Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: The Indefinite Contractor's Dispatch Duty Ends
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Cartago's central square.
Hundreds, thousands of citizens bustled about.
They had come to see the hero who ended the brutal war and to praise him.
Edgar the Archduke ascended the prepared platform and spoke before the magical amplifier orb.
"We shall now commence the commendation ceremony."
-Waaaaah!!!
The cheers that erupted, amplified many times over by the amplification artifact, drowned out the Archduke's declaration and swept through Cartago.
A moment later, the protagonists of today's ceremony appeared on the stage, laid with a red carpet.
The citizens recognized someone and went wild.
"It's the Saintess of Norton!"
"Lady Leona!"
Everyone chanted one person's name.
The most famous mage in the North right now, the heroine of tragedy—Leona Eos.
Her appearance drew fervent cheers and thunderous applause.
The attending nobles and dignitaries bowed their heads.
All saw her as a hero.
All except a tiny few.
'Poor woman.'
Daniel watched Leona from behind.
Her left sleeve fluttered in the wind as she received her medal and rewards from the Archduke with a pale face.
The scars of war on Leona's body weren't limited to that.
'I couldn't believe it when I first heard, but it's true. A damaged mana hole.'
Her mana reserves, which should have been at least double his own, now felt like only half of his.
A 5th Circle master had fallen to a 4th Circle mage.
He couldn't even imagine the sense of loss and emptiness she must feel.
'Retirement ceremony planned for year's end, right? Pathetic.'
She'd just tried to do her job well, to get ahead, and now her life was ruined.
Watching Leona's miserable fate reminded him of his past self, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
Her face was indeed filled with melancholy.
She looked less like the top contributor, the hero, and more like a patient with depression.
Rather than jealousy or resentment, he felt pure pity.
'If I'd been a regular employee, that could've been me. Ugh, just thinking about it is horrifying. Good job avoiding that, past me.'
Back to the carefree life of an indefinite contractor, Daniel quietly sighed in relief.
A moment later, it was his turn.
"Sir Daniel Norman Carta. In recognition of your merits in this war, I name you second-in-command hero. On behalf of House Carta, and the North, I offer my thanks. Hero."
"It is an honor, Your Grace."
Amid the applause, the medal, commendation, and rewards were handed over.
Daniel responded with a salute.
"...On a personal note, allow me to thank you once more. Thank you, Sir Daniel."
"I merely did my duty, Your Grace."
Daniel's reply was short and to the point.
Edgar flashed a bittersweet smile for an instant before turning to Leona, taking her hand, and shouting loudly.
The citizens responded to his incitement with roars.
As all eyes focused on Leona, Daniel quietly descended the platform.
A satisfied smile played on his lips.
'Got everything I deserved. Job's done. Time to head home?'
Unaware of how that smile might look to others.
'Sir Daniel.'
Rainer, watching him from behind the Archduke, sent a look of regret.
The commendation ceremony concluded splendidly.
Everywhere he went, it was all talk of Leona, and bards sang epic war poems with her as the star.
Only a scant few mentioned Daniel.
But Daniel didn't care.
What mattered to him was that his assignment was finally over.
Daniel moved to pack up and leave immediately.
But he couldn't.
"Sir Daniel. Please make one last stop in Kazan. We're planning a farewell party for you."
"No need to go to such lengths."
"I insist. We can't send off the benefactor who protected Kazan like this. Many people want to thank you personally. This is my final request."
'Damn.'
Daniel was troubled by Rainer's earnest plea to keep him from leaving, but he had no choice but to nod.
All things must be neatly concluded.
No need to sour things with the heir at the very end.
Daniel decided to endure a bit longer.
Besides, that person was in Kazan right now, so it was killing two birds with one stone.
An hour later, the carriage carrying Rainer and Daniel departed Cartago.
Kazan's gates swung wide open.
A chill wind heralding winter blew along the road, where countless people gathered to welcome Daniel.
"Sir Daniel is here!"
"Long live Sir Daniel!"
"Magic Knight Sir Daniel!"
The fervor and cheers rivaled those for Leona in Cartago, pouring down on Daniel.
Daniel waved back in response.
The citizens grew even more ecstatic.
"At least the people who know get it."
"Exactly. These folks here witnessed your feats firsthand."
Seeing Kazan's citizens welcome the true hero properly, Elena and Irina smiled softly.
The lingering resentment from the Archduke's unfair treatment began to melt away with the warm reception.
"Welcome back, Sir Daniel!"
"Safe return, sir."
Upon arriving at the inner keep, Rood and Syril greeted Daniel warmly.
As Daniel dismounted, the knights in uniform waiting there raised their swords in salute as one.
It was a reception incomparable to Cartago's.
Even Daniel, being human, couldn't hold back his grin at the treatment.
Seeing Daniel like that, Rainer smiled too.
A complex smile mixing relief, guilt, gratitude, and regret.
No sooner had he entered the inner keep than a familiar face appeared.
"Welcome back, Team Leader Daniel."
"Long time no see, Manager Titania."
"That long-term dispatch was impressive work. Thanks to you doing so well, Team Leader Daniel, my shoulders are riding high."
"No need for such praise. I just stayed true to my duties."
"Heh heh. Same as ever, aren't you."
Titania gazed at Daniel with honey-sweet eyes.
The merits he'd racked up, and the gains from settling for second-in-command hero, were beyond words.
A thick political pipeline connected to the Northern Archduke and his heir. Her own faction had expanded massively.
And that wasn't all? Leona, her rival and enemy who'd pushed hard to assign him to the Foreign Legion.
She'd played no small part in her downfall.
A black cat mage who cursed enemies and worked magic for her master.
