Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: This Indefinite Contractor's Cheat is [Overwork Veteran]
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"My experience story?"
"Yes. For latecomers, nothing beats the knowledge of a pioneer, right?"
Pass it down and imitate it.
That was the method lords chose to gain power.
A thoroughly peaceful and, above all, legal approach.
The lords' eyes all fixed on Daniel's mouth in unison.
If the word "bribe" popped out, it would actually be what they wanted. They were that covetous of the power Daniel had shown today.
"Very well. A request like that is no trouble at all."
"!!! Really?"
"Of course. Please call your heirs. I'll tell them directly."
"Right now?"
"Yes. Better to pull out the iron while it's hot, no?"
"Is there... nothing else you need?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, you know..."
"...?"
The lords fell silent.
They had thought they'd need to offer at least a bribe, but since the word didn't even come up from his side, they were utterly flustered.
"Ahem. Understood. I'll call them right away."
"No rush, take your time."
Their fluster lasted only a moment before the lords inwardly cheered.
No one dislikes a freebie. They were no exception.
A short while later, the noble heirs who had rushed over at the summons gathered before Daniel.
'Jackpot. Who would've thought I'd get a chance like this!'
'I even brought a recording magic artifact. Won't miss a single word.'
The heirs, who hadn't participated in the battle from the rear but had heard every detail of Daniel's exploits from the knights, had eyes sparkling with excitement.
Thirst for power knows no age.
They calmed their pounding hearts and waited silently for Daniel to speak.
"You all stay too. No need to leave."
"Pardon?"
"Is that alright?"
"Of course. What kind of secret technique is this?"
The retainers and servants who had been about to excuse themselves widened their eyes.
The lords and heirs reacted the same way.
In truth, they were all misunderstanding one thing.
What they were about to hear wasn't some secret technique to Daniel.
It was merely a tale of social experience.
With one difference.
"It's simple to start. Just take half your salary for two years."
"Pardon?"
The benchmark wasn't medieval fantasy standards, but modern ones.
"I joined the Foreign Legion when I was at 3rd Circle. Due to circumstances, I signed the official Black Mage application and jumped straight into the field. After that, I worked with only one day off per week and half pay. After two years of that grind, I successfully transferred to official Black Mage and became a 4th Circle mage."
"Pardon?"
The listeners were at a loss for words.
Daniel spoke as if it were nothing, but to them, it was pure shock.
'Half salary and six days a week for two years?'
'What is this? Am I listening to a serf's life story?'
'Even serfs don't work like that outside harvest season.'
'Working like that, you'd collapse from overwork in a month, right?'
One of the noble heirs cautiously raised a hand.
"Th-there's a lot I want to ask, but first: why only half salary? Did you owe the Magic Tower money?"
"Simple. It's just like becoming a knight."
"Pardon?"
"To become a knight, you need a lot: martial arts, weapons, mana cultivation methods, even a horse. Does the employer provide all that? No, the aspiring knight prepares it himself."
"...!"
"D-does that mean...?"
"Yes. To become a certified Black Mage, you need magical knowledge, materials for sacrifices, even escort mages for a safe transfer. The Magic Tower provides it all. For a fee, of course. So they deducted it from my salary."
"...."
"Don't think too badly of it. In my case, I got no family support, so I had to handle everything alone. With backing, you could transfer easier and faster than me."
The lords and heirs, slightly relieved by the protagonist's reassurance, gaped wide at the transfer costs.
They had braced for expense, but the amount far exceeded expectations.
'My god. That expensive?'
'Insane. For that money, better take a bank loan and send him to the Imperial Academy.'
The lords were dumbfounded.
They had heard becoming a Magic Tower-certified Black Mage was as hard as a camel through a needle's eye, but not for this reason.
Who knew it cost so much?
But Daniel's words weren't over.
"Going from 4th to 5th Circle is tougher. Money's needed, but something else is essential."
