Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Indefinite Contractor Heads Out on Expedition Duty at the Outpost (2)
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The morning after Viscount Caron's prostrating commotion.
Daniel's expression was grim as he faced Elena.
And it was understandable why.
"Did... did I screw up big time?"
"To put it bluntly, yes."
"Ugh!"
Daniel clutched his head.
It was something he'd blurted out to console her, seeing how flustered she was.
But after hearing the details, he realized that had been the wrong move.
'We're just a dispatch agency handling basic jobs, and you went ahead and accepted a subcontractor's plea for help without a second thought. Are you insane, past me?!'
Silence would have been the answer back then.
He'd realized it far too late.
Trolling was one thing, but this was next-level idiocy.
How the hell was he supposed to fix this?
Daniel wanted to cry.
"Don't worry too much, Assistant Manager Daniel."
"Huh?"
Daniel, who had been pacing anxiously, looked up.
Elena's face, delivering words of comfort instead of reprimands or scoldings, was strangely bright.
"I managed to sort it out smoothly, somehow."
"What?"
For real?! No, that's great, but how the hell...?
"Technically, they were the ones who messed up first. It's mutual fault, but they're more at blame. Plus, with the overwhelming merits you've racked up, Assistant Manager Daniel, it wouldn't be right to just chew you out."
"Ah."
"So we agreed to wrap it up amicably without bad blood and let it slide."
"R-Really?"
"Yes."
'Whoa, what a relief! I thought I was totally screwed!'
Was this how it felt to see a ray of light piercing through the dark abyss?
Daniel's pallid face rapidly brightened as words like written apology, pay cut, suspension, and dismissal flashed through his mind.
"I'm sorry, Grade 5 Elena. You must have had to hear all sorts of nonsense because of me..."
"It's fine. Things like this happen on the job. Just be more careful next time."
"I'll make sure nothing like this ever happens again."
Daniel bowed deeply.
He couldn't bring himself to lift his head before Elena, who had cleaned up his mess for him.
"I have no face left. How am I ever going to repay this debt?"
"Hmm. You don't need to worry about it that much."
With his head bowed, Daniel didn't notice.
The expression Elena was wearing right now.
'This might be easier to convince him than I thought.'
"Then, could I ask you for one small favor?"
"A favor?"
"Don't worry. It's nothing big."
She flashed a bright smile.
Unable to spot the scheming witch's grin, Daniel tilted his head.
Elena returned with a companion in tow.
"Hello. Nice to meet you. Mage Daniel. I'm Irina."
"Uh. Hi."
Daniel greeted her awkwardly.
She was definitely a stranger, yet her face felt oddly familiar.
As Elena nodded at Daniel's questioning look demanding an explanation,
"Irina is a distant relative of Manager Titania."
"Huh? What's someone like that doing here?"
"She's preparing to apply to the Magic Tower next year."
"Oh?"
Daniel blinked.
What did aspiring for the Magic Tower have to do with the North...?
"Before I came up North on dispatch, the manager asked me a favor. She wants to build up some standout experience for her application, and she said nowhere's better suited than the North right now. Irina agreed too."
...There is?
"Whoa."
Daniel let out a hollow laugh.
A news article from his past life flashed through his mind: 'High schoolers crossing the Pacific just to log 200 hours of overseas volunteer work on their college apps.'
Sometimes he wondered if this was a fantasy world or modern fantasy.
"Isn't this a bit too dangerous a place just to pad her resume?"
"'It's a chance to build differentiated experience.' The manager's words."
'The manager's a lion, huh.'
Lions push their cubs off cliffs to raise them strong—or so they said. No matter how he looked at it, this reeked of elite noble family upbringing.
"Anyway, to the point. Daniel, I'd like you to look after Irina."
"What??? What do you mean by that?!"
The words burst out reflexively.
Elena continued calmly, unperturbed.
"I was originally planning to take her around and give her some light tasks. But no suitable opportunities for building experience have come up."
Elena's meaningful gaze turned to Daniel.
"And then you brought me a job, Assistant Manager Daniel?"
"Ah...!"
"Expedition mission. Combat experience against barbarians, achievements—perfect stuff for Irina to list multiple lines on her resume, right?"
"...It's too dangerous."
"Don't worry. I know your skills well, Assistant Manager Daniel. I can entrust her to you precisely because you're that capable. The manager would agree if she were here."