How lucky to have such a one under her command.
"Irina did good work too."
Titania turned her eyes to her subordinate, who'd posed as kin to assist Daniel at her side.
"Did you rack up enough achievements to list on your support paperwork?"
"Yes, more than enough. No worries there. Team Leader Daniel helped me a lot."
"Heh heh. Good to hear. Thank you for looking after Irina, Team Leader Daniel. I'll reward her separately."
"No need to bother. It wasn't that hard."
"Don't say that—accept it. Unless you want to paint me as a woman who doesn't care for her own kin."
"If you put it that way."
"Heh heh. That's more like it."
Watching the smiling Titania, Daniel sighed inwardly in relief.
From the easy banter, they were clearly close.
Feeding her achievements during the expedition despite the strain had been the right call.
'Got second-in-command hero, took care of Irina too, so the transfer issue should slide, right? Hope so... Nah, it'll be fine.'
With utterly needless worries, Daniel put effort into flattering Titania.
Unaware of how this looked to others.
'Heh heh. No lingering attachment to the North at all, huh.'
'Disappointed in the North after all. Self-inflicted, but... bittersweet.'
The man and woman who coveted Daniel turned away, each with smiles of different meanings.
Outside the window stretched a cloudless sky.
It was winter.
The next day dawned after the grand, splendid farewell banquet that lit up Kazan's night sky.
In Rainer's office, those departing and those staying gathered for the last time.
"You've worked hard all this time, Sir Daniel. Hope we meet again."
"If the chance arises, I'll be sure to visit, Young Lord Rainer."
"Sir Daniel, Kazan will remember you forever. Stay well."
"You too, Miss Syril."
"Thanks for protecting Kazan's soldiers and citizens, Sir Daniel. I owe you big. Hate to part like this."
"Same here, Lord Rood. Looking back, I learned much from you. I won't forget your teachings and will strive onward."
Exchanging farewells one by one, the final turn came.
"Sir Daniel, hero of Kazan, I have one last gift for you."
"A gift, you say?"
"Bring it in."
At Rainer's command, servants wheeled in a cart with two wooden crates.
"What's this?"
"Open it."
-Flash!
"Gasp?!"
The lids opened to reveal piles of blue ore glowing so brightly it hurt the eyes.
The mages, Daniel included, went wide-eyed.
"Wait. This is Kazan's mana stones?"
"Indeed. About 50kg per crate."
"100kg?!"
The mages exclaimed in shock.
Kazan's annual mana stone production averaged under 3 tons.
This was an enormous amount, far too lavish for a mere gift.
Titania was flustered.
She'd guessed Rainer might pull some last-minute ploy to soothe Daniel and leave room for mending ties.
But she hadn't expected such a shockingly generous material reward.
Top-grade mana stones.
The ultimate catalyst and research material for any mage.
Even Titania needed piles of paperwork and procedures for just over 1kg.
And here they were handing over 100kg!
Daniel, receiving not a gift but treasure, stood speechless for a long while.
"Don't refuse. It's recompense for protecting Kazan... and atonement for failing to protect that hero."
Refusal denied.
Feeling Rainer's firm resolve, Titania swallowed a groan.
'Didn't expect a counter like this at the end.'
Titania glanced at Daniel with a hint of hope.
Not just her—everyone in the room awaited his answer with bated breath.
Daniel looked down at the shimmering mana stones, closed the lids, and turned to Rainer.
"Young Lord, I have a request."
"Speak."
"I'd like 40% of these mana stones to go to the families of those killed or wounded in the war, and 40% donated to the Magic Tower. Borrowing your hand would avoid any backlash. Would that be possible?"
"……!?!?!?"
How many times would this man shock them before being satisfied?
In the silent astonishment, all stared at Daniel in surprise.
Rainer slowly spoke.
"May I ask why?"
"I didn't fight alone. Everyone fought together—how could I monopolize such a reward? Those who fought to protect the North deserve their share too."
"...And the donation to the Tower?"
"Everything I am now is thanks to the Magic Tower's support. Without the magic I learned there, without my experience there, how could I have wrought Kazan's miracle? This is just repayment."
Did Daniel, head bowed, know what expressions filled the room?
Rainer closed his eyes, seemingly moved.
"Sir Daniel... You're a true hero not just in strength, but in heart."
Rainer smiled.
A smile of emptiness and regret that only one who'd lost such talent could wear.
'Daniel... you're the best.'
Titania smiled.
A smile of pride and satisfaction that only one who'd secured such talent could wear.
'No. If you're giving it, do it quietly—not like this. What am I supposed to do now?'
Unaware of the intentions behind the man who'd moved them so.
'Tch. Hogging this would just earn me hate. Word's bound to leak. Then what? Bragging and getting swarmed by family, relatives, everyone for handouts—like a lotto winner. Better to donate, make no enemies, and score points.'
The reincarnate, who knew the terror of lottery wins from his capitalist past, thus gave up a once-in-a-lifetime reward.
This choice, purely for self-preservation, went unthought as to how others might see it.
Thus, the Magic Tower's indefinite contract mage added one last legend even on his final day departing the North.
He probably couldn't even dream it.
That the legends he forged in the North would open the first page of the historical figure [Daniel]'s achievements in the distant future.
The dispatch duty of the Magic Tower's indefinite contract mage, who left eternal marks on the North and Imperial history, ended thus.
And a few months later.
[Are you really a mage? No, what mage has zero greed?]
"Hey, that's uncalled-for character assassination. What did I even do? Just the obvious!"
"Sorry, Master, but I agree. Sometimes you seem like you're from another world."
"The enemy is attacking!?"
The Magic Tower's indefinite contractor achieves his second feat.