Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Indefinite Contractor Gets Dragged to the Church (2)
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"A request came in from Internal Affairs wanting to investigate Daniel?"
[Yes. How should we handle it?]
"Hmm."
The Magic Tower Lord crossed his arms.
After a brief silence, he nodded.
"Let it through. No reason to block freeloaders who want to work."
[Understood.]
The communication orb went dark, and the elder's image vanished.
Left alone in the quiet room, the Magic Tower Lord fell deep into thought.
"Of all the timings, they move Internal Affairs now."
He rubbed his brow.
"Could Kane have caught wind of it?"
But he quickly shook his head, dismissing the worry.
'No way. I only got the request myself less than a day ago. There's no chance Kane sniffed it out.'
To uncover something like this would mean half the Magic Tower had already flipped to Kane's side. And that was impossible.
"Come to think of it, there was that contact at the last investment event."
The Magic Tower Lord let out a dry chuckle.
"No reaction, so they're pulling strings now? What perfect timing—uncanny, almost. Good luck or bad, who knows."
His mind drifted to a certain mage.
Daniel Norman.
No indefinite contractor like this had ever existed before.
This was a mage whose skills blurred the line between regular employee and contractor, with top-tier performance and unwavering loyalty to the organization.
'A unique and entertaining talent, sure. But I didn't expect even the Church to take notice.'
Recalling the requester behind this, the Magic Tower Lord clicked his tongue.
"Too bad he's not regular staff. If he hits 5th Circle mastery and converts soon, I'd finally get some time to train myself."
He made up his mind.
If this job wrapped up successfully, he'd toss in an extra elixir as a bonus.
Failure wasn't even on his radar.
This was the guy who'd not only aced the northern dispatch but brought back magic stones to boot.
Besides, the Daniel now was leagues beyond the one from that mission.
'Popped an elixir to reach mid-5th Circle Expert, six weeks in the Infinite Archive, and even contracted a demon—Gorgo—via possession.'
More than qualified for success, not failure.
Mulling over which elixir to give Daniel, he reactivated the communication orb.
A moment later, the connection linked up.
[You called, Tower Lord?]
"Yes, Titania, Grade 4. I have some advance news for you."
[News?]
The Tower Lord spoke to the head-tilted figure on the other end.
Her eyes widened like saucers.
*
How long had they been riding in the carriage?
A temple loomed in the distance.
Yesterday, Daniel might've just thought, 'Oh, a temple.' And moved on.
Not today.
Through the eyes of a black mage arrested by holy knights and dragged here, the sacred white marble building looked entirely different.
'Feels like the gates of hell, huh?'
Knowing this situation spelled nothing good, Daniel's face stayed grim.
'Damn. Not facing a heresy inquisitor, I hope?'
Heresy inquisitors. Holders of summary judgment under the name of religious trials, bypassing legal proceedings.
They branded heretics, monsters, and illegal mages—black mages—as evil, wielding the Church's violence without hesitation.
Even imperial kids knew they saw licensed black mages as thorns in their side.
Naturally, they were first to pounce if an official black mage slipped up, smashing pots and condemning.
Daniel prayed desperately not to cross paths with them.
Best to avoid rabid dogs whenever possible.
The carriage carrying this black mage finally entered Church territory.
*
"This way, please."
'Huh?'
Did his prayers work?
No heresy inquisitor, no drag to an underground interrogation room.
Of course, he wasn't free either.
'Where the hell are they taking me?'
The holy knights led Daniel not to the main temple building, but to the outskirts.
A rundown spot that screamed warehouse.
Faintly musty, clearly rarely visited.
'Secret interrogation room?'
The suspicion evaporated the moment he saw who was inside.
"You've arrived, Wizard Daniel."
"Sir Charles?"
A familiar face greeted him.
Holy knight Charles.
A mid-rank holy knight devoted to the God of Light, Golt, with whom Daniel had personal ties.
A welcome sight in normal times, but not now.
Sensing Daniel's mood, Charles apologized with a sorry expression.
"Forgive me, Daniel. I didn't want to meet you like this, but the situation was urgent."
"Situation? What kind of situation justifies this?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't say."
"What?"
"It's a security matter."
Daniel narrowed his eyes.
"You don't seriously think I'll just nod and say 'Got it,' do you?"
"Of course not. That's why I brought someone to convince you."
"Convince me?"
Instead of answering, Charles held out a communication orb.
It lit up.
[Looks like you've arrived. Junior Daniel.]
"Tower Lord?!"
Caught off-guard by the boss's sudden appearance, Daniel straightened up.
[Relax. It's fine. Make yourself comfortable.]
"No, I couldn't."
[I said it's fine. Ahem. You must've been shocked. Internal Affairs shows up out of nowhere, holy knights drag you off to the Church for 'investigation' on top of it.]
"Y-Yes. A bit startled, sir."
[On that note, my apologies. But it was unavoidable. The Church requested our help discreetly, through unofficial channels. To dispatch the talent they wanted naturally, this was the best way.]