'I'm screwed.'
Daniel sighed as he gazed at Elena, who was making an offer he couldn't refuse with a smiling face.
Babysitting the boss's relative! One of the most dreaded power trips in corporate life, wasn't it?
He wanted to refuse. But that was impossible.
Thanks to yesterday's screw-up, he owed Elena one.
'This debt cost me big time.'
With a sigh, Daniel nodded in resignation.
"Alright. I'll take her along. I'll look after her as best I can and make sure she's comfortable."
"Thank you for accepting. Assistant Manager Daniel."
The sight of the person who'd dumped the boss's-kid-babysitting mission on him grinning smugly irked him in a weird way.
Irina bowed politely.
"I'll be in your care for a while, Assistant Manager Daniel."
"Yeah. Let's get along for the time being."
Suddenly saddled with expedition duty plus protecting the boss's relative and exam student, Daniel looked up at the ceiling.
Was this the feeling of racking up a debt worth a thousand gold with a single word?
'Please, no more trouble from here on out.'
Daniel prayed to the heavens over and over.
Less than an hour after the emergency meeting with Rainer ended.
Elena began yet another meeting in her room.
Looking at Irina seated across from her, Elena spoke.
"That's everything. Do you understand what your job is?"
"To follow Mage Daniel around, assist and protect him."
"Correct."
Elena nodded at Irina's satisfactory answer.
The day before heading North on dispatch, Titania had quietly called Elena aside and introduced her to Irina.
Irina was a collateral branch member of the Titania family, a talented individual who'd shown exceptional promise since childhood.
Under the family's support and elite education, she'd grown into a prodigy who could rightly be called a prepared 3rd Circle mage and secretary candidate at just 22 years old.
There was only one reason such an outstanding talent had been attached to Elena.
A Plan B in case Elena ever had to separate from Daniel.
The time to deploy that insurance had come.
Speaking as a manager and politician rather than a mage, Elena said,
"Keep this in mind, Irina."
Her voice was calm and cool.
"As you know, Assistant Manager Daniel is an excellent mage. But when it comes to politics and social savvy?"
"Zero."
Irina answered immediately.
The corner of Elena's mouth lifted.
"Exactly. Zero. And the Northern nobles are targeting that failing grade right now."
She sighed.
"If they pull even a little scheme, Daniel will end up shackled with debts, obligations, and chains. That would mean the Magic Tower loses him, which leads straight to a loss for Manager Titania."
"......"
"Your mission is to prevent that worst-case scenario. Got it? Give it your all."
"I'll complete the mission by any means necessary."
"Good answer."
Elena clapped.
"I was half-worried you'd say something stupid like 'I'll do my best,' but that was unnecessary concern."
In the world of politics, 'best effort' was just an excuse.
Only results mattered. Producing results was the truth, the justice.
Elena and Irina both knew that well.
"Become his secretary and assistant to ensure he doesn't fall for the nobles' tricks. Cover him perfectly—no unnecessary promises, no unfavorable terms, no shackles of any kind."
"Yes. I'll be a political bulwark in your stead, without falling short."
"Good."
Elena placed a hand on Irina's shoulder.
To encourage—and warn.
"Nail this mission, and Manager Titania will remember you and put you to good use. But."
Elena's voice dropped a tone.
"Mistakes won't be tolerated. You understand what I mean?"
Irina's response was predetermined.
"I'll deliver results. That's why I'm here."
"Excellent. Good luck."
The meeting ended with Elena's nod.
On her way out and back.
Irina quietly steeled her resolve.
'This isn't just filling in. It's a critical mission Elena was supposed to handle.'
She never imagined she'd get a chance to catch Titania's eye before even joining the Magic Tower.
Irina decided to make this her first stepping stone to advancement.
'Assistant Manager Daniel. I'll make sure the North's hands don't reach you. For your sake, and for mine.'
Thus was born Irina: outwardly a 3rd Circle Magic Tower hopeful, in truth Daniel's political shield and watcher.
And back to the present.
"Thank you, Sir Daniel. How can I ever repay this grace?"
"Think nothing of it. I merely did what I had to."
"...Seeing that makes me think you do have some political savvy and perceptiveness after all."
Irina shook her head as she watched Daniel flawlessly observe etiquette before the Lord of Rohenberg Castle.