Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Indefinite Contractor Attends the Party (2)
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Sponsor candidates have ranks.
Among them, Viscount Kalback was in the top 5%—a premium prospect.
Of course he was. Where else would you find a wealthy noble who owned two copper mines and ran a massive trading company?
He was a celebrity that every Magic Tower mage wanted to rub elbows with.
Of course, that made even exchanging a single greeting with him as difficult as navigating the depths of hell.
The viscount was infamous for ignoring people outright, no matter what they did in front of him, if they didn't catch his eye.
He was known as a picky noble who wouldn't deign to utter a word unless you met his minimum standard of "class."
That's why any mage who managed even a brief conversation with him earned the envy of all the others.
It proved you had the "class" he demanded.
So the Magic Tower mages desperately strove—and flailed—to meet that "class" the viscount sought.
Kyle was one of those mages.
"Hahaha! If it hadn't been for you back then, I really would've been in deep trouble. I've been meaning to meet up and thank you properly, and now here's my chance."
"No need. I was just doing my job."
"Still the same as ever, eh? You too. Can't hold your liquor yet?"
"Moscato wine is fine."
"That's not liquor—it's a beverage, my friend."
'What is this? A dream?'
The mages seriously wondered if they were drunk on champagne and hallucinating.
Viscount Kalback's attitude, as it appeared before their eyes, was that shocking.
What? Was the viscount always this casual and approachable?
No way. He was always stiff and boring, even when talking to me or the other full-timers.
So what's that? A twin?
They'd never seen Viscount Kalback smile like that before.
The mages plunged into confusion at this unexpected first (?), overwhelming experience.
But the shock didn't end with one blow.
The second strike followed.
"Wow, long time no see. Sir Daniel. I owe you from three years back."
"Who might you be?"
"Karok River. River pirates. Ring a bell?"
"Ah, the lunatics who made you lose face while you were collecting taxes."
"Kuhahaha! That's right. And you caught those lunatics for me. Thanks to you, I barely avoided going bald from stress."
"Finally, we meet. Sir Daniel!"
"Uh..."
"My turn this time? Amur Mountains. Cult group. Remember now?"
"Ah, the drug addicts growing illegal devil's weed and throwing drug parties that caused you trouble. Yeah, now I remember."
"You remember! The sight of you burning their devil's weed fields with Dark Flame Rain is still fresh in my mind!"
"No, that was just regular fire magic back then."
"Huh? Was it? It was so flashy, I must've misremembered."
"What's going on with that guy?"
Some mages nearly dropped their glasses.
For every mage attending the event, the sight of high-ranking nobles—who everyone was desperate to schmooze—flocking to Daniel with words and greetings was pure shock therapy.
Why were they going that far for a mere indefinite contractor?
That thought bubbled up naturally, but it was merely the delusion of fools refusing to accept reality.
The nobles had their reasons.
Leona, the hero who saved the North and made her name across the empire at year's end, was already a faded relic of the past.
Because she was a loser who could no longer leave her mark on the era.
Daniel, on the other hand?
He was a survivor.
A second-class contributor, one step below her, but connected to the Northern Archduke and his heir; contracted with an upper demon via demon possession; the most likely to become a 5th Circle master; honored with the pinnacle of honorary knighthoods; and a survivor with boundless potential for further growth.
Did the mages bunking at the Magic Tower know?
That Daniel's name was still buzzing widely in high society.
Becoming friends with celebrities (famous figures).
That was the foundation—and everything—of high society.
From the nobles' perspective, there was no reason not to befriend Daniel. Compared to chatting with him, conversing with money-grubbing merchants they'd invested in felt like a waste of time.
The mages, witnessing firsthand the people they'd been chasing now chasing Daniel instead, were speechless.
They didn't know what expression to make in a moment like this.
Everything felt futile.
"Damn it."
Kyle hung his head.
Jealousy and envy boiled hot in his skull, but the overwhelming sense of defeat left him unable to act.
'Argh, this sucks. Why does he know so many faces? But I can't half-ass the responses either, or I might miss out on future connections. Aaaah, what a hassle.'
Thoughts no mage hunting sponsors today would ever entertain—and yet Daniel kept up his business smile and continued the greetings.
If anyone could read Daniel's inner thoughts, they'd have said this:
"An indefinite contractor can't understand a full-timer's heart."
