how many times.
Rainer smiled, happily mulling how to close the gap and, once recruited, how to promote him as the greatest warrior.