“Ever since I was a new recruit, I was often dispatched to the provinces. And in the provinces, most of them came to the Magic Tower because of the same problem.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing special. They were short on numbers.”
“N-numbers?”
“Yes.”
Danil began to explain.
In the capital region or the central territories, there were plenty of people and plenty of knights, so even when problems arose, they tended to resolve them on their own.
They only called for a mage when something happened that only a mage could solve.
But the provinces were different.
“They simply lack people. Soldiers to conscript, adventurers, manpower itself—there are countless cases where they’re short on all of it.”
“……”
“If it’s a problem that could be solved with enough people, but they can’t solve it because they don’t have those people, then there’s only one method. Pay someone from outside and hire specialized combat power to solve the problem. A mage from the Magic Tower, like me.”
Whether in reality or fantasy, the problems caused by the provinces having smaller populations than the capital region were the same.
“When I went to the sites, there was a lot of work and not enough time. So I thought about it. How should I handle the workload efficiently? I’m sure you know what conclusion I came to.”
“…Danil decided to make up for the lacking quantity. Is that why you chose imps?”
“Bingo.”
Imps were the lowest-ranking demons. Compared to other demons, their summoning cost was overwhelmingly cheap, and multiple contracts were possible.
As a demon suited to covering the practical problem of numbers, it was indeed the correct answer.
Only…
“Normally… wouldn’t one aim for something greater than a lower demon?”
The problem was that from a mage’s perspective, it was a zero-point wrong answer.
Every black mage dreamed of making a contract with a high-ranking demon.
A superior being with overwhelming power and diverse abilities that could not even be compared to an imp.
Only by forming a contract with such a demon would the possibility of growing into a stronger, higher-level black mage increase.
Making a contract with an imp was no different from giving up that possibility.
Naturally, an ordinary black mage would never have made such a choice—no, would never even have thought of it.
But Danil was different.
“What’s wrong with choosing efficient work ability over self-development?”
Because he was a reincarnator with a different way of thinking.
A contract with a high-ranking demon?
It raised the possibility of advancing in realm, but how could he know when it would answer his call? And even if it did, that meant the possibility of being converted to a full-time position would increase.
On the other hand, multiple contracts with lower demons like imps?
The possibility of advancing in realm was low, but his work-processing ability would be maximized, allowing him to handle tasks efficiently.
For a reincarnator whose mindset was closer to that of an office worker than a mage, this was not even something to agonize over.
“……”
Titania could not say anything.
She had known he was different from the other indefinite-contract mages, but she had not imagined it would be to this extent.
A mage who pursued more efficient work-processing ability instead of stronger magic and a higher realm.
‘So that’s why he became such a malformed mage?’
A grand-army-specialized black mage whose own magical skill was lacking, but who was specialized in commanding over a hundred magic soldiers.
Having learned the secret behind her competent subordinate, she was slightly flustered, but only for a moment.
As she realized something, her eyes began to shine chillingly.
‘So… Danil is a mage who went all-in on work ability, not magical ability. Is that it?’
Her eyes gradually grew heated.
The calculator in her head spun furiously.
‘A mage I don’t have to worry about disappearing on training leave, whose work efficiency is the best, and who still has room to grow in work ability?’
Titania’s fingertips trembled.
She had realized it. The true value of the man before her eyes.
‘He has no desire for realm advancement! He’s only interested in handling work easily and quickly!’
Indefinite-contract mages who, once they handled the minimum amount of work, were busy running straight to the training grounds.
Full-time mages who seemed to work well, only to suddenly say they had received a revelation, take training leave, and shut themselves away in the Magic Tower library.
The reason was simple.
Their thirst for advancing in realm.
A desire every mage possessed!
But Danil did not have that.
A mage castrated of mage-like desire!
It was as if she were looking at someone from another world.
‘I have to have him!’
She swallowed hard.
‘And I absolutely have to hide him. If he’s discovered, he’ll absolutely be taken from me!!’
That was right.
This man was a mage unlike a mage.
His abilities were those of a mage, but his inner self was not.
If anything, he was closer to a diligent laborer, a soldier.
A mage who prioritized work and mission execution over self-development!
Her heart pounded violently.
In a neighborhood crawling with mages who placed their own magic before the work ordered from above, he was the only mage who prioritized work over the path of magic!
Wasn’t he a top-priority talent any administrator of the Magic Tower would want by any dirty means necessary?!
In a certain sense, he was a mage more valuable than a 5th Circle Master!
Having realized that such a person was working under her as her subordinate, she quietly made up her mind.
‘I will never let him go!’
Before others recognized the value of this mage unlike a mage, she would make him unquestionably her own.
As though she had decided the owner of a new treasure, her eyes sparkled like stars.
*
How should she stamp the treasure before her eyes as hers?