"Huh?"
Daniel was speechless.
The Church secretly requesting aid from the Magic Tower?
Shocking enough, but that talent being him? Mind-blowing.
"They want me? Why?"
[No idea on my end. They specifically named you.]
The Tower Lord shrugged.
To the confused Daniel, still without answers, he continued.
[Anyway, your job's simple. Fulfill whatever the Church asks, then return. So, Junior Daniel—can you handle it?]
When the boss asks if you can do it, there's only one employee answer.
"I'll deliver results!"
[Good answer. I've given Titania the heads-up, so no worries. Expecting your triumphant return, Junior Daniel.]
With that, the orb went dark.
Daniel turned to Charles.
Charles smiled.
"Will you help us?"
"What's first on the list?"
From bewildered mage to task-ready operator, Daniel's shift drew a smile from Charles.
*
"Bring it in."
"Yes, sir."
At Charles's order, holy knights hauled something over.
A cart piled high with documents.
"Please, Daniel. Decode these for us."
"Decode?"
Simpler than expected, Daniel tilted his head.
While Daniel stood by, Gorgo inspected the cart and tilted his own.
"Hmm. Encrypted script?"
"Encrypted?"
"Indeed. Ancient tongue mixed with runes and demon tongue. Ho ho, quite the intriguing puzzle."
Gorgo's eyes sparkled as he scanned it.
"Makes sense why they called us for this."
"Yeah... figures."
Demon tongue? Yeah, his partner Gorgo was the expert there.
So, purely for decryption? That's why the Church summoned him?
What the hell was this about?
'Eh, whatever. Just get to work.'
Questions later.
Key point: the boss assigned this mission.
As the underling, he just followed orders.
Channeling his old corporate warrior days—back when they called him 『』 Section Chief—Daniel pulled up a chair and sat at the table.
Gorgo followed suit.
"Master truly is entertaining. Just being with you opens up endless spectacles and research. Is this divine blessing?"
"Cut the blasphemy before the holy knights crack your skull. Get to work—this needs your help."
"Kukuku. Will do. Thanks to you, Master, I get to experience it all. A demon aiding Church work? Probably the first."
"Congrats on being a pioneer."
The demon and black mage dove in.
Charles watched silently.
Praying quietly.
'Please deliver, Daniel. You're our only hope to turn this around.'
*
Upstairs, in a room above where Daniel and Gorgo worked, Charles faced a man.
Broad shoulders matched his muscular bulk. A holy iron warhammer at his waist and a chalice medallion around his neck marked him as a senior holy knight.
One of the Church's top warriors spoke slowly.
"We brought him as you said, but is this really okay?"
"If there's a black mage more trustworthy than him, tell me. I'll fetch them myself, Sir Sian."
"Mm."
Sian fell silent.
A trustworthy black mage.
Impossible contradiction in Church circles.
Yet Daniel was the closest thing—and undeniable.
A black mage indebted to the Church from some past incident.
In this crisis needing proven talent, he was ideal.
"Fine. But time's short. Fail to finish in three days, and we scrap it."
"Sir, three days is too tight."
"No choice. You know what this is."
"......"
"Can't afford a single day's delay."
Charles shut his mouth.
He knew the urgency too.
"Without talent like Daniel, we can't even proceed properly."
"Hmm."
"Sir Sian?"
Sian hesitated, then spoke.
"Keep this between us. Higher-ups are considering a judicial deal."
"What? Are they insane!?"
Charles's voice rose.
Judicial deal—releasing that prisoner from the special penitentiary?
"Temporary release, of course. With restraints."
"Not about restraints! It's Gaius's heirs! How can we trust them with something this critical?"
"It's critical, that's why. You know it—why you dragged that guy here by force."
"Tch."
Charles had no retort.
"Deadline's three days. Fail the proof, it's void. Remember that."
"...Understood."
Charles bowed silently.
Outside the window, the red sunset slowly faded.
'Two days left? Pray Daniel pulls through.'
-Knock knock
"Come in."
A holy knight entered at the knock.
"Sir Sian! Sir Charles! Urgent report!"
"What is it?"
"Well..."
The knight spoke.
Their eyes bulged.
*
Rushing downstairs, the two men's eyes widened in unison.
"I've finished everything assigned. Can I go now?"
"Huh?"
Munching Church-made pizza, Daniel's words left them speechless.
Behind him, documents neatly sorted.
The report was true.
The three-day job? Done in four hours.
"You... really processed it all?"
"You said you were busy, so I rushed it."
"My god."
Sian and Charles exchanged glances.
Their earlier talk? Pointless worry.
'This man... he'll be huge in tracing that one's trail.'
'Beyond expectations. How much has he grown, Daniel?'
Charles spoke slowly.
"Daniel, one more favor?"
"Extra work. Sigh."
Daniel straightened with a knowing sigh.
"Sure. What next?"