Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Indefinite Contractor's Dispatch Duty Draws to a Close (2)
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The meeting had ended.
As Rainer headed back to his lodgings from the conference room, his face was one that no amount of flattery could call pleasant.
'Is this really right?'
He understood his father's logic on an intellectual level. But emotionally, it was impossible to accept.
Rainer bit his lip. What good would second-guessing and regretting do now?
His father had already made his decision and left long ago.
There was nothing left for Rainer to do.
Dragging his heavy feet back to his lodgings, Rainer immediately sought out the mage.
The mage from the Magic Tower who had accompanied him to Cartago.
"That's how it is, Lady Elena."
"..."
"So... I'd like you to deliver the news."
"Me, sir?"
"Yes. I just... I don't have the confidence to face him."
Rainer's voice carried a sense of apology, utterly devoid of strength.
Elena couldn't bring herself to refuse the request.
"Understood."
"I'm counting on you."
On her way back to her lodgings after parting with Rainer.
Elena's mind was a whirlwind as she walked the corridor.
'I have no idea if this is good news or bad.'
For one thing, this would definitely make Daniel want to leave the North.
Who could possibly feel affection for a place that refused to acknowledge their contributions?
Judged purely on that, it was good news.
The problem was,
'The odds of Daniel accepting this quietly are basically zero. He earned merits far beyond second place, and now they're demoting him for political reasons. I'd be furious if I were him.'
Elena clutched her head and sighed.
She had agreed, but she really didn't want to be the one to tell him directly.
'For now... maybe just ask him to come to Cartago. Irina will be coming too, so I can leave it to her.'
In the end, like Rainer, she opted for passing the buck and picked up her communication crystal orb.
*
After relaying the matter to Daniel, Elena immediately contacted someone else.
The recipient: Titania.
Titania, having received the report on the situation, pressed her forehead.
[We've been had.]
[Manager? What do you mean?]
[A little while ago, someone from the Archduke's side contacted me. After a lot of back and forth, the gist was they wanted to get on good terms with us and might ask for help soon, so please take care of things.]
[Ah!]
[So that's what it was.]
We'll back you up. So make sure Daniel doesn't kick up a fuss and just lets it slide quietly.
Now understanding what the Archduke had really meant, Titania couldn't hide her embarrassment.
[This isn't going to be easy. If handled well, we gain a powerful political connection in the Northern Archduke. But if we mess it up, we could lose a talent like Daniel to disillusionment.]
[Indeed.]
High risk, high reward.
Titania let out a short sigh.
[I want both, but it's not simple. No idea how to resolve this.]
She shook her head and continued.
[I'll head to Cartago soon myself, so we'll discuss details then.]
[You're coming too, Manager?]
[Not just me.]
[Then?]
[The Magic Tower mages took first and second place merits in this war. With the awards ceremony coming up, we need a high-ranking figure to make an appearance. So one of the Six Elders is coming personally.]
[An Elder too?!]
Elena swallowed hard.
The Six Elders.
The highest executives of the Magic Tower below the Tower Lord himself—archmages who had reached the supreme realm of the 6th Circle.
The fact that one of the six who held the Magic Tower's decision-making power was mobilizing made Elena realize just how massive this issue was.
It wasn't just a matter of Northern rewards; Magic Tower politics were entangled too.
Once this dispatch ended, a major reshuffle in the Tower's power structure was likely.
[It's gotten complicated.]
[I agree. 'War ends, politics begins,' right? Whoever said that nailed it.]
No truer words in a situation like this.
[Elena. Just tell Daniel the facts and offer some light comfort. I'll handle the persuasion once I arrive.]
[Understood, Manager.]
The crystal orb's light faded.
Elena sighed.
She still had no clue how to handle this.
'Is it too greedy to hope it all blows over smoothly without a hitch?'
Even she found her own shameless thought laughable, and she gave a self-deprecating smile.
A few more days passed like that.
"So this is Cartago?"
The protagonist, who could fairly be called the eye of the storm, had arrived in Cartago.
*
The North's largest city and its very heart.
Cartago, ruled by the Northern Archduke, lived up to the rumors.
Roads paved with marble, soaring spires piercing the sky, massive walls, and a downtown packed with five-story buildings.
Kazan was a big city, but Cartago was on another level entirely.
Daniel whistled as he arrived in Cartago with the Ironclad Knights and Irina in tow.
'So this is the North's capital? Impressive.'
Under the Ironclad Knights' escort, Daniel headed for the Archduke's residence.
He noticed some knights recognizing him and whispering.
'Strangers recognizing me... So that's how it is.'