The conclusion she reached was simple. Investment.
And not just ordinary investment, but investment under the name of a debt that could never be repaid.
In that sense, training was a good investment method.
“Danil. At this point, you understand what you’re lacking, don’t you?”
“A powerful finishing blow, and talent as a mage, I suppose.”
“Exactly. So we’ll train to supplement those. As for talent, it will naturally be resolved if you train your mana control, so we’ll skip over that.”
With the eyes of a businesswoman who had chosen an investment target rather than an educator, she continued.
“There’s no need to worry about the firepower problem either. As it happens, Danil, you have just the perfect thing, don’t you?”
“Pardon?”
“Darkflame Rain.”
“……!”
Danil’s expression stiffened.
“The black magic the Magic Tower transmitted to you when you advanced to the 5th Circle. Let’s use this opportunity to master it.”
Darkflame Rain. A name of love and hate.
Back then, he had yet to establish his current style, so he had chosen the spell based solely on its power.
Though in less than two days, he had regretted it like mad.
Darkflame Rain was far too difficult to use.
Mana control was the core of this spell, but its requirements were absurdly high.
And was that all?
Unlike ordinary spells, where failure merely consumed mana and ended there, this one had a fatal problem: if it failed, the incomplete formula would explode as it was, causing a mana explosion.
After once nearly blowing off his arm while practicing it, he had completely abandoned the spell.
He had never dreamed he would hear about it here.
“W-will that be all right?”
“Of course. You haven’t forgotten who I am, have you?”
“A 5th Circle Master…”
“That’s right.”
Titania nodded.
“I’ll watch over you from the side. There’s no safer or more reliable method than training in 5th Circle magic beside a Master.”
Of course, given the difficulty, the training would be hard. But the benefits to be gained were enormous.
To master Darkflame Rain, improving mana control was essential.
And if this succeeded, it would have the effect of killing three birds with one stone.
First, Danil’s magical ability would rise.
It was no exaggeration to say all magic began with mana control.
Next, Danil’s work ability would improve.
He would gain the powerful finishing blow he had lacked until now, so his work efficiency in the North, where he had to fight wyverns, would be maximized.
The final effect was simple.
‘The chances of him becoming my person will increase.’
A 5th Circle Master was giving him her time and rapidly improving the magical skill he had lacked until now.
Judging by Danil’s personality as she had seen it, he would think he owed her a debt.
A sense of indebtedness. There was no better emotion for binding a person.
She did not think it was underhanded.
If she could obtain Danil, she could do even more underhanded things.
‘I will definitely make him my person.’
“Good. We’re beginning intensive training from now on. Assume you won’t have time to rest until you master Darkflame Rain.”
“I’ll work hard enough to die.”
“Hehe. A fine answer. Now then, shall we begin?”
Her eyes flashed with a desire for conquest as she prepared to catch three rabbits at once.
Danil, who had no idea what result his unconscious flirting had brought about, merely prepared to enter training in order to live up to his superior’s expectations.
And so time passed… one month went by.
*
Kazan was holding its breath.
The news that the highland tribes—their hateful archenemies—were about to march south spread like wildfire.
In the market, the price of salt and food rose, and at the smithies, the furnace fires showed no signs of going out even after night fell.
Some went to the church and offered prayers.
Some sharpened their dulled blades and prepared for a desperate struggle.
The tension lodged in people’s hearts could be felt atop the walls, in the church, on the streets, and everywhere throughout Kazan.
A guest who might lighten this heavy air somewhat had arrived last night.
“Young master. What did you think?”
“Hmm.”
The office.
At Cyril’s question, Reiner set down his pen and sank into thought.
“If you’re asking about my first impression, he was unexpected.”
“In what way?”
“His career is what it is, isn’t it? I thought many things about him would be similar to Sir Rude—his bearing as a veteran of a hundred battles, his impression, things like that. But how should I put it?”
“He was ordinary. Like a low-ranking official who looks good at organizing documents.”
“Exactly.”
Reiner recalled the mage who had arrived late last night.
If not for his mage’s attire, he was such a bookish man that one would believe he was an administrator working in the castle.
To be honest, judging by appearance alone, he was not the sort of face northerners would favor. His appearance was far removed from toughness.
Because of the late hour, they had only exchanged simple greetings before parting, so he deeply regretted that there was nothing he could grasp beyond that first impression.
“Please do not worry. If you wait just a little, you will come to know whether he is bland water or rich broth.”
“I suppose so.”
Thinking of the welcoming banquet scheduled for the evening, he drank his tea.
The warmth of the tea heated his body, but the inside of his chest was as cold as the North’s perpetual snow.
‘I hope I won’t be disappointed.’
The second-in-command of the North, unused to disappointment, closed his eyes.
Wishing for evening to come as soon as possible.