Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Indefinite Contractor Returns (2)
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After renewing his contract with the imp, Daniel heard about everything that had happened in the meantime.
Checking what went down at the company while on break was a basic skill for any working adult.
"To sum it up simply, Daniel Junior—you've got yourself a nickname now."
"A nickname?"
"Magic Knight Daniel, Daniel of the Black Flames, Daniel the Household Disaster... But the most famous one's Dragon Slayer Daniel."
"Pardon?"
What the hell was this?
Elena gave him a gentle smile.
"Congratulations, Dragon Slayer Daniel. You're the first mage to earn a title like that."
"No way—this is nothing to congratulate me over!"
Daniel was horrified. Why? Simple.
"Those Dragon Slayer crazy fans are gonna lose their minds!"
Dragon Slayer Siegfried.
The knight who'd achieved the empire's first feat of slaying an Ancient Dragon.
Naturally, he was a legendary idol among knights, backed by a massive, die-hard fandom.
But did you know this saying?
Fans create haters.
Siegfried's fandom had more than a few—no, quite a lot—of rabid extremists.
Tales of them brawling with knives at auction over his gear, dueling to the death over what sword he used, setting fire to a statue in someone else's garden because "that's not the real Siegfried," breaking into his tomb for illicit worship...
The list of incidents caused by Siegfried's radical fans had become a legend in its own right.
If word of this reached those hardcore zealots' ears?
'Those psycho fanboys might show up in person!!!'
Elena giggled at Daniel's expression.
"Don't worry too much. It's just the Kazan locals calling you that. Even if the rumor spreads, it'll stay in the North."
"That's still plenty problematic."
Daniel sighed.
One shocking, spine-chilling update after another—his heart couldn't take it.
'The best thing would've been nothing happening at the company at all. But that's too much to hope for. Stuff like this builds up if it's different from my past life.'
The less-worldly indefinite contractor mage from his previous life let out a sigh.
As the conversation continued, some good news finally started coming in.
"So to recap, no one's dead, right?"
"Yes. A few injuries, but zero fatalities."
"Phew. Thank goodness."
A genuine sigh of relief escaped him.
"No deaths in battle—that's the best outcome. Makes all the hard work and mana exhaustion worth it."
"... At this point, it's basically you seducing them first."
"Huh?"
"Daniel Junior, you're a capable mage," she said.
"Haha, capable? I just worked hard, that's all. And this time, luck struck big."
"... Don't say that anywhere else."
"Pardon? Why not?"
"The fact that you're asking 'why' is the biggest problem."
"...?"
"Daniel Junior, you..."
The conversation cut off.
Silence fell, courtesy of the uproar from the stomach of a patient starved for two weeks.
"Oh dear. Sorry about that. Twenty-eight meals in, and this guy's throwing a fit."
"? Why are you counting two meals a day instead of three?"
"Huh? When you're working, two meals a day is plenty, right?"
"... So much I want to say, but let's skip it for now."
Elena stood up.
"Let's go get some food first."
When you're hungry, you eat.
The problem? It wasn't mealtime at the mess hall right now.
'It's dark out.'
The pre-dawn gloom peered through the window.
Still hours before the morning bugle.
Maybe hit up an outpost for some bread? As Daniel entertained the absurd idea...
"Hold on a sec."
Elena pulled out a communication orb.
Blue light rippled as mages' faces appeared one by one.
After issuing brief orders, she cut the connection.
"Just wait a bit. I asked them to find an open mess hall. Should hear back soon."
"Wasn't it just you, Elena Grade 5?"
"Yes, but I came with four full-timers."
"Four of them?"
Elena smiled brightly.
"Various political reasons. Curious? I can fill you in."
"... Do I need to know?"
"You'd be fine without knowing, Daniel Junior."
"Then I won't."
Politics. What a nauseating word.
Office politics, faction tightropes, pure stress—that crap had tormented him endlessly in his past life.
By 30, he'd cracked under pressure and started balding. Had to be the cause.
No more of that life. After joining the Magic Tower, Daniel cut off all interest in internal politics, a stance he'd maintained ever since.
Impossible for a full-timer, but as an indefinite contractor? Zero issues.
As he shuddered recalling company hell worse than military life...
The orb lit up.
"Got it. Stand by for next contact."
Elena hung up and stood.
"Found a mess hall. Let's go."
"Huh?"
"A place open at this hour? Never saw one while working."
"Not in the city. It's a nobles-only late-night spot inside the castle."
"Huh?"
Daniel tilted his head as he followed Elena down the hall.
"First I've heard of it."
"No surprise. It popped up while you were down. Ever since you took out that wyvern, the nobles have been pulling all-nighters."
"That much work?"
"Yep. Thanks to you, Daniel Junior."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
Elena explained as they walked.
"Daniel Junior, a wyvern's worth a fortune. Even a lesser dragon is still a dragon. Bones and oil for top-tier gear, blood and organs for high-grade elixirs. And you unearthed a whole pile of treasure."
"...! So?"
"Yeah. Kazan's bureaucrats and nobles have been burning the midnight oil for a week straight handling the processing and paperwork."
"Gasp!!!"
A week of all-nighters. How horrifying was that?
The twice-lived mage with overwork-death PTSD trembled.
"Daniel Junior, you okay?"
"Yeah... just chilly. Sorry to make everyone suffer. Should've caught it half-assed."
"Ahaha. You joke well too. That got a chuckle. I'd love to tell that to those folks screaming in joy over their work and see their reaction."
"Huh?"
No. What was she saying?
People getting shredded after a week, and they're happy? Occult-level nonsense...
"When you meet them, brace yourself. Steel Scale Tribe invaded, zero deaths, wyvern corpse covers Kazan's budget for two years—they're treating you like a hero."