He smelled it. The stench of politics.
Once war ends, politics begins.
Elena summoning him here was probably because of this tiresome politics business.
"Are you Sir Daniel?"
"That's me."
"The Archduke seeks you. Follow me."
'See? Told you.'
No sooner had he arrived at the Archduke's residence than the summons came.
Predictable.
Daniel took a deep breath.
This was the climax where he'd have to deploy the political savvy he'd accidentally shown through work mishaps—one last time.
'Hurry up and wrap this so I can go back to being a carefree Indefinite Contractor mage focused on the job.'
"Understood. Lead the way."
"This way."
Steel resolve in place, Daniel headed deeper into the Archduke's residence with Irina at his side.
*
The Archduke's residence was as grand as Cartago itself.
Red carpets lining the corridors, maids and butlers everywhere, gleaming marble walls.
Daniel couldn't hide his admiration for what was literally a building forged from molten gold coins.
'Makes sense. Hollywood stars own mansions worth billions— no way the Northern Archduke has less.'
How long had he walked through this opulent mansion?
There, at the end of the far corridor: the Archduke's office.
A familiar face stood before the door.
"Good work out there, Sir Daniel."
"You've had it rough too, Chief Daniel."
"Long time no see, Young Lord Rainer. Elena of 5th Grade. Hope all's been well."
Daniel greeted his acquaintances warmly after so long.
Their reactions, however, were subtle.
Or rather, awkward?
Their eyes wavered, smiles strained.
They avoided meeting his gaze, like people hiding a guilty secret.
'What's with them?'
Daniel found it odd but didn't pry.
"Come in. The Archduke awaits."
The man he was here to see wasn't those two, but the North's ruler.
Following the butler's guidance, Daniel entered the room with the others.
"Welcome, Sir Daniel. I've been waiting."
Northern Archduke Edgar welcomed him.
His face looked more like a typical bureaucrat than a warrior, but that was just surface-level.
The overwhelming presence, dignity, and aura that dominated the room.
Daniel was certain: the middle-aged man before him was no frail noble, but the iron-blooded lord who ruled the North.
"Magic Tower mage Daniel pays his respects. It's a great honor to meet Northern Ruler Archduke Edgar."
"Haha, honor? That's my line. Isn't it, O great knight and dragon slayer of Cartago, born once every century?"
"Th-that's just an embarrassing empty title."
Was this mockery? Or sincere?
As Daniel floundered over the dubious accolade, the Archduke smiled enigmatically.
"Care for some tea? I heard from my son you like Frost Red Tea."
"...Yes. Thank you."
He had no idea what the angle was, but he hoped they'd get to the point and wrap this up quickly.
Sipping the tea the Archduke personally poured, Daniel sincerely wished for that.
*
"O great knight and dragon slayer of Cartago, born once every century."
"Th-that's just an embarrassing empty title."
The Archduke regarded Daniel.
He'd received reports on this man, Daniel.
'A mage in ability, but a knight in mind. Quite the unique fellow.'
From their conversation, he was definitely different from any Magic Tower mage he'd met.
No trace of the usual arrogance and conceit.
In armor instead of a mage's cloak, you'd mistake him for a steadfast knight.
'Either way, easy to handle.'
The Archduke smiled inwardly.
To a politician, no one was easier to manipulate than a knight.
Knights were generally honest, and the honest were simple.
Dangling a carrot and cracking a whip to yank their strings, then slipping on a leash? Child's play.
'Don't take it too hard, Sir Daniel. What can you do? You're the weak one here, and I'm the strong.'
He'd surely protest the injustice.
But no problem.
The script and countermeasures were all prepared in his mind.
More importantly, he held the power, and Daniel didn't.
The cry of the powerless could never overcome a word from the powerful.
The Archduke felt it was time for the opening line of his prepared script.
"Sir Daniel."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"In this war's merit awards, I plan to name Lady Leona as first merit and you as second."
Rainer and Elena flinched behind him.
Irina, hearing this for the first time, widened her eyes and gulped.
Everyone in the room turned to Daniel.
'Sorry, Sir Daniel.'
'Should've given him a heads-up.'
'No way. Second merit? Chief Daniel won't accept this!'
Rainer and Elena braced to calm an outraged Daniel.
Irina fretted that Daniel might defy the Archduke over this absurdity.
The Archduke quietly prepared to weather the man's intense reaction.
Daniel would rebel.
Everyone expected it.
But,
"I am deeply grateful, Your Grace."
"......?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Eh?"
Faced with Daniel's utterly unforeseen response, everyone wore dumbfounded expressions.