"Why does every eye contact turn into a greeting that spirals into a full conversation?"
"Because Master's so popular?"
"I don't need this kind of popularity. Never asked for it."
"Hmm. Master's sense of normal is definitely different."
"You... Sigh. Whatever."
Too drained for even a retort, Daniel let out a sigh.
How did things end up like this?
All he'd wanted was to be an extra A at the meeting—not the center of everyone's attention like some kingpin.
'Is this why the section chief wanted me here?'
He wanted to deny it, but the evidence made it hard.
Apparently, his support role punched higher than expected in terms of "rank."
"Phew. If I'd stayed there any longer, I'd have collapsed."
"That weakling complaint didn't sound very practiced."
"Agreed. Anyone who doesn't know Section Chief Daniel might mistake him for a mage used to these events."
"Huh?"
A third voice made the mage and demon turn.
After a full hour surrounded by nobles, he'd finally escaped to the event hall's outskirts—in the shadow of a wall, precisely a deserted corner.
But someone had followed him here? Who the hell?
Turning with that thought, Daniel saw someone slightly different from expected.
A clean-cut man wearing a Magic Tower mage brooch.
The moment he saw the faint smile, Daniel's expression shifted.
He straightened up and bowed at the waist.
"Greetings to Grade-4 Kane."
"No need for such formality. Speak comfortably."
"I couldn't. Not with Grade-4 Kane."
"Haha, you're making things awkward."
He said that, but his face didn't show displeasure.
Daniel might be a lousy employee, but he remembered the faces he needed to know from work.
This man was one of them.
Kane Belder.
Heir to the prestigious Count Belder family and a 5th Circle master—an ultra-elite executive.
Someone you absolutely didn't want on your bad side.
Kane smiled at Daniel, who was minding his manners to avoid that very thing, and offered a small vial.
"You look beat. Try this. It'll help."
"What's this?"
"Stamina potion. Essential for events like this."
Kane shrugged.
"You know from experience—dealing with people drains you. And mages' stamina is notoriously... well, you know."
"True enough."
"Go on. I've got plenty left."
"Then, if you insist."
He uncapped it and downed it in one go.
The herbal-scented liquid slid down his throat.
Fatigue eased slightly, his body lightening.
'Reminds me of Park's Ginseng. Used to chug those back in the day.'
Thanks to this top-shelf tonic—leagues beyond those in price and effect—Daniel recovered somewhat and bowed to Kane.
"Thank you, Grade-4 Kane. I owe you one."
"Owe me? We're Magic Tower family—we look out for each other. Right?"
"Well said."
"Heh. Knew you'd get it."
Kane's gaze on Daniel was warm.
"I've heard a lot about you. Sir Dragon-Slayer Daniel. Haha! Who'd have thought a Magic Tower mage would snag both 'Dragon-Slayer' and 'Sir' titles. I doubted my ears at first."
"Just luck and coincidence. I got pretty fortunate all around."
"Luck is skill. And you seem to have plenty of pure talent too."
"You're too kind."
"I mean it. Who could dismiss a mage who used the Infinite Archive for six whole weeks? But..."
Kane trailed off.
"That's why it's such a shame."
"Pardon?"
"A talent like you, perfect for full-time, still stuck as an indefinite contractor."
"...!?"
'This guy.'
Daniel quickly checked for onlookers. None in sight.
Kane grinned and whispered conspiratorially, definitively.
"Hypothetical, Section Chief Daniel. Just suppose I had a surefire way to convert you to full-time... What would you say?"
Words that would make any Magic Tower indefinite contractor flip out on the spot.
Gorgo blinked its red eyes, glancing between them like a detective eyeing a mystery.
Thrilled curiosity.
"Now that's intriguing."
Daniel straightened.
"You're the first to bring this up to me, Grade-4 Kane."
"Is that so."
"Yes. So... I'm even more interested. Curious enough to hear the details."
Kane's lip curled up at Daniel's reply.
"Any strings attached?"
"Strings? You can just listen—no obligation."
"Free sounds suspicious."
"Some deals start free. Like this one."
Kane spoke.
"What I'm about to tell you isn't much. Just the Magic Tower's 'open secret' about the Scholastic Ability Recruitment Exam."