Chapter 6
Chapter 6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: 5- Indefinite Contractors Get Dispatched to the Provinces
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Magic training ground located in the basement of the Magic Tower.
"Tsk."
Daniel scratched his head.
The artifact Half Dragon Heart certainly lived up to its name and price.
As expected, it allowed him to use his main force—the 108 Imp Legion, the army of lesser demons—one more time.
"This isn't working."
The problem was precision.
He'd spent two full days on it, but the accuracy still hadn't broken past seventy percent.
Every time, he was summoning anywhere from five short to eight short, over and over.
He clicked his tongue.
"This is a problem."
In the field, even a small mistake could lead to an irreversible disaster.
It was a truth etched into his bones from running countless jobs over the past ten years.
He had a grasp on the mana required to summon over a hundred, but it still wasn't enough.
The exact amount of mana needed to summon exactly 108 imps. He had to nail that down.
"Just a bit more and I think I'll get it... No choice. Should I take some vacation time for once?"
After some deliberation, Daniel made up his mind and decided to use a full month of leave.
Since he was training anyway, he figured he'd raise the proficiency of his other spells too.
In truth, taking vacation in the Foreign Legion was a delicate matter.
Why? Simple.
Indefinite Contractors typically only worked the bare minimum and spent the rest of their time on personal matters.
They already had plenty of free time, so why use vacation on top of that?
Even the laziest indefinite contractors had enough sense to read the room.
They knew better than to draw side-eye from superiors with looks like, "You barely work and now you want vacation too? You slacker?" Better to just not bother.
But Daniel was the exception.
Not that he lacked tact. He was just that confident—bold enough not to hesitate filing for leave.
It came from shattering the monthly maximum workload records, not just scraping by the minimum.
No reason not to be proud.
"Alright. Time to head to headquarters."
The Foreign Legion dispatch headquarters was as bustling as ever when Daniel returned after two days.
The first thing that caught his eye was the reception desk.
"Yes, confirmed. We'll notify you later about the Foreign Legion dispatch schedule."
"Pardon? That's already assigned to another unit. Could you wait a moment?"
Very few clients came directly to the Magic Tower to place requests.
Most handled it via communication crystals like this.
Receptionists juggled dozens of crystals, sorting and categorizing requests pouring in from across the empire, moving at a frantic pace.
"This request's in the west, huh?"
"Hurry up and finish so we can get back to training."
He spotted Foreign Legion members checking requests and prepping for dispatch.
Those draped in cloaks similar to the regulars' were doing final checks before heading out.
No tension from them as they joked around leaving the tower—just the familiar annoyance of company workers heading off on a distant trip.
"Argh! Typo!"
"Fix it instead of yelling!"
"You handle that thing I mentioned last time? No? Are you nuts?"
"Drop that and do this first! Gotta finish today!"
In one corner, regulars were buried in the Foreign Legion's paperwork and reports.
Minus the magic for moving and sorting the mountain of soul-crushing documents, it was a scene straight out of Daniel's previous life.
'Still suffering as always.'
Who'd mistake them for mages? Office drones crushed by society, maybe.
As he passed them with a pitying glance, a familiar face appeared.
"Luna! Sort this first!"
"Send this to Team 3!"
"This to Team 1!"
"Yes! One sec!"
Luna darted around at her seniors' calls.
Telekinesis hauling thick stacks of documents while parallel processing multiple tasks—she was the picture of a pro office worker.
Their eyes met briefly, but no time for greetings.
Daniel shrugged as he watched her sprint off to rummage through the data warehouse on orders.
'Not my problem, but I kinda feel bad for her. Indefinite contractor life really is the way to go.'
Daniel kept walking.
Third floor, director's office.
The secretary at the front desk greeted him warmly.
"Oh, come on in, Daniel."
"You're working hard. Director inside?"
"Yes. Perfect timing for tea. Go ahead."
Normally it'd be "wait or make an appointment," but Daniel was the exception.
He knocked and entered.
Titania, sipping red tea by the window, welcomed him with a smile.
"Well, Daniel. What brings you?"
"Need a signature on this."
"Signature? What's... vacation request?"
The beauty—one of the Magic Tower's top talents in skill and looks—frowned delicately.
"Vacation? Suddenly why?"
"Well."
Daniel explained.
"Figured while I'm at it, I'd train some other spells too. A month should do it."
"A month..."
Titania pondered, then shook her head.
"Sorry, Daniel. Could you hold off on this one?"
"Pardon?"
Daniel was flustered.
She'd never rejected one before—it threw him off.
She set down her teacup and explained.
"I'd love to approve it, but timing's bad. Got a job for you yesterday."
"What is it?"
"Word from the north. Steel Scale Tribe's on the move."
"Already that season?"
Daniel scowled.
Steel Scale Tribe. Barbarians who hid in the northern highlands and descended to raid for food and supplies during this prime season.
Why Steel Scales? Simple—they rode wyverns instead of horses, unlike other barbarians.
So every year around now, the Northern Archduke requested Magic Tower support.
