Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: The Indefinite Contractor Meets a Regular Employee
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Daniel had left, leaving just the two of them in the office.
The secretary spoke up.
"He's quite the unique man, isn't he? Really."
"In what way?"
"In every way."
Titania offered no response. She agreed completely.
The hope for Magic Tower Foreign Legion mages—Indefinite Contractor mages, that is—was always the same.
Conversion to regular employee status.
That was why their work routine was so predictable.
Assignments as close to the Magic Tower as possible. They'd fulfill the minimum requirements and spend the rest of their time holed up in the training grounds or library, grinding away at self-improvement.
Build up their skills to become 5th Circle Masters and apply for special recruitment. That was the surefire path from Indefinite Contractor to regular employee.
"Of course, it's not easy. Is becoming a 5th Circle Master something you can just brute-force?"
"No, it's not. That's why most mages top out as 5th Circle Users or Experts."
A 5th Circle Master was on the cusp of 6th Circle, what they called a Grand Archmage.
In knight terms, it was like the pinnacle of Sword Expert, one step from Sword Master.
Even among regular employees, they were a rare elite. Did anyone really think reaching that level was a walk in the park?
"In the last fifty years, only three have successfully converted. That says it all."
"No wonder it's enough to drive you mad."
From a manager's perspective, it was utterly frustrating.
What the Magic Tower wanted from Foreign Legion members was results, not personal growth.
That was why management positions in the Foreign Legion had always been shunned.
Managing a bunch of people who didn't want to work and somehow getting the job done?
Of course, real results were impossible, and the stress skyrocketed.
It wasn't called a backwater exile post for nothing.
'Though that's old news since Daniel came along.'
Titania chuckled softly. She couldn't help but think about it.
There had never been an Indefinite Contractor like him before.
A workaholic so extreme you had to wonder if he was even a mage from this world!
While others worked three days and rested four, he'd kept up a six-day workweek with one day off—for eight straight years!
Now a 5th Circle Expert, he'd shifted to five days on, two off, but he still worked more than anyone.
"A man who handles thirty percent of the Foreign Legion's workload all by himself."
"That's exactly why you can't help but like Daniel."
The performance metrics before and after Daniel joined were night and day.
Thanks to that, Titania had reaped unexpected rewards. Why? The department's dismal results had suddenly improved dramatically year-over-year. Oh? The new team leader must be competent! What's her name again?
And just like that, Titania's name had caught the eye of Magic Tower higher-ups.
She never could have imagined such a boon when scheming rivals and seniority had exiled her to manage the distant Foreign Legion.
That was why Titania coveted Daniel.
Last year's special performance bonus artifact discount voucher? She'd handed it over to him under the guise of a bonus for that very reason.
"A workhorse who doesn't whine for regular status and just focuses on his job. Letting talent like that slip away would be idiotic. I'll make him mine, no matter what."
"A wise decision."
For now, she was stuck in the Foreign Legion due to lack of seniority and rivals' interference, but she had no intention of settling.
She'd seize her chance and climb higher.
All the way to the pinnacle: next Magic Tower Lord.
For that, she needed Daniel's talent.
The golden-haired, blue-eyed beauty sipped the tea her secretary had brought, her eyes blazing with ambition.
Luxury is one of humanity's instincts, Nietzsche once said.
People go wild for luxury goods.
For men, that might mean watches, horses, wallets, and the like.
But what if your job is mage?
Things change a bit.
A mage's ultimate dream item is timeless, always number one.
Magic artifacts.
Ultra-luxury exclusives only mages can use.
No need to describe how Daniel felt getting a chance to buy one at half price.
'This must be what walking on air feels like.'
Daniel lay on his dorm bed, humming a tune.
"This is why big companies are the best. Even us Indefinite Contractors get bonuses like this for working hard?"
The man, lost in some grand delusion, flipped through the catalog.
Each page dazzled his eyes with photos of this year's hottest magic artifacts, outshining even luxury accessories in design.
But Daniel just skimmed them and turned the pages.
He'd whistle now and then, but his gaze never lingered more than three seconds.
'Gotta think cost-performance. What's the point of flashy junk?'
Absurdly expensive artifacts that were all show? Not that they were bad.
Daniel just had different criteria for luxury.
Practicality. He wanted high-end gear that helped with his work.
No interest in ostentatious showpieces useless on assignments.
After flipping past pages screaming "Buy me, I'm cool!", practical items finally appeared.
"Hm. Auto-shield deployment artifact. Nice, but they break easily. Oh, this one!... Can't use it as a black mage. Shame. Huh?"
Daniel's hand paused on the catalog.