...It exists?
"... Was a masterpiece deadpan, but it'll land well. Lucky."
"The problem is it'll fall flat coming from anyone else. Please pick your spots if you tell it?"
"Got it!"
The indefinite contractor, still shedding past-life naivety and prone to unintended slip-ups, broke a cold sweat following Elena.
"Oh, right. Daniel Junior, keep this between us."
"What?"
"Once this wraps up, you might get approval for 5th Circle black mage mastery from upstairs."
"For real?"
Daniel's eyes widened.
"Just rumors, but personally, I think it's likely. You've earned the merit."
'Whoa, for real?'
Daniel was stunned.
Official black mages were Magic Tower and state-recognized, but still black mages.
History books brimmed with nations toppled by evil black mages—just flip a few pages.
Thus, the Tower regulated them strictly.
5th Circle mastery was the legal ceiling for black mages.
'Last one was 60 years ago, right?'
Blue wyvern, dragon slayer title, budget windfall, now 5th Circle approval...
The indefinite contractor black mage was starting to grasp just how massive his feat was.
"Talk of Infinite Archive access too. If it happens, at least a week."
"Rewards don't end?"
"You're a dragon slayer."
"Gahhh!!!"
"Hehe. Kidding."
Elena couldn't hide her laughter at Daniel's genuine freak-out.
"Haa. Go easy. Shrinks me every time."
"Sorry. Your reactions are too cute."
"What?"
"Ahem. Nothing. Oh, there's the mess hall. Let's hurry."
"Elena Grade 5? Elena? Hey?"
Daniel chased after Elena, who ignored him and headed for the restaurant.
Despite the early hour, the lit-up restaurant brimmed with food scents.
Meat and spices, fresh-baked bread, hearty soup...
Daniel's face morphed into that of a man starved over a week as he followed Elena inside.
'Hmm. There he is.'
A prior guest sat at a table: a nobleman eating.
Elena's eyes sparkled, matching the description perfectly.
"Wait here a moment, Daniel Junior."
Elena approached the noble.
His escort knight blocked her.
"My lord is dining now. State your business and wait."
"I'd like to join him."
"He prefers to eat alone."
Elena stepped closer, whispering.
"!? Dragon Slay...!"
"Shh. Quiet."
Elena covered the knight's mouth.
"No fuss. He's just woken up. He'll eat quietly and head back to rest."
"......"
"But we can't send him off empty-handed. Let me repeat: smells great. Care to invite us?"
"P-Please wait a moment!"
The knight rushed to whisper to the noble.
The startled noble glanced over.
Elena smiled at Daniel and nodded.
"Let's go. Seat's ready."
"This okay?"
"Fine. No issue."
"Feels sketchy."
Daniel cautiously approached the noble, oblivious to Elena's glinting eyes behind him.
"F-First time meeting. I am..."
"We know. Viscount Karon."
Elena cut in with a smile.
"As you heard, he's here for a quiet meal. Call him 'mage' for now, not by name."
"Ah, right. Sorry. Got excited meeting the hero—no, mage."
The viscount awkwardly laughed and signaled the kitchen.
"One—no, two more servings! Best they've got!"
Soon, a feast lined the table.
Daniel scooped a spoonful.
His vision blurred slightly.
After 28 meals skipped, this was pure bliss.
*Clink clink*
Daniel focused silently on eating.
For a while, only utensils sounded.
"Whew."
Sated, Daniel bowed to Viscount Karon.
"Thank you, Viscount. Ate well thanks to you."
"Haha, no worries, mage. Honored to treat you."
Viscount Karon boomed a laugh.
"If you're okay with it, mage, tell us about that day? Perfect drinking story."
"Not hard."
Daniel recounted the Steel Scale Tribe invasion.
Gasps filled the air nonstop.
Elena muttered, "Report didn't cover this," leaning in.
The tale ended; silence lingered.
The viscount broke it first, moved.
"Incredible."
He set down his empty glass, shaking his head.
"Thought the low casualty count was PR spin. Happens yearly. But... all true."
"Truly amazing, mage!"
The escort knight chimed in, thrilled.
"You really took down Kudan!"
"Kudan? Who's that?"
"You didn't know? Black Mane Tribe chief who attacked!"
The knight gazed fervently.
"Hated all Steel Scales, but him especially—as a Northerner. No right to speak for all, but as today's rep: thanks for killing him and saving lives, mage."
"No big deal. Just did my job."
"Ooh!"
Daniel meant it businesslike, but it landed heroically to them.
Elena shook her head watching.
'Scarier that it's subconscious.'
"Thanks again, Viscount. Great meal. How to repay?"
"Haha, forget it. Small thing."
Viscount Karon hesitated, then ventured.
"If it bothers you... buy me a meal later?"
"Hm."
"Hahaha! Joke. Don't take it serious..."
"Sure."
"...!?"
"...?"
"Sigh."
Viscount aghast, knight blinking, mage facepalming.
"F-For real?"
"? Buying a meal's no biggie. Of course."
"Ha, hahaha! Indeed, mage—you're a hero of heroes!"
"Moving!"
'What's with a meal fuss?'
Daniel tilted his head; Elena sighed behind.
'Boss was right. Without me, we'd lose this guy.'
Elena vowed again to watch this innocently perilous man closely.
Daniel knew nothing.
Of the weight that meal promise carried in Northern noble society.
Otherwise, he wouldn't toss it casually.
'Ignorance is scary. But no problem.'
Her eyes narrowed.
'Situation calls for using it. Got a good card.'
The political human shield Titania sent against Rainer gleamed.
The scheming night deepened.