One mage was worth a hundred knights against wyverns—made sense.
"Why not send someone else? Chance to meet the Northern Archduke—no one'd turn it down."
Titania shook her head.
"Circumstances are different this time. He attached conditions."
"Conditions?"
"Minimum 5th Circle mage."
"Then."
"And excluding anyone who's been north before."
"What? Why?"
"Simple. No results."
Daniel got it instantly.
Dozens of Foreign Legion mages had gone north, but none delivered standout results.
"That condition... yeah, just me then."
"Exactly."
Any 4th Circle master or higher in the Legion had been north at least once.
Why? Catch the Archduke's eye, snag a regular spot in the Tower.
The Tower had special recruitment beyond regulars—like the Recommendation System.
Not just any noble could recommend.
Only from the empire's top thirty families with fame, power, and history.
Northern Archduke was one.
Impress him, and regular status awaited.
Problem: Mages went just for that shot and fell short, earning his ire.
"Plus he wants a minimum of four mages."
"Whoa. That's gonna cost a fortune."
Mage dispatch fees varied wildly by skill.
5th Circle? Top tier.
Four of them? Even the Archduke would feel the hit.
Still demanding four meant he was serious this time.
"Normally Legion handles it, but conditions are tight. So final agreement: one from our department, three from others."
"So you're sending me."
"You fit, and you're the only one I trust. Plus the biggest reason."
"What's that?"
"Simple. You're the strongest."
"Aw, shucks. Don't know where to put myself."
Daniel took it as flattery, but she was dead serious.
Black Mage—most offensive-specialized among mages.
Daniel was one, and a 5th Circle expert, high-tier.
More? Ten years of brutal fieldwork gave him battle experience no Legion mage could touch.
A veteran even grizzled knights envied.
Even if others fit, she'd pick him.
Daniel stared at the vacation form, sighed.
"Can't be helped then. Got it. Training later."
"No need."
"Huh?"
"I'll oversee it. Your training."
"What?!?"
Daniel was stunned.
"You sure?"
"Of course. Point is you want to boost your skills. What's hard about helping?"
'That's not what I meant.'
Daniel panicked. Her offer was shocking.
Magic Tower mages: geniuses and elites from across the empire.
Over a thousand, how many 5th Circle masters? Fewer than thirty.
Under 3%.
Even geniuses with talent and skill rarely reached it.
Like top-ten peak masters in a prestigious sect from a wuxia tale—rarer than three fingers could count.
And one offers personal guidance?
A fateful encounter any mage would pay billions for.
Auction it? Like "lunch with Warren Buffett"—bidding war city.
"You're serious?"
"If it was a joke, you'd like that?"
"No way."
No mage worth salt would say yes here. Daniel wasn't an idiot.
A thought flickered.
-What'd I do to deserve this golden opportunity?
He pondered, then concluded.
'Ah, learn it well, nail the job. That's the message.'
Client: Northern Archduke, top-five empire heavyweight.
His serious request? Even Daniel felt the pressure; Titania must be desperate.
She probably wanted to go herself.
'Anyway, it's a chance. Learn solid, execute perfect. Botch it and piss off the Archduke? Headache city.'
Grateful for the lucky break from coincidence, he steeled himself for flawless work.
Blissfully unaware he was magnificently mistaken.
'Lucky break. Was looking for an excuse too. This'll score points.'
Titania smiled inwardly.
Days after vowing to make Daniel hers, opportunity knocked.
Skill, character, performance—all top A-grade talent.
Time to stake her claim. Her eyes sparkled.
'First, reel him in. Step by step, climb to the Magic Tower's peak everyone reveres.'
Her goal: Magic Tower Lord.
Ascend, and empire elite connections were basic necessities.
This job was prime opportunity.
Turn the thin thread from running the Legion into a thick rope with the Archduke.
Needed the man before her for that.
'Daniel's skills? Plenty to shine in the north. Leagues above the idiots from other departments.'
Word of four 5th Circle requests hit, other departments begged in.
One message: Don't leave it to Legion—fair, one per department.
She agreed.
'Swallowing the bait themselves. Thanks.'
She sneered at rivals now celebrating their "Archduke networking" shot.
They'd never guess why she yielded the chance.
She was certain.
They'd screw up.
Simple: Unlike her, they'd pick for politics, not skill.
'Faction cronies or best bribers. Merit last.'
They deluded themselves.
Why no Legion results north? "Cause we're irregulars."
Foolish myth.
'Probably think: We're regulars. True Tower knowledge. Not like indefinite hacks.'
Underestimating contractors.
Scorning them.
Prejudice-born misconceptions.
She'd show them how wrong via this chance.
Through the dagger named Daniel.
'Northern front, wyvern barbarians vs. field-hardened mage and stuffy lab wizard.'
Picture crystal clear.
'Make a spectacle, accessories. Shine for Daniel and me.'
The beauty who'd laid a triple-layered ankle-mined trap to hobble rivals smiled quietly.
Her mage eyes blazed with calculations and ambition for maximal political gain at minimal cost.