"This one's pretty good."
A simple dagger-shaped necklace crafted from a ruby the size of a child's fist. The description read:
"Can store 3rd Circle-level mana. Not bad at all."
That was about thirty percent of Daniel's total mana pool.
Exactly what it took to summon 108 imps at once.
"Enough for another Imp Legion summon. Sweet."
Daniel checked the price immediately.
"Yow."
It was brutal.
Even with the fifty percent discount, it'd wipe out half his savings from five years of scrimping.
'Damn, it's insanely expensive. Maybe pick something cheaper?'
The thought flashed by, but he didn't dwell.
'Screw it. When else am I gonna buy something like this?'
When the impulse hit, restraint was out the window. That was Daniel right now.
Grinning ear to ear, he closed his eyes.
Like a kid before a field trip, wishing tomorrow would come fast.
Daniel rose early and headed to the Magic Tower's artifact atelier.
The place was just as he remembered.
The air carried a scent so fine you'd mistake it for a perfume shop, thick with ultra-pure mana that put any workshop to shame.
And the visual punch of those luxury artifacts? Overwhelming.
'Never thought the day would come when I'd shop here.'
New sensations washed over him.
On his first day in the Foreign Legion.
He'd gathered with fellow rookies, curious about these mage-only luxuries, and toured the atelier.
Eyes wide at the flash, hearts sinking at the prices. Memories flooded back.
'Ironic. All those colleagues vowing to go regular, buy artifacts here someday—they quit. And here I am, the only one left.'
As emotions swirled, a clerk approached.
"Sir? Looking for something specific?"
"Yes. Here to buy this."
"Half Dragon Heart. Got it. This way, please."
Following the clerk deeper in, Daniel bumped into someone.
A familiar face.
Luna, the newbie assigned under Titania recently.
A regular employee, in other words.
"Mr. Daniel. What brings you here?"
"Buying an artifact. And you, 8th Grade Luna?"
"Same here. Did some pretty nice shopping."
The Magic Tower attached ranks to titles.
Indefinite Contractors? All "Junior Staff," no exceptions.
4th Circle mage or 5th Circle Archmage—didn't matter.
Luna's lips curled up.
"An artifact, huh. You know they're pretty pricey here, right?"
"Haha. Of course. You think I'd shop without knowing prices? I'm not a kid."
"Hmph. Good, then. Good luck. See you."
With a smirking eye-smile, Luna followed the clerk to the counter.
Mockery clear as day.
The clerk looked awkward, but Daniel just shrugged.
"Please continue the tour."
"Y-yes! Right this way."
'No need to tiptoe around me.'
Daniel gave a wry smile at the clerk's caution.
She must think he was offended by the rookie's arrogance. Misunderstanding.
Daniel felt nothing toward her.
'How many stuck-up regulars have I seen?'
That condescending regular-employee gaze. Indefinite Contractors saw it dozens, hundreds of times.
Others got mad or badmouthed them later.
Not Daniel.
He'd chosen this life as an Indefinite Contractor. Plus, as a reincarnate from a discriminatory modern world, he was unfazed.
Luna's jab was child's play from his vantage.
He even pitied her.
'Why get mad at some kid scraping by? Gotta feel sorry for her.'
Rookies didn't know, but he did.
What awaited after the eight-week adjustment period.
Glamorous duties befitting a Magic Tower mage?
Sadly, no. It was hardcore grad-school hell, Magic Tower edition: Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu-Fri-Sat-Sun routine.
Endless research, logging, experiments, reports, miscellaneous tasks.
No leaving till it was done.
That was the hell and reality hitting newbie regulars in a week.
They probably wouldn't show their faces outside for a while.
Higher-ups weren't merciful enough for rookie days off.
'Tsk tsk. Poor thing. And so pretty, too.'
Suddenly curious what she'd bought.
Asked the clerk casually; she showed him.
The polar opposite of what he was after.
An emerald necklace artifact—flashy visuals women would love, but practicality flipped.
'But so what? Soon she'll live, eat, and sleep at the Tower.'
Who'd she show it off to?
"Wonder if I'll see her in a year."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
People didn't know.
The darkness behind the glamorous title of Magic Tower regular mage, rivaling big-corp salarymen.
Like how forty percent of newbie mages quit within a year.
The insane workload on rookies was brutal, but no one cared much.
'The vibe is, if you're Tower elite, you handle it. People are the same everywhere.'
Once more glad he'd gone Indefinite Contractor, Daniel hoped to see Luna again in a year.
Simple reason. She was cute.
Praying for the poor lamb (fresh grad) heading to work hell, Daniel continued shopping.