"What is that?"
"The Magic Tower's approval."
"Approval? Like taking an exam?"
"No, more like a performance review. Or credit evaluation."
"Pardon? What does that mean?"
"Simple. An official Black Mage is one recognized by the Magic Tower. If that Black Mage causes trouble worse than heretics, who bears the responsibility?"
"Ah!"
"Yes, just as you think. So official Black Mages reach 4th Circle easily, but 5th is brutally hard. The evaluations are insanely strict. That's why most stay at 4th Circle."
"How did you get approval, Sir Daniel?"
"I got lucky. I just worked hard, built up performance records, and they approved me."
"Pardon? That works?"
"It did. After five more years of six-day weeks."
"Gasp!!!"
The crowd sucked in stunned breaths. Five more years of that madness? For real?
"The promotion costs were astronomical, no choice."
"..."
"When my savings hit the target, approval came down from above. Surprised me. Someone I know slaved ten years and got nothing."
"...."
"Still, felt good knowing the Magic Tower recognized my diligence."
The listeners couldn't voice it.
Their true thought: If the Magic Tower had any conscience, they'd give not just approval but a month's reward vacation.
'So you have to work like an ox for seven years straight to become a 5th Circle Archmage?'
'What? Why isn't he dead? He'd have keeled over from overwork ages ago.'
'No way. I can't! I'm human, not livestock! You'd go mad or die working like that!'
'Tough. Only a monster like that gets Magic Tower approval and that kind of power.'
They looked at Daniel with daunted eyes.
This man wasn't just a strong mage. He was a monster pretending to be human.
Of course! Who endures seven years of hell to earn 5th Circle Black Mage qualification and calls it human?
Daniel tilted his head.
'Why are they so shocked?'
The atmosphere was off.
The silent banquet hall and reactions baffled him genuinely.
'Maybe too easy to believe? Yeah, even I find it hard. Become a 5th Circle Black Mage just by working in a fairy-tale environment. Sounds fake.'
Work six days a week at a major corp diligently, and you're a 5th Circle Archmage in seven years. Totally possible.
Even he thought it sounded scammy.
Lost in how to convince them, Daniel never noticed.
A six-day week with one day off was fairy-like only to someone who died from overwork on Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sat. To this world's people, it was hellfire-level ultra-black company.
Four days later.
"The report is abnormal."
"... "
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just, every time I hear it, the world feels like a madhouse."
"What?"
"Amazing. An Indefinite Contractor mage as diligent as you."
"Just work hard, that's all."
"Don't talk nonsense."
The beautiful superior smirked at the report.
"Magic Tower Indefinite Contractors don't work hard. Except you."
"I think the others do their jobs diligently too."
"Calling that diligent proves you're one too."
She chuckled, opened a drawer, and pulled out an envelope.
"Here."
"What's this?"
"Reward for the emergency request."
"Bonus?"
"Special one. 50% discount coupon for artifacts from the Magic Tower workshop."
Daniel's eyes went wide.
"No way. For real? Not joking?"
"Do I seem like someone who'd joke about this?"
"No, but... isn't it too much?"
"Too much? I always think you need more confidence. You're the top contributor to subduing a biological disaster. You deserve this."
The beautiful superior handed over the coupon.
"Congrats. First Indefinite Contractor I've known to get one."
"Honored. I'll put it to good use."
Daniel grinned, pocketing the coupon.
He was a mage too.
Free ticket to luxury magic artifacts? No hiding his joy.
"Don't tell anyone. They'll whine about favoritism."
"Don't worry. Would I blab?"
"I know. But just in case."
She smiled brightly.
"Good work on the dispatch, Section Chief Daniel. Go rest. See you next week."
"Yes, ma'am."
Daniel left the office.
With the unexpected bonus adding an unscheduled treat, the smile wouldn't leave his face.
'Magic Tower Indefinite Contractor! The best!'